Στρατεύσας γὰρ ἐπὶ Πέρσας ἐδελεάσθη ὑπὸ τῶν αὐτομόλων ἐμπρῆσαι τὰς ναῦς· εἶτα δι’ ἐρημίας καὶ ἀνωμάλων χωρίων τὴν πορείαν ποιούμενος ἐφ’ ἱκανόν, πάντων ἀπολελοιπότων τῶν τε χρειωδῶν καὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων, καὶ πολλὰ ταλαιπωρησάντων τῶν μετ’ αὐτοῦ, ἐπειδὴ καιρὸς τοῦ πολέμου καὶ μάχης ἀφίκετο, τραπεὶς εἰς φυγὴν τιτρώσκεται δόρατι, καὶ τοῦ αἵματος διὰ τῶν ῥινῶν φερομένου λαβὼν αὐτὸ ταῖς χερσὶ καὶ εἰς τὸν ἀέρα λικμήσας ἔφη· “νενίκηκας, Χριστέ· κορέσθητι, Ναζωραῖε·” καὶ οὕτως ἀπέρριψε τὴν δολίαν αὐτοῦ ψυχήν.
(Symeon Metaphrastes(?), Chron. 90.3)
For when he* had campaigned against Persia, he was enticed by deserters to burn the ships. Then, after he had marched a sufficient distance through desert and rugged areas, when all the supplies and necessities had been expended, and when those with him had suffered much, when opportunity for war and battle arrived, having turned to flight, he was wounded by a lance, and, after he had taken in his hands the blood coming from his nostrils and scattered it to the air, he said, “You have conquered, Christ. Sate yourself, Nazarene,” and thus did he cast forth his deceitful spirit.
* The emperor Julian.
(tr. Thomas N. Banchich & Eugene N. Lane)
Crambe Repetita 