Commodian — Carmen de Duobus Populis 581–620

They do nothing but the heart; for the rest, about life it is silent. What helps to chase worldly things on earth in vain, and to know kings’ riches, their wars? And to know the mad forum, skilled in law — that rights wobble, lest by chance they be ruled by a bribe? Be he a defender, be he a divine orator: he will profit nothing by death if alive he denied in Christ. Rather let him first seek where his life has been brought back, if he will be wise; if the rest, he is blamed. They read laws and learn wondrous speeches, but they outdo the miserable for whom they speak by their doing. Unhappy is that one who has come into their mouth; they carry praises and he a victory by losses. The miserable stands mute in the middle, whom it hurts more inside; they thunder with the mouth and he with silence by coins. Meanwhile the adorned voice of the day makes a din, and often the better cause becomes bad by giving a little more. From here the wise seeks a price, from here he rejoices to win; even if he acts crookedly, while only he is victor, he is sick. He treats nothing of his own cause when he tries for gains; another’s hope comes over him and he casts his own behind. Many are seized from the age’s wood by success; while they rejoice in short things, they remain from Christ’s grace; while they desire many things with the eye, while they seek to increase, God is nothing to them except the age’s life. For the belly he busies himself; the day’s contest is for that itself, and he spurns the true contest for eternal salvation. Whoever as if watches for the sack is praised sharp; for who follows God is judged dung by them. O too happy, if anyone avoids worldly things! Let him be a fool to others, while he is wise to the most high God. That whole hope is to believe God, who hung on the wood; the thing may be foul, but useful for the future life. For that first people was deceived about him — that he said Son, when he is God, the ancient himself. He went before them in a column of cloud and fire when he freed them from Egypt to a one. He commands the cruel unspeakable about the only-born, that he might prove Abraham, to whom he said ‘Spare!’ from heaven — the angel. And he is God, and likewise made himself man… ****** Flee the forum’s short wins. Happy the fool-to-others who is wise to God: hope is believing the One who hung on the wood.