Page:Oriental Sketches Dramatic Sketches and Tales.pdf/82



"Zozimus, a pagan that envied the honour of Constantine the Great, makes this tale to discredit him in his history. That Constantine had put his wife Faustina and his son Crispus to death; after which, being haunted by an ill conscience that gave him no quiet, he sought amongst the heathen priests for expiation, and they could give him no peace; but he was told that the religion of Christians was so audacious as to pardon all sins, be they never so horrible. Is not this to commend the Emperor and his religion under the form of a dispraise; for what rest could a troubled mind attain to from the rites and superstitions of idol gods?"

Avaunt, ye grisly phantoms, nor prophane The sacred temple of the gods! Thou pale