The troops made no stir. Julian in a clear and solemn voice addressed them--
"Comrades, our work is finished. Now we will go to Constantinople! Give thanks to the Olympians, who have given us the victory!"
These words were only heard by the first ranks, but there were numerous Christians among them. These were roused by the last startling expression.
"Lord have mercy on us! what is it he says?" cried one.
"Do you see that old man with the white beard?" said another to his comrade.
"That's the Devil, who, in the body of Maximus the enchanter, is tempting Cæsar!"
But the more distant ranks, who had not heard Julian's words, cried--
"Glory to Augustus Julian! Glory! Glory!" and louder and louder yet from outskirts of the hill, as far as they were covered by the legions, arose a cry repeated by thousands of voices--
Mountains, air, earth, and forest trembled with the voice of the multitude.
"Look, look!" murmured the dismayed Christians; "the Labarum is being lowered!" And in fact the holy banner was being veiled before the Emperor. A military blacksmith came down from the wood with a brazier and red-hot pincers.
Julian, whose face, in spite of the ruddy gleams of the purple and the sun, was dark with strong emotion, wrenched the golden cross, with its monogram of precious stones, from the staff of the Labarum. Pearls, emeralds, and rubies were scattered on the ground, and the glittering cross buried in the earth, stamped under the sandal of the Roman Cæsar.
From a casket Maximus immediately drew forth a little silver statue of the Sun-god, Mithra-Helios; and the smith in a few instants soldered it to the staff of the Labarum.
Before the army had recovered from its astonishment and fear, Constantine's sacred banner rose above the head of the Emperor, crowned with the image of Apollo. An old soldier, who was a devout Christian, turned away and veiled his eyes to avoid seeing the sight of horror.
"Sacrilege! sacrilege!" he muttered, turning pale.
"Woe, woe, upon us!" groaned another; "Satan has entoiled our Emperor!"
Julian knelt before the standard and, stretching out his arms to the little silver image, exclaimed--
"Glory to the invincible Sun, king of all gods!... Augustus worships the eternal Helios; god of light, god of reason, god of the gladness and joy upon Olympus!"