Leonardo Da Vinci
1452-1519
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was born in
Vinci and died in France. Leonardo da Vinci is the Renaissance’s "ideal
man": versatile and multi-skilled. His studies covered a wide-range of
areas. As an artist he started painting under Andrea del Verrocchio in 1469.
Painting was his main activity in the court of Ludovico il Moro, but he was
also a sculptor, architect and writer. His fame as a theorist only came to
light relatively recently when his notes, which he had written throughout his
life, were first studied. In 1651, in Leonardo da Vinci’s name, a Treatise on
painting was published. In reality this was the work of one of his students
using his master’s notes and ideas. Leonardo da Vinci was a genius and a unique
person in that his ideas were so original - he did not separate art from
philosophy, nor did he separate these two from science. These disciplines were
for da Vinci one whole synthesis. Moreover, the idea of science as a collection
of experiences and mathematical reasoning, united through concrete, technical,
practical work, makes him the first person possessing the mentality of a modern
"scientist/engineer". 1
1. Taken from Il Naratore
on audio, Italian Literature Collection at
http://www.ilnarratore.com/anthology/davinci/davinci.html
Prophecy
of Leonardo da Vinci:
“COMMON
HABIT Some poor wretch will be flattered, and these same flatterers will always
be his deceivers, robbers and assassins.
THE
PERCUSSION OF THE SUN'S DISC Something will appear which will cover over the
person who shall attempt to cover it.
OF
MONEY AND GOLD That shall come forth from hollow caves which shall cause all
the nationsthe world to toil and sweat with great agitation, anxiety and
labour, inorder to gain its aid.
OF
THE FEAR OF POVERTY The malevolent and terrifying thing shall of itself strike
such terror into that almost like madmen, while thinking to escape from it,
they will rush in swift course upon its boundless forces.
OF
ADVICE He who shall be most necessary to whoever has need of him will be
unknown, and if known will be held of less account.
OF
SNAKES CARRIED BY SWANS Serpents of huge size will be seen at an immense height
in the air fighting with birds.
OF
CANNON WHICH COME FORTH OUT OF A PIT AND FROM A MOULD There shall come forth
from beneath the ground that which by its terrific report shall stun all who
are near it, and cause men to drop dead at its breath,and it shall devastate
cities and castles.
OF
CHRISTIANS There are many who hold the faith of the Son and only build temples
in the name of the Mother.
OF
FOOD WHICH HAS BEEN ALIVE A large part of the bodies which have had life will
pass into the bodies ofother animals, that is the houses no longer inhabited
will pass piecemeal through those which are inhabited, ministering to their
needs and bearing away with them what is waste; that is to say that the life of
man is made bythe things which he eats, and these carry with them that part of
man which is dead.
OF
MEN WHO SLEEP UPON PLANKS MADE FROM TREES Men will sleep and cat and make their
dwelling among trees grown in theforests and the fields.
OF
DREAMING It shall seem to men that they see new destructions in the sky, and
the flames descending there from shall seem to have taken night and to flee
away in terror; they shall hear creatures of every kind speaking human
language;they shall run in a moment, in person, to divers parts of the world
without movement; amidst the darkness they shall see the most radiant
splendours.O marvel of mankind! What frenzy has thus impelled you! You shall
holdconverse with animals of every species, and they with you in human
language.You shall behold yourselves falling from great heights without
suffering anyinjury; the torrents will bear you with them as they mingle in
their rapidcourse. OF ANTS Many
communities there will be who will hide themselves and their young and their
victuals within gloomy caverns, and there in dark placeswill sustain themselves
and their families for many months without any light either artificial or
natural.
OF
BEES And many others will be robbed of their store of provisions and theirfood,
and by an insensate folk will be cruelly immersed and drowned. Ojustice of God!
why dost thou not awake to behold thy creatures thus abused?
OF
SHEEP, COWS, GOATS AND THE LIKE From countless numbers will be stolen their
little children, and thethroats of these shall be cut, and they shall be
quartered most barbarously.
OF
NUTS, OLIVES, ACORNS, CHESTNUTS, AND THE LIKE Many children shall be torn with
pitiless beatings out of the very arms oftheir mothers, and flung upon the
ground and then maimed.
OF
CHILDREN WHO ARE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING BANDS O cities of the sea, I behold in
you your citizens, women as well as men,tightly bound with stout bonds around
their arms and legs by folk who will have no understanding of our speech; and
you will only be able to give ventto your griefs and sense of loss of liberty
by making tearful complaints, andsighs, and lamentation one to another; for
those who bind you will not have understanding of your speech nor will you
understand them.
OF
CATS THAT EAT RATS In you, O cities of Africa! your own sons shall be seen torn
to pieces within their own houses by most cruel and savage animals of your
country.
OF
ASSES WHICH ARE BEATEN O neglectful Nature, wherefore art thou thus partial,
becoming to someof thy children a tender and benignant mother, to others a most
cruel andruthless stepmother? I see thy children given into slavery to others
withoutlever receiving any benefit, and in lieu of any reward for the services
theyhave done for them they are repaid by the severest punishments, and
they.constantly spend their lives in the service of their oppressor. DIVISION OF THE PROPHECIES First of things
which relate to the reasoning animals, second those which have not the power of
reason, third of plants, fourth of ceremonies, fifth of customs, sixth of
propositions, decrees or disputes, seventh of propositionscontrary to Nature
(as to speak of a substance which the more there is taken from it is the more
increased), and reserve the weighty propositions until theend, and begin with
those of less import, and show first the evils and then the punishments, eight
of philosophical things.
OF
FUNERAL RITES AND PROCESSIONS AND LIGHTS AND BELLSAND FOLLOWERS The greatest
honours and ceremonies shall be paid to men without their knowledge.All the
astrologers will be castrated, that is the cockerels.
CONJECTURE
Arrange in order the months and the ceremonies which are performed,and do this
for the day and for the night.
OF
REAPERS There will be many who will be moving one against another, holding
intheir hands the sharp cutting iron. These will not do each other any
hurtother than that caused by fatigue, for as one leans forward the other
drawsback an equal space; but woe to him who intervenes between them, for inthe
end he will be left cut in pieces. OF
SILK-SPINNING There shall be heard mournful cries and loud shrieks, hoarse
angry voices of those who are tortured and despoiled and at last left naked and
motionless;and this shall be by reason of the motive power which turns the
whole.
OF
PLACING BREAD WITHIN THE MOUTH OF THE OVEN ANDDRAWING IT OUT AGAIN In all the
cities and lands and castles, villages and houses, men will beseen who through
desire of eating will draw the very food out of eachother's mouths, without
their being able to make any resistance.
PROPHECIES
OF PLOUGHED LAND The earth will be seen turned upside down and facing the
opposite hemi-spheres, and laying bare the holes where lurk the fiercest
animals.
OF
SOWING Then a great part of the men who remain alive will throw out of their
louses the victuals they have saved, as the free booty of the birds and
beastsof the field, without taking any care of them.
OF
THE RAINS WHICH CAUSE THE RIVERS TO BECOME MUDDY AND CARRY AWAY THE SOIL There
will come from out the sky that which will transport a great part of Africa
which lies beneath this sky (1) towards Europe, and that of Europe towards
Africa; and those of the provinces will mingle together in great evolution.(1)
MS., si mostra a esso cielo.
OP
BRICK-KILNS AND LIME-KILNS At the last the earth will become red after being
exposed to fire for manydays, and the stones will become changed to ashes.
OF
WOOD THAT IS BURNT The trees and shrubs of the vast forests shall be changed to
ashes. OF BOILED FISHCreatures of the
water will die in boiling water.
THE
OLIVES WHICH DROP FROM THE OLIVE-TREES GIVE US THEOIL WHICH MAKES LIGHT There
shall descend with fury from the direction of the sky that whichwill give us
nourishment and light.
OF
HORNED AND TAWNY OWLS WITH WHICH ONE GOES FOWLING WITH BIRD-LIME Many will
perish by fracturing their skulls, and their eyes will almost startout of their
heads on account of fearsome creatures which have come forthout of the
darkness.
OF
FLAX WHEREBY PAPER IS MADE OUT OF RAGS That shall be revered and honoured and
its precepts shall be listened towith reverence and love, which was at first
despised and mangled and tortured with many different blows.
OF
BOOKS WHICH INCULCATE PRECEPTS Bodies without souls shall by their sayings
supply precepts which shallhelp us to die well.
OF
THOSE WHO ARE BEATEN AND SCOURGED Men will hide themselves within the bark of
hollow trees, and there crying aloud they will make martyrs of themselves by
beating their own limbs.
OF
WANTONNESS And they will go wild after the things that arc most beautiful to
seek after,to possess and make use of their vilest parts; and afterwards,
having returned with loss and penitence to their understanding, they will be
filled with great admiration for themselves.
OF
THE AVARICIOUS Many there will be who with the utmost zeal and solicitude will
pursue furiously that which has always filled them with awe, not knowing its
evil nature.
OF
MEN WHO AS THEY GROW OLDER BECOME MORE MISERLY,WHEREAS, HAVING BUT A SHORT TIME
TO STAY, THEY OUGHT TO BE MORE GENEROUS You will see that those who arc
considered to be of most experience andjudgment, in proportion as they come to
have less need of things, seek and hoard them with more eagerness.
OF
A DITCH (GIVE THIS AS AN INSTANCE OF FRENZY OK CRAZINESS OR MADNESS OF THE
BRAIN) There will be many busied in the practice of taking from that thing
whichincreases the more the more they take from it.
OF
WEIGHT PLACED ON A FEATHER-PILLOW And with many bodies it will be seen that as
you raise your head fromthem they will increase perceptibly, and when the head
that has been lifted up returns, their size will immediately diminish.
OF
CATCHING LICE There will be many hunters of animals who the more they catch the
fewer they will have; and so conversely they will have more in proportionas
they catch less.
OF
DRAWING WATER WITH TWO BUCKETS BY A SINGLE ROPE And many will be busying
themselves with a thing which the more they draw it up will tend the more to
escape in die contrary direction.
OF
SIEVES MADE OF THE SKIN OF ANIMALS We shall see the food of animals pass
through their skins in every way except through the mouth, and penetrate
through the opposite side until it reaches the level ground.
OF
THE LIGHTS THAT ARE CARRIED BEFORE THE DEAD They will make light for the
dead.
OF
THE LANTERN The fierce horns of powerful bulls will protect the light used at
night fromthe impetuous fury of the winds.
OF FEATHERS IN BEDSFlying creatures will support men with their
feathers.
OF
MEN WHO PASS ABOVE THE TREES WEARING WOODEN STILTS The swamps will be so great
that the men will go above the trees of theircountries.
OF
THE SOLES OF SHOES WHICH ARE OF LEATHER
Over
a great part of the country men shall be seen walking about on theskins of
large animals.
OF
SAILING There will be great winds through which the eastern things will become
western, and those of the south mingled together in great measure by the course
of the winds will follow these through distant lands.
OF
THE WORSHIPPING OF PICTURES OF SAINTS Men shall speak with men who shall not
hear them; their eyes shall beopen and they shall not see; they will speak to
them and there shall be noreply; they will ask pardon from one who has ears and
does not hear; they will offer light to one who is blind, and to the deaf they
will appeal with loud clamour.(1)(1) MS.,faran lume a [chi] e' orbo [. . .}
sordi con gran [. . .] ore.
OF
DREAMING Men shall walk without moving, they shall speak with those who are
absent, they shall hear those who do not speak.
OF
THE SHADOW THAT MOVES WITH MAN
There
shall be seen shapes and figures of men and animals which shall pursue these
men and animals where so ever they flee; and the movements of the one shall be
as those of the other, but it shall seem a tiling to wonder at because of the
different dimensions which they assume.
OF
THE SHADOW CAST BY THE SUN AND OF THE REFLECTION IN THE WATER SEEN AT ONE AND
THE SAME TIME Many times one man shall be seen to change into three and all
shall proceed together, and often the one that is most real abandons him.
OF
WOODEN COFFERS WHICH ENCLOSE MANY TREASURES Within walnuts and other trees and
plants there shall be found very great treasures which lie hidden there.
OF
EXTINGUISHING THE LIGHT WHEN ONE GOES TO BED Many by forcing their breath out
too rapidly will lose the power of sight,and in a short time all power of
sensation.
OF
THE BELLS OF MULES WHICH ARE CLOSE TO THEIR EARS There shall be heard in many parts
of Europe instruments of various sizes making divers melodies, causing great
weariness to those who hear the mmost closely.
OF ASSES The many labours shall be repaid by hunger, thirst,
wretchedness, blows and goadings.
OF
SOLDIERS ON HORSE BACK Many shall be seen carried by large animals with great
speed, to the loss of their lives and to instant death. In the air and on the
earth shall be seen animals of different colours, bearing men furiously to the
destruction of their lives.
OF
STARS ON SPURS By reason of the stars you will see men moving as swiftly as any
swift animal.
OF
A STICK WHICH IS A DEAD THING The movement of the dead shall cause many who arc
living to flee away with grief and lamentation and cries.
OF
TINDER With stone and iron things will be rendered visible which were not
previously seen.
OF
OXEN WHICH ARE EATEN The masters of the estates will eat their own
labourers.
OF
BEATING THE BED TO REMAKE IT To such a pitch of ingratitude shall men come that
that which shall give; them lodging without any price shall be loaded with
blows, in such a waythat great parts of the inside of it shall be detached from
their place, and shallbe turned over and over within it.
OF
THINGS WHICH ARE EATEN WHICH ARE FIRST PUT TO DEATH Those who nourish them will
be slain by them and scourged by barbarous death.
OF
THE WALLS OF CITIES REFLECTED IN THE WATER OF THEIR TRENCHES The high walls of
mighty cities shall be seen inverted, in their trenches.
OF
THE WATER WHICH FLOWS IN A TURBID STREAM MINGLED WITHEARTH, AND OF DUST AND
MIST MINGLING WITH THE AIR, AND OFTHE FIRE WHICH MINGLES ITS HEAT WITH EACH All
the elements shall be seen confounded together, surging in huge rolling mass, now
towards the centre of the earth, now towards the sky,at one time coursing in
fury from the southern regions towards the icy north, at another time from the
east to the west, and so again from this hemisphere to the other.
AT
ANY POINT ONE MAY MAKE THE DIVISION OF THE TWO HEMISPHERES All men will
suddenly change their hemisphere.
EVERY
POINT FORMS A DIVISION BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE WEST All the animals will move
from the east to the west, and so also from the north to the south.
OF
THE MOVEMENT OP THE WATERS WHICH CARRY LOGS THAT ARE DEAD Bodies without life
will move of themselves and will carry with them innumerable generations of the
dead, plundering the possessions of the living inhabitants.
OF
EGGS WHICH BEING EATEN CANNOT PRODUCE CHICKENS Oh! how many will those be who
will never be born.
OF
FISHES WHICH ARE EATEN WITH THEIR ROES Endless generations will perish through
the death of the pregnant.
OF
THE BEASTS FROM WHOM CHEESE IS MADE The milk will be taken from the tiny
children.
OF
THE LAMENTATIONS MADE ON GOOD FRIDAY In all the parts of Europe there shall be
lamentations by great nations for the death of one man.
OF
THE HAFTS OF KNIVES MADE OF RAMS' HORNS In the horns of animals shall be seen
sharp irons, which shall take away the lives of many of their species.
OF
THE NIGHT WHEN ONE CANNOT DISTINGUISH ANY COLOUR It shall even come to pass
that it will be impossible to tell the difference between colours, for all will
become black in hue.
OF
SWORDS AND SPEARS WHICH OF THEMSE LVES NEVER DOANY HARM TO ANYONE That which of
itself is gentle and void of all offence will become terribleand ferocious by
reason of evil companionship, and will take die lives of manypeople with the
utmost cruelty; and it would slay many more if it were notthat these arc
protected by bodies which are themselves without life, whichhave come forth out
of pits-that is by cuirasses of iron.
OP
GINS AND SNARES Many dead will move with fury, and will take and bind the
living, and willI set them before their enemies in order to compass their death
and destruction.
OF
THE PRECIOUS METALS There shall come forth out of dark and gloomy caves that
which shall cause the whole human race to undergo great afflictions, perils,
and death. To many of those who follow it, after much tribulation it will yield
delight;but whosoever pays it no homage will die in want and misery. It shall
bring to pass an endless number of crimes; it shall prompt and incite
wretchedmen to assassinate, to steal, and to enslave; it shall hold its own
followers in, suspicion; it shall deprive free cities of their rank: it shall
take away life itself from many; it shall make men torment each other with many
kinds of subterfuge, deceits, and treacheries.O vile monster! How much better
were it for men that thou shouldst go back to hell! For this the vast forests
shall be stripped of their trees; forthis an infinite number of creatures shall
lose their lives.
OF
FIRE From small beginnings shall arise that which shall rapidly become great;and
it shall have respect for no created thing, but its power shall be such as to
enable it to transform almost everything from its natural condition.
OF
SHIPS THAT FOUNDER There shall be seen huge bodies devoid of life, carrying
great numbers ofmen with fierce speed to the destruction of their lives.
OF
WRITING LETTERS FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER Men from the most remote countries
shall speak one to another and shall reply.
OF
THE HEMISPHERES WHICH ARE INFINITE AND DIVIDED BY AN INFINITE NUMBER OF LINES,
IN SUCH A WAY THAT EVERY MAN HAS ALWAYS ONE OF THESE LINES BETWEEN HIS FEET Men
shall speak with and touch and embrace each other while standing each in
different hemispheres, and shall understand each other's language.
OF
PRIESTS WHO SAY MASS Many shall there be who in order to practise their calling
shall put on the richest vestments, and these shall seem to be made after the
manner of aprons.
OF
FRIARS WHO HOLD CONFESSION The unhappy women of their own accord shall go to
reveal to men all their wantonness and their shameful and most secret
acts.
OF
THE CHURCHES AND HABITATIONS OF FRIARS There will be many who will abandon work
and labour and poverty of life and possessions, and will go to dwell among
riches and in splendidbuildings, pretending that this is a means of becoming
acceptable to God.
OF
THE SELLING OP PARADISE A countless multitude will sell publicly and without
hindrance things of the very greatest value, without licence from the Lord of
these things, whichwere never theirs nor in their power; and human justice will
take no accountof this.
OF
THE DEAD WHO ARE TAKEN TO BE BURIED The simple folk will carry a great number
of lights to light up the journeys of all those who have wholly lost the power
of sight. O human folly! O madness of mankind! These two phrases stand for the
commencement of the matter.
OF
THE DOWRIES OF MAIDENS And whereas at first young maidens could not be
protected from the lust and violence of men, either by the watchfulness of
parents or by the strength of walls, there will come a time when it will be
necessary for the fathers and relatives of these maidens to pay a great price
to whoever is willing to marry them, even although they may be rich and noble
and exceedingly beautiful.Herein it seems certain that Nature desires to
exterminate die human race, as a thing useless to the world and the destroyer
of all created things.
OF
THE CRUELTY OF MAN Creatures shall be seen upon the earth who will always be
fighting one with another, with very great losses and frequent deaths on cither
side.These shall set no bounds to their malice; by their fierce limbs a great
number of the trees in the immense forests of the world shall be laid level
with the ground; and when they have crammed themselves with food it shall
gratify their desire to deal out death, affliction, labours, terrors and
banishment to every living thing. And by reason of their boundless pride they
shall wish to rise towards heaven, but the excessive weight of their limbs
shall hold them down. There shall be nothing remaining on the earth or under
the earth or in the waters that shall not be pursued and molested or
destroyed,and that which is in one country taken away to another; and their own
bodies I shall be made the tomb and the means of transit of all the living
bodies which they have slain. O Earth! what delays thee to open and hurl them
head long into the deep fissures of thy huge abysses and caverns, and no longer
to display in the sight of heaven so savage and ruthless a monster?
OF
SAILING IN SHIPS The trees of the vast forests of Taurus and of Sinai, of the
Apennines and of Atlas, shall be seen speeding by means of the air from east to
west, and from north to south, and transporting by means of the air a great
quantity of men. Oh, how many vows! How many deaths! What partings between
friends and relatives shall there be! How many who shall never more behold
their own lands or their native country, and shall die unsepulchred and their
bones be scattered in divers parts of the world!
OF
REMOVING ON ALL SAINTS' DAY Many shall leave their own dwellings, and shall
carry with them all their goods and go to dwell in other lands.
OF
ALL SOULS' DAY How many will there be who will mourn for their dead ancestors,
carrying lights for them!
OF
FRIARS WHO BY SPENDING ONLY WORDS RECEIVE GREAT RICHES AND BESTOW PARADISE
Invisible money will cause many who spend it to triumph.
OF
BOWS MADE FROM THE HORNS OF OXEN Many there will be who by means of the horns of
cattle will die a painfuldeath.Behold a thing which is valued the less the more
one has need of it. It is advice.And many have made a trade in deceits and
feigned miracles, cozening the foolish herd, and if no one showed himself
cognisant of their deceits they would impose them upon all.
FOR
WELL-DOING By the branch of the nut-tree which is struck and beaten just when
it has brought its fruit to perfection, is represented those who as the sequel
of their illustrious works are struck by envy in divers ways.All these things
which in the winter are concealed and hidden beneath thesnow, will be left bare
and exposed in summer:-said of a he which cannotremain hidden.You will see the
lion tribe tearing open the earth with hooked claws, andburying themselves in
the holes that they have made, together with die other animals which are in
subjection to them.There shall come forth from the ground creatures clad in
darkness who shall attack the human race with tremendous onslaughts, and it
shall lave theblood poisoned by their fierce bites even while it is devoured by
than.There shall also hurtle through the air a tribe of dreadful winged
creatures who shall attack both men and beasts, and feed upon them with loud
cries:-They shall fill their bellies full of crimson blood.You will see the
blood streaming forth from the rent flesh of men and bedewing the surface
parts.You will see men with so cruel a malady that they will tear their flesh
withi their own nails:-This will be the itch.You will see plants continuing without
leaves, and rivers standing stillin their courses.The water of the sea shall
rise above the high summits of the mountainstowards die sky, and it shall fail
down again on to the dwellings of men:-That is as clouds.You will sec the
greatest trees of the forests borne by the fury of the winds,from the east to
the west:-That is across the sea.Men shall cast away their own food:-That is in
sowing.The generation of men shall come to such a pass as not to understand
oneanother's speech:-That is a German with a Turk.I You will see fathers giving
up their daughters to the sensuality of men, and rewarding them, and abandoning
all their former care:-When the girls are married.Men shall come forth out of
the graves changed to winged creatures, and they shall attack other men, taking
away their food even from their handsand tables:The flies.Many there will be
who will flay their own mother and fold back herskin:-The tillers of the
ground.Happy will be those who give ear to the words of the dead:-The
reading;of good works and die observing of their precepts.Feathers shall raise
men towards heaven even as they do birds:-That is byletters written with their
quills.The works of men's hands will become the cause of their death:-Swordsand
spears.Men will pursue the thing they most fear:-That is they will be
miserablelest they should fall into misery.Things severed shall be united and
shall acquire of themselves such virtuethat they shall restore to men their
lost memory:-That is the papyrus sheets,which are formed out of severed strips
and preserve the memory of diethoughts and deeds of men.You shall behold the
bones of the dead by their rapid movement directingthe fortunes of their
mover:-The dice.Oxen shall by their horns protect the fire from death:-The
lantern.The forests will bring forth young who will become the cause of
theirdeath:-The handle of the hatchet. Men will deal rude blows to that which
is the cause of their life:-They will thrash the grain.The skins of animals
will make men rouse from their silence with loudcries and oaths:-Balls for
playing games.Many times the thing that is severed becomes the cause of great
union :-That is the comb made up of split canes, which unites the threads in
the silk.The wind which passes through the skins of animals will make men leapup:-That
is the bagpipes, which cause men to dance.
OF
NUT-TREES WHICH ARE BEATEN Those which have done best will be most beaten, and
their children will be carried off and stripped or despoiled, and their bones
broken and crushed.
OF
SCULPTURE Alas! whom do I see? The Saviour crucified again.
OF
THE MOUTH OF MAN WHICH IS A TOMB There shall come forth loud noises out of the
tombs of those who have diedby an evil and violent death.
OF
THE SKINS OF ANIMALS WHICH HAVE THE SENSE OFFEELING OF WHAT IS WRITTEN THERE
The more you converse with skins covered over with sentiments, the moreyou will
acquire wisdom.
OF
PRIESTS WHO BEAR THE HOST IN THEIR BODIES Then almost all the tabernacles where
dwells the Corpus Domini will beplainly visible, walking about of themselves on
the different roads of theworld.And those who feed the air will turn night into
day:-Tallow.And many creatures of the earth and of the water will mount up
among the stars:-The Planets.You shall see the dead carrying the living in divers
parts of the world:-the chariots and ships.From many the food shall be taken
away out of their mouths:-From ovens.And those who have their mouths filled by
the hands of others, shall have the food taken away out of their mouths:-The
oven.
OF
CRUCIFIXES WHICH ARE SOLD I see Christ again sold and crucified, and his saints
suffering martyrdom.
OF
DOCTORS WHO LIVE UPON THE SICK Men will come to such a state of misery that
they will be grateful that others should profit by their sufferings, or by the
loss of their true riches, that is health.Of the religion of the Friars who
live by means of the Saints, who have been dead for a long time : Those who are
dead will after a thousand years be those who will make provision for many of
the living.
OF
STONES CHANGED INTO LIME WITH WHICH PRISON WALLSARE BUILT Many things which
have previously been destroyed by fire will deprive many men of their
liberty.
OF
CHILDREN WHO TAKE THE BREAST Many Franciscans, Dominicans, and Benedictines
will eat that which has recently been eaten by others, and they will remain
many months before being able to speak.
OF
COCKLES AND SEA-SNAILS CAST UP BY THE SEA WHICHROT WITHIN THEIR SHELLS How many
shall there be who after they are dead will lie rotting in their own houses,
filling all the air around with their foul stench! PLANT WITH ROOTS UPWARDS For someone who would be on the point of
coming to the end of all possessions and favour.
OF
JACKDAWS AND STARLINGS Those who trust themselves to inhabit near him, and
these will be in great crowds, will almost all die a cruel death, -and one will
see fathers and mothers together with their families being devoured and slain
by cruel animals.
OF
PEASANTS WHO WORK IN THEIR SHIRTS Shadows will come from the East which will tinge
with much darkness the sky that covers Italy.
OF
THE BARBERS All men will take refuge in Africa.
OF
THE SHADOW CAST BY MAN AT NIGHT WITH A LIGHT There shall appear huge figures in
human shape, and the nearer to you they approach the more will their immense
size diminish.
OF
MULES WHICH CARRY RICH BURDENS OF SILVERAND GOLD Many treasures and great
riches will be laid upon four-footed animals,which will carry them to divers
places.Those will be drowned who give light for divine service:-The bees which
make the wax of the candles.The dead will come forth from under the earth, and
by their fierce movenents will drive innumerable human creatures out of the
world:-The iron which comes from under the earth is dead, and it makes
theweapons wherewith so many men have been slain.The greatest mountains, even
though they are remote from the sea borders,fill drive the sea from its
place:-That is by the rivers which carry down the soil they have taken fromthe
mountains and deposit it upon the sea shores; and where the earthcomes the sea
retires.The water fallen from the clouds will so change its nature as to remain
fora long space of time upon the slopes of the mountains without making
anymovement. And this will happen in many and divers regions:-The snow that
falls in flakes which is water.The great rocks of the mountains will dart forth
fire, such that they willburn up the timber of many vast forests and many
beasts both wild andtame:-The flint of the tinder-box, which makes a fire that
consumes all theloads of faggots of which the forests are cleared, and with
this the fleshof beasts is cooked.Oh! how many great buildings will be ruined
by reason of fire:-By the fire of the guns.The oxen will become in great part
the cause of the destruction of cities;and so also will horses and
buffaloes:-They draw the guns.Many there will be who will wax great in their
destruction:-The ball of snow rolling over the snow.There will be a great host
who, forgetful of their existence and their name,will lie as though dead upon
the spoils of other dead creatures:-By sleeping upon the feathers of birds.The
east shall be seen to rush into the west, the south into the north,whirling
themselves round about the universe with great noise, fury and trembling:-The
wind from the east which will rush into the west.The rays of the sun will
kindle fire on the earth, where by that which isbeneath the sky will be set
alight; and, beaten back by that which impedes them, they will return
downwards:-The burning-glass kindles the fire with which the oven is heated,
andthis has its base standing beneath its vaulted roof.A great part of the sea
will fly towards the sky, and for a long time it will not return:-That is in
clouds.
OF
CORN AND OTHER SEEDS Men shall throw away out of their houses those victuals
which were meant for the sustenance of their lives:-[That is by sowing.]
OF
TREES WHICH GIVE SAP TO GRAFTED-SHOOTS Fathers and mothers shall be seen to
bestow much more attention upon their step-children than upon their own
children.
OF
THE THURIFER WITH INCENSE Some shall go about in white vestments with arrogant
gestures threateningothers with metal and fire, which yet have never done them
any harm.
OF
KIDS The time of Herod shall return; for the innocent children shall be torn
away from thieir nurses and shall die of great wounds at the hands of
cruelmen.
OF
THE MOWING DOWN OF GRASS Innumerable lives will be extinguished, and
innumerable vacant spaces created upon the-earth.
OF
THE LIFE OF MEN WHO EVERY TEN YEARS ARE CHANGED IN BODILY SUBSTANCE Men will
pass when dead through their own bowels.
OF
SKINS Many animals . . .
OF
LEATHER BOTTLES The goats will carry wine to the cities.
OF
SHOEMAKERS Men will take a pleasure in seeing their own works worn out and
destroyed.
OF
BEES They live together in communities. They are drowned in order that their
honey may be seized. Many and very great communities will be drowned in their
own dwellings. Snow in summer shall be gathered on the high mountain peaks and
carried to warm places, and there be let to fall down, when festivals are held
in the piazza in the time of summer.” 2
2. Taken from Futureverse
website. No longer online. (hard copy available upon request)