{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/203/2030136.htm","path":"chr/ecf/203/2030136.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/203/2030136.htm","text":"Chapter XXX.\u2014Of the bold utterance of Trajanus the general.\nAfter Valens had crossed the Bosphorus and come into Thrace he first spent a considerable time at Constantinople, in alarm as to the issue of the war. He had sent Trajanus in command of troops against the barbarians. When the general came back beaten, the emperor reviled him sadly, and charged him with infirmity and cowardice. Boldly, as became a brave man, Trajanus replied: \u201cI have not been beaten, sir, it is thou who hast abandoned the victory by fighting against God and transferring His support to the barbarians. Attacked by thee He is taking their side, for victory is on God\u2019s side and comes to them whom God leads. Dost thou not know,\u201d he went on, \u201cwhom thou hast expelled from their churches and to whose government these churches have been delivered by thee?\u201d Arintheus and Victor, 802 generals like Trajanus, confirmed the truth of what he said, and implored the emperor not to be angered by reproaches which were founded upon fact. 803\nMagister equitum. Amm. xxxi. 7.\n130:803\nGibbon (chap. xxvi) records the conduct of the war by \u201cTrajan and Profuturus, two generals who indulged themselves in a very false and favourable opinion of their own abilities.\u201d \u201cAnhelantes altius. sed imbelles.\u201d Amm.\nThe battle alluded to is presumably the doubtful one of Salices. Ammianus does not, as Gibbon supposes, imply that he had himself visited this particular battlefield, but speaks generally of carrion birds as \u201cadsuet\u00e6 illo tempore cadaveribus pasci, ut indicant nunc usque albentes ossibus campi.\u201d Amm. xxxi. 7. 16.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. III: The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret.: Of the bold utterance of Trajanus the general.","type":"page"}