—Ductor fortissimus armis,
Conditor et legum celeberrimus, ore manûque
Consultor patriæ, sed non consultor habendæ
Religionis, amans tercentûm millia Divûm.
Perfidus ille Deo, quamvis non prefidus orbi. Prudent. Apotheosis, 450, etc.
The consciousness of a generous sentiment seems to have raised the Christian poet above his usual mediocrity.