Gospel Epic 1 part 4/6

but soon, when it has taken on the increases of righteous greenness, it surpasses with upright crest all the crops of the fields, so that with its branches the feathered throng may play together and may dwell in the green shades. The heavenly gift is like wholesome leaven, which a woman hides in a great mass of meal. That, then, mingled with the gentle warmth of the hired leaven, coalesces into the body of a single mass.' Such things, seasoned in perplexing words, he then brought forth to the people, that the sayings of the ancient prophet might fit, in the order of the ages, to the matters appointed: I shall deign to open my mouth, and, bursting forth, the image of varied speech shall unroll the things founded from the beginning of the world. Thence, late, he sought home and left the crowds. The fire-haired sun had poured its rosy radiance upon the lands. The disciples kept asking what the question of the tares and the crop meant;

to them clearly Jesus brought forth these things: 'He who entrusts the best seeds of grain to the clods is the Son of man; understand the world under the name of the field, and the righteous men as the pure seed. But the unhappy tares, by the art of a hidden demon, are men; the enemy shall be the demon, a dreadful power; the final end of the world stands for the time of harvest. The reapers, the Father's ministers, shall come through the fields, whom the Son of man shall bid to gather, from the body of his own kingdom, the snares of error and its blemish, and, gathered together, to burn them in swift flames. For these there is a gnashing of teeth ever and perennial weeping; but for the holy, set apart, the golden light of life shall come, as in the seats of heaven the lights of the sun are flashed forth.' These things he taught, and the Saviour returned to his home city.

There, expounding to the peoples—marvellous to tell—the laws of justice and the wholesome commands of life, he taught the Father's virtues, instilling them at the same time. Then the people, stirred with grievous envy of their own, pondering at once the miracles of the present gift and reckoning in order the family of his known lineage, mused among themselves these things with murmuring voice: 'Is not this the offspring of the carpenter, whose name is Joseph? Is not Mary his mother, and the offspring of his brothers well known? Whence, then, is he a teacher of the law and a minister of such great power, to whom the conquered ruin of evils yields?' So spoke the people of Nazareth; to whom Jesus returned such words: 'Miracles are always despised in their own shores, and prophets remain without honour under their native seat.' Indignant at such things, Christ checked his gifts.

Meanwhile to the proud king the report kept flying, that the divine power subdued for him all evils. But Herod supposes that John, released by the law of death, holds such gifts of so great a power. For once, the demon, seeing with an envious breast that the just John was loosing the blemish of error with pure waters, the most savage plague, kindled by the harms of evils, then sought King Herod. And easily penetrating the dwelling of his unjust heart, it drove him to heap up impious crimes with savage deeds. Herod had burned, inflamed with unlawful love, for his brother's marriage-chamber, which by chaste right the learned John forbade. But his ferocity, ignorant of the right, subjected the laws beneath his feet and enjoyed the abominable union, and the very man who forbade his depravity he weighed down, plunged into the darkness of prison and into chains.

For at first the thirsting savagery, restrained by fear, held back from the blood of the just man, since the people's great reverence embraced John the prophet. But it happened that on his birthday, when the tyrant Herod, in his merriment, was setting out banquets on lofty tables, since pride, joined to luxury, takes its delight, in the midst of the young men the queen's daughter, a maiden, quickening the alternating sway of her sides with a winding motion, wove ordered dances with melodious song. And he himself, above all, was struck with wonder, astounded at the maiden's art; then, having sworn an oath, he promised that every reward whatsoever the girl might seek lay open to her. But she, keeping the impious crimes of her dreadful mother, pressed that John's head be torn from his neck and demanded the present gift be brought in upon a platter.

Herod, made sad before the weight of the present nobles, yet mindful of the binding force of his oath, reluctantly commanded that the innocent man's head be brought in and handed over to the girl. She — a horror — carried it to her mother for her wicked joys. But the disciples, weeping, buried in the earth the mangled, nameless trunk of his body, and followed Christ. When He learned of the pitiable death of the just man, He left the land defiled by innocent blood and hid Himself in the leafy shade of a secluded valley. But the gifts of His immense power followed the people. When He saw that the crowds of believers had gathered in the remote valley, He had compassion and, driving off the wasting of diseases, He subjected many bodies to healing.

And now, beneath the failing light of the setting sun, the disciples urged Christ to send away the crowds, so that each, seeking through the crossroads, might provide himself food. But He bade that for all a banquet be set there. The disciples showed that there was no more food than two fishes and five fragments of bread. 「This,」 He said, 「is enough.」 Then at once He bade the people recline and lay their limbs upon grassy couches. And looking up thereafter to heaven, after praying to the Father, He Himself divided the two fishes and the five loaves in order, and loaded the tables with rich feasts. And now — a wonder to tell — the people lay there satisfied, and afterward the servants gathered up the leftovers from the tables and filled the twelve folds of the baskets with the fragments.

The number of those dining was then five thousand men, besides a multitude of mothers and children. He then bade the disciples board the ship and cross the strait, until He should dismiss all the men, each to his own. Then He sought the high places of the mountain, and there, withdrawn, He adored the name of the Father. And now all things lay torpid in sleeping night, when the keel was furrowing the waves in the midst of the sea, tossed by the opposing blast of the rising wind. But when now the morning-star, lifting its swift risings, was pressing on the night's journey at the fourth watch of the wakeful, He, suspended upon the liquid waves, with dry footstep was making His way — a wonder to behold! And now He was drawing near the ship; but the sailors, unaware and astounded, with trembling dread set their hearts quivering, and with confused mind they raised a cry all together.

Then Christ spoke to the terrified men: 「Let all fear be gone, and let an enlivening steadfastness rule the believing mind. Behold, it is I; know Me, the teacher of your light.」 Confiding in these words, Peter answered thus: 「If Your power truly deigns to visit us, permit me likewise, at Your command, over the waters to plant my immersed footsteps upon the liquid waves.」 The Lord assented to this; and at once Peter dared to leave the ship and, leaning forward, planted his footsteps upon the deep. But when the miracles of such great things terrified his mind, and he saw the threats of the wind grow frequent, little by little, melted by wavering fear, those waters which had borne the strong oak of faith gave way. And now Simon, submerged to the middle of his body, cried out:

「Snatch me up, O Christ, as I perish in the dreadful waves!」 At once the right hand was stretched forth to meet Peter, and his doubted faith was chided with bitter words, and the contrary blasts gave way to the boarded ship. And all who in the vessel shared the same fortune, marveling, asked and stood amazed at the present Offspring of God. At last the keel, furrowing the seething straits, had crossed over, and the heavy anchor had taken hold of the longed-for harbor. The peoples gathered along the shores in swift course, carrying their sick, and they longed to touch the outermost threads of His garment — and, a marvel, by this gift all believing reported full health restored throughout their limbs. Behold, the Pharisees and scribes, deceitful on this side and that, lying in wait for Christ, brought forth their false sayings: 「Why does Your teaching allow the disciples to stumble from the precepts of the elders?

For the care of washing the hands is neglected, and they take their food together with their uncleanness.」 He spoke beneath these words: 「It is more worthy to ask why you all betray that you have transgressed the precepts of God. For God threatens death by fixed law, if a parent be wounded by anyone with a bitter word, or a mother be assailed by a son's harsh sayings. You make these things void by your perverse teaching. How manifestly do the prophet's words flourish concerning you: This people exalts Me with honor on the surface of their lips, but the diverse secrets of their heart wander far off. Receive therefore, all of you, and turn the ears of your heart: Whatever things are brought into a man shall not besprinkle him with shameful uncleanness, nor settle upon his life or his soul.

But the things which burst forth from the inner chambers of men's mouths — these, once uttered, wretchedly stain the inner mind.」 The disciples told Christ that the words of the One speaking were drawing the scribes' breasts to hidden laughter. He then said: 「Our Father shall utterly cast far off, torn up by the roots, those seeds of plants which He Himself did not sow in the field of His own land. If a blind man chances to get a blind leader and wanders astray, both shall fall together, plunged alike into a pit.」 Then Peter asked to have it resolved what the question meant which He had just given to the Pharisees and scribes. Then the Sower of eternal life answered thus: 「You too shut out all His commands with a hard heart, and the hesitation of your mind admits not the light.

For whatever things come from outside into men's mouths go into the belly and pass on unknown to the soul. But the things which men's mouths bring forth, conceived in the inner breast, these can pollute the mind with the besprinkling of stain and defile a man with unclean guilt. From the secret of the heart are brought forth noxious counsels of life, and murders, and unspeakable thefts of the marriage-bed, and frauds, and the deceitful error of men in place of witnesses, and the swift madness of a voice that beats against heaven. These are what defile a man, what fill him with uncleanness. But to take earthly food at the body's choice with unwashed hands never pollutes.」 When He had given these words, He sought the most beautiful lands of the Syrians, both Sidon and Tyre:

When a woman with disheveled hair, pleading the case of her daughter lying ill, cast herself down with prayers and did not cease anxiously to entreat the silent Christ, that He might restore the mind tormented by a savage demon, and that it might at last be granted the wretched girl to come to her senses again. Then to the prayers of the pursuing disciples also He answered that He preferred to gather His Father's own sheep, which vain error had scattered far and wide. Then to her, pressing more insistently, Jesus spoke such words: 「No one shall ever take the bread from his own children and throw it to the dogs.」 Then the woman spoke thus: 「At least their portion of the table's crumbs falls to the dogs, and the masters' dinner is in no way burdened.」 Then the Lord spoke:

「Let there come to you the rewards worthy of salvation, which the strength of so great a faith has merited.」 Such things the Savior uttered with heavenly words, and the power, the demon shaken off, filled and embraced the maiden's mind, fruitful with the gifts of salvation. Thence the Preserver returned again to the Galilean shores and sat far off on the summit of a very lofty mountain. Without delay, the peoples gathered, and dragged along with them part who were captive in their eyes and a crowd feeble in their legs, and others tongueless, and a thousand names of disease. Yet from all He took away their bitter languors, and with mighty powers He bestowed His venerable gift. Then the peoples alike thronged at such great miracles and celebrated praises and thanks to the eternal Father. Christ, gathering the disciples on the mountain-top, addressed them in secret:

「My compassion for the people is great, for now the third light of the sun returns to the lands since they have taken no nourishment of food for themselves; I would not send away so great a fasting people, lest weariness afflict the peoples as they journey along the long way.」 The disciples showed Christ that they had seven loaves and a few little fishes for the nearest nourishment. Then He bade the people lie down upon the ground's surface, and what there was, all of it, to break apart with their own palms; and He took care to give it out, table by table, to all the people. The disciples set out the feast, and the people were filled to satiety with the food; soon they gathered up the fragments of bread and brought back the baskets, seven of them, with heaped-up weight. Four thousand there had then been out of all the throng, nor did anyone count the mothers and children in the number. Thence by ship He crossed over into the regions of Magadan.

Behold, the Pharisees and the deceitful Sadducees pressed on, trying to demand heavenly signs. But Christ, discerning their deceitful breasts, said: 「As often as the moist night closes the vaulted sky, if the ruddy evening proceeds from the star-bearing Olympus, you say: Clear weather will come with the coming light. And now at the rising of the sun, when the gloomy clouds are mixed with ruddy, confused-light color, you say that to farmers and sailors there comes the crashing rage of the winds and the fury of storms. O deceivers, you know how to discern the face of the heaven, but do you not know how to explore the times of the ages by their proper signs?

But to you a sign shall be given, which once came from the immense deep of the sea, when the monster held the seer beneath the prison of its belly.」 He said this, and quickly loosing the ship's cables, he sped across the straits to reach with swift course the fields of the Philippians, and to his companions spoke such things: 「Let the harmful grain be carefully avoided by you, and the fierce leaven! Turn it away from your tables. The deceitful Pharisees and Sadducees mix it into the food and deceive under the name of bread.」 「Why does hesitation turn over your silent minds? Alas! how small a faith grows faint with dulled sense! You say, turning away, that there had been no leisure for you to take up loaves on the ship, and that I bid you beware of the snares of the grain;

I thought you remembered and knew that five loaves filled five thousand of the people with feasts, and that superfluous fragments to such a heap of food were gathered in baskets; and again that four thousand of those dining the seven loaves easily filled, and you saw the baskets brought back again, filled with the leftovers. But I warn you ever to beware the leaven of these men.」 The disciples at last, following the life-giving words, discerned that the teaching was meant by the name of leaven. Thence, when they had come by the surface of the liquid deep to the famous fields which are strong with the Philippian name, He gathered the council of His following disciples and asked whom the report of the peoples supposed Him to be. They answered that there were then many sayings of the people:

that they had quite often heard, and that many affirmed, that He was the just John, who washed the peoples in the river. Part recounted the words made known to them by flying rumor, that Elijah had come again — he whom of old, by a swift chariot, the fervid force of rapid flame, feigned in a heavenly whirlwind as a four-horse team, set among the stars. Others said that the prophet Jeremiah had appeared. Then Christ, smiling on all with a gentle heart, inquired what the opinion of the disciples might be. But steadfast Peter said: 「You are the Son of the Holy One, the Christ, who fills the lands with magnificent light.」 Then the Lord answered strong Peter thus: 「Peter, blessed shall you be, for to reveal such things human blood, or the body which is a portion of earth, shall never be able.

The Father's gifts alone can grant so strong a strength of faith. You bear the name of Peter with worthy virtue. On this mass and on the strength of the rock I will set a dwelling that shall ever remain, with eternal walls. This house shall have, against the gates of hell, a barrier not to be overcome, fortified with perpetual strength; and to give you the keys of the heavenly kingdom is My purpose; and whatever you shall leave bound on earth by your judgment shall remain knotted likewise in heaven; and what your sentence shall again loose on earth, those things shall come no otherwise loosed beneath the seat of heaven. But you disciples, refrain from telling all that I say I am the Christ, that only the worthy may know such things.」

Now the light shall come, pressing upon Me with swift courses, when within the walls of Jerusalem a madness, bent in fury, shall sate the foremost of prophets with My blood. But when the third sun shall give back its light-flowing rising, Life shall rise up for Me, crowned alike with the rays of salvation, and shall give its gifts to all the lands.」 Then Peter, struck in his heart with great grief, said: 「Far be such mournful horrors, O Christ, from Your holy ones; far from Your limbs; nor is it right to believe so great a thing, nor can so harsh a fate befall You.」 Christ to this said: 「Away from here, away, flee far off, demon. Divine prudence touches not your mind, but you savor earthly things and tremble with soft fear.

But if any of you would follow My footsteps, let him deny himself, refusing both body and soul, and let him rejoice to add his own cross to our company — to him glory shall redeem the life he lost; for the possession of light, kept on earth, perishes. But what shall the mortal gains of the age profit, if they incur the loss of light and of perennial life? Or what worthy exchange can be set against the soul? The Son of Man shall come here in the name of the Father, and the heavenly ministers, accompanying Him with a roar, shall throng about Him, and He shall render to men their due of life. I speak the truth:

I shall find certain ones standing here beneath the threshold of light, when I take up the shining kingdoms of heaven.」 When He had given these words, after twice three days' lights had passed across the lands with the turned heaven, He then bade Peter and the two sons of Zebedee climb with Him a steep, sheer mountain by trackless ways. When they had come to the summit of the secluded mountain, at once Christ was transformed in face with flashing brightness, and His garment shone with the whiteness of snow. The companions looked and saw Elijah and Moses standing in the midst with the holy ones. Then Peter spoke such things: 「Consider whether it is fitting rather for us to depart far off, or here to behold the spectacle of so great a thing;

yet here, if You command, I will make three tents for You with the diverse arrangement of foliage, which as several canopies may receive you toward night.」 While he was speaking such things, a most resplendent cloud from heaven, cast around their eyes, clothed the mountain with light, and a voice ran forth manifest from the midst of the light: 「This is My only-begotten Son, My highest will; lay hold of His righteousness with a righteous heart.」 The disciples pressed the earth with terrified bodies, nor dared they to lift up their faces from the prone fall before Christ's right hand, with a holy touch caressing them, had strengthened their breasts with gracious words:

「Rise up, and bravely tread down abject fear; nor let the present vision be disclosed in words to anyone, until the comely Offspring of Man shall first bring back here into the light the trophies from the seat of death, bearing them again.」 They rose and saw only Him, and asked with their voice why the faction of the writings of the old scribes contended that Elijah must first return from the seat of heaven to the lands, and that thereafter Christ's light must rise up. Christ to this said: 「Elijah shall come at the appointed time as commanded, soon rendering all things due to the age. But if anyone believes, he had already come before, born anew, whom, as if unknown, the blind rage of fury plunged into death; soon a fiercer second slaughter, lo, with savage manglings, presses upon the Son of Man.」 He said this and sought the people again, and left the mountain.

But behold, with bent knees and dissolved in weeping, an elderly man, venerating Christ with prayers, adored Him: 「Offspring of David, the light and salvation of men, I pray You, drive away the horrible disease from my son's body, and restore to an old man the solace of his life. For the course of the moon torments my son by a demon's craft, and casts him down headlong into the liquid waves, or hurls the wretched one rolling into the midst of fire. For Your disciples, often following Your commands, striving, gave me no gifts toward a full cure.」 Then Christ, moved in His heart with great grief: 「O race of no faith, race ever savage, lo, shall I even endure to be on the earth with you?」 Thus He spoke, and bade the boy be brought to his parent before His face.

Then with the great weight of His voice He pressed upon him, and at once He put to flight the shattered poisons of the dreadful demon, the heart being cleansed together with the mind. The disciples kept asking why the so-often-attempted cure of that same boy had not succeeded for them. The Lord answered: 「Because in your breast a faith staggers, unstable, faltering with footsteps over slippery ground. For if there were in you a sure portion of believing, such as could equal the smallest mustard seed, you could pluck up this mountain hence by a word and roll the whole mass over into other seats. For this kind of disease prayers without end, and faith, and the many fastings of a robust heart keep at bay.」 Thence, walking on, He came to the shores of Capernaum. Those whom the care of the tribute presses met Peter, demanding payment of the customary due in the name of Christ.

But He, turned toward Peter, spoke such things: 「Tell me,」 He said, 「from whom have kings bidden tribute to be paid for them — from strangers or from their own sons?」 Peter answered: 「It is certain that strangers pay it.」 「You see,」 says Christ, 「that the king's son does not pay; but lest I offend anyone, receive our command: Behold, the highest rock which juts forth into the deep of the resounding sea — let it be climbed by you, Simon, and let a hook, fastened with a thread of bristles, be cast down into the deep. And the first fish that shall have caught upon the curved point — let the inner parts of its split belly be opened; there, found within, pay the double tribute.」 The disciples thereafter asked who was greatest in the high kingdom of heaven for whatever merits.

Then Christ bade a child stand in the midst of the assembly, and the Teacher spoke forth with calm discourse: 「Whoever desires to ascend the lofty seat of heaven, behold, let him fit himself in character like to this child. It is certain that the snares of error shall increase for the ages, but unhappy nonetheless is he through whom error shall be begotten. But whoever shall deceive any one of these little ones, if he be wise, let him bind round his neck a millstone and hurl himself headlong into the waves of the sea. Nor let anyone in arrogance despise these little ones. Their guardians in the heavenly seat behold the face of the high-throned Father beyond the stars.

But if any shepherd, to whom the entrusted pastures shear a hundred bleating sheep, when one perchance is held apart, lost, by unwitting straying — the seeker leaves all and traverses the footprints of the one through whole forests, if with great labor he might find it; then greater joy arises over the one found than over the number of all, because none of them strayed. Thus our Father does not suffer any one of these little ones to perish, and rejoices that His kingdoms increase by His own.」 「If you see your own brother stained with a fault, soon rebuke him in secret, alone, by words. If, patient, he praises the governance of your words, you shall gain the mind of your falling brother as a brother. But if he despises the words of you alone, scorning them, then let an admonisher repeatedly press the holy commands upon others likewise.

But if he shall shake off the reins of two teachers, then let his crimes be referred to the full council, so that at least he may be healed by the weight of the conquered people. But if, untamed, he shall despise even the mouths of many, let him be to you, condemned, under the name of a foreign nation. For our presence shall ever come into the council, and it is necessary that I stand in the midst of two, or whenever there be a gathering of three under our name.」 Then Peter asked how many of a brother's errors he should remit — whether, perhaps, seven of men's lapses might be allowed. Christ continued:

「Not seven crimes only, but let the wounds be forgiven a brother tenfold beyond.」 「For the kingdom of heaven is like the hall of a very rich lord, who bade the account of money be set before him, and ordered a servant who owed many talents to be seized and, with wife and offspring and all his goods, to be set up under sale's name. Then the servant, with body prostrate, adored the lord and promised that, if any opportunity of time were granted him, he would discharge to the lord the whole sum of the money. The pity of the weeping servant moved the lord, and he granted to the servant all the debts beyond his desert. But he, going out, finding a fellow-servant on the very threshold, seized and bound him; then, stronger, he demanded that the debt be paid in full, and, truculent, drove off the place for prayers, and kept him plunged in the darkness and punishments of prison.

After the lord began to learn these things by the servants' words, he uttered most just sayings, grieving, to the servant brought to him, and stirred up wrath, and with severe commands thrust the savage one into torments, recounting all the debts, until he should pay with worthy punishments through chains. 「So shall the Father do to you, who possesses the heights of heaven, if, harsh, with a savage heart, you shall be unwilling to punish the sins of repenting brothers.」 Such words He gave; and He left the fields of Galilee and sought Judea, where the green Jordan, silently with pleasant course, bursts through the rich lands. Nor any the less, He grants to give the sick to health upon their beds, and bestows the gifts of the sublime Father.

Behold, the Pharisees, tempting, proceeded to ask whether it was lawful to sever the rejected bond of a spouse, whatever it might be that touches the heart of an offended husband. When Christ perceived this, He brought forth such things: 「In the beginning God established on earth a pair, unlike in sex, and bade them be knit from one body, and the souls of both to grow together into joined limbs. What therefore God bids to grow together by His own word, it is unlawful for men to separate by foul lust. Moses commanded, because he saw hard hearts, to write a divorce, by which stony hearts might be bound by their own marks under a judge with flame. For whoever shall rashly dissolve the rights of the chaste marriage-bed, and another wife shall be joined to his bridal chambers, he shall undergo the crime of adultery under the witness of the people.」 The disciples replied:

「This law presses upon men and burdens with no even weight the portion of servitude, so that it were better to have done without the hated marriage-chambers.」 The Lord answered: 「Not all shall set their shoulders beneath so great a weight; such gifts of virtue are given only to the chosen. Bodies are mutilated in a threefold manner, which take no joy in the genital law of the marriage-bed. For we have found that some such are begotten into the shores of light; an iron force strips very many of men of their sex; and it is established that others themselves remove from their breast a love prone toward the kingdoms of heaven.

Whoever shall be capable, let him lay hold of it by lofty virtue, the gift which God wills to reveal to the few and chosen.」 He said this, and the children, whom the joyous care of parents was eagerly bringing here and there with glad prayers, He received; and He rebuked the throng of His followers, in that they would forbid it, and affirmed that such ones merit the kingdoms of the heavenly court. He laid His holy palms upon them in order, and gave them back to be carried in their parents' arms. But behold, from the people a young man, to whom there belonged fields and a house and treasure, a shining possession of goods, approached and, openly humbled, adored Christ: 「O good Teacher, tell now what deeds we are to follow, that I may lay hold of perpetual life?」 To these, then, Jesus, the Author of life, gave such reply: 「Now at last do you ask the things which are held by the old law?

You shall not destroy a man's life, you shall not invade the thefts of the marriage-bed, nor shall the noxious mind or right hand gather gain from another's goods, you shall not speak false as a witness. Let your father and mother be sublime in your honor, and let your neighbor and brother yield to you in love for your sake.」 He thereupon: 「These things I reckon to have been ever observed by me with perpetual care; but lest perhaps something left out be lacking, let me be admonished by Your present voice.」 Then Christ said: 「Now if you seek to lay hold of the perfected heights of life by most exalted merits, all that you alone retain in your own dominion, sell off and confer, untroubled, upon the wretched needy.