Scene + 

XII + 

Constantine + 

Welcome, Gallicanus! I have awaited your arrival with impatience. I long to hear from your own lips how the battle went and how it ended. + 

Gallicanus + 

I will tell you the whole story. + 

Constantine + 

Wait a moment, for even the battle is of small importance compared with the one thing which I want most to hear. + 

Gallicanus + 

What may that be? + 

Constantine + 

On your departure for the war you visited the temple of the gods; on your return you went to the Church of the Apostles. Why? + 

Gallicanus + 

You ask that? + 

Constantine + 

Have I not told you, man, that I wish to know above all things! + 

Gallicanus + 

I will explain. + 

Constantine + 

Proceed, I beg you. + 

Gallicanus + 

Most Sacred Emperor, I confess I visited the temples on my departure, as you have said, and humbly sought the help of gods and demons. + 

Constantine + 

According to the old Roman custom. + 

Gallicanus + 

To my thinking, a bad custom. + 

Constantine + 

I am of the same mind. + 

Gallicanus + 

Then the tribunes arrived with their legions and we began our march. + 

Constantine + 

You set out from Rome with great pomp. + 

Gallicanus + 

We pushed on, met the enemy, engaged them, and were defeated. + 

Constantine + 

Romans defeated! + 

Gallicanus + 

Routed. + 

Constantine + 

When was such a disaster ever known in our history! + 

Gallicanus + 

Once again I offered those hideous sacrifices, but what god came to my help? The fury of the enemy redoubled, and great numbers of my men were slain. + 

Constantine + 

I am amazed. + 

Gallicanus + 

It was then that the tribunes, disregarding my orders, began to surrender. + 

Constantine + 

To the enemy? + 

Gallicanus + 

To the enemy. + 

Constantine + 

And what did you do? + 

Gallicanus + 

What could I do but take to flight? + 

Constantine + 

Impossible! + 

Gallicanus + 

It is true. + 

Constantine + 

What anguish for a man of your courage! + 

Gallicanus + 

The sharpest. + 

Constantine + 

And how did you escape? + 

Gallicanus + 

My faithful companions, John and Paul, advised me to make a vow to the Creator. + 

Constantine + 

Good advice. + 

Gallicanus + 

I found it so. Hardly had I opened my lips to make the vow than I received help from heaven. + 

Constantine + 

How? + 

Gallicanus + 

A young man of immense stature appeared before me carrying a cross on his shoulder. He bade me follow him sword in hand. + 

Constantine + 

This young man, whoever he was, was sent from heaven. + 

Gallicanus + 

So it proved. At the same moment I saw at my side some soldiers whose faces were strange to me. They promised me their help. + 

Constantine + 

The host of Heaven! + 

Gallicanus + 

I am sure of it. Following in the steps of my guide, I advanced fearlessly into the midst of the enemy until I came face to face with their King, by name Bradan. Suddenly overcome by the strangest terror he threw himself at my feet, surrendered with his whole army, and promised to pay tribute in perpetuity to the ruler of the Roman world. + 

Constantine + 

Now praise be to Him Who gave us this victory. Those who put their trust in Him will never be confounded. + 

Gallicanus + 

My experience witnesses to it. + 

Constantine + 

And now I should like to know what became of the treacherous tribunes? + 

Gallicanus + 

They hastened to implore my forgiveness. + 

Constantine + 

And you showed them mercy? + 

Gallicanus + 

I show mercy to men who had abandoned me in the hour of peril and surrendered to the enemy against my orders! No, assuredly! + 

Constantine + 

What did you do? + 

Gallicanus + 

I offered to pardon them on one condition. + 

Constantine + 

What condition? + 

Gallicanus + 

I told them that those who consented to become Christians would be allowed to retain their rank, and might even receive fresh honours, but that those who refused would not be pardoned, and would be degraded. + 

Constantine + 

A fair proposition, and honourable to the leader who made it. + 

Gallicanus + 

For my own part, purified in the waters of baptism, I have surrendered myself completely to the will of God. I am ready to renounce even your daughter, whom I love more than anything in the world. I wish to abstain from marriage that I may devote myself wholly to the service of the Virgin’s Son. + 

Constantine + 

Come near, nearer yet, and let me fold you in my arms! Now, Gallicanus, the time has come for me to tell you what up to now I have been obliged to keep secret. + 

Gallicanus + 

What is it? + 

Constantine + 

My daughter, and your own two also, have chosen the same holy path which you yourself wish to follow. + 

Gallicanus + 

I rejoice to hear it. + 

Constantine + 

Their desire to keep their vow of virginity is so ardent that neither entreaties nor threats can alter their resolution. + 

Gallicanus + 

God help them to persevere! + 

Constantine + 

Come, let us go to their apartments. + 

Gallicanus + 

Lead on. I will follow. + 

Constantine + 

They are coming here. Look, they hasten to greet us, and my glorious mother, noble Helena, is with them. They all weep for joy. + 