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Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died

Lactantius

Chapter 37

About this work

Author: Lactantius

Chap. XXXVII.

While occupied in this plan, he received letters

‹ Chapter 36 Chapter 38 ›

from

Constantine

which

deterred

him

from

proceeding

in

its

execution

,

so

for

a

time

he

dissembled

his

purpose

;

nevertheless

any

Christian

that

fell

within

his

power

was

privily

thrown

into

the

sea

.

Neither

did

he

cease

from

his

custom

of

sacrificing

every

day

in

the

palace

.

It

was

also

an

invention

of

his

to

cause

all

animals

used

for

food

to

be

slaughtered

,

not

by

cooks

,

but

by

priests

at

the

altars

;

so

that

nothing

was

ever

served

up

,

unless

foretasted

,

consecrated

,

and

sprinkled

with

wine

,

according

to

the

rites

of

paganism

;

and

whoever

was

invited

to

an

entertainment

must

needs

have

returned

from

it

impure

and

defiled

.

In

all

things

else

he

resembled

his

preceptor

Galerius

.

For

if

aught

chanced

to

have

been

left

untouched

by

Diocles

and

Maximian

,

that

did

Daia

greedily

and

shamelessly

carry

off

.

And

now

the

granaries

of

each

individual

were

shut

,

and

all

warehouses

sealed

up

,

and

taxes

,

not

yet

due

,

were

levied

by

anticipation

.

Hence

famine

,

from

neglect

of

cultivation

,

and

the

prices

of

all

things

enhanced

beyond

measure

.

Herds

and

flocks

were

driven

from

their

pasture

for

the

daily

sacrifice

.

By

gorging

his

soldiers

with

the

flesh

of

sacrifices

,

he

so

corrupted

them

,

that

they

disdained

their

wonted

pittance

in

corn

,

and

wantonly

threw

it

away

.

Meanwhile

Daia

recompensed

his

bodyguards

,

who

were

very

numerous

,

with

costly

raiment

and

gold

medals

,

made

donatives

in

silver

to

the

common

soldiers

and

recruits

,

and

bestowed

every

sort

of

largess

on

the

barbarians

who

served

in

his

army

.

As

to

grants

of

the

property

of

living

persons

,

which

he

made

to

his

favourites

whenever

they

chose

to

ask

what

belonged

to

another

,

I

know

not

whether

the

same

thanks

might

not

be

due

to

him

that

are

given

to

merciful

robbers

,

who

spoil

without

murdering

.