apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

HADRIAN, PIUS, AND MARCUS. 4^7
on the frontier, when I was surprised in Camuntum by seventy-four regiments nine
miles off. Now when they approached us, our scouts informed us, and Pompeianus
our commander in chief showed us, what also we saw with our own eyes (for
I was
surrounded by muUitudes of savage hordes, having with me a combined and moderate
force consisting of the soldiers of the — first legion and the tenth both the Twin and the
Fretensian), that there were crowds there of a miscellaneous multitude numbering nine
hundred and seventy-seven thousand. Having therefore measured myself and my
troops with the numbers of the barbarous enemy, I betook myself to prayer to the
gods of my fathers. But finding myself neglected by them and contemplating to what
straits my forces were reduced, I summoned those whom we call Christians to my aid.
And by enquiry I found out their numbers and magnitude, scolding them at the same
time, which I ought not to have done, for I afterwards discovered their power.
Making a beginning herewith, they did not [think of] equipping themselves with
missiles or shields or trumpets, for this is abhorrent to them by reason of the god
that they bear in their conscience. It is probable then that those whom we suppose
to be Atheists have a self-moving god enshrined in their conscience. For throwing
themselves on the ground they prayed not only for me but for the army that was with
me, that He would be their comforter in their present drought and famine for
;
we
had not drunk any water for five days, as there was none in the place for we were in
;
the heart of Germany and within their frontiers. Now as soon as they threw themselves
on the earth and prayed to a god who was unknown to me, forthwith rain came
from heaven— very cold water upon us, but fiery hail upon the enemies of the Romans.
So forthwith [we felt] the presence of their god at once as they prayed, as of one
invincible and indestructible.
Beginning at once therefore let us permit such persons
to be Christians, lest they pray for any such weapon against
recommend that no such person be accused as a Christian, for being such.
us and obtain it. And I
But, if any
one should be found accusing a Christian of being a Christian, it is my desire that it
be made clear that the Christian so brought to judgment, if he confesses to it, shall be
[acquitted], if no other charge is brought against him except that he is a Christian, and
that his accuser shall be burnt alive ;
and any Christian, when he confesses to this and
has made his case good, shall not be forced by the officer entrusted with the government
of the province to change his religion or to lose his liberty.'
'
I desire that this decision be ratified
by a decree of the Senate, and I direct that
be read. The
this my ordinance be published in the Forum of Trajan, that it may
prefect Vitrasius PoUio will take care that it is sent to the several provinces. Any one
who wishes to make use of it and to possess it, shall not be prevented from obtaining
a copy from the decrees promulgated by us.'
This letter follows on the letter of Antoninus Pius to the Commime Asiae in the
appendix to the Second Apology of Justin Martyr {Oj>. i. p. 247 sq. Otto, ed. 3). See
above, p. 483. The Greek text is evidently mutilated in some places, and probably
corrupt in others ;
nor is it
always easy to satisfy oneself as to the meaning of the
expressions used. For iradwv the Mss have avaOihv. There is much to be said
for Sylburg's ^emendation KovaSuiv Kal ZapnarQv instead of /ca/x«f /cat cnraddv. Just
below KapvovvTif} is an emendation for kotIvi^, the reading of the mss. The word
dfiiKTov means, I suppose, 'unsocial:ile, uncivilised, savage.' The dpaKovres are the
standards or ensigns of the regiments, as e.g. in Lucian Quom. Hist. Conscr. 29 dio-re
Tous 5pa,Kovras ((p-q twv Hapdvalwv (cr-q/xeTov de wX-qOovs tovto avTois, X'^'oi'J yap,
oT/xai, 6 5paKit)v dyei) ^uvras SpaKovras irap.p.eyidus eXvai k.t.X. Of the designation
of the legions, yepiivas (ppevT-rjaias, I shall have to speak presently.