PHILOCRATES. Panocnus, come here in case we need you to work, lest your laziness and idleness do more harm within than your activity outside.
PANOCNUS. Master, there is no slackness in me, if you wish to use me.
PHILOMATHES. It's all over with my father's life, as I judge clearly from his last urine, for if the urine goes from a dark colour to black, it tells that death is very near. Lately he has admitted that my hand is that of a healer. Ho there.
PHILOCRATES. If that is the case, he must soon be removed. Ho there, Panocnus, come here.
PANOCNUS. What is it?
PHILOCRATES. Go to the nearby village.
PANOCNUS. I will go.
PHILOMATHES. And, as quickly as you can, bring back the priest, Hieronymus, to support my father with the sacred eucharist and, as is fitting, with the consecrated supreme unction.
PANOCNUS. I'll bring him here.
PHILOMATHES. Off you go.
PHILOCRATES. See that you don't delay and that you say that death is in my father's house.
PANOCNUS. I'll tell him.
PHILOMATHES. Ho, you, Panocnus.
PANOCNUS. What is it now?
PHILOMATHES. As part of this same job, bring a coffin from the coffin maker.
PANOCNUS. Very good.
PHILOMATHES. Contrary to his usual manner, he is quick to go off, as the business of the time demands. For death is certainly near for father. But I have not yet forgotten what you said a little before, Philocrates, both against right and against the civic laws about our inheritance. I shall not allow you to enjoy a greater part of the inheritance, unless you have first defeated me by law.
PHILOCRATES. Shall I be held back by your disgusting or repealed laws? My shield, sword and lance I offer in place of the laws. Whatever belongs by custom to the belt of knighthood, I will protect by the laws of the sword.
PHILOMATHES. If you transact the business by strength and not by law, you will prevail. But human rights also have their defenders. You will speak differently when I set a day for you and plead before the judge for the return of the money.
PHILOCRATES. Go to the devil, younger brother. Do you think that you are going to divide my father's inheritance equally with me? You are junior to me by birth and lower in rank. God, I'd prefer to bury this sword in you before I yielded to that.
PHILOMATHES. And I am not about to yield the wide ridge-pole to you, as the saying goes. You do not terrify me with your weapons. But now we must be silent for the honour of our house. For an honest man, the priest of the greatest God, whom we wished to be present for our father, is at hand and is coming here.
PHILOCRATES. Greetings. Let us follow him inside, lest, as is often done, he persuade father to distribute to the poor and to outsiders more than he should.
PHILOMATHES. We must take very great care against that, for we know that this tribe of men extort large legacies both for themselves and for others whom they favour, when they have seen that the rich man is about to end in death. Let us go now; look, some women (I don't know who they are) are approaching, making straight for this place, and the beauty of their looks tells of their high rank.
VIRTUE. Here is the man I told you about, sister dear. (Your love demands that this now be said.) Hecastus was indeed born of honest parents; he was well brought up and correctly trained and with me had a chaste companionship; he loved honesty and cursed vices. But when the boy reached the slippery age of adolescence he gradually began to slip away, to admit the vices and to forget me. Why do I delay you with more details? And why am I troublesome to you? He at last rushed headlong into every shameful act. This man, now deprived of his strength and also of the comfort of all mortals, I have pitied, remembering his former good will, and I have put heart into him and hope of the greatest salvation, if I can turn you to the clemency by which you are wont to save the wicked. Therefore, most dear sister, by the flesh of God I beseech you for pity that you may bring help before the heavenly judge to this poor wretch, whose deserts are none or are very small, so that the honour of our God may be amply multiplied with his glory, but also that this sheep, for whom the shepherd shed his blood, may be brought through you to the path of salvation and may not perish but have everlasting life and glory. If my weakness can help in any way towards this case, you will find me ready and prepared.
FAITH. You could help me, sister, because without you my work is unprofitable, not to say almost dead. But how could I help the treacherous fellow here, who also once upon a time rejected me as useless and put his trust in debauchery, honours and wealth? I cannot support him unless God, the Father of light, through his grace restore me to him now that he is a suppliant again. For no one comes to Christ unless the Heavenly Father has attracted him there of his own free will. Let there be someone to preach the gospel to him clearly, the remission of our sins through Christ Jesus; then perhaps the most merciful Father will again send me as a gift to the man, since indeed Faith is poured into the heart by the hearing, but the hearing of God comes through the Word.
VIRTUE. I agree. And thus I have urged this be done; nay, even now the learned priest is doing that in the house. Come, therefore. Let us go inside, I beseech you, sister, before either Satan, our old enemy, or ever-ready Death gets there first, so that if there be any need of you, you may be present near me.
FAITH. What you ask me to do is good, sister. Go ahead. I will follow. For here now that foul spirit has brought himself.
SATAN. My case against Hecastus I am about to write down quite fully. I'll sit down here for a little while lest, if any falsity be present in my account of his very great crimes, the whole case may turn into a weighty and disgusting argument. All you in the theatre, stop your impudence, unless you wish me to write down your jeers also. First of all, he is proud and arrogant [he writes], "proud and arrogant" and arrogant both in the house, "both in the house" and also in his dress, "also in his dress." Now the rest I will write silently lest chatterboxes hear me and give away my case.
HIERONYMUS. Your confession has at last absolved you of all your sins, Hecastus. Now you must be strengthened by the holy eucharist and the mystical unction, unless I find you hesitant in your faith in Christ. Do you believe that, to save you and all mortals, Jesus, the son of God, the true God and the true offspring of a virgin, came to this lost world?
HECASTUS. So they say. So also I remember reading.
HIERONYMUS. Do you believe that he lived without sin among mortals, that at the end he was crucified and was dead?
HECASTUS. So they say. Nay, they also declare that he was buried.
HIERONYMUS. I want you to reply for yourself whether you also believe what others write and say about Christ Jesus, the only son of God.
HECASTUS. How could I refuse to believe the most weighty authorities, who have handed down these truths to the faithful in their writings? Who doubts that Sallust wrote the truth? Or Livy? Or Caesar or the others?
HIERONYMUS. Do you believe that he was dead and buried and on the third day arose alive from the dead?
HECASTUS. Each of the evangelists confirms this, and that on the fortieth day openly in their presence he was taken up with glory to heaven and sits at the right hand of his father. Who would doubt that all things are possible, if he wishes, for God the "tout puissant"?
HIERONYMUS. Go away. Not yet is there a place for faith in you.
HECASTUS. Is it not faith to believe?
HIERONYMUS. It is indeed an act of faith to believe; yet nevertheless it will not be efficacious for you, unless your belief shall come from a living and true faith. For devils also believe and traitors tremble.
HECASTUS. What is that living faith you are preaching to me?
HIERONYMUS. I will teach it to you gradually, if you exert yourself for it. Do you believe that all the deeds which the only son of God brought to pass he did to redeem you? For you he was born? For you he lived? For you he died? For you he was buried and for you resurrected? And for you he conquered death?
HECASTUS. You show me that I am a most miserable person. For the more you unfold these teachings, the more you pile grief on me and move me to the depths of despair. For I through my filthy life have made myself most unworthy of all these favours. For I indeed know that he did this not for himself (who is just) but for his worshippers and for all sinners who, when they have recognized the truth, have not immersed themselves again in unwholesome, most foul and most grievous sins.
HIERONYMUS. Be present, Faith, for the mind of this man is now touched by fear and repentance through the consciousness of sin committed against God.
FAITH. These three things indeed--recognition of sin, dread of Hell and repentance--are certainly joyful beginnings of true salvation for all. Now proceed, that you may build up his trust towards God.
HIERONYMUS. Do you believe in the Holy Church and in the communion of all the faithful?
HECASTUS. Very much.
HIERONYMUS. Do you also believe in the resurrection of the body?
HECASTUS. Certainly.
HIERONYMUS. And in the glorious life everlasting?
HECASTUS. Very greatly.
HIERONYMUS. Why, then, do you have difficulty believing in the first article of faith introduced here, the remission of sins? Do you think, Hecastus, that he, the Father, who once through his only son redeemed you from death, to which he had delivered you, could not relieve you again from all your sins and, however great your sins, restore you to your first state of health, and that he, whose subject you are, when he so wills, can do all things?
HECASTUS. He who can do all things can do that, indeed, my lord; he can forgive me if he so wishes, but the enormity of my sins stands in the way and calls forth against me the anger of the dread judge. Indeed he can forgive me, but who would wish it who is just? Alas that I deserted you so wickedly, my Virtue, without whom I have no hope that any salvation is left for me.
VIRTUE. Let not this situation break you down, Hecastus, for though your faith has been neglected, your virtue can be recovered. Let your pastor teach you this through the word of God.
HIERONYMUS. Virtue has always been accepted by God, but not without faith and not without trust in mercy. My dear Hecastus, do you not believe that as God is the greatest so he is the best? Surely, Hecastus, his power is not greater than his mercy. Why do you not hope that he will be willing to pity you, he whom you assert can forgive you your sins? Do you believe in the remission of sins as much as you believe that Christ was born and suffered and died on the cross? Are not these beliefs, just as those, part of your faith? Was Christ born, was he defiled with blood, did he die for this, that you might believe in the remission of sins? And must it not be believed in this way that it is not only possible for him, but that he wishes to forgive their sins to all who believe in him, nay, that he has forgiven them? For if you believe in your heart what you confess with your lips, that the Father recalled Jesus from the dead, you will be saved and no danger will threaten you.
HECASTUS. You give me godly advice and you shake out tears from me, the most hardened sinner. But how would he, who is just, wish it? Would he allow so many crimes to go unpunished? O, if only you could persuade me, Hieronymus, of the kindness of my God towards me just as you could persuade me of his omnipotence, I should accept my imminent death with more equanimity (although it is bitter and dreadful), and I should gird myself with more alacrity for my departure.
HIERONYMUS. Now stand by, Faith. I will show you and, if God is propitious, I will persuade you. You have raised the objection: how would God, who is just, wish to forgive you? I reply: through Jesus Christ his only Son, whom the Father sent down to this lost world, that he might show his great favour and grace towards us, for he so loved sinners that he sent his only begotten Son that all who believed in him should not perish but enjoy everlasting life. For he who is just placed the sins of all of us on his innocent Son, so that by his own death for all men, he might abolish death in every single case. Therefore, whatever sins you and I also and each and every one of those who lived before us or are living now or will live in the future--the sins we all have committed against God will be remitted, if, after we have fallen into sin, we shall believe in him and if we shall put all our trust in him. For thus he carried all our offences in his body, so that there might be no damnation left for us who rely on Jesus Christ. Now would the Father think it just to punish those for whom he sent his son to that dreadful death? Flee, therefore, Hecastus, to Christ Jesus and put your hope and all your trust in him, through whom (if you believe in these things) you will soon gain remission of your sins and his grace.
HECASTUS. Are you sure that you can build me up to that point, Hieronymus?
HIERONYMUS. Most certainly. Do not hesitate, Hecastus, for the word of God cannot in any way be undone.
HECASTUS. O my God, I seem to be born a second time. God attributes this change to you, my dear Hieronymus, because if I had not relied on the comfort you gave me from your ordinances, in a short time my grieving soul would be living in pain among the dead. My Lord Jesus, I believe that you for my salvation died on the cross and with your blood paid my debt. You alone are my life, my trust; you alone are the anchor of my salvation. Look, father most gentle, at the face of your Christ, I beg you. See his head covered with thorns, his hands pierced, his feet pierced, his limbs torn; see the blood flowing forth, and do not judge the lost one for whose redemption you pledged the life of your son to death.
HIERONYMUS. Do not doubt, Hecastus; through this faith you are now freed from all the debts by which you are bound. God will transfer your iniquities.
HECASTUS. I believe. But there is still one thing that produces anxiety in me: dread Death and the look of the black Devil. They say that there is nothing more terrifying to men than these; I think they will be present soon.
HIERONYMUS. Certainly they will be here, but against them I will station Faith and your Virtue, to be your inseparable companions who will protect you in all perils. If your Virtue is enfeebled, a very strong Faith will support her for you. Virtue and Faith, stand beside this man and protect him, who from now on puts his trust in you against his obstreperous enemies. I am going now. Goodbye. I will return to protect you.
HECASTUS. Goodbye, best doctor. Return quickly. Stand by me, my Virtue and my Faith. Let me talk a little to you.
DEATH. What are you doing?
SATAN. I am doing what will be of profit to me. How long shall I wait for you, vile beast? While you have been making preparations, a year has gone by.
DEATH. What injury have I done?
SATAN. "What injury have I done," you say, beast? Do you see that impious man who has just gone out of here? Because of your delay, I fear by his whispering that this prey of mine has now escaped from my jaws. You are certainly ungrateful for my kindnesses to you, since through me you have extended your rule far and wide over the world, for in the beginning God did not create you. This occurred later, because I envied the man God created; when he fell from grace, you went out into the world first, and so far you have raged against all; now you warn me that I may devour only a few after my vomiting. Would that I could take vengeance on you.
DEATH. You accuse me of ingratitude, Satan, when you yourself are much more ungrateful and more shameless than I. However many thousands I bring to you to devour, I am judged guilty of bringing forward fewer, because you are so forgetful; in the meantime I may not cast in your teeth that you do not gulp down even one mouthful that I have not procured beforehand for you. But that we are bringing in fewer humans for your insatiable maw must not be put down to our idleness, seeing that it is the lion sprung from the tribe of Judah which has upset our realm the most and has brought the greatest disaster upon each of us. For he is killing me and he is swallowing you up. I have been accustomed to rage at the same time against souls and bodies; now I am scarcely allowed to rage against naked bodies. Those whom you also used to drive as your victims to your Hell with no one saying nay, this Christ, if he will defend them, will transfer even against your will to Heaven.
SATAN. It's true, sister. Let our useless quarrels cease. Let us do our business, as we've so far been accustomed to do. Let us set traps for the young and old fools. Let us, if we can, allow none of all these people to escape from this place and migrate to Heaven. And let us make our demand first of all in the case of this villain. I will go ahead; you follow afterwards. For he will not argue long with me.
DEATH. Go ahead. In the meantime I must sharpen this goad.
HECASTUS. You console me and strengthen me, my dear Faith. Do you think that a dead man will live again and that I shall see my God in this bodily state?
FAITH. You will see God with these eyes on the last day, being raised up from rot and dry dust. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead shall arise free from corruption. Do not doubt it.
HECASTUS. I do not doubt it. What then prevents me from daring to die and allowing my flesh to grow rotten?
FAITH. Nothing.
HECASTUS. Must the most foul enemy, whom I sense is now nearby, in no way be feared? Nor Death itself which they say must be feared by all mortals?
FAITH. Let those tremble with fear, who after their sins and shameful acts at last leave this place without faith. You have faith. For I shall confront these enemies and shall protect you.
HECASTUS. O horrible monster! Stand in his way, Faith.
FAITH. Against the cross no peril has strength. By this sign I will stop your enemy and drive him forth. You keep your faith. (Turns to SATAN.) Why are you standing here, you bloody beast? Go on, stand outside. There is no business here for you.
SATAN. Indeed, I have no business with you, Traitress, but that villain is mine.
FAITH. Yours? By what right?
SATAN. By what right? He has transgressed the laws of God and up to now obeyed my laws, as by these ancient codicils and also by recent ones I shall prove.
FAITH. Read on.
SATAN. First of all, he is proud and arrogant both in his house and in his dress. He is a glutton; he's a fornicator; he's an adulterer; he's an oppressor; he's a detractor; he's a scoffer; he is full of hate and envy. He does not give to charity or pray or fast or keep a vigil. He has never done anything good but always as much evil as possible. These are the outstanding headings of his sins. I will cite the rest more clearly at the last judgement before the supreme judge; these prove well enough that he will be mine.
VIRTUE. They prove well enough that you are a liar, Satan, when you say that this man is yours, you who offer very little truth and very much falsehood.
SATAN. How much falsehood?
VIRTUE. To reply only to your forged document: did he never do any good in his boyhood or in his early adolescence? At that time you could have found in him nothing except God and the practice of righteousness. Why, is there nothing in the interval since then? Is there not, even at this time, virtue in the man, in his prayers and in his works, now that Virtue is his companion? Surely it is a good work to grieve, to weep, and to believe in Christ Jesus, as you now see he does?
SATAN. Will you not be silent, you poisonous traitresses? Surely you will not dare deny that he himself has admitted these sins? Let him speak for himself. Are these sins yours, Hecastus? You have not won a victory over these sins, have you? Why are you muttering? Speak openly what your conscience dictates.
HECASTUS. Alas, my Faith, if my conscience is the witness, all these sins have been committed by me. It's all over with salvation for me, unless you help me.
FAITH. Have trust and say nothing. For I will refute all the charges he has set out, or can make, before the heavenly judge.
HECASTUS. Oh, that you could.
FAITH. Have trust and say nothing, for in hope and in silence lies your strength.
HECASTUS. I will keep quiet.
FAITH. Ho, you, Satan. He proves all your calumny is invalid, because he is a just man and is not the sort of man you say he is.
SATAN. He's not? He cannot deny that he committed all the sins I mentioned and many more than these. You will in no way prove that I am a forger.
FAITH. I will prove it. For if he was at one time such a man as you say, he is now just.
SATAN. How is he just? By what law? In front of what judge? By what merits? By what precious gifts? By what works of penance?
FAITH. I will answer all these together. He has an advocate before the Father and the heavenly judge, Jesus his son, both the most just and the most godly of persons. He indeed weighs Hecastus' justice and all his merits, and estimates that he is a just man.
SATAN. What do you say that Christ and this man have in common?
FAITH. Much indeed in every way, for by a twofold right this Jesus claims for himself the kingdom of his Father. First, because he is the heir, then also by his merit, by his blood and by his death (although he was just and certainly owed nothing to death), by the very best right that he was betrayed. By the one right he claims his inheritance with his father, but by the other right he acts justly to Hecastus here, because Hecastus is a good man, and he through grace makes Hecastus co-heir with himself.
SATAN. Is God then unjust, who does not take vengeance for so many great sins?
FAITH. Clearly, he has taken vengeance and that harshly in his son, whom he handed over for all sinners to the most bitter death on the cross, whereby all who believe in him shall not die but enjoy life everlasting. Hecastus believes this; therefore being upright in his faith, against your will, he shall live with God for ever.
SATAN. He is going to live? You have said nothing about the final examination of the judge, where I shall lay stress more accurately on his words and deeds and thoughts one by one.
FAITH. Do not boast, for with equal logic, just as now, so then I shall refute your arguments.
SATAN. Ah, me, my attempt is frustrated. Bah, execrable Faith, how strongly you oppose me with your faith. O, if only I could take my vengeance on you and tear you to pieces with these teeth of mine, as I tear this sheet of paper.
FAITH. Be off, death bringer. Go down to black Hell, for soon Hecastus will be climbing to the shining stars.
SATAN. Driven forth from this place, I will see if I can impose upon others, as soon as I have this document of mine somewhere in safety till the last day. Now Death is near and, as I think, she will suffer a similar defeat as I did. For this cursed fellow, this priest, is providing the sick man with the food of life from his eucharist casket. He will in no way allow him a joyful approach to Hell. I will hide in this small cave, that I may see what this late arrival brings for death.
PHILOMATHES. I predict that death is near from his weak pulse and black urine. Why does the priest delay to give to my father first the eucharist and then the holy oil? But look, here he is with an acolyte, a youth of good hope.
HIERONYMUS. Greetings, Philomathes.
PHILOMATHES. Greetings to you.
HIERONYMUS. How is your sick father doing? Is there any hope of recovery?
PHILOMATHES. None, as his black urine and the weak beat of his arteries show. Come inside the house quickly, lest it bring shame to us, if he should depart hence without being fortified with the sacraments. For certainly Death herself is very close and the horror of death makes my limbs shake.
HIERONYMUS. Follow me.
PHILOMATHES. Go ahead.
DEATH. I have put it off enough. Now is the time to twist the sharp dart into Hecastus here. Up to now a reprieve has been given to him, even though Satan took it very hard. But now let him feel how rigid are our rules. I shall knock with equal speed at these halls of the rich man as I shall at the hovels of the poor. Hecastus, Hecastus, open your window. Death is here.
FAITH. Who is knocking so impudently at these doors? Is it you, monster? Are you trying to frighten the whole household?
DEATH. I shall continue to knock. I frighten all men for my own pleasure.
FAITH. This is the arrogance of tyranny, not the way of the law.
DEATH. By this law I have dominion over all living things, not only over men, and I gulp down now this, now that, just as a shepherd with his sheep.
FAITH. Yet that is the characteristic of a wolf, not of a shepherd. And I know that in the future your kingdom's second part, violent and not lasting, shall fall to ruin.
DEATH. I never think of the future. But what second part of my realm are you suggesting is to be taken away from me?
FAITH. The descendants of Adam the prevaricator found by experience that there were two parts to your kingdom, both dreadful and fearful. First, by a double tyranny, forsooth a double death, first there came the death of bodies, and secondly came the death of the soul. The first is of the present time and the second of a future age. The son of God took away this second death; while you were raging, he died on the cross and, against your will, returned alive from Hell and was your death. At that time he lifted the eternity of your tyranny from all who have a part in the first resurrection.
DEATH. By what resurrection do you mean?
FAITH. That through which the Son, triumphing over you through the glory of his father, rose again from the dead; in the same way as those, aroused from the dead through their faith in him, walk in newness of life. Having this part from Christ, Hecastus here, sick though he is, laughs at your threats and your darts.
DEATH. He laughs at them, does he? Well, soon he will feel how thoughtlessly he has laughed at them.
FAITH. He laughs at them and very sensibly, because he knows that his death will be his gate to life. He desires to be freed from his dungeon and to enjoy Christ, knowing surely that this body, though it may rot away very greatly, nevertheless will be raised up again to glory on the last day. Where then will be your sting? Where then your victory and arrogance? Surely then that second part of your kingdom, in which now you are seen to rage against these earthly bodies, shall be destroyed. Will you not be swallowed up in this victory over you? Come inside now and with all your strength rage against this man. You will be seen not to injure him but to bring him great profit, for you will open up for him the path of glory and of everlasting life.
DEATH. I shall soon see what I can do. How many I see at one time or another who make great boasts about themselves, but after they have arrived at the battle they are terrified and ask for postponements.
FAITH. Those who, relying on their own boldness and strength, wished to meet you, I do not doubt suffered such changes, but he who has Faith fighting alongside him will not fear your darts.
DEATH. Will you then go to battle against me?
FAITH. I will go to battle against you, and my follower with my help shall laugh at your threats.
DEATH. You crush me with your speeches. If it is to be done thus, Satan must be called.
HIERONYMUS. You have heard, Hecastus, how Faith has fought for you, and how you have been strengthened, moreover, by the sacred mysteries. Take care not to be greatly afraid of the terrorizing of these weak enemies, but have trust that, freed from the bonds of the flesh, you will soon be carried by the angels into the cooling heights.
HECASTUS. Such is my trust, sir, and I shall meet my death joyfully and shall gird myself eagerly for such a great journey, knowing that I have Jesus as both my patron and strong advocate before the high judge; but, my dear Faith and my dear Virtue, I beg you not to abandon me in this last critical moment.
FAITH. I will not desert you either as you go hence or when you shall approach the court of the Father, the highest judge.
VIRTUE. And I, supported by Faith, shall not now abandon you.
HECASTUS. Good. Let bloody Death come here and hurl his darts into me to free me from my prison.
FAITH. Keep your present courage. Death herself is now rushing in upon you.
DEATH. Where is this man of such arrogance that he dares to accept my threats and darts with a willing and unfrightened heart?
FAITH. Here he is. And this is not pride or arrogance, but is the firmness of a good faith in God. Look at the man for yourself.
DEATH. You are about to die.
HECASTUS. I long for death.
FAITH. Answer him with a voice to show your strength; hesitate in no way.
HECASTUS. I have no doubts, but my voice fails through weakness.
FAITH. You will speak thus: savage beast, thirsty Death, I do not fear you or your blows.
HECASTUS. I do not fear you or your blows.
FAITH. I am not afraid of your sharp spear.
HECASTUS. I am not afraid of your sharp spear.
DEATH. Not at all?
HECASTUS. Not at all.
DEATH. On what help are you relying?
HECASTUS. On Faith.
DEATH. Ho.
FAITH. But I am glad that I am now dying.
HECASTUS. But I am glad that I am now dying.
FAITH. And am living for ever with Christ.
DEATH. Hem. Now I am growing weak.
HECASTUS. And am living for ever with Christ.
DEATH. I am not standing up for myself.
FAITH. Though my body may now rot away in the dung pit.
HECASTUS. Though my body may now rot away in the dung pit.
FAITH. I believe that on the last day I shall be restored to glory.
HECASTUS. Good. To glory.
FAITH. Therefore into your hands, O Lord God, I commend my spirit.
HECASTUS. Therefore into your hands, O Lord God, I commend my spirit.
FAITH. Rage now, bloody Death, let his face grow pale, his knees fail, his eyes stick, his wan skin stiffen, and let his breathing snort in his panting chest, and at last with your burning dart, with as strong a blow as possible, separate the ready soul for its everlasting life. The spirit triumphs over you whether you like it or not.
DEATH. The body is dead.
FAITH. Good. The soul has been taken by the angels to Abraham's bosom and with us as its companions let it fly away on high.
DEATH. Faith, unfaithful Faith, how much you injure Satan and me. I have been routed.
SATAN. We have been conquered; let us fly hence.
PHILOPONUS. Alas, alas, tribesmen, weep for Hecastus who is dead.
RELATIVE. What are you saying? Is Hecastus dead?
FRIEND. Why the noise?
PHILOPONUS. Hecastus is dead and soon is to be taken to the place of the willows.
FRIEND. Is Hecastus dead? Alas, my dear Hecastus, I'm sorry that we have lost you, a man of integrity and a vigorous friend in all things.
RELATIVE. Who could refrain from tears when such a great man, so noble, so rich, and in the bloom of youth is taken from his friends?
FRIEND. And by a death so sudden. Where is his wife? Where are his children?
PHILOPONUS. With lamentations they are wearing themselves out within the house most unhappily. Look, here they come. Together all the members of the household are rushing forth, pouring out their tears. Goodbye now.
RELATIVE. O my, the grief. May the gods grant you, our cousin Epicuria, and your children some joyful issue in these grievous misfortunes.
EPICURIA. Alas, unlucky woman that I am, I have been bereft of the best man. Alas, woe is me. I have been bereft of my best man.
FRIEND. We also have lost a very faithful friend, and now we shall busy ourselves to be ready with black clothes, so that the day after tomorrow we may worthily follow the funeral procession.
RELATIVE. We shall prepare funeral rites for this man in the most dignified way. We shall not spare to spend one or two gold pieces. And would that we could bring him back by a thousand gold pieces and take away these tears.
PHILOCRATES. Sweet affection for my father stirs my tears.
PHILOMATHES. What would not move them? Indeed I myself seem to be dissolving into tears.
EPICURIA. O, O, my grief. Let someone give to my eyes everlasting tears or eternal rivers, that I may be able to bring forth the thrice great griefs of my heart.
FRIEND 1. Alas, I weep for your death, Hecastus.
FRIEND 2. Alas, who would not weep for you now you are dead, my friend Hecastus? Who would not weep?
EPICURIA. O friendly eyes, smooth lips, lovable cheeks, how are they so soon dark, pale and squalid? How are all the limbs of your body now so withered? Alas, grief, grief. Why did I not die for you myself? Is it thus you separate our dearest ones from us, bitter Death?
HIERONYMUS. What is that excessive wailing, woman? You, his children and other men, what, oh what, is this wailing? I want you to know this about those who are sleeping, you (I say) whom the Christian faith deservedly strengthens, so that you may not be saddened in the same way as the rest who have no hope of life. If we believe that the Son of God was raised from the dead, through Him we also when dead shall be raised from the dust, since the Lord Jesus on the last day shall descend with the sound of God's trumpets from the heavens and then the dead shall rise again. For the heavenly trumpet shall sound, and those who sleep shall rise again with their bodies made whole. Therefore, in no way be sad for Hecastus, who has died in this Christian faith, but rather rejoice in this, that he has been freed from the troubles of the body and sleeps in the peace of Christ, and he is to be restored in his rebirth to the life reserved for all who died in the faith of Christ.
EPICURIA. Is there then life left for those who are dying?
HIERONYMUS. Yes, life remaining not only for the just but also for all who after the commission of sins return to God through repentance.
EPICURIA. Therefore after the crimes and the defilements shall we hope for a blessed life with the gods?
HIERONYMUS. You will hope for it in your faith and repentance.
RELATIVES. Shall we also have hope?
HIERONYMUS. You likewise shall have hope.
FRIENDS. We in the same way?
HIERONYMUS. In the same way. And there is no acceptance of any person before God except for the ones in every nation who fear God and do those things which are just; they are the ones accepted by him. Hence, at once, be wise and correct the sins you have committed against God, so that when on the last day the judge shall come, you will deserve not to be led to death but to be raised up to the life of everlasting glory. To win this state, these tears have no validity, nor this mourning nor black dress, nor a projecting cowl; but the setting in order of an honest life is better.
PHILOCRATES. You advise us rightly, most holy of all men. Let us leave all these sumptuous preparations. Let us leave all our empty grief and tears, and let us correct our former ways. If, after this calamity, much more pleasant duties of a new life await those who died in faith, hope and charity, what is left except to spend this day with our dead father most joyfully? Not in eating and hearty drinking, which nature will demand, nor in drums and musical instruments, but in giving our greatest thanks to God. Let us rejoice together for this godly man from the depths of our hearts, and without useless pomp let us prepare holy rites for our dead father.
MOURNERS. Your advice is very good. Let us give congratulations to the dead man and worthy thanks to our Lord God.
HIERONYMUS. It is expedient to act in this way.
PHILOCRATES. I agree. Come out of the house, Daetrus, for a while, until I find out from you what I want to know. And let Oeconomus come here.
OECONOMUS. Oeconomus is here.
DAETRUS. And Daetrus is here. Now find out what you want quickly, because I should not be absent from my victuals.
PHILOCRATES. What? Haven't the victuals been fully cooked yet?
DAETRUS. They have now been cooked and taken down from the spits. Bid those you wish to invite to dinner to go inside quickly.
PHILOCRATES. I will tell them. You go off now. See to it that all things are ready.
DAETRUS. It shall be seen to.
PHILOCRATES. You, Oeconomus, wait outside for a while, to say goodbye to the spectators.
OECONOMUS. It shall be looked after.
PHILOCRATES. Relatives and other friends, whom my father had this morning summoned to this evening's dinner, go inside with us to him, so that what had been prepared for a gluttonous party, we may partake of with frugality and with honest joy.
MOURNERS. We follow. You go first.
OECONOMUS. You who have winged your way so enthusiastically to our theatre, both men and women, go to your homes now without delay. For Hecastus here, whom we have shown cut down in death, is not to be buried until the day after tomorrow. Goodbye, all of you. If we have pleased you, give us a clap.
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