had taken his stand, and neither side was worsted.  And all were about to gather from the camps, as many as were well disposed to the emperor, and capture the mutineers by force.  For Gontharis had not as yet deceived all, but the majority remained still uncorrupted in mind.  But Areobindus, seeing then for the first time the killing of men (for he had not yet, as it happened, become acquainted with this sight), was terror-stricken and, turning coward, fled, unable to endure what he saw.

Now there is a temple inside the fortifications of Carthage hard by the sea-shore, the abode of men who are very exact in their practice of religion, whom we have always been accustomed to call “monks”; this temple had been built by Solomon not long before, and he had surrounded it with a wall and rendered it a very strong fortress.  And Areobindus, fleeing for refuge, rushed into the monastery, where he had already sent his wife and sister.  Then Artabanes too ran away, and all the rest withdrew from Carthage as each one could.  And Gontharis, having taken the city by assault, with the mutineers took possession of the palace, and was already guarding both the gates and the harbour most carefully.  First, then, he summoned Athanasius, who came to him without delay, and by using much flattery Athanasius made it appear that what had been done pleased him exceedingly.  And after this Gontharis sent the priest of the city and commanded Areobindus, after receiving pledges, to come to the palace, threatening that he would besiege him if he disobeyed and would not again give him pledges of safety, but would use every means to capture and put him to death.  So the priest, Reparatus, stoutly declared to Areobindus that in accordance with the decision of Gontharis he would swear that no harm would come to him from Gontharis, telling also what he had threatened in case he did not obey.  But Areobindus became afraid and agreed that he would follow the priest immediately, if the priest, after performing the rite of the sacred bath[69] in the usual manner, should swear to him by that rite and then give him pledges for his safety.  So the priest did according to this.  And Areobindus without delay followed him, clad in a garment which was suitable neither for a general nor for any one else in military service, but altogether appropriate to a slave or one of private station; this garment the Romans call “casula"[70] in the Latin tongue.  And when they came near the palace, he took in his hands the holy scriptures from the priest, and so went before Gontharis.  And falling prone he lay there a long time, holding out to him the suppliant olive-branch and the holy scriptures, and with him was the child which had been counted worthy of the sacred bath by which the priest had given him the pledge, as has been told.  And when, with difficulty, Gontharis had raised him to his feet, he enquired of Gontharis in the name of all things holy whether his safety was secure.  And Gontharis now bade him most positively