2.
So many beautiful buildings, any single one of which would make a single town famous, were wrecked in one night.
In time of such deep peace an event has taken place worse than men can possibly fear even in time of war.
Who can believe it?
When weapons are everywhere at rest, and when peace prevails throughout the world, Lyons, the pride of Gaul, is missing!
Fortune has usually allowed all men, when she has assailed them collectively, to have a foreboding of that which they were destined to suffer.
Every great creation has had granted to it a period of reprieve before its fall; but in this case, only a single night elapsed between the city at its greatest and the city non-existent.
In short, it takes me longer to tell you it has perished than it took for the city to perish.
Book: Moral Letters Vol II
Subtitle: Seneca's timeless letters of advice and wisdom.
Author: Seneca
Chapter: On the lesson to be drawn from the burning of Lyons
Location: Chapter 91, Section 2
Content:
2.
So many beautiful buildings, any single one of which would make a single town famous, were wrecked in one night.
In time of such deep peace an event has taken place worse than men can possibly fear even in time of war.
Who can believe it?
When weapons are everywhere at rest, and when peace prevails throughout the world, Lyons, the pride of Gaul, is missing!
Fortune has usually allowed all men, when she has assailed them collectively, to have a foreboding of that which they were destined to suffer.
Every great creation has had granted to it a period of reprieve before its fall; but in this case, only a single night elapsed between the city at its greatest and the city non-existent.
In short, it takes me longer to tell you it has perished than it took for the city to perish.