Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 921–960

And wages will arrive parted by deserts of places. From there nonetheless the victor proceeds into the Judean land, whom the Jews themselves expect to conquer Rome. He makes many signs, that they may be able to believe him, since the unjust one is sent to seduce them; whom nonetheless a voice returned from heaven of the Highest rebukes. A man from Persia says that he himself is immortal. To us Nero has become Antichrist, that one to the Jews; these two always are prophets at the last end. The city’s ruin is Nero, this one’s the whole earth’s; about whom nonetheless I offer a few things that I have read secret. Meanwhile he displeases the Jews too late even themselves, and they whisper together that they have been deceived by fraud. They cry alike to heaven with weeping voice; then God almighty, that he may end all things I have said, will bring forth a people hidden for a long time. But there are Jews shut beyond Persia by a river, whom God willed to stay there even to the end. Captivity drove them there that they might be; from the twelve tribes nine and a half stay there. There is no lie there, nor is there any hatred; therefore neither does a son die before his parents; nor do they mourn the dead nor grieve in our manner, since they await the resurrection to come; they feed on no soul with added foods, but only herbs, which may be without blood poured. Full of justice they live with unstained body; in them neither does an impious birth exercise forces. Fevers do not approach them, nor savage colds, since they obey all things of the law brightly; which we too ourselves will follow living purely; death only was present and toil, for the rest were mute. This was the people that now is stored away outside. With the river dried he will seek again into the Judean land; with them God also will come to fill promises; who through the whole journey exults with God present. All things grow green before them, all things rejoice; creation itself is glad to receive the holy: in every place springs rise ready to be, where the people of the Highest walks with heavenly awe. ****** Two end-liars: Nero for us, the Persian wonder for the Jews. God then leads out the sealed, bloodless, law-bright people from beyond the river.