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63
EUSEBIUS.
Learnèd, devout, and liberal, he possestThe heart's love of imperial Constantine;
Who, dying, whispered of that luminous Sign,
The Cross in heaven with which his eyes were blest;
Of that repeated Vision which addrest
To his uncertain faith the words divine—
‘With this Cross conquer’—‘Let this symbol shine
A glorious standard o'er thy warrior-crest.’
Thus of the Cross above Eusebius told,
On the blue sky inscribed with golden glow;
But his laborious chronicles unfold
How that same Cross was writ in blood below,
Until, through pain and prayer and witness bold,
Earth saw the trampled Church to empire grow.
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