δι' ἐρημίας πολεμίων πορευόμενος → he marched on without finding any enemy, his route lay through a country bare of enemies
sponso: āre, v. a. sponsus,
I to betroth, affiance, espouse (post-class.).
I Lit.: aliquam, Dig. 23, 2, 38; Tert. Vel. Virg. 11.—
II Trop.: animam, Paul. Nol. Carm. 18, 43: et sponsabo te mihi in sempiternum, Vulg. Osee, 2, 19; 2, 20.