137. ‘L’avara Babilonia à colmo il sacco’

Greedy Babylon has crammed the bag

with God’s anger, wicked fare, and deeds,

almost to bursting, and has made its deities

not Jupiter and Pallas, but Venus and Bacchus.

Waiting for justice wearies and consumes me:

but I foresee a new sultan among them,

who will establish one seat, not soon enough

for me, and that will be in Baghdad.

Babylon’s idols will be scattered on the ground,

and her proud towers, threatening heaven,

and her guards burned as they burn within.

Beautiful souls and friends of virtue

will rule the world: and we’ll see it turned

all to gold, and filled with ancient works.

Note: An attack on the Papal Court at Avignon (Babylon) and a vision of a reformed Papacy (the new sultan) with its seat in Rome (Baghdad). Jupiter and Pallas represent Justice and Wisdom, Venus and Bacchus, Sensuality and Wine.

‘Pallas’ - Hendrick Goltzius (Dutch, 1558 - 1617), The Rijksmuseum