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The Instructions of Commodianus

Commodianus

Chapter 22

About this work

A collection of Latin acrostic poems offering moral exhortation, criticism of pagan and Jewish practices, instruction for Christians, and vivid apocalyptic expectation in an unusual popular style.

Author: Commodianus
Date: 3rd to 5th century; disputed
Origin: Latin West (uncertain)
Genre: Poetry

Both the author’s setting and the work’s date are unusually disputed; the broad bounds are intentionally cautious.

XXII.—The Dulness of the Age.

Alas, I grieve, citizens, that

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ye

are

thus

blinded

by

the

world

.

One

runs

to

the

lot

;

another

gazes

on

the

birds

;

another

,

having

shed

the

blood

of

bleating

animals

,

calls

forth

the

manes

,

and

credulously

desires

to

hear

vain

responses

.

When

so

many

leaders

and

kings

have

taken

counsel

concerning

life

,

what

benefit

has

it

been

to

them

to

have

known

even

its

portents

?

Learn

,

I

beg

you

,

citizens

,

what

is

good

;

beware

of

idol

-

fanes

.

Seek

,

indeed

,

all

of

you

,

in

the

law

of

the

Omnipotent

.

Thus

it

has

pleased

the

Lord

of

lords

Himself

in

the

heavens

,

that

demons

should

wander

in

the

world

for

our

discipline

.

And

yet

,

on

the

other

hand

,

He

has

sent

out

His

mandates

,

that

they

who

forsake

their

altars

shall

become

inhabitants

of

heaven

.

Whence

I

am

not

careful

to

argue

this

in

a

small

treatise

.

The

law

teaches

;

it

calls

on

you

in

your

midst

.

Consider

for

yourselves

.

Ye

have

entered

upon

two

roads

;

decide

upon

the

right

one

.

Notes

1
[He defers to the Canon Law and notes the Duæ Viæ.]