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and they were in great distress, considering it neither safe to obey the emperor, since he was a heretic, nor without danger to disobey him. Nevertheless, the decision to remain prevailed, and the one who had brought the letter returned without success. 4..8 But in the following summer, another came from the emperor with the local rulers and urged him to leave the city, and he waged a harsh war against the clergy; but when the people of the church took courage, seeing them drawn up for 4.. war, this man also departed from there, having accomplished nothing. Not much time having passed, troops were summoned from Egypt and Libya, which the Romans call legions. And when it was reported that Athanasius was hiding in the church called Theonas, the commander of the troops here, taking soldiers with him and Hilarius, who had again arrived from the emperor to expedite these matters, unexpectedly at an untimely hour broke down the doors and entered the church, 4..10 and having searched everywhere, he did not find Athanasius within. For it is said that he often escaped many other dangers through divine revelations, and that God revealed this attack to him beforehand; and he immediately went out, and the soldiers seized the doors of the church, having missed his capture by some instant of time. 4.10.1 It seems not even proper to disbelieve that this man was beloved by God and clearly foresaw the future. For we have received things more wonderful about him than what has been said before, which testify to his most accurate knowledge of things to 4.10.2 come. Thus, when the emperor first plotted to harm him while Constans was still alive, he became a fugitive and hid with one of his acquaintances; and for a long time he stayed in a recess of the earth and a sunless dwelling, which had formerly been a reservoir for water. No one knew except those with whom he was hiding and their serving-maid, who seemed faithful, so that she might minister 4.10.3 to him. But since the heretics were very eager to capture the man, as was likely, the serving-maid was about to inform on him for rewards or promises. But God having revealed the plot beforehand, he anticipated it and moved elsewhere. And the serving-maid was punished for having brought a false charge against her masters, who had indeed fled. For those of the opposing heresy did not consider it a trivial charge against those who received or hid Athanasius, but dragged them to court as being disobedient to the emperor’s commands and committing crimes against the state. 4.10.4 I have also heard of something similar happening to Athanasius on another occasion. For when, because of such an accusation, he was fleeing towards Egypt, sailing up the Nile, some people informed on him, and those who were to arrest him pursued him. But having learned of the pursuit beforehand by divine means, he announced it to those sailing with him and ordered them to turn back towards Alexandria. And while sailing down, he passed his pursuers sailing up, was saved and reached the city, and hid more safely as if in a crowd and a multitude of dwellings. 4.10.5 Because of such things and many others similarly foretold by him, he was slandered by his opponents, both Hellenes and heretics, as accomplishing these things by 4.10.6 sorcery. So the story goes that once as he was proceeding through the city, it happened that a crow flying overhead croaked. A crowd of Hellenes who happened to be there, mocking him as a sorcerer, demanded that he tell them what the crow was saying. But he, smiling gently, said: 'Cras is 'tomorrow' in the Roman tongue; so by crying this it announces that tomorrow will be unpleasant for you; for it signifies that by an order of the Roman emperor you will be forbidden to celebrate the next 4.10.7 festival.' And the prophecy of Athanasius, although it seemed ridiculous, proved to be true; for on the next day, a letter from the ruler was delivered to the authorities, ordering them not to permit the Hellenes to enter the temples nor to perform their customary rites and festivals; and the festival that was then at hand was cancelled, although it was venerable and magnificent for the Hellenes. 4.10.8 That the man was thus prophetic, it is sufficient to say these things. But when, as has been said, he escaped those sent for his arrest

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καὶ ἐναγώνιοι ἦσαν, οὔτε πείθεσθαι τῷ βασιλεῖ ἑτεροδόξῳ ὄντι ἀσφαλὲς νομίζοντες οὔτε ἀπειθεῖν ἀκίνδυνον. ἐκράτει δὲ ὅμως μένειν, καὶ ὁ τὰ γράμματα κομίσας ἄπρακτος ἀνέστρεφε. 4..8 Τῷ δὲ ἐπιγενομένῳ θέρει παραγενόμενος ἕτερος ἐκ βασιλέως σὺν τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἔθνει ἄρχουσι κατήπειγεν αὐτὸν ἐξιέναι τῆς πόλεως καὶ τὸν κλῆρον χαλεπῶς ἐπολέμησεν· ἀναθαρρήσαντος δὲ τοῦ λαοῦ τῆς ἐκκλησίας συντεταγμένους πρὸς 4.. πόλεμον ἰδὼν καὶ οὗτος οὐδὲν ἀνύσας ἐξεδήμησεν ἐντεῦθεν. οὐ πολλοῦ δὲ διαγενομένου χρόνου μετακαλοῦνται ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ Λιβύης στρατιαί, ἃς λεγεῶνας ῾Ρωμαῖοι καλοῦσι. καὶ ἐπεὶ ἐμηνύθη κρύπτεσθαι ᾿Αθανάσιον κατὰ τὴν Θεωνᾶ καλουμένην ἐκκλησίαν, παραλαβὼν στρατιώτας ὁ τῶν τῇδε ταγμάτων ἡγεμὼν καὶ ῾Ιλάριον, ὃς ἐκ βασιλέως πάλιν ἀφῖκτο τάδε ἐπιταχύνων, ἀπροσδοκήτως ἀωρὶ κλάσας τὰς θύρας εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν εἰσῆλθε, 4..10 πανταχῇ τε ἐπιζητήσας οὐ κατέλαβεν ἔνδοθεν ᾿Αθανάσιον. λέγεται γάρ, ὡς πολλάκις ὑπὸ θείων μηνυμάτων πολλοὺς καὶ ἄλλους κινδύνους διέφυγε, καὶ τήνδε τὴν ἔφοδον θεὸν αὐτῷ προαναφῆναι· αὐτίκα τε ἐξῄει, καὶ τοὺς στρατιώτας τὰς θύρας καταλαβεῖν τῆς ἐκκλησίας, ἀκαριαίῳ τινὶ χρόνῳ τῆς αὐτοῦ συλλήψεως ὑστερήσαντας. 4.10.1 ῎Εοικε δὲ μηδὲ προσήκειν ἀπιστεῖν, ὡς θεοφιλὴς ὅδε ἀνὴρ ὑπῆρχε καὶ τρανῶς προεώρα τὸ μέλλον. θαυμαστότερα γὰρ ἢ κατὰ τὰ προειρημένα περὶ αὐτοῦ παρειλήφαμεν, ἀκριβεστάτην ἐπιμαρτυροῦντα αὐτῷ τῶν ἐσο4.10.2 μένων εἴδησιν. οὕτω γοῦν ἡνίκα τὸ πρῶτον ἔτι Κώνσταντος περιόντος κακουργεῖν αὐτὸν ἐβεβούλευτο ὁ βασιλεύς, φυγὰς γενόμενος παρά τινι τῶν γνωρίμων ἐκρύπτετο· καὶ ἐπὶ πολλῷ χρόνῳ διέτριβεν ἐν μυχῷ γῆς καὶ ἀνηλίῳ οἰκήματι, ὃ ταμιεῖον τὸ πρὶν ὑδάτων ἐτύγχανε. συνῄδει δὲ οὐδεὶς ἢ παρ' οἷς ἐλάνθανε καὶ θεράπαινα τούτων πιστὴ δοκοῦσα, ὡς ἂν αὐτῷ 4.10.3 διακονοίη. πολλῆς δὲ οὔσης σπουδῆς τοῖς ἑτεροδόξοις ζωγρῆσαι τὸν ἄνδρα, οἷα εἰκὸς ἐπὶ δώροις ἢ ὑποσχέσεσιν ἔμελλεν αὐτὸν καταμηνύειν ἡ θεράπαινα. προαναφήναντος δὲ τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν φθάσας ἑτέρωθι μετῴκησε. καὶ ἡ θεράπαινα τιμωρίαν ἔδωκεν ὡς ψευδῆ μηνύσασα κατὰ τῶν δεσποτῶν, οἳ δὴ πεφεύγεσαν. οὐ γὰρ τὸ τυχὸν ἐποιοῦντο ἔγκλημα οἱ τῆς ἐναντίας αἱρέσεως κατὰ τῶν ὑποδεχομένων ἢ κρυπτόντων ᾿Αθανάσιον, ἀλλ' ὡς ἀπειθεῖς προστάξεσι βασιλέως καὶ περὶ πολιτείαν ἁμαρτάνοντας εἰς δικαστήριον εἷλκον. 4.10.4 Καὶ παραπλησίου δ' αὖ καὶ ἄλλοτε ἐπὶ ᾿Αθανασίῳ συμβάντος εἰς ἀκοὴν ἦλθον. ἐπεὶ γὰρ κατὰ τοιαύτην αἰτίαν ὡς ἐπὶ Αἴγυπτον φεύγων ἀνέπλεεν ἐπὶ τὸν Νεῖλον, μηνυσάντων τοῦτό τινων ἐδίωκον αὐτὸν οἱ συλληψόμενοι. προμαθὼν δὲ θειόθεν τὴν δίωξιν ἐξήγγειλε τοῖς συμπλέουσι καὶ ἀναστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὴν ᾿Αλεξάνδρειαν ἐκέλευσεν. ἐν δὲ τῷ καταπλεῖν ἀναπλέοντας τοὺς ἐπιβούλους παραμείψας ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν διεσώθη καὶ ὡς ἐν ὁμίλῳ καὶ πλήθει οἰκημάτων ἀσφαλέστερον ἐλάνθανεν. 4.10.5 ᾿Εκ δὴ τῶν τοιούτων καὶ πολλῶν ἄλλων ὁμοίως προμηνυομένων παρ' αὐτοῦ διεβάλλετο παρὰ τῶν ἐναντίων ῾Ελλήνων τε καὶ ἑτεροδόξων ὡς 4.10.6 γοητείαις ταῦτα κατορθῶν. λόγος οὖν ποτε προϊόντος αὐτοῦ ἀνὰ τὴν πόλιν συμβὰν οὕτως ἐφιπταμένην κορώνην κρᾶξαι· παρατυχὸν δὲ πλῆθος ῾Ελλήνων οἷα εἰς γόητα ἀποσκῶπτον ἐξαιτῆσαι εἰπεῖν αὐτοῖς, ὅ τι λέγοι ἡ κορώνη. τὸν δὲ φάναι ἠρέμα ἐπιγελάσαντα· «κρᾶς ἐστιν αὔριον τῇ ῾Ρωμαίων φωνῇ· τοῦτο τοίνυν κράζουσα ἀηδῆ τὴν αὔριον ὑμῖν ἔσεσθαι ἀγγέλλει· σημαίνει γὰρ ἐκ προστάγματος τοῦ ῾Ρωμαίων βασιλέως κωλυθήσεσθαι ὑμᾶς 4.10.7 τὴν ἑξῆς ἑορτὴν ἄγειν.» ἡ δὲ ᾿Αθανασίου πρόρρησις καίπερ γελοιώδης δόξασα ἀληθὴς ἐφάνη· τῇ γὰρ ἐς αὔριον γράμματα τοῦ κρατοῦντος ἀπεδόθη τοῖς ἄρχουσι παρακελευόμενα μὴ συγχωρεῖν τοὺς ῞Ελληνας τοῖς ναοῖς προσβάλλειν μηδὲ τὰς συνήθεις θρησκείας καὶ πανηγύρεις ἐπιτελεῖν· καὶ ἡ παρατυχοῦσα τότε ἑορτὴ διελύθη, σεβάσμιός τε οὖσα καὶ πολυτελὴς ῞Ελλησιν. 4.10.8 ῾Ως μὲν οὖν προφητικὸς ὁ ἀνὴρ ἐγένετο, ἀπόχρη τάδε εἰπεῖν. ἐπεὶ δέ, ὡς εἴρηται, διέφυγε τοὺς ἐπὶ συλλήψει