VIENNA TO SILENCE
1741 – 1750
LVII
The Viennese, for all their sobriety, have a parallel life to Venetians… music, Pagan Roman roots, Holy Roman roots. They tell the story of Pope Silvester who drove the demons out of Austria in the fourth century. Constantine named Silvester Pope. I dislike history establishing Constantine as the bridge. The bridge between Pagan and Holy Rome was his mother, Saint Helena. Like the Venetians I know, Constantine was driven by power and control. It was Theodosius who truly made The Roman Empire Christian. There are many stories of misplaced credit becoming history. [Antonia, 1740]
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1741
Anna Giraud closed the heavy door behind her, shutting out the driving rain. She shook her skirt and ran her fingers through her hair. Except for
