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Defence of his flight

5. In praise of Hosius.

Of the great Hosius ¹, who answers to his name, that confessor of a happy old age, it is superfluous for me to speak, for I suppose it is known unto all men that they caused him also to be banished; for he is not an obscure person, but of all men the most illustrious, and more than this. When was there a Council held, in which he did not take the lead ², and by right counsel convince every one? Where is there a Church that does not possess some glorious monuments of his patronage? Who has ever come to him in sorrow, and has not gone away rejoicing? What needy person ever asked his aid, and did not obtain what he desired? And yet even on this man they made their assault, because knowing the calumnies which they invent in behalf of their iniquity, he would not subscribe to their designs against us. And if afterwards, upon the repeated stripes above measure that were inflicted upon him, and the conspiracies that were formed against his kinsfolk, he yielded ³ to them for a time ⁴, as being old and infirm in body, yet at least their wickedness is shewn even in this circumstance; so zealously did they endeavour by all means to prove that they were not truly Christians.

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Apologie de Saint Athanase sur sa fuite

5.

Il est superflu de parler du grand et heureux vieillard, du confesseur si justement nommé Hosius;¹ car peut-être est-il connu de tous qu’ils l’ont fait bannir. Ce vieillard n’était pas un inconnu, mais le plus illustre des évêques, plus illustre à lui seul que tous les autres. Quel synode ne présida-t-il pas²? La droiture de sa parole ne persuadait-elle pas tous les esprits? quelle église ne garde les plus beaux souvenirs de son intercession³? qui jamais, dans le chagrin, vint à lui, sans revenir consolé? qui, dans le besoin, lui fit une demande, sans obtenir ce qu’il voulait? Un tel homme ne put échapper à leur audace, parce que, sachant de quelles calomnies ils sont capables par leur impiété, il n’avait point souscrit à leurs complots contre moi. Si plus tard, par suite des coups qui lui furent portés hors de toute mesure et des trames ourdies contre ses proches, vieux et faible de corps, il leur céda un instant, il n’est pas moins une preuve de la méchanceté de ces hommes dont le souci est de montrer partout qu’ils ne sont pas de vrais chrétiens.