The Sibyl · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Coming forth, ever bearing the sign of necessity.
It shall be, when all wretched and ill-fated, pitiably,
Ilium drains out her tomb, not marriage-song, where deep
brides shall weep, because they never knew God,
but ever gave voice to timbrels and clashing noise.
Prophesy, Colophon! A great and fearful fire hangs over you.
Thessaly, ill-wed, the earth shall no longer look on you,
nor even your ashes; alone you shall sail, a fugitive from the mainland.
To them, O wretched one, you shall be war's grim refuse,
fallen to dogs and rivers and to swords.
O wretched Corinth, around yourself heavy Ares
you shall receive, poor city, and you shall perish at each other's hands.
Tyre, how great a fate you alone shall receive! For of righteous
men bereaved, you shall be marked out by your folly.
Ah, hollow Syria, last of the Phoenician men,
against whom the Berytian brine lies belching.
Wretched one, you did not know your God, whom once
Jordan washed on the third day, and the Spirit flew down as a dove,
who, before earth itself and the starry heaven,
became the Word, self-existent, with the Father and the holy Spirit,
and putting on flesh, swiftly flew to the halls of the Father.
Three towers did great Heaven set firm for him,
in which now dwell the noble mothers of God,
Hope, and Piety, and longed-for Reverence,
who delight not in gold or silver, but in the reverent
offerings of men and in most righteous reasonings.
You shall sacrifice to the immortal God, great and majestic,
not melting frankincense grains upon the flame, nor with a knife
cutting down a shaggy ram, but together with all
who bear your blood, taking wild birds,
praying, you shall send them up, stretching your eyes to heaven;
and you shall pour out water before the pure fire, crying out such words:
"As the Father begot you, Word, O Father, I have released a bird,
a swift messenger of words, the Word, with holy waters
sprinkling your baptism, through which you were revealed by fire."
Nor shall you close your door, when some other stranger
shall come, needy, to ward off poverty and hunger.
But taking this man's head, sprinkling it with water,
pray three times; and to your God cry aloud such words:
"I do not long for wealth; a simple man, I have received a simple man;
both, grant them, Father, you the provider — hear me."
To one who prays he will grant it; and from then the man departed.
"Do not oppress me, holy and righteous reverence of God,
pure, unenslaved, proven around my birth...
steady my wretched heart, O Father; for I have looked
toward you, the undefiled one, whom no hands have made.
Sardinia, now heavy with pride, you shall be changed into ash.
You shall no longer be an island, when the tenth age comes.
Sailors shall seek you in the waters, no longer existing,
and the halcyons shall wail a pitiful lament over you.