_In Saulum fulgore nimio excaecatum._ Act. ix. 3.
Quae lucis tenebrae? quae nox est ista dici? Nox nova, quam nimii luminis umbra facit. An Saulus fuerit caecus, vix dicere possum; Hoc scio, quod captus lumine Saulus erat.[57]
What darken'd noon is here? what mid-day night? It is the shadow cast by too much light. Saul may be blind or not; all I can say, Ta'en within Heaven's light earth's light fades away. R. WI.
Cum Christus nostris ibat mitissimus oris, Atque novum caecos jussit habere diem, Felices, oculos qui tunc habuere, vocantur? Felices, et qui non habuere, voco.
When Christ with us on Earth did sympathize, And to the poor blind men restor'd their eyes, Happy they who had eyes. Not they alone; I call them also happy who had none. B.
When Christ on earth moved on His pitying way, And bade the blind look up and find new day, Was eyesight then such bliss to every one? Yet I will deem them happy who had none. G.
_Filius e feretro matri redditur._ Luc. vii. 15.
Ergone tam subita potuit vice flebilis horror In natalitia candidus ire toga? Quos vidi, matris gemitus hos esse dolentis Credideram; gemitus parturientis erant.
_Her son is delivered to his mother from the bier._
With such quick change could tear-bedew'd Dismay Give birthday smiles, and walk in white array? Heard I bereavèd mother's wailings wild? No; the blest cries of one who bears a child! R. WI.
Ergone delicias facit, et sibi plaudit ab alto Stultitia, ut velit hac ambitione peti? Difficilisne adeo facta est, et seria tandem? Ergo et in hanc etiam quis sapuisse potest? Tantum erat, ut possit tibi doctior esse ruina? Tanti igitur cerebri res, periisse, fuit? Nil opus ingenio; nihil hac opus arte furoris: Simplicius poteris scilicet esse miser.
With such complacent joys is Folly fraught, That with this trouble she must needs be sought? So difficult and grave is she turn'd now, Can any one for her be wise enow? Must Ruin to be deeper taught aspire? To perish, does it so much brain require? Genius and skill in madness who would see? Forsooth, more simply you may wretched be! R. WI.
_In Judaeos Christum praecipitare conantes._ Luc. iv. 29.
Dicite, quae tanta est sceleris fiducia vestri, Quod nequiit daemon, id voluisse scelus? Quod nequiit daemon scelus, id voluisse patrare: Hoc tentare ipsum daemona, credo, fuit.