Pagina 856 di 1118

In the episcopal palace, rice was boiled every day, and dealt out

to the necessities of the people, to the extent of 2000 measures.

Besides these splendid efforts of a single individual, many other

excellent persons, though with less powerful means, strove to

mitigate the horrible sufferings of the people: of these

sufferers, thousands struggled to grasp the broth or other food

provided at different quarters, and thus prolong for a day, at

least, their miserable lives; but thousands were still left

behind in the struggle, and these generally the weakest,-the aged

women and children; and these might be seen, dead and dying from

inanition, in every part. But in the midst of these calamities

not the least disposition to insurrection appeared.

[34] Historia Patriae, decad. v. lib. vi. p. 386.