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De la mort des persécuteurs de l'église

XLVII.

Enfin l’on s'approche ; les troupes de Licinius attaquent les ennemis avec furie; ils s'épouvantent; ils ne peuvent tirer l'épée, ni lancer le javelot. Maximin tournait autour des bataillons de Licinius, et tâchait de les ébranler par ses prières et par ses promesses. On lui ferme partout l'oreille. On détache même de la cavalerie contre lui ; et on l'oblige à se retirer parmi les siens. On taillait impunément son armée en pièces, et tant de légions succombaient sous une poignée de gens. Personne ne se souvenait de son devoir ni de sa réputation ; on eût dit qu'ils n'étaient pas venus au combat, mais à une mort volontaire, tant Dieu avait donné d'ascendant sur eux à leurs ennemis! La campagne était toute couverte de morts. Maximin, voyant ses espérances trompées, quitte la pourpre, et, sous l'habit d'un esclave, s'enfuit et passe la mer. Une partie de son armée est taillée en pièces ; l'autre se rend aux victorieux, ou prend la fuite. On suivait sans honte l'exemple de l'empereur, qui en deux nuits et un jour gagne Nicomédie, distante du lieu du combat de soixante lieues. Il prend sa femme et ses enfants, et suivi d'un petit nombre de ses officiers, il se dirige vers l'Orient. En Cappadoce.il rassemble quelques débris de son armée; quelques troupes le vinrent rejoindre: ces légers secours lui donnèrent le courage de reprendre encore la pourpre.

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Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died

Chap. XLVII.

So the two armies drew nigh; the trumpets gave the signal; the military ensigns advanced; the troops of Licinius charged. But the enemies, panic-struck, could neither draw their swords nor yet throw their javelins. Daia went about, and, alternately by entreaties and promises, attempted to seduce the soldiers of Licinius. But he was not hearkened to in any quarter, and they drove him back. Then were the troops of Daia slaughtered, none making resistance; and such numerous legions, and forces so mighty, were mowed down by an inferior enemy. No one called to mind his reputation, or former valour, or the honourable rewards which had been conferred on him. The Supreme God did so place their necks under the sword of their foes, that they seemed to have entered the field, not as combatants, but as men devoted to death. After great numbers had fallen, Daia perceived that everything went contrary to his hopes; and therefore he threw aside the purple, and having put on the habit of a slave, hasted across the Thracian Bosphorus. One half of his army perished in battle, and the rest either surrendered to the victor or fled; for now that the emperor himself had deserted, there seemed to be no shame in desertion. Before the expiration of the kalends of May, Daia arrived at Nicomedia, although distant one hundred and sixty miles from the field of battle. So in the space of one day and two nights he performed that journey. Having hurried away with his children and wife, and a few officers of his court, he went towards Syria; but having been joined by some troops from those quarters, and having collected together a part of his fugitive forces, he halted in Cappadocia, and then he resumed the imperial garb.