METHODIUS
Nomos en genikos tou pantos o protistos noos·
((Anapaestic logaoedic.)
The first Eternal Mind was law to all,
And did the Universe to being call:
Next, of the First-born forth was chaos spread
And thirdly, soul on task of labour sped:
But it in vesture thin, and slight array,
O'ercome with toil, to death becomes a prey.
At one time regnant it beholds the light;
Then soon laments, cast down in piteous plight.
'Tis hazard all: now joy, now grief, befalls;
And now it dies, and now fresh life recalls.
In never-ending labyrinth of woes
It, wretched, hither now, now hither goes.
Then Jesus spake: On earth, O Father, see
How things have strayed in dire perplexity
Far from Thy Breath: how floods of evil roll,
And in base matter overwhelm the soul!
Escape it seeks from bitter woe all round,
But knows not where a passage may be found.
O Father, Me upon this errand send:
Bearing Thy seals, I will the depths descend;
Throughout whole ages I will make my way,
All mysteries of darkness turn to day;
And godlike forms I thenceforth will display:
Forth Knowledge I will call to quell all strife,
And upward show the holy paths of life.
[28] For a full account of the Naasseni, who they were, and what were their opinions, I would refer the reader to Hyppolytus, Antenicene Christian Library, vol. i. book v. Suffice it here to say that they were a learned sect of Gnostics; that they held very strange opinions; but were great hymn makers. A translation of this particular Psalm may be found in the same volume, p. 153. I had made my translation before I was aware of this.
BISHOP AND MARTYR
(Died about A.D. 311).
Methodius, a father of the Church, and a martyr, was Bishop of Olympas or Patara, in Lycia, and afterwards of Tyre in Palestine. He lived during the last half of the third century, and died a martyr at Chalcis in Greece, probably A.D. 311, during the Diocletian persecution. Jerome
[29] ranks him among the popular writers, and commends him especially for the neatness of his style. [30]
This Virgins' Song of his composing is in twenty-four parts, or strophies, each beginning with a letter of the alphabet in order from A to O. [31] Ten virgins are supposed to be present. Thecla [32] leads, giving the strophy in each case, the rest join in chorus, singing the burden or refrain (ephumnion). The learned editors refer to the Sumposion of Plato, also to the Parthenia of Alcman and Pindar; which Methodius may in part have imitated.