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WHILE matters were in this state it happened that an outrage was
perpetrated in the church. For the domestics of a man of quality who
were foreigners, having experienced harsh treatment from their master,
fled from him to the church; and thus they ran up to the very altar
with their swords drawn. Nor could they be prevailed upon by any
entreaties to withdraw; so that they impeded the performance of the
sacred services; but inasmuch as they obstinately maintained their
position for several days, brandishing their weapons in defiance of any
one who dared to approach them--and in fact killed one of the
ecclesiastics, and wounded another--they were finally compelled to
slay themselves. A person who was present at this desecration of the
sanctuary, remarked that such a profanation was an ominous presage,
and in support of his view of the matter, quoted the two following
iambics of an ancient poet:
"For such prognostics happen at a time When temples are defiled by
impious crime."
Nor was he who made the prediction disappointed in these inauspicious
forebodings: for they signified as it seems a division among the
people, and the deposition of the author of it.
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