32. Where, says he, shall we swear obedience to
your Grace’s laws and decrees? Does then your mind, which
is contained in the laws, gain assent and bind to faithfulness by
heathen ceremonies? The faith is attacked, not only of those who
are present but also of those who are absent, and what is more, O
Emperors, your faith, too, is attacked, for you compel if you
command. Constantius of august memory, though not yet initiated
in the sacred Mysteries, thought that he would be polluted if he saw
that altar. He commanded it to be removed, he did not command it
to be replaced. The removal has the authority of an act, the
restoration has not that of a command.