 | A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford
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When Dioclesian had his fury spent
And Maximinians venom out had vent
The Empire voiding them as Excrements
Constantius who alone himselfe Contents
With England France, and Spain; lets Italy
Go with the rest, then of the Monarchy
To Maximinus Emperour i'th'East
Who did his sons then two indeed invest
As Cesars, Called Maximinus, one
The other nam'd Severus as was known.
Constantius then made Constantine his son
His Cesar too, as Maximine had done.
The Roman Souldiers then Maxentius made
The Emperour, Maximians Son, its said,
'Gainst whom Severus was from Asia
Sent by his Father but fell in the fray.
Hence Maximinus in his place did make
The Dane Licinius Cesar, these up take
The patronage of Divell Worship all
(Constantius and his son excepted) fall
Upon Christs flock untill by Constantine
They were Destroy'd, and Gospell grace did shine
Which when it did a filthy fog soon rose
That did the Sun of Righteousness oppose
Hence such hard Cracks with Flashes out oft broke
That many holy ones fell by this Stroake.
| A transcript of Edward Taylor's Metrical History of Christianity by Donald E. Stanford
| |
|
