De Fuga in Persecutione

Tertullian (c. 155–c. 240)

Book I

Part I.--Of the Divine Unity.

After the Evil One's impiety

Profound, and his life-grudging mind, entrapped

SeducÃ¨d men with empty hope, it laid

Them bare, by impious suasion to false trust

5 In him,--not with impunity, indeed;

For he forthwith, as guilty of the deed,

And author rash of such a wickedness,

After the faith was broken by the dint

Of the foe's breathing renegades, and sworn

With wiles the hidden pest emerged; with lies

Self-prompted, scornful of the Deity

5 That underlies the sense, he did his plagues

Concoct: skilled in guile's path, he mixed his own

Words impious with the sayings of the saints.

And on the good seed sowed his wretched tares,

Now hath the mother, formerly surnamed

Barren, giv'n birth: now a new people, born

From the free woman, joys: (the slave expelled,

Deservedly, with her proud progeny;

5 Who also leaves ungratefully behind

The waters of the living fount, and drinks--

Errant on heated plains--'neath glowing star: )

Now can the Gentiles as their parent claim

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