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 speak21    Prov. xxv. 7, LXX., 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 Viminacium22    In Mœsia., a second time at Cæsarea in Cappadocia, and a third23    [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 destroy24    Ps. ci. 5..’ As much as in them lies, they have slain me; for ‘the mouth that belieth, slayeth the soul25    Wisd. i. 11..’ 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.

5 Ποῖον τοίνυν τόπον, ἢ τίνα χρόνον φησὶν ὁ κατήγορος, ἐν ᾧ τοιαῦτά με εἰρηκέναι διέβαλεν; ἢ τίνος παρόντος ἐμάνην φθέγξασθαι τοιαῦτα οἷα ὡς εἰπόντος μου κατεψεύσατο; ἢ τίς ἐστιν ὁ τούτῳ συνηγορῶν καὶ μαρτυρῶν; ἃ γὰρ εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ, ταῦτα καὶ λέγειν ὀφείλει, ὡς ἡ θεία Γραφὴ παρήγγειλεν. Οὐδένα μὲν οὖν οὗτος εὑρήσει μάρτυρα τῶν μὴ γενομένων· ἐγὼ δέ, ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι, μάρτυρα μετὰ τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ τὴν σὴν εὐσέβειαν ἔχω. Ἀξιῶ γάρ, γινώσκων σε μνημονικώτατον, ἀναμνησθῆναι τῶν λόγων ὧν ἀνέφερον τότε, ὅτε κατηξίωσας ἰδεῖν με· πρῶτον μὲν ἐν Βιμινακίῳ, δεύτερον δὲ ἐν Καισαρείᾳ τῆς Καππαδοκίας, καὶ τρίτον ἐν τῇ Ἀντιοχείᾳ· εἰ κἂν τῶν περὶ Εὐσέβιον τῶν με λυπησάντων κακῶς ἐμνημόνευσα παρὰ σοί, εἰ διέβαλλόν τινας τῶν ἀδικησάντων με. Εἰ δὲ μηδὲ καθ' ὧν ἔδει με λέγειν τούτους διέβαλον, ποίαν εἶχον μανίαν βασιλέα βασιλεῖ διαβάλλειν, καὶ ἀδελφὸν ἀδελφῷ συγκροῦσαι; Παρακαλῶ, ἢ παρόντα με ποίησον ἐλεγχθῆναι, ἢ κατάγνωθι τῶν διαβολῶν, καὶ μίμησαι τὸν ∆αυὶδ λέγοντα· «Τὸν καταλαλοῦντα λάθρα τοῦ πλησίον, τοῦτον ἐξεδίωκον». Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ὅσον εἰς αὐτοὺς ἧκε, «στόμα καταψευσάμενον ἀνεῖλε ψυχήν». Ἡ δὲ σὴ μακροθυμία νενίκηκε, παρασχοῦσα παρρησίαν ἀπολογίας, ἵνα καὶ καταγνωσθῆναι δυνηθῶσιν ὡς φιλόνεικοι καὶ συκοφάνται. Περὶ μὲν οὖν τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου σου ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ τῆς μακαρίας μνήμης ταῦτα· δύνασαι γὰρ κατὰ τὴν δοθεῖσάν σοι σοφίαν παρὰ Θεοῦ προλαμβάνειν τὰ πολλὰ ἐκ τῶν ὀλίγων τούτων, καὶ γινώσκειν τὴν πλασθεῖσαν κατηγορίαν.