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Eusebius
Church History IX 9
Greek original · 25 verses · some words can be tapped for a gloss
9:1
. Οὕτω δὴ ὃν βασιλέα ἐκ βασιλέως, εὐσεβῆ τε ἐξ εὐσεβεστάτου καὶ πάντα σωφρονεστάτου γεγονέναι προειρήκαμεν, Λικιννίου ἴου τε τοῦ μετ αὐτὸν, συνέσει καὶ εὐσεβείᾳ τετιμημένων, πρὸς τοῦ παμβασιλέως θεοῦ τε τῶν ὅλων καὶ σωτῆρος δύο θεοφιλῶν κατὰ τῶν δύο δυσσεβεστάτων τυράννων ἀνεγηγερμένων, πολέμου τε νόμῳ παραταξαμένων, θεοῦ συμμαχοῦντος αὐτοῖς, παραδοξότατα πίπτει μὲν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης ὑπὸ Κωνσταντίνου Μαξέντιος, ὁ δ ἐπ ἀνατολῆς οὐ πολὺν ἐπιζήσας ἐκείνῳ χρόνον αἰσχίστῳ καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπὸ Λικιννίου, οὔπω μανέντος τότε, καταστρέφει θανάτῳ.
Thus, then, when he whom we have said before to have been an Emperor sprung from an Emperor, and pious sprung from a most pious and in all things most temperate father—and Licinius too, who came after him, both honoured for their understanding and their piety—these two beloved of God had been raised up by the all-sovereign God of all and Saviour against the two most impious tyrants, and had drawn up their lines for battle according to the law of war, God being their ally, most marvellously Maxentius fell at Rome at the hand of Constantine; and he of the East, not surviving him for long, himself also met a most shameful end by death at the hand of Licinius, who was not yet then driven mad.
如此，當我們先前所說那位生於皇帝、生於最虔敬而凡事最節制之父的虔敬皇帝（君士坦丁），並隨他之後的李錫尼——二人皆因其聰明與虔敬而蒙尊崇——這兩位蒙神所愛的人，既被那作萬有之至高之主與救主的神興起，敵對那兩個至為不虔的僭主，又照戰爭之法擺陣交戰，有神作他們的盟友，便極其奇妙地：馬克森提烏斯在羅馬死於君士坦丁之手；而那東方的僭主，沒比他多活多久，自己也死於李錫尼之手，遭了最可恥的結局——那時李錫尼還未發狂。
9:2
πρότερός γε μὴν ὁ καὶ τιμῇ καὶ τάξει τῆς βασιλείας πρῶτος Κωνσταντῖνος, τῶν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης κατατυραννουμένων φειδὼ λαβὼν, θεὸν τὸν οὐράνιον, τόν τε τούτου λόγον, αὐτὸν δὴ τὸν πάντων σωτῆρα Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν σύμμαχον δι εὐχῶν ἐπικαλεσάμενος, πρόεισι πανστρατιᾷ, Ῥωμαίοις τὰ τῆς ἐκ προγόνων ἐλευθερίας προμνώμενος.
But first of all Constantine, who was first both in honour and in the rank of the imperial office, taking pity on those who were being tyrannized over at Rome, and having called upon in prayer the heavenly God and His Word, even Jesus Christ the Saviour of all, as his ally, advanced with all his army, seeking to win back for the Romans their ancestral liberty.
然而首先是君士坦丁，他無論在尊榮上或皇位的位次上都居首位，他憐憫那些在羅馬被欺壓的人，藉禱告呼求那天上的神並祂的道，就是萬人的救主耶穌基督，作他的盟友，便率全軍前進，要為羅馬人贏回他們列祖的自由。
9:3
Μαξεντίου δῆτα μᾶλλον ταῖς κατὰ γοητείαν μηχαναῖς ἢ τῇ τῶν ὑπηκόων ἐπιθαρσοῦντος εὐνοίᾳ, προελθεῖν γε μὴν οὐδ ὅσον πυλῶν τοῦ ἄστεος ἐπιτολμῶντος, ὁπλιτῶν δ ἀνηρίθμῳ πλήθει καὶ στρατοπέδων λόχοις μυρίοις πάντα τόπον καὶ χώραν καὶ πόλιν, ὅση τις ἐν κύκλῳ τῆς Ῥωμαίων καὶ Ἰταλίας ἀπάσης ὑπ αὐτῷ δεδούλωτο, φραξαμένου, ὁ τῆς ἐκ θεοῦ συμμαχίας ἀνημμένος βασιλεὺς ἐπιὼν πρώτῃ καὶ δευτέρᾳ καὶ τρίτῃ τοῦ τυράννου παρατάξει, εὖ μάλα τε πάσας ἑλὼν, πρόεισιν ἐπὶ πλεῖστον ὅσον τῆς Ἰταλίας, ἤδη τε αὐτῆς Ῥώμης ἄγχιστα ἦν·
Now while Maxentius rather put his confidence in the devices of sorcery than in the goodwill of his subjects, and did not even dare to advance so much as beyond the gates of the city, but had fortified every place and country and city, as many as were enslaved under him round about Rome and all Italy, with a countless multitude of men-at-arms and innumerable companies of legions—the Emperor, relying on the alliance that came from God, advancing against the first and second and third battle-line of the tyrant, and overcoming them all right thoroughly, advanced over a very great part of Italy, and was now close to Rome itself.
馬克森提烏斯倒寧可倚靠邪術的詭計，過於倚靠屬民的善意，他甚至不敢前進到城門之外，反而以無數的甲兵與不可勝數的軍團隊伍，把羅馬及全意大利周圍凡受他奴役的各處、各地、各城都設防固守；而那倚靠從神而來之盟助的皇帝（君士坦丁），進攻那僭主的第一、第二與第三道陣線，將其盡都徹底擊破，便進到意大利極廣大的地方，已逼近羅馬本城。
9:4
εἷθ ὡς μὴ τοῦ τυράννου χάριν Ῥωμαίοις πολεμεῖν ἀναγκάζοιτο, θεὸς αὐτὸς δεσμοῖς τισιν ὥσπερ τὸν τύραννον πορρωτάτω πυλῶν ἐξέλκει, καὶ τὰ πάλαι δὴ κατὰ ἀσεβῶν ὡς ἐν μύθου λόγῳ παρὰ τοῖς πλείστοις ἀπιστούμενα, πιστά γε μὴν πιστοῖς ἐν ἱεραῖς βίβλοις ἐστηλιτευμένα, αὐτῇ ἐναργείᾳ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν πιστοῖς καὶ ἀπίστοις, ὀφθαλμοῖς τὰ παράδοξα παρειληφόσιν ἐπιστώσατο.
Then, that he might not be compelled to make war on the Romans for the tyrant's sake, God Himself, as though with certain bonds, dragged the tyrant far away from the gates; and the things written of old against the impious—disbelieved by most as though they were mere fable, yet believed faithful by the faithful, and engraved upon pillars in the sacred books—He confirmed by their very evidence to all, simply speaking, both faithful and unfaithful, who received the wonders with their own eyes.
於是，為使君士坦丁不至為那僭主的緣故被迫攻擊羅馬人，神自己彷彿以某些鎖鏈，將那僭主拖到遠離城門之處；又把古時針對不虔之人所記的事——為多數人視同神話而不信、卻為信的人信為真確、並刻在聖書碑記上的事——藉其親見的明證，向眾人，簡言之，無論信與不信，凡親眼領受這些奇事的人，都加以證實。
9:5
ὥσπερ οὑν ἐπ αὐτοῦ Μωυσέως καὶ τοῦ πάλαι θεοσεβοῦς Ἑβραίων γένους ἅρματα Φαραὼ καὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὐτοῦ ἔρριψεν θάλασσαν, ἐπιλέκτους ἀναβάτας τριστάτας κατεπόντισεν ἐν θαλάσσῃ ἐρυθρᾷ, πόντῳ ἐκάλυψεν αὐτούς, κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ δὴ καὶ Μαξέντιος οἵ τε ἀμφ αὐτὸν ὁπλῖται καὶ δορυφόροι ἔδυσαν εἰς βυθὸν ὡσεὶ λίθος, ὁπηνίκα νῶτα δοὺς τῇ ἐκ θεοῦ μετὰ Κωνσταντίνου δυνάμει τὸν πρὸ τῆς πορείας διῄει ποταμὸν, ὃν αὐτὸς σκάφεσι ζεύξας καὶ εὖ μάλα γεφυρώσας μηχανὴν ὀλέθρου καθ ἑαυτοῦ συνεστήσατο.
Even as, then, in the days of Moses himself and of the god-fearing race of the Hebrews of old, 「he cast Pharaoh's chariots and his host into the sea, and his chosen captains he sank in the Red Sea, the deep covered them,」 in the very same manner Maxentius too, and the men-at-arms and guards about him, 「went down into the depths like a stone,」 when, turning his back to the power that came from God with Constantine, he was crossing the river that lay before his march—the river which he himself, having joined it with boats and bridged it right well, had constructed as an engine of destruction against himself.
正如在摩西本人並古時敬畏神的希伯來族的日子，「祂將法老的車輛和軍兵拋入海中，又使他所揀選的軍長沉於紅海，深淵淹沒他們」；照樣，馬克森提烏斯並他左右的甲兵與衛士，也「如石頭沉入深處」，那時他背向那隨君士坦丁而來、出於神的能力，正渡過橫亙在他行程前的河；那河乃是他自己用船隻連接、好好架成橋樑，竟造成了攻擊自己的滅亡之機。
9:6
ἐφ ᾧ ἦν ἂν εἰπεῖν λάκκον ὤρυξε καὶ ἀνέσκαψεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς βόθρον ὃν εἰργάσατο. ἐπιστρέψει ὁ πόνος αὐτοῦ εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ κορυφὴν αὐτοῦ ἡ ἀδικία αὐτοῦ καταβήσεται.
Concerning whom one might say: 「He digged a pit and scooped it out, and shall fall into the ditch which he wrought. His travail shall return upon his own head, and upon his own crown shall his unrighteousness come down.」
論到他，人可以說：「他挖了坑，掘深了，竟掉進自己所挖的坑裡。他的毒害必歸到自己頭上，他的強暴必落到自己的腦袋上。」
9:7
ταύτῃ δῆτα τοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ ποταμοῦ ζεύγματος διαλυθέντος ὑφιζάνει μὲν ἡ διάβασις, χωρεῖ δ ἀθρόως αὔτανδρα κατὰ τοῦ βυθοῦ τὰ σκάφη, καὶ αὐτός γε πρῶτος ὁ δυσσεβέστατος, εἶτα δὲ καὶ οἶ ἀμφ αὐτὸν ὑπασπισταὶ, ᾗ τὰ θεῖα προαναφωνεῖ λόγια ἔδυσαν ὡσεὶ μόλυβδος ἐν ὕδατι σφοδρῷ·
In this way, then, the bridge over the river being broken up, the crossing sank down, and all at once the boats, men and all, went down into the deep; and he himself first of all, that most impious one, and then also the shield-bearers about him, 「sank as lead,」 as the divine oracles foretell, 「in the mighty water.」
於是河上的浮橋如此斷裂，渡口便陷下，那些船隻連同人一齊霎時沉入深淵；而他自己，那至為不虔的人，首先沉沒，隨後他左右執盾的人也沉沒，正如神聖的話語所預言的，「如鉛沉於猛烈的水中」。
9:8
ὥστε εἰκότως εἰ μὴ λόγοις, ἔργοις δ οὖν ὁμοίως τοῖς ἀμφὶ τὸν μέγαν θεράποντα Μωυσέα, τοὺς παρὰ θεοῦ τὴν νίκην ἀραμένους αὐτὰ δὴ τὰ κατὰ τοῦ πάλαι δυσσεβοῦς τυράννου ὧδέ πως ἀνυμνεῖν καὶ λέγειν ᾄσωνεν τῷ κυρίῳ, ἐνδόξως γὰρ δεδόξασται. ἵππον καὶ ἀναβάτην ἔρριψεν εἰς θάλασσαν· βοηθὸς καὶ σκεπαστής μου κύριος ἐγένετό μοι εἰς σωτηρίαν· καὶ τίς ὅμοιός σοι ἐν θεοῖς, κύριε, τίς ὅμοιός σοι; ἐν ἁγίοις, θαυμαστὸς ἐν δόξαις, ποιῶν τέρατα.
So that fittingly, if not in words, yet at all events in deeds, like those about the great servant Moses, those who had won the victory from God might hymn these very things against the impious tyrant of old, and say in this manner: 「Let us sing unto the Lord, for He is gloriously glorified; horse and rider hath He cast into the sea; the Lord is become my helper and my shelter unto salvation. Who is like unto Thee among the gods, O Lord? Who is like unto Thee, glorified among the holy ones, marvellous in glories, doing wonders?」
如此，那些從神得勝的人，縱不用言語，至少藉行為，正如摩西那大僕人左右的人，得以針對古時不虔的僭主歌頌這些事，這樣說：「我要向耶和華歌唱，因祂大大得了榮耀；將馬和騎馬的拋入海中。耶和華成了我的幫助、我的蔭庇，使我得拯救。耶和華啊，諸神之中誰能像你？在聖者中誰能像你，在榮耀中可畏可頌，施行奇事？」
9:9
ταῦτά τε καὶ ὅσα τούτοις ἀδελφά τε καὶ ἐμφερῆ Κωνσταντῖνος τῷ πανηγεμόνι καὶ τῆς νίκης αἰτίῳ θεῷ αὐτοῖς ἔργοις ἀνυμνήσας, ἐπὶ Ῥώμης μετ ἐπινικίων εἰσήλαυνε, πάντων ἀθρόως αὐτὸν ἅμα κομιδῆ νηπίοις καὶ γυναιξὶ, τῶν τε ἀπὸ τῆς συγκλήτου βουλῆς καὶ τῶν ἄλλων διασημοτάτων σὺν παντὶ δήμῳ Ῥωμαίων φαιδροῖς ὄμμασιν, αὐταῖς ψυχαῖς, οἶα λυτρωτὴν, σωτῆρά τε καὶ εὐεργέτην μετ εὐφημιῶν καὶ ἀπλήστου χαρᾶς ὑποδεχομένων.
These things, and as many as are akin to these and like them, Constantine, by his very deeds, having hymned to God the all-ruler and Author of the victory, rode into Rome with triumphal songs; all together, on the instant—children and women, those of the senatorial council and the rest of the most illustrious men, together with the whole people of the Romans—receiving him with bright eyes and with their very souls, as a ransomer and a saviour and a benefactor, with acclamations and unsatiated joy.
君士坦丁藉其行為向那作萬有之統治者、得勝之創始者的神歌頌了這些事，並凡與這些相似相類的事，便帶著凱旋之歌進入羅馬城；眾人霎時一同——孩童與婦女、元老院的議員與其餘最尊貴的人，連同羅馬全體百姓——以明亮的眼目、以他們的心靈，當他是救贖者、救主與施恩者，以歡呼與不知饜足的喜樂迎接他。
9:10
ὁ δ ὥσπερ ἔμφυτον τὴν εἰς θεὸν εὐσέβειαν κεκτημένος, μηδ ὅλως ἐπὶ ταῖς βοαῖς ὑποσαλευόμενος, μηδ ἐπαιρόμενος τοῖς ἐπαίνοις, εὖ μάλα τῆς ἐκ θεοῦ συναισθόμενος βοηθείας, αὐτίκα τοῦ σωτηρίου τρόπαιον πάθους ὑπὸ χεῖρα ἰδίας εἰκόνος ἀνατεθῆναι προστάττει· καὶ δὴ τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ σταυροῦ σημεῖον ἐπὶ τῇ δεξιᾷ κατέχοντα αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ μάλιστα τῶν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης δεδημοσιευμένῳ τόπῳ στήσαντες, αὐτὴν δὴ ταύτην ὑπογραφὴν ἐντάξαι ῥήμασιν αὐτοῖς τῇ Ῥωμαίων ἐγκελεύεται φωνῇ·
But he, as though possessing piety toward God as something inborn, being not at all shaken by the shouts, nor lifted up by the praises, and being well aware of the help that came from God, immediately commanded that a trophy of the Saviour's Passion should be set up under the hand of his own statue; and indeed, when they had set him up holding in his right hand the saving sign of the cross, in the most public place of those at Rome, he charged them to inscribe this very inscription, in these very words, in the tongue of the Romans:
但他彷彿擁有對神與生俱來的虔敬，毫不因眾人的呼喊而動搖，也不因稱讚而自高，又深知那從神而來的幫助，便立即吩咐，要在自己塑像的手下立一座救主受難的紀念標記；他們果然立了他的像，使他右手握著十字架那拯救的記號，立在羅馬最公開的地方，他又囑咐他們用羅馬人的言語，按以下原詞刻上這碑文：
9:11
τούτῳ τῷ σωτηριώδει σημείῳ, τῷ ἀληθινῷ ἐλέγχῳ τῆς ἀνδρείας, τὴν πόλιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ ζυγοῦ τοῦ τυράννου διασωθεῖσαν ἠλευθέρωσα· ἔτι μὴν καὶ τὴν σύγκλητον καὶ τὸν δῆμον Ῥωμαίων τῇ ἀρχαίᾳ ἐπιφανείᾳ καὶ τῇ λαμπρότητι ἐλευθερώσας ἀποκατέστησα.
「By this saving sign, the true proof of valour, I rescued and delivered your city, saved from the yoke of the tyrant; and furthermore, having set free both the senate and the people of the Romans, I restored them to their ancient renown and splendour.」
「藉這拯救的記號，這真實英勇的明證，我救出並釋放了你們的城，使它從那僭主的軛下得救；此外，我又使羅馬的元老院與百姓得自由，恢復他們古時的榮顯與輝煌。」
9:12
καὶ δὴ ἐπὶ τούτοις αὐτός τε Κωνσταντῖνος καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ βασιλεὺς Λικίννιος (οὔπω τότε ἐφ ἣν ὕστερον ἐκπέπτωκε μανίαν τὴν διάνοιαν ἐκτραπεὶς) θεὸν τὸν τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῖς αἴτιον εὐμενίσαντες ἄμφω μιᾷ βουλῇ καὶ γνώμῃ νόμον ὑπὲρ Χριστιανῶν τελεώτατον πληρέστατα διατυποῦνται, καὶ τῶν πεπραγμένων εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐκ θεοῦ τὰ παράδοξα, τά τε τῆς κατὰ τοῦ τυράννου νίκης, καὶ τὸν νόμον αὐτὸν Μαξιμίνῳ τῶν ἐπ ἀνατολῆς ἐθνῶν ἔτι δυναστεύοντι, φιλίαν τε πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὑποκοριζομένῳ, διαπέμπονται.
And indeed, after these things, Constantine himself, and with him the Emperor Licinius (who had not yet then been turned aside in his mind into the madness into which he afterwards fell), having propitiated God the Author of their good things, both of them, by one counsel and resolve, drew up most fully a most perfect law on behalf of the Christians; and they sent on to Maximin, who was still holding sway over the nations of the East and was disguising his enmity toward them with a pretence of friendship, an account of the marvels wrought toward them by God, and of the victory over the tyrant, and the law itself.
在這些事之後，君士坦丁本人，並與他同列的李錫尼皇帝（那時他的心思還未轉入後來所陷的瘋狂），既向那作他們各樣美善之創始者的神獻上和悅，二人便同一心意、同一決議，極其完備地擬定了一條最完全、為著基督徒的律法；他們又把神向他們所行的奇事、戰勝那僭主之事，並這律法本身，傳送給馬克西米努斯，那時他仍轄管東方諸族，並以友誼的偽裝掩飾他對他們的敵意。
9:13
ὁ δ οἶα τύραννος περιαλγὴς ἐφ οἶς ἔγνω γεγενημένος, εἶτα μὴ δοκεῖν ἑτέροις εἶξαι βουλόμενος, μηδ αὖ παρεκθέσθαι τὸ κελευσθὲν δέει τῶν προστεταχότων, ὡσὰν ἐξ ἰδίας αὐθεντίας τοῖς ὑπ αὐτὸν ἡγεμόσι τοῦτο πρῶτον ὑπὲρ Χριστιανῶν ἐπάναγκες διαχαράττει τὸ γράμμα, τὰ μηδέπω ποτὲ πρὸς αὐτοῦ πεπραγμένα ἐπιπλάστως αὐτὸς καθ ἑαυτοῦ ψευδόμενος. Ἀντίγραφον ἑρμηνείας ἐπιστολῆς τοῦ τυράννου Μαξιμίνου.
But he, like the tyrant he was, being exceedingly grieved at the things he learned had happened, then, wishing not to seem to yield to others, nor yet to set aside the command for fear of those who had ordered it, as though of his own authority drew up this first compulsory letter on behalf of the Christians to the governors under him, falsely ascribing to himself, against himself, things he had never yet done. A copy of a translation of the letter of the tyrant Maximin.
但他既是個僭主，因得知所發生的事而極其憂憤，繼而既不願顯出向別人讓步，又不願因懼怕那些下令的人而擱置這命令，便彷彿出於自己的權柄，向他屬下的長官擬定了這頭一道為著基督徒的強制文書，把他從未行過的事，竟自欺地虛報於己、反加於己。僭主馬克西米努斯書信譯本抄件。
9:14
Ἰόβιος Μαξιμῖνος σεβαστὸς Σαβίνῳ. καὶ παρὰ τῇ σῇ στιβαρότητι καὶ παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις φανερὸν εἶναι πέποιθα τοὺς δεσπότας ἡμῶν Διοκλητιανὸν καὶ Μαξιμιανὸν, τοὺς ἡμετέρους τέρας ἡνίκα συνεῖδον σχεδὸν ἅπαντας ἀνθρώπους, καταλειφθείσης τῆς τῶν θεῶν θρησκείας, τῷ ἔθνει τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἑαυτοὺς συμμεμιχότας, διατεταχέναι, πάντας ἀνθρώπους τοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν αὐτῶν θεῶν τῶν ἀθανάτων θρησκείας χωρήσαντας προδήλῳ κολάσει καὶ τιμωρίᾳ εἰς τὴν θρησκείαν τῶν θεῶν ἀνακληθῆναι.
「Jovius Maximinus Augustus to Sabinus. I am persuaded that it is manifest both to thy Sturdiness and to all men that our lords Diocletian and Maximian, our fathers, when they saw that well-nigh all men, the worship of the gods being forsaken, had attached themselves to the nation of the Christians, rightly gave orders that all men who departed from the worship of those same immortal gods should be recalled to the worship of the gods by manifest chastisement and punishment.
「約維烏斯·馬克西米努斯·奧古斯都致撒比努斯。我深信無論於你的剛毅，或於眾人，都是顯然的：我們眾主戴克裏先與馬克西米安，就是我們的先父，當他們見幾乎眾人都離棄了諸神的敬拜、依附了基督徒這族，便正當地下令，要藉公開的責罰與刑罰，召回一切離棄那不朽諸神敬拜的人歸回諸神的敬拜。
9:15
ἀλλ ὅτε ἐγὼ εὐτυχῶς τὸ πρῶτον εἰς τὴν ἀνατολὴν παρεγενόμην, καὶ ἔγνων εἴς τινας τόπους πλείστους ἀνθρώπων τὰ δημόσια ὠφελεῖν δυναμένους ὑπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν διὰ τὴν προειρημένην αἰτίαν ἐξορίζεσθαι, ἑκάστῳ τῶν δικαστῶν ἐντολὰς δέδωκα, ὥστε μηδένα τούτων τοῦ λοιποῦ προσφέρεσθαι τοῖς ἐπαρχιώταις ἀπηνῶς, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον κολακείᾳ καὶ προτροπαῖς πρὸς τὴν τῶν θεῶν θρησκείαν αὐτοὺς ἀνακαλεῖν.
But when, by good fortune, I first came to the East, and learned that in certain places very many men capable of being of use to the public were being banished by the judges on account of the aforesaid cause, I gave commands to each of the judges that henceforth none of them should deal harshly with the provincials, but should rather, by flattery and exhortation, recall them to the worship of the gods.
但當我幸運地頭一次來到東方，得知在某些地方有許多本能對公眾有益的人，因前述的緣故被審判官放逐，我便向各審判官下令，此後他們中無一人可苛待省民，倒要藉勸誘與勉勵召他們歸回諸神的敬拜。
9:16
τηνικαῦτα οὖν ὅτε ἀκολούθως τῇ κελεύσει τῇ ἐμῇ ὑπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν ἐφυλάττετο τὰ προστεταγμένα, συνέβαινε μηδένα ἐκ τῶν τῆς ἀνατολῆς μερῶν μήτε ἐξόριστον μήτε ἐνύβριστον σθαι, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἐκ τοῦ μὴ βαρέως κατ τι γίνεσθαι εἰς τὴν τῶν θεῶν θρησκείαν ἀνακεκλῆσκθαι.
At that time, then, when in accordance with my command the things ordained were being observed by the judges, it came about that no one from the parts of the East was either banished or insulted, but rather, by reason of nothing being done against them harshly, they were recalled to the worship of the gods.
於是那時，當審判官照我的命令遵守所定之事，便沒有東方之地的人遭放逐或受凌辱，倒因無一事苛刻地向他們而行，他們便被召歸回諸神的敬拜。
9:17
μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα, ὅτε τῷ παρελθόντι ἐνιαυτῷ εὐτυχῶς ἐπέβην εἰς τὴν Νικομήδειαν κἀκεῖ διετέλουν, παρεγένοντο πολῖται τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως πρός με ἅμα μετὰ τῶν ξοάνων τῶν θεῶν, μειζόνως δεόμενοι, ἵνα παντὶ τρόπῳ τὸ τοιοῦτον ἔθνος μηδαμῶς ἐπιτρέποιτο ἐπιτρέποιτο ἐν τῇ αὐτῶν πατρίδι οἰκεῖν.
But after these things, when, in the past year, by good fortune I went up to Nicomedia and was tarrying there, the citizens of that same city came to me together with the images of the gods, entreating earnestly that on no account should such a nation be permitted to dwell in their fatherland.
但這些事之後，當去年我幸運地上到尼哥米底亞，住在那裡，那城的市民帶著諸神的偶像來到我面前，懇切請求，無論如何斷不可容這樣的一族居住在他們的故土。
9:18
ἀλλ ὅτε ἔγνων πλείστους τῆς αὐτῆς ἄνδρας ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς μέρεσιν οἰκεῖν, οὕτως αὐτοῖς τὰς ἀποκρίσεις ἀπένεμον, ὅτι τῇ μὲν αἰτήσει αὐτῶν ἀσμένως χάριν ἔσχηκα, ἀλλ οὐ παρὰ πάντων τοῦτο αἰτηθὲν κατεῖδον· εἰ μὲν οὖν τινὲς εἶεν τῇ αὐτῇ δεισιδαιμονίᾳ διαμένοντες, οὕτως ἔνα ἕκαστον ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ προαιρέσει τὴν βούλησιν ἔχειν, καὶ εἰ βούλοιντο τὴν τῶν θεῶν θρησκείαν ἐπιγινώσκειν.
But when I learned that very many men of that same persuasion were dwelling in those very parts, I gave them such answers as these: that I gladly felt grateful for their request, but I perceived that it was not asked by all; if therefore there were any who continued in that same superstition, then each one individually was to have his will in his own choice, even if they wished to acknowledge the worship of the gods.
但當我得知那同樣信仰的人有極多住在那些地方，我便這樣答覆他們：我對他們的請求欣然心存感激，卻看出這並非眾人所求；所以若有人仍持守那同樣的迷信，那麼各人就當在自己的選擇上隨己意而行，縱使他們情願承認諸神的敬拜，亦然。
9:19
ὅμως καὶ τοῖς τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως ἐπιγινώσκειν. καὶ ταῖς λοιπαῖς πόλεσιν, αἱ καὶ αὐταὶ εἰς τοσοῦτον τὴν ὁμοίαν αἴτησιν περισπουδάστως πρός με πεποιήκασιν, δηλονότι ἵνα μηδὲ εἷς τῶν Χριστιανῶν ταῖς πόλεσιν ἐνοικοίη, ἀνάγκην ἔσχον ἀποκρίνασθαι, ὅτι δὴ αὐτὸ τοῦτο καὶ οἶ ἀρχαῖοι αὐτοκράτορες πάντες διεφύλαξαν, καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς, δι οὓς πάντες ἄνθρωποι καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ τῶν δημοσίων διοίκησις συνίσταται, ἤρεσεν ὥστε τὴν τοσαύτην αἴτησιν, ἣν ὑπὲρ τῆς θρησκείας τοῦ θείου αὐτῶν ἀναφέρουσι, βεβαιώσαιμι.
Nevertheless, to those also of that same city, and to the rest of the cities which themselves too had most zealously made to me a like request to such a degree—namely, that not even one of the Christians should dwell in their cities—I was constrained to answer that this very thing all the ancient Emperors had preserved, and that it was pleasing to the gods, through whom all men and the very administration of public affairs subsist, that I should confirm so great a request as they bring forward on behalf of the worship of their deity.
然而對那同城的人，並對其餘那些城——它們自己也極其熱切地向我提出同樣到這地步的請求，就是連一個基督徒也不可住在他們城中——我不得不答覆說：這正是一切古時的皇帝所持守的，又是諸神所喜悅的（萬人與公共事務的管理本身，都靠諸神而得維繫），所以我當批准他們為自己神明的敬拜所呈這般大的請求。
9:20
γαροῦν εἰ καὶ τὰ μάλιστα καὶ τῇ σῇ πρὸ τούτου τοῦ χρόνου διὰ γραμμάτων ἐπέσταλται, καὶ δι ἐντολῶν ὁμοίως κεκέλευσται, ἵνα μὴ τῶν ἐπαρχιωτῶν τὸ τοιοῦτον ἔθνος ἐπιμεληθέντων μηδὲν τραχέως, ἀλλὰ ἀνεξικάκως καὶ συμμέτρως συμπεριφέροιντο αὐτοῖς, ὅμως μήτε ὑπὸ τῶν βενεφικιαλίων μήτε ὑπ ἄλλων τυχόντων ὕβρεις μηδὲ σεισμοὺς ὑπομένοιεν, ἀκόλουθον ἐνόμισα καὶ τούτοις τοῖς γράμμασι τὴν σὴν στιβαρότητα ὑπομνῆσαι, ὅπως ταῖς κολακείαις ταῖς προτροπαῖς μᾶλλον τὴν τῶν θεῶν τοὺς ἡμετέρους ἐπαρχιώτας ποιήσειας ἐπιγινώσκειν.
Therefore, even though especially before this time it has been written to thy Sturdiness by letters, and likewise commanded by instructions, that the provincials should in no wise deal roughly with such a nation, but with forbearance and moderation should bear with them; nevertheless, that they may suffer neither insults nor extortions either from the beneficiarii or from any others whatever, I have thought it fitting by this letter also to remind thy Sturdiness that thou shouldest rather, by inducements and exhortations, make our provincials acknowledge the care of the gods.
所以，縱使在此之前已特別藉書信致書你的剛毅，又同樣藉訓令吩咐：省民斷不可苛待這樣的一族，倒要以寬容適中之心容忍他們；然而，為使他們不至於從兵役執事或任何別人受凌辱、受勒索，我認為當藉這封信也提醒你的剛毅，使你寧可藉勸誘與勉勵，叫我們的省民承認諸神的眷顧。
9:21
ὅθεν εἴ τις τῇ αὑτοῦ προαιρέσει τὴν τῶν θεῶν ἐπιγνωστέον προσλάβοι, τούτους δέξασθαι προσήκει, εἰ δέ τινες τῇ ἰδίᾳ θρησκείᾳ ἀκολουθεῖν βούλοιντο, ἐν τῇ αὐτῶν ἐξουσίᾳ καταλίποις.
Hence, if any one of his own choice should take up the acknowledgment of the gods, it is fitting that such be received; but if any wish to follow their own religion, thou shouldest leave them in their own power.
因此，若有人出於自己的選擇願承認諸神，這樣的人理當被接納；但若有人情願隨從自己的信仰，你就當任憑他們在自己的權下。
9:22
διόπερ ἡ σὴ καθοσίωσις τὸ ἐπιτραπέν σοι διαφυλάττειν ὀφείλει, καὶ μηδενὶ ἐξουσία δοθῇ ὥστε τοὺς ἡμετέρους ἐπαρχιώτας ὕβρεσι καὶ σεισμοῖς ἐπιτρῖψαι, ὁπότε, ὥσπερ προγέγραπται, προτροπαῖς μᾶλλον καὶ ταῖς κολακείαις πρὸς τὴν τῶν θεῶν θρησκείαν τοὺς ἡμετέρους προσήκει ἀνακαλεῖν. ἔνα δὲ αὕτη ἡμῶν ἡ κέλευσις εἰς γνῶσιν πάντων τῶν ἐπαρχιωτῶν τῶν ἔλθη, διατάγματι ὑπὸ σοῦ προτεθέντι τὸ κεκελευσμένον ὀφείλεις δηλῶσαι.
Wherefore thy Devotedness ought to guard what has been entrusted to thee, and let no authority be given to any one to wear down our provincials by insults and extortions, since, as has been written above, it is fitting rather by exhortations and by inducements to recall our people to the worship of the gods. And that this command of ours may come to the knowledge of all our provincials, thou oughtest to make known what has been commanded by an edict set forth by thee.」
因此你的盡忠當謹守所託付你的，不可給任何人權柄藉凌辱與勒索殘害我們的省民，因如上文所寫，理當寧可藉勉勵與勸誘召我們的人歸回諸神的敬拜。為使我們這命令傳到我們眾省民的知曉，你當藉你所頒的諭令，宣明所吩咐的事。」
9:23
ταῦθ᾿ ὑπὸ τῆς ἀνάγκης ἐκβεβιασμένος, ἀλλ᾿ οὐ κατὰ γνώμην τὴν αὑτοῦ διακελευσαμένος, οὐκέτ᾿ ἀληθὴς οὐδ᾿ ἀξιόπιστος παρὰ τοῖς πᾶσιν ἦν, τῆς πρόσθεν ἤδη μετὰ τὴν ὁμοίαν συγχώρησιν παλιμβόλου καὶ διεψευσμένης αὐτοῦ γνώμης ἕνεκα.
Having given these commands, constrained by necessity and not enjoining them according to his own mind, he was no longer accounted truthful or trustworthy by all, on account of the changeable and false purpose of his that had already, after his former like concession, shown itself shifting and deceitful.
他既被必要所逼而頒這些命令，並非照自己的心意而吩咐，便不再被眾人視為誠實或可信，因他從前那同樣的讓步之後，他的心意已顯為反覆而虛謊。
9:24
οὔκουν ἐτόλμα τις τῶν ἡμετέρων σύνοδον συγκροτεῖν, οὐδ᾿ ἑαυτὸν ἐν φανερῷ καταστήσασθαι, ὅτι μηδὲ τοῦτ᾿ ἤθελεν αὐτῷ τὸ γράμμα, αὐτὸ μόνον τὸ ἀνεπηρέαστον ἡμῖν ἐπιτρέπον φυλάττεσθαι, οὐ μὴν συνόδους ἐπικελεῦον ποιεῖσθαι, οὐδ᾿ οἴκους ἐκκλησιῶν οἰκοδομεῖν, οὐδ᾿ ἄλλο τι τῶν συνήθων ἡμῖν διαπράττεσθαι.
Accordingly none of our people dared to hold an assembly, nor to present himself openly, because not even this did the letter allow him; only this very thing, that we should be kept free from molestation, did it permit, yet it did not enjoin that assemblies should be held, nor that houses of churches should be built, nor that any other of our customary things should be done.
故此我們的人中無人敢舉行聚集，也不敢公然露面，因連這事那文書也不準；它只准許這一件事，就是我們得免受騷擾，卻並未吩咐可以舉行聚集，也未吩咐可以建造教會的房屋，或行我們慣常的任何別事。
9:25
καίτοι γε ταῦθ᾿ οἱ τῆς εἰρήνης καὶ εὐσεβείας προήγοροι ἐπεστάλκεσαν καὶ Λικίννιος αὐτῷ τε ἐπιτρέπειν ἐπεστάλκεσαν καὶ τοῖς ὑπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἅπασι διὰ προγραμμάτων καὶ νόμων συγκεχωρήκεσαν. οὐ μὴν ὁ δυσσεβέστατος ταύτῃ ἐνδοῦναι προῄρητο, εἰ μὴ ὅτε πρὸς τῆς θείας συνελαθεὶς δίκης ὕστατόν γε ἄκων ἐπὶ τοῦτ᾿ ἤχθη.
And yet the champions of peace and piety had written to enjoin even these things, and Licinius had both written to enjoin them upon him and had conceded them by proclamations and laws to all under their rule. Nevertheless that most impious man had not purposed to give way in this matter, except when, being driven on by the divine Justice, he was at last and unwillingly brought to it.
然而那些和平與虔敬的擁護者（君士坦丁與李錫尼）已寫信吩咐連這些事也當準許，李錫尼也寫信吩咐他這樣行，又藉公告與律法向他們治下眾人讓步應允了這些。然而那至為不虔之人並無意在此事上退讓，直到他被神聖的公義所逼，末了竟不情願地被驅至此地步。