Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 41–80
Not this only did he do: under Noah’s times too he showed what he could, since no one was seeking God. Afterward he began to be present more gently little by little, once the flood was done so the earth could be filled. Already almost half of six thousand years was going, and no one knew the Lord, people living every which way. But God, when he saw men’s hearts far too shut, addresses Abraham, whom Moses himself announces. He himself gave the law to the people when Pharaoh was slain, and who he was, the Lord himself foretold from him. Nor content with one prophetic voice does he put himself forward, but he brought many witnesses who cry out about him. This one, then, when you read the proclamations of many seers, you will find has taken flesh for us. Hence now there is wandering — that the Highest ordered such things — and as if … people of stone soften late for gehenna’s fire. We shout into emptiness to the deaf, things to be carried by storms, and we offer light to the blind, supplying it without cause. A soldier stands at the dispatch: one hears, and another shakes it off and does not take the warnings in the heart, but lost he wanders. Who now leaves off — be judges about these! — the one who warns, or the one who will not obey the word? ****** Many prophetic witnesses; the Highest took flesh for us. Hearing and refusing are not the same crime.
Latin
Non solum hoc fecit: et Noe sub tempora quoque Ostendit, quae poterat, quoniam Deum nemo quaerebat. Mitior exinde paulatim coepit adesse, Diluuio facto quo posset terra repleri. Iam paene medietas annorum sex milibus ibat, Et nemo scibat Dominum, passimque uiuentes. Sed Deus, ut uidit hominum nimis [ut] pectora clausa, Adloquitur Abraham, quem Moyses enuntiat ipsum. Ipse dedit legem populo Pharaone necato, Et quis esset, Dominus ipse se praedixit ab illo. Nec una contentus prophetica uoce se promit, Sed multos adhibuit testes, qui de illo clamant. Hunc ergo, cum legitis multorum praeconia <uatum>, Inuenietis eum carnem inuenisse pro nobis. Unde nunc erratur, ordinasse talia Summum, Et quasi subsannant, nec sciunt, quod ab ipso ridentur Interdum subicio, qualiter praelegi prophetas, Et rudes edoceo, ubi sit spes uitae ponenda. Quid Deus in primis uel qualiter singula fecit, Iam Moyses edocuit; nos autem de Christo docemus. Non sum ego uates nec doctor iussus ut essem, Sed pando praedicta uatum oberrantibus austris. Ergo mei similes, quos raptim aura deportat, Quaerite iam portum, ubi sunt pericula nulla. Agricola doctus tempestiua longe dinoscit Et, priusquam ueniant, recolligit se<se> sub antra. Estote prudentes, quod imminet ante uidete Et, priusquam ueniant clades, prouidete saluti. Ignauia pueris opus est, non certe robustis: Si decet hoc rudibus, non conuenit aeuo maturis. Quam quidem, pars hominum, non sit moderata uetustas, Sic erit ut perna minime salfacta: putrescat. Nemo petram subigit nisi solus ignis ad escam: Saxei sic homines mollescunt sero gehennae. Clamamus in uacuum surdis referenda procellis Et lumen offerimus caecis sine causa praebentes. Stat miles ad missa<m>: unus audit, et excutit alter Nec accipit corde monita, sed perditus errat. Quis modo relinquit (iudices estote de istis!), Qui monet aut ille, qui non uult dicto parere?