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And though thy present act is most audacious, Yet will I spare thy life.

If thou would'st spare my life, and to that grace Add all the wealth of Rome, and all the power Of Rome's great Lord, I would not for the bribe Be other than I am, or what I am Basely deny.

Thou art a Christian, then? Thou art a maniac!

I am a man, who, seeing in the flames Those dauntless Christians suffer, long'd to know What power could make them brave the fear of death, Disgrace, and infamy.—And I have learnt That they adore a God,—one God, supreme, Who, over all men, his created sons, Rules as a father; and beholding sin, Growth of corruption, mar this earthly race, Sent down to earth his sinless heavenly Son, Who left, with generous devoted love, His state of exaltation and of glory, To win them back to virtue, yea, to virtue Which shall be crown'd with never-ending bliss. I've learnt that they with deep adoring gratitude Pay homage to that Son, the sent of God, Who here became a willing sacrifice