St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

Of the more priuat and interior mischieues, that Rome endured, which were presaged by that prodigious madnesse of all the creatures that serued the vse of man. CHAP. 23.

BVt now let vs do what we can to recite those euills which the more domes∣tique they were to Rome, the more miserable they made it: I meane the ciuill or rather vnciuill discordes, being now no more seditions but plaine warres, and those in the very bowells of the Citty, wherein so much bloud was spilt: where the Senators powers were now no more bent to altercations (a) and wranglings, but directly to armes and weapons. O what riuers of Romaines bloud flowed from the Sociall, Seruile, and Ciuill warres? how sore a wast fell vpon the brest of all Italy from hence? For before that (b) Latium, (being associate and confederate with the rest) arose against Rome (c) all the creatures that were vse-full vnto Man, dogges, horses, asses, oxen, and all others besides, that serued humane occasions, * 1.1

growing suddenly starke mad, and losing all their meeknesse, runne wild out of the townes into the deserts, fieldes and forrests, flying the company not onely of all others, but euen of their owne maisters, and endangering any man that offered to come neare them. What (d) a prodigious signe was heare? but if this, being so great a mischiefe of it selfe, were but the presage of another, what a mischiefe must that be then, that was vshered in by such a mischieuous presage. If this had befallen in our times, wee should bee sure to haue had these faithlesse miscreants a great deale madder then the others dogs were.

L. VIVES.

ALtercations (a) and [For before, they did but wrangle, reuile, and raile, their fights were only in words, no weapons. (b) Latium being associate] when as the Senate had set vp M. Li∣uius drusus tribune against the power of the Gentlemen, who had as then the iudging of all causes, through Gracchus his law, Drusus to strengthen the senates part the more, drew all the seuerall nations of Italy to take part with him, vpon hope of the possessing the citty, which hope the Italians catching hold vpon, and being frustrate of it by Drusus his sudden death, first the Picenians tooke armes, and after them the Vestines, Marsians, Latines, Pelignians, Maru∣cians Lucanes, and Samnits Sext. Iul. Caesar, & L. Marcius Philippus being consulls: in the yeare of the citty, DCLXII. They fought often with diuers fortunes. At last, by seuerall generalls, * 1.2 the people of Italy were all subdued. The history is written by Liuy, Florus, Plutarch, Oro∣sius, Velleius, Appian (b) asociats] the Latins begun the stirre resoluing to kill the consulls, Caesar and Philip vpon the Latine feast daies, (c) all the creatures] Orosi. lib. 5. The heards about this time fell into such a madnesse that the hostility following was here-vpon coniectured, and many with teares fore-told the ensuing calamities. (d) a prodigious signe▪ Here the text is diuers∣ly written in copies, but all to one purpose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prodigies in the catle.
• * 1.2

  The con∣federats •…•…rre.