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Defence before Constantius

2.The first charge, of setting Constans against Constantius.

But as to the slanderous charge which has been preferred against me before your Grace, respecting correspondence with the most pious Augustus, your brother Constans ¹, of blessed and everlasting memory (for my enemies report this of me, and have ventured to assert it in writing), the former events ² are sufficient to prove this also to be untrue. Had it been alleged by another set of persons, the matter would indeed have been a fit subject of enquiry, but it would have required strong evidence, and open proof in presence of both parties: but when the same persons who invented the former charge, are the authors also of this, is it not reasonable to conclude from the issue of the one, the falsehood of the other? For this cause they again conferred together in private, thinking to be able to deceive your Piety before I was aware. But in this they failed: you would not listen to them as they desired, but patiently gave me an opportunity to make my defence. And, in that you were not immediately moved to demand vengeance, you acted only as was righteous in a Prince, whose duty it is to wait for the defence of the injured party. Which if you will vouchsafe to hear, I am confident that in this matter also you will condemn those reckless men, who have no fear of that God, who has commanded us not to speak falsely before the king ³.

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Apologie de Saint Athanase à l'Empereur Constance

2.

Quant à la calomnie soulevée contre moi devant ton Humanité au sujet du très pieux Auguste d’heureuse et éternelle mémoire, Constant, ton frère, calomnie que mes ennemis répandent sourdement et qu’ils ont osé écrire, il suffit de leurs premières accusations pour montrer que celle-ci n’est pas plus fondée. Si d’autres venaient tenir ce langage, l’affaire mériterait d’être appelée devant les tribunaux, et demanderait beaucoup de preuves et de confrontations. Mais, si elle est l’œuvre des inventeurs des premières accusations, n’est-il pas naturellement démontré qu’elle est, comme elles, une imagination? Aussi répètent-ils ce bruit loin de moi, dans la pensée de pouvoir surprendre ta Piété; mais ils se sont trompés. Tu ne les as pas écoutés, comme ils le voulaient; dans ta grandeur d’âme, tu as fait place à ma justification. Si, en effet, tu ne t’es pas aussitôt abandonné à ton émotion, si tu n’as pas réclamé de châtiment, ce fut uniquement pour attendre, comme il convient à un roi juste, la justification du calomnié. Si tu daignes l’écouter, j’ai confiance que, dans ce nouveau délit, tu condamneras les téméraires qui ne craignent pas le Dieu qui défend à la bouche de l’homme de mentir au roi.¹