as quite fair. And the sun was so
wholly concealed that it was impossible to see what was near or even
quite close, so completely did a thick lurid darkness settle on the
ground, preventing the least use of the eyes.

3. Presently, as if the supreme deity were himself letting loose his
fatal wrath, and stirring up the winds from their hinges, a violent
raging storm descended, by the fury of which the groaning mountains were
struck, and the crash of the waves on the shore was heard to a vast
distance. And then followed typhoons and whirlwinds with a horrid
trembling of the earth, throwing down the whole city and its suburbs.

4. And as most of the houses were built on the slopes of the hills, they
now fell down one over the other, while all around resounded with the
vast crash of their fall. In the mean time the tops of the hills
re-echoed all sorts of noises, as well as outcries of men seeking their
wives and children, and other relations.

5. At last, after two hours, or at least within three, the air became
again clear and serene, and disclosed the destruction which till then
was unseen. Some, overwhelmed by the enormous masses of ruins which had
fallen upon them, were crushed to death. Some were buried up to the
neck, and might have been saved if there had been any timely help at
hand, but perished for want of assistance; others were transfixed by the
points of beams projecting forth, on which they hung suspended.

6. Here was seen a crowd of persons slain by one blow; there a
promiscuous heap of corpses piled in various ways--some were buried
beneath the roofs of falling houses, which leant over so as to protect
them from any actual blows, but reserved them for an agonizing death by
starvation. Among whom was Aristaenetus, who, with the authority of
deputy, governed Bithynia, which had been recently erected into a
province; and to which Constantius had given the name of Piety, in
honour of his wife Eusebia, (a Greek word, equivalent to Pietas in
Latin); and he perished thus by a lingering death.

7. Others who were overwhelmed by the sudden fall of vast buildings, are
still lying entombed beneath the immovable masses. Some with their
skulls fractured, or their shoulders or legs cut through, lay between
life and death, imploring aid from others suffering equally with
themselves; but in spite of their entreaties they were abandoned.

8. Not but what the greater part of the temples and buildings and of the
citize