" Besides this, were two porticos on each side, with upper and lower ranges of pillars corresponding in length with the church itself, and these also had their roofs ornamented with gold. Of these porticos, those which were exterior to the church were supported by columns of immense size, while those within these rested on piers of stone beautifully adorned on the surface. Three gates placed exactly east were intended to receive those who entered the church.
" Opposite these gates, the crowning part of all was the hemisphere, which rose to the very summit of the church. This was encircled by twelve columns, (according to the number of the apostles of our Saviour,) having their capi tals embellished with silver bowls of great size, which the emperor himself presented as a splendid offering to his God.
" In the next place lie enclosed the atrium, which occupied the space leading to the entrances in front of the church. This comprehended first the court, then the porticos on each side, and lastly the gates of the court. After these, in the midst of the open market-place, the entrance-gates of the whole work which were Of exquisite workmanship, afforded to passers-by, on the outside, a view of the interior, which could not fail to inspire astonishment.
"This temple, then, the emperor erected as a conspicuous monument of the Saviour's resurrection, and embellished it throughout on an imperial scale of magnificence. Ile further enriched it with numberless offerings of inexpres sible beauty, consisting of gold, silver, and precious stones in various forms ; the skilful and elaborate arrangement of which, in regard to their magnitude, number, and variety, we have not leisure at present to describe par ticularly." The following is our author's description of the church of Paulinus at Tyre, in his letter to that bishop :— " Thus then, embracing a much vender space, lie strength ened the outer enclosure with a wall to compass the edifice, that it might be a most secure bulwark to the whole work. Then raising a large and lofty vestibule, he extended it towards the rays of the rising sun ; and, on entering the he has not permitted you to enter immediately, with impure and unwashed feet, within the sanctuary, lint leaving an extensive space between the temple and the vestibule, he has decorated and enclosed it with four surrounding por ticos, presenting a quadrangular space, with pillars rising on every side. Between these he carried round the frame latticed railing, rising to a proportionate and suitable height ; leaving, however, the middle space open, so that the heavens can be seen, and present the splendid sky irradiated by the beams of the sun. Here, too, he has placed the symbols of
the sacred purification, by providing fountains built opposite the temple, which, by the abundant effusion of its waters, afibrds the means of cleansing, to those that proceed to the. inner parts of the sanctuary. And this is the first place that receives those that enter, and which, at the same time, pre sents to those that need the first introduction, both a splen did and convenient station.
"After passing this, he has made open entrances to the temple, with many other inner vestibules, by placing again three gates on one side towards the rising sun. Of these he constructed the middle one, far exceeding those on each side in height and breadth, embellishing it, at the same time, with exceedingly splendid brazen plates bound with iron, and deco rated with sculpture, superadding them, as guards and attendants to a queen. In the same way, after disposing the number of the vestibules, also with the porticos on each side of the whole temple, he constructed above these different openings to the building, for the purpose of admitting more light., and these lights or windows he also decorated with various kinds of ornamental sculpture.
" But the royal temple itself he has furnished with more splendid and rich materials, applying a generous liberality in his expenses. And here it appears to me to be super fluous to describe the dimensions, the length and breadth of the edifice, the splendid elegance, the grandeur that surpasses description, and the dazzling aspect of the works; for when he had thus completed the temple, he adorned it with lofty thrones in honour of those who preside, and also with seats decently arranged in order throughout the whole, and at last he placed the holy altar in the middle. And that this again might be inaccessible to the multitude, he enclosed it with frame-lattice work, accurately wrought with ingenious sculp ture, presenting a beautiful appearance to the beholders. And not even the pavement was neglected by him, for this too he splendidly adorned with marble, and then proceeded to the rest and to the parts outside the temple. He provided spacious exhedm and oeci on each side, united and attached to the church, and communicating with the entrance to the middle of the temple." Of the above structures, the former is still in existence; not indeed the identical building, hut, as there seems reason to believe, a building similar in general form and arrange ment. The text of Eusehins is difficult and obscure, and conveys but an indefinite idea of the edifice. Strange to say, we have a plan and description, which may be relied upon as genuine, ill our own isles.