This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 Excerpt: ...when freshly told; And over their story hangs a praise Growing nobler by lapse of days. Such are the tales of early date Concerning bishop and celibate, Concerning wonders the martyrs wrought, Concerning treasures the churches brought, Concerning much now long left out, Which quaint Baronius wrote about. His are the ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 Excerpt: ...when freshly told; And over their story hangs a praise Growing nobler by lapse of days. Such are the tales of early date Concerning bishop and celibate, Concerning wonders the martyrs wrought, Concerning treasures the churches brought, Concerning much now long left out, Which quaint Baronius wrote about. His are the folios, dark with age, Wherein are annals of seer and sage, Printed when Faust's inventive hand Not long had lifted the glowing brand Of that pure fire of a knowledge freed From harsh dominion and selfish creed. Here, on the page of each bulky tome A black-art mystery seems at home. Here, in such Latin as classics hate, Is record of Constantine the Great. The marvellous history here unrolls Of sainted heroes with holy souls, Of Peter and Paul and divers others, Bishops and deacons and lay-brothers; Of women, mighty in all good deeds, And "ladies elect" in widow's weeds; Of Nero's circus, when games began Where each blazing torch was a living man; Of caves which ramify under Rome, Where the threatened Christians found a home, Holding a church in a catacomb. These, and the like, each student still Can read and ponder as he will: Yet one old legend may be spared, Culled from a myriad undeclared. Here followeth then, in modern phrase, Baronius' story of ancient days. Constantia, sister of Constantine, Was given to thought of things divine. Sylvester had laid upon her head Baptismal blessing before she wed, And thus at Rome, in the holy place, She followed the fashion of her race, Owning herself by the bishop's hands No longer subject to Satan's bands. Her husband, Caius Licinius, While in the East, grew mutinous, And, fighting against his rightful liege At Nicomedia, lost the siege; Ending at last a conquered lord, And dying under the head...
Read Less