DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.847#0448
CLUSITJM. 419
the glory of this world are mine, and on whomsoever
I will I can bestow them. Behold, all these will I
give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."
Crowds are represented as listening, and the rich,
and the learned, and the mighty, and the light-
hearted, and the jovial, are there—all the lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God ; and the gifts of
Antichrist are borne away, and his service is lauded
to the skies; too loudly indeed, for the skies hear at
length, and send a fearful answer. The temple of God
meanwhile is taken possession of by Mammon, his
soldiers keep guard that none may enter it unpunish-
ed, and the few lowly in demeanour, but resolved and
faithful in heart, who have tried to enter, and who
were driven away and cast out, are either looking up
to heaven in unpitied misery and destitution, or
are sealing their imprudent testimony against the
evil one with their blood. Antichrist is triumphant,
and the martyrs are seen in many parts of the picture
fallen and lifeless, a sport to their enemies.
Then comes the next compartment, in which
the voice of their blood is heard on high, and
the heaven opens, and the archangel descends, and
Antichrist is hurled into the bottomless abyss,
whence he can rise to deceive the nations no more.
Then follows the general resurrection, a wonderful
compartment, or, as I began to read it, canto. Luca
Signorelli has imagined that according to a person's
good or bad deeds in this world, would be his per-
fection or deformity at the last day. Some, there-
fore, are grinning skulls, and naked cross-bones,
the glory of this world are mine, and on whomsoever
I will I can bestow them. Behold, all these will I
give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."
Crowds are represented as listening, and the rich,
and the learned, and the mighty, and the light-
hearted, and the jovial, are there—all the lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God ; and the gifts of
Antichrist are borne away, and his service is lauded
to the skies; too loudly indeed, for the skies hear at
length, and send a fearful answer. The temple of God
meanwhile is taken possession of by Mammon, his
soldiers keep guard that none may enter it unpunish-
ed, and the few lowly in demeanour, but resolved and
faithful in heart, who have tried to enter, and who
were driven away and cast out, are either looking up
to heaven in unpitied misery and destitution, or
are sealing their imprudent testimony against the
evil one with their blood. Antichrist is triumphant,
and the martyrs are seen in many parts of the picture
fallen and lifeless, a sport to their enemies.
Then comes the next compartment, in which
the voice of their blood is heard on high, and
the heaven opens, and the archangel descends, and
Antichrist is hurled into the bottomless abyss,
whence he can rise to deceive the nations no more.
Then follows the general resurrection, a wonderful
compartment, or, as I began to read it, canto. Luca
Signorelli has imagined that according to a person's
good or bad deeds in this world, would be his per-
fection or deformity at the last day. Some, there-
fore, are grinning skulls, and naked cross-bones,