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our. Many are those who say these things more accurately, As they speak without envy. But what I think will stop the harm of some by saying it, This it is better to say; 1412 For the course toward the worse is long, Even if nothing moves it. They say that I am worsted by magnificent thrones, that is, those from which I descended, And that I spit upon the poor and the lowly, Clearly stating their own feelings. For what one has suffered, this he also supposes of another; But I have not suffered this. To some I was brought near, from others I was led away not willingly, As God so ordained. To some the people, the shepherds, brought me, And the Spirit asking for a voice. 1413 For it was necessary to instruct a savage people With a firm life, and with reason, One weary with many raids of doctrines, Like a ship in the midst of the waves. But the dissolution of my body did not bring me to others, Dying day by day. We were noble and good, (who will gainsay it?) And full of the Spirit, Whom they now evilly see as constrained, and thrown together for evil times. And the high-throned seat a people of a shepherd no greater than before. But it is not mine, except for what use my hand makes, 1414 by which I also had courage. I was not ignorant of Jonah, who fled the word of God, but was caught By wave, by lot, by beast, by belly, by being cast up, From which the preacher became a preacher. But I held on like one who is free Both of thrones and of dangers. And I often hastened my mind to communion with God, I kept quiet. But since all, as to the stench of a corpse, Stood over me like vultures, And tore the people apart with sinister divisions, How did You lead me, Christ, 1415 You rein of my life and heart? For this is Your work. Like Lazarus dead for four days, from the tombs You led me out, crying aloud. I arise, and they cowered; but, my Christ, Make this flesh also firm, Which I possess for You, to Whom bringing my whole life I have given it as a gift. And I dwelt in a den in the midst of wild beasts. If the stretching out of hands restrained the lions [and saved Daniel], Even now there are lions; save me (What is left, but to look around at the evil ones? We are defeated, O most evil ones); 1416 Restrain some with just punishments, And to others remit some of Your wrath, (For who will receive Your unmixed hand, The vengeance of a single thought?) Some may You frighten, and others may You glorify, O Lord, As many as glorify You; Defend, defend Your friends. We have died; Make a visitation Of those who know only to lift their hands to You. The most evil men laugh at Your providence, and perhaps do not think they will be judged, in their arrogance. May you increase the little flock, and the shepherd Who is little from being greatest. 1417 And if You are willing, from being little I might again become great upon Your thrones.

69. A Prayer to Christ. Master, a terrible wave surrounds me, Your disciple. Awake, before I die. Only command, and the storm will die. I dare to say something: Christ, do not press me, Nor extinguish me with the weight of tribulations. For You have many even worse than me, Whom You have pitied. Do not judge me according to my worth. Empty, empty out the greater part of the talent. Who can bear the burden of a single day? To whom shall I go, being weighed down by evils? 1418

70. Another. Again the dragon has approached, I seize hold of You. Hold, hold me, do not give up the image; Lest the enemy snatch me, like a bird from the nest. Alas! I both fear judgment, and I long for release. I am pursued here, I have no stability in life. You call me from there, I have no confidence. I am Yours, Christ, save me, as You Yourself will.

71. A Prayer in Sickness. I am sick, indeed I am sick, and I suffer in body, And of me

perhaps some laugh at the suffering, Being stiff-necked, of those kept for slaughter. My joints are loosened, and the foundation of my feet is rotten, 1419

Whether it is the work of continence, or of sins, Or some struggle (for I do not know), but thanks To my pilot at least. This for me perhaps

is better; but restrain the sickness,

Restrain it by speaking; Your word is salvation.

But if not, grant at least,

49

ἡμῶν. Πολλοὶ τάδ' οἱ λέγοντες ἀκριβέστερον, Ὡς ἀφθόνως λέγοντες. Ἃ δ' οἴομ' εἰπὼν τήν τινων στήσειν βλάβην, Τάδ' ἐστὶν εἰπεῖν κρεῖσσον· 1412 Πολὺς γάρ ἐστιν εἰς τὸ χεῖρον ὁ δρόμος, Κἂν μηδενὸς κινοῦντος. Λέγουσιν, ὡς ἁδρῶν μὲν ἡσσῶμαι θρόνων, Ὡς τῶν, ἀφ' ὧν κατῆλθον, Τοὺς δ' ἂν πένητας, καὶ στενοὺς διαπτύω, Τὰ σφῶν σαφῶς λέγοντες. Ὃ γὰρ πέπονθε, τοῦτο καί τις οἴεται· Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐγὼ πέπονθα. Τοῖς μὲν προσήχθην, τῶν δ' ἀπήχθην οὐχ ἑκὼν, Οὕτω Θεοῦ τυποῦντος. Τοῖς μὲν προσήγαγέ με δῆμος, ποιμένες, Καὶ γλῶσσαν αἰτοῦν Πνεῦμα. 1413 Λαὸν γὰρ ἐχρῆν ἄγριον καταρτίσαι Στεῤῥῷ βίῳ, λόγῳ τε, Πολλαῖς καμόντα δογμάτων καταδρομαῖς, Ὡς ναῦν μέσην κλύδωνος. Τοῖς δ' οὐ προσήγαγ' ἡ λύσις τοῦ σώματος Καθ' ἡμέραν θνήσκοντος. Ἦμεν καλοί τε κἀγαθοὶ, (τίς ἀντερεῖ;) Καὶ Πνεύματος γέμοντες, Ὃν νῦν στενὸν, καιροῖς τε συῤῥιπτούμενον Κακοῖς κακῶς βλέπουσιν. Ὑψιθρόνου θ' ἕδρασμα λαὸν ποιμένος Τοῦ πρόσθεν οὔτι μείζω. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐμόν γε, πλὴν ὅσα χρήσει χερὸς, 1414 Ὧ καὶ τὸ θαῤῥεῖν εἶχον. Οὐκ ἠγνόουν Ἰωνᾶν, ὃς Θεοῦ λόγον Ἔφευγεν, ἀλλ' ἐλήφθη Κλύδωνι, κλήρῳ, θηρίῳ, γαστρὶ, βράσει, Ἐξ ὧν ὁ κήρυξ, κήρυξ. Ἀλλ' εἶχον ὥς τις ὢν ἐλεύθερος Θρόνων τε κινδύνων τε. Τὸν νοῦν δὲ πυκνὸς εἰς Θεοῦ κοινωνίαν Ἔσπευδον, ἡσύχαζον. Ἐπεὶ δ' ἅπαντες, ὡς νεκροῦ δυσωδίᾳ, Γῦπες κατέστησάν μου, Καὶ λαὸν ἐσπάρασσον εὐώνοις τομαῖς, Πῶς ἤγαγές με, Χριστὲ, 1415 Ζωῆς χαλινὲ τῆς ἐμῆς καὶ καρδίας; Σὸν γὰρ τόδ' ἐστὶν ἔργον. Ὡς Λάζαρόν με τετραήμερον, τάφων Ἐξήγαγες βοήσας. Ἀνίσταμ', οἱ δ' ἔπτηξαν· ἀλλὰ, Χριστέ μου, Καὶ σάρκα τήνδε πῆξον, Ἣν σοί γε κέκτημ', ᾧ φέρων ζωὴν ἐμὴν Πᾶσάν γ' ἔδωκα δῶρον. Καὶ λάκκον ᾤκησ' ἀγρίων θηρῶν μέσος. Εἰ δ' ἔκτασις λέοντας Ἔφραξε χειρῶν [τὸν δ' ἔσωσε ∆ανιὴλ], Καὶ νῦν λέοντες· σῶζε (Τί λοιπὸν, ἢ σφᾶς τοὺς κακοὺς περισκοπεῖν; Ἡττήμεθ', ὦ κάκιστοι)· 1416 Τοὺς μὲν κατείργοις ἐνδίκοις τιμωρίαις, Καὶ τοῖς χαλῶν ὀργῆς τι, (Τὴν ἄκρατον γὰρ χεῖρα τίς σου δέξεται, Τίσιν μιᾶς ἐννοίας;) Τοὺς δ' ἐκφοβοίης, τοὺς δὲ δοξάζοις, Ἄναξ, Ὅσοι δοξάζουσί σε· Ἄμυν', ἄμυνε τοῖς φίλοις. Τεθνήκαμεν· Ἐπισκοπὴν ποίησον Τῶν πρὸς σὲ χεῖρας εἰδότων αἴρειν μόνον. Γελῶσιν οἱ κάκιστοι Τὴν σὴν πρόνοιαν, οὐδὲ κριθήσεσθ' ἴσως ∆οκοῦσι τῷ φυσᾶσθαι. Τὸ μικρὸν αὔξοις ποίμνιον, καὶ ποιμένα Τὸν μικρὸν ἐκ μεγίστου. 1417 Σοῦ δ' ἂν θέλοντος, κἀκ μικροῦ πάλιν μέγας Τοῖς σοῖς θρόνοις γενοίμην.

ΞΘʹ. ∆έησις πρὸς τὸν Χριστόν. Ἐπιστάτα, κλύδων με δεινὸς ἀμφέπει, Τὸν σὸν μαθητήν. Ἐξέγειραι, πρὶν θάνω. Μόνον κέλευσον, καὶ ζάλη τεθνήξεται. Τολμῶ φράσαι τι· Χριστὲ, μὴ πίεζέ με, Μηδὲ σβέσῃς με τῷ βάρει τῶν θλίψεων. Πολλοὺς ἔχεις γὰρ καὶ κακωτέρους ἐμοῦ, Οὓς ἠλέησας. Μή με κρίνῃς ἀξίως. Κένου, κένου δὲ τοῦ ταλάντου τὸ πλέον. Μιᾶς τίς οἴσοι φόρτον ἡμέρας μόνης; Τίνι προσέλθω τοῖς κακοῖς βαρούμενος; 1418

Οʹ. Ἄλλη. Πάλιν προσῆλθεν ὁ δράκων, σοῦ δράσσομαι. Κράτει, κράτει με, μὴ προῇ τὴν εἰκόνα· Μή μ', ὡς καλιᾶς ὄρνιν, ἐχθρὸς ἁρπάσῃ. Φεῦ! καὶ κρίσιν δέδοικα, καὶ ποθῶ λύσιν. ∆ιώκομ' ἐνθάδ', οὐκ ἔχω βίου στάσιν. Καλεῖς μ' ἐκεῖθεν, οὐκ ἔχω παῤῥησίαν. Σός εἰμι, Χριστὲ, σῶσον, ὡς αὐτὸς θέλεις.

ΟΑʹ. ∆έησις ἐν τῇ νόσῳ. Νοσῶ, νοσῶ μὲν, καὶ πονοῦμαι σώματι, Καί μου

γελῶσι τὴν πάθην ἴσως τινὲς, Τραχηλιῶντες, τῶν σφαγῇ τηρουμένων. Ἁρμοὶ λέλυνται, καὶ ποδῶν σαθρὰ βάσις, 1419 Εἴτ' ἐγκρατείας ἔργον, εἴθ' ἁμαρτάδων, Εἴτ' οὖν πάλη τις (οὐ γὰρ οἶδα), πλὴν χάρις Ἐμῷ κυβερνήτῃ γε. Τοῦτό μοι τυχὸν Ἄμεινόν ἐστιν· ἀλλ' ἐπίσχες τὴν νόσον, Ἐπίσχες εἰπών· σὸς λόγος σωτηρία. Εἰ δ' οὒ, δίδου γε,