LI.—Of Infants.

The enemy has suddenly come flooding us over with war; and before they could flee, he has seized upon the helpless children.  They cannot be reproached, although they are seen to be taken captive; nor, indeed, do I excuse them.  Perhaps they have deserved it on account of the faults of their parents; therefore God has given them up.  However, I exhort the adults that they run to arms, and that they should be born again, as it were, to their Mother from the womb.  Let them avoid a law that is terrible, and always bloody, impious, intractable, living with the life of the beasts; for when another war by chance should be to be waged, he who should be able to conquer or even rightly to know how to beware.

LI.---DE INFANTIBUS.

Duellum hostis subito venit inundans, Et prius quam fugerent, parvulos occupavit inertes. Improperandum eis non est, licet capti videntur: 0240B Nec quidem excuso: ob delicta forte parentum Fuere promeriti; ideo Deus tradidit illos. Attamen adultos hortor in arma recurrant, Nascanturque quasi denuo suae matri de ventre. Terribilem legem fugiant, semperque cruentam, Impiam, indocilem ferina vita viventem. Bellum enim aliud cum fuerit forte gerendum, Vincere qui poterit, aut certe jam scire cavere, S . . . . . . . . . . . . .