Eusebius of Caesarea
Historia Ecclesiastica
BOOK 9

Introduction

τάδε καὶ ἡ ἐνάτη περιέχει βίβλος τῆς Ἐκκλησιαστικῆς ἱστορίας

The Ninth Book of the Ecclesiastical History contains the follorning:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 περὶ τῆς ἐπιπλάστου ἀνέσεως .
On the Feigned Relaxation.
Chapter 2 περὶ τῆς μετέπειτα διαστροφῆς .
On the Change for the Worse That Ensued.
Chapter 3 περὶ τοῦ κατὰ ἈντιόχειανAntioch νεοπαγοῦς ξοάνου .
On the New-Made Idol at Αntiοch.
Chapter 4 περὶ τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ψηφισμάτων .
On the Petitions Against Us.
Chapter 5 περὶ τῶν ἐπιπλάστων ὑπομνημάτων .
On the Forged Memoirs.
Chapter 6 περὶ τῶν ἐν τῷδε τῷ χρόνῳ μεμαρτυρηκότων .
On Those Who Were Martyred at This Time.
Chapter 7 περὶ τῆς καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἐν στήλαις ἀνατεθείσης γραφῆς .
On the Document Against Us Set Up on Tablets
Chapter 8 περὶ τῶν μετὰ ταῦτα συμβεβηκότων ἐν λιμῷ καὶ λοιμῷ καὶ πολέμοις .
On the Subsequent Events: the Famine, Pestilence, and Wars.
Chapter 9 περὶ τῆς τῶν τυράννων καταστροφῆς τοῦ βίου , καὶ οἵαις ἐχρήσαντο πρὸ τῆς τελευτῆς φωναῖς .
On the Close of the Tyrants' Lives, and What Expressions They Made Use of Before the End.
Chapter 10 περὶ τῆς τῶν θεοφιλῶν βασιλέων νίκης .
On the Victory of the God-Beloved Εmperors.
Chapter 11 περὶ τῆς ὑστάτης ἀπωλείας τῶν τῆς θεοσεβείας ἐχθρῶν .
On the Final Destruction On of the Enemies of Godliness.

Chapter 1

1-1 Τὰ μὲν δὴ τῆς παλινῳδίας τοῦ προτεθέντος βασιλικοῦ νεύματος ἥπλωτο τῆς ἈσίαςAsia πάντῃ καὶ πανταχοῦ κατά τε τὰς ἀμφὶ ταύτην ἐπαρχίας ·	The imperial edict of recantation, which has been quoted above, was posted in all parts of Asia and in the adjoining provinces.
1-2 ὧν τοῦτον ἐπιτελεσθέντων τὸν τρόπον ΜαξιμῖνοςMaximin, Maximinus , ὁ ἐπ᾽ ἀνατολῆς τύραννος , δυσσεβέστατος εἰ καί τις ἄλλος , καὶ τῆς εἰς τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεὸν εὐσεβείας πολεμιώτατος γεγονώς , οὐδαμῶς τοῖς γραφεῖσιν ἀρεσθείς , ἀντὶ τοῦ προτεθέντος γράμματος λόγῳ προστάττει τοῖς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄρχουσιν τὸν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἀνεῖναι πόλεμον .	After this had been done, Maximinus, the tyrant in the East — a most impious man, if there ever was one, and most hostile to the religion of the God of the universe — being by no means satisfied with its contents, instead of sending the above-quoted decree to the governors under him, gave them verbal commands to relax the war against us.
1-3 ἐπεὶ γὰρ αὐτῷ μὴ ἐξῆν ἄλλως τῇ τῶν κρειττόνων ἀντιλέγειν κρίσει , τὸν προεκτεθέντα νόμον ἐν παραβύστῳ θεὶς καὶ ὅπως ἐν τοῖς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν μέρεσιν μὴ εἰς προῦπτον ἀχθείη , φροντίσας , ἀγράφῳ προστάγματι τοῖς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄρχουσιν τὸν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν διωγμὸν ἀνεῖναι προστάττει ·	For since he could not in any other way oppose the decision of his superiors, keeping the law which had been already issued secret, and taking care that it might not be made known in the district under him, he gave an unwritten order to his governors that they should relax the persecution against us.
1-4 οἳ δὲ τὰ τῆς παρακελεύσεως ἀλλήλοις διὰ γραφῆς ὑποσημαίνουσιν .	They communicated the command to each other in writing.
1-5 . ὁ γοῦν παρ᾽ αὐτοῖς τῷ τῶν ἐξοχωτάτων ἐπάρχων ἀξιώματι τετιμημένος ΣαβῖνοςSabinus πρὸς τοὺς κατ᾽ ἔθνος ἡγουμένους τὴν‎ βασιλέως ἐμφαίνει γνώμην διὰ ῬωμαϊκῆςLatin, Roman ἐπιστολῆς ·	Sabinus, at least, who was honoured with the highest official rank among them, communicated the will of the emperor to the provincial governors in a Latin epistle,
1-6 ἧς καὶ αὐτῆς ἡ ἑρμηνεία τοῦτον περιέχει τὸν τρόπον ·	the translation of which is as follows:
1-7 “Λιπαρωτάτῃ καὶ καθωσιωμένῃ σπουδῇ ἡ θειότης τῶν δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν θειοτάτων αὐτοκρατόρων πάντων τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰς διανοίας πρὸς τὴν‎ ὁσίαν καὶ ὀρθὴν τοῦ ζῆν ὁδὸν περιαγαγεῖν ἔτι πάλαι ὥρισεν , ὅπως καὶ οἱ ἀλλοτρίᾳ ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin συνηθείᾳ ἀκολουθεῖν δοκοῦντες τὰς ὀφειλομένας θρῃσκείας τοῖς ἀθανάτοις θεοῖς ἐπιτελοῖεν ·	“With continuous and most devoted earnestness their Majesties, our most divine masters, the emperors, formerly directed the minds of all men to follow the holy and correct course of life, that those also who seemed to live in a manner foreign to that of the Romans, should render the worship due to the immortal gods.
1-8 ἀλλ᾽ ἡ τινῶν ἔνστασις καὶ τραχυτάτη βουλὴ εἰς τοσοῦτον περιέστη ὡς μήτε λογισμῷ δικαίῳ τῆς κελεύσεως δύνασθαι ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας προθέσεως ἀναχωρεῖν μήτε τὴν‎ ἐπικειμένην τιμωρίαν αὐτοὺς ἐκφοβεῖν .	But the obstinacy and most unconquerable determination of some went so far that they could neither be turned back from their purpose by the just reason of the command, nor be intimidated by the impending punishment.
1-9 ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν συνέβαινεν ἐκ τοῦ τοιούτου τρόπου πολλοὺς εἰς κίνδυνον ἑαυτοὺς περιβάλλειν , κατὰ τὴν‎ προσοῦσαν εὐγένειαν τῆς εὐσεβείας ἡ θειότης τῶν δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν τῶν δυνατωτάτων αὐτοκρατόρων ἀλλότριον εἶναι τῆς προθέσεως τῆς θειοτάτης τῆς ἰδίας δοκιμάζουσα τὸ ἐκ τῆς τοιαύτης αἰτίας εἰς τοσοῦτον κίνδυνον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους περιβάλλειν , ἐκέλευσεν διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς καθοσιώσεως τῇ σῇ ἀγχινοίᾳ διαχαράξαι ἵν᾽ εἴ τις τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians τοῦ ἰδίου ἔθνους τὴν‎ θρῃσκείαν μετιὼν εὑρεθείη , τῆς κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ‎ ἐνοχλήσεως καὶ τοῦ κινδύνου αὐτὸν ἀποστήσειας καὶ μή τινα ἐκ ταύτης τῆς προφάσεως τιμωρίᾳ κολαστέον νομίσειας ,	Since therefore it has come to pass that by such conduct many have brought themselves into danger, their Majesties, our most powerful masters, the emperors, in the exalted nobility of piety, esteeming it foreign to their Majesties' purpose to bring men into so great danger for such a cause, have commanded their devoted servant, myself, to write to your wisdom, that if any Christian be found engaging in the worship of his own people, you should abstain from molesting and endangering him, and should not suppose it necessary to punish any one on this pretext.
1-10 ὁπότε τῇ τοῦ τοσούτου χρόνου συνελεύσει συνέστη αὐτοὺς μηδενὶ τρόπῳ πεπεῖσθαι δεδυνῆσθαι ὅπως ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων ἐνστάσεων ἀναχωρήσαιεν .	For it has been proved by the experience of so long a time that they can in no way be persuaded to abandon such obstinate conduct.
1-11 γράψαι τοιγαροῦν πρὸς τοὺς λογιστὰς καὶ τοὺς στρατηγοὺς καὶ τοὺς πραιποσίτους τοῦ πάγου ἑκάστης πόλεως ἡ σὴ ἐπιστρέφεια ὀφείλει ἵνα γνοῖεν περαιτέρω αὐτοῖς τούτου τοῦ γράμματος 1 φροντίδα ποιεῖσθαι μὴ προσήκειν .”	Let it be your solicitude's duty, therefore, to write to the curators and the duumvirs and the magistrates of the district of every city, that they may know that it is not necessary for them to give further attention to this letter.”1

1-12 Ἐπὶ τούτοις οἱ κατ᾽ ἐπαρχίαν τὴν‎ τῶν γραφέντων αὐτοῖς ἐπαληθεύειν προαίρεσιν νενομικότες , λογισταῖς καὶ στρατηγοῖς καὶ τοῖς κατ᾽ ἀγροὺς ἐπιτεταγμένοις τὴν‎ βασιλικὴν διὰ γραμμάτων ἐμφανῆ καθιστῶσι γνώμην ·	Whereupon, the rulers of the provinces, having concluded that the purport of what had been written to them was a genuine expression, made known by means of letters the imperial resolve to curatos, duumvirs and rural magistrates.
1-13 οὐ μόνον δ᾽ αὐτοῖς διὰ γραφῆς ταῦτα προυχώρει , καὶ ἔργοις δὲ πολὺ πρότερον ,	And not only did they further these measures by writing, but also much more so by action.
1-14 ὡς ἂν νεῦμα βασιλικὸν εἰς πέρας ἄγοντες , ὅσους εἶχον δεσμωτηρίοις καθειργμένους διὰ τὴν‎ εἰς τὸ θεῖον ὁμολογίαν , εἰς φανερὸν προάγοντες ἠλευθέρουν , ἀνιέντες τούτων δὴ αὐτῶν τοὺς ἐν μετάλλοις ἐπὶ τιμωρίᾳ δεδομένους ·	With a view to carrying out the imperial will, as many as they kept shut up in prisons for their confession of the Deity they brought into the light of day and set free, releasing such of these same persons as were consigned to the mines for punishment.
1-15 τοῦτο γὰρ ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας βασιλεῖ δοκεῖν ὑπειλήφασιν ἠπατημένοι .	For this, in truth, they mistakenly conceived to be the Emperor's wish.
1-16 καὶ δὴ τούτων οὕτως ἐπιτελεσθέντων , ἀθρόως οἷόν τι φῶς ἐκ ζοφερᾶς νυκτὸς ἐκλάμψαν , κατὰ πᾶσαν πόλιν συγκροτουμένας παρῆν ὁρᾶν ἐκκλησίας συνόδους τε παμπληθεῖς καὶ τὰς ἐπὶ τούτων ἐξ ἔθους ἐπιτελουμένας ἀγωγάς ·	And when these things had thus been done, immediately, like a light shining forth in a dark night, one could see in every city congregations gathered and assemblies thronged, and meetings held according to their custom.
1-17 καταπέπληκτο δ᾽ οὐ σμικρῶς ἐπὶ τούτοις πᾶς τις τῶν ἀπίστων ἐθνῶν , τῆς τοσαύτης μεταβολῆς τὸ παράδοξον ἀποθαυμάζων μέγαν τε καὶ μόνον ἀληθῆ τὸν ΧριστιανῶνChristians Θεὸν ἐπιβοώμενος .	And every one of the unbelieving heathen was not a little astonished at these things, wondering at so marvelous a transformation, and exclaiming that the God of the Christians was great and alone true.
1-18 τῶν δ᾽ ἡμετέρων οἳ μὲν τὸν τῶν διωγμῶν ἀγῶνα πιστῶς καὶ ἀνδρικῶς διηθληκότες τὴν‎ πρὸς ἅπαντας αὖθις ἀπελάμβανον παρρησίαν , ὅσοι δὲ τὰ τῆς πίστεως νενοσηκότες τὰς ψυχὰς ἐτύγχανον κεχειμασμένοι , ἀσμένως περὶ τὴν‎ σφῶν θεραπείαν ἔσπευδον , ἀντιβολοῦντες καὶ σωτηρίας δεξιὰν τοὺς ἐρρωμένους αἰτούμενοι τόν τε Θεὸν ἵλεων αὐτοῖς γενέσθαι καθικετεύοντες ·	And some of our people, who had faithfully and bravely sustained the conflict of persecution, again became frank and bold toward all; but as many as had been diseased in the faith and had been shaken in their souls by the tempest, strove eagerly for healing, beseeching and imploring the strong to stretch out to them a saving hand, and supplicating God to be merciful unto them.
1-19 εἶτα δὲ καὶ οἱ γενναῖοι τῆς θεοσεβείας ἀθληταὶ τῆς εἰς τὰ μέταλλα κακοπαθείας ἐλευθερούμενοι ἐπὶ τὰς αὐτῶν ἐστέλλοντο ,	Then also the noble athletes of religion who had been set free from their sufferings in the mines returned to their own homes.
1-20 γαῦροι καὶ φαιδροὶ διὰ πάσης ἰόντες πόλεως εὐφροσύνης τε ἀλέκτου καὶ ἣν οὐδὲ λόγῳ δυνατὸν ἑρμηνεῦσαι παρρησίας ἔμπλεοι .	Happily and joyfully they passed through every city, full of unspeakable pleasure and of a boldness which cannot be expressed in words.
1-21 στίφη δ᾽ οὖν πολυάνθρωπα κατὰ μέσας λεωφόρους καὶ ἀγορὰς ᾠδαῖς καὶ ψαλμοῖς τὸν Θεὸν ἀνυμνοῦντα τὰ τῆς πορείας ἤνυεν ,	Great crowds of men pursued their journey along the highways and through the market-places, praising God with hymns and psalms.
1-22 καὶ τοὺς μετὰ τιμωρίας ἀπηνεστάτης μικρῷ πρόσθεν δεσμίους τῶν πατρίδων ἀπεληλαμένους εἶδες ἂν ἱλαροῖς καὶ γεγηθόσι προσώποις τὰς αὐτῶν ἑστίας ἀπολαμβάνοντας , ὡς καὶ τοὺς πρότερον καθ᾽ ἡμῶν φονῶντας τὸ Θαῦμα παρὰ πᾶσαν ὁρῶντας ἐλπίδα , συγχαίρειν τοῖς γεγενημένοις .	And you might have seen those who a little while before had been driven in bonds from their native countries under a most cruel sentence, returning with bright and joyful faces to their own firesides; so that even they who had formerly thirsted for our blood, when they saw the unexpected wonder, congratulated us on what had taken place.

Chapter 2

2-1 Ταῦτα δ᾽ οὐκέθ᾽ οἷός τε φέρειν ὁ τύραννος μισόκαλος καὶ πάντων ἀγαθῶν ἐπίβουλος ὑπάρχων , ὃν ἔφαμεν τῶν ἐπ᾽ ἀνατολῆς ἄρχειν μερῶν , οὐδ᾽ ὅλους ἐπὶ μῆνας ἓξ τοῦτον ἐπιτελεῖσθαι τὸν τρόπον ἠνέσχετο .	But the tyrant who, as we have said, ruled over the districts of the Orient, a thorough hater of the good and an enemy of every virtuous person, as he was, could no longer bear this; and indeed he did not permit matters to go on in this way quite six months.
2-2 ὅσα δ᾽ οὖν πρὸς ἀνατροπὴν τῆς εἰρήνης μηχανώμενος πρῶτον μὲν εἴργειν ἡμᾶς τῆς ἐν τοῖς κοιμητηρίοις συνόδου διὰ προφάσεως πειρᾶται , εἶτα διά τινων πονηρῶν ἀνδρῶν αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν πρεσβεύεται , τοὺς ἈντιοχέωνAntioch, Antiochians πολίτας παρορμήσας ἐπὶ τὸ μηδαμῶς τινα ΧριστιανῶνChristians τὴν‎ αὐτῶν οἰκεῖν ἐπιτρέπεσθαι πατρίδα ὡς ἐν μεγίστῃ δωρεᾷ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ‎ τυχεῖν ἀξιῶσαι , καὶ ἑτέρους δὲ ταὐτὸν ὑποβαλεῖν διαπράξασθαι ·	Numerous, therefore, were his devices to overturn the peace: at first he attempted on some pretext to shut us out from assembling in the cemeteries,1then through the medium of certain evil men he sent embassies to himself against us, having urged the citizens of Antioch to ask that they might obtain from him, as a very great boon, that he should in no wise permit any of the Christians to inhabit their land, and to contrive that others should make the same suggestion.
2-3 ὧν πάντων ἀρχηγὸς ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς ἈντιοχείαςAntioch ἐπιφύεται ΘεότεκνοςTheotecnus , δεινὸς καὶ γόης καὶ πονηρὸς ἀνὴρ καὶ τῆς προσωνυμίας ἀλλότριος ·	The originator of all this sprang up at Antioch itself in the person of Theotecnus, a clever cheat and an evil man, and quite unlike his name.1

2-4 ἐδόκει δὲ λογιστεύειν τὰ κατὰ τὴν‎ πόλιν .

He was accounted to hold the post of curator1in the city.

Chapter 3

3-1 Πλεῖστα δ᾽ οὖν οὗτος καθ᾽ ἡμῶν στρατευσάμενος καὶ πάντα τρόπον τοὺς ἡμετέρους ὥσπερ τινὰς φῶρας ἀνοσίους ἐκ μυχῶν θηρεῦσαι διὰ σπουδῆς πεποιημένος πάντα τε ἐπὶ διαβολῇ καὶ κατηγορίᾳ τῇ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν μεμηχανημένος , καὶ θανάτου δὲ αἴτιος μυρίοις ὅσοις γεγονώς , τελευτῶν εἴδωλόν τι ΔιὸςDios, Zeus ΦιλίουPhilius μαγγανείαις τισὶν καὶ γοητείαις ἱδρύεται ,

After this man had carried on all kinds of war against us and had caused our people to be diligently hunted up in their retreats, as if they were unholy thieves, and had devised every sort of slander and accusation against us, and become the cause of death to vast numbers, he finally erected a statue of Jupiter Philius1with certain juggleries and magic rites.

3-2 τελετάς τε ἀνάγνους αὐτῷ καὶ μυήσεις ἀκαλλιερήτους ἐξαγίστους τε καθαρμοὺς ἐπινοήσας , μέχρι καὶ βασιλέως τὴν‎ τερατείαν δι᾽ ὧν ἐδόκει χρησμῶν ἐπεδείκνυτο .	And after inventing unholy forms of initiation and ill-omened mysteries in connection with it, and abominable means of purification, he exhibited his jugglery, by oracles which he pretended to utter, even to the emperor;
3-3 καὶ δὴ καὶ οὗτος κολακείᾳ τῇ καθ᾽ ἡδονὴν τοῦ κρατοῦντος ἐπεγείρει κατὰ ΧριστιανῶνChristians τὸν δαίμονα καὶ τὸν Θεὸν δὴ κελεῦσαί φησιν ὑπερορίους τῆς πόλεως καὶ τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν‎ πόλιν ἀγρῶν ὡς ἂν ἐχθροὺς αὐτῷ ΧριστιανοὺςChristians ἀπελάσαι .	and through a flattery which was pleasing to the ruler he aroused the demon against the Christians and said that the god had given command to expel the Christians as his enemies beyond the confines of the city and the neighbouring districts.

Chapter 4

4-1 Τούτῳ δὲ πρώτῳ κατὰ γνώμην πράξαντι πάντες οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν ἐν τέλει τὰς ὑπὸ τὴν‎ αὐτὴν ἀρχὴν πόλεις οἰκοῦντες τὴν‎ ὁμοίαν ὁρμῶνται ψῆφον ποιήσασθαι , προσφιλὲς εἶναι τοῦτο βασιλεῖ τῶν κατ᾽ ἐπαρχίαν ἡγεμόνων συνεωρακότων καὶ τοῦτ᾽ αὐτὸ διαπράξασθαι τοῖς ὑπηκόοις ὑποβεβληκότων ·	This man was the first to act thus of set purpose, and all the other officials who lived in the cities under the same rule hastened to make a like decision, the provincial governors having seen at a glance that it was pleasing to the Emperor, and having suggested to their subjects to do the very same thing.
4-2 ὧν δὴ καὶ αὐτῶν τοῖς ψηφίσμασιν δι᾽ ἀντιγραφῆς ἀσμενέστατα ἐπινεύσαντος τοῦ τυράννου , αὖθις ἐξ ὑπαρχῆς ὁ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἀνεφλέγετο διωγμός .	And when the tyrant had given a most willing assent to their petitions1by a rescript, once more the persecution against us was rekindled.

4-3 Ἱερεῖς δῆτα κατὰ πόλιν τῶν ξοάνων καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἀρχιερεῖς πρὸς αὐτοῦ‎ ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus	Priests for the images were then appointed in the cities, and besides them high priests by Maximinus himself.
4-4 οἱ μάλιστα ταῖς πολιτείαις διαπρέψαντες καὶ διὰ πασῶν ἔνδοξοι γενόμενοι καθίσταντο , οἷς καὶ πολλή τις εἰσήγετο σπουδὴ περὶ τὴν‎ τῶν θεραπευομένων πρὸς αὐτῶν θρῃσκείαν .	The latter were taken from among those who were most distinguished in public life and had gained celebrity in all the offices which they had filled; and who were imbued, moreover, with great zeal for the service of those whom they worshipped.
4-5 ἡ γοῦν ἔκτοπος τοῦ κρατοῦντος δεισιδαιμονία , συνελόντι φάναι , πάντας τοὺς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄρχοντάς τε καὶ ἀρχομένους εἰς τὴν‎ αὐτοῦ‎ χάριν πάντα πράττειν καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἐνῆγεν , ταύτην αὐτῷ χάριν μεγίστην ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἐνόμιζον πρὸς αὐτοῦ‎ τεύξεσθαι εὐεργεσιῶν , ἀντιδωρουμένων , τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν φονᾶν καί τινας εἰς ἡμᾶς καινοτέρας κακοηθείας ἐνδείκνυσθαι .	Indeed, the extraordinary superstition of the emperor, to speak in brief, led all his subjects, both rulers and private citizens, for the sake of gratifying him, to do everything against us, supposing that they could best show their gratitude to him for the benefits which they had received from him, by plotting murder against us and exhibiting toward us any new signs of malignity.

Chapter 5

5-1 Πλασάμενοι δῆτα ΠιλάτουPilate καὶ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ὑπομνήματα πάσης ἔμπλεα κατὰ τοῦ ΧριστοῦChrist βλασφημίας , γνώμῃ τοῦ μείζονος ἐπὶ πᾶσαν διαπέμπονται τὴν‎ ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἀρχὴν διὰ προγραμμάτων παρακελευόμενοι κατὰ πάντα τόπον , ἀγρούς τε καὶ πόλεις , ἐν ἐκφανεῖ ταῦτα τοῖς πᾶσιν ἐκθεῖναι τοῖς τε παισὶ τοὺς γραμματοδιδασκάλους ἀντὶ μαθημάτων ταῦτα μελετᾶν καὶ διὰ μνήμης κατέχειν παραδιδόναι .

Having therefore forged Acts of Pilate and our Saviour full of every kind of blasphemy against Christ, they sent them with the emperor's approval to the whole of the empire subject to him, with written commands that they should be openly posted to the view of all in every place, both in country and city, and that the schoolmasters should give them to their scholars, instead of their customary lessons, to be studied and learned by heart.

5-2 Ὧν τοῦτον ἐπιτελουμένων τὸν τρόπον , ἕτερος στρατοπεδάρχης , ὃν ΔοῦκαDux1 ῬωμαῖοιRomans προσαγορεύουσιν , ἀνὰ τὴν‎ ΔαμασκὸνDamascus τῆς ΦοινίκηςPhoenicia ἐπίρρητά τινα γυναικάρια ἐξ ἀγορᾶς ἀνάρπαστα ποιήσας , βασάνους αὐταῖς ἐπιθήσειν ἠπείλει , λέγειν ἐγγράφως ἐπαναγκάζων , ὡς δὴ εἴησάν ποτε ΧριστιαναὶChristians συνειδεῖέν τε αὐτοῖς ἀθεμιτουργίας ἐν αὐτοῖς τε τοῖς κυριακοῖς πράττειν αὐτοὺς τὰ ἀκόλαστα καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα λέγειν αὐτὰς ἐπὶ διαβολῇ τοῦ δόγματος ἤθελεν ·

While these things were taking place, another military commander, whom the Romans call Dux,1seized some infamous women in the market-place at Damascus in Phoenicia, and by threatening to inflict tortures upon them compelled them to make a written declaration that they had once been Christians and that they were acquainted with their impious deeds — that in their very churches they committed licentious acts; and they uttered as many other slanders against our religion as he wished them to.

5-3 ὧν καὶ οὗτος ἐν ὑπομνήμασιν τὰς φωνὰς ἐντεθείσας βασιλεῖ κοινοῦται , καὶ δὴ προστάξαντος εἰς πάντα τόπον καὶ πόλιν καὶ ταῦτα δημοσιοῦται τὰ γράμματα .

Having taken down their words in writing, he communicated them to the emperor, who commanded that these documents also should be published in every place and city.

Chapter 6

6-1 ἀλλ᾽ ὃ μὲν οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν αὐτόχειρ ἑαυτοῦ γεγονὼς ὁ στρατάρχης δίκην τίννυσιν τῆς κακοτροπίας .	Not long afterward, however, this military commander became his own murderer and paid the penalty for his wickedness.
6-2 Ἡμῶν δ᾽ αὖ φυγαὶ πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ἀνεκινοῦντο καὶ διωγμοὶ χαλεποὶ τῶν τε κατὰ πάσας ἐπαρχίας ἡγουμένων αὖθις δειναὶ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἐπαναστάσεις , ὡς καί τινας ἁλόντας τῶν περὶ τὸν θεῖον λόγον ἐπιφανῶν ἀπαραίτητον τὴν‎ ἐπὶ θανάτῳ ψῆφον καταδέξασθαι .	But we were obliged again to endure exile and severe persecutions, and the governors in every province were once more terribly stirred up against us; so that even some of those illustrious in the Divine Word were seized and had sentence of death pronounced upon them without mercy.
6-3 Ὧν τρεῖς ἐν ἘμίσῃEmesa πόλει τῆς ΦοινίκηςPhoenicia ΧριστιανοὺςChristians σφᾶς ὁμολογήσαντες , θηρίων βορᾷ παραδίδονται ·	Three of them in the city of Emesa in Phoenicia, having confessed that they were Christians, were thrown as food to the wild beasts.
6-4 ἐπίσκοπος ἦν ἐν τούτοις ΣιλβανόςSilvanus , τὴν‎ ἡλικίαν ὑπέργηρως , ἐν ὅλοις ἔτεσιν τεσσαράκοντα τὴν‎ λειτουργίαν διηνυκώς .	Among them was a bishop Silvanus, a very old man, who had filled his office full forty years.
6-5 Κατὰ δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον καὶ ΠέτροςPeter τῶν κατ᾽ ἈλεξάνδρειανAlexandria παροικιῶν προστὰς ἐπιφανέστατα , θεῖον ἐπισκόπων χρῆμα βίου τε ἀρετῆς ἕνεκα καὶ τῆς τῶν ἱερῶν λόγων συνασκήσεως , ἐξ οὐδεμιᾶς ἀνάρπαστος γεγονὼς αἰτίας , μηδεμιᾶς προλαβούσης προσδοκίας , ἀθρόως οὕτως καὶ ἀλόγως , ὡς ἂν ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus προστάξαντος , τὴν‎ κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται ,	At about the same time Peter also, who presided most illustriously over the parishes in Alexandria, a divine example of a bishop on account of the excellence of his life and his study of the sacred Scriptures, being seized for no cause and quite unexpectedly, was, as if by command of Maximinus, immediately and without explanation, beheaded.
6-6 σὺν αὐτῷ δὲ καὶ τῶν κατ᾽ ΑἴγυπτονEgypt ἐπισκόπων ἄλλοι πλείους ταὐτὸν ὑπομένουσιν .	With him also many other bishops of Egypt suffered the same fate.
6-7 ΛουκιανόςLucian τε , ἀνὴρ τὰ πάντα ἄριστος βίῳ τε ἐγκρατεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἱεροῖς μαθήμασιν συγκεκροτημένος , τῆς κατὰ ἈντιόχειανAntioch παροικίας πρεσβύτερος , ἀχθεὶς ἐπὶ τῆς ΝικομηδέωνNicomedia πόλεως , ἔνθα τηνικαῦτα βασιλεὺς διατρίβων ἐτύγχανεν , παρασχών τε ἐπὶ τοῦ ἄρχοντος τὴν‎ ὑπὲρ ἧς προΐστατο διδασκαλίας ἀπολογίαν , δεσμωτηρίῳ παραδοθεὶς κτίννυται .	And Lucian, a presbyter of the parish at Antioch, and a most excellent man in every respect, temperate in life and famed for his learning in sacred things, was brought to the city of Nicomedia, where at that time the emperor happened to be staying, and after delivering before the ruler an apology for the doctrine which he professed, was committed to prison and put to death.
6-8 Τοσαῦτα δῆτα ἐν βραχεῖ τῷ μισοκάλῳ ΜαξιμίνῳMaximinus καθ᾽ ἡμῶν συνεσκεύαστο , ὡς τοῦ προτέρου δοκεῖν πολλῷ χαλεπώτερον τοῦτον ἡμῖν ἐπεγηγέρθαι διωγμόν .	Such trials were brought upon us in a brief time by Maximinus, the enemy of virtue, so that this persecution which was stirred up against us seemed far more cruel than the former.

Chapter7

7-1 Ἀνὰ μέσας γέ τοι τὰς πόλεις , ὃ μηδὲ ἄλλοτέ ποτε , ψηφίσματα πόλεων καθ᾽ ἡμῶν καὶ βασιλικῶν πρὸς ταῦτα διατάξεων ἀντιγραφαὶ στήλαις ἐντετυπωμένα χαλκαῖς ἀνωρθοῦντο , Οἵ τε παῖδες ἀνὰ τὰ διδασκαλεῖα ἸησοῦνJesus, Joshua καὶ Πιλάτονpilate καὶ τὰ ἐφ᾽ ὕβρει πλασθέντα ὑπομνήματα διὰ στόματος κατὰ πᾶσαν ἔφερον ἡμέραν .	The memorials against us and copies of the imperial edicts issued in reply to them were engraved and set up on brazen pillars in the midst of the cities, — a course which had never been followed elsewhere. The children in the schools had daily in their mouths the names of Jesus and Pilate, and the Acts which had been forged in wanton insolence.
7-2 ἐνταῦθά μοι ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι φαίνεται αὐτὴν δὴ ταύτην τὴν‎ ἐν στήλαις ἀνατεθεῖσαν τοῦ ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus γραφὴ ἐντάξαι , ἵν᾽ ὁμοῦ τῆς τε τοῦ ἀνδρὸς θεομισείας ἡ ἀλαζὼν καὶ ὑπερήφανος αὐθάδεια φανερὰ κατασταίη καὶ τῆς παρὰ πόδας αὐτὸν μετελθούσης ἱερᾶς δίκης ἡ ἄϋπνος κατὰ τῶν ἀσεβῶν μισοπονηρία , πρὸς ἧς ἐλαθεὶς οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν τἀναντία περὶ ἡμῶν ἐβουλεύσατό τε καὶ δι᾽ ἐγγράφων νόμων ἐδογμάτισεν .	It appears to me necessary to insert here this document of Maximinus which was posted on pillars, in order that there may be made manifest at the same time the boastful and haughty arrogance of the God-hating man, and the sleepless evil-hating divine vengeance upon the impious, which followed close upon him, and under whose pressure he not long afterward took the opposite course in respect to us and confirmed it by written laws.
7-3 ἀντίγραφον ἑρμηνείας τῆς ΜαξιμινουMaximin πρὸς τα καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ψηφίσματα ἀντιγραφῆς ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν ΤυρῳTyre στήλης μεταληφθεισης	The copy of a translation of the rescript of Maximin in answer to the petitions against us, taken from the tablet at Tyre.1

7-4 “Ἤδη ποτὲ ἡ ἀσθενὴς θρασύτης τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης διανοίας ἴσχυσεν πᾶσαν πλάνης ἀμαυρότητα καὶ ὁμίχλην ἀποσεισαμένη καὶ ἀνασκεδάσασα , ἥτις πρὸ τούτου οὐ τοσοῦτον τῶν ἀσεβῶν ὅσον τῶν ἀθλίων ἀνθρώπων τὰς αἰσθήσεις ὀλεθρίῳ ἀγνοίας σκότῳ ἐνειληθείσας ἐπολιόρκει , ἐπιγνῶναι ὡς τῇ τῶν ἀθανάτων θεῶν φιλαγάθῳ προνοίᾳ διοικεῖται καὶ σταθεροποιεῖται ·	“Now at length the feeble power of the human mind has become able to shake off and to scatter every dark mist of error, which before this besieged the senses of men, who were more miserable than impious, and enveloped them in dark and destructive ignorance; and to perceive that it is governed and established by the beneficent providence of the immortal gods.
7-5 ὅπερ πρᾶγμα ἄπιστόν ἐστιν εἰπεῖν ὅπως κεχαρισμένον ὅπως τε ἥδιστον καὶ προσφιλὲς ἡμῖν γέγονεν ὡς μέγιστον δεῖγμα τῆς θεοφιλοῦς ὑμῶν προαιρέσεως δεδωκέναι , ὁπότε καὶ πρὸ τούτου οὐδενὶ ἄγνωστον ἦν ὁποίας παρατηρήσεως καὶ θεοσεβείας πρὸς τοὺς ἀθανάτους θεοὺς ἐτυγχάνετε ὄντες , οἷς οὐ ψιλῶν καὶ ὑποκένων ῥημάτων πίστις , ἀλλὰ συνεχὴς καὶ παράδοξος ἔργων ἐπισήμων γνωρίζεται .	It passes belief how grateful, how pleasing and how agreeable it is to us, that you have given a most decided proof of your pious resolution; for even before this it was known to every one how much regard and reverence you were paying to the immortal gods, exhibiting not a faith of bare and empty words, but continued and wonderful examples of illustrious deeds.
7-6 διόπερ ἐπαξίως ἡ ὑμετέρα πόλις θεῶν ἀθανάτων φόβον ἵδρυμά τε καὶ οἰκητήριον ἐπικαλοῖτο ·	Wherefore your city may justly be called a seat and dwelling of the immortal gods.
7-7 πολλοῖς γοῦν παραδείγμασιν καταφαίνεται τῇ τῶν οὐρανίων θεῶν αὐτὴν ἐπιδημίᾳ ἀνθεῖν .	At least, it appears by many signs that it flourishes because of the presence of the celestial gods.
7-8 ἰδοὺ τοίνυν ἡ ὑμετέρα πόλις πάντων τῶν ἰδίᾳ διαφερόντων αὐτῆς ἀμελήσασα καὶ τὰς πρότερον τῶν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς πραγμάτων δεήσεις παριδοῦσα , ὅτε πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας ᾔσθετο τοὺς τῆς ἐπαράτου ματαιότητος γεγονότας ἕρπειν ἄρχεσθαι καὶ ὥσπερ ἀμεληθεῖσαν καὶ κεκοιμημένην πυρὰν ἀναζωπυρουμένων τῶν πυρσῶν μεγίστας πυρκαϊὰς ἀναπληροῦσαν , εὐθέως πρὸς τὴν‎ ἡμετέραν εὐσέβειαν , ὥσπερ πρὸς μητρόπολιν πασῶν θεοσεβειῶν , χωρίς τινος μελλήσεως κατέφυγεν , ἴασίν τινα καὶ βοήθειαν ἀπαιτοῦσα ·	Behold, therefore, your city, regardless of all private advantages, and omitting its former petitions in its own behalf, when it perceived that the adherents of that execrable vanity were again beginning to spread, and to start the greatest conflagration — like a neglected and extinguished funeral pile when its brands are rekindled — immediately resorted to our piety as to a metropolis of all religiousness, asking some remedy and aid.
7-9 ἥντινα διάνοιαν σωτηριώδη διὰ τὴν‎ πίστιν τῆς ὑμετέρας θεοσεβείας τοὺς θεοὺς ὑμῖν ἐμβεβληκέναι δῆλόν ἐστιν .	It is evident that the gods have given you this saving mind on account of your faith and piety.
7-10 ἐκεῖνος τοιγαροῦν , ἐκεῖνος ὁ ὕψιστος καὶ μέγιστος ΖεύςZeus , ὁ προκαθήμενος τῆς λαμπροτάτης ὑμῶν πόλεως , ὁ τοὺς πατρῴους ὑμῶν θεοὺς καὶ γυναῖκας καὶ τέκνα καὶ ἑστίαν καὶ οἴκους ἀπὸ πάσης ὀλεθρίου φθορᾶς ῥυόμενος , ταῖς ὑμετέραις ψυχαῖς τὸ σωτήριον ἐνέπνευσεν βούλημα , ἐπιδεικνὺς καὶ ἐμφαίνων ὅπως ἐξαίρετόν ἐστιν καὶ λαμπρὸν καὶ σωτηριῶδες μετὰ τοῦ ὀφειλομένου σεβάσματος τῇ θρῃσκείᾳ καὶ ταῖς ἱεροθρῃσκείαις τῶν ἀθανάτων θεῶν προσιέναι .	Accordingly that supreme and mightiest Jove, who presides over your illustrious city, who preserves your ancestral gods, your wives and children, your hearths and homes from every destructive pest, has infused into your souls this wholesome resolve; showing and proving how excellent and glorious and salutary it is to observe with the becoming reverence the worship and sacred rites of the immortal gods.
7-11 τίς γὰρ οὕτως ἀνόητος ἢ νοῦ παντὸς ἀλλότριος εὑρεθῆναι δύναται , ὃς οὐκ αἴσθεται τῇ φιλαγάθῳ τῶν θεῶν σπουδῇ συμβαίνειν μήτε τὴν‎ γῆν τὰ παραδιδόμενα αὐτῇ σπέρματα ἀρνεῖσθαι τὴν‎ τῶν γεωργῶν ἐλπίδα κενῇ προσδοκίᾳ σφάλλουσαν , μηδ᾽ αὖ ἀσεβοῦς πολέμου πρόσοψιν ἀνεπικωλύτως ἐπὶ γῆς στηρίζεσθαι καὶ φθαρείσης τῆς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εὐκρασίας αὐχμώδης τὰ σώματα πρὸς θάνατον κατασύρεσθαι , μηδὲ μὴν ἀμέτρων ἀνέμων πνεύμασι τὴν‎ θάλασσαν κυμαίνουσαν κορυφοῦσθαι , μηδέ γε καταιγίδας ἀπροσδοκήτους καταρρηγνυμένας ὀλέθριον χειμῶνα ἐπεγείρειν , ἔτι τοίνυν μηδὲ τὴν‎ τροφὸν ἁπάντων καὶ μητέρα γῆν ἀπὸ τῶν κατωτάτω λαγόνων ἑαυτῆς ἐν φοβερῷ τρόμῳ καταδυομένην μηδέ γε τὰ ἐπικείμενα ὄρη χασμάτων γινομένων καταλύεσθαι ,	For who can be found so ignorant or so devoid of all understanding as not to perceive that it is due to the kindly care of the gods that the earth does not refuse the seed sown in it, nor disappoint the hope of the husbandmen with vain expectation; that impious war is not inevitably fixed upon earth, and wasted bodies dragged down to death under the influence of a corrupted atmosphere; that the sea is not swollen and raised on high by blasts of intemperate winds; that unexpected hurricanes do not burst forth and stir up the destructive tempest; moreover, that the earth, the nourisher and mother of all, is not shaken from its lowest depths with a terrible tremor, and that the mountains upon it do not sink into the opening chasms.
7-12 ἅπερ πάντα καὶ τούτων ἔτι πολλῷ χαλεπώτερα κατὰ πρὸ τούτου πολλάκις γεγονέναι οὐδεὶς ἀγνοεῖ .	No one is ignorant that all these, and evils still worse than these, have oftentimes happened hitherto.
7-13 καὶ ταῦτα σύμπαντα διὰ τὴν‎ ὀλέθριον πλάνην τῆς ὑποκένου ματαιότητος τῶν ἀθεμίτων ἐκείνων ἀνθρώπων ἐγίνετο , ἡνίκα κατὰ τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν ἐπεπόλαζεν καὶ σχεδὸν εἰπεῖν τὰ πανταχοῦ τῆς οἰκουμένης αἰσχύναις ἐπίεζεν . ”	And all these misfortunes have taken place on account of the destructive error of the empty vanity of those impious men, when it prevailed in their souls, and, we may almost say, weighed down the whole world with shame.
7-14 Τούτοις μετ᾽ ἕτερα ἐπιλέγει · “ ἐφοράτωσαν ἐν τοῖς πλατέσιν ἤδη πεδίοις ἀνθοῦντα τὰ λήϊα καὶ τοῖς ἀστάχυσιν ἐπικυμαίνοντα καὶ τοὺς λειμῶνας δι᾽ εὐομβρίαν φυαῖς καὶ ἄνθεσιν λαμπομένους καὶ τὴν‎ τοῦ ἀέρος κατάστασιν εὔκρατόν τε καὶ πραοτάτην ἀποδοθεῖσαν ,	After other words he adds: Let them look at the standing crops already flourishing with waving heads in the broad fields, and at the meadows glittering with plants and flowers, in response to abundant rains and the restored mildness and softness of the atmosphere.
7-15 χαιρέτωσαν λοιπὸν ἅπαντες διὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας εὐσεβείας ἱερουργίας τε καὶ τιμῆς τῆς τοῦ δυνατωτάτου καὶ στερροτάτου ἀέρος ἐξευμενισθείσης καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τῆς εὐδινοτάτης εἰρήνης βεβαίως μετ᾽ ἡσυχίας ἀπολαύοντες ἡδυνέσθωσαν . καὶ ὅσοι τῆς τυφλῆς ἐκείνης πλάνης καὶ περιόδου παντάπασιν ὠφεληθέντες εἰς ὀρθὴν καὶ καλλίστην διάνοιαν ἐπανῆλθον , μειζόνως μὲν οὖν χαιρέτωσαν ὡς ἂν ἐκ χειμῶνος ἀπροσδοκήτου ἢ νόσου βαρείας ἀποσπασθέντες καὶ ἡδεῖαν εἰς τοὐπιὸν ζωῆς ἀπόλαυσιν καρπωσάμενοι ·	Finally, let all rejoice that the might of the most powerful and terrible Mars has been propitiated by our piety, our sacrifices, and our veneration; and let them on this account enjoy firm and tranquil peace and quiet; and let as many as have wholly abandoned that blind error and delusion and have returned to a right and sound mind rejoice the more, as those who have been rescued from an unexpected storm or severe disease and are to reap the fruits of pleasure for the rest of their life.
7-16 εἰ δὲ τῇ ἐπαράτῳ αὐτῶν ματαιότητι ἐπιμένοιεν , πολλῷ πόρρωθεν τῆς ὑμετέρας πόλεως καὶ περιχώρου , καθὼς ἠξιώσατε , ἀποχωρισθέντες ἐξελαθήτωσαν , ἵν᾽ οὕτως κατ᾽ ἀκολουθίαν τῆς ἀξιεπαίνου ὑμῶν περὶ τοῦτο σπουδῆς παντὸς μιάσματος καὶ ἀσεβείας ἀποχωρισθεῖσα ἡ ὑμετέρα πόλις καὶ τὴν‎ ἔμφυτον αὐτῇ πρόθεσιν μετὰ τοῦ ὀφειλομένου σεβάσματος ταῖς τῶν ἀθανάτων θεῶν ἱερουργίαις ὑπακούοι .	But if they still persist in their execrable vanity, let them, as you have desired, be driven far away from your city and territory, that thus, in accordance with your praiseworthy zeal in this matter, your city, being freed from every pollution and impiety, may, according to its native disposition, attend to the sacred rites of the immortal gods with becoming reverence.
7-17 Ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅσῳ προσφιλὴς ἡμῖν γέγονεν ἡ περὶ τούτου ἀξίωσις ὑμῶν , καὶ χωρὶς ψηφισμάτων καὶ χωρὶς δεήσεως αὐθαιρέτῳ βουλήσει ἡ ἡμετέρα προθυμοτάτη φιλαγαθίας ψυχή , ἐπιτρέπομεν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ καθοσιώσει ὁποίαν δ᾽ ἂν βουληθῆτε μεγαλοδωρεὰν ἀντὶ ταύτης ὑμῶν τῆς φιλοθέου προθέσεως αἰτῆσαι .	But that you may know how acceptable to us your request respecting this matter has been, and how ready our mind is to confer benefits voluntarily, without memorials and petitions, we permit your devotion to ask whatever great gift you may desire in return for this your pious disposition.
7-18 καὶ ἤδη μὲν τοῦτο ποιεῖν καὶ λαβεῖν ἀξιώσατε · τεύξεσθε γὰρ αὐτῆς χωρίς τινος ὑπερθέσεως ·	And now ask that this may be done and that you may receive it; for you shall obtain it without delay.
7-19 ἥτις παρασχεθεῖσα τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ πόλει εἰς ἅπαντα τὸν αἰῶνα τῆς περὶ τοὺς ἀθανάτους θεοὺς φιλοθέου εὐσεβείας παρέξει μαρτυρίαν , τοῦ δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀξίων ἐπάθλων τετυχηκέναι παρὰ τῆς ἡμετέρας φιλαγαθίας ταύτης ὑμῶν ἕνεκεν τῆς τοῦ βίου προαιρέσεως υἱοῖς τε καὶ ἐκγόνοις ὑμετέροις ἐπιδειχθήσεται . ”	This, being granted to your city, shall furnish for all time an evidence of reverent piety toward the immortal gods, and of the fact that you have obtained from our benevolence merited prizes for this choice of yours; and it shall be shown to your children and children's children.
7-20 Ταῦτα δὴ καθ᾽ ἡμῶν κατὰ πᾶσαν ἐπαρχίαν ἀνεστηλίτευτο , πάσης ἐλπίδος , τὸ γοῦν ἐπ᾽ ἀνθρώποις , ἀγαθῆς τὰ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἀποκλείοντα · ὡς κατ᾽ αὐτὸ δὴ τὸ θεῖον ἐκεῖνο λόγιον , εἰ δυνατόν , ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς αὐτοὺς σκανδαλίζεσθαι .	This was published against us in all the provinces, depriving us of every hope of good, at least from men; so that, according to that divine utterance, If it were possible, even the elect would have stumbled Matthew 24:24 at these things.
7-21 ἤδη γέ τοι σχεδὸν τῆς παρὰ τοῖς πλείστοις ἀποψυχούσης προσδοκίας , ἀθρόως , καθ᾽ ὁδὸν ἔτι τὴν‎ πορείαν ἔν τισιν χώραις διανυόντων τῶν τὴν‎ προκειμένην καθ᾽ ἡμῶν γραφὴ διακονουμένων , ὁ τῆς ἰδίας ἐκκλησίας ὑπέρμαχος Θεὸς μόνον οὐχὶ τὴν‎ τοῦ τυράννου καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἐπιστομίζων μεγαλαυχίαν , τὴν‎ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν οὐράνιον συμμαχίαν ἐπεδείκνυτο .	And now indeed, when the hope of most of us was almost extinct, suddenly while those who were to execute against us the above decree had in some places scarcely finished their journey, God, the defender of his own Church, exhibited his heavenly interposition in our behalf, nearly stopping1the tyrant's boasting against us.

Chapter 8

8-1 Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἐξ ἔθους ὄμβροι τε καὶ ὑετοὶ χειμαδίου τῆς ὥρας ὑπαρχούσης τὴν‎ ἐπὶ γῆς ἀνεῖχον συνήθη φοράν , λιμὸς δ᾽ ἀδόκητος ἐπισκήπτει καὶ λοιμὸς ἐπὶ τούτῳ καί τινος ἑτέρου νοσήματος	The customary rains and showers of the winter season ceased to fall in their wonted abundance upon the earth and an unexpected famine made its appearance, and in addition to this a pestilence, and another severe disease consisting of an ulcer,
8-2 — ἕλκος δὲ ἦν φερωνύμως τοῦ πυρώδους ἕνεκεν ἄνθραξ 1 προσαγορευόμενον —	(which on account of its fiery appearance was appropriately called a carbuncle)1

8-3 ἐπιφορά , ὃ καὶ καθ᾽ ὅλων μὲν ἕρπον τῶν σωμάτων σφαλεροὺς ἐνεποίει τοῖς πεπονθόσι κινδύνους , οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν διαφερόντως ἐπὶ πλεῖστον γινόμενον μυρίους ὅσους ἄνδρας ἅμα γυναιξὶν καὶ παισὶν πηροὺς ἀπειργάζετο .	This, spreading over the whole body, greatly endangered the lives of those who suffered from it; but as it chiefly attacked the eyes, it deprived multitudes of men, women, and children of their sight.
8-4 Τούτοις προσεπανίσταται τῷ τυράννῳ ὁ πρὸς ἈρμενίουςArmenians πόλεμος , ἄνδρας ἐξ ἀρχαίου φίλους τε καὶ συμμάχους ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin ,	In addition to this the tyrant was compelled to go to war with the Armenians, who had been from ancient times friends and allies of the Romans.
8-5 οὓς καὶ αὐτοὺς ΧριστιανοὺςChristians ὄντας καὶ τὴν‎ εἰς τὸ θεῖον εὐσέβειαν διὰ σπουδῆς ποιουμένους ὁ θεομισὴς εἰδώλοις θύειν καὶ δαίμοσιν ἐπαναγκάσαι πεπειραμένος , ἐχθροὺς ἀντὶ φίλων καὶ πολεμίους ἀντὶ συμμάχων κατεστήσατο .	As they were also Christians and zealous in their piety toward the Deity, the enemy of God had attempted to compel them to sacrifice to idols and demons, and had thus made friends foes, and allies enemies.
8-6 ἀθρόως δὴ ταῦτα πάντα ὑφ᾽ ἕνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν συρρεύσαντα καιρόν , τῆς τοῦ τυράννου θρασύτητος τὴν‎ κατὰ τοῦ θείου μεγαλαυχίαν διήλεγξεν ,	All these things suddenly took place at one and the same time, and refuted the tyrant's empty boast against the Deity.
8-7 ὅτι δὴ τῆς περὶ τὰ εἴδωλα αὐτοῦ‎ σπουδῆς καὶ τῆς καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ἕνεκα πολιορκίας μὴ λιμὸν μηδὲ λοιμὸν μηδὲ μὴν πόλεμον ἐπὶ τῶν αὐτοῦ‎ συμβῆναι καιρῶν ἐθρασύνετο .	For he had boasted that, because of his zeal for idols and his hostility against us, neither famine nor pestilence nor war had happened in his time.
8-8 ταῦτα δ᾽ οὖν ὁμοῦ καὶ κατὰ τὸ αὐτὸ ἐπελθόντα , καὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ‎ καταστροφῆς περιειλήφει τὰ προοίμια .	These things, therefore, coming upon him at once and together, furnished a prelude also of his own destruction.
8-9 αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν περὶ τὸν πρὸς ἈρμενίουςArmenians πόλεμον ἅμα τοῖς αὐτοῦ‎ στρατοπέδοις κατεπονεῖτο , τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς τῶν τὰς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν πόλεις οἰκούντων δεινῶς ὁ λιμός τε ἅμα καὶ ὁ λοιμὸς κατετρυχέτην , ὡς ἑνὸς μέτρου πυρῶν δισχιλίας καὶ πεντακοσίας ἈττικὰςAthenian ἀντικαταλλάττεσθαι .	He himself with his forces was defeated in the war with the Armenians, and the rest of the inhabitants of the cities under him were terribly afflicted with famine and pestilence, so that one measure of wheat was sold for twenty-five hundred Attic drachms.
8-10 μυρίας μὲν οὖν ἐτύγχανον οἱ κατὰ πόλεις θνῄσκοντες , πλείους δὲ τούτων οἱ κατ᾽ ἀγρούς τε καὶ κώμας ,	Those who died in the cities were innumerable, and those who died in the country and villages were still more.
8-11 ὡς ἤδη καὶ τὰς πάλαι τῶν ἀγροίκων πολυάνδρους ἀπογραφὰς μικροῦ δεῖν παντελῆ παθεῖν ἐξάλειψιν , ἀθρόως σχεδὸν ἁπάντων ἐνδείᾳ τροφῆς καὶ λοιμώδει νόσῳ διεφθαρμένων .	So that the tax lists which formerly included a great rural population were almost entirely wiped out; nearly all being speedily destroyed by famine and pestilence.
8-12 τινὲς μὲν οὖν τὰ ἑαυτῶν φίλτατα βραχυτάτης τροφῆς τοῖς εὐπορωτέροις ἀπεμπολᾶν ἠξίουν , ἄλλοι δὲ τὰς κτήσεις κατὰ βραχὺ διαπιπράσκοντες εἰς ἐσχάτην ἐνδείας ἀπορίαν ἤλαυνον ,	Some, therefore, desired to dispose of their most precious things to those who were better supplied, in return for the smallest morsel of food, and others, selling their possessions little by little, fell into the last extremity of want.
8-13 ἤδη δέ τινες σμικρὰ χόρτου διαμασώμενοι σπαράγματα καί τινας ἀνέδην φθοροποιοὺς ἐσθίοντες πόας , τὴν‎ τῶν σωμάτων ἕξιν λυμαινόμενοι διώλλυντο .	Some, chewing wisps of hay and recklessly eating noxious herbs, undermined and ruined their constitutions.
8-14 καὶ γυναίων δὲ τῶν κατὰ πόλεις εὐγενίδων τινὲς εἰς ἀναίσχυντον ἀνάγκην πρὸς τῆς ἀπορίαςperplexity ἐλαθεῖσαι , μεταιτεῖν ἐπὶ τῶν ἀγορῶν προεληλύθεσαν , τῆς πάλαι ἐλευθερίου τροφῆς ὑπόδειγμα διὰ τῆς περὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αἰδοῦς καὶ τῆς ἀμφὶ τὴν‎ περιβολὴν κοσμιότητος ὑποφαίνουσαι .	And some of the high-born women in the cities, driven by want to shameful extremities, went forth into the market-places to beg, giving evidence of their former liberal culture by the modesty of their appearance and the decency of their apparel.
8-15 καὶ οἳ μὲν ἀπεσκληκότες ὥσπερ εἴδωλα νεκρὰ ὧδε κἀκεῖσε ψυχορραγοῦντες ἐνσειόμενοί τε καὶ περιολισθαίνοντες ὑπ᾽ ἀδυναμίας τοῦ στῆναι κατέπιπτον ἐν μέσαις τε πλατείαις πρηνεῖς ἡπλωμένοι ὀρέξαι σφίσιν μικρὸν τρύφος ἄρτου κατηντιβόλουν καὶ τὴν‎ ψυχὴν πρὸς ἐσχάταις ἔχοντες ἀναπνοαῖς πεινῆν ἐπεβόων , πρὸς μόνην ταύτην τὴν‎ ὀδυνηροτάτην φωνὴν εὐσθενεῖς καθιστάμενοι ·	Some, wasted away like ghosts and at the very point of death, stumbled and tottered here and there, and too weak to stand fell down in the middle of the streets; lying stretched out at full length they begged that a small morsel of food might be given them, and with their last gasp they cried out Hunger! Having strength only for this most painful cry.
8-16 οἳ δὲ τὴν‎ πληθὺν τῶν αἰτούντων καταπληττόμενοι , ὅσοι τῶν εὐπορωτέρων ἐδόκουν εἶναι , μετὰ τὸ μυρία παρασχεῖν εἰς ἀπηνῆ λοιπὸν καὶ ἄτεγκτον ἐχώρουν διάθεσιν , τὰ αὐτὰ τοῖς αἰτοῦσιν ὅσον οὔπω καὶ αὐτοὶ πείσεσθαι προσδοκῶντες ,	But others, who seemed to be better supplied, astonished at the multitude of the beggars, after giving away large quantities, finally became hard and relentless, expecting that they themselves also would soon suffer the same calamities as those who begged.
8-17 ὥστ᾽ ἤδη κατὰ μέσας ἀγορὰς καὶ στενωποὺς νεκρὰ καὶ γυμνὰ σώματα ἐφ᾽ ἡμέραις πλείοσιν ἄταφα διερριμμένα θέαν τοῖς ὁρῶσιν οἰκτροτάτην παρέχειν .	So that in the midst of the market-places and lanes, dead and naked bodies lay unburied for many days, presenting the most lamentable spectacle to those who beheld them.
8-18 ἤδη γέ τοι καὶ κυνῶν τινες ἐγίνοντο βορά , δι᾽ ἣν μάλιστα αἰτίαν οἱ ζῶντες ἐπὶ τὴν‎ κυνοκτονίαν ἐτράποντο δέει τοῦ μὴ λυσσήσαντας ἀνθρωποφαγίαν ἐργάσασθαι .	Some also became food for dogs, on which account the survivors began to kill the dogs, lest they should become mad and should go to devouring men.
8-19 οὐχ ἥκιστα δὲ καὶ ὁ λοιμὸς πάντας οἴκους ἐπεβόσκετο , μάλιστα δ᾽ οὓς ὁ λιμὸς διὰ τὸ εὐπορεῖν τροφῶν οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν ἐκτρῖψαι ·	But still worse was the pestilence which consumed entire houses and families, and especially those whom the famine was not able to destroy because of their abundance of food.
8-20 οἱ γοῦν ἐν περιουσίαις , ἄρχοντες καὶ ἡγεμόνες καὶ μυρίας τῶν ἐν τέλει , ὥσπερ ἐπίτηδες τῇ λοιμώδει νόσῳ πρὸς τοῦ λιμοῦ καταλελειμμένοι , ὀξεῖαν καὶ ὠκυτάτην ὑπέμενον τελευτήν .	Thus men of wealth, rulers and governors and multitudes in office, as if left by the famine on purpose for the pestilence, suffered swift and speedy death.
8-21 πάντα δ᾽ οὖν οἰμωγῶν ἦν ἀνάπλεα , κατὰ πάντας τε στενωποὺς ἀγοράς τε καὶ πλατείας οὐδ᾽ ἦν ἄλλο τι θεωρεῖν ἢ Θρήνους μετὰ τῶν συνήθων αὐτοῖς αὐλῶν τε καὶ κτύπων .	Every place therefore was full of lamentation; in every lane and market-place and street there was nothing else to be seen or heard than tears, with the customary instruments1and the voices of the mourners.

8-22 τοῦτον δὴ τὸν τρόπον δυσὶν ὅπλοις τοῖς προδεδηλωμένοις λοιμοῦ τε ὁμοῦ καὶ λιμοῦ στρατεύσας , ὅλας ὁ θάνατος ἐν ὀλίγῳ γενεὰς ἐνεμήθη , ὡς ὁρᾶν ἤδη δυεῖν καὶ τριῶν σώματα νεκρῶν ὑπὸ μίαν ἐκφορὰν προκομιζόμενα .	In this way death, waging war with these two weapons, pestilence and famine, destroyed whole families in a short time, so that one could see two or three dead bodies carried out at once.
8-23 Τοιαῦτα τῆς ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus μεγαλαυχίας καὶ τῶν κατὰ πόλεις καθ᾽ ἡμῶν ψηφισμάτων τὰ ἐπίχειρα ἦν ,	Such were the rewards of the boasting of Maximinus and of the measures of the cities against us.
8-24 ὅτε καὶ τῆς ΧριστιανῶνChristians περὶ πάντα σπουδῆς τε καὶ εὐσεβείας πᾶσιν ἔθνεσιν διάδηλα κατέστη τὰ τεκμήρια .	Then did the evidences of the universal zeal and piety of the Christians become manifest to all the heathen.
8-25 μόνοι γοῦν ἐν τηλικαύτῃ κακῶν περιστάσει τὸ συμπαθὲς καὶ φιλάνθρωπον ἔργοις αὐτοῖς ἐπιδεικνύμενοι ,	For they alone in the midst of such ills showed their sympathy and humanity by their deeds.
8-26 διὰ πάσης ἡμέρας οἳ μὲν τῇ τῶν θνῃσκόντων “μυριάδες δ᾽ ἦσαν οἷς οὔτις ἦν ὁ ἐπιμελησόμενος ' κηδείᾳ τε καὶ ταφῇ προσεκαρτέρουν , οἳ δὲ τῶν ἀνὰ πᾶσαν τὴν‎ πόλιν πρὸς τοῦ λιμοῦ κατατρυχομένων τὴν‎ πληθὺν ὑπὸ μίαν σύναξιν ἀθροίζοντες ἄρτους διένεμον τοῖς πᾶσιν , ὡς περιβόητον εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους καταστῆναι τὸ πρᾶγμα Θεόν τε τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians δοξάζειν εὐσεβεῖς τε καὶ μόνους θεοσεβεῖς τούτους ἀληθῶς πρὸς αὐτῶν ἐλεγχθέντας τῶν πραγμάτων ὁμολογεῖν .	Every day some continued caring for and burying the dead, for there were multitudes who had no one to care for them; others collected in one place those who were afflicted by the famine, throughout the entire city, and gave bread to them all; so that the thing became reported abroad among all men, and they glorified the God of the Christians; and, convinced by the facts themselves, confessed that they alone were truly pious and religious.
8-27 Ἐφ᾽ οἷς τοῦτον ἐπιτελουμένοις τὸν τρόπον ὁ μέγας καὶ οὐράνιος ΧριστιανῶνChristians ὑπέρμαχος Θεὸς τὴν‎ κατὰ πάντων ἀνθρώπων διὰ τῶν δεδηλωμένων ἐπιδειξάμενος ἀπειλὴν καὶ ἀγανάκτησιν ἀνθ᾽ ὧν εἰς ἡμᾶς ὑπερβαλλόντως ἐνεδείξαντο , τὴν‎ εὐμενῆ καὶ φαιδρὰν τῆς αὐτοῦ‎ περὶ ἡμᾶς προνοίας αὖθις ἡμῖν αὐγὴν ἀπεδίδου , ὡς ἐν βαθεῖ σκότῳ παραδοξότατα φῶς ἡμῖν ἐξ αὐτοῦ‎ καταλάμπων εἰρήνης ἐκφανές τε τοῖς πᾶσιν καθιστὰς Θεὸν αὐτὸν τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἐπίσκοπον διὰ παντὸς γεγονέναι πραγμάτων ,	After these things were thus done, God, the great and celestial defender of the Christians, having revealed in the events which have been described his anger and indignation at all men for the great evils which they had brought upon us, restored to us the bright and gracious sunlight of his providence in our behalf; so that in the deepest darkness a light of peace shone most wonderfully upon us from him, and made it manifest to all that God himself has always been the ruler of our affairs.
8-28 μαστίζοντα μὲν καὶ διὰ τῶν περιστάσεων κατὰ καιρὸν ἐπιστρέφοντα τὸν αὐτοῦ‎ λαὸν πάλιν ἐπιστρέψας τ᾽ αὖ μετὰ τὴν‎ αὐτάρκη παιδείαν ἵλεω καὶ εὐμενῆ τοῖς εἰς αὐτὸν τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχουσιν ἀναφαινόμενον .	From time to time indeed he chastens his people and corrects them by his visitations, but again after sufficient chastisement he shows mercy and favor to those who hope in him.

Chapter 9

9-1 Οὕτω δῆτα ΚωνσταντίνουConstantine , ὃν βασιλέα ἐκ βασιλέως εὐσεβῆ τε ἐξ εὐσεβεστάτου καὶ πάντα σωφρονεστάτου γεγονέναι προειρήκαμεν , ΛικιννίουLicinius τε τοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτόν , συνέσει καὶ εὐσεβείᾳ τετιμημένων , πρὸς τοῦ παμβασιλέως Θεοῦ τε τῶν ὅλων καὶ σωτῆρος κατὰ τῶν δυσσεβεστάτων τυράννων ἀνεγηγερμένου πολέμου τε νόμῳ παραταξαμένου , Θεοῦ συμμαχοῦντος σωτῆρος δύο θεοφιλῶν κατὰ τῶν δύο δυσσεβεστάτων τυράννων ἀνεγηγερμένων πολέμου τε νόμῳ παραταξαμένων , Θεοῦ συμμαχοῦντος αὐτοῖς παραδοξότατα , πίπτει μὲν ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome ὑπὸ ΚωνσταντῖνονConstantine ΜαξέντιοςMaxentius , ὁ δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀνατολῆς οὐ πολὺν ἐπιζήσας ἐκείνῳ χρόνον , αἰσχίστῳ καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπὸ ΛικίννιονLicinius οὔπω μανέντα τότε καταστρέφει θανάτῳ .

Thus when Constantine, whom we have already mentioned as an emperor, born of an emperor, a pious son of a most pious and prudent father, and Licinius, second to him, — two God-beloved emperors, honoured alike for their intelligence and their piety — being stirred up against the two most impious tyrants by God, the absolute Ruler and Saviour of all, engaged in formal war against them, with God as their ally, Maxentius was defeated at Rome by Constantine in a remarkable manner, and the tyrant1of the East did not long survive him, but met a most shameful death at the hand of Licinius, who had not yet become insane.

9-2 Πρότερός γε μὴν ὁ καὶ τιμῇ καὶ τάξει τῆς βασιλείας πρῶτος ΚωνσταντῖνοςConstantine τῶν ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome κατατυραννουμένων φειδὼ λαβών , Θεὸν τὸν οὐράνιον τόν τε τούτου λόγον , αὐτὸν δὴ τὸν πάντων σωτῆρα ἸησοῦνJesus, Joshua ΧριστόνChrist , ΣύμμαχονSymmachus δι᾽ εὐχῶν ἐπικαλεσάμενος , πρόεισιν πανστρατιᾷ , ῬωμαίοιςRomans τὰ τῆς ἐκ προγόνων ἐλευθερίας προμνώμενος .	Constantine, who was the superior both in dignity and imperial rank, first took compassion upon those who were oppressed at Rome, and having invoked in prayer the God of heaven, and his Word, and Jesus Christ himself, the Saviour of all, as his aid, advanced with his whole army, proposing to restore to the Romans their ancestral liberty.
9-3 ΜαξεντίουMaxentius δῆτα μᾶλλον ταῖς κατὰ γοητείαν μηχαναῖς ἢ τῇ τῶν ὑπηκόων ἐπιθαρσοῦντος εὐνοίᾳ , προελθεῖν γε μὴν οὐδ᾽ ὅσον πυλῶν τοῦ ἄστεος ἐπιτολμῶντος , ὁπλιτῶν δ᾽ ἀνηρίθμῳ πλήθει καὶ στρατοπέδων λόχοις μυρίοις πάντα τόπον καὶ χώραν καὶ πόλιν , ὅση τις ἐν κύκλῳ τῆς ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin καὶ ἸταλίαςItaly ἁπάσης ὑπ᾽ αὐτῷ δεδούλωτο , φραξαμένου ,	But Maxentius, putting confidence rather in the arts of sorcery than in the devotion of his subjects, did not dare to go forth beyond the gates of the city, but fortified every place and district and town which was enslaved by him, in the neighbourhood of Rome and in all Italy, with an immense multitude of troops and with innumerable bands of soldiers.
9-4 ὁ τῆς ἐκ Θεοῦ συμμαχίας ἀνημμένος βασιλεὺς ἐπιὼν πρώτῃ καὶ δευτέρᾳ καὶ τρίτῃ τοῦ τυράννου παρατάξει εὖ μάλα τε πάσας ἑλών , πρόεισιν ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ὅσον τῆς ἸταλίαςItaly ἤδη τε αὐτῆς ῬώμηςRome ἄγχιστα ἦν ·	But the emperor, relying upon the assistance of God, attacked the first, second, and third army of the tyrant, and conquered them all; and having advanced through the greater part of Italy, was already very near Rome.
9-5 εἶθ᾽ ὡς μὴ τοῦ τυράννου χάριν ῬωμαίοιςRomans πολεμεῖν ἀναγκάζοιτο , Θεὸς αὐτὸς δεσμοῖς τισιν ὥσπερ τὸν τύραννον πορρωτάτω πυλῶν ἐξέλκει καὶ τὰ πάλαι δὴ κατὰ ἀσεβῶν ὡς ἐν μύθου λόγῳ παρὰ τοῖς πλείστοις ἀπιστούμενα , πιστά γε μὴν πιστοῖς ἐν ἱεραῖς βίβλοις ἐστηλιτευμένα , αὐτῇ ἐναργείᾳ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν , πιστοῖς καὶ ἀπίστοις , ὀφθαλμοῖς τὰ παράδοξα παρειληφόσιν , ἐπιστώσατο .	Then, that he might not be compelled to wage war with the Romans for the sake of the tyrant, God himself drew the latter, as if bound in chains, some distance without the gates, and confirmed those threats against the impious which had been anciently inscribed in sacred books — disbelieved, indeed, by most as a myth, but believed by the faithful, — confirmed them, in a word, by the deed itself to all, both believers and unbelievers, that saw the wonder with their eyes.
9-6 ὥσπερ γοῦν ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῦ‎ ΜωυσέωςMoses καὶ τοῦ πάλαι θεοσεβοῦς ἙβραίωνHebrews γένους “ἅρματα ΦαραὼPharaoh καὶ τὴν‎ δύναμιν αὐτοῦ‎ μερίδα εἰς θάλασσαν , ἐπιλέκτους ἀναβάτας τριστάτας · κατεπόθησαν ἐν θαλάσσῃ ἐρυθρᾷ , πόντος ἐκάλυψεν αὐτούς ,” κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ΜαξέντιοςMaxentius Οἵ τε ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν ὁπλῖται καὶ δορυφόροι “ ἔδυσαν εἰς βυθὸν ὡς εἰ λίθος ,” ὁπηνίκα νῶτα δοὺς τῇ ἐκ Θεοῦ μετὰ ΚωνσταντίνουConstantine δυνάμει , τὸν πρὸ τῆς πορείας διῄει ποταμόν , ὃν αὐτὸς σκάφεσιν ζεύξας καὶ εὖ μάλα γεφυρώσας μηχανὴν ὀλέθρου καθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ συνεστήσατο ·	Thus, as in the time of Moses himself and of the ancient God-beloved race of Hebrews, “he cast Pharaoh's chariots and host into the sea, and overwhelmed his chosen charioteers in the Red Sea, and covered them with the flood,”1in the same way Maxentius also with his soldiers and body-guards “went down into the depths like a stone,”2Exodus 15:5 when he fled before the power of God which was with Constantine, and passed through the river which lay in his way, over which he had formed a bridge with boats, and thus prepared the means of his own destruction.

9-7 ἐφ᾽ ᾦ ἦν εἰπεῖν “λάκκον ὤρυξεν καὶ ἀνέσκαψεν αὐτόν , καὶ ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς βόθρον ὃν εἰργάσατο . ἐπιστρέψει ὁ πόνος αὐτοῦ‎ εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ‎ , καὶ ἐπὶ κορυφὴν αὐτοῦ‎ ἡ ἀδικία αὐτοῦ‎ καταβήσεται . ”

Regarding him one might say, “He dug a pit and opened it and fell into the hole which he had made; his labor shall turn upon his own head, and his unrighteousness shall fall upon his own crown.”1

9-8 Ταύτῃ δῆτα τοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ ζεύγματος διαλυθέντος , ὑφιζάνει μὲν ἡ διάβασις , χωρεῖ δ᾽ ἀθρόως αὔτανδρα κατὰ τοῦ βυθοῦ τὰ σκάφη , καὶ αὐτός γε πρῶτος ὁ δυσσεβέστατος , εἶτα δὲ καὶ οἱ ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν ὑπασπισταί , ᾗ τὰ θεῖα προαναφωνεῖ λόγια , ἔδυσαν ὡς εἰ μόλιβδος ἐν ὕδατι σφοδρῷ ·

Thus, then, the bridge over the river being broken, the passageway settled down, and immediately the boats with the men disappeared in the depths, and that most impious one himself first of all, then the shield-bearers who were with him, as the divine oracles foretold, sank like lead in the mighty waters;1

9-9 ὥστε εἰκότως εἰ μὴ λόγοις ἔργοις δ᾽ οὖν ὁμοίως τοῖς ἀμφὶ τὸν μέγαν θεράποντα ΜωυσέαMoses τοὺς παρὰ Θεοῦ τὴν‎ νίκην ἀραμένους αὐτὰ δὴ τὰ κατὰ τοῦ πάλαι δυσσεβοῦς τυράννου ὧδέ πως ἂν ὑμνεῖν καὶ λέγειν “ᾄσωμεν τῷ κυρίῳ , ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται . ἵππον καὶ ἀναβάτην μερίδα εἰς θάλασσαν · βοηθὸς καὶ σκεπαστής μου κύριος , ἐγένετό μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν ”

so that those who obtained the victory from God, if not in words, at least in deeds, like Moses, the great servant of God, and those who were with him, fittingly sang as they had sung against the impious tyrant of old, saying, “Let us sing unto the Lord, for he has gloriously glorified himself; horse and rider has he thrown into the sea; a helper and a protector has he become for my salvation;”1

9-10 καὶ “τίς ὅμοιός σοι ἐν θεοῖς , κύριε , τίς ὅμοιός σοι ; δεδοξασμένος ἐν ἁγίοις , θαυμαστὸς ἐν δόξαις , ποιῶν τέρατα .”1

and “Who is like you, O Lord; among the gods, who is like you glorious in holiness, marvelous in glory, doing wonders.”

9-11 Ταῦτα καὶ ὅσα τούτοις ἀδελφά τε καὶ ἐμφερῆ ΚωνσταντῖνοςConstantine τῷ πανηγεμόνι καὶ τῆς νίκης αἰτίῳ Θεῷ αὐτοῖς ἔργοις ἀνυμνήσας , ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome μετ᾽ ἐπινικίων εἰσήλαυνεν ,	These and the like praises Constantine, by his very deeds, sang to God, the universal Ruler, and Author of his victory, as he entered Rome in triumph.
9-12 πάντων ἀθρόως αὐτὸν ἅμα κομιδῇ νηπίοις καὶ γυναιξὶν τῶν τε ἀπὸ τῆς συγκλήτου βουλῆς καὶ τῶν ἄλλως διασημοτάτων σὺν παντὶ δήμῳ ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin φαιδροῖς ὄμμασιν αὐταῖς ψυχαῖς οἷα λυτρωτὴν σωτῆρά τε καὶ εὐεργέτην μετ᾽ εὐφημιῶν καὶ ἀπλήστου χαρᾶς ὑποδεχομένων ·	Immediately all the members of the senate and the other most celebrated men, with the whole Roman people, together with children and women, received him as their deliverer, their saviour, and their benefactor, with shining eyes and with their whole souls, with shouts of gladness and unbounded joy.
9-13 ὃ δ᾽ ὥσπερ ἔμφυτον τὴν‎ εἰς Θεὸν εὐσέβειαν κεκτημένος , μηδ᾽ ὅλως ἐπὶ ταῖς βοαῖς ὑποσαλευόμενος μηδ᾽ ἐπαιρόμενος τοῖς ἐπαίνοις , εὖ μάλα τῆς ἐκ Θεοῦ συνῃσθημένος βοηθείας , αὐτίκα τοῦ σωτηρίου τρόπαιον πάθους ὑπὸ χεῖρα ἰδίας εἰκόνος ἀνατεθῆναι προστάττει ,	But he, as one possessed of inborn piety toward God, did not exult in the shouts, nor was he elated by the praises; but perceiving that his aid was from God, he immediately commanded that a trophy of the Saviour's passion be put in the hand of his own statue.
9-14 καὶ δὴ τὸ σωτήριον σημεῖον ἐπὶ τῇ δεξιᾷ κατέχοντα αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ μάλιστα τῶν ἐπὶ ῬώμηςRome δεδημοσιευμένῳ τόπῳ στήσαντας αὐτὴν δὴ ταύτην προγραφὴν ἐντάξαι ῥήμασιν αὐτοῖς τῇ ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin ἐγκελεύεται φωνῇ ·	And when he had placed it, with the saving sign of the cross in its right hand, in the most public place in Rome, he commanded that the following inscription should be engraved upon it in the Roman tongue:
9-15 “ τούτῳ τῷ σωτηριώδει σημείῳ , τῷ ἀληθεῖ ἐλέγχῳ τῆς ἀνδρείας τὴν‎ πόλιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ ζυγοῦ τοῦ τυράννου διασωθεῖσαν ἠλευθέρωσα , ἔτι μὴν καὶ τὴν‎ σύγκλητον καὶ τὸν δῆμον ῬωμαίωνRoman, Latin τῇ ἀρχαίᾳ ἐπιφανείᾳ καὶ λαμπρότητι ἐλευθερώσας ἀποκατέστησα . ”	“By this salutary sign, the true proof of bravery, I have saved and freed your city from the yoke of the tyrant and moreover, having set at liberty both the senate and the people of Rome, I have restored them to their ancient distinction and splendor.”
9-16 Καὶ δὴ ἐπὶ τούτοις αὐτός τε ΚωνσταντῖνοςConstantine καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ βασιλεὺς ΛικίννιοςLicinius , οὔπω τότε ἐφ᾽ ἣν ὕστερον ἐκπέπτωκεν μανίαν τὴν‎ διάνοιαν ἐκτραπείς , Θεὸν τὸν τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἁπάντων αὐτοῖς αἴτιον εὐμενίσαντες , ἄμφω μιᾷ βουλῇ καὶ γνώμῃ νόμον ὑπὲρ ΧριστιανῶνChristians τελεώτατον πληρέστατα διατυποῦνται , καὶ τῶν πεπραγμένων εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐκ Θεοῦ τὰ παράδοξα τά τε τῆς κατὰ τοῦ τυράννου νίκης καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτὸν ΜαξιμίνῳMaximinus , τῶν ἐπ᾽ ἀνατολῆς ἐθνῶν ἔτι δυναστεύοντι φιλίαν τε πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὑποκοριζομένῳ , διαπέμπονται .	And after this both Constantine himself and with him the Emperor Licinius, who had not yet been seized by that insanity into which he later fell, praising God as the author of all their blessings, with one will and mind drew up a full and most complete decree1in behalf of the Christians,2and sent an account of the wonderful things done for them by God, and of the victory over the tyrant, together with a copy of the decree itself, to Maximinus, who still ruled over the nations of the East and pretended friendship toward them.

9-17 ὃ δ᾽ οἷα τύραννος περιαλγὴς ἐφ᾽ οἷς ἔγνω , γεγενημένος , εἶτα μὴ δοκεῖν ἑτέροις εἶξαι βουλόμενος μηδ᾽ αὖ παρεκθέσθαι τὸ κελευσθὲν δέει τῶν προστεταχότων ὡς ἂν ἐξ ἰδίας αὐθεντίας τοῖς ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἡγεμόσιν τοῦτο πρῶτον ὑπὲρ ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἐπάναγκες διαχαράττει τὸ γράμμα , τὰ μηδέπω ποτὲ πρὸς αὐτοῦ‎ πεπραγμένα ἐπιπλάστως αὐτὸς καθ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ψευδόμενος .

But he, like a tyrant, was greatly pained by what he learned; but not wishing to seem to yield to others, nor, on the other hand, to suppress that which was commanded, for fear of those who enjoined it, as if on his own authority, he addressed, under compulsion, to the governors under him this first communication in behalf of the Christians, falsely inventing things against himself which had never been done by him.

9-18 ἀντίγραφον ἑρμηνείας ἐπιστολῆς τοῦ τυράννου

Copy of a translation of the epistle of the tyrant [Maximinus].1

9-19 ἸόβιοςJovius ΜαξιμῖνοςMaximin, Maximinus ΣεβαστὸςAugustus ΣαβίνῳSabinus .	Jovius Maximinus Augustus to Sabinus.
9-20 καὶ παρὰ τῇ σῇ στιβαρότητι καὶ παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις φανερὸν εἶναι πέποιθα τοὺς δεσπότας ἡμῶν ΔιοκλητιανὸνDiocletian καὶ ΜαξιμιανόνMaximian , τοὺς ἡμετέρους πατέρας , ἡνίκα συνεῖδον σχεδὸν ἅπαντας ἀνθρώπους καταλειφθείσης τῆς τῶν θεῶν θρῃσκείας τῷ ἔθνει τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἑαυτοὺς συμμεμιχότας , ὀρθῶς διατεταχέναι πάντας ἀνθρώπους τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν αὐτῶν θεῶν τῶν ἀθανάτων θρῃσκείας ἀναχωρήσαντας προδήλῳ κολάσει καὶ τιμωρίᾳ εἰς τὴν‎ θρῃσκείαν τῶν θεῶν ἀνακληθῆναι .	I am confident that it is manifest both to your firmness and to all men that our masters Diocletian and Maximianus, our fathers, when they saw almost all men abandoning the worship of the gods and attaching themselves to the party of the Christians, rightly decreed that all who gave up the worship of those same immortal gods should be recalled by open chastisement and punishment to the worship of the gods.
9-21 ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε ἐγὼ εὐτυχῶς τὸ πρῶτον εἰς τὴν‎ ἀνατολὴν παρεγενόμην καὶ ἔγνων εἴς τινας τόπους πλείστου τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰ δημόσια ὠφελεῖν δυναμένους ὑπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν διὰ τὴν‎ προειρημένην αἰτίαν ἐξορίζεσθαι , ἑκάστῳ τῶν δικαστῶν ἐντολὰς δέδωκα ὥστε μηδένα τούτων τοῦ λοιποῦ προσφέρεσθαι τοῖς ἐπαρχιώταις ἀπηνῶς , ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον κολακείᾳ καὶ προτροπαῖς πρὸς τὴν‎ τῶν θεῶν θρῃσκείαν αὐτοὺς ἀνακαλεῖν .	But when I first came to the East under favorable auspices and learned that in some places a great many men who were able to render public service had been banished by the judges for the above-mentioned cause, I gave command to each of the judges that henceforth none of them should treat the provincials with severity, but that they should rather recall them to the worship of the gods by flattery and exhortations.
9-22 τηνικαῦτα οὖν , ὅτε ἀκολούθως τῇ κελεύσει τῇ ἐμῇ ὑπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν ἐφυλάττετο τὰ προστεταγμένα , συνέβαινεν μηδένα ἐκ τῶν τῆς ἀνατολῆς μερῶν μήτε ἐξόριστον μήτε ἐνύβριστον γίνεσθαι , ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἐκ τοῦ μὴ βαρέως κατ᾽ αὐτῶν τι γίνεσθαι εἰς τὴν‎ τῶν θεῶν θρῃσκείαν ἀνακεκλῆσθαι ·	Then when, in accordance with my command, these orders were obeyed by the judges, it came to pass that none of those who lived in the districts of the East were banished or insulted, but that they were rather brought back to the worship of the gods by the fact that no severity was employed toward them.
9-23 μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα , ὅτε τῷ παρελθόντι ἐνιαυτῷ εὐτυχῶς ἐπέβην εἰς τὴν‎ ΝικομήδειανNicomedia κἀκεῖ διετέλουν , παρεγένοντο πολῖται τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως πρός με ἅμα μετὰ τῶν ξοάνων τῶν θεῶν μειζόνως δεόμενοι ἵνα παντὶ τρόπῳ τὸ τοιοῦτον ἔθνος μηδαμῶς ἐπιτρέποιτο ἐν τῇ αὐτῶν πατρίδι οἰκεῖν .	But afterward, when I went up last year under good auspices to Nicomedia and sojourned there, citizens of the same city came to me with the images of the gods, earnestly entreating that such a people should by no means be permitted to dwell in their country.
9-24 ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε ἔγνων πλείστου τῆς αὐτῆς θρῃσκείας ἄνδρας ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς μέρεσιν οἰκεῖν , οὕτως αὐτοῖς τὰς ἀποκρίσεις ἀπένεμον ὅτι τῇ μὲν αἰτήσει αὐτῶν ἀσμένως χάριν ἔσχηκα , ἀλλ᾽ οὐ παρὰ πάντων τοῦτο αἰτηθὲν κατεῖδον · εἰ μὲν οὖν τινες εἶεν τῇ αὐτῇ δεισιδαιμονίᾳ διαμένοντες , οὕτως ἕνα ἕκαστον ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ προαιρέσει τὴν‎ βούλησιν ἔχειν καὶ εἰ βούλοιντο , τὴν‎ τῶν θεῶν θρῃσκείαν ἐπιγινώσκειν .	But when I learned that many men of the same religion dwelt in those regions, I replied that I gladly thanked them for their request, but that I perceived that it was not proffered by all, and that if, therefore, there were any that persevered in the same superstition, each one had the privilege of doing as he pleased, even if he wished to recognize the worship of the gods.
9-25 ὅμως καὶ τοῖς τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως ΝικομηδεῦσινNicomedians καὶ ταῖς λοιπαῖς πόλεσιν , αἳ καὶ αὐταὶ εἰς τοσοῦτον τὴν‎ ὁμοίαν αἴτησιν περισπουδάστως πρός με πεποιήκασιν , δηλονότι ἵνα μηδεὶς τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians ταῖς πόλεσιν ἐνοικοίη , ἀνάγκην ἔσχον προσφιλῶς ἀποκρίνασθαι , ὅτι δὴ αὐτὸ τοῦτο καὶ οἱ ἀρχαῖοι αὐτοκράτορες πάντες διεφύλαξαν καὶ αὐτοῖς τοῖς θεοῖς , δι᾽ οὓς πάντες ἄνθρωποι καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ τῶν δημοσίων διοίκησις συνίσταται , ἤρεσεν οὖν ὥστε τὴν‎ τοσαύτην αἴτησιν , ἣν ὑπὲρ τῆς θρῃσκείας τοῦ θείου αὐτῶν ἀναφέρουσιν , βεβαιώσαιμι .	Nevertheless, I considered it necessary to give a friendly answer to the inhabitants of Nicomedia and to the other cities which had so earnestly presented to me the same petition, namely, that no Christians should dwell in their cities — both because this same course had been pursued by all the ancient emperors, and also because it was pleasing to the gods, through whom all men and the government of the state itself endure — and to confirm the request which they presented in behalf of the worship of their deity.
9-26 τοιγαροῦν εἰ καὶ τὰ μάλιστα καὶ τῇ σῇ καθοσιώσει πρὸ τούτου τοῦ χρόνου διὰ γραμμάτων ἐπέσταλται καὶ δι᾽ ἐντολῶν ὁμοίως κεκέλευσται ἵνα μὴ κατὰ τῶν ἐπαρχιωτῶν τὸ τοιοῦτον ἔθος διαφυλάξαι ἐπιμεληθέντων μηδὲν τραχέως , ἀλλὰ ἀνεξικάκως καὶ συμμέτρως συμπεριφέροιντο αὐτοῖς , ὅμως ἵνα μήτε ὑπὸ τῶν βενεφικιαρίων μήτε ὑπ᾽ ἄλλων τῶν τυχόντων ὕβρεις μήτε σεισμοὺς ὑπομένοιεν , ἀκόλουθον ἐνόμισα καὶ τούτοις τοῖς γράμμασιν τὴν‎ σὴν στιβαρότητα ὑπομνῆσαι ὅπως ταῖς κολακείαις καὶ ταῖς προτροπαῖς μᾶλλον τὴν‎ τῶν θεῶν ἐπιμέλειαν τοὺς ἡμετέρους ἐπαρχιώτας ποιήσειας ἐπιγινώσκειν ·	Therefore, although before this time, special letters have been sent to your devotedness, and commands have likewise been given that no harsh measures should be taken against those provincials who desire to follow such a course, but that they should be treated mildly and moderately — nevertheless, in order that they may not suffer insults or extortions from the beneficiaries,1or from any others, I have thought meet to remind your firmness in this epistle also that you should lead our provincials rather by flatteries and exhortations to recognize the care of the gods.

9-27 ὅθεν εἴ τις τῇ αὐτοῦ‎ προαιρέσει τὴν‎ θρῃσκείαν τῶν θεῶν ἐπιγνωστέον προσλάβοι , τούτους ὑποδέχεσθαι προσήκει · εἰ δέ τινες τῇ ἰδίᾳ θρῃσκείᾳ ἀκολουθεῖν βούλοιντο , ἐν τῇ αὐτῶν ἐξουσίᾳ καταλείποις .	Hence, if any one of his own choice should decide to adopt the worship of the gods, it is fitting that he should be welcomed, but if any should wish to follow their own religion, do thou leave it in their power.
9-28 διόπερ ἡ σὴ καθοσίωσις τὸ ἐπιτραπέν σοι διαφυλάττειν ὀφείλει , καὶ μηδενὶ ἐξουσία δοθῇ ὥστε τοὺς ἡμετέρους ἐπαρχιώτας ὕβρεσι καὶ σεισμοῖς ἐπιτρῖψαι , ὁπότε , ὥσπερ προγέγραπται , ταῖς προτροπαῖς μᾶλλον καὶ ταῖς κολακείαις πρὸς τὴν‎ τῶν θεῶν θρῃσκείαν τοὺς ἡμετέρους ἐπαρχιώτας προσήκει ἀνακαλεῖν .	Wherefore it behooves your devotedness to observe that which is committed to you, and to see that power is given to no one to oppress our provincials with insults and extortions, since, as already written, it is fitting to recall our provincials to the worship of the gods rather by exhortations and flatteries.
9-29 ἵνα δὲ αὕτη ἡμῶν ἡ κέλευσις εἰς γνῶσιν πάντων τῶν ἐπαρχιωτῶν τῶν ἡμετέρων ἔλθῃ , διατάγματι ὑπὸ σοῦ προτεθέντι τὸ κεκελευσμένον ὀφείλεις δηλῶσαι .	But, in order that this command of ours may come to the knowledge of all our provincials, it is incumbent upon you to proclaim that which has been enjoined, in an edict issued by yourself.
9-30 ταῦθ᾽ ὑπὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης ἐκβεβιασμένος , ἀλλ᾽ οὐ κατὰ γνώμην τὴν‎ αὐτοῦ‎ διακελευσάμενος , οὐκέτ᾽ ἀληθὴς οὐδ᾽ ἀξιόπιστος παρὰ τοῖς πᾶσιν ἦν τῆς πρόσθεν ἤδη μετὰ τὴν‎ ὁμοίαν συγχώρησιν παλιμβόλου καὶ διεψευσμένης αὐτοῦ‎ γνώμης ἕνεκα .	Since he was forced to do this by necessity and did not give the command by his own will, he was not regarded by any one as sincere or trustworthy, because he had already shown his unstable and deceitful disposition after his former similar concession.
9-31 οὔκουν ἐτόλμα τις τῶν ἡμετέρων σύνοδον συγκροτεῖν οὐδ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐν φανερῷ καταστήσασθαι , ὅτι μηδὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἤθελεν αὐτῷ τὸ γράμμα , αὐτὸ μόνον τὸ ἀνεπηρέαστον ἡμῖν ἐπιτρέπον φυλάττεσθαι , οὐ μὴν συνόδους ἐπικελεῦον ποιεῖσθαι οὐδ᾽ οἴκους ἐκκλησιῶν οἰκοδομεῖν οὐδ᾽ ἄλλο τι τῶν ἡμῖν συνήθων διαπράττεσθαι .	None of our people, therefore, ventured to hold meetings or even to appear in public, because his communication did not cover this, but only commanded to guard against doing us any injury, and did not give orders that we should hold meetings or build churches or perform any of our customary acts.
9-32 καίτοι γε ταῦθ᾽ οἱ τῆς εἰρήνης καὶ εὐσεβείας προήγοροι αὐτῷ τε ἐπιτρέπειν ἐπεστάλκεσαν καὶ τοῖς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἅπασιν διὰ προγραμμάτων καὶ νόμων συγκεχωρήκεσαν ·	And yet [Constantine and Licinius], the advocates of peace and piety, had written him to permit this, and had granted it to all their subjects by edicts and ordinances.
9-33 οὐ μὴν ὁ δυσσεβέστατός γε ταύτῃ ἐνδοῦναι προῄρητο , εἰ μὴ ὅτε πρὸς τῆς θείας συνελαθεὶς δίκης ὕστατόν γε ἄκων ἐπὶ τοῦτ᾽ ἤχθη .	But this most impious man did not choose to yield in this matter until, being driven by the divine judgment, he was at last compelled to do it against his will.

Chapter 10

10-1 Ἐκπεριῆλθεν δ᾽ αὐτὸν τοιαύτη τις αἰτία .	The circumstances which drove him to this course were the following.
10-2 τὸ μέγεθος τῆς οὐ κατ᾽ ἀξίαν ἐπιτραπείσης ἡγεμονίας αὐτῷ μὴ οἷός τε φέρειν , ἀλλὰ δι᾽ ἀπειρίαν σώφρονος καὶ βασιλικοῦ λογισμοῦ ἀπειροκάλως τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐγχειρῶν ἐπὶ πᾶσίν τε ὑπερηφανίας μεγαλαυχίᾳ τὴν‎ ψυχὴν ἀλόγως ἀρθείς , ἤδη καὶ κατὰ τῶν τῆς βασιλείας κοινωνῶν , τὰ πάντα αὐτοῦ‎ προφερόντων γένει καὶ τροφῇ καὶ παιδείᾳ ἀξιώματι τε καὶ συνέσει καὶ τῷ γε πάντων κορυφαιοτάτῳ , σωφροσύνῃ καὶ τῇ περὶ τὸν ἀληθῆ Θεὸν εὐσεβείᾳ , τολμᾶν ὥρμητο θρασύνεσθαι καὶ πρῶτον ἑαυτὸν ταῖς τιμαῖς ἀναγορεύειν .	Being no longer able to sustain the magnitude of the government which had been undeservedly committed to him, in consequence of his want of prudence and imperial understanding, he managed affairs in a base manner, and with his mind unreasonably exalted in all things with boastful pride, even toward his colleagues in the empire who were in every respect his superiors, in birth, in training, in education, in worth and intelligence, and, greatest of all, in temperance and piety toward the true God, he began to venture to act audaciously and to arrogate to himself the first rank.
10-3 ἐπιτείνας δ᾽ εἰς ἀπόνοιαν τὰ τῆς μανίας , συνθήκας ἃς πρὸς ΛικίννιονLicinius πεποίητο , παρασπονδήσας , πόλεμον ἄσπονδον αἴρεται ·	Becoming mad in his folly, he broke the treaties which he had made with Licinius and undertook an implacable war.
10-4 εἶτ᾽ ἐν βραχεῖ τὰ πάντα κυκήσας πᾶσάν τε πόλιν ἐκταράξας καὶ πᾶν στρατόπεδον , μυριάδων τὸ πλῆθος ἀνηρίθμων , συναγαγών , ἔξεισιν εἰς μάχην αὐτῷ παραταξάμενος , δαιμόνων ἐλπίσιν , ὧν δὴ ᾤετο θεῶν , καὶ ταῖς τῶν ὁπλιτῶν μυριάσιν τὴν‎ ψυχὴν ἐπηρμένος .	Then in a brief time he threw all things into confusion, and stirred up every city, and having collected his entire force, comprising an immense number of soldiers, he went forth to battle with him, elated by his hopes in demons, whom he supposed to be gods, and by the number of his soldiers.
10-5 Καὶ δὴ συμβαλὼν εἰς χεῖρας , ἔρημος τῆς ἐκ Θεοῦ καθίσταται ἐπισκοπῆς , τῆς νίκης ἐξ αὐτοῦ‎ τοῦ πάντων ἑνὸς καὶ μόνου Θεοῦ τῷ τότε κρατοῦντι πρυτανευθείσης .	And when he joined battle he was deprived of the oversight of God, and the victory was given to Licinius, who was then ruling, by the one and only God of all.
10-6 ἀπόλλυσι δὴ πρῶτον τὸ ἐφ᾽ ᾧ πεποίθει ὁπλιτικόν , τῶν τε ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν δορυφόρων γυμνὸν καὶ πάντων ἔρημον αὐτὸν καταλελοιπότων τῷ τε κρατοῦντι προσπεφευγότων , ὑπεκδὺς ὁ δείλαιος ὡς τάχιστα τὸν οὐ πρέποντα αὐτῷ βασιλικὸν κόσμον , δειλῶς καὶ δυσγενῶς καὶ ἀνάνδρως ὑποδύνει τὸ πλῆθος	First, the army in which he trusted was destroyed, and as all his guards abandoned him and left him alone, and fled to the victor, he secretly divested himself as quickly as possible of the imperial garments, which did not fitly belong to him, and in a cowardly and ignoble and unmanly way mingled with the crowd,
10-7 κἄπειτα διαδιδράσκει κρυπταζόμενός τε ἀνὰ τοὺς ἀγροὺς καὶ τὰς κώμας	and then fled, concealing himself in fields and villages.
10-8 μόλις τῶν πολεμίων τὰς χεῖρας , τὰ τῆς σωτηρίας αὐτῷ προμνώμενος , διέξεισιν , ἔργοις αὐτοῖς εὖ μάλα πιστοὺς καὶ ἀληθεῖς τοὺς θείους ἀποφήνας χρησμούς , ἐν οἷς εἴρηται	But though he was so careful for his safety, he scarcely escaped the hands of his enemies, revealing by his deeds that the divine oracles are faithful and true, in which it is said,
10-9 “οὐ σῴζεται βασιλεὺς διὰ πολλὴν δύναμιν , καὶ γίγας οὐ σωθήσεται ἐν πλήθει ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ · ψευδὴς ἵππος εἰς σωτηρίαν , ἐν δὲ πλήθει δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ‎ οὐ σωθήσεται .	“A king is not saved by a great force, and a giant shall not be saved by the greatness of his strength; a horse is a vain thing for safety, nor shall he be delivered by the greatness of his power.
10-10 ἰδοὺ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ κυρίου ἐπὶ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν , τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ‎ , ῥύσασθαι ἐκ θανάτου τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν .”1	Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their souls from death.”1

10-11 οὕτω δῆτα αἰσχύνης ἔμπλεως ὁ τύραννος ἐπὶ τὰ καθ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐλθὼν μέρη ,	Thus the tyrant, covered with shame, went to his own country.
10-12 πρῶτα μὲν ἐμμανεῖ θυμῷ πολλοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ προφήτας τῶν πάλαι θαυμαζομένων αὐτῷ θεῶν , ὧν δὴ τοῖς χρησμοῖς ἀναρριπισθεὶς τὸν πόλεμον ἤρατο , ὡς ἂν γόητας καὶ ἀπατεῶνας καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν προδότας τῆς αὐτοῦ‎ γενομένους σωτηρίας ἀναιρεῖ ·	And first, in frantic rage, he slew many priests and prophets of the gods whom he had formerly admired, and whose oracles had incited him to undertake the war, as sorcerers and impostors, and besides all as betrayers of his safety.
10-13 εἶτα δὲ δοὺς δόξαν τῷ ΧριστιανῶνChristians Θεῷ νόμον τε τὸν ὑπὲρ ἐλευθερίας αὐτῶν τελεώτατα καὶ πληρέστατα διαταξάμενος , δυσθανατήσας αὐτίκα μηδεμιᾶς αὐτῷ χρόνου δοθείσης προθεσμίας τελευτᾷ τὸν βίον .	Then having given glory to the God of the Christians and enacted a most full and complete ordinance in behalf of their liberty, he was immediately seized with a mortal disease, and no respite being granted him, departed this life.
10-14 Ὁ δὲ καταπεμφθεὶς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ‎ νόμος τοιοῦτος ἦν ·	The law enacted by him was as follows:
10-15 ἀντίγραφον ἑρμηνείας τῆς τοῦ τυράννου ὑπὲρ ΧριστιανῶνChristian διατάξεως ἐκ ῬωμαϊκῆςRoman, Latin γλώττης εἰς τὴν‎ ἙλλάδαHellas μεταληφθεισης 1	Copy of a translation of the ordinance of the tyrant on behalf of the Christians, made from the Latin language into the Greek.1

10-16 Αὐτοκράτωρ ΚαῖσαρCaesar ΓάϊοςGaius, Caius ΟὐαλέριοςValerius ΜαξιμῖνοςMaximin, Maximinus , ΓερμανικόςGermanicus , ΣαρματικόςSarmaticus , εὐσεβὴς εὐτυχὴς ἀνίκητος ΣεβαστόςSebastus, Augustus .	The Emperor Caesar Caius Valerius Maximinus, Germanicus, Sarmaticus, Pius, Felix, Invictus, Augustus.
10-17 κατὰ πάντα τρόπον ἡμᾶς διηνεκῶς τῶν ἐπαρχιωτῶν τῶν ἡμετέρων τοῦ χρησίμου προνοεῖσθαι καὶ ταῦτα αὐτοῖς βούλεσθαι παρέχειν , οἷς τὰ λυσιτελῆ πάντων μάλιστα κατορθοῦται καὶ ὅσα τῆς λυσιτελείας καὶ τῆς χρησιμότητός ἐστιν τῆς κοινῆς αὐτῶν καὶ ὁποῖα πρὸς τὴν‎ δημοσίαν λυσιτέλειαν ἁρμόζει καὶ ταῖς ἑκάστων διανοίαις προσφιλῆ τυγχάνει , οὐδένα ἀγνοεῖν , ἀλλ᾽ ἕκαστον ἀνατρέχειν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸ τὸ γινόμενον γινώσκειν τε ἕκαστον τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἔχειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ δῆλον εἶναι πιστεύομεν .	We believe it manifest that no one is ignorant, but that every man who looks back over the past knows and is conscious that in every way we care continually for the good of our provincials, and wish to furnish them with those things which are of special advantage to all, and for the common benefit and profit, and whatever contributes to the public welfare and is agreeable to the views of each.
10-18 ὁπότε τοίνυν πρὸ τούτου δῆλον γέγονεν τῇ γνώσει τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ ἐκ ταύτης τῆς προφάσεως ἐξ ἧς κεκελευσμένον ἦν ὑπὸ τῶν θειοτάτων ΔιοκλητιανοῦDiocletian καὶ ΜαξιμιανοῦMaximian , τῶν γονέων τῶν ἡμετέρων , τὰς συνόδους τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἐξῃρῆσθαι , πολλοὺς σεισμοὺς καὶ ἀποστερήσεις ὑπὸ τῶν ὀφφικιαλίων γεγενῆσθαι , καὶ εἰς τοὐπιὸν δὲ τοῦτο προχωρεῖν κατὰ τῶν ἐπαρχιωτῶν τῶν ἡμετέρων , ὧν μάλιστα πρόνοιαν τὴν‎ προσήκουσαν γίνεσθαι σπουδάζομεν , τῶν οὐσιῶν τῶν ἰδίων αὐτῶν κατατριβομένων , δοθέντων γραμμάτων πρὸς τοὺς ἡγεμόνας ἑκάστης ἐπαρχίας τῷ παρελθόντι ἐνιαυτῷ ἐνομοθετήσαμεν ἵν᾽ εἴ τις βούλοιτο τῷ τοιούτων ἔθει ἢ τῇ αὐτῇ φυλακῇ τῆς θρῃσκείας ἕπεσθαι , τοῦτον ἀνεμποδίστως ἔχεσθαι τῆς προθέσεως τῆς ἑαυτοῦ καὶ ὑπὸ μηδενὸς ἐμποδίζεσθαι μηδὲ κωλύεσθαι καὶ εἶναι αὐτοῖς εὐχέρειαν δίχα τινὸς φόβου καὶ ὑποψίας ταῦθ᾽ ὅπερ ἑκάστῳ ἀρέσκει , ποιεῖν .	When, therefore, before this, it became clear to our mind that under pretext of the command of our parents, the most divine Diocletian and Maximianus, which enjoined that the meetings of the Christians should be abolished, many extortions and spoliations had been practiced by officials; and that those evils were continually increasing, to the detriment of our provincials toward whom we are especially anxious to exercise proper care, and that their possessions were in consequence perishing, letters were sent last year to the governors of each province, in which we decreed that, if any one wished to follow such a practice or to observe this same religion, he should be permitted without hindrance to pursue his purpose and should be impeded and prevented by no one, and that all should have liberty to do without any fear or suspicion that which each preferred.
10-19 πλὴν οὐδὲ νῦν λαθεῖν ἡμᾶς ἐδυνήθη ὅτι τινὲς τῶν δικαστῶν παρενεθυμοῦντο τὰς ἡμετέρας κελεύσεις καὶ διστάζειν τοὺς ἡμετέρους ἀνθρώπους περὶ τὰ προστάγματα τὰ ἡμέτερα παρεσκεύασαν καὶ ὀκνηρότερον προσιέναι ταύταις ταῖς θρῃσκείαις αἷς ἦν ἀρεστὸν αὐτοῖς , ἐποίησαν .	But even now we cannot help perceiving that some of the judges have mistaken our commands, and have given our people reason to doubt the meaning of our ordinances, and have caused them to proceed too reluctantly to the observance of those religious rites which are pleasing to them.
10-20 Ἵνα τοίνυν εἰς τὸ ἑξῆς πᾶσα ὑποψία ἢ ἀμφιβολία τοῦ φόβου περιαιρεθῇ , τοῦτο τὸ διάταγμα προτεθῆναι ἐνομοθετήσαμεν , ἵνα πᾶσιν δῆλον γένηται ἐξεῖναι τούτοις οἵτινες ταύτην τὴν‎ αἵρεσιν καὶ τὴν‎ θρῃσκείαν μετιέναι βούλονται , ἐκ ταύτης τῆς δωρεᾶς τῆς ἡμετέρας , καθὼς ἕκαστος βούλεται ἢ ἡδέα αὐτῷ ἐστιν , οὕτως προσιέναι τῇ θρῃσκείᾳ ταύτῃ ἣν ἐξ ἔθους θρῃσκεύειν εἴλετο .	In order, therefore, that in the future every suspicion of fearful doubt may be taken away, we have commanded that this decree be published, so that it may be clear to all that whoever wishes to embrace this sect and religion is permitted to do so by virtue of this grant of ours; and that each one, as he wishes or as is pleasing to him, is permitted to practice this religion which he has chosen to observe according to his custom.
10-21 καὶ τὰ κυριακὰ δὲ τὰ οἰκεῖα ὅπως κατασκευάζοιεν , συγκεχώρηται .	It is also granted them to build Lord's houses.
10-22 ἵνα μέντοι καὶ μείζων γένηται ἡ ἡμετέρα δωρεά , καὶ τοῦτο νομοθετῆσαι κατηξιώσαμεν ἵνα εἴ τινες οἰκίαι καὶ χωρία ἃ τοῦ δικαίου τοῦ τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians πρὸ τούτου ἐτύγχανον ὄντα , ἐκ τῆς κελεύσεως τῶν γονέων τῶν ἡμετέρων εἰς τὸ δίκαιον μετέπεσεν τοῦ φίσκου ἢ ὑπό τινος κατελήφθη πόλεως , εἴτε διάπρασις τούτων γεγένηται εἴτε εἰς χάρισμα δέδοταί τινι , ταῦτα πάντα εἰς τὸ ἀρχαῖον δίκαιον τῶν ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἀνακληθῆναι ἐκελεύσαμεν , ἵνα καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τῆς ἡμετέρας εὐσεβείας καὶ τῆς προνοίας αἴσθησιν πάντες λάβωσιν .	But that this grant of ours may be the greater, we have thought good to decree also that if any houses and lands before this time rightfully belonged to the Christians, and by the command of our parents fell into the treasury, or were confiscated by any city — whether they have been sold or presented to any one as a gift, — that all these should be restored to their original possessors, the Christians, in order that in this also every one may have knowledge of our piety and care.
10-23 Αὗται τοῦ τυράννου φωναί , οὐδ᾽ ὅλον ἐνιαυτὸν τῶν κατὰ ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἐν στήλαις ἀνατεθειμένων αὐτῷ διαταγμάτων ὑστερήσασαι , καὶ παρ᾽ ᾧ γε μικρῷ πρόσθεν δυσσεβεῖς ἐδοκοῦμεν καὶ ἄθεοι καὶ παντὸς ὄλεθροι τοῦ βίου , ὡς μὴ ὅτι γε πόλιν , ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ χώραν οὐδ᾽ ἐρημίαν οἰκεῖν ἐπιτρέπεσθαι , παρὰ τούτῳ διατάξεις ὑπὲρ ΧριστιανῶνChristians καὶ νομοθεσίαι συνετάττοντο , καὶ οἱ πρὸ βραχέος πυρὶ καὶ σιδήρῳ θηρίων τε καὶ οἰωνῶν βορᾷ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ‎ διαφθειρόμενοι καὶ πᾶν εἶδος κολάσεως καὶ τιμωρίας ἀπαλλαγῆς τε βίου οἰκτρότατα ὡς ἂν ἄθεοι καὶ δυσσεβεῖς ὑπομένοντες , οὗτοι νῦν πρὸς τοῦ αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ θρῃσκεύειν ὁμολογοῦνται θρῃσκείαν καὶ ἐπισκευάζειν κυριακὰ ἐπιτρέπονται , καὶ δικαίων τινῶν αὐτοῖς μετεῖναι αὐτὸς ὁ τύραννος ὁμολογεῖ .	These are the words of the tyrant which were published not quite a year after the decrees against the Christians engraved by him on pillars. And by him to whom a little before we seemed impious wretches and atheists and destroyers of all life, so that we were not permitted to dwell in any city nor even in country or desert — by him decrees and ordinances were issued in behalf of the Christians, and they who recently had been destroyed by fire and sword, by wild beasts and birds of prey, in the presence of the tyrant himself, and had suffered every species of torture and punishment, and most miserable deaths as atheists and impious wretches, were now acknowledged by him as possessors of religion and were permitted to build churches; and the tyrant himself bore witness and confessed that they had some rights.
10-24 Καὶ δὴ τοιαῦτα ἐξομολογησάμενος , ὥσπερ τινὸς τυχὸν εὐεργεσίας τούτων δὴ αὐτῶν ἕνεκα , ἧττον ἢ παθεῖν αὐτὸν χρῆν δήπου παθών , ἀθρόᾳ Θεοῦ πληγεὶς μάστιγι ἐν δευτέρᾳ τοῦ πολέμου συμβολῇ καταστρέφει ·	And having made such confessions, as if he had received some benefit on account of them, he suffered perhaps less than he ought to have suffered, and being smitten by a sudden scourge of God, he perished in the second campaign of the war.
10-25 γίνεται δ᾽ αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς καταστροφῆς οὐχ οἷα στρατηγοῖς πολεμάρχαις ὑπὲρ ἀρετῆς καὶ γνωρίμων πολλάκις ἀνδριζομένοις ἐν πολέμῳ τὴν‎ εὐκαταφρόνητος τελευτὴν εὐθαρσῶς ὑπομεῖναι συνέβη , ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἅτε τις δυσσεβὴς καὶ θεομάχος , τῆς παρατάξεως ἔτ᾽ αὐτῷ πρὸ τοῦ πεδίου συνεστώσης οἴκοι μένων αὐτὸς καὶ κρυπταζόμενος , τὴν‎ προσήκουσαν τιμωρίαν ὑπέχει ,	But his end was not like that of military chieftains who, while fighting bravely in battle for virtue and friends, often boldly encounter a glorious death; for like an impious enemy of God, while his army was still drawn up in the field, remaining at home and concealing himself, he suffered the punishment which he deserved.
10-26 ἀθρόᾳ Θεοῦ πληγεὶς καθ᾽ ὅλου τοῦ σώματος μάστιγι , ὡς ἀλγηδόσιν δειναῖς καὶ περιωδυνίαις ἐλαυνόμενον πρηνῆ καταπεσεῖν , λιμῷ φθειρόμενον τάς τε σάρκας ὅλας ἀοράτῳ καὶ θεηλάτῳ πυρὶ τηκόμενον , ὡς διαρρεύσαντα τὸ μὲν πᾶν εἶδος τῆς παλαιᾶς μορφῆς ἀφανισθῆναι , ξηρῶν δ᾽ αὐτὸ μόνον ὀστέων οἷόν τι μακρῷ χρόνῳ κατεσκελετευμένον εἴδωλον ὑπολειφθῆναι , ὡς μηδ᾽ ἄλλο τι νομίζειν τοὺς παρόντας ἢ τάφον αὐτῷ τῆς ψυχῆς γεγονέναι τὸ σῶμα , ἐν ἤδη νεκρῷ καὶ παντελῶς ἀπορρεύσαντι κατορωρυγμένης .	For he was smitten with a sudden scourge of God in his whole body, and harassed by terrible pains and torments, he fell prostrate on the ground, wasted by hunger, while all his flesh was dissolved by an invisible and God-sent fire, so that the whole appearance of his frame was changed, and there was left only a kind of image wasted away by length of time to a skeleton of dry bones; so that those who were present could think of his body as nothing else than the tomb of his soul, which was buried in a body already dead and completely melted away.
10-27 σφοδρότερον δ᾽ ἔτι μᾶλλον τῆς θέρμης αὐτὸν ἐκ βάθους μυελῶν καταφλεγούσης , προπηδῶσιν μὲν αὐτῷ τὰ ὄμματα καὶ τῆς ἰδίας λήξεως 1 ἀποπεσόντα πηρὸν αὐτὸν ἀφίησιν ,	And as the heat still more violently consumed him in the depths of his marrow, his eyes burst forth, and falling from their sockets1left him blind.

10-28 ὃ δ᾽ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἔτ᾽ ἐμπνέων ἀνθομολογούμενος τῷ κυρίῳ θάνατον ἐπεκαλεῖτο , καὶ τὸ πανύστατον ἐνδίκως ταῦτα τῆς κατὰ τοῦ ΧριστοῦChrist παροινίας χάριν ὁμολογήσας παθεῖν , τὴν‎ ψυχὴν ἀφίησιν .

Thereupon still breathing and making free confession to the Lord, he invoked death, and at last, after acknowledging that he justly suffered these things on account of his violence against Christ, he gave up the ghost.

Chapter 11

11-1 Οὕτω δῆτα ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus ἐκποδὼν γενομένου , ὃς μόνος ἔτι λείπων τῶν τῆς θεοσεβείας ἐχθρῶν , ἁπάντων χείριστος ἀναπέφηνεν , τὰ μὲν τῆς τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ἀνανεώσεως ἐκ θεμελίων χάριτι Θεοῦ τοῦ παντοκράτορος ἠγείρετο ὅ τε τοῦ ΧριστοῦChrist λόγος , εἰς δόξαν τοῦ τῶν ὅλων Θεοῦ διαλάμπων , μείζονα τῆς πρόσθεν ἀπελάμβανεν παρρησίαν , τὰ δὲ τῆς δυσσεβείας τῶν τῆς θεοσεβείας ἐχθρῶν αἰσχύνης ἐσχάτης καὶ ἀτιμίας ἐνεπίμπλατο .	Thus when Maximinus, who alone had remained of the enemies of religion and had appeared the worst of them all, was put out of the way, the renovation of the churches from their foundations was begun by the grace of God the Ruler of all, and the word of Christ, shining unto the glory of the God of the universe, obtained greater freedom than before, while the impious enemies of religion were covered with extremest shame and dishonour.
11-2 πρῶτός τε γὰρ ΜαξιμῖνοςMaximin, Maximinus αὐτὸς κοινὸς ἁπάντων πολέμιος ὑπὸ τῶν κρατούντων ἀναγορευθείς , δυσσεβέστατος καὶ δυσωνυμώτατος καὶ θεομισέστατος τύραννος διὰ προγραμμάτων δημοσίων ἀνεστηλίτευτο ,	For Maximinus himself, being first pronounced by the emperors a common enemy, was declared by public proclamations to be a most impious, execrable, and God-hating tyrant.
11-3 γραφαί τε ὅσαι εἰς τιμὴν αὐτοῦ‎ τε καὶ τῶν αὐτοῦ‎ παίδων κατὰ πᾶσαν ἀνέκειντο πόλιν , αἳ μὲν ἐξ ὕψους εἰς ἔδαφος ῥιπτούμεναι συνετρίβοντο , αἳ δὲ τὰς προσόψεις ἠχρειοῦντο σκοτεινῷ χρώματι καταμελανούμεναι ,	And of the portraits which had been set up in every city in honour of him or of his children, some were thrown down from their places to the ground, and torn in pieces; while the faces of others were obliterated by daubing them with black paint.
11-4 ἀνδριάντων τε ὁμοίως ὁπόσοι εἰς αὐτοῦ‎ τιμὴν διανεστήκεσαν , ὡσαύτως ῥιπτούμενοι συνετρίβοντο , γέλως καὶ παιδιὰ τοῖς ἐνυβρίζειν καὶ ἐμπαροινεῖν ἐθέλουσιν ἐκκείμενοι .	And the statues which had been erected to his honour were likewise overthrown and broken, and lay exposed to the laughter and sport of those who wished to insult and abuse them.
11-5 Εἶτα δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῆς θεοσεβείας ἐχθρῶν πᾶσαι τιμαὶ περιῃροῦντο , ἐκτείνοντο δὲ καὶ πάντες οἱ τὰ ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus φρονοῦντες , ὅσοι μάλιστα τῶν ἐν ἀρχικοῖς ἀξιώμασιν ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ‎ τετιμημένοι τῇ πρὸς αὐτὸν κολακείᾳ σοβαρῶς ἐνεπαροίνησαν τῷ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ·	Then also all the honours of the other enemies of religion were taken away, and all those who sided with Maximinus were slain, especially those who had been honoured by him with high offices in reward for their flattery, and had behaved insolently toward our doctrine.
11-6 οἷος ἦν ὁ παρὰ πάντας αὐτῷ τιμιώτατος καὶ αἰδεσιμώτατος ἑταίρων τε γνησιώτατος ΠευκέτιοςPeucetius , δὶς ὕπατος καὶ τρὶς ὕπατος καὶ τῶν καθόλου λόγων ἔπαρχος πρὸς αὐτοῦ‎ καθεσταμένος , ΚουλκιανόςCulcianus τε ὡσαύτως διὰ πάσης ἀρχικῆς προελθὼν ἐξουσίας , ὁ καὶ αὐτὸς μυρίοις τοῖς κατ᾽ ΑἴγυπτονEgypt ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἐλλαμπρυνάμενος αἵμασιν , ἄλλοι τε ἐπὶ τούτοις οὐκ ὀλίγοι , δι᾽ ὧν μάλιστα τὰ τῆς ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus τυραννίδος ἐκραταιοῦτό τε καὶ ηὔξετο .	Such an one was Peucetius, the dearest of his companions, who had been honoured and rewarded by him above all, who had been consul a second and third time, and had been appointed by him chief minister; and Culcianus, who had likewise advanced through every grade of office, and was also celebrated for his numberless executions of Christians in Egypt; and besides these not a few others, by whose agency especially the tyranny of Maximinus had been confirmed and extended.
11-7 Ἐκάλει δὲ ἄρα καὶ ΘεότεκνονTheotecnus ἡ δίκη , οὐδαμῶς τὰ κατὰ ΧριστιανῶνChristians αὐτῷ πεπραγμένα λήθῃ παραδιδοῦσα .	And Theotecnus also was summoned by justice which by no means overlooked his deeds against the Christians.
11-8 ἐπὶ μὲν γὰρ τῷ κατ᾽ ἈντιόχειανAntioch ἱδρυθέντι πρὸς αὐτοῦ‎ ξοάνῳ δόξας εὐημερεῖν , ἤδη καὶ ἡγεμονίας ἠξίωτο παρὰ ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus ,	For when the statue had been set up by him at Antioch, he appeared to be in the happiest state, and was already made a governor by Maximinus.
11-9 ΛικίννιοςLicinius δ᾽ ἐπιβὰς τῆς ἈντιοχέωνAntioch, Antiochians πόλεως φώραν τε γοήτων ποιησάμενος , τοὺς τοῦ νεοπαγοῦς ξοάνου προφήτας καὶ ἱερεῖς βασάνοις ᾐκίζετο , τίνι λόγῳ τὴν‎ ἀπάτην καθυποκρίνοιντο , πυνθανόμενος ·	But Licinius, coming down to the city of Antioch, made a search for impostors, and tortured the prophets and priests of the newly erected statue, asking them for what reason they practiced their deception.
11-10 ὡς δ᾽ ἐπικρύπτεσθαι αὐτοῖς πρὸς τῶν βασάνων συνελαυνομένοις ἀδόξων ἦν , ἐδήλουν δὲ τὸ πᾶν μυστήριον ἀπάτην τυγχάνειν τέχνῃ τῇ ΘεοτέκνουTheotecnus μεμηχανημένην , τοῖς πᾶσιν τὴν‎ ἀξίαν ἐπιθεὶς δίκην , πρῶτον αὐτὸν ΘεότεκνονTheotecnus ,	They, under the stress of torture, were unable longer to conceal the matter, and declared that the whole deceptive mystery had been devised by the art of Theotecnus.
11-11 εἶτα δὲ καὶ τοὺς τῆς γοητείας κοινωνοὺς μετὰ πλείστας ὅσας αἰκίας θανάτῳ παραδίδωσιν .	Therefore, after meting out to all of them just judgment, he first put Theotecnus himself to death, and then his confederates in the imposture, with the severest possible tortures.
11-12 Τούτοις ἅπασιν προσετίθεντο καὶ οἱ ΜαξιμίνουMaximin, Maximinus παῖδες , οὓς ἤδη καὶ τῆς βασιλικῆς τιμῆς τῆς τε ἐν πίναξιν καὶ γραφαῖς ἀναθέσεως πεποίητο κοινωνούς ·	To all these were added also the children of Maximinus, whom he had already made sharers in the imperial dignity, by placing their names on tablets and statues.
11-13 καὶ οἱ συγγένειαν δὲ τοῦ τυράννου τὸ πρὶν αὐχοῦντες καὶ πάντας ἀνθρώπους καταδυναστεύειν ἐπηρμένοι τὰ αὐτὰ τοῖς προδεδηλωμένοις μετὰ τῆς ἐσχάτης ἀτιμίας ἔπασχον ,	And the relatives of the tyrant, who before had been boastful and had in their pride oppressed all men, suffered the same punishments with those who have been already mentioned, as well as the extremest disgrace.
11-14 ἐπεὶ μὴ ἐδέξαντο παιδείαν μηδὲ ἔγνωσαν μηδὲ συνῆκαν τὴν‎ φάσκουσαν ἐν ἱεροῖς λόγοις παρακέλευσιν	For they had not received instruction, neither did they know and understand the exhortation given in the Holy Word:
11-15 “μὴ πεποίθετε ἐπ᾽ ἄρχοντας , ἐπὶ υἱοὺς ἀνθρώπων , οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν σωτηρία · ἐξελεύσεται τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ‎ καὶ ἀποστρέψει εἰς τὴν‎ γῆν αὐτοῦ · ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἀπολοῦνται πάντες οἱ διαλογισμοὶ αὐτῶν .”	“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation; his spirit shall go forth and return to his earth; in that day all their thoughts perish.”
11-16 οὕτω δῆτα τῶν δυσσεβῶν ἐκκαθαρθέντων , μόνοις ἐφυλάττετο τὰ τῆς προσηκούσης βασιλείας βέβαιά τε καὶ ἀνεπίφθονα ΚωνσταντίνῳConstantine καὶ ΛικιννίῳLicinius ·	The impious ones having been thus removed, the government was preserved firm and undisputed for Constantine and Licinius, to whom it fittingly belonged.
11-17 οἳ τῶν πρόσθεν ἁπάντων ἐκκαθάραντες τοῦ βίου τὴν‎ θεοεχθρίαν , τῶν ἐκ Θεοῦ πρυτανευθέντων ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῖς ᾐσθημένως τὸ φιλάρετον καὶ θεοφιλὲς τό τε πρὸς τὸ θεῖον εὐσεβὲς καὶ εὐχάριστον διὰ τῆς ὑπὲρ ΧριστιανῶνChristians ἐνεδείξαντο νομοθεσίας .	They, having first of all cleansed the world of hostility to the Divine Being, conscious of the benefits which he had conferred upon them, showed their love of virtue and of God, and their piety and gratitude to the Deity, by their ordinance in behalf of the Christians.