It was my lot, during the absence of the ambassadors,
to meet with certain men of Tuscany, who had entered Rome a few days
before the beginning of the siege, and who spoke of a project for
relieving the city which they would communicate to the Prefect alone.
Ever anxious for the public welfare, daring all treachery from strangers
for advantage of my office, I accorded to these men a secret interview.
They told me of a startling and miraculous event. The town of Neveia,
lying, as you well know, in the direct road of the barbarians when they
marched upon Rome, was protected from their pillaging bands by a tempest
of thunder and lightning terrible to behold. This tempest arose not, as
you may suppose, from an accidental convulsion of the elements, but was
launched over the heads of the invaders by the express interference of
the tutelary deities of the town, invocated by the inhabitants, who
returned in their danger to the practice of their ancient manner of
worship. So said the men of Tuscany; and such pious resources as those
employed by the people of Neveia did they recommend to the people of
Rome! For my part, I acknowledge to you that I have faith in their
project.
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