Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 787–826
At which time I hope we ourselves already at the harbor’s shore. Then man will rise, brought back in the sun’s struggle, and rejoices in God remembering what he was before; who, as he heard while fragile in former flesh, when he is incorrupt, recognizes the things promised before. Marveling that such glory has come to man he says thus: As I heard before, so I see each thing. These things all alike cry, lifted from hell: As we heard before, behold we see! All pain will yield from the body, and the sore will yield, nor will there be any anxiety except joys always. Whoever believes the Three and feels that One is present, this one will be perpetual, reborn into eternal ages. But some say this: When do we think these things will come? Take it in a few words, which things done, those follow. Many signs indeed will happen at the boundary of so great a plague, but the beginning will be our seventh persecution. Behold already it knocks at the door and is forced to be, which will soon cross over with Goths bursting across the river. King Apollyon will be with them, dreadful by name, who would scatter persecution of the saints in arms. He goes to Rome with many thousands of a nation and by God’s decree captures the partly subdued. Many of the senators then will weep captive and blaspheme the God of heaven, conquered by the barbarian. These nonetheless as gentiles feed Christians everywhere, whom rather as brothers they seek, full of joy. For the luxurious and those who worship empty idols they persecute and put the senate under the yoke. These evils they take who have persecuted the beloved: in five months they are slaughtered under that enemy. Meanwhile in that very time a Syrian rises, who would terrify the enemies and free the senate from there. He returns from the underworld, who had been commanded for the kingdom and long kept known with his former body. But we say this is the old Nero, who first punished Peter and Paul in the city. He himself returns again under that end of the age from hidden places, who was reserved for these things. The senate itself wonders that he is hated — ****** Raised bodies see what they only heard. Seventh persecution, Goths, Apollyon — then the reserved Nero at the age’s end.
Latin
Quo tempore nos ipsos spero iam in litore portus. Tunc homo resurget solis in agone reductus Et gaudet in Deo reminiscens, quid fuit ante; Qui, sicut audiuit fragilis in pristina carne, Cum sit incorruptus, recognoscit ante promissa. Quam gloria<m> mirans homini prouenisse sic inquit: Qualiter audiui prius, sic singula cerno. Haec pariter omnes clamant ab inferno leuati: Quemadmodu<m> ante audiuimus, ecce uidemus! Cedet dolor omnis a corpore, cedet et ulcus, Nec erit anxietas ulla nisi gaudia semper. Quisque tribus credit et sentit unum adesse, Hic erit perpetuus in aeterna saecla renatus. Sed quidam hoc aiunt: Quando haec uentura putamus? Accipite paucis, quibus actis illa sequantur. Multa quidem signa fient tantae termini pesti, Sed erit initium septima persecutio nostra. Ecce <iam> ianua<m> pulsat et cogitur esse, Quae cito traiciet Gothis irrumpentibus amne. Rex Apollion erit cum ipsis, nomine dirus, Qui persecutionem dissipet sanctorum in armis. Pergit ad Romam cum multa milia gentis Decretoque Dei captiuat ex parte subactos. Multi senatorum tunc enim captiui deflebunt Et Deum caelorum blasphemant a barbaro uicti. Hi tamen gentiles pascunt Christianos ubique, Quos magis ut fratres requirunt gaudio pleni. Nam luxuriosos et idola uana colentes Persecuntur enim et senatum sub iugo mittunt. Haec mala percipiunt, qui sunt persecuti dilectos: Mensibus in quinque trucidantur isto sub hoste. Exsurgit interea sub ipso tempore Syrus, Qui terreat hostes et liberet inde senatum. Ex infero redit, qui fuerat regno praeceptus Et diu seruatus cum pristino corpore notus. Dicimus hunc autem Neronem esse uetustum, Qui Petrum et Paulum prius puniuit in urbem. Ipse redit iterum sub ipso saeculi fine[m] Ex locis apocryphis, qui fuit reseruatus in ista. Hunc ipse <se>natus inuisum esse mirantur;