4. When was the human race destroyed by a flood? was it not before us? When was the world set on fire,13    Arnobius, no doubt, speaks of the story of Phæthon, as told by Ovid; on which, cf. Plato, Tim., st. p. 22.    Lit., “most worthy even of weeping and pity.” and reduced to coals and ashes? was it not before us? When were the greatest cities engulphed in the billows of the sea? was it not before us? When were wars waged with wild beasts, and battles fought with lions?14    Nourry thinks that reference is here made to the contests of gladiators and athletes with lions and other beasts in the circus. But it is more likely that the author is thinking of African tribes who were harassed by lions. Thus Ælian (de Nat Anim., xvii. 24) tells of a Libyan people, the Nomæi, who were entirely destroyed by lions.    Redarguat. This sense is not recognised by Riddle and White, and would therefore seem to be, if not unique, at least extremely rare. The derivative redargutio, however, is in late Latin used for “demonstration,” and this is evidently the meaning here. was it not before us? When was ruin brought on whole communities by poisonous serpents?15    The city of Amyclæ in Italy is referred to, which was destroyed by serpents.    Fidem vobis faciunt argumenta credendi. Heraldus, joining the two last words, naturally regards them as a gloss from the margin; but read as above, joining the first and last, there is nothing out of place. was it not before us? For, inasmuch as you are wont to lay to our blame the cause of frequent wars, the devastation of cities, the irruptions of the Germans and the Scythians, allow me, with your leave, to say,—In your eagerness to calumniate us, you do not perceive the real nature of that which is alleged.

IV. Quando est humanum genus aquarum diluviis 0727A interemptum? non ante nos? Quando mundus incensus in favillas et cineres dissolutus est? non ante nos? Quando urbes amplissimae marinis coopertae sunt fluctibus? non ante nos? Quando cum feris bella, et praelia cum leonibus gesta sunt? non ante nos? Quando pernicies populis venenatis ab anguibus data est? non ante nos? Nam quod nobis objectare consuestis bellorum frequentium causas, vastationes urbium. Germanorum et Scythicas irruptiones, cum pace hoc vestra et cum bona venia dixerim: quale sit istud quod dicitur, calumniarum libidine non videtis.