The centurion should know what it was to be a solitary soul.
Acting on this malignant impulse, he had raised his hand to his mouth to shout the cruel order to a tribune, when suddenly the clouds parted, and the glorious sun of Africa appeared in a blue island amid the ocean of gray, cheering the earth with glowing sheaves of rays.

The beams were blinding as they came reflected from the armor and weapons of the men, reminding Caesar of the god to whom he had just vowed an unparalleled sacrifice.
Philostratus had often praised Phoebus Apollo above all gods, because wherever he appeared there was light, irradiating not the earth alone but men's souls; and because, as the lord of music and harmony, he aided men to arrive at that morally pure and equable frame of mind which was accordant and pleasing to his glorious nature.

Apollo had conquered the dark heralds of the storm, and Caracalla looked up.

Before this radiant witness he was ashamed to carry out his dark purpose, and he said, addressing the sun: "For thy sake, Phoebus Apollo, I spare the man." Then, pleased with himself, he looked down again.

The restraint he had laid upon himself struck him as in fact a great and noble effort, accustomed as he was to yield to every impulse.