No, said the angel, for God revenges Himself upon His enemies by means of His enemies. Go you once more with your army, and you shall defeat him even as he defeated you.

Then he went and fought anew with his foe, and defeated him and captured him as the angel had foretold.

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XXXVIII

Of an astrologer called Melisus, who was reprimanded by a woman

There was one named Melisus[1] who was exceedingly learned in many sciences and especially [[107]]in astrology, as can be read in the sixth book of De Civitate Dei[2].

And it is said that this wise man once passed the night in the house of a poor woman.

When he went to his rest in the evening, he said to the woman: look you, woman, leave the house door open to-night, for I am accustomed to get up and study the stars.

The woman left the door open.

That night it rained, and before the house there was a ditch filled with water.