Orosius

Paulus Orosius (born c. 375/385 – c. 420 AD) less often Paul Orosius in English, was a Roman priest, historian and theologian, and a student of Augustine of Hippo.

Quotes

Seven Books of History Against the Pagans

• Romae ergo post urbem conditam anno CCLXL suspenso ad modicum bello grauis pestilentia, quae semper ibi raras indutias aut factas intercepit aut ut fierent coegit, per uniuersam ciuitatem uiolenter incanduit, ut merito praecedente prodigio caelum ardere uisum sit, quando caput gentium tanto morborum igne flagrauit.
  • Translation: At Rome then, 290 years after the foundation of the city, a severe plague put an end to war for a while. Plagues always broke the short truces that Rome made, or compelled her to make such truces. This plague raged fiercely through the entire city, so the sky which had been seen burning on fire was rightly seen as an omen of its coming, given that the head of the world was ablaze with such a great flame of disease.
  • Book 2, chapter 12, verse 2
• qui postea, cum in Etruriam primo uere transiret, in summo Appennino tempestate correptus, biduo continuo inmobiliter cum exercitu niuibus conclusus et onustus obriguit. ubi magnus hominum numerus, iumenta conplurima, elephanti paene omnes frigoris acerbitate perierunt.
  • Translation: Later when Hannibal crossed into Etruria at the beginning of Spring, he was caught in a storm at the top of the Apennines and, trapped and burdened by the snow, froze there, unable to move, for two entire days. it was here that a large number of his men, even more of his pack animals, and almost all his elephants died from the severity of the cold.
  • Book 4, chapter 14, verse 9
• tunc etiam lex, quae ab Oppio tribuno plebi lata fuerat, ne qua mulier plus quam semunciam auri haberet neue uersicolori uestimento nec uehiculo per urbem uteretur, post uiginti annos abrogata est.
  • Translation: It was at this time too that the law passed by the tribune Oppius which forbade a woman to own more than a half an ounce of gold, a coat of many colours, or to ride in a carriage in the City, was repealed after being force for 20 years.
  • Book 4, chapter 20, verse 14