Gospel Epic 1 part 5/6

Then there shall be for you a treasure stored up in the citadel of heaven, and, holding fast to virtue, you shall follow our footsteps.」 When these words came through the youth's ears, he cast down his face and, sorrowful, fled back into his dwelling. Then thus the one hope of life spoke to the disciples: 「It is difficult for those fixed to earth by rich treasure to be torn away and to come, light, into the kingdoms of heaven. For the deformed, monstrous limbs of a camel could sooner pass through the slender eye of a needle than a rich man could see the heavenly kingdoms.」 Astonished at such things, the companions were silent and stupefied, pondering what so great a virtue might be within the human breast which could lay hold of such a life. The glory of the eternal life of the just regarded them and said:

「These things may perhaps seem harsh to man, but God spreads open before the elect an easy and possible way into the heavens, which lofty virtue may attain.」 Then Peter, fortified by the walls of faith, began: 「We long ago left behind all that was ours, cast aside, and to follow Your commands is the one hope that remains to us. What remains for our souls? Tell us, O Christ, we pray.」 To Peter with such words Jesus replied: 「You, whoever of you, believing, keep My way in the deep recesses of your mind — when the Offspring of Man shall sit on high, whom Majesty shall gird with lofty honor, there twice-six fairest virtue shall establish seats for you on the sublime summit, and you shall be permitted likewise to handle the judgment of men.

Here whoever shall leave his kin and his lineage and his house, his treasures and all his affections, for our name, shall thereafter receive a hundredfold and perennial life. The last shall surpass the merit of the first, the foremost shall scarcely receive the last rewards.」 「Like the diligent lord of an estate, whose sweet farm in fertile fields broad vineyards crown all about; he, having gone forth at the first light of the sun, hired the strongest vigor of youths, having bargained for the labor of a single day's light at a fixed wage, and then bade them dress and trim his vineyards. But he himself, going out when the third hour had come, behold, found others and bade them join the work, promising rewards worthy in proportion to the merits of the labor; they no otherwise, glad, followed the commands.

But when the sixth hour of the light had thereafter flowed past, no otherwise he proceeded to hire other youths from here. And when the ninth hour was thereafter driven on by the sun's courses, then he likewise bade other hired ones to come. The last portion of the failing light remained: going out, he saw youths and inquired the reasons why with idle hands they were sluggish in slow leisure. They said that no commands of a hirer had been given them. The lord then bade these too set to work in the field. But as soon as evening had arisen, he bade that all should receive the honor of their wage, and all should carry rewards in an equal coin. Then that band of men, who at the first light had borne the labor and endured the heat of the day in their deeds, indignant, spoke with themselves with such murmuring:

It is unjust that we should be looked for to receive a coin like to those whom the last hour late had joined to the work. Then the lord of the estate, with calm breast, said: An undiminished portion of the safe wage is rendered to you, and the rights of the faithful bargain are kept. Let it be permitted to grant so much of our own to these whom the last portion of the work gathered late to the field. For holy esteem has called many men, of whom it is right to set apart the smallest worthy part.」 He said this, and sought Jerusalem again, and addressed His companions apart, and on the lonely paths of the journey began: 「We go forward, knowing it, and approach savage walls.

Here the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the uttermost of death, bearing in His limbs the mockeries of scribes and nobles, and, affixed to the cross, after the third light He shall rise again.」 Here then the wife of Zebedee, humbly submissive, was asking that her happy sons might sit at Christ's right and left, sublime in the citadel of heaven amid the midst. Then Christ asked whether they could take the cup which He was pressed, by the Father's precepts, to take. They answered that they could, together. Then Christ said such things: 「It is right that you should drink our cup, but to sit on the high seats with Me in equal honor — this our power shall not give to anyone as a gift. These sublime gifts the Father reserves for certain ones.」 Thereafter, when all the disciples were stirred up by such sayings, He soothed them with such honor of discourse:

'Upon faithless nations a lofty power imposes dominion over all who lord it over them, and they vent their savage wrath upon the cities they subject. But among you a far more peaceful course of life lays its course in harmony, with gentle moderation and peace; and the great one grows above the heights by humble service. Nor can any one be first, the single chief, unless he serves all. So the Son of Man, your servant, alone by his own obedient service bears the dutiful gifts, and, redeeming many with his precious blood, he saves them. But you wish to rise above out of the smallest resources, and so, fallen from the heights, you grasp at the lowest. If anyone invites you, setting out a banquet of supper, let whoever is wise avoid placing his limbs at the topmost couches.

'Perhaps if another nobler guest should come, he will be shamefully forced to yield the place of honour, whom the swelling of an inflated heart had set among the highest. But if he is content to take a humbler place at the supper, and if presently a lesser guest comes after, then with modesty he will pass over to the better-spread couches.' Then he climbed the nearest heights of the mountain near Jerusalem, which shine with rows of grey-leaved olive. From here Christ ordered chosen ones of his following disciples, pointing out the dwellings of a village lying before them, to bring back from there a she-ass found together with her accompanying foal; and, should anyone wish to inquire the reason why their beasts were so suddenly being led off, to say then that the Lord wished to take their service for himself. The disciples fulfilled his commands with swift readiness.

They led them up and spread soft garments over the gentle colt as a covering, and offered him a seat. Hence flowed of old the voice of the ancient prophet's announcement: 'Behold, your gentle king comes to you, whom, as he sits, the back of the she-ass and the following colt bear.' Then all the people strewed the road with garments, and wherever Christ's path lay they crowned it with woven boughs. Others stripped the nearby palm-groves of their green and all cried aloud together: 'To him sprung from David's lineage, Hosanna; let joyful glory be to the lofty trophies!' Thus indeed Christ entered the walls of Jerusalem. As he entered, beneath the very first threshold of the temple a throng feeble in their legs and eyes met him, eagerly vying.

When the whole faction of priests in wonder recognized these men so suddenly vigorous in step and sight, and the children filling the temple roofs with their cry, 'Hosanna to him born of David's noble stock,' they all questioned Christ himself what was the cause of the shout that lifted up in joy so great a crowd of the unripe young. Christ to this: 'You are believed to hold the writings of the holy Law, which says that from the mouth of infants and the tongues of sucklings the just praise rises up.' This he said, leaving the ungrateful city with its citizens, and made for Bethany; and returning, at the roadside he sees a fig tree stretching out its spreading shade. There, by chance, the desire of the heart testing for food handles the branches of the tree, but no supply of fruits had grown up in the barren shade of its foliage. To it Christ says:

'May there never be for you any abundance of fruits to bring forth.' Then at once the tree withered. The disciples marvelled at the swift death in the tree. But Christ, standing by the astonished men, spoke thus: 'Now you have been amazed for our honour that this wood has ceased to draw earthly saps for its strength. But with true words I shall warn again and again: for if firm faith stands fast in the citadel of the mind, and does not, wavering with doubtful failings, lie trembling, the substance of this tree will yield to us. And not only of this tree, but the lofty heights of a mountain can be torn away by the word of believers and hidden together in the waters of the deep, with their forests and rocks and wild beasts. And whatever faith demands with a robust breast, it will always obtain by the worthy power of believers.' When he had given these words, he betook himself within the walls of the temple.

At once the chief men of the people, gathered together, inquired about the marvels of these things, what so great a power had granted them. To them Christ says: 'It is now easy to tell you, who ask, all things, if first your opinion, questioned by us in turn, resolves a few words for us. Lately John, who washed away the stains of the filthy people with his pure stream — did a divine power or rather the deceit of a man seem to you?' This he said, closing with the double weight of his words the mind of the leaders who were trying to entrap him; for a great reverence of the people received John as a prophet, nor could they call his life deceitful. On the other hand, had they said he was an exalted prophet, the confession would have drawn the guilt of having killed him. Yet the deceitful faction answered that they did not know. Then Christ:

'It is not unjust to close my voice, since the proud answers of the leaders are closed to me. For the father of twin offspring gave such words into the ears of the elder: "A great portion of vine, half-pruned, lies for me. But go and, pressing with strong force now with the spade, now with the pruning-hook, beat back the vineyards." Then the young man relates that he is unwilling to endure such mean words of labour. Afterward he carries out all the commands of his parent and, condemning his own answer, checks himself. After the other son, with similar speech, he ordered to discharge the commands of his labour at his vineyards. The young man assented to these, yet did not match his words with deeds. Tell me, which of the two rather followed the commands of his father?' They together praise the answer of the latter. Christ continues: 'Now mark true words.'

'Now those who out of the vices of the body seek filthy gains can grasp the seat of heaven sooner than any of you. For to you the just John had come before, but to believe is not in you. For the breasts of harlots rather drew in a sure faith and laid aside the shameful filth of the soul. But you never repent at all of such great crimes.' Just so, a certain rich man, whose enclosing hedge confines around many acres of shining vineyard, made in the midst a tower and a wine-press and vats, and appointed tenants and let out the fruits to be held, establishing the imposed law of paying his due. Then he sought a distant land, but at the fixed time of the harvest he sends his servants as agents, that a safe portion be given to him from the tenants by the sure rent of the field.

Behold, the frenzy of the tenant-farmers drives off some of these with savage lashes, others with stones hurled on every side from their missiles; finally they lay low many with a deadly wound. Then the lord of the field orders more servants to go, and again demands back the agreed payment; but a bolder and greater outrage rises up against the larger number. The lord's last resolve now is to send his son, since a worthy dignity of self-respect demanded that his offspring, who was a part of himself, should be held venerable in the tenants' hearts. But against this, their mind, already stained with blood, having destroyed the offspring so that after the lord's death the dominion might pass to them, they slay him, pierced with a cruel wound, and cast the corpse out beyond the enclosures. After this the lord will now come and demand punishment for such great crimes.

'But the seat of the shining kingdom once handed over to you shall be transferred and borne to a peaceful nation, which can render the fruits.' As a king, binding the bonds of the bridal chamber for his son, commands that the nobles should throng to the joyful banquet, summoning them by his servants to celebrate together the honour of the royal vow; but all refuse to approach the royal chamber, the cups of the royal table. After others he sends, saying that he has prepared all most lavishly and magnificent feasts, joyful banquets. They, neglecting the riches, sought diverse things. This one his own house, that one the buildings of a neighbouring field, while another rather revisits his merchandise and gains. Many besides seize the innocent servants who had been sent to summon them to the festivities, and torture their bodies to death with the sword.

Then the king, when he learned what had been done, with armed thousands overthrew the citizens together with the very walls, the avenger of the servants' shed blood. Then he says to his servants: 'Now my nobles have scorned to touch at my tables the festal nuptial feast, whatever we have prepared for him with most lavish riches. Go therefore quickly through the public enclosures of the streets, and whomever chance has gathered there, all of them invite here, calling them to my son's joyful wedding.' The servants going forth through all the crossroads of the streets led together those they found. So at last all the tables are filled with a mingled, nameless crowd. Here the just and the unjust alike reclined, invited. But the king, having entered, revisits the joyful banquet. Here he sees one clad in the garment of a defiled robe, whose tongue had been discordant with the joys of the bridal hall.

And when he, by the weight of the royal speech, is bidden to render the reasons for the stains and defilement of his garment, with mouth of an impure breast he kept silent, oppressed. And then the king, turning to his servants, orders that man, with his hands and feet bound together and his whole body, soon to be hurled, snatched away into the deep darkness. There shall be the gnashing of a vast and endless grief, and weeping for ever. For though many are often called, a fortunate selection of few men shall be made.' As he was saying such things, at once the gnashing faction undertakes to test him with malicious, deceitful words: 'It is certain that you have now come as a truthful master, and, fearing no one, you keep to the Lord's footsteps.'

'Tell us then, is it lawful for our nation to dissolve the tribute always pressing under the law of urging Caesar?' But he, looking into the inmost recesses of their savage heart: 'Why do you now test me, trying to entrap me with words, you deceivers? The deceit of your mind betrays its fruit. Look upon the coin and the bronze of the engraved minting, where it is easy to discern Caesar's stamped face. Now pay to him the tribute under his own law, and let us keep for God his own honour of the Law.' After this the Sadducees press from here and there with their barkings: 'Moses, who laid down the precepts of the laws, ordered that if anyone should leave his marriage by premature death, with no pledges yet sprung from the seed, a binding bond should again be owed to the brother of this man, lest a portion of the fallen lineage should perish.'

'In our borders there were seven bodies of brothers; but the first, the elder, presently took the bonds of a bride, and fell beneath the swift edge of death. After him another brother, with the same marriage chamber and no fruit, perished, and all the brothers in their order lay dead. And the weeping of one wife mourned them all; afterward the harshness of cold death snatched her too. If therefore they all shall come beneath the threshold of life, to whose marriage shall the woman be restored when she rises again?' To them Christ says: 'A hard mind, prone to perverse error, resists the laws and commands of the Lord. For the second restoration thereafter, of joyful life, knows no marriage chambers, no vain joys of earth, but the sublime power of the kingdom will set them like the light ministers beside the Father in the hall.'

'Nor does God prefer to set himself as the lord of those who, prone to evil, have deserved to take a foul death, but rather of those who are able to grasp the light of life.' Behold, others ask what are the firmest things of the Law. He, untiring, refused his answers to none: 'Let the devotion of the heart love the sublime Lord of heaven; this is the firmest power of the Law. Like to this: let the inmost depths of a just mind be held by great love toward a brother's right; for on these two commands all things depend. But whose offspring does the Christ seem to you to be, to come — whom all the prophets pledge for the ages?' They answer that he will be born of David's seed. Christ continues:

'Why is it written that David, by divine inspiration, called him both Lord and God, which it is not right for a father to say of a son?' Thus the Saviour; all stood dumbstruck, silent. But he, having summoned the believing crowd, declares: 'Look upon the scribes proud in their lofty seat. Whatever they teach, it is right to grasp with the obedience of the heart, but spurn the stains of their own life. For they lay broken burdens on your shoulders, which they themselves are unwilling even to touch with a finger. They are exalted by the first place at the supper and by proud arrogance and by the empty honour of those who greet them, and they wish to bear the sublime name of master.'

'But I would not have you affect the citadel of an exalted name; yet there is laid upon you one eternal power of the Master by the law of heaven, the same that has joined you to your brethren in equal love. Likewise there is one Father, who reigns on the summit of heaven. If anyone among you shall lift up a haughty neck, he shall fall and be plunged to the depths of the pit in mire; but the humble shall freely ascend, set free, into the bright air. Ever to be wept for are the scribes and the lamentable age, and the blind deceit of the Pharisaic people toward all. For since the road is rightly denied closed to you, you do not allow anyone to pass through the steeps of light, and you drag all to the fellowship of the savage flame. I will call you like to tombs splendid in their gleam, whose face is bright, but whose inner parts are foul as graves.'

'So your voice is veiled beneath the image of a just life, and filthy hearts are hidden in the inmost recesses of the mind.' O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who often with the sword slew without end the prophets sent to your life, how I wished to protect your nation and people, as a bird is wont to cherish her sweet chicks beneath her body, enfolding them round with the shelter of her wings! But to you the heavenly gifts are ever vile. This house is now abandoned, to be laid waste in ruins, nor is it any longer permitted you to behold our face.' He goes out of the temple, and pointing out its lofty walls to his disciples, taught them with such discourse: 'Do these marvels of works seem to you worthy of dumbstruck gazing?'

'But learn from true words that soon all these things shall lie scattered far and wide upon the ground.' Saying this, he had reached the height of the Mount of Olives. The disciples, after they saw him alone, were asking that he would mark out for them the time of the age to come, that they might grasp the end which his promises seek, and that the coming of him should consume the circle of the earth. To their inquiring words Christ replied thus: 'Beware of deceit, lest credulity, caught by a false name, be cast headlong into the snares of those who wander. The fires of wars shall run through all lands.'

'But stand firm with the mighty strength of your heart, lest your mind lie troubled when the tumult is received. For the first battles will not soon impose the end: nations against nations and kings against kings shall bear hostile standards; nor then shall diseases spare to corrupt the expanse of the air, nor plagues spare to lay low bodies. The earth, too, fixed with solid weight through the void, in diverse places shall tremble with quaking motion. These shall remain as small trials at the first beginnings. Many of you shall be betrayed and given over to death, and for my name the nations must press upon you with torments and savage punishments and hatreds. There shall be malice in the lands, all things full of errors, and false prophets shall arise to the ruin of the peoples.'

'Amid these things, if anyone can keep his breast guarded from wounding to the end, he shall come, crowned with the eternal garlands of the light of life, to the heights. The celebration of the kingdoms of heaven shall fly through into all the bounds of the earth; every nation shall have a witness of holy salvation in light-bringing speech. And then the end shall be, dissolving the running ages. Then shall come to the lands a sorrowful lamentation, which most truly holds the foretold voice of Daniel; this only a worthy reader will be able to understand. The Jews shall flee far and make for the mountains, nor let anyone go back to his houses to take up with him in his flight a companion, or garment, or any movable thing. Already to be wept for are the mothers with the burden of the womb, and those who shall water their wretched offspring with sweet milk.'

'Pray now with prayers that your flight may not come in the sad cold of winter, nor that wavering trepidation may, with headlong course, disturb the festal sabbaths; for the most savage burdens shall come upon all lands. Such an evil neither the former ages nor the latter have known. And unless the sublime Father, in pity, were willing to cut short the time and shorten the number of days, no bodies of trembling life would survive thereafter. But for the sake of the chosen just shall pity come. False ones in the name of Christ and false prophets shall rise up in the lands and feign mighty wonders, which perhaps shall catch the chosen just by their marvels. Behold, the foretold imminent ages lie open before you.'

'If anyone shall say that Christ wanders in desert places, or that he is laid away far off in hidden recesses, let the most vain credulity be far from you. For just as the lightning crosses the open sky and is easily seen by all, from the shores of the east all the way to the west of the heaven sloping toward its setting, so by his swift coming the lights of Christ shall blaze forth. The sun shall hide its glowing rays in dusky shadows, the grace of the moon's light shall lose its course, and the fire-tressed stars shall fall and forsake the heaven. Likewise all the power of the lofty heaven, shaken, shall give signs by which the Son of Man may shine forth on the summit of heaven; and lamentation shall press all manner of tribes with continual yokes, when, mighty in majesty, the Son of Man shall come through the stars with fire-coloured clouds.'

'Then the trumpet, shrieking with terrifying clangour, shall gather the just who are summoned from the four-cleft axis of the world. For the present generation of the age shall not pass away until the following end closes upon itself all things owed to it. This earth and the heaven above shall be dissolved into fires, but my words shall never be dissolved from their order. What that day shall be, it is fitting for all to be ignorant, save the Lord of all alone, who turns the stars. As once the raging waters enwrapped the lands, and the violence of the flood snatched away in sudden draught all who were busying themselves with their diverse tasks, so suddenly our coming shall descend from heaven, rolling flames; nor shall it press all under one condition.'

'For then, when two shall cleave the joyful acres in furrows beneath the lowered ploughshare, one ploughman shall be taken up, his body caught away, and the other, unknowing, shall be left in the vast field. Indeed, even of those reclining on one straw bed, they shall undergo an unequal judgment by diverse lot. For one, left behind, shall seek his companion through the couches. Therefore let the servants keep watch, since the coming of the Lord shall descend upon them, unknowing, in a sudden hour. If each guardian of a house knew the certain time at which the thief presses on, he would keep watch and bring up arms from afar against him, lest anyone should break in and penetrate the house. But do you stand by always with intent minds, for the Son of Man shall return to you here, sudden and unexpected, keeping their rewards for the just.'

'That servant shall be faithful, to whom the man who is father and master of the house himself, departing for a long journey, wished to entrust all his house and servants: wise and exceedingly blessed is he whom the Lord, when he comes, shall see keeping his commands. Him he shall reward with a greater honour as his servant. But that wretched one, who in filthy excess shall despise his lord who tarries, and, wearing out the servants with lashes and giving himself to sluggish drunkenness, shall hold the feasts of the luxurious; the lord shall come and shall hide that mad, heedless servant, headlong, in worthy disasters of punishment. Perpetual weeping and gnashing shall await him.' The heavenly kingdoms may be compared to twice five maidens, of whom one part is wiser, the other part most foolish in their dull heart.

They all went forth to meet the bridal vows, girt with the array of flame-tressed torches. But that wise part, in order to take up the lights of the flame for themselves, took care to carry oil along with them. Of the foolish, however, the prudence is not such. And when the bridegroom delayed, then the limbs of all are loosed in sleep along the broad crossroads of the streets. Now at midnight a great cry begins to swell and arise, and thereafter it warned them to go forth to meet with a joyful vow and to adorn the ways with gleaming torches. The virgins hastened to rise, and to furnish the torches with lights and to compose the flames with rich oil. Then the foolish ask that a portion of oil be yielded to them, which they saw the prudent then carrying with them. But since the wise chorus is fearful that, if an equal share be given to all out of so little.

Lest the rich nourishment of the bright flame should fail, if an equal portion from so little be given to all, then the foolish ones go off to buy liquid oil. While they go, the joyful processions run past everything, and only the prudent company accompanies the bridegroom. The slow, dull ones arrive too late after the time, and in vain redouble their knocking at the bridegroom's doors and closed thresholds, and ungrateful press with their prayers, that it may be granted to the wretched to enter the joyful thresholds. Those women neither any of the bridegroom's companions nor the bridegroom himself wished to acknowledge. Watch in fear, since the hour of the coming is not more certain for you.

'For just as one to whom it fell to go forth into distant lands, entrusting his talents to be managed by his servants, gave five to one, and another took two to hold, while a third undertook to manage the care of one talent — since diverse powers earn diverse things. But those to whom a larger portion of money was entrusted increased it eagerly with double gains. But that one to whom the care of one talent was committed, burying it in the earth, keeps the money without fruit. And now the lord was present at hand: then the first and the second show him that they have alike doubled what was entrusted. The master praises them and promises to entrust greater things to such great faith. But that third one digs it up again and returns the talent to his lord with such a word:'

'Because I knew that I served a harsh lord, who would reap harvests sprung from another's seed, I was afraid, and chose rather to entrust your silver to the earth, that I might always return it safe to you. Then the lord, replying to his servant, begins with such words: If you dared to say you did not know my ways, I might be able to grant pardon for so great a wickedness. But this too you ought rather, in your knowledge, to have provided: that the handled money should bring us fruit. Wherefore let the portion be taken from the sluggish and thereafter let the greater possession be given to the prudent one, whom I have found to have heaped up my five talents with double gains. For it is certain that those reap better things who abound in the richer increase of an accumulated lot.'

But to him in whose sluggish heart a small substance lies beneath, that least thing shall justly be taken away utterly from him, so that the worthless servant, plunged to the lowest darkness, may frequent perpetual weeping with the gnashing of punishment.' Lo, the Son of Man shall come, attended by the Father's ministers, and shall sit as judge upon a lofty seat. Then all nations from the diverse parts of the world shall convene, and he shall separate all the just from the filth of the evil, and willingly place them on his right; but the depraved, despised, he shall leave on the left part. As a shepherd of the flock distinguishes the pastures of a mingled herd, allowing the soft meadows on the right to the wool-bearing sheep, but on the left the rough thorn-brakes to the shaggy she-goats to crop. But the king, turned toward those on his right, shall say such things:

'Hither let the holy ones come, and take up the gifts long owed by the Father, which are coeval with the shining world and are prepared and promised to the just from the first beginning. For once this people graciously refreshed me when worn out with hunger, and often removed my thirst with drink, and the hospitality of a house often lay open to me when I was called, and naked I took the most gracious coverings of clothing, and in the pains of prison I received the solaces of these.' Then the blessed reply to the Lord with such a voice: 'None of us remembers ever to have visited you naked, nor noted you oppressed by hunger under harsh constraint, nor remembers to have seen you bound in the pains of prison.' Then the judge will say such things to them in reply: 'Whoever has done these humble labours for my brethren, pitying them, it is certain that he sets a sweet fruit before me.'