totally incredulous of its contents, nay, of any such thing as a last judgment to come. . .
ITS VISITATION AND DESTRUCTION.
Destruction was effected after visitation, for visitation always precedes. The act of exploring what the men are, and moreover the separation of the good from the evil, is visitation; and the good are then removed, and the evil left behind. This having been done, there were great earthquakes, from which they perceived that the last judgment was at hand, and trembling seized them all. Then those in the southern quarter, and especially in the great city there, were seen running to and fro; some with the intention of betaking themselves to flight, some of hiding themselves in the crypts, others of hiding in the cellars and caves beside their treasures, out of which others again carried anything they could lay their hands on.
But after the earthquakes there burst forth an eruption from below, which overturned everything in the city and in the region around it. After this eruption came a vehement wind from the east, which laid bare, shook, and overthrew everything to its foundation, upon which all who were there were led forth from every part and from all their hiding-places, and cast into a sea of black waters: those who were cast into it, amounted to many myriads.
