Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 881–920

And with a half year he completes the fixed times. For whose crime a deadly vengeance will come, so that the city’s people too with him himself be handed over, the empire be taken away, which was unjustly filled, which by evil tributes long was wasting all. There rises again in this disaster of Nero a king toward the east with four nations from there, and invites to himself how many nations to the city, who would bring help, though he himself is strongest, and he will fill the sea with ships with many thousands, and if anyone meets him, he will be slaughtered by the sword; and he first captures Tyre and Sidon subdued, for from there neighboring nations fail with terror. From here plague, from here wars, from here famine, from here hard tidings are mixed together, whereby confusion of mind may happen. Meanwhile a trumpet gives a roar from heaven suddenly, whose sound in every place disturbs the heart. There will be seen then also a fiery chariot through the stars and a torch running, that it may announce fire to the nations. At last the river Euphrates is dried up wholly, that a road be prepared for the king with those nations. Persians, Medes together, Chaldeans, Babylonians will come, fierce and quick, who would know pain for none. This one therefore rising when he has begun to come from there, Nero is troubled and the senate at the sight near. And those three Caesars will go to resist against; whom that one, slaughtered, gives to the birds for food. Their army must adore the victor, and when returning in the city with changed mind they spoil temples and whatever is inside in the city, they plunder and slaughter men with huge gore; last they drive her made naked to burning, so that not even her trace appear further. At whose exit the hearts of the powerful waste away nor do they find themselves, in what time they are, senseless. These things indeed she was rejoicing, but the whole earth was groaning; yet scarcely has a worthy repayment found her. She mourns forever, who was boasting herself eternal, whose tyrants also then are judged by the Highest. The time stands ripe toward the end with Rome smoking — ****** Half-year seals Nero’s crime-span. East-king dries Euphrates; three Caesars become bird-food; naked Rome burns — the ‘eternal’ city mourns.