Commodian, Poem on the Two Peoples 827–839
Who when he has appeared, they will think almost that he is a god. But before that one comes, Elijah will prophesy in a divided time, on the mid-axis of the week. When the span is complete that wicked one succeeds, whom Jews also then adore together with Romans. Although there will be another, whom they await from the east, in our slaughter nonetheless they will rage with king Nero. Therefore when Elijah prophesies in the Judean land and marks the people with a sign in Christ’s name; of whom since very many refuse to believe him, angry he begs the Most High that it not rain there: heaven will be shut from then and will not grow wet with dew; rivers too in anger he turns into blood. ****** Before the quasi-god: Elijah mid-week marks for Christ. Refuse him — shut sky, rivers of blood; Nero still joins the east-king slaughter.
Latin
Qui cum apparuerit, quasi deum esse putabunt. Sed priusquam ille ueniat, prophetabit Helias Tempore partito, medio ebdomadis axe[m]. Completo spatio succedit ille nefandus, Quem et Iudaei simul tunc cum Romanis adorant. Quamquam erit alius, quem expectent ab oriente, In nostra caede tamen saeuient cum rege Nerone. Ergo cum Helias in Iudaea terra prophetat Et <signo> signat populum in nomine Christi; De quibus quam multi quoniam illi credere nolunt, Supplicat iratus Altissimum, ne pluat inde: Clausum erit caelum ex eo nec rore madescet, Flumina quoque iratus in sanguine uertit.