Fierce  Magog's  sons  shall  in  the  Bast  embrace
A  cursed  law  with  Ishmael's  wand'ring  race ;
While  all  the  West  a  fiercer  tyrant  spoils,
Diffusing  poison  through  the  neighboring  isles.
Nay,  the  unhappy  gangrene  shall  disperse

^Diocletian,  some  say,  poisoned  himself;  Maximian  abdi-
cated, but,  being  caught  plotting  against  Constantine,  was  hanged
for  his  reward.
^  Constantine  the  Great.
347


The  Life  of  Christ

Its  dire  contaj^^on  round  the  universe.
Tliis  Catholic  mischief  widely  will  prevail.
And  stars  that  fall  display  the  dragon's  tail.
This  monster  will  terrestrial  kings  dethrone^
Andy  leagued  with  devils,  reign  supreme  alone;
The  God  of  Heaven  with  blasphemies  oppose,
Defy  his  power  and  abrogate  his  laws;
And  he  who  does  arraign  these  cursed  deeds,
Dies  by  the  ax,  or  at  the  fagot  bleeds.
But  first,  what  Uts  must  be  removed  away,*^
Rome's  stately  glories  must  in  dust  decay ;
Then  shall  this  name  of  blasphemies  arise,
And  hurl  defiance  to  the  distant  skies ;
Platt'ry  and  murder  shall  his  title  gain,
And  arts  and  arms  that  title  shall  maintain.
He,  though  debauched,  shall  abstinence  enjoin,
And  basely  aim  to  frustrate  God's  design;
Marriage  with  him  shall  criminal  be  grown,
While  lusts  of  Sodom  shall  be  all  his  own.
Long  shall  he  reign ;  but  when  he  sits  on  high,
Sits  most  secure  of  fate,  his  fall  is  nigh.f
Meanwhile  a  swan  in  Gomer's  fields  will  rise,^
Who  shall  his  laws,  as  he  does  mine,  despise.
Repenting  kings  shall  then  abhor  the  whore,^^


♦Rev.  xii.  4.
**  This  the  ancient  Christians  interpreted  of  the  Roman  Empire.
See  2  Thess.  ii.  7.
t  Rev.  xviii.  7,  8.
