The Martyrs By M. de Chateaubriand

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