Behold, how awfully he walks the round!
God is abroad, and, wondrous in his ways,
The rise of empires, and their fall, surveys;
}
More, might I say, than with an usual eye, }
He sees his bleeding church in ruins lie, }
And hears the souls of saints beneath his altar cry. }
Already has he lifted high the sign,
Which crowned the conquering arms of Constantine.[295]
The moon[296] grows pale at that presaging sight,