This is an excerpt from M.A. Prost’s English translation of Nonnos’ (of Panopolis) paraphrase of the Gospel of John…
Ere Time, ere Space, ere Speech dwelt the Archaic Word,
GOD's like in Age and Nature, motherless, this Son,
The self-born Word, GOD's Spawn, Light come from light,
Inseparate, interminable and enthroned
5) Conseated with GOD on GOD's sempiternal Chair:
The Word was GOD's best Offspring. Who from the Beginning
Compiled with GOD, the Universal Architect,
(Himself far older than the World); and All that is,
Inert and breathing, all through Him arose. And naught,
10) But through this Workman's Word, was made, which is. In Him,
Innate, was every Life, His Light was Food aplenty
For short-lived Man. The Earth-sustaining Light of Glory
Flamed bolts into the murky Heav'ns above, and Lo,
The Darkness Grasped it not. From out a bosky Lair,
15) Where Bees do suck, came one, a lonely Citizen
Of rocky Crags, a Mountain roaming Wanderer,
And Herald of the baptized firstborn One; his Name
Was John, a godly Rouser of the Crowd. He came
As Messenger, as steadfast Speaker, as Reproach
20) To mortal Man, so that, by one loud Herald's Cry
All might have Faith in Him, the Parent of the World.
Tho' not himself that Intellectual Light, he was
The GOD-filled Mouth unfolding now to all who came,
Forerunner, bringing secret, hidden Light to light,
25) A speaking Witness to the ones receiving GOD.
The Word, first-born, together with His Father, was
True LIGHT, first-born, the LIGHT who purified all Men
Illumining, with spiritual Beams, Men's Nature,
Now come to Earth. He, in the unpersuaded World,
30) Was unforeseen: the boundless World was made through Him,
But did not know the Word, the foreign Vagabond.
He was among His own: His own, insensate, mad,
No Honor showed Him, as a Guest. But those, steadfast
And sane, whoever did receive Him, those without
35) A straying Mind, to all he gave one heavenly Prize:
To be named Children of the everlasting GOD,
(Not as in Nature, born through Labor in a Bed,
(The Products of Men's Will, or Offspring of the Flesh
(Begot of Love upon the bridal Marriage Couch)
40) But Children born of GOD, the unbegotten Getter.
The Self-accomplished Word became enfleshed, and GOD
And Man, First-born and Last-born, by some secret Rite
Together yoked in holy Human-seeming Shape.
45) And GOD dwelt in the family of Men, and His Repute
We saw through our own human Eyes: it was the Glory
Of the first-gotten Son from the most high Begetter;
So Grace and Truth of the Begotten is brought nearer.
Concerning the Flesh-wearing Word pledged holy John,
50) The early Messenger, with Prophet's Voice: "Behold:
"The One is here, of Whom I spoke with honest Words;
"He came before me, Who came after me, He was
"The Earliest before me; so that we, His Own,
"Belonging to Him, might be lifted up, and from
55) "His Fullness, later Grace upon first Grace be laid;
"E'en as the Book of the entire Natural Law,
"By Moses writ, was laid upon the Hebrew Crowd,
"Just so, the Grace of Christ, and Truth, come to the World."
The Self-producing Deity has ne'er been spied
60) By any Person, Face to FACE, but John told plain
By Story how that well known Unique ONE was kept
In comfort in the wondrous Lap of Father GOD,
Companion of the Parent WHO may not be seen.
So, trusty John the Herald gave a true Report:
The tale of a Witness with ambrosial Voice.
(John 1: 1-18)
M.A. Prost’s translation of the Gospel of John is presently a work in progress.
Manila Time
