| Keywords |
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| ID |
2628 |
| Text |
De civitate Dei (413 - 427) Augustine of Hippo |
| Quotation |
nam bonus deus, ne homines, qui eum crederent propter aeternam uitam colendum, has sublimitates et regna terrena existimarent posse neminem consequi, nisi daemonibus supplicet, quod hi spiritus in
talibus multum ualerent, constantinum imperatorem non supplicantem daemonibus, sed ipsum uerum deum colentem tantis terrenis impleuit muneribus, quanta optare nullus auderet; cui etiam condere ciuitatem romano imperio sociam, uelut ipsius romae filiam, sed sine aliquo daemonum
templo simulacroque concessit.
diu imperauit, uniuersum orbem romanum unus augustus tenuit et defendit; in administrandis et
gerendis bellis uictoriosissimus fuit, in tyrannis opprimendis per omnia prosperatus est, grandaeuus
aegritudine et senectute defunctus est, filios imperantes reliquit. |
| Translation |
For the good God gave to the emperor Constantine, who did not seek the favour of demons, but worshipped the true God Himself, such a full measure of earthly rewards as no one would dare to hope for. He did this lest men, believing that God is to be worshipped only for the sake of eternal life, should suppose that no one could attain to these exalted things and rule on earth without seeking the favour of demons. For many do indeed believe this, thinking that such spirits have great power in these matters. To Constantine, then, God granted it that he should found a city to be a companion of Rome in empire: a daughter, as it were, of Rome herself, but without any temple or image of the demons. Also, Constantine’s reign was long, and he held and defended the whole Roman world as sole Augustus. He was supremely victorious in the wars which he organised and waged, and prospered entirely in the overthrowing of tyrants. When he died, of sickness and old age, he was full of years, and he left sons to reign as emperors in his stead. (Trans. Dyson) |
| Quotation source |
Lib. 5, Cap. 25 (lin. 1) |
| Associated use case(s) |
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| Comment |
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