Seven Books of History Against the Pagans

the causes and compare the punishments, which I do not need to retract here, as they are known to all. And yet, how willingly I would accept their opinions if they would faithfully confess what they truly feel. Although the fact that they murmur rarely and only in corners about Christian times should not be taken so unhappily, when the unanimous voice and equal judgment of the entire Roman people have revealed their thoughts and speech. Yet, they have shown so clearly, through a small and slight movement, how they have hesitated in their custom of pleasures, that they freely shouted, [44] If only the Circus were restored, nothing would have been done to them: that is, the swords of the Goths have accomplished nothing at Rome if the Romans are permitted to watch the circus games. Unless, perhaps (as is the case with many at this particular time), those who think that even a small anxiety arising from a long peace is an intolerable labor, prefer these most merciful warnings—by which we are all sometimes touched—to the punishments of others, which they have heard and read about. I warn them at least regarding this very destruction of the Sodomites and Gomorrahites, so that they may learn and understand how God punished sinners, how He can punish, and how He is about to punish.

[45] ## Chapter VII.

Concerning the battle between the Telchines and the Carpathians and King Phoroneus. Also, concerning the flood in Achaia.

One thousand and seventy years before the founding of the City, the Telchines and the Carpathians waged a stubborn battle against Phoroneus, king of the Argives and the Parapasii, with uncertain hope and without the fruit of victory. The same Telchines and Carpathians, being defeated in war a little later and fleeing their homeland, and ignorant of the world, believing [47] that they were completely removing themselves from the meeting of all human habitation, took the island of Rhodes, which was previously called Ophiussa, as if it were a secure possession. Before the years