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).