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VALENTINIANUS, who shortly afterwards became emperor, was
at that time a Tribune and commanded the Hastati quartered in the
palace. He made no secret of his zeal for the true religion. On one
occasion when the infatuated emperor was going in solemn procession into
the sacred enclosure of the Temple of Fortune, on either side of the
gates stood the temple servants purifying, as they supposed, all who
were coming in, with their sprinkling whisks. As Valentinianus
walked before the emperor, he noticed that a drop had fallen on his own
cloak and gave the attendant a blow with his fist, "for," said he,
"I am not purified but defiled." For this deed he won two empires.
On seeing what had happened Julian the accursed sent him to a fortress
in the desert, and ordered him there to remain, but after the lapse of
a year and a few months be received the empire as a reward of his
confession of the faith, for not only in the life that is to come does
the just Judge honour them that care for holy things, but sometimes
even here below He bestows recompense for good deeds, confirming the
hope of guerdons yet to be received by what he gives in abundance now.
But the tyrant devised another contrivance against the truth, for when
according to ancient custom he had taken his seat upon the imperial
throne to distribute gold among the ranks of his soldiery, contrary to
custom he had an altar full of hot coals introduced, and incense put
upon a table, an ordered each man who was to receive the gold first to
throw incense on the altar, and then to take the gold from his own
right hand. The majority were wholly unaware of the trap thus laid;
but those who were forewarned feigned illness and so escaped this cruel
snare. Others in their eagerness for the money made light of their
salvation while another group abandoned their faith through cowardice.
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