CENTURIA II · QUATRAIN XLVII
The Poisoned Leader
L'ennemi grand vieil dueil meurt de poison,
Les souverains par infiniz subjugez,
Pierres plouvoir, cachez soubz la toison,
Par mort articles en vain sont alleguez.
The great old enemy of mourning dies of poison,
the sovereigns by infinite number subjugated.
Stones raining, hidden under the fleece,
through death the articles are alleged in vain.
THE MASTER SAYS…
This quatrain is connected with certain victories achieved by the Chinese army in times of unrest. The fleece refers to the quilted jackets they wear as part of their uniform. The rain of stones refers to a hail of bullets that will fall on anyone who encounters this army. They will have a beloved leader who will be poisoned. They will gather around, watching him die, and will be unable to do anything. In 1987, when this quatrain was being translated, nothing pointed to this event. Who could have thought that the Chinese army would act against its own people. Although the reference to “it rains stones hidden under fleece” can also be interpreted literally, since the students did throw stones at the soldiers and tanks advancing on them. This quatrain could also concern the subsequent resolution of problems in that country. The phrase “Kings are conquered by an immeasurable (number)” could definitely point to the very high population of China. “The enemy looks with grief at the old man who died from poison” means that the leader will be poisoned, and they will watch him die, unable to help him in any way.