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

That the cruell effects following the losses of warre, did but follow the custome of warre: and wherein they were moderated, it was through the power of the name of Iesus Christ. CHAP. 6.

THerefore all the spoile, murther, burning, violence and affliction, that in this fresh call amitie fell vpon Rome, were nothing but the ordinary effects following the (a) custome of warre. But that which was so vnaccustomed, that the sauage nature of the Barbarians should put on a new shape and appeare so mercifull, that it would make choise of great and spacious Churches, to fill with such as it meant to shew pitty on, from which none should bee haled to

slaughter or slauerie, in which none should bee hurt, to which many by their courteous foes should be conducted, and out of which none should bee lead into bondage; This is due to the name of Christ, this is due to the Christian profession; he that seeth not this is blinde, hee that seeth it and praiseth it not is thanklesse, hee that hinders him that praiseth it, is madde. God forbid that any man of sence should attribute this vnto the Barbarians brutishnesse: It was God that struck a terror into their truculent and bloudy spirits, it was he that bridled them, it was he that so wonderously restrained them, that had so long before fore-told this by his Prophet. (b) I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sinne with scourges: yet will I not vtterly take my mercy from them. * 1.1

L. VIVES.

CVstome (a) of warre,] Quintilian recordes the accidents that follow the sacking of Ci∣ties in his eight booke, thus: The flames were spread through the temples, a terrible crac∣king * 1.2 of falling houses was heard: and one confused sound of a thousand seuerall clamours. Some fled they knew not whether: some stuck fast in their last embraces of their friends, the children and the women howled, and the old men (vnluckily spared vntill that fatall day): then followed the tearing away of all the goods out of house and temple, and the talke of those that had carri∣ed away one burden and ranne for another, and the poore prisoners were driuen in chaines before their takers: and the mother endeuouring to carry her silly infant with her, and where the most gaine was, there went the victors together by th'eares. Now these things came thus to passe, be∣cause the soldiers (as they are a most proud and insolent kinde of men, without all meane and modestie) haue no power to temper their auarice, lust or furie in their victory: and againe (because taking the towne by force) if they should not do thus for terror to the ene∣mie, they might iustly feare to suffer the like of the enemy. (b) I will visit] It is spoken of the sonnes of Dauid, Psal. 89. If they be not good, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 89. 32. 33.
• * 1.2

  A descrip∣tion of the sack of a citie.