Reference:Mel. 34, CPG 2123.31, CPG 8545, FNS 76
Incipit:Ταῦτα ἦν ἃ νῦν διελεγόμην
Date:335
Greek Text:Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 81
English Translation(s):NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 142-3, adapted for FCC by SMT

In response to Mel. 32 and Mel. 33, Flavius Dionysius writes this letter to the Eusebians. In it, he claims to be a part of them, but also claims that they were in the wrong. He admits that the commission sent to the Mareotis was in fact biased, and they slighted the defense on this issue. He, however, still believes that they can avoid censure because of how this trial has been conducted.

The Greek text below is that of Opitz as found in AW 2.4:81. The English translation has been adapted from NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 140-141 by SMT for FCC.

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The derivative translation below is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

…Ταῦτα ἦν ἃ νῦν διελεγόμην τοῖς κυρίοις μου τοῖς περὶ Φλάκιλλον, ὅτι Ἀθανάσιος ἐπιστὰς ᾐτιάσατο·  ̔οὓς παρῃτησάμην᾽, λέγων,  ̔τούτους ἀποστέλλεσθαι᾽ καὶ βοῶν ὡς  ̔ἀδικούμενος καὶ περιγραφόμενος᾽, ταῦτα καὶ ὁ κύριός μου τῆς ψυχῆς Ἀλέξανδρος ἀπέστειλε. καὶ ἵνα γνῶτε ὅτι κατὰ λόγον ἔχει τὰ γραφέντα μοι παρὰ τῆς χρηστότητος αὐτοῦ, ὑπέταξα αὐτὰ ἀναγνωσθησόμενα ὑμῖν.This is what I have already mentioned to my lords, Flacillus and his fellows, that Athanasius has come forward and complained that those very persons have been sent whom he objected to, and crying out that he has been wronged and deceived. Alexander, the lord of my soul, has also written to me on the subject. That you may perceive that what his Goodness has said is reasonable, I have subjoined his letter to be read by you.
μέμνησθε δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄνωθεν παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ γραφέντων· ἐπέστειλα γὰρ ὑμῶν τῇ χρηστότητι, κύριοι, ὅτι χρὴ τοὺς ἀποστελλομένους κοινῇ κρίσει καὶ δόγματι ἀποσταλῆναι. ὁρᾶτε τοίνυν, μὴ ἐγκλήματι ὑποπέσῃ τὰ γινόμενα μηδὲ δικαίας μέμψεως ἀφορμὴν τοῖς βουλομένοις ἡμᾶς αἰτιάσασθαι δῶμεν. ὥσπερ γὰρ βαρεῖσθαι τὸ μέρος τῶν κατηγόρων οὐ προσήκει, οὕτως οὐδὲ τὸ τῶν φευγόντων. νομίζω δὲ οὐ μικρὰν εἶναι ἀφορμὴν καθ’ ἡμῶν μέμψεως, ὅταν φαίνηται ὁ κύριός μου Ἀλέξανδρος μὴ συναινῶν τοῖς πραττομένοις…Remember also what I wrote to you before: I impressed upon your Goodness, my lords, that the persons who were sent ought to be commissioned by the general vote and decision of all. Take care therefore lest our proceedings fall under censure, and we give just grounds of blame to those who are disposed to find fault with us. For as the accuser’s side ought not to suffer any oppression, so neither ought the defendant’s. And I think that there is no slight ground of blame against us, when my lord Alexander evidently disapproves of what we have done.

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