Chapter 11

An eagle appeareth to Esdras coming forth of the sea, with three heads, and twelve wings: sometimes one reigning in the world, sometimes another, but every one vanisheth away. ℣.36. A lion also appeareth coming forth of the wood, to suppress the eagle. And I saw a dream, and behold an eagle came up out of the sea: which had twelve wings of feathers, and three heads.

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   And I saw, & behold she spread her wings into all the earth, and all the winds of heaven blew upon her, and were gathered together.

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   And I saw, and of her feathers sprang contrary feathers, and they became little wings, and small.

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   For her heads were at rest, and the middle head was greater than the other heads, but she rested with them.

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   And I saw and behold the eagle flew with her wings, and reigned over the earth, and over them that dwell in it.

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   And I saw that all things under heaven were subject to her, and no man gainsaid her, no not one of the creature that is upon the earth.

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   And I saw, and behold the eagle rose up upon her talons, and made a voice with her wings, saying:

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   Watch not all together, sleep every one in his place, & watch according to time.

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   But let the heads be preserved to the last.

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   And I saw, and behold the voice came not out of her heads, but from the midst of her body.

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    And I numbered her contrary wings, and behold they were eight.

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    And I saw, and behold on the right side rose one wing, and reigned over all the earth.

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    And it came to pass, when it reigned, an end came to it, and the place thereof appeared not: and the next rose up, and reigned, that held much time.

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    And it came to pass, when it reigned, and the end of it also came, that it appeared not as the former.

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    And behold, a voice was sent forth to it, saying:

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    Hear thou that hast held the earth of long time. Thus I tell thee before thou begin not to appear.

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    None after thee shall hold thy time, no nor the half thereof.

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    And the third lifted up itself, and held the principality as also the former: and that also appeared not.

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    And so it chanced to all the other by one and by one to have the principality, and again to appear no-where.

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    And I saw, and behold in time the rest of the wings were sent up on the right side, that they also might hold the principality: and of them there were that held it, but yet forthwith they appeared not.

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    For some also of them stood up, but they held not the principality.

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    And I saw after these things, and behold the twelve wings, and two little wings appeared not:

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    and nothing remained in the body of the eagle but two heads resting, & six little wings.

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    And I saw, and behold from the six little wings two were divided, and they remained under the head, that is on the right side. For four tarried in their place.

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    And I saw, and behold the underwings thought to set up themselves, and to hold the principalities.

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    And I saw, and behold one was set up, but forthwith it appeared not.

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    And they that were second did sooner vanish away than the former.

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    And I saw, and behold the two that remained, thought with themselves that they also would reign:

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    and when they were thinking thereon, behold one of the resting heads, which was the middle one awaked, for this was greater than the other two heads.

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    And behold the head with them that were with him turned, and did eat the two underwings that thought to reign.

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    And this head terrified all the earth, & ruled in it over them that inhabit the earth with much labour, and he that held the dominion of the whole world above all the wings that were.

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    And I saw after these things, and behold the middle head suddenly appeared not, as did the wings.

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    And there remained two heads, which reigned also themselves over the earth, and over them that dwelt therein.

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    And I saw, and behold the head on the right side devoured that which was on the left.

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    And I heard a voice saying to me, Look against thee, and consider what thou seest.

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    And I saw, and behold as a lion raised out of the wood roaring: and I saw that he sent out a man's voice to the eagle. And he spake saying.

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    Hear thou, and I will speak to thee, and the Highest will say to thee:

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    Is it not thou that hast overcome of the four beasts, which I made to reign in my world, and that by them the end of their times might come?

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    And the fourth coming overcame all the beasts that were past, and by might held the world with much fear, and all the world with most wicked labour, and he inhabited the whole earth so long time with deceit.

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    And thou hast judged the earth not with truth.

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    For thou hast afflicted the meek, and hast troubled them that were quiet, and hast loved liars, and hast destroyed their habitations that did fructify, & hast overthrown their walls that did not hurt thee.

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    And thy contumely is ascended even to the Highest, and thy pride to the Strong.

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    And the Highest hath looked upon the proud times: and behold they are ended, and the abominations thereof are accomplished.

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    Therefore thou eagle appear no more, and thy horrible wings and thy little wings most wicked, and thy heads malignant, and thy talons most wicked, and all thy body vain,

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    that all the earth may be refreshed, and may return delivered from thy violence, and may hope for his judgement and mercy that made it.