Licinius Flees and Turns to Magic

In these circumstances their commander found himself deprived of the help of his followers. He had lost the great array he had so lately had, both of his own troops and of his allies, and he had learned by experience how empty his trust had been in those he thought were gods. So he fled in disgrace. In this way he did make his escape and saved his life, for the godly emperor had forbidden his soldiers to follow too close on his heels, and so gave him the chance to escape. He did this in the hope that Licinius might one day see how desperate his position was, give up his insane and presumptuous ambition, and return to a sounder mind. So Constantine, in his great kindness, thought fit and was willing to bear patiently the wrongs done in the past, and to extend his forgiveness to a man who so little deserved it. But Licinius, far from giving up his evil ways, kept adding crime to crime, and ventured on more daring outrages than ever. Indeed, he meddled once more with the detestable arts of magic and was again presumptuous, so that it might well be said of him, as it was said of the Egyptian tyrant long ago, that God had hardened his heart. [a]