Traduction Masquer
Defence of his flight

3. Outrages of the Arians against the Bishops.

P. 256 For whom have they ever persecuted and taken, that they have not insulted and injured as they pleased? Whom have they ever sought after and found, that they have not handled in such a manner, that either he has died a miserable death, or has been ill-treated in every way? Whatever the magistrates appear to do, it is their work; and the others are merely the tools of their will and wickedness. In consequence, where is there a place that has not some memorial of their malice? Who has ever opposed them, without their conspiring against him, inventing pretexts for his ruin after the manner of Jezebel? Where is there a Church that is not at this moment lamenting the success of their plots against her Bishops? Antioch is mourning for the orthodox Confessor Eustathius ¹; Balaneæ for the most admirable Euphration ²; Paltus and Antaradus for Kymatius ³ and Carterius; Adrianople for that lover of Christ, Eutropius, and his successor Lucius, who was often loaded with chains by their means, and so perished; Ancyra mourns for Marcellus, Berrhœa ⁴ for Cyrus ⁵, Gaza for Asclepas. Of all these, after inflicting many outrages, they by their intrigues procured the banishment; but for Theodulus and Olympius, Bishops of Thrace, and for us and our Presbyters, they caused diligent search to be made, to the intent that if we were discovered we should suffer capital punishment: and probably we should have so perished, had we not fled at that very time contrary to their intentions. For letters to that effect were delivered to the Proconsul Donatus against Olympius and his fellows, and to Philagrius against me. And having raised a persecution against Paul, Bishop of Constantinople, as soon as they found him, they caused him to be openly strangled ⁶ at a place called Cucusus in Cappadocia, employing as their executioner for the purpose Philip, who was Prefect. He was a patron of their heresy, and the tool of their wicked designs.

Traduction Masquer
Apologie de Saint Athanase sur sa fuite

3.

Quel est celui qu’ils ont jamais poursuivi et pris, sans le traiter avec violence? Quel est celui qu’ils ont recherché et découvert sans le faire mourir misérablement ou vivre dans une complète affliction? Car telles sont leurs œuvres; les juges ne sont que les ministres de leur cruauté. Quel lieu ne garde le souvenir de leur méchanceté? qui, pour avoir pensé autrement qu’eux, ne les a vus comploter et imaginer des prétextes à la façon de Jézabel? quelle église aujourd’hui n’est pas en deuil, par suite de leurs trames contre les évêques? Antioche pleure Eustathe, le confesseur, l’orthodoxe; Balanée, l’admirable Euphration; Paltos et Antarados, Cymatius et Cartérius; Andrinople, Eutrope, l’ami du Christ, et son successeur Lucius, qui souvent porta leurs chaînes et y mourut; Ancyre, Marcellus; Béroée, Cyrus; Gaza, Asclépas. Ce n’est qu’après les avoir d’abord couverts d’outrages que ces trompeurs les firent bannir. Quant à Théodule et Olympius, évêques de Thrace, quant moi et à mes prêtres, ils ne nous firent rechercher que pour nous infliger la peine capitale; et telle eût peut-être été notre mort, si, alors aussi,¹ nous n’eussions pris la fuite contre leur espoir. Car ainsi l’ordonnaient les lettres adressées au proconsul Donat contre Olympius. et à Philagrius contre moi. Après avoir poursuivi et découvert Paul, évêque de Constantinople, ils le firent publiquement étrangler à Cucuse, en Cappadoce; ils avaient pris pour bourreau un ancien préfet, Philippe, le patron de leur hérésie et le ministre de leurs pervers desseins.