CONTENTS.

Preface to Edition of 1826, xvii

Preface to First and Second Editions, xix

THE MARTYRS.

BOOK FIRST.

Invocation. Exposition. Diocletian holds the Reins of the Roman Empire. Under the government of this Prince, the Temples of the true God begin to dispute Homage with the Temples of Idols. Hell prepares to join Battle in a Final Combat to overthrow the Altars of the Son of Man. The Eternal permits the Demons to persecute the Church, in order to try the Faithful; but the Faithful will come out triumphant from the Trial; the Standard of Salvation will be planted on the Throne of the Universe ; the World will owe this Victory to two Victims chosen by God. Who are these Victims? Apostrophe to the Muse that is about to make them known. The Family of Homer. Demodocus, the last Descendant of the Homeride, Priest of Homer in the Temple of this Poet, on Mount Ithome, in Messenia. Description of Messenia. Demodocus consecrates to the Worship of the Muses his only Daughter, Cymodoce, in order to conceal her from the Pursuit of Hierocles, Pro-consul of Achaia and Favorite of Galerius. Cymodoce goes alone with her Nurse to the Festival of the Lymnaean Diana ; she loses her Way, and finds a Young Man asleep by the side of a Fountain. Eudorus conducts Cymodoce back to the house of Demodocus. Demodocus sets out with his Daughter to offer Presents to Eudorus, and to thank the Family of Lasthenes, 31

BOOK SECOND.

Arrival of Demodocus and Cymodoce in Arcadia. They meet an old man at the Tomb of Aglaus of Psophis, who conducts them to the Field where the Family of Lasthenes are gathering in their Harvest. Cymodoce recognizee Eudorus. Demodocus discovers that Lasthenes' Family are Christians. Return to the House of Lasthenes. Customs of the Christians. Evening Prayer. Arrival of Cyril, Bishop of Lacedaemon, the Confessor and Martyr, who comes to urge Eudorus to relate his Adventures. The evening Repast. The Family and Strangers take their seats after Supper in the Orchard on the Banks of the Alpheus. Demodocus asks Cymodoce to play the Lyre. Song of Cymodoce. Eudorus sings in his Turn. The two Families retire to Rest. Bream of Cyril. Prayer of the holy Bishop, 49

BOOK THIRD

The Prayer of Cyril ascends to the Throne of the Almighty. Heaven. The Saints and Angels. Tabernacle of the Mother of the Saviour. Sanctuary of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit. The Trinity. The Prayer of Cyril is presented to the Most High, who receives it, but declares that the Bishop of Lacedaemon is not the Victim that must ransom the Christians. Eudorus is chosen as the Victim. Reasons for his Choice. The Celestial Forces take up Arms. Canticle of the Saints and Angels, 67

BOOK FOURTH.

Cyril. The Christian Family. Demodocus and Cymodoce meet again on an Island at the confluence of the Ladon and Alpheus, to hear the Son of Lasthenes recount his Adventures. Commencement of the Recital of Eudorus. Origin of the family of Lasthenes. It opposes the Romans at the time of the Invasion of Greece. The eldest of Lasthenes' Family is obliged to repair as a Hostage to Rome. The Family of Lasthenes embraces Christianity. Childhood of Eudorus. He sets out at the age of sixteen for Rome as a Substitute for his Father. The Tempest. Description of the Archipelago. Arrival of Eudorus in Italy. Description of Rome. Eudorus contracts an intimate Friendship with Jerome, Augustine, and Prince Constantine, the son of Constantius. Characters of Jerome, Augustine, and Constantine. Eudorus is presented at Court. Diocletian. Galerius. Court of Diocletian. The Sophist, Hierocles, Proconsul of Achaia and favorite of Galerius. Enmity of Eudorus and Hierocles. Eudorus falls into the irregularities of Youth, and forgets his Religion. Marcellinus, Bishop of Rome. He threatens Eudorus with Excommunication if he does not return to the bosom of the Church. Excommunication hurled against Eudorus. Amphitheatre of Titus. Forebodings, 79

BOOK FIFTH.

Continuation of the Recital. The Court goes to pass the Summer at Baias Naples. House of Aglaia. Walks of Eudorus, Augustine, and Jerome. Their Conversation at the Tomb of Scipio. Thraseas, the Hermit of Vesuvius. His History. Separation of the three Friends. Eudorus returns to Rome with the Court. The Catacombs. Adventure of the Empress Prisca and her daughter Valeria. Eudorus, banished from the Court, is sent an Exile to the Armies of Constantius. He quits Rome, and journeys through Italy and Gaul. He arrives at Agrippina, on the Banks of the Rhine. He finds the Roman Army ready to carry War into the Country of the Franks. He serves as a Private Soldier among the Cretan Archers, who compose, with the Gauls, the Vanguard of the Army of Constantius, 102

BOOK SIXTH.

Continuation of the Story. March of the Roman Army through Batavia. Encounter with the Army of the Franks. The Field of Battle. Order and Enumeration of the Roman Army. Order and Enumeration of the Army of the Franks. Pharamond, Clodion and M erovius. Songs of the Warriors." War Songs of the Franks. Beginning of the Action. Attack of the Gauls upon the Franks. Cavalry Combat. Remarkable Encounter between Vercingetorix, Chief of the Gauls, and Merovius, Son of the King of the Franks. Vercingetorix is vanquished. The Romans give Way. The Christian Legion descends the Hill and renews the Combat. Melee. The Franks retreat to their Camp. Eudorus obtains the civic Crown, and is appointed Chief of the Greeks by Constantius. The Combat recommences at Break of Day. Attack on the Camp of the Franks by the Romans. Rising of the Waves. The Romans flee before the Sea. Eudorus, after a long Struggle, falls, pierced with several Wounds. He is succored by a Slave of the Franks, who bears him to a Cavern, 125

BOOK SEVENTH.

Continuation of the Recital. Eudorus becomes the Slave of Pharamond. History of Zacharius. Clothilde, the wife of Pharamond. Dawn of Christianity in the Country of the Franks. Customs of the Franks. Return of Spring. The Chase. Northern Barbarians. Tomb of Ovid. Eudorus saves the life of Merovius. Merovius promises Liberty to Eudorus. Return of the Hunters to the Camp of Pharamond. The Goddess Hertha. Festival of the Franks. Deliberations with the Romans on the Question of Peace or War. Dispute of Camulogemis and Chloderic. The Franks decide to treat for Peace. Eudorus is freed, and goes to make Proposals of Peace to Constantius. Zacharius conducts Eudorus to the Frontiers of Gaul. Their Adieus, 145

BOOK EIGHTH.

Interruption of the Recital. Beginning of the Love of Eudorus and Cymodoce. Satan seeks to profit by this Love to trouble the Church. Hell. Assembly of the Demons. Speech of the Demon of Homicide. Speech of the Demon of False Wisdom. Speech of the Demon of Voluptuousness. Speech of Satan. The Demons spread themselves over the Earth, 166

BOOK NINTH.

Resumption of the Recital of Eudorus. Eudorns at the Court of Constantius. He passes into the Island of Britain. He obtains Triumphal Honors. His Return to Gaul. He is appointed Commandant of Armorica. The Gauls. Armorica. Episode of Velleda, 179

BOOK TENTH.

Continuation of the Recital. Conclusion of the Episode of Velleda, 195

BOOK ELEVENTH.

Continuation of the Recital. Repentance of Eudorus. His public Penitence. He quits the Army. He repairs to Egypt to ask permission of Diocletian to return to his Country. The Voyage*. Alexandria. The Nile. Egypt. Eudorus obtains his return from Diocletian. The Thebais. Return of Eudorus to his Father's House. Conclusion of the Recital, 211

BOOK TWELFTH.

Invocation to the Holy Spirit. Conspiracy of the Demons against the Church. Diocletian orders the Christians to be numbered. Hierocles sets out for Achaia. The Love of Eudorus and Cymodoce, 233

BOOK THIRTEENTH.

Cymodoce Declares to her Father her Intention of embracing the Christian Religion, in order to become the Wife of Eudorus. Irresolution of Demodocus. They learn of the Arrival of Hierocles in Achaia. Astarte attacks Eudorus, and is conquered by the Angel of Holy Love. Demodocus consents to give his Daughter to Eudorus, to escape the Pursuit of Hierocles. Jealousy of Hierocles. Enumeration of the Christians in Arcadia. Hierocles proffers an Accusation against Eudorus to Diocletian. Cymodoce and Demodocus set out for Lace daemon, 247

BOOK FOURTEENTH.

Description of Laconia. Arrival of Demodocus at the Residence of Cyril. Instruction of Cymodoce. Astarte sends the Demon of Jealousy to Hierocles. Cymodoce repairs to the Church to be betrothed to Eudorus. Ceremonies of the Primitive Church. A band of Soldiers, by the order of Hierocles, disperses the Believers. Eudorus Rescues Cymodoce, and defends her at the Tomb of Leonidas. He receives Orders to repair to Rome. The two Families resolve to send Cymodoce to Jerusalem, in order to place her under the Protection of the Mother of Constantine. Eudorus and Cymodoce set out in order to embark at Athens, 261

BOOK FIFTEENTH.

Athens. Adieus of Cymodoce, Eudorus and Demodocus. Cymodoce embarks with Dorotheas for Joppa. Eudorus embarks at the same time for Ostia. The Mother of the Saviour sends Gabriel to the Angel of the Seas. Eudorus arrives at Borne. He %ds the Senate ready to assemble, in order to pronounce upon the Fate of the Christians. He is chosen to plead their Cause. Hierocles arrives at Rome ; he is charged by the Sophists with defending their Sect, and accusing the Christians. Symmachus, High Priest of Jupiter, is to address the Senate in behalf of the ancient Gods of the Country, 280

BOOK SIXTEENTH.

Harangues of Symciachus, Hierocles, and Eudorus. Diocletian consents to issue the Edict of Persecution, but wishes first to consult the Sibyl of Cranae 299

BOOK SEVENTEENTH.

Voyage of Cymodoce. She arrives at Joppa. She ascends to Jerusalem. Helena receives her as her Daughter. Holy Week. Response of the Sibyl of Corns. Hierocles dispatches a Centurion to reclaim Cymodoce. Diocletian issues the Edict of Persecution, 318

BOOK EIGHTEENTH.

Joy of Hell. Galerius, counselled by Hierocles, forces Diocletian to abdicate. Preparation of the Christians for Martyrdom. Constantine, aided by Eudorus, escapes from Rome and flees to Constantius. Eudorus is cast into the Dungeons. Hierocles, Prime Minister of Galerius. General Persecution. The Demon of Tyranny bears to Jerusalem the News of the Persecution. The Centurion sent by Hierocles sets Fire to the Holy Places. Dorotheus saves Cymodoce. Meeting with Jerome in the Grotto of Bethlehem, 333

BOOK NINETEENTH.

Return of Demodocus to the Temple of Homer. His Grief. He learns the News of the Persecution. He sets out for Rome, where he supposes Cymodoce to have been taken by the order of Hierocles. Cymodoce is baptized in the Jordan by Jerome. She reaches Ptolemais, and embarks for Greece. A Tempest, raised by the command of God, forces Cymodoce to land in Italy, 355

BOOK TWENTIETH.

Cymodoce, arrested by the Satellites of Hierocles, is conducted to Rome. Public Outbreak. Cymodoce, freed from the Hands of Hierocles, is thrown into Prison as a Christian. Disgrace of Hierocles. He receives an Order to depart for Alexandra. Letter of Eudorus to Cymodoce, 373 BOOK TWENTY-FIRST.

Eudorus is released from his Penitence. Complaints of Demodocus. Prison of Cymodoce. Cymodoce receives the Letter of Eudorus. Acts of the Martyrdom of Eudorus. Purgatory, 390 BOOK TWENTY-SECOND.

The Destroying Angel smites Galerius and Hierocles. Hierocles goes to find the Judge of the Christians. Return of the Messenger sent to Diocletian. Sadness of Eudorus, Demodocus and Cymodoce. The Repast of Freedom. Temptation, 403

BOOK TWENTY-THIRD.

Satan reanimates the Fanaticism of the People. Feast of Bacchus. Explanation of the Letter of Festus. Death of Hierocles. The Angel of Hope descends to Cymodoce. Cymodoce receives the Robe of Martyrdom. Dorotheus takes Cymodoce away from the Prison. Joy of Eudorus and the Confessors. Cymodoce finds her Father. The Angel of Sleep, 414

BOOK TWENTY-FOURTH.

Adieus to the Muse. Illness of Galerius. The Amphitheatre of Vespasian. Eudorus is led to Martyrdom. Michael plunges Satan into the Abyss. Cymodoce escapes from her Father, and goes to the Amphitheatre to find Eudorus. Galerius learns that Constantine has been proclaimed Caesar. Martyrdom of the two spouses. Triumph of the Christian Religion, 433