A small work, like the present, needs little preface. The design of the writer is sufficiently indicated by the title-page and its two mottoes—one from the pen of Niebuhr, whose brief but masterly sketch of the reign of Constantine, in his Lectures on the History of Rome, makes us regret that he has not left behind more copious notices of the period; and the other from that of our own Milton, in whose writings there are so many allusions to the character and legislation of Constantine, all of them distinguished by his characteristic wisdom and genius.Among the many references to the subject of this biography in the literature of our country, there is no separate work devoted to the record of his life. It seemed desirable, therefore, that one should be furnished; not too extended, yet sufficiently copious to put the public generally in possession of the main incidents of his career, and sufficiently authenticated by references to competent authorities to sustain the investigations of the more critical.Nisyros Publishers has a proud history of publishing high quality and rare titles.