8.15.1
XV. Διὰ παντός γέ τοι τοῦ κατὰ τὸν διωγμὸν δεκαέτους χρόνου τῶν εἰς ἐπιβουλὴν καὶ πόλεμον τὸν κατ’ ἀλλήλων οὐδὲν αὐτοὺς διαλέλοιπεν. ἄπλωτα μὲν τὰ κατὰ θάλατταν ἦν οὐδ’ ἐξῆν ποθεν καταπλεύσαντας μὴ οὐχὶ πάσαις αἰκίαις ὑπάγεσθαι ατρεβλουμένους μένους καὶ τὰς πλευρὰς καταξαινομένους βασάνοις τε παντοίαις, μὴ ἄρα παρὰ τῶν δι’ ἐναντίας ἐχθρῶν ἥκοιεν, ἀνακρινομένους καὶ τέλος σταυροῖς ἢ τῆ διὰ πυρὸς ὑπαγομένους κολάσει· ἀσπίδων ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ θωρήκων παρασκευαὶ βελῶν τε καὶ δοράτων καὶ τῆς ἄλλης πολεμικῆς παρατάξεως ἑτοιμασίαι τριήρων τε καὶ τῶν κατὰ ναυμαχίαν ὅπλων κατὰ πάντα συνεκροτοῦντο τόπον οὐδ’ ἢν ἄλλο τι παντί τῳ προσδοκᾶν ἢ πολέμων κατὰ πᾶσαν ἔφοδον ἡμέραν. τούτοις καὶ ὁ μετὰ ταῦτα λιμός τε καὶ λοιμὸς ἐγκατασκήπτει, περὶ ὧν κατὰ καιρὸν ἱστορήσομεν τὰ δέοντα.
XV. In fact, during the whole period of ten years of persecution there was no respite in their plotting and warfare against each other. The seas were unnavigable, and none, no matter whence they sailed, could escape being subjected to all kinds of torments: stretched on the rack and having their sides torn, and being examined under all sorts of tortures, in case they should possibly be coming from the enemy of the opposite side, and in the end subjected to crucifixion or punishment by fire. Moreover, every place was busy with the preparation of shields and armour, the getting ready of darts and spears and other warlike accoutrements, and of triremes and naval gear; and no one expected anything but war at every onset of the day. And subsequently famine and pestilence broke out among them, about which we shall recount what is necessary at the proper time.