But I must be content with only one more and a concluding illustration;
a remarkable and most significant one, by which you will not fail
to see, that not only is the most marvellous event in this book
corroborated by plain facts of the present day, but that these marvels
(like all marvels) are mere repetitions of the ages; so that for
the millionth time we say amen with Solomon--Verily there is nothing
new under the sun.
In the sixth Christian century lived Procopius, a Christian
magistrate of Constantinople, in the days when Justinian
was Emperor and Belisarius general. As many know, he wrote
the history of his own times, a work every way of uncommon value.
By the best authorities, he has always been considered a most
trustworthy and unexaggerating historian, except in some one
or two particulars, not at all affecting the matter presently
to be mentioned.
Now, in this history of his, Procopius mentions that, during the term of
his prefecture at Constantinople, a great sea-monster was captured in the
neighboring Propontis, or Sea of Marmora, after having destroyed vessels
at intervals in those waters for a period of more than fifty years.
A fact thus set down in substantial history cannot easily be gainsaid.
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