39. If we recollect that Constantine, the father of Helena,
died above eighteen years before in a mature old age, it
will appear probable that the daughter, though a virgin,
could not be very young at the time of her marriage. She was
soon afterwards delivered of a son, who died immediately,
quod obstetrix corrupta mercede, mox natum praesecto
plusquam convenerat umbilico necavit. She accompanied the
emperor and empress in their journey to Rome, and the
latter, quaesitum venenum bibere per fraudem illexit, ut
quotiescunque concepisset, immaturum abjiceret partum.
Ammian. l. xvi. c. 10. Our physicians will determine whether
there exists such a poison. For my own part, I am inclined
to hope that the public malignity imputed the effects of
accident as the guilt of Eusebia.