522、这事过后，我回家了。第二天，我想起那些可悲的场景，就朝那个森林望去，却发现它已经消失了，取而代之的是一片沙地平原。平原中间有一个湖，湖里有数条红蛇。几周后，我又朝那个方向望去，只见这个地方右边有一片肥沃的土地，有几个农民在地里劳作。又过了几周，我看见这块地长出新庄稼，四周有树木围成的篱笆。这时，我听到天上有声音说：“上你的房间去，关上门，专心著述，先从《启示录》开始，争取两年内完成这本书。”
注：《揭秘启示录》出版于1766年4月，《婚姻之爱》出版于1768年10月。
522、之后我回家了。第二天又想起了那些可悲的场景，于是我又朝那个方向望去，却什么都看不到了。只有一片沙地，中间有一个湖，里面有些红色的蛇。
几周后我又朝那个方向看去，却看到有一片肥沃的土地，还有几个农夫。又过了几周我看到新芽长出来了，周围有树丛围着。
那时我听到天国中有个声间说：“回去吧，专心写《Apocalypse》这本书，两年内将它完成。”
522. After this I returned home, and a day later, recalling these pitiful sights, I looked towards the same forest, and saw that it had disappeared; its place was taken by a sandy plain with a lake in the middle containing some red snakes. Some weeks later, looking that way again, I saw on the right side of it some ploughed land and farmers working on it; and some weeks later still I saw a new crop growing out of this land with a hedge round it.
Then I heard a voice from heaven: 'Go into your room, shut the door, and concentrate on the work you have started on the Book of Revelation. You are to bring this to completion within two years.' 1
522. After that I returned home, and the next day, remembering these sad scenes, I looked in the direction of that forest and saw it gone. In its place was a sandy plain, and in the middle of it a lake, having some red snakes in it.
Several weeks later, however, when I again looked in that direction, I saw to the right side of the site a stretch of fertile land, and on it several farmers. And several weeks again after that I saw new growth sprouting from that piece of land, surrounded by bushes.
At that time I then heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Go into your chamber, shut the door, and attend to the work begun on the Apocalypse; and pursue this in two years to a conclusion."
522. After this I went back home. A day later, remembering those sad events, I looked toward that woods, and it had disappeared.
In its place was a sandy field with a swamp in it, where there were some red snakes. But weeks later when I again looked there, I saw to the right side of it a plowed field and some farmers in it.
And again, weeks later, I saw the field sprouting, and surrounded with trees. Then I heard a voice from the sky, "Go to your room, close the door, and turn to the work you began about the Apocalypse.
Follow through and finish it in less than two years."
522. After this I went home. The next day, remembering these sad scenes, I looked towards the same forest and saw that it had disappeared and in its place was a sandy plain, in the midst whereof was a pool in which were some red serpents. Some weeks later, looking again in that direction, I saw, on its right side, a fallow field wherein were several husbandmen. Again, some weeks later, I saw emerging from that fallow field new ploughed land surrounded by bushes. I then heard a voice from heaven,. "Enter into your chamber and shut the door and give your attention to the work on the Apocalypse now commenced, and pursue it to the end within two years." 1
Footnotes:
1. THE APOCALYPSE REVEALED was published in April 1766, and CONJUGIAL LOVE in October 1768.
522. Thereupon I went home. The next day, recalling those sad scenes, I looked toward the same forest and saw that it had been cleared away. In its place was a sandy plain, with a pool in the center of it in which were some red serpents. Some weeks later, when I looked again at the place, I saw over to the right a ploughed field with several husbandmen in it. Again some weeks later I noticed that the ploughed land had become a field with crops, surrounded by small trees.
Then I heard a voice from heaven, "Enter into your chamber and shut the door, and give yourself to the work begun on the Apocalypse, and prosecute it to a conclusion within two years."
79.
522. After this I went home. And the next day, from a recollection of these sad scenes I looked towards the same wood, and saw that it had disappeared, and in its place was a sandy plain, and in the midst of this a pool, in which were some red serpents. But some weeks afterwards I looked again at the place, and saw on the right side of it a fallow field and several husbandmen upon it. And again, after some weeks, I saw that the fallow land had become a cultivated field, surrounded by small trees. And then I heard a voice from heaven, 'Enter into your chamber and shut the door, and go on with the work begun upon the Apocalypse, and pursue it to the end within two years.'
522. Post haec reversus sum domum, et post diem ex recordatione tristium illorum, spectavi ad eandem Sylvam, et vidi illam disparatam, et loco ejus Campum arenosum, et in medio ejus Stagnum, in quo erant aliqui serpentes rubri. Sed post septimanas, dum iterum illuc spectavi, vidi a latere ejus dextro Arvum, et super eo aliquot Colonos; ac iterum post septimanas vidi ex Arvo illo enascens Novale circumcinctum arbustis: et audivi tunc vocem e Coelo, "intra in Cubiculum tuum, et claude januam, et intende operi incepto in Apocalypsi; et hoc intra 1biennium persequere ad finem."
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: infra