Augustin，withoutexaminingthegroundsofthequarrel，piouslyexhortshimtodischargethedutiesofaChristianandasubject:
toextricatehimselfwithoutdelayfromhisdangerousandguiltysituation；andeven，ifhecouldobtaintheconsentofhiswife，toembracealifeofcelibacyandpenance，Tillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。xiii。p。890。ThebishopwasintimatelyconnectedwithDarius，theministerofpeace，Id。tom。xiii。p。928。]
ThelongandnarrowtractoftheAfricancoastwasfilledwithfrequentmonumentsofRomanartandmagnificence；andtherespectivedegreesofimprovementmightbeaccuratelymeasuredbythedistancefromCarthageandtheMediterranean。Asimplereflectionwillimpresseverythinkingmindwiththeclearestideaoffertilityandcultivation:thecountrywasextremelypopulous；theinhabitantsreservedaliberalsubsistencefortheirownuse；andtheannualexportation，particularlyofwheat，wassoregularandplentiful，thatAfricadeservedthenameofthecommongranaryofRomeandofmankind。Onasuddenthesevenfruitfulprovinces，fromTangiertoTripoli，wereoverwhelmedbytheinvasionoftheVandals；whosedestructiveragehasperhapsbeenexaggeratedbypopularanimosity，religiouszeal，andextravagantdeclamation。War，initsfairestform，impliesaperpetualviolationofhumanityandjustice；andthehostilitiesofBarbariansareinflamedbythefierceandlawlessspiritwhichincessantlydisturbstheirpeacefulanddomesticsociety。TheVandals，wheretheyfoundresistance，seldomgavequarter；andthedeathsoftheirvaliantcountrymenwereexpiatedbytheruinofthecitiesunderwhosewallstheyhadfallen。Carelessofthedistinctionsofage，orsex，orrank，theyemployedeveryspeciesofindignityandtorture，toforcefromthecaptivesadiscoveryoftheirhiddenwealth。ThesternpolicyofGensericjustifiedhisfrequentexamplesofmilitaryexecution:hewasnotalwaysthemasterofhisownpassions，orofthoseofhisfollowers；andthecalamitiesofwarwereaggravatedbythelicentiousnessoftheMoors，andthefanaticismoftheDonatists。YetIshallnoteasilybepersuaded，thatitwasthecommonpracticeoftheVandalstoextirpatetheolives，andotherfruittrees，ofacountrywheretheyintendedtosettle:norcanIbelievethatitwasausualstratagemtoslaughtergreatnumbersoftheirprisonersbeforethewallsofabesiegedcity，forthesolepurposeofinfectingtheair，andproducingapestilence，ofwhichtheythemselvesmusthavebeenthefirstvictims。^25
[Footnote25:TheoriginalcomplaintsofthedesolationofAfricaarecontained1。InaletterfromCapreolus，bishopofCarthage，toexcusehisabsencefromthecouncilofEphesus，ap。Ruinart，p。427。2。InthelifeofSt。Augustin，byhisfriendandcolleaguePossidius，ap。Ruinart，p。427。3。InthehistoryoftheVandalicpersecution，byVictorVitensis，l。i。c。1，2，3，edit。Ruinart。Thelastpicture，whichwasdrawnsixtyyearsaftertheevent，ismoreexpressiveoftheauthor\'spassionsthanofthetruthoffacts。]
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