Of princely Mothers, noble Empresses,
Flacilla, Maria, pious, humble, good;
And fair Serena, full of blooming Charms.
The Brazen Bull was plac’d in the eleventh Ward. In what Part of that Ward it was plac’d might easily be conjectur’d from a large Cistern, which, the modern Historians write, was built near it by Nicetas an Eunuch, in the Reign of the Emperor Theophilus, if that Cistern was now in being. If the Bull itself was remaining, or the Forum where it stood, I had heard something of it. Tzetzes in his History writes, that the Forum Bovis was so call’d from the Brazen Bull. This Bull is more particularly describ’d by Zonaras, who says, that the Body of the unhappy Tyrant Phocas was burnt at a Place call’d Bos, where there was a Stove, or Fire-Place set up in the Form of a Bull, which was brought from Troy. Cedrinus relates, that Antypas the Martyr was burnt to Death in this Bull. It is a plain Instance of the Cruelty and Tyranny of some of the Emperors of Constantinople, that they us’d to punish Malefactors with a Death so tormenting. The like Example of Barbarity we have in Perillus, or rather Perilaus, a Brazier of Attica, who made a Brazen Bull for the Execution of Phalaris, but first suffer’d in it himself. This Piece of Workmanship, says Pliny, was preserv’d a long Time, that those, who saw it, might curse the Hand that made it. I am more inclin’d to believe, that this Bull was brought from Sicily, or Italy. I enquir’d after it, but could hear nothing of it, altho’ the Inhabitants are not ignorant, that there was formerly such a Bull at Constantinople, and are us’d to boast of a Prophecy, which has been handed down to them from their Ancestors, concerning such a Bull, and lastly, altho’ they believe their own Interpretation of it to be more agreeable to Truth than that of Tzetzes, who explain’d it above three hundred and seventy Years ago in the following Manner. There was a mighty Talk of a Prophecy at Constantinople some Time ago, which run in these Words: Βοῦς βοήσει τε, καὶ Ταῦρος δὲ θρηνήσει, Bos mugiet, Taurus lugebit. The People conjectur’d from hence, says he, that great Calamities should befall the City, that they should be perplex’d with amazing Fears, that an innumerable Army of Germans, and other Nations, should come against the Town; and that they should be all terrify’d and affrighted with strange Dreams, by Reason of the Plundering and Destruction of their City. Upon which, the Wife of the Grand Hetæriarch being in great Consternation, and her Fears and Fancies being encreas’d by some fabulous Verses made upon the Occasion, she imagin’d she dream’d of all that had been the Town-Talk for some Time before. She dream’d that Constantinople was wall’d round with Brick, that near the Forum Bovis, or the Place call’d Bos, she saw infinite Numbers of arm’d Forces drawn up in Battle array, and that hard by the Street call’d Taurus, she saw a Man in a melancholly Posture expressing his Grief in a mournful Tone, and beating his Breast. The credulous Woman believing the Destruction of the City was at hand, told her Dream to Tzetzes, who thus interpreted it: The Brick Walls, says he, which you saw denote great Plenty of Provision to Constantinople. You are sensible, Gentlemen, says he, (speaking to those who stood by him) how wonderfully that Part of the Prophecy was accomplish’d at that Time. As to that Clause of it, which mentions that abundance of armed Forces shall stand round the Bull, and that a Man in a disconsolate and forlorn Condition shall sit down by the Bull, which is principally intended by the Prophecy, tho’ not yet fulfill’d; this may prove beneficial, and advantageous to every Citizen of us. Therefore hear, O Constantinople, and tell it to others, that this is the Interpretation of Tzetzes. The same Word, which among us Greeks signifies a Bull, signifies also a Cow, and sometimes a Heifer, and by the Word Taurus or Bull, the Latins call the Italian Bull. Our Cow therefore, which is the famous City of Constantine, and which was built by the Roman Bulls of Italy, full of Arms, abounding with Forces, and Plenty of Provision, shall sound an Alarm against our Enemies; and the Italian Bull, which is the Army of the Latins, shall look Pale with Fear, and mourn. Tzetzes, without Question, was a very learned Man, and this Interpretation of the Prophecy was cunning enough; besides that it was a fine Compliment to the Empress, and at the same Time the Historian pleas’d his own Humour in it, in interpreting the Prophecy according to his own Wishes. See how ingenious is the Weakness of Man to impose upon himself! But at that Time there was another Interpretation of this Prophecy, which, in the Event, was much more agreeable to Truth, tho’ Tzetzes took a great deal of Pains to confute, and expose it; and it was the general Opinion of the People of Constantinople, that the Army of the Latins would besiege their City, as it happen’d a little Time after, ravaging, burning, destroying every where; throwing some of the Ring-leaders of an arbitrary Party from the Top of Theodosius’s Pillar into the Street call’d Taurus, and burning others to Death in the Brazen Bull. The same Author is no less mistaken in the Interpretation of another Prophecy, which is as follows: Wo be to thee, O Constantinople, seated on seven Hills, thou shalt not continue a thousand Years. His Explanation of it is this: Altho’ it be not thy Fate, O Constantinople, to endure a thousand Years, but to be totally demolish’d, yet this ought to be no Occasion of Grief to thee, but the Cause of Joy; for thou shalt rise again from thy Ruines more beautiful, and more enlarg’d. For thou shalt be destroyed, ev’n to the Advantage of those who shall destroy thee. This Interpretation is a downright Flattery of the principal Leaders of the several Factions (or Companies of Charioteers) when they were struggling for the Government. But take this Interpretation which Way you will, it seems to be a very wild one. For whether the City was demolish’d by its own Inhabitants, or any foreign Power, it could neither Way be any reasonable Cause of Joy to them. This Prediction of the Oracle was seconded by another Prediction of the Astronomers to the same Purpose. Some Historians have attested, as ’tis confirm’d by Suidas, that Constantine the Great, after he had finish’d the City, sent for one Valens an Astronomer of great Skill, and commanded him to enquire what Star had the Ascendant at the Birth of the City, and by that means inform him of the Duration of it. Valens predicted that the City would continue six hundred and ninety Years; but that Time is past and gone. Therefore, says Zonaras, I must conclude, that this Prophecy of Valens was erroneous, and that there’s little Dependance to be had upon the Rules of Astronomy, or otherwise that Valens only meant the Time of her Prosperity, when the Laws of Polity were strictly obey’d, when the publick Peace was preserv’d, when their Senate was in high Estimation among the People, when the Empire flourish’d and was under a regular Administration, and there was no such Thing as Tyranny, and Arbitrary Power among them. But to finish the Oracular Predictions concerning this City, I come now to Zosimus, a very ancient Historian, if compar’d with Tzetzes, and Zonaras. This Author writes, that Constantinople was arriv’d to such a State of Grandeur, and Magnificence, that no City in the World was to be compar’d with it, in point of Greatness, or Prosperity. And yet, as he proceeds, when after a long Search I could find no divine Oracle, or Prophecy presignifying any Increase of Happiness to Constantinople, I at last accidentally, having read many Historians, and other Authors for that Purpose, met with an Oracular Prediction of a Sibyl, nam’d Erythræa Phaelles, or Phaenno of Epirus. This Woman, they tell you, being inspir’d, utter’d Oracles, to which Nicomedes, the Son of Prussias, conforming himself, especially in such Predictions as might be some Advantage to himself, enter’d into a War with his Father. The Oracle runs thus:
Attend, great King of Thrace, and learn thy Doom;
Thy stately City soon thou must depart,
And thy defenceless Sheep shall follow thee;
The Savage Lion’s irresistless Power
Shall plunder thee, and ravage all thy Stores.
Thou from thy princely Grandeur soon shalt fall;