Chapter 42 Chapter Thirty-Seven

evening prayer George delivered a warning of the coming of false Christs.Adso discovers the power of the famous During the vespers at dusk, because the interrogation was going on, the curious novices all escaped from the teacher's discipline and watched the situation in the synagogue through the windows, and few of them attended the worship service.Now all pray for Severinus.Everyone was expecting the dean to speak, wondering what he would say.But after the hymn was sung, the Abbot, though he had stepped into the pulpit, simply announced that he had nothing to say tonight.He said too many unfortunate incidents had happened in the church to say any words of reprimand or admonition.Everyone should reflect on themselves, no one is an exception.But as it was customary that someone must speak, he suggested that the elder brother of them all, the monk closest to death, was utterly indifferent to the worldly passions which had inspired so many crimes.In terms of age, Alinardo of Lota Ferrell should have spoken, but everyone knew that the venerable brother was in a very fragile state of health.The old monk immediately after Alinardo was George, so the dean summoned him to the stage.

We heard murmurs of discussion from Emmaro and the other seats of the Italian monks.I suspect that the dean entrusted George with tonight's admonition without first consulting Alinardo.My mentor pointed out to me in a low voice that the dean's decision to not speak was wise, since whatever he might say would be judged by Bernard and the other representatives of Avignon.Old George, on the other hand, spoke only of his usual mysterious prophecies, which Avignon never paid much attention to. "But I'll take it seriously," William added, "because I don't believe George would agree to speak without purpose."

George, supported by another monk, ascended the pulpit.The sparks from the triangular tripod lit up his face.The only ray of light in the church cast a circle of darkness around his eyes, making them like two black holes. "Dearest brothers," he began, "and all our guests. If you will listen to me, poor old man . Be it remote or near--that rigor that cannot be attributed to nature, that irrevocable melody that has been doomed since the day we landed, from cradle to grave. Though you all mourn, you no doubt Believe that these sad events did not touch your souls, because you are all innocent. Except for one person, when this person has received the punishment he deserved, you will continue to mourn the dead. Before the court of God , you need not justify yourselves. That is what you think. Crazy!" he cried in a terrible voice, "you are all lunatics and presumptuous fools! A murderer bears the burden of guilt before God, but Just because he agreed to be a tool to convey God's will. Just as there must be a person who betrayed Jesus to complete the mystery of redemption, yet God approves that the person who betrayed him will be rebuked and punished. Therefore, a certain person committed a crime in these few days, bringing Here comes death and destruction. But I tell you, this destruction is promised by God to humiliate our arrogance!"

He fell silent, his empty eyes swept across the audience, as if his eyes could still see, but in fact he listened to the silence and astonishment with his ears. "In this monastery," he went on, "the serpent of arrogance has been crouching for some time. But what arrogance? The arrogance of power, in a closed monastery? No, of course not. The arrogance of wealth My brothers, before the known world responded to the long debate about poverty and possession, from the time of our founders, even when we had everything, we never actually owned anything. We The only real wealth is under the watchful eye of canons, prayers, and work. But part of our work—the work of the Order, and especially the work of this monastery—is study, and the preservation of knowledge. I say preserve , not to seek. For knowledge is a divine thing, its substance is complete, defined from the beginning, in the perfect Word. I say preserve, not seek. For one of the properties of knowledge is that it is in Over the centuries, it has been defined and completed, from the preaching of the prophets to the interpretation of the priests of the Church. In the history of knowledge, there is no progress, no revolution of the times, but at best a continuation and solemn retelling. Human history is based on An irresistible movement progresses from creation through atonement until the triumphant return of Christ, who will sit on a cloud and judge the ever-changing haste of life and death. But human and divine knowledge does not follow this path, it Like an impregnable fortress, when we humbly heed its voice, it allows us to follow, predict its path, but it is not moved by that path. I am he, says the God of the Jews. Our Lord says , I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. From this we can see that knowledge is just an awe-inspiring comment on these two truths.

"All other sayings, spoken by prophets, evangelists, priests, and scholars, further illustrate these two statements. Sometimes pagans who do not know these two sentences make appropriate comments, and they It will also be included in the Christian tradition. But other than that, there is nothing to say. Only continue to meditate, polish, and preserve. This is the ritual that we who have a large library should observe — That's all. "It is said that there was an Eastern caliph who set fire to the library of a famous big city one day. When tens of thousands of books were swallowed by the raging flames, he said that those books should have disappeared, they were not It is useless to repeat what has already been said, or it is to refute a book cherished by the heathen, and therefore harmful. Scholars of the Church, do not reason in this way, and we follow them. The Bible is involved Everything that exemplifies and clarifies must be preserved, because it strengthens the glory of the sacred text; and that which contradicts it should not be destroyed, because only if it is preserved, can it be contradicted by those who can refute it. when and how. This has been the responsibility of our orders for centuries, and the burden of our monasteries today, to be proud of the truth we profess, to humbly and carefully preserve what is contrary to it, and not to allow We ourselves are corrupted by them. Now, my brothers, what is the sin of arrogance that can seduce a scholar-monk? That is to think that his business is not to preserve, but to seek some knowledge not given to man, as if in In the last chapter of the Bible, the last angel does not say what has been said: 'I testify to everyone who hears the prophecy in this book, that if anyone adds to it, God will write it here The plagues of the book are upon him; and if anyone takes away from the prophecies of this book, God will take away his portion from the tree of life and the holy city written in this book.' My unfortunate brothers, is it not Do you not see these words only foreshadowing what has recently happened in this monastery; yet what has happened in this monastery only foretells the same changes in our times. In cities and castles, in universities and churches Anxiety to search for new clauses in the words of truth, to distort a plentiful commentary, to demand only fearless debate, not foolish additions? Such was the arrogance that lurks in this monastery, and still remains lurking. So I tell anyone who struggles to break the seal of a book he shouldn't see, God punishes this arrogance, and if the arrogance is not appeased and humbled, God will continue to punish, because God can Have no trouble finding the instrument of his vengeance, forever."

"Did you hear, Adso?" William whispered to me, "the old man knows more than he tells. Whether he had a hand in this or not, he knows, and A warning that peace will not be restored to the monastery if certain curious monks continue to offend the library." After a long pause, George began to speak again. "But who is this symbol of arrogance? Who is the instance, the messenger, the accomplice, the bearer of arrogance? Who has acted, or is still acting, in this monastery to warn us that the time is approaching—and to comfort Us. Because if the time is near, the pain must be unbearable, but not infinite, because the great cycle of the universe will also be completed? Oh, you all know it in your heart, and you are afraid to say that name, because it is also you and you are all afraid of it. But though you are afraid, I am not, and I will speak the name aloud so that your guts will writhe with terror, your teeth will chatter and your tongues will be snapped, The coldness formed in your blood will cast a black veil in front of your eyes... He is a vile beast, he is a false Christ!" ※Bandhammer Academyの野学书E书※

He paused for a long time.The audience fell silent.The only movement in the whole chapel was the dancing flames in the tripod, but even the shadows made by the lights seemed to freeze.The only sound was the faint gasp of George as he wiped the sweat from his brow.Then he went on. "Perhaps you would like to say to me: No, he has not come yet, where is there any sign of his coming? It is a fool who says such things! Every day we see the predicted catastrophe, in the arenas of the world, and In the narrower image of the monastery... It is said that when that moment approaches, a pagan king will arise in the West, a prince beyond all cunning, atheist, murderer, lover of money, cunning, evil, enemy of the faithful And the persecutor, in his day, who despised silver and valued only gold! I know well, and you who listen to me are now wondering whether the man I speak of is like the pope, or the emperor, or the king of France, Or anyone you can say: 'He is my enemy, I am on the right'. But I will not be too blunt, I will not point out one person to you. When the false Christ comes, it will be the whole and Come, each a part of him. He will mingle with bandits who plunder cities and country, he will appear in unforeseen signs in heaven. Then rainbows will suddenly appear, and trumpets, flames, and groans will All together, the seas will boil. It is said that the hybridization of man and animal will produce demons, but this is to say that the heart will harbor hatred and strife. Don't look around at the fantasy animals you read with gusto in books! It is said that the young married couple Wives will give birth to articulate babies, send word to us that the time is up, and will demand that they be killed. But don't search the villages below us, those babies who are too clever have been killed in this monastery And like those babes in the prophecy, they had the appearance of a man. In the prophecy they were four-legged babies, ghosts and embryos that according to the prophecy spoke spells in the mother's womb. All this is recorded Clearly, do you know? According to records, there will be many disturbances between the high places, the people, and the church. The wicked shepherds will rise up, perverse, arrogant, greedy, carousing, idleness, boasting, Positiveness, arrogance, lewdness, love of vanity, are the enemies of the creeds enumerated in the Gospels, they are ready to reject the strict path to the truth, and despise it. They will hate every path of piety, and they will not be guilty of sin Confession, but instead sow disbelief among the people, brotherly hatred, wickedness, hardness of heart, envy, coldness, robbery, drunkenness, intemperance, lewdness, carnal pleasures, adultery, and all other sins. will be gone, and with it the gift of humility, love of peace, poverty, compassion and tears... Oh, don't you know yourselves - all of you here, monks of this monastery , and visitors from outside?"

During the pause that followed, we heard a rustling as Cardinal Bertrand squirmed restlessly on the pew.After all, I thought, George seemed like a great preacher, and when he flogged his brother he didn't spare his guests.I really wonder what Bernard, and those paunchy Avignonites, were thinking at that moment. "At this moment, at this very moment," cried George, "the Antichrist will take on his blasphemous phantasm, as he may impersonate our Lord. In those hours (which is now) all kingdoms will be swept away , the world will be full of hunger, poverty, pitiful harvests, and especially harsh winters. Children at that time (and this time) will no longer be taught how to store food in the storeroom, and they will be punished. Take it to the market, buy or sell. Blessed are those who linger and die at last! Then the children of hell will appear, boasting and triumphant, showing many virtues, deceiving the world, and overriding justice.Syria will sink, mourning for her good people. Silesia will lift her head until he who is called to judge him appears. Babylon's daughter will rise from her throne and drink from a bitter cup. Cappadocia, Li Western Asia and Lycaonia will succumb, for in their wicked fall all masses will be destroyed. Babylonian coalitions and chariots will appear on all sides to occupy the land.

"In Armenia, Pontus, and Picinia, young men will be slain by the sword, girls will be captured, and brothers and sisters will be raped. Pesidia, boasting of her glory, will be defeated, and the sword will Will pass through the center of Phenicia, Indir will be unrecognizable, resigned to the destruction of her impurity. People hate each other and isolate, the false Christ will defeat the West and destroy the trade routes. He will have a sword in his hand And the fire of wrath, that flame shall burn. His power is profane, his hand rebellious, his right hand shall be destroyed, and his left shall bear darkness. These are the characteristics he shall have, and his head shall be burning His right eye is bloodshot, his left eye is green like a cat's eye, has two pupils, his eyebrows will be white, his lower lip is swollen, his feet are weak, his feet are huge, his big toes are crushed and elongated !"

"It's almost like he's describing himself." William whispered, and couldn't help chuckling.It's not a good comment, but I appreciate his well-timed joke, because my hairs are starting to stand on end, and I can't laugh, my cheeks puff up, my lips pursed to let out a breath.The sound was clearly audible in the silence at the moment, but luckily everyone thought someone was coughing, or weeping, or trembling, and they were right. "This is the moment," said George again, "that everything will be thrown into chaos, when sons will betray their fathers, and wives will frame their husbands, and husbands will let their wives suffer, Master. Servants would be treated inhumanely, servants would defy their masters, old men would no longer be respected, young men would demand dominion, work would become useless chores, and songs of indulgence, sin, and excess of freedom would be sung everywhere.

"Then there will be rape, adultery, perjury, sins against nature will flood in, and ills, divination, spells, flying objects in the sky, and among good Christians there will be false prophets, false apostles, liars, depraved magician, rapist, perjurer, and liar. Shepherds will turn into wolves, priests will lie, monks will thirst for worldly goods, poor people will not rush to help their landowners, powerful men will be ruthless, just Witness to injustice. All cities will be shaken by earthquakes, plagues will prevail everywhere, storms will uproot all trees, fields will be polluted, seas will hide black objects, new miracles will occur on the moon, stars will forsake their orbits, other unknown stars will streak across the sky, snow will fall in summer, and heat will be unbearable in winter. The end of the world is coming... On the third hour of the first day there will be a powerful voice in the sky, and the north will drift Comes a purple cloud, brings thunder and lightning, and then a rain of blood. "On the second day the earth will be upturned from its place, and fireworks will pass through the gates of the sky. On the third day the abyss of the earth will stir from the four corners of the universe, and the pinnacles of the sky will open, and the air will be filled with columns of smoke, Before the tenth o'clock, there will be a stench of sulfur everywhere. In the early morning of the fourth day, the abyss will melt, explode, and buildings will collapse. On the fifth day, the power of sixth time and the fire wheels of the sun will be destroyed, and darkness will envelop The whole earth, until the night, the stars and the moon will no longer appear. On the fourth day of the sixth day, the sky will be split from east to west. Angels can look down on the ground from the crack in the sky, and people on the ground can also see the angels in the sky looking down. Behold them, and all will hide in the mountains from the gaze of the angels. On the seventh day Christ will arrive in the light of the Father. Only then will there be just judgment and eternal joy in body and soul But that is not what you ponder tonight, proud brothers! Sinners will not see the dawn of the eighth day, when a sweet and gentle voice will come from the east, and in the middle of the sky one will see a conductor Angels of all angels, all angels will go with him, ride in a chariot of clouds, full of joy, ride across the sky, and set the blessed free, and they all rejoice, for the destruction of this world It's done! But let's not rejoice over it tonight! Instead, we're going to meditate on God's holy words to the unsaved, cursed ones, stay away from me, and fall into the devil and his minions for you In the eternal fire of preparation! You asked for it yourself, enjoy it now! Leave me in eternal darkness and unquenchable fire! I made you, and you became another's believer! You became another A servant of the Lord, go and live with him in darkness, with him, the viper that never rests! I gave you ears to hear the Bible, but you listen to the pagans! I made you Mouth to the glory of God, with which you tell lies of poets and riddles of buffoons! I gave you eyes to see the light of my precepts, and with them you peered into darkness! I am a merciful judge, but just , I will give everyone their due. I will pity you, but I can't find oil in your jars. I am forced to pity you, but your lamps are not clean. Leave me alone..God will That said. They...maybe we...will fall into eternal torment. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." "Amen." Everyone answered in unison. The monks lined up and left the chapel without a word.Neither Brother Menoret nor the pope's representatives wanted to talk to each other, but longed for solitude and rest.My heart is very heavy. "Go to bed, Adso," William said to me as he climbed the stairs of the Pilgrim's Guest House. "It's not a good night to wander around. Maybe Bernard Guy wants to use our dead bodies to announce the end of the world." Coming. Tomorrow we will try to attend the morning prayers, because as soon as the morning prayers are over, Michael and the other Menorite monks will be leaving." I asked in a low voice, "Will Bernard leave with his prisoners?" "He has nothing else to do here. He must have wanted to get back to Avignon before Michael. But then Michael's arrival would have coincided with the pair of stewards, a Brother Menoret, The trial of heretics and murderers. The administrator's fire will burn brightly, like a torch of consolation, to illuminate the first meeting between Michael and the Pope." ※Bandhammer Academyの重学E书※ "What will happen to Salvatore and...that girl...?" "Salvatore will go with the administrator because he will have to testify at the trial. Perhaps for his service, Bernard will spare his life. He will allow him to escape and send someone to kill him , and maybe he really let him go, because Bernard would not be interested in someone like Salvatore. Who knows? Maybe Salvatore will be in a certain place in Languedot. Someone cut his throat in the forest..." "Where's that girl?" "I told you, she is already a burned body. But she will be burned first, on the way, to civilize some villages of Kasa believers along the coast. I heard that Bernard will be with his colleague Jack Fournier (remember the name: he is currently responsible for burning the Albigens, but he has greater ambitions) meet, a beautiful witch thrown into the fire, will increase the prestige and reputation of the two..." "But is there no way to save them?" I cried. "Can't the Dean interfere?" "For whom? For the administrator—a confessing criminal? For someone as low as Salvatore? Or are you thinking of the girl?" "What if I was thinking of her?" I said boldly, "After all, of the three, only she is truly innocent, and you know she's not a witch..." "Do you think that after all these things happened, the dean is willing to take the risk to save a witch with the little prestige he has left?" "But he is responsible for Ubertino's escape!" "Ubertino is one of his monks and has not been charged with any crime. And, what nonsense are you talking about? Ubertino is an important man, and Bernard can only sneak up on him from behind." "So the Administrator is right that the simple always pay for everyone, even for those who speak for their own self-interest, even for people like Ubertino and Michael - because of their It is the word of repentance that drives the simple to rebellion!" I was so discouraged that it never occurred to me that the girl was not even Fradiselli, seduced by Ubertino's mysterious vision, but just a little village girl who died for something that had nothing to do with her. "That's all I can say," replied William sadly, "if you really want to be fair, I can only tell you that one day those big dogs, the Pope and the Emperor, will bite each other to make peace. The dead dog was handed over. Michael and Ubertino will end up like your girl today." I now understand that William was prophesying—or should I say inference—based on principles of natural philosophy.But at that time his prophecies and his inferences did not comfort me at all.All I could think about was that the girl was going to be burned, and I felt guilty, because it was as if she was on the pillar of fire to atone for the crimes I and she shared. I was so ashamed that I couldn't help sobbing and sobbing, and ran back to my room.I tossed and turned that night, moaning helplessly, for I could not mournfully call my lover's name as I had read in the chivalrous romances I read in Melek. It was the only worldly love in my life, and since then until now, I still can't pronounce the girl's name.