---
title: "Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen"
author: "Various Church Fathers"
translator: "S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Church Fathers"
section: 36 of 199
url: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/36/
cite: "Various Church Fathers, tr. S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.), Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen, section 36. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/36/"
---

# Fathers of the Third Century: Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian and Origen

*Various Church Fathers, tr. S. Thelwall and others; A. Cleveland Coxe (ed.)*

Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Commodian, and Origen's On First Principles and Against Celsus.

## 36. A Strain of Sodom · 3 of 6

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/36/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/church-fathers-tertullian-minucius-felix-commodian-origen/36/#p-N

[¶0] And rushes at one speed through countless streams

[¶1] Of rivers, if, just where it forks, some tree

[¶2] Meets the swift waves (not long to stand, save while

[¶3] 90 By her root’s force she shall avail to oppose

[¶4] Her tufty obstacles), when gradually

[¶5] Her hold upon the undermined soil

[¶6] Is failing, with her bared stem she hangs,

[¶7] And, with uncertain heavings to and fro,

[¶8] 95 Defers her certain fall; not otherwise

[¶9] Lot in the mid-whirl of the dizzy mob

[¶10] Kept nodding, now almost o’ercome. But power

[¶11] Divine brings succour: the angelic youths,

[¶12] Snatching him from the threshold, to his roof

[¶13] 100 Restore him; but upon the spot they mulct

[¶14] Of sight the mob insane in open day,—

[¶15] Fit augury of coming penalties!

[¶16] Then they unlock the just decrees of God:

[¶17] That penalty condign from heaven will fall

[¶18] 105 On Sodom; that himself had merited

[¶19] Safety upon the count of righteousness.

[¶20] “Gird thee, then, up to hasten hence thy flight,

[¶21] And with thee to lead out what family

[¶22] Thou hast: already we are bringing on

[¶23] 110 Destruction o’er the city.” Lot with speed

[¶24] Speaks to his sons-in-law; but their hard heart

[¶25] Scorned to believe the warning, and at fear

[¶26] Laughed. At what time the light attempts to climb

[¶27] The darkness, and heaven’s face wears double hue

[¶28] 115 From night and day, the youthful visitants

[¶29] Were instant to outlead from Sodoma

[¶30] The race Chaldæan, and the righteous house

[¶31] Consign to safety: “Ho! come, Lot! arise,

[¶32] And take thy yokefellow and daughters twain,

[¶33] 120 And hence, beyond the boundaries be gone,

[¶34] Preventing Sodom’s penalties!” And eke

[¶35] With friendly hands they lead them trembling forth,

[¶36] And then their final mandates give: “Save, Lot,

[¶37] Thy life, lest thou perchance should will to turn

[¶38] 125 Thy retroverted gaze behind, or stay

[¶39] The step once taken: to the mountain speed!”

[¶40] Lot feared to creep the heights with tardy step,

[¶41] Lest the celestial wrath-fires should o’ertake

[¶42] And whelm him: therefore he essays to crave

[¶43] 130 Some other ports; a city small, to wit,

[¶44] Which opposite he had espied. “Hereto,”