King Nabuchodonosor hauing an other dreame, telleth it to Daniel, demanding of him the interpretation: 16. who encoreged and warrented to speake freely, sheweth that the king shal become like a beast in forme seuen yeares: 28. the same is confirmed by a voice from heauen: 30. and being fulfilled, he is at last restored to his owne forme, and state.
1I, Nabuchodonosor, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:Io Nabuchodonosor vivea in pace nella mia casa, e felice nella mia reggia:I Nabuchodonosor was quiet in my house, and florishing in my palace.Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea, et florens in palatio meo: 2I saw a dream that affrighted me: and my thoughts in my bed, and the visions of my head, troubled me.Vidi un sogno, che mi spavento, e i miei pensieri, e le visioni, che mi passarono per la testa nel mio letto, mi diedero turbamento.I saw a dreame that made me sore afrayd: and my cogitations in my bed, and the visions of my head disturbed me.somnium vidi, quod perterruit me: et cogitationes meæ in strato meo, et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me. 3Then I set forth a decree, that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought in before me, and that they should shew me the interpretation of the dream.E fu fatto da me un decreto, che fosser condotti dinanzi a me tutti i sapienti di Babilonia, affinchè mi desser la spiegazione del mio sogno.And by me there was a decree setforth, that al the wisemen of Babylon should be brought into my sight, and that they should shew me the solution of the dreame.Et per me propositum est decretum ut introducerentur in conspectu meo cuncti sapientes Babylonis, et ut solutionem somnii indicarent mihi. 4Then came in the diviners, the wise men, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them: but they did not shew me the interpretation thereof.Allora furon introdotti gl'indovini, i magi, i Caldei, e gli aruspici, ed io esposi il mio sogno dinanzi ad essi; ed ei non me ne diedero la spiegazione:Then came in the southsayers, magicians, Chaldees, and diuiners, and I told the dreame in their sight: & the solution therof they shewed me not:Tunc ingrediebantur arioli, magi, Chaldæi, et aruspices, et somnium narravi in conspectu eorum: et solutionem ejus non indicaverunt mihi, 5Till their colleague, Daniel, came in before me, whose name is Baltassar, according to the name of my god, who hath in him the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him.Fino a tanto, che il collega Daniele (che si dice Baltassar dal nome del mio Dio, il quale ha in se lo spirito degli dei santi) venne al mio cospetto, e davanti a lui io esposi il mio sogno.til their collegue Daniel came into my fight, whose name is Baltassar, according to the name of my God, who hath the spirit of the holie goddes in himself: and I told the dreame before him.donec collega ingressus est in conspectu meo Daniel, cui nomen Baltassar secundum nomen dei mei, qui habet spiritum deorum sanctorum in semetipso: et somnium coram ipso locutus sum.
6Baltassar, prince of the diviners, because I know that thou hast in thee the spirit of the holy gods, and that no secret is impossible to thee, tell me the visions of my dreams that I have seen, and the interpretation of them.Baltassar, principe degl'indovini, perchè io so, che lo spirito degli dei santi abita in te, e nissun arcano è impenetrabile a te, sponimi le visioni, che io ho vedute ne' miei sogni, ed il loro significato:Baltassar prince of the southsayers, because I know that thou hast the spirit of the holie goddes in thee, and no secrete is impossible to thee: tel thou the visions of my dreames, which I haue sene, and the solution of them.Baltassar, princeps ariolorum, quoniam ego scio quod spiritum sanctorum deorum habeas in te, et omne sacramentum non est impossibile tibi: visiones somniorum meorum, quas vidi, et solutionem earum narra. 7This was the vision of my head in my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was exceeding great.Ecco la visione, che io ebbi in testa nel mio letto: Io vedeva repentinamente un albero di eccedente grandezza nel mezzo della terra,The vision of my head in my bed, I saw, and behold a tree in the middes of the earth, and the height therof exceding.Visio capitis mei in cubili meo: videbam, et ecce arbor in medio terræ, et altitudo ejus nimia. 8The tree was great and strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven: the sight thereof was even to the ends of all the earth.Un albero grande, e robusto, l'altezza del quale toccava il cielo, e faceasi vedere sino ai confini di tutta la terra.A great tree, and strong: and the height therof touching the heauen: the sight therof was euen to the endes of al the earth.Magna arbor, et fortis, et proceritas ejus contingens cælum: aspectus illius erat usque ad terminos universæ terræ. 9Its leaves were most beautiful, and its fruit exceeding much: and in it was food for all: under it dwelt cattle and beasts, and in the branches thereof the fowls of the air had their abode: and all flesh did eat of it.Le sue foglie eran bellissime, e senza numero i suoi frutti, ed eravi da mangiare per tutti: sotto di esso abitavano animali, e fiere, e sui rami di lui facean nido gli uccelli dell'aria: ed ogni animal vivente da esso avea il suo cibo.The leaues therof most fayre, and the fruit therof exceding much: and the foode of al thinges in it: vnder it dwelt cattel, and beasts, and in the boughes therof conuersed the foules of heauen: and of it al flesh did eate.Folia ejus pulcherrima, et fructus ejus nimius: et esca universorum in ea. Subter eam habitabant animalia et bestiæ, et in ramis ejus conversabantur volucres cæli: et ex ea vescebatur omnis caro.
10I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and behold a watcher, and a holy one came down from heaven.Questa visione la ebbi in testa nel mio letto: ed ecco il Vigilante, ed il Santo scese dal cielo;I saw in the vision of my head vpon my bed, & behold a watchman, and an holie one descended from heauen.Videbam in visione capitis mei super stratum meum, et ecce vigil, et sanctus, de cælo descendit. 11He cried aloud, and said thus: Cut down the tree, and chop off the branches thereof: shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruits: let the beasts fly away that are under it, and the birds from its branches.E gridò ad alta voce, e disse così: Troncate l'albero, e recidete i suoi rami, e gettate giù le foglie, e spergete i suoi frutti: fuggan le bestie, che vi stanno all'ombra, e gli uccelli da' rami di esso.He cried mightely, and thus he sayd: Cut ye downe the tree, & choppe of the boughes therof: shake of the leaues therof, and scatter the fruits therof: let the beasts flie that are vnder it, and the foules from the boughes therof.Clamavit fortiter, et sic ait: Succidite arborem, et præcidite ramos ejus: excutite folia ejus, et dispergite fructus ejus: fugiant bestiæ, quæ subter eam sunt, et volucres de ramis ejus. 12Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be tied with a band of iron and of brass, among the grass, that is without, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the wild beasts in the grass of the earth.Lasciate però nella terra una punta di sue radici: sia legato con catene di ferro, e di bronzo tralle erbe all'aperto, e sia bagnato dalla rugiada del cielo, e colle bestie abbia comune l'erba de' campi.But yet leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth, and let it be tyed with yron, and brasen band among the grasse, that is without, and let it be dipped with the dew of heauen, and with wild beasts his portion in the grasse of the earth.Verumtamen germen radicum ejus in terra sinite, et alligetur vinculo ferreo et æreo in herbis quæ foris sunt, et rore cæli tingatur, et cum feris pars ejus in herba terræ. 13Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given him: and let seven times pass over him.Cangisi a lui il cuore di uomo, e se gli dia un cuore di fiera; e sette tempi passino (così) per lui.Let his hart be changed from humane, & let the hart of a wild beast be geuen him: and let seuen times be changed ouer him.Cor ejus ab humano commutetur, et cor feræ detur ei: et septem tempora mutentur super eum.
14This is the decree by the sentence of the watchers, and the word and demand of the holy ones: till the living know, that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men: and he will give it to whomsoever it shall please him, and he will appoint the basest man over it.Per sentenza dei vigilanti è stabilito così, e giusta le parole, e la petizione de' santi, fino a tanto che i viventi conoscano, che l'Altissimo ha dominio sopra il regno degli uomini, e darallo a chi gli parrà; e sopra di esso porrà l'uomo più abbietto.In the sentence of the watchman is the decree, and the word of saintes, and the petition, til the liuing know, that the hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men; and to whom soeuer it shal please him, he wil geue it, & the basest man he wil appoint ouer it.In sententia vigilum decretum est, et sermo sanctorum, et petitio: donec cognoscant viventes quoniam dominatur Excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, dabit illud, et humillimum hominem constituet super eum. 15I, king Nabuchodonosor, saw this dream: thou, therefore, O Baltassar, tell me quickly the interpretation: for all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me: but thou art able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.Questo vidi in sogno io re Nabuchodonosor. Tu adunque, o Baltassar, dimmi tosto la sua interpretazione; perocché i sapienti tutti del mio regno non posson dirmene la spiegazione: ma tu il puoi, perchè lo spinto degli dei santi è in te.This dreame saw I Nabuchodonosor the king: thou therfore ô Baltassar tel the interpretation quickly: because al the wisemen of my kingdom can not declare the solution vnto me: but thou canst, because the spirit of holie goddes is in thee.Hoc somnium vidi ego Nabuchodonosor rex: tu ergo Baltassar interpretationem narra festinus, quia omnes sapientes regni mei non queunt solutionem edicere mihi: tu autem potes, quia spiritus deorum sanctorum in te est. 16Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began silently to think within himself for about one hour: and his thought troubled him. But the king answering, said: Baltassar, let not the dream and the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thy enemies.Allora Daniele, che diceasi Baltassar, stette sopra di se pensoso, e in silenzio quasi per un'ora, e i suoi pensieri lo conturbavano. Ma il re riprese, e disse: Baltassarre, non faccia pena a te il sogno, e la sua significazione. Rispose Baltassarre, e disse: Signor mio, questo sogno cada sopra quegli, che a te voglion male, e la sua interpretazione sopra de' tuoi nemici.Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began secretely to thinke within himself as it were for one houre: & his cogitations trubled him. But the king answering said: Baltassar, let not the dreame and the interpretation therof truble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My Lord, the dreame be to them, that hate thee, and the interpretation therof be thine enemies.Tunc Daniel, cujus nomen Baltassar, cœpit intra semetipsum tacitus cogitare quasi una hora: et cogitationes ejus conturbabant eum. Respondens autem rex, ait: Baltassar, somnium et interpretatio ejus non conturbent te. Respondit Baltassar, et dixit: Domine mi, somnium his, qui te oderunt, et interpretatio ejus hostibus tuis sit. 17The tree which thou sawest, which was high and strong, whose height reached to the skies, and the sight thereof into all the earth:L'albero, che tu hai veduto sublime, e robusto, l'altezza del quale tocca il cielo, e il quale è visibile per tutta la terra,The tree which thou sawest high and strong, whose height reacheth to the heauen, and the sight therof into al the earth:Arborem, quam vidisti sublimem atque robustam, cujus altitudo pertingit ad cælum, et aspectus illius in omnem terram;
18And the branches thereof were most beautiful, and its fruit exceeding much, and in it was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and the birds of the air had their abode in its branches.I rami di cui sono bellissimi, e senza numero i frutti, e da cui tutti hanno loro cibo, e sotto di esso abitano le bestie del campo, e su' rami suoi fan nido gli uccelli dell'aria,and the bough therof most fayre, and the fruit therof exceding much, and the foode of things in it, vnder it the beasts of the filde inhabiting, & in the boughes therof the foules of heauen abyding:et rami ejus pulcherrimi, et fructus ejus nimius, et esca omnium in ea, subter eam habitantes bestiæ agri, et in ramis ejus commorantes aves cæli: 19It is thou, O king, who art grown great, and become mighty: for thy greatness hath grown, and hath reached to heaven, and thy power unto the ends of the earth.Tu se' (l'albero,) o re, che se' divenuto grande, e robusto, e la tua grandezza è cresciuta, e si è alzata fino al cielo, e la tua possanza fino alle estremità di tutta la terra.It is thou king, which art magnified, & become mightie: & thy greatnes hath growen, and is come euen to heauen, and thy power vnto the endes of the earth.tu es rex, qui magnificatus es, et invaluisti: et magnitudo tua crevit, et pervenit usque ad cælum, et potestas tua in terminos universæ terræ. 20And whereas the king saw a watcher, and a holy one come down from heaven, and say: Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass, among the grass without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, till seven times pass over him.Quanto a quello poi, che il re ha veduto il vigilante, ed il santo scendere dal cielo, e dire: Troncate l'albero, e fatelo in pezzi: ma lasciate però in terra una punta di sue radici: ed ei sia legato con ferro, e bronzo, e stia all'aperto sull'erba, e sia asperso dalla rugiada del cielo, e colle fiere abbia comune il pascolo, fino a tanto che sette tempi passino per lui così,But in that the king saw a watchman, and an holie one descend fron heauen, and say: Cut ye downe the tree, and dissipate it, but leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth, and let it be bound with yron and brasse among the grasse without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heauen, and let his foder be with the wild beasts, til seauen times be changed ouer him.Quod autem vidit rex vigilem, et sanctum descendere de cælo, et dicere: Succidite arborem, et dissipate illam, attamen germen radicum ejus in terra dimittite, et vinciatur ferro et ære in herbis foris, et rore cæli conspergatur, et cum feris sit pabulum ejus, donec septem tempora mutentur super eum: 21This is the interpretation of the sentence of the most High, which is come upon my lord, the king.Questa è l'interpretazione della sentenza dell'Altissimo pronunziata contro il re mio signore:This is the interpretation of the sentence of the Highest, which is come vpon my Lord the king.hæc est interpretatio sententiæ Altissimi, quæ pervenit super dominum meum regem,
22They shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling shall be with cattle, and with wild beasts, and thou shalt eat grass, as an ox, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.Ti cacceranno dalla compagnia degli uomini, e colle bestie, e colle nere avrai comune l'albergo, e qual bue mangerai del fieno, e dalla rugiada del cielo sarai asperso: e sette tempi passeranno così per te, fino a tanto che tu conosca, come l'Altissimo ha dominio sopra il regno degli uomini, e lo dà a chi gli pare.They shal cast thee out from men, and with beasts and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be, and grasse thou shalt eate as an oze, & with the dew of heauen thou shalt be wett: seuen times also shal be chaunged ouer thee, til thou know that the High one ruleth ouer the kingdoms of men, and geueth it to whomsoeuer he wil.Ejicient te ab hominibus, et cum bestiis ferisque erit habitatio tua, et fœnum ut bos comedes, et rore cæli infunderis: septem quoque tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus super regnum hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud. 23But whereas he commanded, that the stump of the roots thereof, that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shall remain to thee, after thou shalt have known that power is from heaven.Quanto poi all'ordine dato di lasciare una punta delle radici dell'albero, il tuo regno resterà a te, dopo che avrai conosciuto, che una potestà è in cielo.But wheras he commanded, that the spring of the rootes therof, that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shal remayne to thee after thou shalt haue knowen that powre is heauenly.Quod autem præcepit ut relinqueretur germen radicum ejus, id est arboris: regnum tuum tibi manebit postquam cognoveris potestatem esse cælestem. 24Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and redeem thou thy sins with alms, and thy iniquities with works of mercy to the poor: perhaps he will forgive thy offences.Per la qual cosa, o re, sia accetto a te il mio consiglio, e riscatta colle limosine i tuoi peccati, e le tue iniquità col far misericordia co' poveri: forse che egli perdonerà i tuoi peccati.Wherfore ô king let me counsel thee, and redeme thou thy sinnes with almes, & thine iniquities with the mercies of the poore: perhaps he wil forgeue thyne offences.Quam ob rem, rex, consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime, et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum: forsitan ignoscet delictis tuis. 25All these things came upon king Nabuchodonosor.Tutte queste cose avvennero a Nabuchodonosor re.Al these thinges came vpon Nabuchodonosor the: king.Omnia hæc venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem.
26At the end of twelve months he was walking in the palace of Babylon.Dodici mesi dappoi passeggiava egli pel palazzo di Babilonia.After the end of twelue moneths he walked in the palace of Babylon.Post finem mensium duodecim, in aula Babylonis deambulabat. 27And the king answered, and said: Is not this the great Babylon, which I have built, to be the seat of the kingdom, by the strength of my power, and in the glory of my excellence?E il re prese a dire: Non è ella questa la gran Babilonia, che io ho edificata per sede del regno colla robusta fortezza mia, e collo splendore della mia gloria?And the king answered, & sayd: Is not this Babylon the great citie, which I haue built to be the house of the kingdom, in the strength of my powre, and in the glorie of my beautie?Responditque rex, et ait: Nonne hæc est Babylon magna, quam ego ædificavi in domum regni, in robore fortitudinis meæ, et in gloria decoris mei ? 28And while the word was yet in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from heaven: To thee, O king Nabuchodonosor, it is said: Thy kingdom shall pass from thee.E il re non avea finito di dir questo, quando venne repentina voce dal cielo: A te si dice, o re Nabuchodonosor: Il tuo regno non sarà più tuo;And when the word was yet in the kings mouth, a voice came downe from heauen: To thee it is sayd Nabuchodonosor: Thy kingdom shal passe from thee,Cumque sermo adhuc esset in ore regis, vox de cælo ruit: Tibi dicitur, Nabuchodonosor rex: Regnum tuum transibit a te, 29And they shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling shall be with cattle and wild beasts: thou shalt eat grass like an ox, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.E ti discacceranno dalla compagnia degli uomini, e abiterai tralle bestie, e tralle fiere, e qual bue mangerai del fieno, e sette tempi passeranno così per te, fino a tanto, che tu conosca, che l'Altissimo ha dominio sopra il regno degli uomini, e lo dà a chi gli pare.and from men they shal cast thee out, and with beastes and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be: grasse as an oxe shalt thou eate, and seuen times shal be changed ouer thee til thou know that the Hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men, & to whom soeuer he wil, he geueth it.et ab hominibus ejicient te, et cum bestiis et feris erit habitatio tua: fœnum quasi bos comedes, et septem tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud.
30The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor, and he was driven away from among men, and did eat grass, like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till his hairs grew like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds’ claws.Nello stesso punto si adempiè sopra Nabuchodonosor questa parola, fu cacciato dalla compagnia degli uomini, e mangiò fieno qual bue, e il suo corpo fu bagnato dalla rugiada del cielo, talmente che crebbero a lui i capelli come penne di un'aquila, e le unghie come gli ugnelli de' volatili.The self same houre was the word accomplished vpon Nabuchodonosor, and he was cast away from among men, & as an oxe did he eate grasse, and with the dew of heauen his bodie was imbrued: til his heares grew into the similitude of eagles, & his nailes as it were of birds.Eadem hora sermo completus est super Nabuchodonosor, et ex hominibus abjectus est, et fœnum ut bos comedit, et rore cæli corpus ejus infectum est, donec capilli ejus in similitudinem aquilarum crescerent, et ungues ejus quasi avium. 31Now at the end of the days, I, Nabuchodonosor, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the most High, and I praised and glorified him that liveth for ever: for his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is to all generations.Ma finiti que' giorni, io Nabuchodonosor alzai al cielo gli occhi miei, e mi fu renduta la mia mente, e benedissi l'Altissimo, e lodai, e glorificai colui, che vive in sempiterno; perocché la possanza di lui è eterna, e il regno di lui per tutte le generazioni;Ther fore after the end of the dayes, I Nabuchodonosor lifted vp mine eyes to heauen, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the Highest, and praysed him that liueth for euer, and glorified him: because his powre is an euerlasting powre, and his kingdom in generation and generation.Igitur post finem dierum, ego Nabuchodonosor oculos meos ad cælum levavi, et sensus meus redditus est mihi: et Altissimo benedixi, et viventem in sempiternum laudavi et glorificavi: quia potestas ejus potestas sempiterna, et regnum ejus in generationem et generationem. 32And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before him: for he doth according to his will, as well with the powers of heaven, as among the inhabitants of the earth: and there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why hast thou done it?E tutti gli abitatori della terra sono stimati davanti a lui un niente; perocché secondo il voler suo egli dispone tanto delle virtù del cielo, come degli abitatori della terra, e non è chi alla mano di lui resista, e dica a lui: Per qual motivo hai tu fatto questo?And al the inhabitants of the earth with him are reputed for nothing: for he doth according to his wil, as wel in the powers of heauen, as in the inhabitants of the earth: & there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why didst thou it?Et omnes habitatores terræ apud eum in nihilum reputati sunt: juxta voluntatem enim suam facit tam in virtutibus cæli quam in habitatoribus terræ: et non est qui resistat manui ejus, et dicat ei: Quare fecisti ? 33At the same time my sense returned to me, and I came to the honour and glory of my kingdom: and my shape returned to me: and my nobles, and my magistrates, sought for me, and I was restored to my kingdom: and greater majesty was added to me.In quello stesso punto ritornò in me la mia mente, e rientrai nell'onore, e nella magnificenza del mio regno, e tornò a me la mia prima figura, e i miei magnati, e i magistrati cercaron di me, e fui rimesso nel mio regno, e la mia grandezza si accrebbe.In the very same time did my sense returne to me, & I came to the honour, and beautie of my kingdom: and my figure returned to me: and my nobles, & my magistrates sought for me, and I was restored in my kingdom: and more ample magnificence was added to me.In ipso tempore sensus meus reversus est ad me, et ad honorem regni mei, decoremque perveni: et figura mea reversa est ad me, et optimates mei et magistratus mei requisierunt me, et in regno meo restitutus sum: et magnificentia amplior addita est mihi.
34Therefore I, Nabuchodonosor, do now praise, and magnify, and glorify the King of heaven: because all his works are true, and his ways judgments, and them that walk in pride he is able to abase.Or adunque io Nabuchodonosor lodo, e celebro, e glorifico il Re del cielo, perchè le opere di lui sono rette, e le sue vie sono giustizia, ed egli può umiliare i superbi.Now therfore I Nabuchodonosor praise, and magnifie, and glorifie the king of heauen: because al his workes are true, and his wayes iudgements, and them that walke in pride he can humble.Nunc igitur, ego Nabuchodonosor laudo, et magnifico, et glorifico regem cæli: quia omnia opera ejus vera, et viæ ejus judicia, et gradientes in superbia potest humiliare.
4:1
Year of the World 3434, Year before Christ 570.
Calmet
Palace. He continues the edict, having subdued all his enemies. (Calmet)
Worthington
Daniel recites his words. The king had the dream in the 34th year of his reign, which continued in all forty-three, including the seven of absence. (Worthington)
4:5
Calmet
Colleague. Chaldean also, "another, or afterwards, (Haydock) or at last." (Calmet)
Challoner
My god. He says this, because the name of Baltassar, or Belteshazzar, is derived from the name of Bel, the chief god of the Babylonians. (Challoner)
Calmet
Gods. He speaks conformably to his false opinion; (St. Jerome) or, being instructed by Daniel, he testifies that the Holy Spirit enlightens the prophet. (Theod.) Greek has "god," which St. Jerome disapproves; though the plural is often used for the true God. Reason evinces that only the Deity can disclose the secrets of futurity, Genesis 41:38. (Calmet)
4:6
Haydock
And the. He is convinced that Daniel could do both, but condescends now to relate his dream. (Haydock)
4:7
Grotius
Tree often denotes princes; (Ezechiel 31:3.) and according to the false principles (Calmet) of those who pretend to explain dreams, always (Haydock) implies some great personage. (Achmet. C. 200.) (Grotius)
Calmet
But nothing is more vain than these pretensions. (Calmet)
4:10
Challoner
A watcher. A vigilant angel, perhaps the guardian of Israel. (Challoner)
St. Jerome
Chaldean hir; (Haydock) whence Iris the messenger of the gods, is derived. (St. Jerome)
Calmet
Theodotion retains eir. See St. Jerome in Psalm 76:4. The scholiast (Rom. ed.) says: "the Septuagint render it an angel, the rest a watcher." These supernatural agents (Haydock) and saints are represented as judges, ver. 14. (Calmet)
4:11
Branches, to shew that all (Haydock) the king's subjects should abandon him.
4:12
Calmet
Let it, the tree, representing the king who was confined when he began to shew signs of madness: but he broke loose, and fled away. (Calmet)
4:13
Challoner
Changed, etc. It does not appear, by Scripture, that Nabuchodonosor was changed from human shape, much less that he was changed into an ox, but only that he lost his reason, and became mad; and in this condition remained abroad in the company of beasts, eating grass like an ox, till his hair grew in such a manner as to resemble the feathers of eagles, and his nails to be like birds' claws. (Challoner)
Haydock
Origen represents the whole as an allegorical description of the fall of Lucifer. See St. Jerome. But his arguments have made little impression: and it is universally believed that Nabuchodonosor was thus punished for his pride, after a whole year had been allowed him to see if he would repent. The manner of this strange metamorphose has been variously explained. But it seems that he was seized with the species of madness styled Lycanthropy, (Calmet) as Virgil (Ec. 6:48.) relates of the daughters of Proetus, who "with mimick'd mooings fill'd the fields." (Haydock)
Haydock
Thus many fancy they are kings, or horses, (Calmet) and that they are continually mounting above the clouds, of which we have an instance in a woman still living at Whitby, who in other respects appears to be sufficiently sensible, (Haydock) as Tertullian and others think Nabuchodonosor was, that he might suffer more. Yet it is commonly supposed he lost his senses for a while, till God was pleased to restore them at the time appointed; when his former humiliating state might make a deep impression upon his mind, as well as upon his subjects, and caution all future generations to guard against the fatal consequences of pride. His son, Evilmerodac, probably ruled during his absence. Most of the Chaldean writings have perished; so that we need not be surprised if they take no notice of this event, which was so disgraceful to the nation. Yet Megasthenes, (in Eusebius praep. ix. ult.) seems to hint at it, when he represents the king seized with a divine fury, and crying out: (Calmet Diss.) "I, the same Nabuchodonosor, foretell unto you, Babylonians, a fatal calamity, which neither my ancestor Belus, nor even the kingdom of Bel, (Haydock, the gods) have power to avert. For a Persian mule (Cyrus; Calmet) shall come, assisted by your demons, and bring on slavery....Having uttered this oracle, he suddenly disappeared." (Haydock)
Worthington
Beast's heart. In his hypochondriac temper he imagined himself (Calmet) to be an ox, (Haydock) avoided the society of men, going naked and feeding on grass, upon his hands and feet, till (after seven years) God restored him to his senses and kingdom. (Worthington)
Barthol
The food which he used would tend to purge him, and naturally abate the disorder. (Barthol.)
Yet none but God could tell precisely when the madness would seize or leave him.
Calmet
Times. This usually denotes years, in (Daniel 7:25.; Daniel 12:7.) and of course (Calmet) we must understand it here in this sense; (Worthington) though some have explained it of an indeterminate length of time, or of weeks, months, or seasons. Only winter and summer were admitted, so that half this period would thus suffice. See Theod. (Calmet)
4:14
Haydock
Over it. Kings are not always of the most noble dispositions. (Haydock)
Homer
"All honour comes from Jove." (Homer, Iliad 17.)
Calmet
Let the greatest monarchs be humble, (Haydock) and cast their crowns at the feet of God. (Calmet)
4:16
Calmet
Hour. Chaldean shaha, (Haydock) implies "a little while;" (Grotius) yet of some duration, not precisely like one of the modern hours. The prophet was silent, being troubled by the divine spirit, (Chap. 10:8.) at the view of impending misery; or unwilling to hurt the king's feelings, till he should urge him to speak. (Calmet)
Worthington
He was sorry to denounce such calamities, yet must speak the truth. (Worthington)
Trouble. Theodotion, "make thee hurry." He perceived the prophet's anxiety, and encouraged him.
4:23
Remain. His son and the nobles should act in his name, ver. 13.
4:24
Calmet
Alms. Chaldean, "justice," is often taken in this sense. (Syr. etc.; 2 Corinthians 9:9.) (Calmet)
Worthington
The prediction was conditional, and therefore Daniel exhorts the king to strive to obtain pardon by the powerful remedy of alms-deeds; as he did, after enduring some punishment. (Worthington)
Yet this is very doubtful, ver. 31.
4:25
Haydock
Came. Daniel informs us of this event, unless the king speak of himself in the third person, from ver. 16 to 31, giving an account of what he had heard and experienced. (Haydock)
St. Jerome
A year of trial was allowed him at first; (Theod.) or he obtained this reprieve by his alms, and lost his former merit by relapsing into pride. (St. Jerome)
4:27
Haydock
Answered his own vain thoughts. (Haydock)
Beros. etc
He was admiring the city, (Calmet) which he had greatly enlarged and beautified. (Beros. etc.)
4:31
Year of the World 3442, Year before Christ 562.
St. Jerome
Heaven: God having looked on me with pity. (St. Augustine, ep. 111. (Calmet) or 122.; Worthington) seems to think that he was saved; and the author [St. Augustine?] of the Book on Pred. et grace, (chap. 15) attributes to him, remarks that his repentance was different from that of Pharao. Hence none must despair. (St. Jerome, ep. vii. to Laeta.)
Haydock
See Theod.; Cornelius a Lapide, etc., who maintain that same opinion: but St. Thomas Aquinas expresses his doubts. Isaias (xiv. 9.) seems to consign him to hell; and the king here manifests his adhesion to Bel, (ver. 5.) and great inconstancy, Daniel 2:47., and 3:15. His conviction seems therefore to have been only in speculation, (Calmet) or momentary, like that of the philosophers, (Romans i.) which would render them only more criminal; and we must confess, (Haydock) that this conversion is very equivocal. (Sanctius, ver. 24 and 34.) (Haydock)
4:32
Grotius
With, or "by the powers (angels. ver. 10.)....as by men." (Grotius)
4:33
Haydock
Shape. He had not assumed that of an ox, (Haydock) but had greatly neglected his person, (Calmet) so that he was covered with hair, etc., ver. 30. (Haydock)
4:34
Josephus
I, etc. From this place some commentators infer, that this king became a true convert, and dying not long after, was probably saved. (Challoner) (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 10.)
Worthington
This is the last act of his which is recorded. If he had lived much longer, he would probably have restored the Jews. (Worthington)
Haydock
But the time decreed by heaven for their liberation was not yet arrived. (Haydock)
4:5
Baltassar, according to the name of my god.... He says this, because the name of Baltassar, or Belteshazzar, is derived from the name of Bel, the chief god of the Babylonians.
4:10
A watcher.... A vigilant angel, perhaps the guardian of Israel.
4:13
Let his heart be changed, etc.... It does not appear by scripture that Nabuchodonosor was changed from human shape; much less that he was changed into an ox; but only that he lost his reason, and became mad; and in this condition remained abroad in the company of beasts, eating grass like an ox, till his hair grew in such manner as to resemble the feathers of eagles, and his nails to be like birds’ claws.
4:34
I, Nabuchodonosor, do now, etc.... From this place some commentators infer that this king became a true convert, and dying not long after, was probably saved.
4:1
It semeth that Daniel inserted this particular historie as the king in his owne person and wordes reported it after his restauratiō It is also probable that the king had this dreame about the 34. yeare of his reigue. For he reigning in al 43. yeares, liued seuen yeares among beastes into vvhich state he fel one yeare after this dreame. v. 26. and liued about a yeare more or lesse after his restauration.
4:13
13. Let his hart be changed.] In vvhat maner king Nabuchodonosor vvas changed Nabuchodonosor was not changed in substance; but became madde, and liued seuen yeares like a beast. is hard to explicate. But omitting other opinions, the most probable and common is, that he vvas not depriued of his reasonable soule, nor the forme and partes of his bodie substantially changed from the nature of a man: but he was distracted losing the vse of reason, and in his ovvne melancholie imagination and phantasie, thought that he was a beast: And therfore easily refused the conuersation of men, and consorted himself vvith beastes; vvent naked; his hayre grovving very much, and couering al his bodie; his nayles likevvise extreme long; he vvent on his handes together with his feete, like fourfooted beastes; did eate grasse as an oxe, putting his mouth to the ground, to shere and swalowe it, the space of seuen yeares. Then God restoring to him the vse v. 13. of reason, and inspiring him vvith grace, he lifted vp his eyes to heauen (v. 31.) and in perfect sense blessed God, the Hieghest, and praysed him; was againe receiued, yea sought for by his nobles and magistrates: so vvas restored to his kingdom, and had more magnificence then before.
Seuen times signifie seuen yeares, because al ordinarie varieties of times are in one yeare.
4:16
No meruel that the prophet vvas trubled in mind being loath to declare the calamitie which should fal vnto the king, and yet must nedes vtter the truth.
4:19
And therfore vvith milde wordes, wishing the king might escape the euil, which vvas decreed against him, he maketh his entrance to the true interpretation of the dreame.
4:24
Gods threats being conditional that if sinners truly repent he vvil pardon al, or part of the punishment, the prophet proposeth the most soueraine remedie of almes dedes that by workes of mercie this sinful king, or anie other sinner may procure the mercie of God. As in dede this king found mercie after some punishment: the prophet proposeth the soueraine remedie of almes dedes, that by vvorkes of mercie, he might procure Gods mercie.
4:33
Being restored to his wittes he went vp right, cut his haire & nailes, & so appeared to himself as returned to his former figure or shape.
4:34
34. Novv therfore I Nabuchodonosor praise, magnifie, and glorisie God] Albeit It is probable that he died shortly after his restauration. holie Scripture doth not reporte, vvhen and hovv king Nabuchodonosor died, yet by this last thing vvritten of him, it is very like he liued not long after his great chatisment: for if he had, it is probable that Daniel vvould haue vvritten more of him, & that he being so fully conuerted to God, vvould haue deliuered •oach in king of Iuda, out of prison (vvhich his next successor Euilmerodach did. 4. Reg. 25. v. 27.) and al the Iewes from captiuitie, if God had longer spared him life, he being now wel affected tovvards them. And that he died in state And most like that he is eternally saued. of saluation, may with great reason be supposed, seing his repentance and conuersion to God is so fully expressed in holie Scripture, and no mention that he fel againe. VVhich is also the iudgement of most lerned vvriters. Namely of Iosephus. li. 10. Antiq. Dorotheus in Synopsi. S. Epiphanius, in vita Danielis. S. Ierom. epist. 7. ad Letam. S. Augustin epist 122. ad Victoriam. & li de predest. & gratia c. 15. VVhere he compareth Pharao with Nabuchodonosor, and their diuers endes, by Gods grace mouing the one to penance for his iniquitie, the other wilfully fighting against Gods merciful veritie. as we haue noted. Exo. 7. Pag. 174.
4:1
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 26
… for he ruled over the whole [earth]; (and this is evident from Jeremiah. “Who putteth on the earth,” saith he, “as a garment.” (See Jer. xliii. 12 and Ps. civ. 2 .) And again, “I have given it to Nebuchadnezzar My servant” ( Jer. xxvii. 6 ), and again from what he [the King] says in his letter).
4:2
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. Homilies on Ephesians 8
… For because of them the king straightway issued a decree, containing these words, “It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me. How great are His signs! And how mighty are His wonders!” (
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist 2.93
… but I ask whether he was still a persecutor when he set forth the decree that all who should blaspheme against the one true God should be destroyed, and their whole house laid waste? For if he was a persecutor, why do you answer Amen to the words of a persecutor?
4:8
Origene † 254 d.C. Origen De Principiis 1.3.2
2. Now, what the Holy Spirit is, we are taught in many passages of Scripture, as by David in the fifty-first Psalm , when he says, “And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me;” and by Daniel, where it is said, “The Holy Spirit which is in thee.”
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews 26
And what [of this], that he called him “Belteshazzar, the name of” his own “god”?
4:9
san Cirillo di Gerusalemme † 386 d.C. The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 16.31
… and nevertheless, (to pass on quickly,) by the sentence of Daniel that chaste lady was saved. We bring this forward as a testimony; for this is not the season for expounding. Nebuchadnezzar also knew that the Holy Spirit was in Daniel; for he says to him, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, of whom I know, that the Holy Spirit of God is in thee
4:10
sant'Ippolito † 235 d.C. The Refutation of All Heresies 6.4
… it may, (I say, in general,) be affirmed that the fire, (I mean) the super-celestial (fire), is a treasure, as it were a large tree, just such a one as in a dream was seen by Nabuchodonosor,
4:13
sant'Efrem il Siro † 373 d.C. Ephraim Syrus: Nineteen Hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the Flesh 1
… and Him who created silver, for silver the thief sold. Yea, Pharisees, the dark one’s sons, all the night through kept awake: the dark ones watched that they might veil the Light which is unlimited. Ye then watch as [heaven’s] lights in this night of starry light. For though so dark be its colour yet in virtue it is clear.
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 75.5
May you be kept holy both in body and spirit by the Samaritan—that is, saviour and keeper—of whom it is said in the psalm, “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” May the watcher and the holy one who came down to Daniel
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 109.3
… But let us say with David: “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” So will the Holy One and the Watcher come to us.
Anonymous Further, the Martyrdom of Barsamya, the Bishop of the Blessed City Edessa 1
Barsamya said: Thy mind is greatly blinded, O judge, and so also is that of the emperors who gave thee authority; nor are the things that are manifest seen by you; nor do ye perceive that lo! the whole creation worships Christ; and thou sayest to me, Do not worship Him, as if I alone worshipped Him—Him whom the watchers
4:16
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 130.10
… These are “the fiery darts” with which the devil wounds men and sets them on fire, and it was these which the king of Babylon used against the three children. But when he made his fire forty-nine cubits high he did but turn to his own ruin
papa san Gregorio I Magno † 604 d.C. The Book of Pastoral Rule 1.4
… For he who judges is within; that which is judged is within. When, then, in heart we transgress, what we are doing within ourselves is hidden from men. but yet in the eyes of the judge we sin. For neither did the King of Babylon then first stand guilty of elation (
4:17
Afraate † 346 d.C. Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 5.9
… When Daniel interpreted his dream to him, Daniel said to him:— Thou art the tree, that tree which thou sawest in the midst of the earth and beneath thee dwell all the nations .
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. Exposition of the Christian Faith 1.4
33. This is our Faith. Thus did God will that He should be known by all, thus believed the three children,
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. Against the Pelagians 2
Dan. iv. 17 . The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.
papa san Gregorio I Magno † 604 d.C. Register of the Epistles of St. Gregory the Great 13.31
Glory to God in the highest who, according as it is written, changes times, and transfers kingdoms, seeing that He has made apparent to all what He vouchsafed to speak by His prophet, That the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will (
4:19
sant'Atanasio di Alessandria † 373 d.C. Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.) 82
82. Being known to be so great a man, therefore, and having thus given answers to those who visited him, he returned again to the inner mountain, and maintained his wonted discipline. And often when people came to him, as he was sitting or walking, as it is written in Daniel
4:22
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. Exposition of the Christian Faith 1.4
33. This is our Faith. Thus did God will that He should be known by all, thus believed the three children, and felt not the fire into the midst whereof they were cast, which destroyed and burnt up unbelievers,
4:24
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 25
… i. 17, 18 .) What labor is there here? “Tell thy sins, that thou mayest be justified.” ( Is. xliii. 26 . LXX.) What hardship is there in this? “Redeem thy sins with alms.” (
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. Homilies on First Corinthians 23
… Thus, if thou forbear to be angry with thy neighbor, thine own sins shall be forgiven. “For if ye forgive men,” saith He, “your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” ( Matt. vi. 14 .) And if thou give alms, He will remit thee thy sins; for, “break off thy sins,” saith He, “by alms.” (
4:25
Tertulliano † 220 d.C. On Repentance 12
… The swallow, if she blinds her young, knows how to give them eyes again by means of her own swallow-wort. Shall the sinner, knowing that exomologesis has been instituted by the Lord for his restoration, pass that by which restored the Babylonian king
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. Exposition of the Christian Faith 1.4
… For with them there was One in the form of an angel, comforting them, to the end that in the number of the Trinity one Supreme Power might be praised. God was praised, the Son of God was seen in God’s angel, holy and spiritual grace spake in the children.
4:27
san Tascio Cecilio Cipriano † 258 d.C. On Works and Alms 5
… and redeem thy sins by almsgivings, and thine unrighteousness by mercies to the poor, and God will be patient to thy sins.”
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose 63.24
92. But riches themselves are not blameable. For “the ransom of a man’s life are his riches,” since he that gives to the poor redeems his soul.
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. An Exhortation to Theodore After His Fall 1
… and in addition to these things after the exhortation derived from events the prophet also himself advised him, saying “Therefore, O king, let my counsel please thee, and redeem thy sins by alms, and thy iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; it may be that long suffering will be shown to thy offence.”
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. Three Homilies Concerning the Power of Demons 2.6
… And if thou wouldest learn a fourth way, I will say almsgiving. For this has a great power and unspeakable. For Daniel saith to Nebuchadnezzar when he had come to all kinds of evil, and had entered upon all impiety, “O King let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, redeem thy sins by almsgiving and thine iniquities by compassion on the poor.”
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 30
… For great, yea, very great, is the fruit of hospitality. ( Luke xi. 41 .) Thus too Jethro, and that though he was a foreigner, gained for a relation him who with so great power commanded the sea. (
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. Homilies on Titus 6
… but I consider not their advantage only, but the good of those who give. Dost thou see, that when the prophet gave that excellent counsel to Nebuchadnezzar, he did not merely consider the poor. For he does not content himself with saying, Give to the poor; but what? “Break off thy sins by almsdeeds, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.” (
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 7
… But there is another more prevailing way than this; to bear malice against none of those who have offended against us, to forgive their trespasses to all those who have trespassed against us. Will you learn a third? Hear Daniel, saying, “Redeem thy sins by almsdeeds, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.” (
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 81
… Let each say what he will concerning us, let him be angry at our continual admonitions, let him call us silly, tedious, tiresome, still we will not desist from exhorting you on these matters continually, and from continually repeating to you that of the Prophet, “‘Break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor’ (
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 66.5
… and alms maketh an atonement for sins.” What great power compassion has and what high rewards it is destined to win, the blessed Cyprian sets forth in an extensive work. It is proved also by the counsel of Daniel who desired the most impious of kings—had he been willing to hear him—to be saved by shewing mercy to the poor.
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 108.16
… and alms maketh an atonement for sins;” and “make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness that…they may receive you into everlasting habitations;” and “give alms…and behold all things are clean unto you;” and Daniel’s words to King Nebuchadnezzar in which he admonished him to redeem his sins by almsgiving.
sant'Agostino d'Ippona † 430 d.C. Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 10.10
… It is written, “As water quencheth fire, so alms quencheth sin.” Again it is written, “Shut up alms in the heart of a poor man, and it shall make supplication for thee before the Lord.” Again it is written, “Hear, O king, my counsel, and redeem thy sins by alms.”
4:28
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. Exposition of the Christian Faith 1.4
… For with them there was One in the form of an angel,
4:30
Afraate † 346 d.C. Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 5.16
… So Jeremiah called him a lion. And he said:— He has the wings of an eagle . For thus it is written that, when Nebuchadnezzar went out to the wilderness with the beasts, he grew hair like (the plumage) of an eagle. And he said:— I saw that its wings were plucked away and it stood upright upon its feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it .
papa san Gregorio I Magno † 604 d.C. The Book of Pastoral Rule 1.4
But after this, elevated by the success of his dominion, and rejoicing in having done great things, he first preferred himself to all in thought, and afterwards, still vain-glorious, said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom, and in the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? (
4:33
Tertulliano † 220 d.C. The Five Books Against Marcion 2.17
… that patience, (I mean,) which waits for the sinner’s repentance rather than his death, which prefers mercy to sacrifice, averting from the Ninevites the ruin which had been already denounced against them, and vouchsafing to Hezekiah’s tears an extension of his life, and restoring his kingly state to the monarch of Babylon after his complete repentance;
Tertulliano † 220 d.C. On Patience 13
… in inuring herself to sackcloth and ashes. This bodily patience adds a grace to our prayers for good, a strength to our prayers against evil; this opens the ears of Christ our God, dissipates severity, elicits clemency. Thus that Babylonish king,
san Cirillo di Gerusalemme † 386 d.C. The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 2.18
18. Thou hast seen the greatness of his evil deeds: come now to God’s loving-kindness. He was turned into a wild beast , he abode in the wilderness, he was scourged, that he might be saved. He had claws as a lion
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. The Letters of St. Jerome 107.2
… “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” It is never too late to mend. The robber passed even from the cross to paradise. Nebuchadnezzar also, the king of Babylon, recovered his reason, even after he had been made like the beasts in body and in heart and had been compelled to live with the brutes in the wilderness.
4:34
san Cirillo di Gerusalemme † 386 d.C. The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 2.18
… for a brute beast he was, not knowing Him who had given him the kingdom. His body was wet from the dew; because after seeing the fire quenched by the dew he believed not . And what happened ? After this , saith he, I, Nabuchodonosor, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and I blessed the Most High, and to Him that liveth for ever I gave praise and glory
san Cirillo di Gerusalemme † 386 d.C. The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril 8.5
… They are kings of men, who reign upon earth, but not without the power from above: and this Nebuchadnezzar once learned by experience, when he said; For His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His power from generation to generation
Pseudo-Cyprian Exhortation to Repentance 1
Also in Daniel: “And after the end of the days, I Nabuchodonosor lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense returned to me, and I praised the Most High, and blessed the King of heaven, and praised Him that liveth for ever: because His power is eternal, His kingdom is for generations, and all who inhabit the earth are as nothing.”
4:1
1. FLORENS IN PALATIO MEO. — Theodoretus addit, quod est et ait, id est pinguis in populo meo.
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2. SOMNIUM VIDI. — Quaeres, quo anno hoc somnium habuit Nabuchodonosor? Respondeo, anno regni sui 37; nam anno 35 regni, debellata Aegypto factus est monarcha, indeque anno 2, puta anno regni sui 37, qui fuit annus mundi 3378, vidit statuam illam quadrifidam de qua cap. II, ac mox eodem anno ob monarchiam adeptam superbia intumescens, vidit somnium hujus cap., et juxta illud deinde mense duodecimo, anno regni sui 38, regno ut bestia ejectus est, ut patet vers. 26, in quo statu septem annos permansit: octavo demum anno menti et regno redditus, paulo post mortuus videtur anno regni sui 45, qui fuit transmigrationis Joachin 37. Illo enim anno successit in regno Nabuchodonosori filius Evilmerodach, ut patet IV Reg. XXV, 27. Unde et deinceps nulla alia Nabuchodonosoris gesta narrantur. Qui sane tantae mutationis et conversionis suae, multa alioqui monumenta reliquisset, et Judaeos e captivitate liberos dimisisset, utpote quorum Deum agnoverat. Dices: Theodoretus et Chrysostomus sic legunt: Anno 48, vidit Nabuchodonosor somnium. Respondeo: Annus hic regni ejus 37 fuit 18 ab excidio templi et captivitate Judaeorum. Nam anno 18 regni sui, ipse urbem Jerusalem cum templo evertit: inde usque ad annum 37 regni ejusdem sunt 18 anni. Alii nonnulli censent haec contigisse anno regni Nabuchodonosoris 27, ita ut regno ejectus, ac post septennium restitutus, vixerit in pristina regni gloria per decem annos, scilicet ad annum regni sui 44; nec enim Deus videtur eum restituisse, ut statim e medio tolleret. Sed prius quod dixi verius est, ut patet ex dictis Ezech. XXVI, 1, et cap. XXIX, vers. 1, et maxime vers. 17. Nimirum voluit Deus misericorditer eum ex vitae hujus periculis eripere, cum in bono esset statu, et ad meliorem vitam transferre; ne, si diutius viveret, rursus in tanta gloria superbiret et periret.
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5. DONEC COLLEGA. — To collega non est in Graecis, ne Caraffae quidem; sed est in Chaldaeo, fuitque in versione Aquilae, Symmachi et Theodotionis, ut testatur S. Hieronymus. Perperam apud Theodoretum pro ἑταῖρος, id est socius, collega, legitur ἕτερος, id est alius. Rex Danielem vocat collegam, quia participem eum fecerat imperii, eumque administrationi Babyloniae praefecerat, cap. II, 20 et 48; idque ob explicationem praecedentis somnii, et ob admirabilem sapientiam et spiritum propheticum, quem in eo cernebat. CUI NOMEN BALTASSAR SECUNDUM NOMEN DEI MEI. — Daniel vocatus est Baltassar, vel, ut Chaldaeus est Beltsasar, non ex eo quod rex eum Balsasari, filio suo, coharedem vellet facere, ut vult Epiphanius De Vita Prophet.; non etiam ex eo quod somnia regis aliaque arcana interpretatus sit, ut volunt Suidas et Joseph; nam puer a praefecto eunuchorum ita vocatus est cap. I, 7. Dictus ergo est Beltsasar, a בער Baal, sive Bal, sive Bel, sive Bels (haec enim omnia idem sunt) Deo Babyloniorum; et לטוש latus, id est acutus; et אוצר otsar, id est thesaurus, q. d. Belis acutus thesaurus, id est Belis acumen et sapientia: eo quod praefectus eum, utpote regio semine ortum, et nobili ingenio praeditum, ideoque regi astiturum, sapientissimum fore optaret et portenderet. Hinc nomen Baltassaris, vel Balsasaris, apud Chaldaeos regale erat et divinum, ut patet ex historia hujus libri: fere enim reges Chaldaeorum nomina deorum sibi adaptabant: hinc ex Nebo, Bel, Mero, vocati sunt Nabonitus, Baltassar, Merodach, Evilmerodach: Merodach enim idem est quod Mero דך dach, id est tenuis, vel parvus. Evilmerodach idem est quod princeps Merodach. Evil enim significat primatem et principem. Porro sicut Chaldaei a Baal deo suos reges cognominarunt Balsasar, Baladan, Belochus: ita ab eodem Tyrii suos vocarunt Isobaal, Abibaal, Baleazar, et ab eis descendentes Carthaginenses, ab eodem suos duces nuncuparunt Hannibaal, id est castrorum dominus, sive dux; Mathumbaal, id est mortis aliquorum dominus; Hasdrubaal, etc. Ita Scaliger, lib. VI De Emendat. temp. et noster Serarius in cap. II Josue, Quaest. XXV. Sic Hebraei suos reges, Prophetas et viros illustres nomine Dei, puta Jehova, Ia, El, insignierunt: Jehova, ut Jehosue, Jehoiakim, Jehosaphat, Jehoiada: Ia, ut Abia, Isaias, Jeremias, Zacharias: El, ut Daniel, Ezechiel, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael. Res spectat illud S. Augustini, Quaest. XVI in lib. Judic. tomo IV: «Baal, inquit, Punici videntur dicere Dominum: unde Baalsamen, quasi Dominum coeli intelliguntur dicere. Samen quippe apud eos coeli appellantur,» utique ab Hebraeo שמים schamaim. QUI HABET SPIRITUM DEORUM SANCTORUM IN SEMETIPSO. — Theodotion, teste S. Hieronymo, et editor Septuaginta Romana, habent: Qui spiritum Dei sanctum habet in semetipso. Hebraei enim Elohim, pro quo Chaldaei dicunt Elahin, tam Deum quam deos significat, esto sit plurale, uti dixi Genes. I, 4. Et quia pluralis est numeri, additur ei pariter epithetum plurale קדשין kaddischin, quod pari modo tam sanctum quam sanctos, vel sanctorum verti potest. Porro spiritus hic Dei, vel deorum, est spiritus prophetiae. Divinitatis enim propria est divinatio et praenotio futurorum contingentium aeque ac arcanorum cordis.
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6. OMNE SACRAMENTUM NON EST IMPOSSIBILE TIBI. — Graece, πᾶν ἀδυνατεῖ σοι, alii legunt σε, q. d. Non facit te impotentem, scilicet ad illud explicandum, q. d. Nihil superat tuam facultatem et intelligentiam. «Sacramentum» vocat sacrum arcanum, puta somnium a Deo sibi immissum, ejusque significationem.
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8. MAGNA ARBOR ET FORTIS. — Arbor haec significabat hominem. Est enim homo arbor inversa, inquit Aristoteles; nam caput, quod est radix sensationis, intelligentiae et motus, est sursum: rami vero, id est pedes, sunt deorsum. Unde homo a Clemente Alexandrino in Adhort. vocatur «planta coelestis,» quia coelum versus radicem habet. Hinc et Christus ait Matth. III, 28: «Jam securis ad radicem arborum posita est;» «arborum,» id est hominum. Et Psalm. I, 3, justus vocatur «lignum (id est arbor) quod plantatum est secus decursus aquarum: et folium ejus non defluet, et fructum dabit in tempore suo.» Apte arbor radices habet in terra fixas, homo vero sursum: nam arbor ex terra, homo vero sursum, scilicet ex coelo, nutritur. Arbor ergo haec significat Nabuchodonosoris imperium, et gloria sublime, et amplitudine longe lateque patens, et viribus robustum esse. Sic Ezechiel, XVII, 23, superbum Sedeciam, et cap. XXXI, 3, regem Assyriorum comparat arbori excelsae; et Psaltes, Psalm. XXXVI, 55: «Vidi, ait, impium superexaltatum et elevatum sicut cedros Libani: transivi, et ecce non erat.» Nimirum tolluntur in altum, ut lapsu graviore ruant. Simili arboris eversae schemate praesignificata est eversio Ecclesiae Africanae per Hunericum regem arianum. Rem narrat Victor Uticensis, lib. II Hist. Wandal.: «Vidit, inquit, venerabilis Paulus Episcopus arborem usque ad coelos ramis florentibus extensam, quae etiam dilatatione sua omnem pene Africam opacabat. Et cum universi ejus magnitudine et speciositate gauderent, ecce subito venit asinus violentus, qui defricans cervicem suam super robur radicum ejus, impulsu suo cum ingenti sonitu illam mirabilem arborem elisit ad terram.» Arbor haec erat Ecclesia catholica: asinus eam per radices subruens erat Hunericus, eam vastans per Episcoporum et sacerdotum exsilia ac martyria. Haec ergo arbor symbolum est prosperitatis et gloriae humanae, quae mox prosternitur et ruit. Ita Lyranus. Simili modo huic arbori nostrae comparari posset Adam, parens generis humani: hic enim paradiso quasi arbor magna fuit, florens et affluens omnibus bonis; sed per superbiam et peccatum prostrata fuit in brutales concupiscentias et aerumnas, atque excisa usque ad radices, id est usque ad B. Virginem, quae intacta germen protulit, scilicet Christum, qui arborem hanc suo flori restituit, imo florentiorem reparavit. Similis ergo fuit casus Adae casui Nabuchodonosoris, sicut eidem similis fuit casus Luciferi: unde eidem illum comparat Isaias, cap. XIV, 12. Tropologice Lyranus per arborem hanc intelligit hominem virtuosum: «Haec arbor, inquit, alta est per justitiam, fortis per constantiam, frondosa per eloquentiam, magna per prudentiam quae dirigit omnes virtutes, diffusa per misericordiam, fructifera per devotionis exuberantiam. Omnes pascuntur ex ea, per fraternam aedificationem: subter eam bestiae, per sensuum exteriorum refrenationem: in ramis ejus volucres coeli, per motuum exteriorum moderantiam. Hic homo si in peccatum cadat, contra eum inclamat vigil, id est Christus in Evangelio, vel Praelatus praedicando: Succidite arborem, quantum ad desertionem charitatis, quae est vita animae: praecidite ramos, quantum ad oblationem voluntatis bonae: excutite folia, quantum ad defectum bonae locutionis: dispergite fructus, quantum ad subtractionem bonae operationis: fugiunt animalia quae subter eam sunt, quantum ad defectum debitae subjectionis: alligetur vinculo, quantum ad generationem malae consuetudinis, eoque ferreo, propter duritiem obstinationis: ejiciatur foras, quantum ad inverecundiam in omnibus malis, quia tunc facta est ei frons meretricis: cor ejus ab humano commutetur, quantum ad omnem modum crudelitatis: septem tempora commutentur super eum, quantum ad perversam opinionem totius legis. Hujus arboris sententias percipiunt in somniis reges, principes, nobiles, divites; quia frequenter in praedicationibus audiunt divinam sententiam, sed non curant, ac si esset tantummodo somnium.» Hucusque Lyranus. ET PROCERITAS EJUS CONTINGENS COELUM. — Est hyperbole, q. d. Altissima erat. Similis est Deut. I, 28: «Urbes magnae et ad coelum usque munitae;» vel, ut Graeca habent, muratae; et apud Poetam: «Ferit aurea sidera clamor.» ASPECTUS ILLIUS ERAT USQUE AD TERMINOS UNIVERSAE TERRAE. — Chaldaeus: Rami ejus ad finem totius terrae protendebantur; Septuaginta, Latitudo ejus usque ad terminos terrae. «Sic et Theodotion, inquit S. Hieronymus, vertit κάτος, id est latitudo (vitiose enim in S. Hieronymo legitur altitudo pro latitudo), quod ipse explicat κυρεία, id est dominatio,» q. d. Latissime dominatur Nabuchodonosor, usque ad fines terrae. Est rursum hyperbole: nam Nabuchodonosor tantum Asiam occupavit, non Europam et Libyam.
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9. Esca universorum in ea, — q. d. in hac arbore copiosi erant fructus, ita ut ii omnibus animantibus alendis satis essent: quod praeter alia, quae mox afferam, indicabat potentiam et opes Nabuchodonosoris et Chaldaeorum esse tantas, ut iis pene omnes homines ali et vivere possent. Nota: Hujus arboris, id est Nabuchodonosoris, folia, erant pompa vestium, curruum, militum; fructus erant opes et tributa, ait Theodoretus: Cibus omnium erat in ea, quia omnes mercatores et agricolae sub eo pacifice et laute vivebant; milites vero et aulici splendide ab eo alebantur: subter eam habitabant bestiae, id est homines barbari; et in ramis ejus volucres coeli, id est homines mitiori, acriori et altiori ingenio sub illius regis imperio et favore commode et decenter vivebant, sicque «ex ea vescebatur omnis caro.» Arborem apud Indos, Persas et Aegyptios virum excellentem significare, refert Achmedes in Oneirocriticis, cap. CC. Sic apud Ezechielem, cap. XXXI, 3, arbor est rex Assyriae, et vers. 18, rex Aegyptius. Qua loquendi formula non Hebraei tantum, sed et Arabes ad summam rei alicujus altitudinem describendam uti solent, vide etiam Deuter. IX, 1. Graeci quoque arborem praealtam οὐρανομήκη, ad coelum pertingentem vocare solent.
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10. VIDEBAM IN VISIONE CAPITIS MEI SUPER STRATUM MEUM, — videbar mihi per somnium videre. ET ECCE VIGIL, ET SANCTUS DE COELO DESCENDIT. — «Vigil» hic est angelus, ut vertunt Septuaginta, qui non obruitur somno ut homo, utpote carens corpore. Angelus hic erat Babyloniae praeses et angelus vindex, ut patet vers. 14. Nota: To vigil significat primo, angelos esse incorporeos, ideoque nunquam dormire, sed semper vigilare, operique Dei intendere. Hoc imitantur Sancti, praesertim Religiosi, qui noctu pervigilant in oratione et laudibus Dei: «Unde et nos, ait S. Hieronymus, crebris pernoctationibus imitamur angelorum officia. Et de Domino dicitur, Psalm. CXX: Non dormitabit, neque dormiet, qui custodit Israel.» Secundo, eos esse continuos in actione, et infatigabiles. Tertio, eos nostra omnia acerrime considerare. Quarto, eos vigilantissimos esse gubernationis et vindictae divinae ministros et exsecutores: perinde ac ipsa justitia et vindicta divina vigilantissima est: unde ipsa, Jeremiae I, 11, ostensa est quasi virga vigilans. Hinc notat S. Hieronymus Chaldaeum עיר ir, id est vigil, alludere ad irin, sive iridem, quae per multicolorem arcum ad terras descendere dicitur, et per eam subinde angeli, ut Apocal. cap. X, 1, de angelo suo ait Joannes: «Et iris in capite ejus.» Iris enim misericordiae et vindictae est symbolum. Unde censet ab ir Hebraeo, quod hic retinent aliqui interpretes, et graece et latine dictam esse irim sive iridem. Utramque ostendunt et ostendent angeli, tum alias, tum praesertim in judicio et resurrectione, cum ipsi ab morte evigilare et resurgere facient homines; alios ad gloriam, alios ad gehennam. «Vita ergo angelorum est vigilia: vita mortalium vigilia sit oportet. Vigilate: nescitis enim quando Dominus domus veniat» Marc. cap. XIII, 35.
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12. Germen, etc., sinite, — stirpem ei relinquite, ut possit crescere. ALLIGETUR (scilicet ille, qui per arborem hanc significatur, puta Nabuchodonosor) VINCULO FERREO ET AEREO, IN HERBIS QUAE FORIS SUNT. Id est, ut ex Chaldaeo vertit Pagninus: Alligatus vinculo et aereo et ferreo, ponatur in herba agri. Nota: Nabuchodonosor cum primo in amentiam versus est, mox a suis, ne sibi et aliis noceret, vinculis astrictus fuit et inclusus; sed deinde monitu Danielis solutus et dimissus ivit ad sylvas, vixitque cum bestiis per septem annos, ut patet vers. 29. Ita tamen ut retinuerit vincula aliqua, puta manicas ferreas in manibus, ne illae conjungi possent, neve iis uteretur ut homo, sed ut, iis disjunctis, reperet ad herbas agri quasi bestia. Hoc enim est quod hic dicitur: «Alligetur vinculo ferreo, etc., in herbis.» Herbas ergo comedens erat ligatus. Lyranus, quem sequitur Fernandius, vision. XXII, Comment. II, sect. II, per vincula haec accipit sententiam et decretum Dei infrangibile, de Nabuchodonosoris ejectione e regno. Alii accipiunt durissimam ejus poenam et afflictionem, quae fregit et domuit ejus superbiam. Sed haec mystica sunt.
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13. COR EJUS AB HUMANO COMMUTETUR. — Syrus: Cor ejus ab hominibus transeat; Arabicus Antiochenus: Cor ejus divertatur, vel amoveatur ab hominibus; Arabicus Alexandrinus: Cor ejus auferatur ab inter homines, et pro eo COR FERAE DETUR EI. Hinc Origenes cum suis docuit hanc non esse historiam, sed parabolam, qua sub nomine regis Nabuchodonosoris symbolice describatur casus Luciferi. Sed haec est haeresis: nam historiam esse patet ex simplici narratione totius capitis, et ex cap. seq., vers. 20 et seq. Ita S. Hieronymus et alii passim. Quaeres, an ergo Nabuchodonosor vere mutatus fuit in feram aut bestiam? Primo, nonnulli censent Josephum id affirmare, sed falso hoc ei tribuunt. Secundo, Dorotheus in Synopsi, et Epiphanius in Vita Danielis, censent Nabuchodonosorem interius habuisse formam hominis, scilicet animam rationalem, sed exterius mutatum fuisse in figuram bovis anterius, et leonis posterius; ac consequenter videntur ei caput et cornua bovis, caudam vero et jubas leonis dare. Probant ex eo quod hic dicitur «cor,» non bestiæ, sed «ferae detur ei:» bos autem est bestia, non fera: leo vero est fera; non bestia: ergo potius in leonis quam in bovis formam mutatus fuit rex. Rursum, quia vers. 30, Septuaginta dicunt ejus capillos crevisse in similitudinem leonum. Adde, rex hic crudelis et superbus fuit, ut leo; unde et leoni comparatur, cap. VII, 4. Verum in explicatione somnii Daniel nullam leonis, sed tantum bovis facit mentionem, vers. 29 et 30, eum bovi similem factum esse narrat. Jam vero boves non tantum cicures sunt et domestici, sed etiam agrestes et feri, uti sunt uri et bisontes. Talis ergo factus videtur Nabuchodonosor. Sic de Gyge et Minotauro fingunt poetae, eos partim fuisse homines, partim boves. Nam de Gyge canit Ovidius, lib. IV Trist. eleg. 6: Centimanumque Gygen, semibovemque virum; de Minotauro vero: Semibovemque virum, semivirumque bovem. Transit jam, ut saepe fit in somniis, allegoricus sermo in proprium; nam vincula, ferarum victus, et immutatio cordis, seu mentis, non competunt arbori, sed Nabuchodonosori per eam significato. Tertio, Michael Medina, lib. II De Fide, cap. VII, putat non veram, sed phantasticam fuisse regis transformationem in bestiam: idque aut per daemonum praestigias, quomodo nostri lycanthropi, cum sint homines et sagi, ope daemonis ita perstringunt oculos intuentium, ut videantur esse lupi, gregesque ovium quasi lupi invadere et occidere, ac mox strage peracta in humanam formam videantur reverti. Similis transformationis meminit S. Augustinus, lib. XVIII De Civit. XVIII. Aut potius, quia Deus circa corpus regis circumposuit figuram quamdam bestiae, sub qua cum cerneretur ab aliis, bestia putabatur: sic enim mulier illa, quae ad S. Hilarionem fuit adducta, per magicas artes apparebat esse jumentum, quae Hilarioni mulier, uti revera erat, videbatur. Testis est S. Hieronymus, in ejus Vita. Verum haec non sufficiunt, nec explent verba Scripturae. Quarto, S. Thomas, lib. II De Regimine principum (viri docti, ut Bellarminus, lib. De Script. Eccles., negant hunc librum esse S. Thomae Aquinatis) cap. ult., ait regem transformatum esse in bestiam, non revera, sed quia sua imaginatione vitiata et corrupta, sibi transformatus videbatur. Cujus rei multa et mira exempla refert Galenus, et post eum Levinus Lemnius, lib. II De Complexione, sub finem: Quidam, inquit, putabat nasum sibi excrevisse in immensum, ut elephantis proboscidem circumferre videretur. Medicus hunc ei morbum et phantasiam hac arte exemit: longum farcimen naribus admovit arreptaque novacula illud sensim abscidit, ac tandem extimam nasi partem perstrinxit, ut sanguis deflueret; itaque imaginarium ei nasum avulsit: atque, praescripta ei soporifera potione et salubri diaeta eum plene curavit. Alius hypochondriacus, hoc est, cui praecordia humore melancholico ac flatibus turgebant, credebat ranas ac bufones interiora sua perterebrare. Medicus dedit ei potionem, ac subdito clystere procuravit, ut aliquot ranae et bufones in subjectam ei pelvim conjicerentur; quibus visis, opinio illi haec adempta est. Tertius censebat se membra posteriora habere ex vitro; unde semper stabat, metuens ne si sederet, ea quasi vitri fragmenta dissilirent. Quartus nuper fuit, qui ex nimia capitis fatigatione, se mortuum esse dicebat, nec comedere volebat, utpote mortuum se credens. Jamque instabat septimus dies, qui inedia confectis lethalis esse solet. Ut eum morbo et morti eriperent, quidam personati linteis obvoluti quasi mortui, conclave obscurum ingressi mensam instruere, ac liberaliter se reficere coeperunt. Aeger autem, haec conspicatus, sciscitatur quid moliantur, et quod sint genus hominum? Responsum est mortuos esse se. Tum ipse: Ergone mortui comedunt? Illi: Comedunt utique; veni, vide et gusta. Ille lecto exsilit, cum mortuis commentitiis large vescitur, indormit confecto ad id liquamine, experrectus sensim ad se redit et sanatur. Haec omnia Lemnius. Hinc multi fiunt stulti et deliri ex sola vehementi rei alicujus vel amabilis, vel odibilis, apprehensione: imo narrat Seneca Bibium Gallum Romanum imitando gestus stulti, eos ita phantasiae impressisse, ut inde stultus factus fuerit. Huc accedit Franciscus Valesius, De Sacra philos. cap. LXXX, et Hieronymus Mercurialis, lib. VI Variar. lect. cap. XX, qui hanc regis metamorphosin non aliud fuisse censent, quam morbum quem medici melancholiam vocant, quo qui laborant insaniunt, et in aliorum subinde animalium formas mutatos se esse imaginantur, faciuntque et patiuntur omnia quasi revera ita esset: alii in canes, et latrant: alii in gallos, et cantant, et concutiunt latera: alii in lupos, et exeunt noctu domo, queruntque sepulcra, et versantur libenter cum cadaveribus. Hinc enim Latinis vocatur melancholia canina, atque lupina, Graecis Lycanthropia, Arabibus cutulint. Sic Bellerophon, ut animi aegritudines et mentis dolores excuteret, captabat loca avia et solitudines: de quo Homerus, Iliade 7: Ipse suum cor edens, hominum vestigia vitans. Hinc Rufinus ethnicus, monachos insulae Caprariae eodem morbo laborare falso aestimans, sic de eis scribit: Sic nimiae bilis morbum assignavit Homerus / Bellerophontaeis sollicitudinibus. Similis fuit Timon Atheniensis qui μισάνθρωπος est appellatus, quod genus humanum odisse videretur. Unde quadam vice in concionem ascendens, silentio indicto, dixit: Est mihi hortus, et in eo ficus, ex qua multi cives se suspenderunt. In eodem nunc ego loco aedificare volo; quare vos publice admoneo, ut, si quis se suspendere velit, maturet antequam arbor exscindatur. Ejus epitaphium hoc fuit: Hic sum post vitam miseramque inopemque sepultus, / Nomen non quaeras: Dii, lector, te male perdant. Unde mare quasi perosum hoc monstrum, dicitur exundando ejus sepulcrum longe expulisse. Hic modus verus est, sed non adaequatus; nec enim usquequaque verbis Scripturae ipsique historiae satisfacit: non enim potest morbus aliquis naturalis figuram hominis mutare, itaque temperamentum ejus efferare, ut per septem annos cibo ferino quasi fera cum feris vivat. Denique Pererius asserit regem non mutavisse figuram, sed tantum phantasiam, complexionem et gestus: et Maldonatus censet in figura corporis nihil mutatum fuisse praeter ungues et capillos, qui nisi saepe resecentur, solent turpi ac ferina forma crescere. Verum: DICO PRIMO: Nabuchodonosor in hac transformatione vere mansit homo. Id patet, primo ex tota narratione vers. 30 et sequent. Secundo, quia alioqui anima rationalis debuisset ei adimi, et dari anima bovis: et sic non fuisset idem; nec rex qui peccaverat, fuisset punitus, sed bos. Tertio, quia anima humana non potest informare corpus bovis; nec anima bovis corpus hominis. Mansit ergo idem omnino Nabuchodonosor, idem corpus, eadem anima; sed humanus tantum sensus quoad exercitium, puta humana sensatio, praesertim in gustu; ac rationis usus ei fuit ad tempus ablatus, et postea redditus. DICO SECUNDO: Aliqua tamen ratione dici potest eum conversum esse in bestiam, puta in urum aut bisontem; idque patet primo, quia, ut ait D. Thomas, secundum vitiatam suam imaginationem in urum sibi conversus esse videbatur. Secundo, quia cordis et corporis ejus temperamentum ita immutatum et efferatum est, ut esset simile ferae bestiae, quantum fieri potuit citra humanitatis, sive naturae humanae amissionem. Tertio, quia rationis usu privatus et mente captus, tantum utebatur phantasia, eaque ferina, qualis est uri; et hoc est quod hic dicitur: «Cor ferae detur ei,» q. d. Privetur sensu humano, fiat amens et insanus, videatur sibi non esse homo, sed bestia. Ubi nota: Cor in Scriptura et hic tria significat. Primo, mentem: quod enim cor est in corpore, hoc mens est in anima totoque homine. Jam bestiae non habent mentem, sed ejus vice habent imaginationem: haec enim regit eas earumque actus, uti mens regit hominis actus; cor ergo ferae est phantasia ferae. Secundo, cor idem est quod appetitus et voluntas; cor ergo ferae est appetitus ferinus. Tertio, cor proprie hic sumitur. Cordis enim, indeque totius corporis complexio in rege mutata fuit, ut ex humana fieret ferina. Crediderim tamen cum Maldonato eum saltem per intervalla aliquem rationis et pristinae dignitatis sensum habuisse: hoc enim proprie erat regi et homini; qua talis est, poenale, afflictivum et contristativum. Huic sententiae favet illud vers. 22: «Donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus,» q. d. Donec ex tua poena agnoscas Deum vindicem, ab eoque veniam poscas. Quarto, quia habitus ejus magis ferinus erat, quam humanus; nam incedebat semper nudus, rori, imbri, et aliis coeli injuriis ut fera obnoxius. Rursum facies ejus ab humana erat diversa et accedens ad ferinam. Deinde adeo ei creverant capilli, ut totum fere corpus contegerent; ungues quoque creverant ad similitudinem avium. Denique cute erat non molli, sed dura et ferina, pilosque habebat crassissimos, ut referrent plumas avium, qui a copiosa fuligine crassissimae melancholiae oriebantur, inquit Valesius. Quinto, incessus ejus et figura erat ferina; quia non erectus ut homo, et bipes; sed curvus et pronus, manibus et pedibus reptabat ut bestia, et quadrupes: pedes ergo ejus, brachia et manus callosae et durae, reliquaque membra cum temperamento ferinam induerant figuram, quantum salva humana natura facere poterat Deus. Unde ipse rex jam sibi restitutus ait vers. 33: «Figura mea reversa est ad me;» ergo illa jam ante ei fuerat ablata. Vidi subinde bovina cornua regi nostro appingi; sed haec pictor ei suo adjecit privilegio: alii caudam ei adjiciunt; sed id minus necessarium est: et licet forte aliqualia cornua homini adnasci possent, nulla certe in natura vis est, quae talem humano corpori appendicem possit adjicere. Addunt aliqui regis hujus genuum vertebras inversas fuisse, ita ut extrorsum quadrupedum more prominerent, idque ut pari cum bobus celeritate curreret, et inaequalia loca transiliret; nam si genua ejus introrsum humano modo plicata fuissent, fuisset ipse ad talem motum et saltum ineptus. Haec opinio videtur congrua et probabilis. Nam hic situs ad incedendum more quadrupedum est naturalis, et pene necessarius ad hoc, ut talis incessus continuari, diuque durare possit, ut patet experienti. Sexto, quia cum feris quasi fera versabatur in sylvis, earumdemque victu, scilicet herbis et radicibus vescebatur; easque ex imaginatione et appetitu ferino (hunc enim significat «cor ferae») et bovino sibi a Deo indito appetebat. Porro ferae non laeserunt eum, quia putabant esse feram, licet novam et monstrosam; et quia Deus eas avertit, illumque per septem annos mirabiliter in hoc statu custodivit et conservavit. Simile narrat Aben-Ezra de homine quodam melancholico, qui in monte Sardinia secessit, ibique cum cervis diu herbis victitavit. Sic Arcades glandibus, Argaei pyris sylvestribus, Aethiopes locustis, milio Sauromatae, Persae cardamo, Eremitae herbis, Ophiophagi serpentibus vescebantur. Mithridatem veneno ita assuevisse, ut eo occidi non posset, testantur historiae. Feminam quamdam Coloniae araneis pasci vidisse se narrat Albertus Magnus. Non mirum ergo regem nostrum herbis tamdiu victitasse. Septimo, quia cum mentis usu etiam oris et linguae usum perdiderat, nec articulatas et humanas, sed inconditas et bestiales voces dabat, mugiebatque ut bos. Ratio est, quia locutio sequitur imaginativam: prout enim homo, vel animal imaginatur, sic et loquitur, id est vocem dat: ubi ergo ferina est imaginatio, uti erat in rege, ibi et ferina est vox. Ita S. Hieronymus, Theodoretus, Rupertus et Gregorius, V Moral. VI, ac diserte Ludovicus Molina I part. Quaest. CXI, et Delrio, lib. II De Magia, Quaest. XVIII. Hujus metamorphosis vix meminerunt Gentiles, praesertim quia prisci Chaldaeorum annales perierunt: insinuat tamen eam Alphaeus apud Eusebium, lib. IX De Praeparat. Evang., dum narrat regem Nabuchodonosorem in furorem raptum, praedixisse eversionem Chaldaeorum, moxque evanuisse e consortio hominum, dum scilicet quasi bestia fugit ad bestias in sylvas. Moraliter, nota hic justam et aptam poenam ferinae superbae, tyrannidis, gulae et vitae; ob hanc enim ex rege factus est quasi fera: «Et quia elocutione cognationis se super homines extulit: ipsum, quem communem cum hominibus habuit, sensum hominis amisit,» inquit S. Gregorius, V Moral. VI. Ecce quam verum hic est illud Psalm. XLVIII: «Homo cum in honore esset, non intellexit; comparatus est jumentis insipientibus, et similis factus est illis.» Hinc finxit Homerus, quod Circe socios Ulyssis illecebris dementaverit, et converterit in porcos, boves, asinos; Ulyssem autem, eo quod ipse ejus cantus et illecebras respuisset, ab ea dementari et converti non potuisse. Hinc rursum nata est illa Pythagorae sententia de animarum transitu in bestias, quam ipse μετεμψύχωσιν vocabat: quae si litteraliter intelligatur, falsa est et absurda; sin symbolice capiatur et moraliter, vera est et accommoda. Vere dixit Euripides: «Cum videris in sublime quempiam elatum, splendidis gloriantem opibus, ac genera supercilioque supra sortem suam fastuosum, illius celerem divinitus exspecta vindictam.» Et Herodotus, lib. I: «Vides eximia animalia ut fulminet Deus, neque suis opinionibus uti sinat; exigua vero facile fert. Vides etiam ut in aedificia maxima semper, et celsissimas arbores coelestia tela ingruant. Solet enim Deus eminentia quaevis castigare, ideoque saepe magni et superbi exercitus a paucis vincuntur. Non sinit enim Deus alium praeter se altum sapere.» Alius: «Ambitio est elementum malorum.» Denique Socrates sapienter monet: «Quamvis rex natus fueris, audi tamen ut mortalis. Quid tum, quod procul exspuis? multa abundas pituita. Vestem elegantem fers? at hanc ovicula prius habuit. Aurum geris? haec fortunae inconstans potentia. Opibus affluis? haec vis est iniqua temporis. Superbis? hujusmodi est stultitiae jactantia, vel hinnitus. At si temperantiam secteris, divinum donum est. Fit autem temperantia, si teipsum metiaris.» Denique sapienter Seneca in Thyest.: Stet quicumque volet potens / Aulae culmine lubrico, / Me dulcis saturet quies. / Obscuro positus loco, / Leni perfruar otio. Nimirum «procul a Jove et fulmine.» Humilis ergo qui procul est a Jove, procul est a fulmine. ET SEPTEM TEMPORA MUTENTUR SUPER EUM. — Per tempora septem Rabbi Abraham accipit septem hebdomadas, alii septem menses, alii septem tempora: annus enim in quatuor tempora dividitur, scilicet in ver, aestatem, autumnum et hiemem: sic ergo septem tempora fere biennium efficerent. Alii, quibus favet Theodoretus, anni, inquiunt, duo tempora sunt aestas et hiems: septem ergo tempora, sunt tres anni cum dimidio. Verum passim Latini, Graeci et Hebraei septem tempora, interpretantur septem annos: annus enim temporum mensura est communissima et vulgatissima, praesertim in chronicis regum. Sic tempora pro annis capiuntur, cap. XII, 7. Unde Arabicus Alexandrinus vertit: Et septem anni mutentur.
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14. IN SENTENTIA VIGILUM DECRETUM EST, ET (hic est) SERMO SANCTORUM ET PETITIO, — q. d. Ita decernunt vigiles, id est angeli, jubente Deo ad sermonem et petitionem Sanctorum. Ita S. Hieronymus. Arabicus vertit: Hoc est quod decretum est in mandato angeli sancti; Chaldaice est, et in verbo Sanctorum quaestio, q. d. Inferiores angeli quaerent: Quare ita Deus fecit? et respondebitur illis: Ut cognoscant viventes quod dominetur Excelsus. ET HUMILLIMUM HOMINEM CONSTITUET SUPER EUM. — puta super Nabuchodonosorem; aut potius «super eum,» id est super ipsum, scilicet regnum, ut habent Chaldaeus, Graeca, Vatablus et alii. Porro multorum, quos Deus ex vili conditione ad regnum evexit, exempla recensui, Genes. XXXVIII, in fine.
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16. Coepit, etc., tacitus cogitare. — Graece ἀπηνεώθη, id est obstupuit, mansit attonitus: ita Vatablus; alii, haesitavit; Polychronius vertit, κατεπλάγη, id est, consternatus est super mira novitate rerum ostensarum, et cogitabundus factus est. Nam, ut ait Ptolemaeus initio Almagesti: «Meditatio est clavis veritatis.» Quocirca sapientes interrogati de casu, vel re difficili, non statim respondent, sed tempus petunt ad cogitandum. COGITATIONES EJUS CONTURBABANT EUM, — quia scilicet dolebat Daniel, regi sibi tam amico, per hoc somnium tam dira portendi. Symbolice Rupertus in Daniel. cap. VIII, docet, per Nabuchodonosorem in bestiam conversum significari, primo, quod Deus, stulta mundi eligens, stultam fecit sapientiam hujus mundi per Evangelium Christi. Secundo, victoriam regni Dei, cujus potestatem rex, recepto sensu, confessus est. «Propriam, inquit, reprobandae sapientiae hujus mundi imaginem superbi regis dementatio praetulit, in eo maxime quod faenum ut bos comedit. Quidnam est faenum bovis hujus pabulum, nisi multitudo carnalium, mane virentium, cito florentium, et cito nihilominus, flore perdito, arescentium? Omnis enim caro ut foenum, et omnis gloria ejus tanquam flos foeni. Ergo descendente sancto et vigile, ad clamorem ejus ex hominibus ejectus est Nabuchodonosor, foenum ut bos comedit: quia descendente in hunc mundum virtute et sapientia Dei Christo, ad praedicationem ejus stulta facta est sapientia hujus mundi, et ejecta ex hominibus divinam rationem recipientibus: solummodo foenum, id est homines superfluos, et super numerum pullulantes ex vitio carnis devorare potuit.»
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24. REX, CONSILIUM MEUM PLACEAT TIBI. — Chaldaice מלכא מלכי malca milki, id est rex, rex meus, vel regnum meum placeat tibi, ubi rex vel regnum vocatur consilium; idque eleganter, ait Marinus Brixiensis in Lexico, quia consilium est instar regis, et deliberationis ac sententiae est rex: et quia reges regere et regi debent consilio, ut regis rex sit consilium. Unde Pagninus in Appendice vocum Chaldaic. Lexici, milki, id est consilium, aeque ac malka, id est rex, deducit a מלך malach, quod idem, id est consulere, notat. Idem tradunt, et multis exemplis confirmant Lexica Chaldaica et Syriaca. Sic ergo Chaldaei et Hebraei regem vocarunt a consilio, ut idem sit rex qui consultor, et regnare sit idem quod consulere et pollere consilio, juxta illud Platonis: «Beatae sunt respublicae quas philosophi et sapientes regunt, aut ubi reges philosophantur.» Hinc illud Prov. XXXI, 3: «Ne dederis mulieribus substantiam tuam et divitias tuas ad delendos reges.» Septuaginta juxta Romanam editionem vertunt: Et vitam tuam in seram consilii mutationem; Theodotion, in poenitentiam. Et mox: Noli regibus, o Lamuel! noli regibus dare vinum. Septuaginta pro אל al, id est non, legentes, אל el, id est ad, cum, vertunt: Cum consilio omnia fac, cum consilio bibe vinum, quasi idem sit consilium quod reges, aut potius eadem vox melachim et reges et consilium significet: Noster enim vertit, reges; Septuaginta, consilium. Hinc Emmanuelis regis nostri, cujus «principatus super humerum ejus,» Isaias, cap. IX, 6, cognomen assignat «consiliarius»: quin et Homerus Agamemnonem regem cognominat βουληφόρον, id est consilio pollentem, puta principem qui multis consulere debeat. Audi eum Iliade α: Εἷ δέ τις ἀρχός βουληφόρος ἔστω, id est, Unus vero princeps vir consiliarius esto. Praeclare Cicero: «Bonum ducem efficient, inquit, labor in negotiis, industria in agendo, in providendo consilium, et celeritas in conficiendo.» PECCATA TUA ELEEMOSYNIS REDIME. — Pro redime Chaldaice est פרק peruc, id est, abrumpe, q. d. Resipisce, inchoa novam vitam mutando crudelitatem in clementiam et misericordiam, inquit Calvinus, additque: Ergo male Papistae ex hoc loco probant actus suos poenitentiae et satisfactionis. Verum S. Hieronymus, Theodotion, Vatablus omnesque alii vertunt, redime, et Chaldaeum peruc non tantum abrumpere, sed et redimere significat: inde enim פריק peric, vocatur redemptor; et פורקנא purkan, redemptio. Vide Lexicon Regium: idque patet a serie orationis Danielis. Vult enim ipse non futura, sed praeterita regis peccata ab eo ita dirumpi, frangi (parac enim et litteris et significatione idem est quod frago et frango) destrui et redimi, ut pro iis ipse Deum placet per poenitentiam et eleemosynas. Unde Calvinus, veritate convictus, tandem concedit posse sic verti: «Peccata tua eleemosynis redime;» sed excipit, hanc redemptionem apud homines intelligendam esse, non apud Deum, q. d. Redde pauperibus, quae illis per vim et injuriam eripuisti, ut illis damnum sarcias et restituas. Verum hic est actus justitiae: Daniel autem suadet actum misericordiae; subdit enim: «Et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum.» Rursum Daniel non vult hominibus, sed Deo a rege satisfieri. Demum enim Excelsum illi hanc plagam inflixisse, ideoque ab eo timendum et placandum esse docuit vers. 22, dicens: «Donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus super regnum hominum.» ELEEMOSYNIS. — Chaldaice est בצדקה betsidka, id est justitia. Nota: Misericordia et eleemosyna hic et alibi vocatur justitia, quia est causa, pars et signum illustre justitiae et sanctitatis, uti dixi II Corinth. IX, 9. Moraliter, docet hic Daniel consiliarios, confessarios, concionatores principum, quam vere et sincere eorum vitia carpere, et contra ea sana consilia et remedia suggerere debeant. Videmus enim multos iis adulari, crimina excusare, itaque se et ipsos perdere. Praeclare Seneca, lib. VI De Benef. cap. XXX: «Monstrabo tibi, inquit, cujus rei inopia laborent magna fastigia, quid omnia possidentibus desit; scilicet, ille qui verum dicat, et hominem inter mentientes (adulatores) stupentem, ipsaque consuetudine pro rectis blanda audiendi, ad ignorantiam veri perductum vindicet a consensu concentuque falsorum. Non vides quemadmodum illos in praeceps agat exstincta libertas, et fides in obsequium servile submissa; dum nemo ex animi sui sententia suadet, dissuadetque; sed adulandi certamen est, et unum amicorum omnium officium, una contentio, quibus blandissime fallat?» Et mox: Hinc «perpetua credunt, quae in summum perducta maxime nutant. Ingentia super se casura regna fregerunt; nec intellexerunt in illa scena, et vanis et cito diffluentibus bonis refulgente, ex eo tempore ipsos nihil non adversi exspectare debuisse, ex quo nihil veri audire potuerunt.» Subdit exemplum Xerxis, cui Graecos invasuro omnes assentabantur, quasi mox eos tantis copiis obrueret; solus Demaratus dixit: «Illam ipsam qua sibi placeret multitudinem indigestam et gravem, metuendam esse ducenti; non enim vires, sed pondus habere; immodica nunquam regi posse, nec diu durare quidquid regi non potest:» paucos Graecos occupaturos Thermopylarum angustias, et Persis omnibus restituros. Itaque accidit, «stratusque per totam Graeciam passim Xerxes intellexit, quantum ab exercitu turba distaret, a pudore quam damno miserior, Demarato gratias egit, quod solus sibi verum dixisset, et permisit petere quod vellet; petit ille, ut Sardeis maximam Asiae civitatem curru vectus intraret, rectam capite tiaram gerens.» Et Augusti Caesaris, qui filiae suae Juliae stupra indignans publicavit; inde pudore suffusus et gemens: «Horum, ait, nihil mihi accidisset, si aut Agrippa aut Maecenas vixisset.» Concludit: «Plenas aures adulationibus aliquando vox vera intret. Da consilium utile. Quaeris quid felici praestare possis? Effice, ne felicitati suae credat, ut sciat illam multis et fidis manibus continendam; mobilia esse quae dedit casus, et majore cursu fugere quam veniunt, saepe inter fortunam maximam et ultimam nihil interesse.» REDIME. — Arabicus Antiochenus vertit: Peccata tua eleemosynis involve, vel operi. Arabica vox proprie dicitur de sindone, qua sepeliendi involvuntur, ut peccata cum cadavere, eleemosynae cum sindone conferantur. Arabicus Alexandrinus vertit: Remissionem pro peccatis tuis postula eleemosynis, et operi, et miseratione super (erga) infirmos quosdam pro iniquitatibus tuis. Hinc S. Augustinus, lib. XI De Civit. XXXVIII, ait quosdam sine eleemosynis non posse salvari, quia peccatis aut cupiditatibus suis ita irretiti sunt, ut nisi pauperum precibus ordinaria gratia majorem et potentiorem obtineant, ab iis se expedire non possint. Pari modo Zeno Imperator per eleemosynam punitionem Dei evasit. Audi Joannem Moschum in Prato spirit. cap. CLXXXV: «Narravit, inquit, nobis quidam Patrum de Zenone Imperatore dicens, quod mulierem quamdam in filia ipsius injuriose tractaverit. Haec autem vacabat in templo Dominae nostrae S. Dei Genitricis, orans et deprecans, et cum lacrymis dicens: Vindica me de Zenone Imperatore. Cum ergo multis diebus hoc faceret, apparuit ei sancta Dei genitrix, dicens: Crede mihi, mulier, ultionem tuam saepe facere volui, sed manus ejus prohibet me. Erat enim valde misericors, et eleemosynas faciens.» Merito ergo ait Eccli. cap. III, 33: «Ignem ardentem exstinguit aqua, et eleemosyna resistit peccatis.» In quem locum scribens S. Ambrosius comparat eleemosynam aquae baptismi: «Eleemosyna, inquit, quodam modo est aliud animarum lavacrum, ut, si quis forte post baptismum humana fragilitate deliquerit, supersit ei ut iterum eleemosynis emundetur.» Concionator ergo, quasi alter Daniel, crebro peccatoribus suadeat et inculcet eleemosynam. Nam, ut ait S. Augustinus, homil. 29 inter 50: «Sacrificium christianorum est eleemosyna in pauperes; hinc enim Deus fit peccatis propitius.» Vide ea quae de eleemosyna annotavi Deuteron. XXVI, sub finem capitis. Audi testamentum Petri Domini Sorae et Arpini, ejusque conjugis Dodae anno Domini 1030, apud Baronium: «Coepimus, inquit, cogitare intra nosmetipsos qualiter in peccatis concepti et nati sumus, et qualiter ab infantia nostra, die noctuque horis et momentis innumerabilia peccata commisimus, et qualiter in illo terribili judicio de omnibus factis nostris et cogitationibus Deo rationem reddituri sumus, et qualiter ab illo aequissimo judice unusquisque recipiet secundum opera sua; et rursus dum cogitare coepimus, qualiter impii et peccatores, qui hic peccata redimere negligunt, in illam pavendam poenam perpetuam cum diabolo damnabuntur, et qualiter justi et electi Dei in illa aeterna beatitudine cum Domino gloriabuntur; subito respexit nos divina pietas, et compunctum est cor nostrum cum tremore et aestuatione cordis; et coepimus cogitare et quaerere consilium a sacerdotibus, et religiosis viris, qualiter innumerabilia peccata nostra redimere potuissemus, et ab ira aeterni Judicis et a poena aeterna evadere. Accepimus consilium ab eis; praeterquam renuntiare saeculo, nihil esse melius quam eleemosynarum virtutem, et de propriis rebus et substantiis monasterium construere, et ibidem coetus monachorum Deo famulantium coadunare, et ibi secundum regulam et normam beati Benedicti laudem Deo resonare, et vota persolvere, et omni tempore pro animabus nostris incessanter orare. Hoc consilium ab eis lubenter et ardentissimo amore accepimus, igitur construximus ecclesiam in honorem Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et sanctae Dei Genitricis et Virginis Mariae, et tradidimus eam in manus viri venerabilis Domini Dominici sacerdotis, et Abbatis, et ibi eum Abbatem constituimus ubi, monasterium construxisset, et coetus monachorum Deo famulantium eo advocasset, etc. Nota: Eleemosyna redimit peccata. Primo, quia peccatorem disponit ad gratiam, et ad peccati remissionem, eamque instar orationis a Deo emeretur et impetrat. Secundo, quia remissa culpa, meretur ex condigno remissionem poenae reliquae. Tertio, etiamsi non mereatur semper culpae et poenae aeternae, tamen temporalis poenae remissionem fere meretur, ut scilicet Deus plagas suas temporales in hac vita non immittat; idque hic etiam appositum est. Nam S. Hieronymus et alii putant Nabuchodonosorem fecisse eleemosynas, ideoque ad duodecim menses dilatam esse Dei contra eum sententiam, donec rursum bonum clementiae amisit malo superbiae, vers. 27. Unde pro eo quod nos habemus: Forsitan ignoscet delictis tuis; Chaldaice est: Forsitan prolongatio erit paci et prosperitati tuae.
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26. Post finem duodecim mensium. — Distulit Deus sententiae suae in regem latae exsecutionem ad duodecim menses, ut ei daret spatium poenitentiae. Ita Theodoretus.
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27. AIT: NONNE HAEC EST BABYLON? — Dixit haec rex ingenti fastu, cum oblivione et contemptu Dei, unde ait: «Quam ego aedificavi,» non Deus. Videtur ergo somnium et somnii interpretationem oblitus esse, aut parvipendisse, ac recidisse ad ingenium suamque arrogantiam. Nota: Turris Babel, et Babylon urbs condita fuit a Nemrod, sive Belo, qui fuit pater Nini; aucta est a Semiramide, sed postea eversa, restituta est a Nabuchodonosore et magnificentissimis operibus adornata. Habebat enim Babylon, teste Herodoto, lib. I, in ambitu murorum stadia 480, muri crassi erant 50 cubitos, alti 200 cubitos: in his erant centum portae aereae. Addit Diodorus, lib. III, urbis Babylonis muros adeo latos fuisse, ut per eos sex currus simul procedere possent, et Aristoteles, lib. III Polit. cap. II, tantam ait fuisse Babylonem, ut urbe ab hostibus capta, per triduum incolae alterius partis urbis eam esse captam non senserint: Babylon ergo habita fuit orbis miraculum, et unum ex septem mirabilibus mundi, de quo Martialis in Amphitheatro, epigram. 1: Barbara pyramidum sileat miracula Memphis, / Assiduas jactet nec Babylona labor.
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28. CUMQUE SERMO ADHUC ESSET IN ORE REGIS, VOX DE COELO RUIT. — Vide hic quam Deus exsecretur superbiam, quamque subito superbos e coelo sideret et fulminet. Ita Saulus tumens et saeviens in christianos percussus et perculsus coelesti voce: «Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris? Durum est tibi contra stimulum calcitrare;» victus manus dedit Deo, Actor. IX. Sic superbis Judaeis a Deo prosternendis ait Isaias, cap. LXVI, 6: «Vox de templo, vox Domini reddentis retributionem inimicis suis.» Et de superbo Sennacherib, cap. XXX, 31: «A voce Domini pavebit Assur virga percussus.» Et cap. XXXIII, 3: «A voce angeli fugerunt populi.» Et Joel. cap. II, 11: «Deus dedit vocem suam ante faciem exercitus sui: magnus enim dies Domini, et terribilis valde, et quis sustinebit eum?» cum scilicet in die judicii superbos sua voce: «Ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum,» adiget in tartara. Nam, ut ait David II Reg. XXII, 14: «Tonabit de coelo Dominus, et Excelsus dabit vocem suam.» Sic Joannes, Apoc. VIII, audivit vocem angeli, quasi «aquilae volantis per medium coeli, dicentis voce magna: Vae, vae, vae, habitantibus in terra!»
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30. Ex hominibus abjectus est. — Cum Nabuchodonosor tanquam amens et insanus ejectus fuit, tunc regnum Chaldaeorum per septennium administravit Evilmerodach ejus filius, vel optimates, qui juxta vaticinium Danielis per septennium exspectaverunt, ut Nabuchodonosorem menti restitutum reciperent, ut indicatur vers. 33. DONEC CAPILLI EJUS IN SIMILITUDINEM AQUILARUM CRESCERENT. — Pro aquilarum Septuaginta habent λεόντων, id est leonum; unde Epiphanius et Dorotheus hauserunt suam sententiam de rege in leonem transformato, ut dixi vers. 13. Verum Chaldaeus et Latina habent aquilarum, non leonum. Quaeres, quomodo capilli ejus «in similitudinem» non bovis, sed aquilarum creverint? Primo, Maldonatus censet in rege nihil praeter ungues et capillos fuisse immutatum, sed haec sola ferinum in morem excrevisse. Verum contrarium est verius, ut dixi vers. 15. Secundo, Lyranus, to in similitudinem aquilarum, exponit, q. d. In longitudinem alarum aquilae. Verum alarum hic nulla est mutatio, nec recte capilli hominis alis, sed capillis aquilae comparantur. Tertio, melius Vatablus explicat et vertit: Ut pilorum copia aquilis, et unguibus similis evaderet volucribus: Chaldaea enim ad verbum habent: Donec pili ejus multiplicarentur instar aquilarum. Pilis ergo aquilae potius quam bovis (cui incessu et forma similis erat) comparantur ejus pili, primo, ob copiam et densitatem: aquila enim toto corpore pilis est densa, iisque quasi involuta, uti leo suis jubis, praesertim ea quae dicitur Ossifraga: sic erat et rex. Secundo, ob colorem: sicut enim pili aquilae sunt nigri admodum, ita erant et regis: idque fiebat ex copia melancholiae, quae crassissimam fuliginem exhalat, ex qua pili hi generabantur, uti ex Valesio dixi vers. 13. Tertio, ob prolixitatem et formam. Sicut enim pili in capite aquilae, puta cristae, sunt prolixae, erectae, crispae, horridae et minaces: sic erant et capilli regis semper crescentes, et nunquam detonsi. Porro apte pilos habuit aquilae rapacis, et ungues avium rapacium: quia haec fuit poena et symbolum ejus rapacitatis, qua omnes gentes, earumque regna et opes diripuit; unde a Jeremia, cap. IV, 7, vocatur «praedo gentium,» et ab Ezechiele, cap. XVII, 3, «aquila grandis magnarum alarum,» etc. Rapacitas autem haec notatur in pilis. Nam aquilae pilos et pennas esse rapaces et voraces docet Ulysses Aldrovandus, lib. 1 Ornitholog. cap. De aquila, pag. 24, ubi de aquila sic scribit: «Pennas habet firmitate ac duritie insigni, quae (ut experientia multorum et auctoritate didici) pennas aliarum avium, praesertim anserum et columbarum, permixtae absumunt, idque forsan ob latentem quamdam, qua praeditae sint, vim. Avis enim ipsa dum vivit, reliquis omnibus volucribus infesta est, itaque derivari vim illam animalem in res quoque ejus exanimes, per sympathiae contagionem, non improbandum est; ut rei eventus docuit etiam in interemptis, super quos patrator sceleris vel casu, vel ad testandam conscientiam adductus fuerit:» praesente enim homicida, corpus ab eo occisum cruorem emittit, de quo dixi Deuter. XXI, 1 et sequent.
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31. VIVENTEM IN SEMPITERNUM LAUDAVI. — Chaldaeus, viventem saeculorum, quem Syri vocant, gigantem saeculorum, ut dixi Isaiae LVII, 15. Huc alludit S. Joannes, Apoc. cap. X, 6, et alibi, ubi Deum vocat viventem in saecula saeculorum.
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32. IN VIRTUTIBUS COELI. — Chaldaice בחיל bechel, id est in exercitu, vel robore, scilicet stellarum et angelorum coeli.
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33. IN IPSO TEMPORE SENSUS MEUS REVERSUS EST AD ME. — Dorotheus in Synopsi, et Epiphanius in Vita Danielis, tradunt septem annos supplicio regis a Deo praefinitos, per preces Danielis contractos fuisse ad septem menses: ergo septem mensibus eum vixisse ut bestiam, reliquis vero sex annis et quinque mensibus, eum menti restitutum fuisse, non tamen regno; sed egisse poenitentiam, eaque meritum fuisse ut restitueretur in regnum. Verum ex hoc versu patet hanc esse fabellam; hic enim dicitur quod eodem tempore rex simul restitutus sit menti et regno; scilicet postquam septem annos egisset cum bestiis. Idem comminatus ei fuit Deus vers. 22. Moraliter Tertullianus, lib. De Poenitentia, in fine ex hoc loco hortatur peccatores ad poenitentiam, dicens: «Mutae animae medicinas sibi divinitus attributas agnoscunt. Cervus sagitta transfixus, ut ferrum et irrevocabiles moras ejus de vulnere expellat, scit sibi dictamno medendum. Hirundo, si excaecaverit pullos, novit illos oculare rursus de sua chelidonia. Peccator, restituendo sibi institutam a Domino exomologesin sciens, praeteribit illam, quae Babylonium regem in regna restituit? Diu enim poenitentiam Domino immolarat, septenni squalore exomologesin operatus, unguium aquilinum in morem efferatione, et capilli incuria horrorem leoninum praeferente. Proh malae tractationis! Quem homines perhorrebant Deus recipiebat.» Rursum disce hic prospera hominibus, praesertim principibus, eripere mentem, adversa reddere. Hinc Zeno dicebat, «se tum prospere navigasse posteaquam naufragium fecerat;» lapsus enim casusque docent cautelam et sapientiam. Ita videmus homines opibus et luxu diffluentes ad frugem redire, si Deus illis opes eripiat, et ad manticam redigat. Sapienter Artabanus, suadens modestiam Xerxi: «Gaudet, inquit, Deus eminentissima quaeque deprimere; quia neminem alium quam seipsum, sinit de se magnifice sentire.» Sic Deus, ait Claudianus in Epigr.: Ingentes quercus, aurosas fulminat ornos. Et Seneca in Agamemn.: Turris pluvio vapulat Austro, / Quidquid in altum / Fortuna tulit, ruitura levat. Sic aquila in altum levat testudinem, ut eam ex altiori loco saxo illidens, magis frangat et exenteret. In Nabuchodonosore vera extiterunt tria illa aurea Ptolemaei axiomata, quae in ejus Vita habentur, initio Almagesti. Primo: «Insipiens est, qui sui ipsius ignorat quantitatem.» Rex enim hic multo majorem se aestimabat, quam revera erat. Secundo: «Cum aliquis sibi placet, ad hoc deductus est, ut ira Dei sit super ipsum. Tertio: «Qui in dignitate sua multum extollitur, in amissione ejus multum deprimitur.» Pulchre et vere auctor serm. ad Fratres in eremo, serm. 12, apud S. Augustinum, tom. X: «O sancta, ait, humilitas, quam dissimilis es superbiae! Ipsa superbia, fratres mei, Luciferum de coelo dejecit: sed humilitas Dei Filium incarnavit. Ipsa superbia Adam de paradiso expulit; sed humilitas latronem in paradisum introduxit. Superbia gigantum linguas divisit et confudit; sed humilitas cunctas congregavit dispersas. Superbia Nabuchodonosorem in bestiam transmutavit; sed humilitas Joseph principem Aegypti constituit. Superbia Pharaonem submersit; sed humilitas Moysen exaltavit.» Et Sapiens, Prov. XI, 2: «Ubi fuerit superbia, ibi erit et contumelia.» Et Christus: «Qui se exaltat, humiliabitur; et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur.» Narratur de S. Francisco in Chron. Ord. Min. part. I, lib. VII, cap. V, quod, cum S. Aegidius narraret lapsum fratris Eliae, qui vir doctus, fuerat minister generalis Ordinis sui, et jam erat apostata, et excommunicatus, quia adhaerebat Frederico II imperatori hosti Ecclesiae; projecerit se in terram, illamque arcte stringens dixerit: «Volo descendere quantum possum, quia Elias cecidit, eo quod altius aequo voluit ascendere.»
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34. NUNC IGITUR EGO NABUCHODONOSOR LAUDO, etc., REGEM COELI. — Hinc probabile est Nabuchodonosorem hac septennali poena serio ad Deum verum fuisse conversum, totoque corde fuisse contritum et humiliatum, ac proinde justificatum esse, et cum paulo post obierit, salvatum videri. Ita Josephus, Dorotheus in Synopsi, Epiphanius in Vita Danielis, Lyranus, Carthusianus, et favent Theodoretus et S. Augustinus, epist. 122. Audi Dorotheum in Vita Danielis: «Cum, inquit, Nabuchodonosor peccatorum suorum remissionem adeptus esset, dedit Prophetae regnum suum, et nec panem, nec carnem comedit, nec vinum bibit, Domino confessus. Nam hoc illi Daniel praeceperat, ut leguminibus et herba vescens Dominum placaret.» Additque: «Volebat eum (Danielem) coharedem constituere filiorum suorum. Sed vir sanctus dicebat: Propitius sis mihi, Domine, ne deseram haereditatem patrum meorum, et adhaeream haereditati incircumcisorum.» Eadem habet Epiphanius in Daniele, scilicet quod post poenitentiam, veniam et restitutionem in regnum, carne et vino abstinuerit, ac leguminibus vixerit. Secus fuit de Pharaone, qui per flagella et miracula Dei magis obduruit, et in sua obduratione mortuus est, ac mersus in mari Rubro, ideoque damnatus. Haec sunt disparia judicia Dei: nam, ut ait S. Paulus, Deus, cujus vult miseretur, et quem vult indurat.» Rursum ecce Nabuchodonosor rex, qui tota vita impiissime vixerat, in fine vitae convertitur et salvatur: e contrario Salomon, qui a puero pie et religiose vixerat, in senio a mulieribus depravatus idola coluit, ideoque multi putant eum esse damnatum. Dices: De rege Babylonis dicitur, Isaiae XIV, 11: «Detracta est ad inferos superbia tua:» ergo Nabuchodonosor est damnatus in inferno. Respondeo primo, Isaiam loqui de excidio Babylonis, ac proinde loqui non tam de Nabuchodonosore, quam de Balsasare (sub eo enim et cum eo excisa est Babylon), idque sub specie et typo Luciferi: Lucifero enim qui voluit in coelum conscendere, proprie competit: «Detracta est ad inferos superbia tua.» Respondet secundo, Pererius, ista de Nabuchodonosore dici non absolute et prophetice, sed comminatorie: aut si quis absolute ea dici velit, quod verius videtur, symbolice accipienda esse, ac tantum significare summam regis abjectionem et miseriam; sicut per ejusdem ascensum in coelum non proprie ascensus iste, sed symbolice summa ejus gloria et fastus significatur. Dices secundo: Hic vers. 5, Nabuchodonosor jam conversus Belum adhuc vocat suum deum; ergo non videtur plane abjecisse Belum, nec plane fuisse conversus. Respondeo: Rex ibi narrat tantum quod Danieli puero olim dederit nomen Baltassar, secundum nomen dei sui, puta quod a Baal, vel Bel, quem tunc colebat, vocarit eum Baltassar, non autem dicit se etiamnum Belum colere. Similiter quod ibidem Danielem spiritum sanctorum deorum habere asserit, tantum commemorat sua verba, quibus ipse compellavit Danielem ante suam conversionem, puta ante somnii interpretationem. Fateor tamen haec argumenta dubiam facere conversionem et salutem Nabuchodonosoris, praesertim cum non legatur idola abjecisse, Judaeos e captivitate dimisisse, tyrannice occupata restituisse, aliaque verae poenitentiae signa edidisse: illud tantum legimus, quod Evilmerodach mox ut regnum successit, exaltavit Joachin regem Juda in Babylone captivum, idque forte quia pater moriens hoc et alia ei commendavit. Denique vis simile somnium? Accipe. Constans Imperator nepos Heraclii Imperatoris monothelita, qui Martinum Romanum Pontificem per Calliopam Romae dolo cepit, et in exilio aerumnis confecit, persequente eum Dei vindicta, anno Christi 654, bello navali cum Mahuvia Saracenorum principe decertaturus, nocte vidit visum. Nam cum esset in Lycia, visus est sibi esse Thessalonicae. Expergefactus narravit somnium conjectori cuidam. Qui ait: O Imperator, utinam nec dormisses, nec somnium aspexisses! Nam esse Thessalonicae, θές ἄλλῳ νίκην, innuit, quod interpretatur, alteri cede victoriam, id est, ad inimicum tuum victoria vertitur. Ita factum: nam inito praelio Constans succubuit, et vix mutata veste effugit, inquit Theophanes, anno 13 Constantis Imperatoris. Idem Constans, sceleribus scelera jungens, fratrem suum Theodosium interfecit: interfectus ipsi Constanti crebro per quietem visus est habitu diaconi, poculum sanguine plenum porrigens, atque dicens: «Bibe, frater;» ac si diceret: Inebriare fraterno sanguine quem fudisti. Quare quasi alter Cain cogitavit Constans in Siciliam fugere: fugit, atque Syracusis in balneo occisus est a quodam Andrea Troili filio, uti ex Anastasio, Paulo Diacono et Theophane narrat Baronius, anno Christi 660.
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… Salomone 14; Ascensione d'Isaia 10; Apoc. d'Abramo 21; ecc. Nell'epoca rabbinica designerà l'infimo posto nella Geenna (Midra Tehillim 97, 2; Qohéleth Rabbá 5, 9). In Iob 28, 22 il termine (congiunto con «morte») è personificato (come «Ciclo» in Dan. 4, 23 e «Hades» in Apoc. 6, 8; 20, 14). I Settanta traducono sempre ἀπώλεια (eccetto Iob 31, 12 ove leggono un testo diverso dal massoretico).
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… Ps. 40, 1-4; proclama benedetto chi viene in aiuto del povero (cf., ad es., Ps. 111, 5-9; Prov. 14, 21; 22, 9); afferma che l'e. ottiene tutte le grazie, non esclusa la cancellazione dei peccati (cf., ad es., Tob. 4, 7-9; 12, 9; Eccli. 3, 33; 7, 36; Dan. 4, 24); è preferibile ai digiuni ed agli stessi sacrifici (cf., ad es., Is. 1, 11-17; 58, 5-7). Anzi il Vecchio Testamento stabilisce anche alcune forme concrete di aiuto ai poveri (cf., …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Pubblico dominio.