Contra philosophi, candorem ignis sacri repente conspecti, nihil significare aiebant, sed esse acrioris spiritus cursum, ex aethere aliqua vi ad inferiora detrusum, aut si exinde praenoscitur aliquid, incrementa claritudinis imperatori portendi, gloriosa coeptanti, cum constet flammas suapte natura nullo obstante ad sublimia convolare.
The philosophers, on the other hand, maintained that the brilliance of the sacred fire which suddenly appeared signified nothing at all, but was merely the course of a stronger mass of air sent downward from the aether by some force; or if it did give any sign, it foretold an increase in renown for the emperor, as he was beginning a glorious enterprise, since it is well known that flames by their very nature mount on high without opposition.
final_alignments\Ammianus_Marcellinus_Book23.json