CHAPTER XLV

HOW HE BORE WITH IRRATIONAL OPPONENTS

MOREOVER he endured with patience some who were exasperated against himself, directing them in mild and gentle terms to conduct themselves with temper, and not excite seditious tumults. And some of these respected his admonitions, and desisted; but as to those who proved incapable of sound judgment, he left them entirely at the disposal of God, and never himself resolved on severe measures against any one. Hence it naturally happened that the disaffected in Africa advanced so far in a course of licentiousness as even to venture on overt acts of audacity; some evil spirit, as it seems probable, being jealous of the present great prosperity, and impelling these men to atrocious deeds, that he might excite the emperor’s anger against them. He gained nothing, however, by this malicious conduct; for the emperor treated these proceedings with contempt, and declared that he recognised their origin to be from the evil one; inasmuch as these were not the actions of sober persons, but of those who were either utterly devoid of reason, or else possessed by some evil spirit; and that such should be pitied rather than punished; since, though justice might check the fury of madmen, refined humanity had rather sympathise with their condition.