Sacred Texts Christianity Early Church Fathers Index Previous Next
(Author Uncertain.)
Book I.-Of the Divine Unity, and the Resurrection of the Flesh.
After the Evil One's impiety
Profound, and his life-grudging mind, entrapped
Seduced men with empty hope, it laid
Them bare, by impious suasion to false trust
5 In him,-not with impunity, indeed;
For he forthwith, as guilty of the deed,
And author rash of such a wickedness,
Received deserved maledictions. Thus,
Thereafter, maddened, he, most desperate foe,
10 Did more assail and instigate men's minds
In darkness sunk. He taught them to forget
The Lord, and leave sure hope, and idols vain
Follow, and shape themselves a crowd of gods,
Lots, auguries, false names of stars, the show Is
15 Of being able to o'errule the births
Of embryos by inspecting entrails, and
Expecting things to come, by hardihood
Of dreadful magic's renegadoes led,
Wondering at a mass of feigned lore;
20 And he impelled them headlong to spurn life,
Sunk in a criminal insanity;
To joy in blood; to threaten murders fell;
To love the wound, then, in their neighbour's flesh;
Or, burning, and by pleasure's heat entrapped,
25 To transgress nature's covenants, and stain
Pure bodies, manly sex, with an embrace
Unnameable, and uses feminine
Mingled in common contact lawlessly;
Urging embraces chaste, and dedicate
30 To generative duties, to be held
For intercourse obscene for passion's sake.
Such in time past his deeds, assaulting men,
Through the soul's lurking-places, with a flow
Of scorpion-venom,-not that men would blame
35 Him, for they followed of their own accord:
His suasion was in guile; in freedom man
Performed it.
Whileas the perfidious one
Continuously through the centuries1
Is breathing such ill fumes, and into hearts
40 Seduced injecting his own counselling
And hoping in his folly (alas!) to find
Forgiveness of his wickedness, unware
What sentence on his deed is waiting him;
With words of wisdom's weaving,2 and a voice
45 Presaging from God's Spirit, speak a host
Of prophets. Publicly he3 does not dare
Nakedly to speak evil of the Lord,
Hoping by secret ingenuity
He possibly may lurk unseen. At length
50 The soul's Light4 as the thrall of flesh is held;
The hope of the despairing, mightier
Than foe, enters the lists; the Fashioner,
The Renovator, of the body He;
True Glory of the Father; Son of God;
55 Author unique; a Judge and Lord He came,
The orb's renowned King; to the oppress
Prompt to give pardon, and to loose the bound;
Whose friendly aid and penal suffering
Blend God and renewed man in one. With child
60 Is holy virgin: life's new gate opes; words
Of prophets find their proof, fulfilled by facts;
Priests5 leave their temples, and-a star their guide-
Wonder the Lord so mean a birth should choose.
Waters-sight memorable!-turn to wine;
65 Eyes are restored to blind; fiends trembling cry,
Outdriven by His bidding, and own Christ!
All limbs, already rotting, by a word
Are healed; now walks the lame; the deaf forthwith
Hears hope; the maimed extends his hand; the dumb
70 Speaks mighty words: sea at His bidding calms,
Winds drop; and all things recognise the Lord:
Confounded is the foe, and yields, though fierce,
Now triumphed over, to unequal6 arms!
When all his enterprises now revoked
75 He7 sees; the flesh, once into ruin sunk,
Now rising; man-death vanquisht quite-to heavens
Soaring; the peoples sealed with holy pledge
Outpoured;8 the work and envied deeds of might
Marvellous;9 and hears, too, of penalties
80 Extreme, and of perpetual dark, prepared
For himself by the Lord by God's decree
Irrevocable; naked and unarmed,
Damned, vanquisht, doomed to perish in a death
Perennial, guilty now, and sure that he
85 No pardon has, a last impiety
Forthwith he dares,-to scatter everywhere
A word for ears to shudder at, nor meet
For voice to speak. Accosting men cast off
From God's community,10 men wandering
90 Without the light, found mindless, following
Things earthly, them he teaches to become
Depraved teachers of depravity.
By11 them he preaches that there are two Sires,
And realms divided: ill's cause is the Lord12
95 Who built the orb, fashioned breath-quickened flesh,
And gave the law, and by the seers' voice spake.
Him he affirms not good, but owns Him just;
Hard, cruel, taking pleasure fell in war;
In judgment dreadful, pliant to no prayers.
100 His suasion tells of other one, to none
E'er known, who nowhere is, a deity
False, nameless, constituting nought, and who
Hath spoken precepts none. Him he calls good;
Who judges none, but spares all equally,
105 And grudges life to none. No judgment waits
The guilty; so he says, bearing about
A gory poison with sweet honey mixt
For wretched men. That flesh can rise-to which
Himself was cause of ruin, which he spoiled
110 Iniquitously with contempt (whence,13 cursed,
He hath grief without end), its ever-foe,-
He doth deny; because with various wound
Life to expel and the salvation whence
He fell he strives: and therefore says that Christ
115 Came suddenly to earth,14 but was not made,
By any compact, partner of the flesh;
But Spirit-form, and body feigned beneath
A shape imaginary, seeks to mock
Men with a semblance that what is not is.
120 Does this, then, become God, to sport with men
By darkness led? to act an impious lie?
Or falsely call Himself a man? He walks,
Is carried, clothed, takes due rest, handled is,
Suffers, is hung and buried: man's are all
125 Deeds which, in holy body conversant,
But sent by God the Father, who hath all
Created, He did perfect properly,
Reclaiming not another's but His own;
Discernible to peoples who of old
130 Were hoping for Him by His very work,
And through the prophets' voice to the round world15
Best known: and now they seek an unknown Lord,
Wandering in death's threshold manifest,
And leave behind the known. False is their faith,
135 False is their God, deceptive their reward,
False is their resurrection, death's defeat
False, vain their martyrdoms, and e'en Christ's name
An empty sound: whom, teaching that He came
Like magic mist, they (quite demented) own
140 To be the actor of a lie, and make
His passion bootless, and the populace16
(A feigned one!) without crime! Is God thus true?
Are such the honours rendered to the Lord?
Ah! wretched men! gratuitously lost
145 In death ungrateful! Who, by blind guide led,
Have headlong rushed into the ditch!17 and as
In dreams the fancied rich man in his store
Of treasure doth exult, and with his hands
Grasps it, the sport of empty hope, so ye, so
150 Deceived, are hoping for a shadow vain
Of guerdon!
Ah! ye silent laughingstocks,
Or doomed prey, of the dragon, do ye hope,
Stern men for death in room of gentle peace?18
Dare ye blame God, who hath works
155 So great? in whose earth, 'mid profuse displays
Of His exceeding parent-care, His gifts
(Unmindful of Himself!) ye largely praise,
Rushing to ruin! do ye reprobate-
Approving of the works-the Maker's self,
160 The world's19 Artificer, whose work withal
Ye are yourselves? Who gave those little selves
Great honours; sowed your crops; made all the brutes20
Your subjects; makes the seasons of the year
Fruitful with stated months; grants sweetnesses,
165 Drinks various, rich odours, jocund flowers,
And the groves' grateful bowers; to growing herbs
Grants wondrous juices; founts and streams dispreads
With sweet waves, and illumes with stars the sky
And the whole orb: the infinite sole Lord,
170 Both Just and Good; known by His work; to none
By aspect known; whom nations, flourishing
In wealth, but foolish, wrapped in error's shroud,
(Albeit 'tis beneath an alien name
They praise Him, yet) their Maker knowing! dread
175 To blame: nor e'en one21 -save you, hell's new gate!-
Thankless, ye choose to speak ill of your Lord!
These cruel deadly gifts the Renegade
Terrible has bestowed, through Marcion-thanks
To Cerdo's mastership-on you; nor come'
180 The thought into your mind that, from Christ's name
Seduced, Marcion's name has carried you
To lowest depths.22 Say of His many acts
What one displeases you? or what hath God
Done which is not to be extolled with praise?
185 Is it that He permits you, all too long,
(Unworthy of His patience large,) to see
Sweet light? you, who read truths,23 and, docking them,
Teach these your falsehoods, and approve as past
Things which are yet to be?24 What hinders, else,
190 That we believe your God incredible?25
Nor marvel is't if, practiced as he26 is,
He captived you unarmed, persuading you
There are two Fathers (being damned by One),
And all, whom he had erst seduced, are gods;
195 And after that dispread a pest, which ran
With multiplying wound, and cureless crime,
To many. Men unworthy to be named,
Full of all magic's madness, he induced
To call themselves "Virtue Supreme; "and feign
200 (With harlot comrade) fresh impiety;
To roam, to fly.27 He is the insane god
Of Valentine, and to his Aeonage
Assigned heavens thirty, and Profundity
Their sire.28 He taught two baptisms, and led
205 The body through the flame. That there are gods
So many as the year hath days, he bade
A Basilides to believe, and worlds
As many. Marcus, shrewdly arguing
Through numbers, taught to violate chaste form
210 'Mid magic's arts; taught, too, that the Lord's cup
Is an oblation, and by prayers is turned
To blood. His29 suasion prompted Hebion
To teach that Christ was born from human seed;
He taught, too, circumcision, and that room
215 Is still left for the Law, and, though Law's founts
Are lost,30 its elements must be resumed.
Unwilling am I to protract in words
His last atrocity, or to tell all
The causes, or the names at length. Enough
220 It is to note his many cruelties
Briefly, and the unmentionable men,
The dragon's organs fell, through whom he now,
Speaking so much profaneness, ever toils
To blame the Maker of the world.31 But come;
225 Recall your foot from savage Bandit's cave,
While space is granted, and to wretched men
God, patient in perennial parent-love,
Condones all deeds through error done! Believe
Truly in the true Sire, who built the orb;
230 Who, on behalf of men incapable
To bear the law, sunk in sin's whirlpool, sent
The true Lord to repair the ruin wrought,
And bring them the salvation promised
Of old through seers. He who the mandates gave
235 Remits sins too. Somewhat, deservedly,
Doth He exact, because He formerly
Entrusted somewhat; or else bounteously,
As Lord, condones as it were debts to slaves:
Finally, peoples shut up 'neath the curse,
240 And meriting the penalty, Himself
Deleting the indictment, bids be washed!
The whole man, then, believes; the whole is washed;
Abstains from sin, or truly suffers wounds
For Christ's name's sake: he rises a true32 man,
245 Death, truly vanquish, shall be mute. But not
Part of the man,-his soul,-her own part33 left
Behind, will win the palm which, labouring
And wrestling in the course, combinedly
And simultaneously with flesh, she earns.
250 Great crime it were for two in chains to bear
A weight, of whom the one were affluent
The other needy, and the wretched one
Be spurned, and guerdons to the happy one
Rendered. Not so the Just-fair Renderer
255 Of wages-deals, both good and just, whom we
Believe Almighty: to the thankless kind
Full is His will of pity. Nay, whate'er
He who hath greater mortal need34 doth need35
That, by advancement, to his comrade he
260 May equalled be, that will the affluent
Bestow the rather unsolicited:
So are we bidden to believe, and not
Be willing to cast blame unlawfully
On the Lord in our teaching, as if He
265 Were one to raise the soul, as having met
With ruin, and to set her free from death
So that the granted faculty of life
Upon the ground of sole desert (because
She bravely acted), should abide with her;36
270 While she who ever shared the common lot
Of toil, the flesh, should to the earth be left,
The prey of a perennial death. Has, then,
The soul pleased God by acts of fortitude?
By no means could she Him have pleased alone
275 Without the flesh. Hath she borne penal bonds?37
The flesh sustained upon her limbs the bonds.
Contemned she death? But she hath left the flesh
Behind in death. Groaned she in pain?
The flesh Is slain and vanquisht by the wound. Repose
280 Seeks she? The flesh, spilt by the sword in dust,
Is left behind to fishes, birds, decay,
And ashes; torn she is, unhappy one!
And broken; scattered, she melts away.
Hath she not earned to rise? for what could she
285 Have e'er committed, lifeless and alone?
What so life-grudging38 cause impedes, or else
Forbids, the flesh to take God's gifts, and live
Ever, conjoined with her comrade soul,
And see what she hath been, when formerly
290 Converted into dust?39 After, renewed
Bear she to God deserved meeds of praise,
Not ignorant of herself, frail, mortal, sick.40
Contend ye as to what the living might41
Of the great God can do; who, good alike
295 And potent, grudges life to none? Was this
Death's captive?42 shall this perish vanquished
Which the Lord hath with wondrous wisdom made,
And art? This by His virtue wonderful
Himself upraises; this our Leader's self
300 Recalls, and this with His own glory clothes
God's art and wisdom, then, our body shaped
What can by these be made, how faileth it
To be by virtue reproduced?43 No cause
Can holy parent-love withstand; (lest else
305 Ill's cause44 should mightier prove than Power Supreme;)
That man even now saved by God's gift, ma, learn45
(Mortal before, now robed in light immense
Inviolable, wholly quickened,46 soul
And body) God, in virtue infinite,
310 In parent-love perennial, through His King
Christ, through whom opened is light's way; and now,
Standing in new light, filled now with each gift,47
Glad with fair fruits of living Paradise,
May praise and laud Him to eternity,48
315 Rich in the wealth of the celestial hall.
Book II.-Of the Harmony of the Old and New Laws.49
After the faith was broken by the dint
Of the foe's breathing renegades,50 and sworn
With wiles the hidden pest51 emerged; with lies
Self-prompted, scornful of the Deity
5 That underlies the sense, he did his plagues
Concoct: skilled in guile's path, he mixed his own
Words impious with the sayings of the saints.
And on the good seed sowed his wretched tares,
Thence willing that foul ruin's every cause
10 Should grow combined; to wit, that with more speed
His own iniquitous deeds he may assign
To God clandestinely, and may impale
On penalties such as his suasion led;
False with true veiling, turning rough with smooth,
15 And, (masking his spear's point with rosy wreaths,)
Slaying the unwary unforeseen with death
Supreme. His supreme wickedness is this:
That men, to such a depth of madness sunk!
Off-broken boughs!52 should into parts divide
20 The endlessly-dread Deity; Christ's deeds
Sublime should follow with false praise, and blame
The former acts,53 God's countless miracles,
Ne'er seen before, nor heard, nor in a heart
Conceived;54 and should so rashly frame in words
25 The impermissible impiety
Of wishing by "wide dissimilitude
Of sense" to prove that the two Testaments
Sound adverse each to other, and the Lord's
Oppose the prophets' words; of drawing down
30 All the Law's cause to infamy; and eke
Of reprobating holy fathers' life
Of old, whom into friendship, and to share
His gifts, God chose. Without beginning, one
Is, for its lesser part, accepted.55 Though
35 Of one are four, of four one,56 yet to them
One part is pleasing, three they (in a word)
Reprobate: and they seize, in many ways,
On Paul as their own author; yet was he
Urged by a frenzied impulse of his own
40 To his last words:57 all whatsoe'er he spake
Of the old covenant58 seems hard to them
Because, deservedly, "made gross in heart."59
Weight apostolic, grace of beaming word,
Dazzles their mind, nor can they possibly
45 Discern the Spirit's drift. Dull as they are,
Seek they congenial animals! But ye
Who have not yet, (false deity your guide,
Reprobate in your very mind,60 ) to death's
Inmost caves penetrated, learn there flows
50 A stream perennial from its fount, which feeds
A tree, (twice sixfold are the fruits, its grace!)
And into earth and to the orb's four winds
Goes out: into so many parts doth flow
The fount's one hue and savour.61 Thus, withal,
55 From apostolic word descends the Church,
Out of Christ's womb, with glory of His Sire
All filled, to wash off filth, and vivify
Dead fates.62 The Gospel, four in number, one
In its diffusion 'mid the Gentiles, this,
60 By faith elect accepted, Paul hands down
(Excellent doctor!) pure, without a crime;
And from it he forbade Galatian saints
To turn aside withal; whom "brethren false,"
(Urging them on to circumcise themselves,
65 And follow "elements,"leaving behind
Their novel "freedom,") to "a shadow old
Of things to be" were teaching to be slaves.
These were the causes which Paul had to write
To the Galatians: not that they took out
70 One small part of the Gospel, and held that
For the whole bulk, leaving the greater part
Behind. And hence 'tis no words of a book,
But Christ Himself, Christ sent into the orb,
Who is the gospel, if ye will discern;
75 Who from the Father came, sole Carrier
Of tidings good; whose glory vast completes
The early testimonies; by His work
Showing how great the orb's Creator is:
Whose deeds, conjoined at the same time with words,
80 Those faithful ones, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Recorded unalloyed (not speaking words
External), sanctioned by God's Spirit, 'neath
So great a Master's eye! This paschal Lamb
Is hung, a victim. on the tree: Him Paul,
85 Writing decrees to Corinth, with his torch,63
Hands down as slain, the future life and God
Promised to the fathers, whom before
He had attracted.
See what virtue, see
What power, the paschal image64 has; ye thus
90 Will able be to see what power there is
In the true Passover. Lest well-earned love
Should tempt the faithful sire and seer,65 to whom
His pledge and heir66 was dear, whom God by chance67
Had given him, to offer him to God
95 (A mighty execution!), there is shown
To him a lamb entangled by the head
In thorns; a holy victim-holy blood
For blood-to God. From whose piacular death,
That to the wasted race68 it might be sign
100 And pledge of safety, signed are with blood
Their posts and thresholds many:69 -aid immense!
The flesh (a witness credible) is given
For food. The Jordan crossed, the land possessed,
Joshua by law kept Passover with joy,
105 And immolates a lamb; and the great kings
And holy prophets that were after him,
Not ignorant of the good promises
Of sure salvation; full of godly fear
The great Law to transgress, (that mass of types
110 In image of the Supreme Virtue once
To come,) did celebrate in order due
The mirrorly-inspected passover.70
In short, if thou recur with rapid mind
To times primordial, thou wilt find results
115 Too fatal following impious words. That man
Easily credulous, alas! and stripped
Of life's own covering, might covered be
With skins, a lamb is hung: the wound slays sins,
Or death by blood effaces or enshrouds
120 Or cherishes the naked with its fleece.
Is sheep's blood of more worth than human blood,
That, offered up for sins, it should quench wrath?
Or is a lamb (as if he were more dear!)
Of more worth than much people's? aid immense
125 As safeguard of so great salvation, could
A lamb, if offered, have been price enough
For the redeemed? Nay: but Almighty God,
The heaven's and earth's Creator, infinite,71
Living, and perfect, and perennially
130 Dwelling in light, is not appeased by these,
Nor joys in cattle's blood. Slain be all flocks;
Be every herd upburned into smoke;
That expiatively 't may pardon win
Of but one sin: in vain at so vile price;
135 Will the stained figure of the Lord-foul flesh-
Prepare, if wise, such honours:72 but the hope
And faith to mortals promised of old-
Great Reason's counterpart73 -hath wrought to bring
These boons premeditated and prepared
140 Erst by the Father's passing parent-love;
That Christ should come to earth, and be a man!
Whom when John saw, baptism's first opener, John,
Comrade of seers, apostle great, and sent
As sure forerunner, witness faithful; John,
145 August in life, and marked with praise sublime,74
He shows, to such as sought of olden time
God's very Paschal Lamb, that He is come
At last, the expiation of misdeed,
To undo many's sins by His own blood,
150 In place of reprobates the Proven One,
In place of vile the dear; in body, man;
And, in life, God: that He, as the slain Lamb,
Might us accept,75 and for us might outpour
Himself Thus hath it pleased the Lord to spoil
155 Proud death: thus wretched man will able be
To hope salvation. This slain paschal Lamb
Paul preaches: nor does a phantasmal shape
Of the sublime Lord (one consimilar
To Isaac's silly sheep76 ) the passion bear,
160 Wherefore He is called Lamb: but 'tis because,
As wool, He these renewed bodies clothes,
Giving to many covering, yet Himself
Never deficient. Thus does the Lord shroud
In His Sire's virtue, those whom, disarrayed
165 Of their own light, He by His death redeemed,
Virtue which ever is in Him. So, then,
The Shepherd who hath lost the sheep Himself
Re-seeks it. He, prepared to tread the strength
Of the vine, and its thorns, or to o'ercome
170 The wolf's rage, and regain the cattle lost,
And brave to snatch them out, the Lion He
In sheepskin-guise, unasked presents Himself
To the contemned77 teeth, baffling by His garb
The robber's bloody jaws. Thus everywhere
175 Christ seeks force-captured Adam; treads the path
Himself where death wrought ruin; permeates
All the old heroes' monuments;78 inspects
Each one; the One of whom all types were full;
Begins e'en from the womb to expel the death
180 Conceived simultaneously with seed
Of flesh within the bosom; purging all
Life's stages with a silent wisdom; debts
Assuming;79 ready to cleanse all, and give
Their Maker back the many whom the one80
185 Had scattered. And, because one direful man
Down-sunk in pit iniquitous did fall,
By dragon-subdued virgin's81 suasion led;
Because he pleased her wittingly;82 because
He left his heavenly covering83 behind:
190 Because the "tree" their nakedness did prove;
Because dark death coerced them: in like wise
Out of the self-same mass84 re-made returns
Renewed now,-the flower of flesh, and host
Of peace,-a flesh from espoused virgin born,
195 Not of man's seed; conjoined to its own
Artificer; without the debt of death.
These mandates of the Father through bright stars
An angel carries down, that angel-fame
The tidings may accredit; telling how
200 "A virgin's debts a virgin, flesh's flesh,
Should pay." Thus introduced, the Giant-Babe,
The Elder-Boy, the Stripling-Man, pursues
Death's trail. Thereafter, when completed was
The ripe age of man's strength, when man is wont
205 To see the lives that were his fellows drop
By slow degrees away, and to be changed
In mien to wrinkles foul and limbs inert,
While blood forsakes his veins, his course he stayed,
And suffered not his fleshly garb to age.
210 Upon what day or in what place did fall
Most famous Adam, or outstretched his hand
Rashly to touch the tree, on that same day,
Returning as the years revolve, within
The stadium of the "tree" the brave Athlete,
215'Countering, outstretched His hands, and, penalty
For praise pursuing,85 quite did vanquish death,
Because He left death of His own accord
Behind, disrobing Him of fleshly slough,
And of death's dues; and to the "tree" affixed
220 The serpent's spoil-"the world's86 prince" vanquisht quite!
Grand trophy of the renegades: for sign
Whereof had Moses hung the snake, that all,
Who had by many serpents stricken been,
Might gaze upon the dragon's self, and see
225 Him vanquisht and transfixt. When, afterwards,
He reached the infernal region's secret waves,
And, as a victor, by the light which aye
Attended Him, revealed His captive thrall,
And by His virtue thoroughly fulfilled
230 The Father's bidding, He Himself re-took
The body which, spontaneous, He had left:
This was the cause of death: this same was made
Salvation's path: a messenger of guile
The former was; the latter messenger
235 of peace: a spouse her man87 did slay; a spouse
Did bear a lion:88 hurtful to her man89
A virgin90 proved; a man91 from virgin born
Proved victor: for a type whereof, while sleep
His92 body wrapped, out of his side is ta'en
240 A woman,93 who is her lord's94 rib; whom, he,
Awaking, called "flesh from his flesh, and bones
From his own bones; "with a presaging mind
Speaking. Faith wondrous! Paul deservedly,
(Most certain author!) teaches Christ to be
245 "The Second Adam from the havens."95 Truth,
Using her own examples, doth refulge;
Nor covets out of alien source to show
Her paces keen:96 this is a pauper's work,
Needy of virtue of his own! Great Paul
250 These mysteries-taught to him-did teach; to wit,
Discerning that in Christ thy glory is,
O Church! from His side, hanging on high "tree,"
His lifeless body's "blood and humour" flowed.
The blood the woman97 was; the waters were
255 The new gifts of the font:98 this is the Church,
True mother of a living people; flesh
New from Christ's flesh, and from His bones a bone.
A spot there is called Golgotha,-of old
The fathers' earlier tongue thus called its name,-
260 "The skull-pan of a head: "here is earth's midst;
Here victory's sign; here, have our elders. taught,
There was a great head99 found; here the first man,
We have been taught, was buried; here the Christ
Suffers; with sacred blood the earth100 grows moist.
265 That the old Adam's dust may able be,
Commingled with Christ's blood, to be upraised
By dripping water's virtue. The "one ewe"
That is, which, during Sabbath-hours, alive
The Shepherd did resolve that He would draw
270 Out of th' infernal pit. This was the cause
Why, on the Sabbaths, He was wont to cure
The prematurely dead limbs of all flesh;
Or perfected for sight the eyes of him
Blind from his birth-eyes which He had not erst
275 Given; or, in presence of the multitude,
Called, during Sabbath-hours, one wholly dead
To life, e'en from the sepulchre.101 Himself
The new man's Maker, the Repairer good
Of th' old, supplying what did lack, or else
280 Restoring what was lost. About to do-
When dawns "the holy day"-these works, for such
As hope in Him, in plenitude, (to keep
His plighted word,) He taught men thus His power
To do them.
What? If flesh dies, and no hope
285 Is given of salvation, say, what grounds
Christ had to feign Himself a man, and head
Men, or have care for flesh? If He recalls102
Some few, why shall He not withal recall
All? Can corruption's power liquefy
290 The body and undo it, and shall not
The virtue of the Lord be powerful
The undone to recall?
They, who believe
Their bodies are not loosed from death, do no,
Believe the Lord, who wills to raise His own
295 Works sunken; or else say they that the Good
Wills not, and that the Potent hath not power,-
Ignorant from how great a crime they suck
Their milk, in daring to set things infirm
Above the Strong.103 In the grain lurks the tree;
300 And if this104 rot not, buried in the earth,
It yields not tree-graced fruits.105 Soon bound will be
The liquid waters: 'neath the whistling cold
They will become, and ever will be stones,
Unless a mighty power, by leading on
305 Soft-breathing warmth, undo them. The great bunch
Lurks in the tendril's slender body: if
Thou seek it, it is not; when God doth will,
'Tis seen to be. On trees their leaves, on thorns
The rose, the seeds on plains, are dead and fail,
310 And rise again, new living. For man's use
These things doth God before his eyes recall
And form anew-man's, for whose sake at first106
The wealthy One made all things bounteously.
All naked fall; with its own body each
315 He clothes. Why man alone, on whom He showered
Such honours, should He not recall in all
His first perfection107 to Himself? man, whom
He set o'er all? Flesh, then, and blood are said
To be not worthy of God's realm, as if
320 Paul spake of flesh materially. He
Indeed taught mighty truths; but hearts inane
Think he used carnal speech: for pristine deeds
He meant beneath the name of "flesh and blood; "
Remembering, heavenly home-slave that he is,
325 His heavenly Master's words; who gave the name
Of His own honour to men born from Him
Through water, and from His own Spirit poured
A pledge;108 that, by whose virtue men had been
Redeemed, His name of honour they withal
330 Might, when renewed, receive. Because, then, He
Refused, on the old score, the heavenly realm
To peoples not yet from His fount re-born,
Still with their ancient sordid raiment clad-
These are "the dues of death"-saying that that
335 Which human is must needs be born again,-
"What hath been born of flesh is flesh; and what
From Spirit, life; "109 and that the body, washed,
Changing with glory its old root's new seeds,110
Is no more called "from flesh: "Paul follows this;
340 Thus did he speak of "flesh." In fine, he said111
This frail garb with a robe must be o'erclad,
This mortal form be wholly covered;
Not that another body must be given,
But that the former one, dismantled,112 must
345 Be with God's kingdom wholly on all sides
Surrounded: "In the moment of a glance,"
He says, "it shall be changed: "as, on the blade,
Dispreads the red corn's113 face, and changes 'neath
The sun's glare its own hue; so the same flesh,
350 From "the effulgent glory"114 borrowing,
Shall ever joy, and joying,115 shall lack death;
Exclaiming that"the body's cruel foe
Is vanquisht quite; death, by the victory
Of the brave Christ, is swallowed; "116 praises high
355 Bearing to God, unto the highest stars.
Book III.-Of the Harmony of the Fathers of the Old and New Testaments.
Now hath the mother, formerly surnamed
Barren, giv'n birth:117 now a new people, born
From the free woman,118 joys: (the slave expelled,
Deservedly, with her proud progeny;
5 Who also leaves ungratefully behind
The waters of the living fount,119 and drinks-
Errant on heated plains-'neath glowing star:120 )
Now can the Gentiles as their parent claim
Abraham; who, the Lord's voice following,
10 Like him, have all things left,121 life's pilgrimage
To enter. "Be glad, barren one; "conceive
The promised people; "break thou out, and cry,"
Who with no progeny wert blest; of whom
Spake, through the seers, the Spirit of old time:
15 She hath borne, out of many nations, one;
With whose beginning are her pious limbs
Ever in labour.
Hers "just Abel"122 was,
A pastor and a cattle-master he;
Whom violence of brother's right hand slew
20 Of old. Her Enoch, signal ornament,
Limb from her body sprung, by counsel strove
To recall peoples gone astray from God
And following misdeed, (while raves on earth
The horde of robber-renegades,123 ) to flee
25 The giants'sacrilegious cruel race;
Faithful in all himself. With groaning deep124
Did he please God, and by deserved toil
Translated125 is reserved as a pledge,
With honour high. Perfect in praise, and found
30 Faultless, and just-God witnessing126 the fact-
In an adulterous people, Noah (he
Who in twice fifty years127 the ark did weave)
By deeds and voice the coming ruin told.
Favour he won, snatched Out of so great waves
35 Of death, and, with his progeny, preserved.
Then, in the generation128 following,
Is Abraham, whose sons ye do deny
Yourselves to be; who first-race, country, sire,
All left behind-at suasion of God's voice
40 Withdrew to realms extern: such honours he
At God's sublime hand worthily deserved
As to be father to believing tribes
And peoples. Jacob with the patriarchs
(Himself their patriarch) through all his own
45 Life's space the gladdest times of Christ foresang
By words, act, virtue, toil. Him follows-free
From foul youth's stain-Joseph, by slander feigned,
Doomed to hard penalty and gaol: his groans
Glory succeeds, and the realm's second crown, so
50 And in dearth's time large power of furnishing
Bread: so appropriate a type of Christ,
So lightsome type of Light, is manifest
To all whose mind hath eyes, that they may see
In a face-mirror129 their sure hope.
Himself
55 The patriarch Judah, see; the origin
Of royal line,130 whence leaders rose, nor kings
Failed ever from his seed, until the Power
To come, by Gentiles looked for, promised long,
Came.
Moses, leader of the People, (he
60 Who, spurning briefly-blooming riches, left
The royal thresholds,) rather chose to bear
His people's toils, afflicted, with bowed neck,
By no threats daunted, than to gain himself
Enjoyments, and of many penalties
65 Remission: admirable for such faith
And love, he, with God's virtue armed, achieved
Great exploits: smote the nation through with plagues;
And left their land behind, and their hard king
Confounds, and leads the People back; trod waves;
70 Sunk the foes down in waters; through a "tree"131
Made ever-hitter waters sweet; spake much
(Manifestly to the People) with the Christ,132
From whose face light and brilliance in his own
Reflected shone; dashed on the ground the law
75 Accepted through some few,133 -implicit type,
And sure, of his own toils!-smote through the rock;
And, being bidden, shed forth streams; and stretched
His hands that, by a sign,134 he vanquish might
The foe; of Christ all severally, all135
80 Combined through Christ, do speak. Great and approved,
He136 rests with praise and peace. But Joshua,
The son of Nun, erst called Oshea-this man
The Holy Spirit to Himself did join
As partner in His name:137 hence did he cleave
85 The flood; constrained the People to pass o'er;
Freely distributed the land-the prize
Promised the fathers!-stayed both sun and moon
While vanquishing the foe; races extern
And giants' progeny outdrave; razed groves;
90 Altars and temples levelled; and with mind
Loyal138 performed all due solemnities:
Type of Christ's name; his virtue's image. What
Touching the People's Judges shall I say
Singly? whose virtues,139 it unitedly
95 Recorded, fill whole volumes numerous
With space of words. But vet the order due
Of filling out the body of my words,
Demands that, out of many, I should tell
The life of few.
Of whom when Gideon, guide
100 Of martial band, keen to attack the foe,
(Not keen to gain for his own family,
By virtues,140 tutelary dignity,141 )
And needing to be strengthened142 in the faith
Excited in his mind, seeks for a sign
105 Whereby he either could not, or could, wage
Victorious war; to wit, that v. with the dew
A fleece, exposed for the night, should be
Moistened, and all the ground lie dry around
(By this to show that, with the world,143 should dry144
110 The enemies' palm); and then again, the fleece
Alone remaining dry, the earth by night
Should with the self-same145 moisture be bedewed:
For by this sign he prostrated the heaps
Of bandits; with Christ's People 'countering them
115 Without much soldiery, with cavalry146
Three hundred-the Greek letter Tau, in truth,
That number is147 -with torches armed, and horns
Of blowers with the mouth: then148 was the fleece,
The people of Christ's sheep, from holy seed
120 Born (for the earth means nations various,
And scattered through the orb), which fleece the word
Nourishes; night death's image; Tau the sign
Of the dear cross; the horn the heraldings
Of life; the torches shining in their stand149
125 The glowing Spirit: and this testing, too,
Forsooth, an image of Christ's virtue was:150
To teach that death's fierce battles should not be
By trump angelic vanquished before
Th' indocile People be deservedly
130 By their own fault left desolate behind,
And Gentiles, flourishing in faith, received
In praise.
Yea, Deborah, a woman far
Above all fame, appears; who, having braced
Herself for warlike toil, for country's sake,
135 Beneath the palm-tree sang how victory
Had crowned her People; thanks to whom it was
That the foes, vanquisht, turned at once their backs,
And Sisera their leader fled; whose flight
No man, nor any band, arrested: him,
140 Suddenly renegade, a woman's hand-
Jael's151 -with wooden weapon vanquished quite,
For token of Christ's victory. With firm faith
Jephthah appears, who a deep-wounding vow
Dared make-to promise God a grand reward
145 Of war: him152 then, because he senselessly
Had promised what the Lord not wills, first meets
The pledge153 dear to his heart; who suddenly
Fell by a lot unhoped by any. He,
To keep his promise, broke the sacred laws
150 Of parenthood: the shade of mighty fear
Did in his violent mind cover his vow
Of sin: as solace of his widowed life
For154 wickedness, renown, and, for crime, praise,
He won.
Nor Samson's strength, all corporal might
155 Passing, must we forget; the Spirit's gift
Was this; the power was granted to his head.155
Alone he for his People, daggerless,
Armless, an ass-jaw grasping, prostrated
A thousand corpses; and no bonds could keep
160 The hero bound: but after his shorn pride
Forsook him thralled, he fell, and, by his death,-
Though vanquisht,-bought his foes back 'neath his power.
Marvellous Samuel, who first received
The precept to anoint kings, to give chrism
165 And show men-Christs,156 so acted laudably
In life's space as, e'en after his repose,
To keep prophetic rights.157
Psalmographist
David, great king and prophet, with a voice
Submiss was wont Christ's future suffering
170 To sing: which prophecy spontaneously
His thankless lawless People did perform:
Whom158 God had promised that in time to come,
Fruit of his womb,159 a holy progeny,
He would on his sublime throne set: the Lord's
175 Fixt faith did all that He had promised.
Corrector of an inert People rose
Emulous160 Hezekiah; who restored
Iniquitous forgetful men the Law:161
All these God's mandates of old time he first
180 Bade men observe, who ended war by prayers,162
Not by steel's point: he, dying, had a grant
Of years and times of life made to his tears:
Deservedly such honour his career Obtained.
With zeal immense, Josiah, prince
185 Himself withal, in like wise acted: none
So much, before or after!-Idols he
Dethroned; destroyed unhallowed temples; burned
With fire priests on their altars; all the bones
Of prophets false updug; the altars burned,
190 The carcases to be consumed did serve
For fuel!
To the praise of signal faith,
Noble Elijah, (memorable fact!)
Was rapt;163 who hath not tasted yet death's dues;
Since to the orb he is to come again.
195 His faith unbroken, then, chastening with stripes
People and frenzied king, (who did desert
The Lord's best service), and with bitter flames
The foes, shut up the stars; kept in the clouds
The rain; showed all collectively that God
200 Is; made their error patent;-for a flame,
Coming with force from heaven at his prayers,
Ate up the victim's parts, dripping with flood,
Upon the altar:164 -often as he willed,
So often from on high rushed fire;165 the stream
205 Dividing, he made pathless passable;166
And, in a chariot raised aloft, was borne
To paradise's hall.
Disciple his Elisha was, succeeding to his lot:167
Who begged to take to him Elijah's lot168
210 In double measure; so, with forceful stripe,
The People to chastise:169 such and so great
A love for the Lord's cause he breathed. He smote
Through Jordan; made his feet a way, and crossed
Again; raised with a twig the axe down-sunk
215 Beneath the stream; changed into vital meat
The deathful food; detained a second time,
Double in length,170 the rains; cleansed leprosies;171
Entangled foes in darkness; and when one
Offcast and dead, by bandits'slaughter slain
220 His limbs, after his death, already hid
In sepulchre, did touch, he-light recalled-
Revived.
Isaiah, wealthy seer, to whom
The fount was oped,-so manifest his faith!
Poured from his mouth God's word forth. Promised was
225 The Father's will, bounteous through Christ; through him
It testified before the way of life,
And was approved:172 but him, though stainless found,
And undeserving, the mad People cut
With wooden saw in twain, and took away
230 With cruel death.
The holy Jeremy
Followed; whom the Eternal's Virtue bade
Be prophet to the Gentiles, and him told
The future: who, because he brooded o'er
His People's deeds illaudable, and said
235 (Speaking with voice presaging) that, unless
They had repented of betaking them
To deeds iniquitous against their slaves,173
They should be captived, bore hard bonds, shut up
In squalid gaol; and, in the miry pit,
240 Hunger exhausted his decaying limbs.
But, after he did prove what they to hear
Had been unwilling, and the foes did lead
The People bound in their triumphal trains,
Hardly at length his wrinkled right hand lost
245 Its chains: it is agreed that by no death
Nor slaughter was the hero ta'en away.
Faithful Ezekiel, to whom granted was
Rich grace of speech, saw sinners' secrets; wailed
His own afflictions; prayed for pardon; saw
250 The vengeance of the saints, which is to be
By slaughter; and, in Spirit wrapt, the place
Of the saints' realm, its steps and accesses,
And the salvation of the flesh, he saw.
Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, too,
255 With Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, come;
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,
And Zechariah who did violence
Suffer, and Malachi-angel himself!
Are here: these are the Lord's seers; and their choir,
260 As still they sing, is heard; and equally
Their proper wreath of praise they all have earned.
How great was Daniel! What a man!
What power!
Who by their own mouth did false witnesses
Bewray, and saved a soul on a false charge
265 Condemned;174 and, before that, by mouth resolved
The king's so secret dreams; foresaw how Christ
Dissolves the limbs of kingdoms; was accused
For his Lord's was made the lions' prey;
And, openly preserved175 before all eyes,
270 Rested in peace.
His Three Companions, scarce
With due praise to be sung, did piously
Contemn the king's iniquitous decree,
Out of so great a number: to the flames
Their bodies given were; but they preferred,
275 For the Great Name, to yield to penalties
Themselves, than to an image stretch their palms
On bended knees. Now their o'erbrilliant faith,
Now hope outshining all things, the wild fires
Hath quencht, and vanquisht the iniquitous!
280 Ezra the seer, doctor of Law, and priest
Himself (who, after full times, back did lead
The captive People), with the Spirit filled
Of memory, restored by word of mouth
All the seers' volumes, by the fires and mould176
285 Consumed.
Great above all born from seed
Is John whose praises hardly shall we skill
To tell: the washer177 of the flesh: the Lord's
Open forerunner; washer,178 too, of Christ,
Himself first born again from Him: the first
290 Of the new convenant, last of the old,
Was he; and for the True Way's sake he died,
The first slain victim.
See God-Christ! behold
Alike, His Twelve-Fold Warrior-Youth!179 in all
One faith, one dove, one power; the flower of men;
295 Lightening the world180 with light; comrades of Christ
And apostolic men; who, speaking truth,
Heard with their ears Salvation,181 with their eyes
Saw It, and handled with their hand the late
From death recovered body,182 and partook
300 As fellow-guests of food therewith, as they
Themselves bear witness.
Him did Paul as well (Forechosen apostle, and in due time sent),
When rapt into the heavens,183 behold: and sent
By Him, he, with his comrade Barnabas,
305 And with the earlier associates
Joined in one league together, everywhere
Among the Gentiles hands the doctrine down
That Christ is Head, whose members are the Church,
He the salvation of the body, He
310 The members' life perennial;
He, made flesh, He, ta'en away for all, Himself first rose
Again, salvation's only hope; and gave
The norm to His disciples: they at once
All variously suffered, for His Name,
315 Unworthy penalties.
Such members bears
With beauteous body the free mother, since
She never her Lord's precepts left behind,
And in His home hath grown old, to her Lord
Ever most choice, having for His Name's sake
320 Penalties suffered. For since, barren once,
Not yet secure of her futurity,
She hath outgiven a people born of seed
Celestial, and184 been spurned, and borne the spleen185
Of her own handmaid; now 'tis time to see
325 This former-barren mother have a son
The heir of her own liberty; not like
The handmaid's heir, yoked in estate to her,
Although she bare him from celestial seed
Conceived. Far be it that ye should with words
330 Unlawful, with rash voice, collectively
Without distinction, give men exemplary
(Heaven's glowing constellations, to the mass
Of men conjoined by seed alone or blood),
The rugged bondman's186 name; or that one think
335 That he may speak in servile style about
A People who the mandates followed
Of the Lord's Law. No: but we mean the troop
Of sinners, empty, mindless, who have placed
God's promises in a mistrustful heart;
340 Men vanquisht by the miserable sweet
Of present life: that troop would have been bound
Capital slavery to undergo,
By their own fault, if sin's cause shall impose
Law's yoke upon the mass. For to serve God,
345 And be whole-heartedly intent thereon,
Untainted faith, and freedom, is thereto
Prepared spontaneous.
The just fathers, then, And holy stainless prophets, many, sang
The future advent of the Lord; and they
350 Faithfully testify what Heaven bids
To men profane: with them the giants,187 men
With Christ's own glory satiated, made
The consorts of His virtue, filling up
The hallowed words, have stablished our faith;
355 By facts predictions proving.
Of these men
Disciples who succeeded them throughout
The orb, men wholly filled with virtue's breath,
And our own masters, have assigned to us
Honours conjoined with works.
Of whom the first
360 Whom Peter bade to take his place and sit
Upon this chair in mightiest Rome where he
Himself had sat,188 was Linus, great, elect,
And by the mass approved. And after him
Cletus himself the fold's flock undertook;
365 As his successor Anacletus was
By lot located: Clement follows him;
Well known was he to apostolic men:189
Next Evaristus ruled without a crime
The law.190 To Sixtus Sextus Alexander
370 Commends the fold: who, after he had filled
His lustral times up, to Telesphorus
Hands it in order: excellent was he,
And martyr faithful. After him succeeds
A comrade in the law,191 and master sure:
375 When lo! the comrade of your wickedness,
Its author and forerunner-Cerdo highs-
Arrived at Rome, smarting with recent wounds:
Detected, for that he was scattering
Voices and words of venom stealthily:
380 For which cause, driven from the band, he bore
This sacrilegious brood, the dragon's breath
Engendering it. Blooming in piety
United stood the Church of Rome, compact
By Peter: whose successor, too, himself,
385 And now in the ninth place, Hyginus was,
The burden undertaking of his chair.
After him followed Pius-Hermas his
Own brother192 was; angelic "Pastor" he,
Because he spake the words delivered him:193
390 And Anicetus194 the allotted post
In pious order undertook.'Neath whom
Marcion here coming, the new Pontic pest,
(The secret daring deed in his own heart
Not yet disclosed,) went, speaking commonly,
395 In all directions, in his perfidy,
With lurking art. But after he began
His deadly arrows to produce, cast off
Deservedly (as author of a crime
So savage), reprobated by the saints,
400 He burst, a wondrous monster! on our view.
Book IV.-Of Marcion's Antitheses.195
What the Inviolable Power bids
The youthful people,196 which, rich, free, and heir,
Possesses an eternal hope of praise
(By right assigned) is this: that with great zeal
5 Burning, armed with the love of peace-yet not
As teachers (Christ alone doth all things teach197 ),
But as Christ's household-servants-o'er the earth
They should conduct a massive war;198 should raze
The wicked's lofty towers, savage walls,
10 And threats which 'gainst the holy people's bands
Rise, and dissolve such empty sounds in air.
Wherefore we, justly speaking emulous words,199
Out of his200 own words even strive to express
The meaning of salvation's records,201 which Is
15 Large grace hath poured profusely; and to ope
To the saints' eyes the Bandit's202 covert plague:
Lest any untrained, daring, ignorant,
Fall therein unawares, and (being caught)
Forfeit celestial gifts. God, then, is One
20 To mortals all and everywhere; a Realm
Eternal, Origin of light profound;
Life's Fount; a Draught fraught203 with all wisdom. HE
Produced the orb whose bosom all things girds;
Him not a region, not a place, includes as
25 In circuit: matter none perennial is,204
So as to be self-made, or to have been
Ever, created by no Maker: heaven's,
Earth's, sea's, and the abyss's205 Settler206 is
The Spirit; air's Divider, Builder, Author,
30 Sole God perpetual, Power immense, is He.207
Him had the Law the People208 shown to be
One God,209 whose mighty voice to Moses spake
Upon the mount. Him this His Virtue, too,
His Wisdom, Glory, Word, and Son, this Light
35 Begotten from the Light immense,210 proclaims
Through the seers' voices, to be One: and Paul,211
Taking the theme in order up, thus too
Himself derives; "Father there is One212
Through whom were all things made: Christ One, through whom
40 God all things made; "213 to whom he plainly owns
That every knee doth bow itself;214 of whom
Is every fatherhood215 in heaven and earth
Called: who is zealous with the highest love
Of parent-care His people-ward; and wills
45 All flesh to live in holy wise, and wills
His people to appear before Him pure
Without a crime. With such zeal, by a law216
Guards He our safety; warns us loyal be;
Chastens; is instant. So, too, has the same
50 Apostle (when Galatian brethren
Chiding)-Paul-written that such zeal hath he.217
The fathers'sins God freely rendered, then,
Slaying in whelming deluge utterly Parents alike with progeny, and e'en
55 Grandchildren in "fourth generation"218 now
Descended from the parent-stock, when He
Has then for nearly these nine hundred years
Assisted them. Hard does the judgment seem?
The sentence savage? And in Sodom, too,
60 That the still guiltless little one unarmed
And tender should lose life: for what had e'er
The infant sinned? What cruel thou mayst think,
Is parent-care's true duty. Lest misdeed
Should further grow, crime's authors He did quench,
65 And sinful parents' brood. But, with his sires,
The harmless infant pays not penalties
Perpetual, ignorant and not advanced
In crime: but lest he partner should become
Of adult age's guilt, death immature
70 Undid spontaneous future ills.
Why, then,
Bids God libation to be poured to Him
With blood of sheep? and takes so stringent means
By Law, that, in the People, none transgress
Erringly, threatening them with instant death
75 By stoning? and why reprobates, again,
These gifts of theirs, and says they are to Him
Unwelcome, while He chides a People press
With swarm of sin?219 Does He, the truthful, bid,
And He, the just, at the same time repel?
80 The causes if thou seekst, cease to be moved
Erringly: for faith's cause is weightier
Than fancied reason.220 Through a mirror221 -shade
Of fulgent light!-behold what the calf's blood,
The heifer's ashes, and each goat, do mean:
85 The one dismissed goes off, the other falls
A victim at the temple.
With calfs blood
With water mixt the seer222 (thus from on high
Bidden) besprinkled People, vessels all,
Priests, and the written volumes of the Law.
90 See here not their true hope, nor yet a mere
Semblance devoid of virtue:223 but behold
In the calf's type Christ destined bodily
To suffer; who upon His shoulders bare
The plough-beam's hard yokes,224 and with fortitude
95 Brake His own heart with the steel share, and poured
Into the furrows water of His own
Life's blood. For these "temple-vessels" do
Denote our bodies: God's true temple225 He,
Not dedicated erst; for to Himself
100 He by His blood associated men,
And willed them be His body's priests, Himself
The Supreme Father's perfect Priest by right.
Hearing, sight, step inert, He cleansed; and, for a "book,"226
Sprinkled, by speaking.227 words of presage, those
105 His witnesses: demonstrating the Law
Bound by His holy blood.
This cause withal Our victim through "the heifer" manifests
From whose blood taking for the People's sake
Piacular drops, them the first Levite228 bare
110 Within the veil; and, by God's bidding, burned
Her corse without the camp's gates; with whose ash
He cleansed lapsed bodies. Thus our Lord (who us
By His own death redeemed), without the camp229
Willingly suffering the violence
115 Of an iniquitous People, did fulfil
The Law, by facts predictions proving;230 who
A people of contamination full
Doth truly cleanse, conceding all things, as
The body's Author rich; within heaven's veil
120 Gone with the blood which-One for many's deaths-
He hath outpoured.
A holy victim, then,
Is meet for a great priest; which worthily
He, being perfect, may be proved to have,
And offer. He a body hath: this is
125 For mortals a live victim; worthy this
Of great price did He offer, One for all.
The231 semblance of the "goats" teaches that they
Are men exiled out of the "peoples twain"232
As barren;233 fruitless both; (of whom the Lord
130 Spake also, in the Gospel, telling how
The kids are severed from the sheep, and stand
On the left hand234 ): that some indeed there are
Who for the Lord's Name's sake have suffered: thus
That fruit has veiled their former barrenness:
135 And such, the prophet teaches, on the ground
Of that their final merit worthy are
Of the Lord's altar: others, cast away
(As was th' iniquitous rich man, we read,
By Lazarus235 ), are such as have remained
140 Exiled, persistent in their stubbornness.
Now a veil, hanging in the midst, did both
Dissever,236 and had into portions twain
Divided the one shrine.237 The inner parts
Were called "Holies of holiest" Stationed there
145 An altar shone, noble with gold; and there,
At the same time, the testaments and ark
Of the Law's tablets; covered wholly o'er
With lambs'skins238 dyed with heaven's hue; within
Gold-clad;239 and all between of wood. Here are so
150 The tablets of the Law; here is the urn
Replete with manna; here is Aaron's rod
Which puts forth germens of the cross240 -unlike
The cross itself, yet born of storax-tree241 -And over it-in uniformity
155 Fourfold-the cherubim their pinions spread,
And the inviolable sanctities242
Covered obediently.243 Without the veil
Part of the shrine stood open: facing it,
Heavy with broad brass, did an altar stand;
160 And with two triple sets (on each side one)
Of branches woven with the central stem,
A lampstand, and as many244 lamps:
The golden substance wholly filled with light
The temple.245
Thus the temple's outer face,
165 Common and open, does the ritual
Denote, then, of a people lingering
Beneath the Law; amid whose246 gloom there shone
The Holy Spirit's sevenfold unity
Ever, the People sheltering.247 And thus
170 The Lampstand True and living Lamps do shine
Persistently throughout the Law and Seers
On men subdued in heart. And for a type
Of earth,248 the altar-so tradition says-
Was made. Here constantly, in open space,
175 Before all eyes were visible of old
The People's "works,"249 which ever-"not without
Blood"250 -it did offer, shedding out the gore
Of lawless life.251 There, too, the Lord-Himself
Made victim on behalf of all-denotes
180 The whole earth252 -altar in specific sense.
Hence likewise that new covenant author, whom
No language can describe, Disciple John,
Testifies that beneath such altar he
Saw souls which had for Christ's name suffered,
185 Praying the vengeance of the mighty God
Upon their slaughter.253 There,254 meantime, is rest.
In some unknown part there exists a spot
Open, enjoying its own light; 'tis called
"Abraham's bosom; "high above the glooms,255
190 And far removed from fire, yet 'neath the earth.256
The brazen altar this is called, whereon
(We have recorded) was a dusky veil.257
This veil divides both parts, and leaves the one
Open, from the eternal one distinct
195 In worship and time's usage. To itself'
Tis not unfriendly, though of fainter love,
By time and space divided, and yet linked
By reason.'Tis one house, though by a veil
Parted it seems: and thus (when the veil burst,
200 On the Lord's passion) heavenly regions oped
And holy vaults,258 and what was double erst
Became one house perennial. Order due
Traditionally has interpreted
The inner temple of the people called
205 After Christ's Name, with worship heavenly,
God's actual mandates following; (no "shade".
Is herein bound, but persons real;259 ) complete
By the arrival of the "perfect things."260
The ark beneath a type points out to us
210 Christ's venerable body, joined, through "wood,"261
With sacred Spirit: the aërial262 skins
Are flesh not born of seed, outstretcht on "wood; "263
At the same time, with golden semblance fused,264
Within, the glowing Spirit joined is
215 Thereto; that, with peace265 granted, flesh might bloom
With Spirit mixt. Of the Lord's flesh, again,
The urn, golden and full, a type doth bear.
Itself denotes that the new covenant's Lord
Is manna; in that He, true heavenly Bread,
220 Is, and hath by the Father been transfused266
Into that bread which He hath to His saints
Assigned for a pledge: this Bread will He
Give perfectly to them who (of good works
The lovers ever) have the bonds of peace
225 Kept. And the double tablets of the law
Written all over, these, at the same time,
Signify that that Law was ever hid
In Christ, who mandate old and new fulfilled,
Ark of the Supreme Father as He is,
230 Through whom He, being rich, hath all things given.
The storax-rod, too, nut's fruit bare itself;
(The virgin's semblance this, who bare in blood
A body:) on the "wood"267 conjoined 'twill lull
Death's bitter, which within sweet fruit doth lurk,
235 By virtue of the Holy Spirit's grace:
Just as Isaiah did predict "a rod"
From Jesse's seed268 -Mary-from which a flower
Issues into the orb.
The altar bright with gold
Denotes the heaven on high, whither ascend
240 Prayers holy, sent up without crime: the Lord
This "altar" spake of, where if one doth gifts
Offer, he must first reconciliate
Peace with his brother:269 thus at length his prayers
Can flame unto the stars. Christ, Victor sole
245 And foremost.270 Priest, thus offered incense born
Not of a tree, but prayers.271 The cherubim272
Being, with twice two countenances, one,
And are the one word through fourfold order led;273
The hoped comforts of life's mandate new,
250 Which in their plenitude Christ bare Himself
Unto us from the Father. But the wings
In number four times six,274 the heraldings
Of the old world denote, witnessing things
Which, we are taught, were after done. On these275
255 The heavenly words fly through the orb: with these
Christ's blood is likewise held context, so told
Obscurely by the seers' presaging mouth.
The number of the wings doth set a seal
Upon the ancient volumes; teaching us
260 Those twenty-four have certainly enough
Which sang the Lord's ways and the times of peace:
These all, we see, with the new covenant
Cohere. Thus also John; the Spirit thus
To him reveals that in that number stand
265 The enthroned elders white276 and crowned, who (as
With girding-rope) all things surround, before
The Lord's throne, and upon the glassy sea
Subigneous: and four living creatures, winged
And full of eyes within and outwardly,
270 Do signify that hidden things are oped,
And all things shut are at the same time seen,
In the word's eye. The glassy flame-mixt sea
Means that the laver's gifts, with Spirit fused
Therein, upon believers are conferred.
275 Who could e'en tell what the Lord's parentcare
Before His judgment-seat, before His bar,
Prepared hath? that such as willing be
His forum and His judgment for themselves
To antedate, should 'scape! that who thus hastes
280 Might find abundant opportunity!
Thus therefore Law and wondrous prophets sang;
Thus all parts of the covenant old and new,
Those sacred rights and pregnant utterances
Of words, conjoined, do flourish. Thus withal,
285 Apostles' voices witness everywhere;
Nor aught of old, in fine, but to the new
Is joined.
Thus err they, and thus facts retort
Their sayings, who to false ways have declined;
And from the Lord and God, eternal King,
290 Who such an orb produced, detract, and seek
Some other deity 'neath feigned name,
Bereft of minds, which (frenzied) they have lost;
Willing to affirm that Christ a stranger is
To the Law; nor is the world's277 Lord; nor doth will
295 Salvation of the flesh; nor was Himself
The body's Maker, by the Father's power.278
Them must we flee, stopping (unasked) our ears;
Lest with their speech they stain innoxious hearts.
Let therefore us, whom so great grace279 of God
300 Hath penetrated, and the true celestial words
Of the great Master-Teacher in good ways
Have trained, and given us right monuments;280
Pay honour ever to the Lord, and sing
Endlessly, joying in pure faith, and sure
305 Salvation. Born of the true God, with bread
Perennial are we nourished, and hope
With our whole heart after eternal life.
Book V.-General Reply to Sundry of Marcion's Heresies.281
The first Book did the enemy's words recall In
order, which the senseless renegade
Composed and put forth lawlessly; hence, too,
Touched briefly flesh's hope, Christ's victory,
5 And false ways' speciousness. The next doth teach
The Law's conjoined mysteries, and what
In the new covenant the one God hath
Delivered. The third shows the race, create
From freeborn mother, to be ministers
10 Sacred to seers and patriarchs;282 whom Thou,
O Christ, in number twice six out of all,283
Chosest; and, with their names, the lustral284 times
Of our own elders noted, (times preserved
On record,) showing in whose days appeared i
15 The author285 of this wickedness, unknown,
Lawless, and roaming, cast forth286 with his brood.
The fourth, too, the piacular rites recalls
Of the old Law themselves, and shows them types
In which the Victim True appeared, by saints
20 Expected long since, with the holy Seed.
This fifth doth many twists and knots untie,
Rolls wholly into sight what ills soe'er
Were lurking; drawing arguments, but not
Without attesting prophet.
And although
25 With strong arms fortified we vanquish foes,
Yet hath the serpent mingled so at once
All things polluted, impious, unallowed,
Commaculate, -the blind's path without light!
A voice contaminant!-that, all the while
30 We are contending the world's Maker is
Himself sole God, who also spake by voice
Of seers, and proving that there is none else
Unknown; and, while pursuing Him with praise,
Who is by various endearment287 known,
35 Are blaming-among other fallacies-
The Unknown's tardy times: our subject's fault
Will scarce keep pure our tongue. Yet, for all that,
Guile's many hidden venoms us enforce
(Although with double risk288 ) to ope our words.
40 Who, then, the God whom ye say is the true,
Unknown to peoples, alien, in a word,
To all the world?289 Him whom none knew before?
Came he from high? If 'tis his own290 he seeks,
Why seek so late? If not his own, why rob
45 Bandit-like? and why ply with words unknown
So oft throughout Law's rein a People still
Lingering 'neath the Law? If, too, he comes
To pity and to succour all combined,
And to re-elevate men vanquisht quite
50 By death's funereal weight, and to release
Spirit from flesh's bond obscene, whereby
The inner man (iniquitously dwarfed)
Is held in check; why, then, so late appear
His ever-kindness, duteous vigilance?
55 How comes it that he ne at all before
Offered himself to any, but let slip
Poor souls in numbers?291 and then with his mouth
Seeks to regain another's subjects: ne'er
Expected; not known; sent into the orb.
60 Seeking the "ewe" he had not lost before,
The Shepherd ought292 to have disrobed himself
Of flesh, as if his victor-self withal
Had ever been a spirit, and as such293
Willed to rescue all expelled souls,
65 Without a body, everywhere, and leave
The spoiled flesh to earth; wholly to fill
The world294 on one day equally with corpses
To leave the orb void; and to raise the souls
To heaven. Then would human progeny
70 At once have ceased to be born; nor had
Thereafter any scion of your295 kith
Been born, or spread a new pest296 o'er the orb.
Or (since at that time297 none of all these things
Is shown to have been done) he should have set
75 A bound to future race; with solid heart
Nuptial embraces would he, in that case
Have sated quite;298 made men grow torpid, reft
Of fruitful seed; made irksome intercourse
With female sex; and closed up inwardly
80 The flesh's organs genital: our mind
Had had no will, no potent faculty
Our body: after this the "inner man"
Could withal, joined with blood,299 have been infused
And cleaved to flesh, and would have ever been
85 Perishing. Ever perishes the "ewe: "
And is there then no power of saving her?
Since man is ever being born beneath
Death's doom, what is the Shepherd's work, if thus
The "ewe" is stated300 to be found? Unsought
90 In that case, but not rescued, she is proved.
But now choice is allowed of entering
Wedlock, as hath been ever; and that choice
Sure progeny hath yoked: nations are born
And folk scarce numerable, at whose birth
95 Their souls by living bodies are received;
Nor was it meet that Paul (though, for the time,
He did exhort some few, discerning well
The many pressures of a straitened time)
To counsel men in like case to abide
100 As he himself:301 for elsewhere he has bidden
The tender ages marry, nor defraud
Each other, but their compact's dues discharge.
But say, whose suasion hash, with fraud astute,
Made you "abide," and in divided love
105 Of offspring live secure, and commit crime
Adulterous, and lose your life? and, though
'Tis perishing, belie (by verbal name)
That fact.. For which cause all the so sweet sounds
Of his voice pours he forth, that "you must do,
110 Undaunted, whatsoever pleases you; "
Outwardly chaste, stealthily stained with crime!
Of honourable wedlock, by this plea,302
He hath deprived you. But why more? 'Tis well
(Forsooth) to be disjoined! for the world, too,
115 Expedient 'tis! lest any of your seed
Be born! Then will death's organs303 cease at length!
The while you hope salvation to retain,
Your "total man" quite loses part of man,
With mind profane: but neither is man said
120 To be sole spirit, nor the flesh is called
"The old man; "nor unfriendly are the flesh
And spirit, the true man combined in one,
The inner, and he whom you call "old foe; "304
Nor are they seen to have each his own set
125 Of senses. One is ruled; the other rules,
Groans, joys, grieves, loves; himself305 to his own flesh
Most dear, too; through which306 his humanity
Is visible, with which commixt he is
Held ever: to its wounds he care applies;
130 And pours forth tears; and nutriments of food
Takes, through its limbs, often and eagerly:
This hopes he to have ever with himself
Immortal; o'er its fracture doth he groan;
And grieves to quit it limb by limb: fixt time
135 Death lords it o'er the unhappy flesh; that so
From light dust it may be renewed, and death
Unfriendly fail at length, when flesh, released,
Rises again. This will that victory be
Supreme and long expected, wrought by Him,
140 The aye-to-be-revered, who did become
True man; and by His Father's virtue won: Who
man's redeemed limbs unto the heavens
Hath raised,307 and richly opened access up
Thither in hope, first to His nation; then
145 To those among all tongues in whom His work
Is ever doing: Minister imbued
With His Sire's parent-care, seen by the eye
Of the Illimitable, He performed,
By suffering, His missions.308
What say now
150 The impious voices? what th' abandoned crew?
If He Himself, God the Creator's self,
Gave not the Law,309 He who from Egypt's vale310
Paved in the waves a path, and freely gave
The seats which He had said of old, why comes
155 He in that very People and that land
Aforesaid? and why rather sought He not
Some other311 peoples or some rival312 realms?
Why, further, did He teach that, through the seers,
(With Name foretold in full, yet not His own,)
160 He had been often sung of? Whence, again,
Could He have issued baptism's kindly gifts,
Promised by some one else, as His own works?
These gifts men who God's mandates had transgressed,
And hence were found polluted, longed for,
165 And begged a pardoning rescue from fierce death.
Expected long, they313 came: but that to those
Who recognised them when erst heard, and now
Have recognised them, when in due time found,
Christ's true hand is to give them, this, with voice
170 Paternal, the Creator-Sire Himself
Warns ever from eternity, and claims;
And thus the work of virtue which He framed,
And still frames, arms, and fosters, and doth now
Victorious look down on and reclothe
175 With His own light, should with perennial praise Abide.314
What315 hath the Living Power done
To make men recosnise what God can give
And maul can suffer, and thus live?316 But since
Neither predictions earlier nor facts
180 The latest can suede senseless frantic317 men
That God became a man, and (after He
Had suffered and been buried) rose; that they
May credit those so many witnesses
Harmonious,318 who of old did cry aloud
185 With heavenly word, let them both319 learn to trust
At least terrestrial reason.
When the Lord
Christ came to be, as flesh, born into the orb
In time of king Augustus' reign at Rome,
First, by decree, the nations numbered are
190 By census everywhere: this measure, then,
This same king chanced to pass, because the Will
Supreme, in whose high reigning hand doth lie
The king's heart, had impelled him:320 he was first
To do it, and the enrolment was reduced
195 To orderly arrangement. Joseph then
Likewise, with his but just delivered wife
Mary,321 with her celestial Son alike,
Themselves withal are numbered. Let, then, such
As trust to instruments of human skill,
200 Who may (approving of applying them
As attestators of the holy word)
Inquire into this census, if it be
But found so as we say, then afterwards
Repent they and seek pardon while time still
205 Is had322
The Jews, who own323 to having wrought
A grave crime, while in our disparagement
They glow, and do resist us, neither call
Christ's family unknown, nor can324 affirm
They hanged a man, who spake truth, on a tree:325
210 Ignorant that the Lord's flesh which they bound326
Was not seed-gendered. But, while partially
They keep a reticence, so partially
They triumph; for they strive to represent
God to the peoples commonly as man.
215 Behold the error which o'ercomes you both!327
This error will our cause assist, the while,
We prove to you those things which certain are.
They do deny Him God; you falsely call
Him man, a body bodiless! and ah!
220 A various insanity of mind
Sinks you; which him who hath presumed to hint
You both do, sinking, sprinkle:328 for His deeds
Will then approve Him man alike and God
Commingled, and the world329 will furnish signs
225 No few.
While then the Son Himself of God
Is seeking to regain the flesh's limbs,330
Already robed as King, He doth sustain
Blows from rude palms; with spitting covered is
His face; a thorn-inwoven crown His head
230 Pierces all round; and to the tree331 Himself
Is fixed; wine drugged with myrrh,332 is drunk, and gall333
Is mixt with vinegar; parted His robe,334
And in it335 lots are cast; what for himself
Each one hath seized he keeps; in murky gloom,
235 As God from fleshly body silently
Outbreathes His soul, in darkness trembling day
Took refuge with the sun; twice dawned one day;
Its centre black night covered: from their base
Mounts move in circle, wholly moved was earth,
240 Saints'sepulchres stood ope, and all things Joined
In fear to see His passion whom they knew!
His lifeless side a soldier with bare spear
Pierces, and forth flows blood, nor water less
Thence followed. These facts they336 agree to hide,
245 And are unwilling the misdeed to own,
Willing to blink the crime.
Can spirit, then,
Without a body wear a robe? or is't
Susceptible of penalty? the wound
Of violence does it bear? or die? or rise?
250 Is blood thence poured? from what flesh. since ye say
He had none? or else, rather, feigned He? if
'Tis safe for you to say so; though you do
(Headlong) so say, by passing over more
In silence. Is not, then, faith manifest?
255 And are not all things fixed? The day before
He then337 should suffer, keeping Passover,
And handing down a memorable rite338
To His disciples, taking bread alike
And the vine's juice, "My body, and My blood
260 Which is poured339 for you, this is," did He say;
And bade it ever afterward be done.
Of what created elements were made,
Think ye, the bread and wine which were (He said)
His body with its blood? and what must be
265 Confessed? Proved He not Himself the world's340
Maker, through deeds? and that He bore at once
A body formed from flesh and blood?
This God
This true Man, too, the Father's Virtue 'neath
An Image,341 with the Father ever was,
270 United both in glory and in age;342
Because alone He ministers the words
Of the All-Holder; whom He343 upon earth
Accepts;344 through whom He all things did create:
God's Son, God's dearest Minister, is He!
275 Hence hath He generation, hence Name too,
Hence, finally, a kingdom; Lord from Lord;
Stream from perennial Fount! He, He it was
Who to the holy fathers (whosoe'er
Among them doth profess to have "seen God"345 )-
200 God is our witness-since the origin
Of this our world,346 appearing, opened up
The Father's words of promise and of charge
From heaven high: He led the People out;
Smote through th'iniquitous nation; was Himself
285 The column both of light and of cloud's shade;
And dried the sea; and bids the People go
Right through the waves, the foe therein involved
And covered with the flood and surge: a way
Through deserts made He for the followers
290 Of His high biddings; sent down bread in showers347
From heaven for the People; brake the rock;
Bedewed with wave the thirsty;348 and from God
The mandate of the Law to Moses spake
With thunder, trumpet-sound, and flamey column
295 Terrible to the sight, while men's hearts shook.
After twice twenty years, with months complete,
Jordan was parted; a way oped; the wave
Stood in a mass; and the tribes shared the land,
Their fathers' promised boons! The Father's word,
300 Speaking Himself by prophets' mouth, that He349
Would come to earth and be a man, He did
Predict; Christ manifestly to the earth
Foretelling.
Then, expected for our aid,
Life's only Hope, the Cleanser of our flesh,350
305 Death's Router, from th' Almighty Sire's empire
At length He came, and with our human limbs
He clothed Him. Adam-virgin-dragon-tree,351
The cause of ruin, and the way whereby
Rash death us all had vanquisht! by the same
310 Our Shepherd treading, seeking to regain
His sheep-with angel-virgin-His own flesh-
And the "tree's" remedy;352 whence vanquisht man
And doomed to perish was aye wont to go
To meet his vanquisht peers; hence, inter-posed,
315 One in all captives' room, He did sustain
In body the unfriendly penalty
With patience; by His own death spoiling death;
Becomes salvation's cause; and, having paid
Throughly our debts by throughly suffering
320 On earth, in holy body, everything,
Seeks the infern! here souls, bound for their crime,
Which shut up all together by Law's weight,
Without a guard,353 were asking for the boons
Promised of old, hoped for, and tardy, He
325 To the saints'rest admitted, and, with light,
Brought back. For on the third day mounting up,354
A victor, with His body by His Sire's
Virtue immense, (salvation's pathway made,)
And bearing God and man is form create,
330 He clomb the heavens, leading back with Him
Captivity's first-fruits (a welcome gift
And a dear figure355 to the Lord), and took
His seat beside light's Father, and resumed
The virtue and the glory of which, while
335 He was engaged in vanquishing the foe
He had been stripped;356 conjoined with Spirit; bound
With flesh, on our part. Him, Lord, Christ, King, God,
Judgment and kingdom given to His hand,
The father is to send unto the orb.
(N.B.-It has been impossible to note the changes which I have had to make in the text of the Latin. In some cases they will suggest themselves to any scholar who may compare the translation with the original; and in others I must be content to await a more fitting opportunity, if such ever arise, for discussing them.)