Excerpt from Parthenia: Or, the Last Days of Paganism

The period at which the events represented in the following pages occurred, or (as in one or more exceptions) are imagined to have occurred, was the middle of the fourth century, - the time when Paganism and Christianity were nearly balanced in their earthly forces, when a Christianized Paganism and a Paganized Christianity would naturally array themselves against each other. This was the time for a leading mind to appear as the vindicator or restorer of the old religion.

Julian, the person who enjoyed this unenviable distinction, received his early education under Christian influences. The causes of his subsequent opposition to Christianity may be easily found in the character of his cousin, the reigning Emperor, - who was a fanatical Christian, and also his deadliest enemy, - and in the influences afterwards affecting him.

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