CHAPTER XLIII

CALAMITIES OF THE BARBARIANS WHO HAD BEEN THE TYRANT JOHN’S AUXILIARIES

AFTER the death of the tyrant, the barbarians whom he had called to his assistance against the Romans, made preparations for ravaging the Roman provinces. The emperor being informed of this, immediately, as his custom was, committed the management of the matter to God; and continuing in earnest prayer, he speedily obtained what he sought, for the following disasters befel the barbarians. Rougas their chief was struck dead with a thunderbolt. Then a plague followed which destroyed most of the men who were under him: and as if this was not sufficient, fire came down from heaven, and consumed many of the survivors. This series of supernatural catastrophes filled the barbarians with the utmost terror; not so much because they had dared to take up arms against a nation of such valour as the Romans possessed, as that they perceived them to be assisted by a mighty God. On this occasion, Proclus the bishop preached a sermon in the church which was greatly admired; in which he applied a prophecy out of Ezekiel to the deliverance which had been effected by God in the late emergency. This is the language of the prophecy:—“And thou, son of man, prophecy against Gog the prince of Rhos, Misoch, and Thobel. For I will judge him with death, and with blood, and with overflowing rain, and with hail-stones. I will also rain fire and brimstone upon him, and upon all his bands, and upon many nations that are with him. And I will be magnified, and glorified, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations: and they shall know that I am the Lord.” This application of the prophecy was received with great applause, as I have said, and enhanced the estimation in which Proclus was held. Moreover the providence of God rewarded the meekness of the emperor in various other ways, one of which I shall now mention.