Page 13 - The Leprosy of Constantine the Great

lamentation arose from the women as
soon as they perceived what was to be
done, and they began to tear their hair
and beat their faces. Constantine, when he
heard the sound thereof, inquired what
was the cause, and they answered, “Sire, it
is the crying of the mothers of the
children whom you have had brought
here to take their blood.” Constantine
considered for a moment, and then,
overcome by pity, he said, “Please God I
will never consent to do such a cruel deed
for the sake of my health. I would sooner
die.' And forthwith he sent away the
mothers and their children, having giving
them what had been promised; and so he
did this compassionate deed.
So greatly was Christ pleased with
Constantine's pity, that in that same night
Peter and Paul appeared in a vision, and
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