Owing to its position on the highroad, trodden by so many barbaric
armies, this city had suffered repeated devastation. Its great
buildings stood desolate, or had fallen to utter ruin, and the
country around, once famous for its fertility, showed but a few poor
farms. What inhabitants remained dwelt at the foot of the great hill
on whose summit rose the citadel, still united with the town by two
great walls. After passing between the tombs on the Latin Way,
memorials of citizens long dead, the travellers entered by an
unprotected gateway, and here Venantius called a halt. Wishing to
make no longer pause than was needful to put the sick man in safety,
he despatched a few soldiers through the silent town to seek for
means of conveying Basil up to the monastery on the height. By good
luck these emissaries came upon a couple of monks, who lost no time
in arranging for the conveyance of the sufferer. A light cart drawn
by two mules speedily appeared, and on this Basil was laid. One only
of his men did Venantius allow to accompany him, the others were
bidden ride on with the captain's own soldiers to Aesernia.
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