Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 961–1000

Clouds make them a shade, lest they be vexed by the sun, and lest they tire, the mountains themselves also lay themselves under; for an angel of the High One will be sent ahead of them, who may offer them a peaceful lead while going. These without toil walk lightly as they go and like lions, where they pass, lay waste all things. Nor will any legion indeed be able to resist against, if it brings war, since God himself is with them. They storm nations, cities too they cast down; by God’s permission they strip all colonies, and are enriched with gold or silver by plundering, and so honored they chant hymns alike. Soon however they hasten to the holy paternal city; for that terrible tyrant grows afraid and flees to the kings of the North with great stir, from where he snatches a people, that he may stand as if fighting back. When however the rebels hasten against God’s army they are strewn on the soil by angels when battle is done, and the caught adulterer of that one and the false prophet are sent into the pool under fiery punishment living. And their chiefs, officers or envoys, in the place of slaves the unjust are reduced to the holy. Meanwhile the holy enter into the holy colony who may take God’s promises rejoicing without end. They beg God for the dead that they may rise, which he himself promised once about the first rising. God will begin already then to be angry at enemies, and the fixed day since it has come for the unjust. When however he has begun to judge the world by fire, he avoids the pious and fire falls over the impious. Scarcely a few remain, who may report such deeds, and who are reserved, that they may serve the just, escape. After the persecution of the saints and so many funerals it hangs that the hateful day may come, burning. Behold it sings from heaven hoarse, but everywhere echoing, which frightens the whole orb falling in ruin. The sun flees carelessly, suddenly an image of night happens, and God cries out: How long did you think to bear me? At whose sign given plague rushes from the whole ether; with the crash of thunder the charge of fire descends. ****** Cloud-led saints take the city; beast and false prophet go living into the fiery pool; first rising; then the world-fire day.