117. Euseb. 1. vi. c. 28. It may be presumed that the
success of the Christians had exasperated the increasing
bigotry of the Pagans. Dion Cassius, who composed his
history under the former reign, had most probably intended
for the use of his master those counsels of persecution
which he ascribes to a better age, and to the favourite of
Augustus. Concerning this oration of Maecenas, or rather of
Dion, I may refer to my own unbiased opinion (vol. i. p. 55,
note 25), and to the Abbe de la Bleterie (Memoires de
l'Academie, tom xxiv. p. 303; tom. xxv. p. 432).