Licinius Speaks in a Sacred Grove

When he was ready to engage, he told the most trusted men of his bodyguard and his closest friends to meet him in one of the places they regard as sacred. It was a shady grove with plenty of water, and in it stood a number of marble statues of those he counted as gods. After lighting candles and performing the usual sacrifices in their honor, he is said to have made the following speech: [a]

“Friends and fellow soldiers! These are our country’s gods, and we honor them with a worship handed down from our most distant ancestors. But the man who leads the army now set against us has broken faith with the religion of his forefathers and taken up godless beliefs. In his folly he honors some strange, unheard-of god, whose contemptible standard now disgraces his army. Trusting in this god’s help, he has taken up arms, and he is now advancing not so much against us as against the very gods he has abandoned. This occasion, however, will show which of us is mistaken in his judgment, and will decide between our gods and the god our opponents claim to honor. Either it will give the victory to us, and so prove most justly that our gods are the true saviors and helpers, or else, if this god of Constantine’s, who comes from we know not where, proves stronger than our gods, who are many and at least have the advantage in numbers, then let no one doubt from now on which god he ought to worship. Let him attach himself at once to the stronger power, and give him the honors of the victory. Suppose, then, that this strange god, whom we now laugh at, really should prove victorious. Then indeed we must acknowledge him and give him honor, and say a long farewell to those for whom we light our candles in vain. But if our own gods win, as they certainly will, then as soon as we have secured this victory, let us press the war without delay against these despisers of the gods.”

These were the words he spoke to those who were present then, as they were reported not long afterward to the writer of this history by some who heard them spoken. As soon as he had finished his speech, he ordered his forces to begin the attack.