And  tear  his  banners,  that  the  cross  may  rise.
Their  vainly  thund'ring  Jove  himself,  and  all

'^Decius,  who  raised  the  eighth  persecution,  whose  son  was
killed  by  the  Goths,  and  himself  drowned  in  the  fens  near  the
Danube,  as  he  fled  from  the  enemy.
'^^  Valerian,  the  author  of  the  ninth  persecution,  at  the  instiga-
tion of  an  Egyptian  magician.  He  was  afterward  conquered  and
taken  by  Sapores,  the  emperor  of  Persia,  who  made  use  of  his  back
to  mount  his  horse ;  and  when  he  refused  that  office,  flayed  him
alive,  and  covered  him  with  salt.
**  Diocletian  and  Maximian.
346


The  Life  of  Christ

Their  helpless  fry  of  spurious  gods,  must  fall;

And  then  the  conquering  stone  shall  claim  the  capital.
"When  to  their  doom  these  tyrants  shall  repair,®
My  blessed  champion'''  shall  the  purple  wear;
Then  shall  those  men  his  throne  and  honors  share.
Whose  prayers  to  Heaven,  and  arms,  had  fixed  him  there.
See  him  the  servants  of  his  God  embrace,
And  by  his  royal  side  in  triumph  place.
His  eyes  with  transport  shall  unenvied  see
Those  glorious  scars  they  wear  for  truth  and  me;
Of  evils  past  almost  the  trace  remove,
And  bless  his  people  with  his  pious  love.
Thus  much  of  good  can  one  good  monarch  do^
And  peace  shall  favor  those  who  favor  you.
Yet  still  the  signs  of  ancient][^fraud  remain;
Still  shall  the  lust  of  empire  and  of  gain
Distract  the  world,  nor  yet  my  destined  sway
Relume  creation  with  its  genial  ray.
Reproach  will  come,  and  in  my  church  arise
Base  ministers  who  will  my  name  despise.
But  steady  vengeance  shall  the  world  pursue
And  future  ills  reward  the  crimes  they  do.
