This translation is taken from 'Sources
and Analogues of Old English Poetry - The Major Latin Texts in Translation',
translated by Michael J.B. Allen and Daniel G. Calder. It is published here
by permission of Boydell & Brewer Ltd., and may not be redistributed
without their permission. Text: CC, 122.439-44 |
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While I sat sad and alone under the covering
of a shady tree, among the flowering grasses of the fertile earth, with the
branches echoing on every side from the wind's breath, I was suddenly disturbed
by a bitter lament. I sang these mournful songs because my mind was sad when
I remembered the sins I had committed, the blotches on my life and the loveless
time of death, the great Judgment Day with its fearful trial, the strict Judge's
eternal wrath towards the guilty, all humanity on separate benches, and the
joys of the saints as well as the punishments of the wicked. When I recalled
these things to myself, I said under the quiet murmur [of the leaves}, "O
eyes, I ask you now to open your warm fountains. While I strike my guilty
breast with my fists, while I prostrate my limbs on the ground and call for
the pains I deserve, I beseech you, do not spare your copious tears! Pour
the salt drops down my sorrowing face! Reveal my sins with groaning voice
to Christ, and do not hide any fault in my heart's cave! Let all be brought
to light and declared openly: the fierce crimes of the heart, the tongue and
the flesh. The soul's only salvation and the certain hope for him who grieves
is to show his wounds tearfully to the heavenly Doctor. He is accustomed to
heal the sick and free those in chains; He does not want to break us like
quivering reeds with His right hand, nor quench us like the lamp wick’s
faint smoke with water. Isn't the thief who hanged on the Cross an example
for you of how much sin's true confession is worth? Until he was crucified,
he was a wicked man who had committed evil deeds; but at the point of death,
he cried out with words of prayer. With one word of faith he merited salvation
and entered the open gates of paradise with Christ. I ask you, my spirit,
why are you so slow to reveal yourself completely to the Doctor? My tongue,
why are you silent when there is still time for forgiveness? The Almighty
listens to you now with open ears. The day will come when the world's Judge
will arrive and you must render an account of yourself. I urge you to prevent
the Judge's wrath now with tears. Why do you lie in filth, O flesh, full of
guilt and crime? Why don't you purge away your sins with plentiful tears and
beg for yourself the comfort of a gentle remedy? While you have been given
the grace to weep with incessant tears, it is pleasant to repent now and wholesome
to weep. The eternal Judge will be mild if you submit your claim to Him now,
but heavenly God will not deliver anyone from his crimes twice. Do not scorn the times of forgiveness you
have for certain. Remember how great the torments are that await the wicked
and how the high-throned, fearful Judge will come from the heights of heaven
to give everyone his due. Remember what signs will precede Him: suddenly the
earth will tremble and the mountains crumble down; the hills will melt and
the sea confound men’s' minds with its terrible roar; the sky will be
covered sorrowfully with black shadows; the stars will fall and the sun grow
dark in the crimson east; the pale moon will not uncover her nightly lamp,
and signs threatening death will come from the sky. Having surrounded the
heavenly King with its angelic hosts, the wakened might of heaven will suddenly
arrive; sublime, He sits on His high throne, ablaze with light. When the crowds
have been assembled from all regions, we are brought before Him so each may
be judged according to his deeds. Remember the fear which will strike the
hearts of everyone brought to the tribunal, and which will make them plead
in vain. At that time the angelic troops will come with all the innumerable
throngs of heaven, accompanying the King of the sky. All men alike will be
forced to go there: those who are, have been, or will be in the future; and
everyone's every secret will be universally revealed. What the heart or tongue
or hand has done in shadowy caverns, what I am ashamed and afraid for anyone
to know, everyone alike will then be allowed to know openly. The air will
be filled with avenging flames; and fire, its reins broken, will rule everywhere.
Where the air now spreads its empty lap, the fiery flame will pour its terrible
thunder and hurry to avenge the fierce causes of crimes. Then avenging heat
will not care to spare anyone, unless he comes there cleansed of every stain.
Then the tribes and people will strike their guilty breasts with fists and
all will stand there together: the proud man and the pauper, the strong man,
the beggar and the rich man will all fear the same authority. The fire-belching
river will torture men grievously and worms will gnaw at the inmost recesses
of sinners' hearts. No one present will be able to rely on his own merits
before the Judge; but a great terror will run through every breast and the
wicked throng will be struck dumb at the same time with dread fear. What, flesh, what will you do, weeping at
that hour? The hour you now rejoice to serve, alas, with wretched lust, will
vex you then with the sharp stings of your luxury. Why aren't you afraid of
the fiery torments which evil demons have long prepared for you, and which
exceed the perceptions and descriptions of any man alive? No voice can declare
the miserable punishments, the regions of eternal hell filled with black fires
and the icy colds mingled with burning flames, the eyes weeping from the furnace's
great heat on the one hand, and the teeth gnashing from the bitter cold on
the other. With these wretched alternations the wretched wander forever in
pitch darkness and night's obscurity. No voice sounds there unless it is the
dreadful weeping all around, and no face is seen except for the faces of those
in torture. Nothing is felt except the cold and the flames. The stench of
overwhelming decay fills your nostrils and your lamenting mouth will be filled
with flame-belching fire. With fiery teeth the worms will tear at your bones.
Your breast will be tormented too with bitter thoughts about why the flesh
briefly surrendered to its own desire and incurred eternal punishment in the
black prison, where no spark of light shines on wretched men, where no peace
or mercy, or indeed hope of peace, smiles upon those who weep. All comforts
flee away. No one will be there to help you in your grievous afflictions;
no happy face will ever be seen there, only pain and lamentation, gnashing
of teeth and fear, trembling dread, weariness, sorrow, fierce indignation
and listlessness, and souls wandering among the flames in the blind prison.
Then this world's injurious pleasures will cease: drunkenness, banquets, laughter,
wantonness, jesting, fierce desire, clinging lust, wicked passion, idle sleep,
heavy torpor and lazy sloth. Now, delight seduces all the flesh and plunges
the soul into the blind whirlpool of sins; then, it will sink wretches into
the dark flames forever. How greatly and perpetually happy is the man
lucky enough to flee from these disastrous punishments. He will rejoice together
with the saints, world without end. United to Christ, he will live in the
kingdoms of heaven where no night exists to snatch away the splendour of the
pleasing light; and no grief or lamentation will come, nor feeble old age.
No thirst is present there, no hunger, sleep, or any labour; no fevers, diseases,
or injuries; no frosts, flames, weariness, sadness, anxieties, thunder, snow,
hail, tempests, anguish, poverty, sorrow, death, accidents or need. Rather
there reign peace and love, goodness and wealth, and joy, happiness, virtue,
light, eternal life, glory, praise, tranquillity, honour and sweet concord.
God Himself provides every good thing for all; God is always present. He cherishes,
fulfils and honours all. He glorifies, preserves, esteems, loves, adorns and
places the happy on heaven's high throne. He bestows celestial rewards and
everlasting gifts in the midst of angelic hosts and sacred throngs, joined
with the prophetic patriarchs and prophets. He bestows them in the midst of
apostolic citadels and happy souls; in the midst of splendid fortresses and
rosy triumphs. He bestows them in the midst of the white ranks and their maiden
flower, ranks which the loving Mother of God, the holy Virgin Mary, in shining
raiment, draws through the Father's blessed kingdoms. He bestows them in the
midst of the saints of the Church, its fathers and sons, and in the midst
of the heavenly senate with its celestial peace. What, I ask, can we consider harsh in this
world, when it permits us to live with the heavenly throngs, to rejoice always
on the blessed thrones of those above and to bless the Lord Christ forever?
May Christ keep you safe for my sake, my dearest brother [Acca], and make
you always and forever happy. Following your commands, lo, I have sung songs
of lamentation for you. I ask you to do what you promised faithfully to do:
commend me now to Christ with your prayers, I who have sung for you. Live
happy in God and say farewell to the kind brothers, Father Acca; remember
your anxious, fearful servant, and commend me in your bounteous prayers to
Christ. |
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