BOOK II.

Now while I much entreated God restrained

My wise song, also in my breast again

He put the charming voice of words divine.

In my whole body terror-stricken these

5 I follow; for I know not that I speak,

But God impels me to proclaim each thing.

But when on earth come shocks, fierce thunderbolts,

Thunders and lightnings, storms, and evil blight,

And rage of jackals and of wolves, manslaughter,

10 Destruction of men and of lowing kine,

Four-footed cattle and laborious mules,

And goats and sheep, then shall the ample field

Be barren from neglect, and fruits shall fail,

And there shall be a selling of their freedom

15 Among most men, and robbery of temples.

And then shall, after these, appear of men

The tenth race, when the earth-shaking Lightener

Shall break the zeal for idols and shall shake

The people of seven-hilled Rome, and riches great

20 Shall perish, burned by Vulcan's fiery flame.

And then shall bloody signs from heaven descend--

. . . . .

But yet the whole world of unnumbered men

Enraged shall kill each other, and in tumult

Shall God send famines, plagues, and thunderbolts

25 On men who, without justice, judge of rights.

And lack of men shall be in all the world,

So that if anyone beheld a trace

Of man on earth, he would be wonderstruck.

And then shall the great God who dwells in heaven

30 Saviour of pious men in all things prove.

And then shall there be peace and wisdom deep,

And the fruit-bearing land shall yield again

Abundant fruits, divided not in parts

Nor yet enslaved. And every harbor then,

35 And every haven, shall be free to men

As formerly, and shamelessness shall perish.

And then will God show mortals a great sign:

For like a lustrous crown shall shine a star,

Bright, all-resplendent, from the radiant heaven

40 Days not a few; and then will he display

From heaven a crown for contest unto men

Who wrestle. And then there shall be again

A mighty contest of triumphal march

Into the heavenly sky, and it shall be

45 For all men in the world, and have the fame

Of immortality. And every people

Shall then in the immortal contests strive

For splendid victory. For no one there

Can shamelessly with silver buy a crown.

50 For unto them will the pure Christ adjudge

That which is due, and crown the ones approved,

And give his martyrs an immortal prize

Who carry on the contest unto death.

And unto chaste men who run their race well

55 Will he the incorruptible reward

Of the prize give, and to all men allot

That which is due, and also to strange nations

That live a holy life and know one God.

And those who have regard for marriages

60 And keep themselves far from adulteries,

To them rich gifts, eternal hope, he'll give.

For every human soul is God's free gift,

And 'tis not right men stain it with vile deeds.

[Do not be rich unrighteously, but lead

65 A life of probity. Be satisfied

With what thou hast and keep thyself from that

Which is another's. Speak not what is false,

But have a care for all things that are true.

Revere not idols vainly; but the God

40 Imperishable honor always first,

And next thy parents. Render all things due,

And into unjust judgment come thou not.

Do not cast out the poor unrighteously,

Nor judge by outward show; if wickedly

75 Thou judgest, God hereafter will judge thee.

Avoid false testimony; tell the truth.

Maintain thy virgin purity, and guard

Love among all. Deal measures that are just;

For beautiful is measure full to all.

80 Strike not the scales oneside, but draw them equal.

Forswear not ignorantly nor willingly;

God hates the perjured man in that he swore.

A gift proceeding out of unjust deeds

Never receive in hand. Do not steal seed;

85 Accursed through many generations he

Who took it unto scattering of life.

Indulge not vile lusts, slander not, nor kill.

Give the toilworn his hire; do not afflict

The poor man. Unto orphans help afford

90 And to widows and the needy. Talk with sense;

Hold fast in heart a secret. Be unwilling

To act unjustly nor yet tolerate

Unrighteous men. Give to the poor at once

And say not, "Come to-morrow." Of thy grain

95 Give to the needy with perspiring hand.

He who gives alms knows how to lend to God.

Mercy redeems from death when judgment comes.

Not sacrifice, but mercy God desires

Rather than sacrifice. The naked clothe,

100 Share thy bread with the hungry, in thy house

Receive the shelterless and lead the blind.

Pity the shipwrecked; for the voyage is

Uncertain. To the fallen give a hand;

And save the man that stands without defense.

105 Common to all is suffering, life's a wheel,

Riches unstable. Having wealth, reach out

To the poor thy hand. Of what God gave to thee

Bestow thou also on the needy one.

Common is the whole life of mortal men;

110 But it comes out unequal. When thou seest

A poor man never banter him with words,

Nor harshly accost a man who may be blamed.

One's life in death is proven; if one did

The unlawful or just, it shall be decided

115 When he to judgment comes. Disable not

Thy mind with wine nor drink excessively.

Eat not blood, and abstain from things

Offered to idols. Gird not on the sword

For slaughter, but defense; and would thou might

120 It neither lawlessly nor justly use:

For if thou kill an enemy thy hand

Thou dost defile. Keep from thy neighbor's field,

Nor trespass on it; just is every landmark,

And trespass painful. Useful is possession

125 Of lawful wealth, but of unrighteous gains

'Tis worthless. Harm not any growing fruit

Of the field. And let strangers be esteemed

In equal honor with the citizens;

For much-enduring hospitality

130 Shall all experience as each other's guests;

But let there not be anyone a stranger

Among you, since, ye mortals, all of you

Are of one 'blood, and no land has for men

Any sure place. Wish not nor pray for wealth;

135 But pray to live from few things and possess

Nothing at all unjust. The love of gain

Is mother of all evil. Do not long

For gold or silver; in them there will be

A double-edged and soul-destroying iron.

140 A snare to men continually are gold

And silver. Gold, of evils source, of life

Destructive, troubling all things, would that thou

Wert, not to mortals such a longed-for bane!

For wars, because of thee, and pillaging

145 And murders come, and children hate their sires,

And brothers and sisters those of their own blood.

Plot no deceit, and do not arm thy heart

Against a friend. Keep not concealed within

A different thought from what thou speakest forth;

150 Nor, like rock-clinging polyp, change with place.

But with all be frank, and things from the soul

Speak thou forth. Whosoever willfully

Commits a wrong, an evil man is he;

But he that does it under force, the end

155 I tell not; but let each man's will be right.

Pride not thyself in wisdom, power, or wealth;

God only is the wise and mighty one

And full of riches. Do not vex thy heart

With evils that are past; for what is done

160 Can never be undone. Let not thy hand

Be hasty, but ferocious passion curb;

For many times has one in striking done

Murder without design. Let suffering

Be common, neither great nor overmuch.

165 Excessive good has not brought forth to men

That which is helpful. And much luxury

Leads to immoderate lusts. Much wealth is prowl,

And makes one grow to wanton violence.

Passionate feeling, creeping in, effects

170 Destructive madness. Anger is a lust,

And when it is excessive it is wrath.

The zeal of good men is a noble thing,

But of the base is base. Of wicked men

The boldness is destructive, but renown

175 Follows that of the good. To be revered

Is virtuous love, but that of Cypris works

Increase of shame. A silly man is called

Very agreeable among his fellows.

With moderation eat, drink, and converse;

180 Of all things moderation is the best;

But trespass of its limit brings to grief.

Be not thou envious, faithless, or abusive,

Or evil-minded, or a false deceiver.

Be prudent and abstain from shameless deeds.

185 Imitate not what's evil, but leave thou

Vengeance to justice; for persuasion is

A useful thing, but strife engenders strife.

Trust not too quickly ere thou see the end.]

This is the contest, these are the rewards;

190 These are the prizes; this the gate of life

And entrance into immortality,

Which God in heaven unto most righteous men

Appointed a reward for victory;

And through this gate shall gloriously pass

195 Those who shall then receive the victor's crown.

But when this sign shall everywhere appear--

Children with gray hair on their temples born--

And human sufferings, famines, plagues, and wars,

And change of times, and many a tearful wail,

200 Ah! of how many parents in the lands

Will children mourn and piteously weep,

And with shrouds bury flesh and limbs in earth,

Mother of peoples, with the blood and dust

Themselves defiling. O ye wretched men

205 Of the last generation, evil doers,

Terrible, childish, not perceiving this,

That when the tribes of women do not bear

The harvest time of mortal men is come.

Near is the ruin when impostors come

210 Instead of prophets speaking on the earth.

And Beliar shall come and many signs

Perform for men. And then of holy men,

Elect and faithful, there shall be confusion,

And pillaging of them and of the Hebrews.

215 And there shall be upon them fearful wrath

When from the east a people of twelve tribes

Shall come in search of kindred Hebrew people

Whom Assyrian shoot destroyed; and over these

Shall nations perish. But they afterwards

220 Shall over men exceeding mighty rule,

Elect and faithful Hebrews, and enslave

Them as before, since their power ne'er shall fail.

He that is highest of all, the all-surveying,

Dwelling in heaven, will scatter sleep on men,

225 Covering the eyelids o'er. O blessed servants

Whom when the Master comes he finds awake!

And they all watch at all times and expect

With sleepless eyes. For it will be at dawn

Or eve or midday; but he sure shall come,

230 And it shall be as I say, it shall be,

To them that sleep, that from the starry heaven

The stars at midday will to all appear

With the two lights as the time hastens on.

And then the Tishbite, urging from the heaven

235 His chariot celestial, and on earth

Arriving, shall to all the world display

Three evil signs of life to be destroyed.

Alas for all the women in that day

Who shall be found with burden in the womb!

240 Alas for all who suckle tender babes!

Alas for all who shall dwell on the waves!

Alas for women who shall see that day!

For a dark mist shall hide the boundless world,

East, west, and south, and north. And then shall flow

245 A mighty stream of burning fire from heaven

And every place consume, earth, ocean vast,

And gleaming sea, and lakes and rivers, springs,

And cruel Hades and the heavenly sky.

And heavenly lights shall break up into one

250 And into outward form all-desolate.

For stars from heaven shall fall into all seas.

And all the souls of men shall gnash their teeth

Burned both by sulphur stream and force of fire

In ravenous soil, and ashes hide all things.

255 And then of the world all the elements

Shall be bereft, air, earth, sea, light, sky, days,

Nights; and no longer in the air shall fly

Birds without number, nor shall living things

That swim the sea swim any more at all,

260 Nor freighted vessel o'er the billows pass,

Nor kine straight-guiding plow the field, nor sound

Of furious winds; but he shall fuse all things

Together, and shall pick out what is pure.

But when the immortal God's eternal angels

265 Arakiel, Ramiel, Uriel, Samiel,

And Azael, they that know how many evils

Anyone did before, shall from dark gloom

Then lead to judgment all the souls of men

Before the judgment-seat of the great God

270 Immortal; for imperishable is

One only, himself the almighty, One,

Who shall be judge of mortals; and to them

That dwell beneath will then the heavenly One

Give souls and spirit and voice, and also bones

275 Fitted with joints unto all kinds of flesh,

And both the flesh and sinews, veins and skin

About the body, and hair as before;

Divinely fashioned and with breathing moved

Shall bodies of those on earth one day be raised.

280 And then shall Uriel, mighty angel, break

The bolts of stern and lasting adamant

Which, monstrous, bold the brazen gates of Hades,

Straight cast them down, and unto judgment lead

All forms that have endured much suffering,

285 Chiefly the shapes of Titans born of old,

And giants, and all whom the deluge whelmed,

And all that perished in the billowy seas,

And all that furnished banquet for the beasts

And creeping things and fowls, these in a mass

290 Shall (Uriel) summon to the judgment-seat;

And also those whom flesh-devouring fire

Destroyed in flame, even these shall he collect

And place before the judgment-seat of God.

And when the high-thundering Lord of Sabaoth

295 Making an end of fate shall raise the dead,

Sit on his heavenly throne, and firmly fix

The mighty pillar, then amid the clouds

Christ, who himself is incorruptible,

Shall come unto the Incorruptible

300 In glory with pure angels, and shall sit

At the right hand on the great judgment-seat

To judge the life of pious and the way

Of impious men. And Moses, the great friend

Of the Most High, shall come enrobed in flesh

305 Also great Abraham himself shall come,

Isaac and Jacob, Joshua, Daniel,

Elijah, Habakkuk and Jonah, and

Those whom the Hebrews slew. But he'll destroy

The Hebrews after Jeremiah, all

310 Who are to be judged at the judgment-seat,

That worthy recompense they may receive

And pay for all each did in mortal life.

And then shall all pass through the burning stream

Of flame unquenchable; but all the just

315 Shall be saved; and the godless furthermore

Shall to all ages perish, all who did

Evils aforetime, and committed murders,

And all who are accomplices therein,

Liars and thieves, and ruiners of home,

320 Crafty and terrible, and parasites,

And marriage-breakers pouring forth vile words,

Dread, wanton, lawless, and idolaters;

And all who left the great immortal God,

Became blasphemers did the pious harm,

325 Destroying faith and killing righteous men

And all that with a shamelessness deceitful

And double-faced rush in as presbyters

And reverend ministers, who knowingly

Give unjust judgments, yielding to false words

330 More hurtful than the leopards and the wolves

And more vile; and ill that are grossly proud

And usurers, who gains on gains amass

And damage orphans and widows in each thing;

And all that give to widows and to orphans

335 The fruit of unjust deeds, and all that cast

Reproach in giving from their own hard toils;

And all that left their parents in old age,

Not paying them at all, nor offering

To parents filial duty, and all who

340 Were disobedient and against their sires

Spoke a harsh word; and all that pledges took

And then denied them; and the servants all

Who were against their masters, and again

Those who licentiously defiled the flesh;

345 And all who loosed the girdle of the maid

For secret intercourse, and all who caused

Abortions, and all who their offspring cast

Unlawfully away; and sorcerers

And sorceresses with them, and these wrath

350 Of the heavenly and immortal God shall drive

Against a pillar where shall all around

In a circle flow a restless stream of fire;

And deathless angels of the immortal God,

Who ever is, shall bind with lasting bonds

355 In chains of flaming fire and from above

Punish them all by scourge most terribly;

And in Gehenna, in the gloom of night,

Shall they be cast 'neath many horrid beasts

Of Tartarus, where darkness is immense.

360 But when there shall be many punishments

Enforced on all who had an evil heart,

Yet afterward shall there a fiery wheel

From a great river circle them around,

Because they had a care for wicked deeds.

365 And then one here, another there, shall sires,

Young children, mothers, nursing babes, in tears

Wail their most piteous fate. No fill of tears

Shall be for them, nor piteous voice be heard

Of them that moan, one here, another there,

370 But long worn under dark, dank Tartarus

Aloud shall they cry; and they shall repay

In cursed places thrice as much as all

The evil work they did, burned with much fire;

And all of them, consumed by raging thirst

375 And hunger, shall in anguish gnash their teeth

And call death beautiful, and death shall flee

Away from them. For neither death nor night

Shall ever give them rest. And many things in vain

Will they ask of the God that rules on high,

380 And then will he his face turn openly

Away from them. For he to erring men

Gave, in seven ages for repentance, signs

By the hands of a virgin undefiled.

But the others, all to whom right and fair works

385 And piety and thoughts most just were dear,

Shall angels, bearing through the burning stream,

Lead unto light and life exempt from care,

Where comes the immortal way of the great God

And fountains three--of honey, wine, and milk.

390 And equal land for all, divided not

By walls or fences, more abundant fruits

Spontaneous shall then bear, and the course

Of life be common and wealth unapportioned.

For there no longer will be poor nor rich,

395 Tyrant nor slave, nor any great nor small,

Nor kings nor leaders; all alike in common.

No more at all will one say, "night has come,"

Nor "morrow comes," nor "yesterday has been;

Nor shall there many days of anxious care,

400 Nor spring, nor winter, nor the summer-heat,

Nor autumn be [nor marriage, nor yet death,

Nor sales, nor purchases], nor set of sun

Nor rising; for a long day will God make.

And to the pious will the almighty God

405 Imperishable grant another thing,

When they shall ask the imperishable God:

That he will suffer men from raging fire

And endless gnawing anguish to be saved;

And this will he do. For hereafter he

410 Will pluck them from the restless flame, elsewhere

Remove them, and for his own people's sake

Send them to other and eternal life

With the immortals, in Elysian field,

Where move far-stretching billows of the lake

415 Of ever-flowing Acheron profound.

Ah, miserable woman that I am!

What shall I be in that day? for I sinned--

Being busy foolishly about all things,

Caring for neither marriage-bond nor reason;

420 But even in my wealthy husband's house

I shut the needy out; and formerly

I knowingly performed unlawful things.

But, Saviour, though I shameless things performed,

Do thou from my tormentors rescue me,

425 A shameless woman. And I pray thee now

Make me to rest a little from my song,

Holy Giver of manna, King of the great realm.