3996. Before these thing were seen, there first appeared black clouds that like pitch black devils strike the mind with horror - first a very black one, later another, not quite as horrible, symbolizing what I was about to see.
3996. Before these things were seen there appeared dark clouds, which were as black devils, striking the mind with horror; first one extremely black, afterwards another not quite so hideous; which signified that I was to see what followed.
3996. Antequam haec visa, apparebant prius nubes nigrae, quae sicut diaboli atri, etiam horrorem incutientes, primum nigerrimus, postea alius, non ita horrendus, quae significabant, quod ea visurus.