Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 1–40
Who will be able to know properly the one God of the heavens, except the one he has drawn up from wicked error? I was wandering ignorant, roaming, caught by empty hope, while the fury of first age carried me into the air. I was lighter than chaff; as if a hundred heads were on my shoulders, so headlong I was borne wherever. Not content with these things, at last as a criminal Marsian I was almost made by chanting malignant herbs. But thanks to the Lord (and my voice alone is not enough to repay) who at last shone on me, a miserable waverer! And I was handed over, set upon the book of the law, to learn what was there; at once a lamp shone for me. Then truly I recognized God the Lord most high in the heights, and therefore I urge such people to withdraw from error. Who is a better physician than one enlarged by having suffered a wound? Many indeed are brute and unknown, asleep in heart; they set nothing before themselves to know; in beast fashion they seek what they may snatch or whose blood they may live on. While they rejoice to live fattened like pigs, they heap themselves a fine tomb while they clap at riches. The rich will be changed from a poor garment by disgusts. It would suffice them that they eat more readily. If you inquire nothing, that is to be present as beasts. Certainly the most high God set man over the fields — not a wild beast nor a herd animal. Why do we liken ourselves to that? The Almighty wanted man to offer him praises; therefore the divine one himself taught us things to come. Whom that we might believe, he did not only sound by word but also showed mighty deeds when Pharaoh was deceived. ****** God lit the law-lamp for a wanderer. Leave the pig-life; know the one God and praise him.
Latin
Quis poterit unum proprie Deum nosse caelorum, Nisi quem is tulerit + ab errore nefando? Errabam ignarus spatians spe captus inani, Dum furor aetatis primae me portabat in auras. Plus eram quam palea leuior; quasi centum inessent In umeris capita, sic praeceps quocumque ferebar. Non satis his rebus, criminosus denique Marsus Paene fui factus herbas incantando malignas. Sed gratias Domino (nec sufficit uox mea tantum Reddere) qui misero uacillanti tandem adluxit! Adgressusque fui traditus in codice legis Quid ibi rescirem; statim mihi lampada fulsit. Tunc uero agnoui Deum <dominum> summum in altis, Et ideo tales hortor ab errore recedant. Quis melior medicus nisi passus uulneris auctus? Multi quidem bruti et ignoti, corde sopiti, Nihil sibi praeponunt cognoscere; more ferino Quaerunt, quod rapiant aut quorum sanguine uiuant. Dummodo laetentur saginati uiuere porci, Ingerunt ut tumulum se pulchrum, dum plaudent diuitiis. <Diuites> mutabuntur <a> paupera ueste fastidiis. Sufficeret illis utique, quod promptius edunt. Si pinguis est opibus, sibi sit, si Caesari dignus: Quid sua praeponunt? fragilis nec respicit ullum. Communicet immo talis bonitatem in omnes Cui Summus diuitias, honores addidit altos. Nec enim uitupero diuitias datas a Summo, Sed culpandus erit, qui superextollitur illis. Suadeo nunc ergo altos sic et humiles omnes, Ut legant assidue uel ista uel cetera legis. Aspice, quam breuis est nobis credita uita Discite, quapropter moriamur nati, prudentes! Quid hebetes morimur, quid profuit lucem uidisse? Si nihil inquiras, hoc est beluarum adesse. Certe Deus summus hominem praeposuit aruis Non feram nec pecudem. Cur nos similemus ad illo Omnipotens uoluit hominem sibi praebere laudes; Idcirco futura docuit nos ipse diuinus. Quem ut crederemus, non tantum uerbo sonauit Sed et demonstrauit fortia Pharaone decepto.