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| No possible time or place for the alleged offence.
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5. No possible time or place
for the alleged offence.
Now what place and time does my accuser specify,
at which I made use of these expressions according to his slanderous
imputation? In whose presence was I so mad as to give utterance to the
words which he has falsely charged me with speaking? Who is there ready
to support the charge, and to testify to the fact? What his own eyes
have seen that ought he to speak1302
, as holy
Scripture enjoins. But no; he will find no witnesses of that which
never took place. But I take your Piety to witness, together with the
Truth, that I lie not. I request you, for I know you to be a person of
excellent memory, to call to mind the conversation I had with you, when
you condescended to see me, first at Viminacium1303
, a
second time at Cæsarea in Cappadocia, and a third1304
| 1304 [Prolegg. ch. ii. §5 fin., §6 (3).] | time at Antioch. Did I speak evil before you
even of Eusebius and his fellows who had persecuted me? Did I cast
imputations upon any of those that have done me wrong? If then I
imputed nothing to any of those against whom I had a right to speak,
how could I be so possessed with madness as to slander an Emperor
before an Emperor, and to set a brother at variance with a brother? I
beseech you, either cause me to appear before you that the thing may be
proved, or else condemn these calumnies, and follow the example of
David, who says, ‘Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him
will I destroy1305
.’ As much as
in them lies, they have slain me; for ‘the mouth that belieth,
slayeth the soul1306
.’ But your
long-suffering has prevailed against them, and given me confidence to
defend myself, that they may suffer condemnation, as contentious and
slanderous persons. Concerning your most religious brother, of blessed
memory, this may suffice: for you will be able, according to the wisdom
which God has given you, to gather much from the little I have said,
and to recognise the fictitious charge.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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