Constantius Fills His Treasury and Gives It Back

Many reports were going around about this prince, describing his kindness and gentleness of character and the extraordinary height of his piety. They also claimed that because he was so indulgent to his subjects he did not even have a supply of money laid up in his treasury. So the emperor who then held the supreme power sent to rebuke him for neglecting the public good, reproaching him at the same time with poverty and pointing to the empty state of his treasury as proof of the charge. At this Constantius asked the emperor’s messengers to stay with him for a while. Then he called together the wealthiest of his subjects from all the nations under his rule, told them that he was in need of money, and said that this was the moment for all of them to give a voluntary proof of their affection for their prince.

As soon as they heard this, as though they had long wanted a chance to show the sincerity of their goodwill, they eagerly filled the treasury with gold and silver and other wealth, each eager to outdo the rest in the size of his contribution; and they did it with cheerful and joyful faces. Then Constantius asked the messengers of the great emperor to inspect his treasures in person, and told them to give a faithful report of what they had seen. He added that on this occasion he had taken this money into his own hands, but that it had long been kept for his use in the custody of its owners, as safely as if it were in the charge of faithful treasurers. The envoys were overwhelmed with astonishment at what they had seen. And after they had left, it is said, this truly generous prince sent for the owners of the property, praised each of them for their obedience and true loyalty, gave it all back, and told them to return to their homes. [a]

This one incident, then, proves the generosity of the man whose character we are trying to portray. Another will give the clearest testimony to his piety.