40. Caecilius, de M. P. c. 44. It is certain that this
historical declamation was composed and published while
Licinius, sovereign of the East, still preserved the
friendship of Constantine and of the Christians. Every
reader of taste must perceive that the style is of a very
different and inferior character to that of Lactantius; and
such indeed is the judgment of Le Clerc and Lardner
(Bibliotheque Ancienne et Moderne, tom. iii. p. 438;
Credibility of the Gospel, etc., part ii. vol. vii. p. 94)
Three arguments from the title of the book, and from the
names of Donatus and Caecilius, are produced by the
advocates for Lactantius (see the P. Lestocq, tom. ii. p.
46-60). Each of these proofs is singly weak and defective;
but their concurrence has great weight. I have often
fluctuated, and shall tamely follow the Colbert MS. in
calling the author (whoever he was) Caecilius.