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_ * Though Constantine, from a very obvious Prejudice', affects to mention the palace. of Diocletian with, contempt "', yet: one of their successors, who could only see' it in' a neglected and 'mutilated state, 'celebrates its magnificence interms of the highest a'dmiration'W. It 'covered an extent of g'rotmd consisting of between' nine and ten English acres. The form was quadrangular, flanked with sixteen towers. 'Two of the sides were near six hundred, and the other two hear seven hundred feet in length; The whole was constructed of a beautiful free-stone, extracted from the neighbouring quarries of Trau or Tragutium, and very little inferior to marble itself. Fom- streets, intersecting each Other at' right angles, divided the several parts of this great edifice, and the approach to the principal apartment was from a very stately entrance, which is still denominated the Golden Gate. The ap'proach Was terminated by a peristylium of granite columns, on one fide of which we discoVer the square temple -o'f IEsculapi'Js, On the other the octagon temple of Jupiter. The latter of those' deities Diocletian revered as the patron of his fortunes, the former as the' prote'ctor of his health.By comparing the present remains with the precepts of Vitruviua, the several parts of the building, the baths, bedchamber, the alrium, 'the bast'lie-t, and the Cyzicene, Corinthian, and Egyp

"* Constantin. Orat. ad Coetum Sanctdf. 15. In this semion,

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forms Were various, their proportions just, but they were all attended with two imperfections, very repugnant to our modern notions of taste. and conveniency. These stately rooms had neither windows nor chimnies. They were lighted from the top (for the building seems to have; confisted of no more than 'one story,) and they received their heat vby the help of pipes that were conveyed along the walls; The range of principal apartments was protected towards the south-west, by a portico of five hundred and seventeen feet long, which mustss have formed I very noble and delightful walk, when the beauties of painting, and sculpture were added to rthosc of the prospect.

Had this magnificent edifice remained in a solitary country, it would have been exposed to the ravages of time; but- it might, perhaps, have escaped the rapaeious industry of man. The village of Aspalathus "9, and long afterwards the provincial town of Spalatro, have grown out of its ruins. The golden gate now opens into the market-place. St. John the Baptist has usurped the honours of jEfculapius: and the temple of Jupiter, under' the protection of the Virgin, is converted into the cathedral church. For this account of Diocletian's palace, we are principally

'indebted to an ingenious artist of our own time

and country, whom a very liberal curiosity car

!" D'Anville, Geographie Ancienne, tom. i. p. '62.

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'14 Porphyry died about t'he'time of Diocletia-n's abdication. The _life of his master Plotinus, which he composed, will give us the most complete idea of the genius of the sect, and the manners ofits professors. This very curious piece is inserted in Fabricius, Bibliotheca finch, torn. iv. p. 88-148.

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