VISIO QUARTA, cap. VI
The Cloud of Pestilence
A cloud descends from the bright air, striking people and livestock with pestilence through waters boiled and frozen by divine fire.
And you see too that from the strong, bright, shining air, a certain other cloud sometimes stretches down toward the earth, striking people and livestock with great pestilence, so that from it many lie afflicted with various sicknesses, and very many even incur death — because when, as was said, a cloud at times forms from that same air, the higher waters, to which that air clings from below because of its nearness, are stirred up exceedingly by the will of God from the upper fire, so that they now boil from turbulent heat, and now grow cold from the worst cold that is in the black fire, and thus the cloud, steeped in both, proves harmful in either part.
Judgment Born of Sin
Plagues come only by God's just judgment provoked by human sin, yet discretion tempers all that is useful to body and soul.
But these plagues do not advance unless they are brought upon people by the just judgment of God, provoked by human sins — showing that vengeance proceeds from the discretion of holy works toward actions that lack discretion, striking people with immoderate contrition in their sin because they have no moderation, so that in them it weakens those things which are indiscreet by the standard of the human body, and completely mortifies those things which, for the soul's salvation, lack discretion altogether. For discretion tempers everything that is useful to both body and soul.
Mercy Restrains the Stroke
The watery air opposes the plague cloud, tempering its harm so that destruction does not exceed all measure.
To this cloud, however, the watery air opposes itself, tempering that same cloud so that it does not bring harm to creatures beyond measure, since by its own wateriness it weakens the strength of that cloud's power — because holy works, in the examples of the just, show to this vengeance, which proceeds from discretion, by which ways it strikes those things that are immoderate.
The Fruitfulness of Thin Air
A transition to the purpose of moisture in thin air, how rain becomes snow, and how this air fortifies and makes the earth fruitful.
As for the moisture that flows from the thin air — what its purpose may be — and how drops of rain are turned into snow by the higher cold, and how this same thin air strengthens the earth from above and makes it fruitful.
Read the original Latin
Et etiam vides quod de forti et albo lucidoque aere alia quaedam nebula ad terras se interdum extendit, magnam pestilentiam hominibus et pecoribus incutiens, ita ut exinde multi diversis infirmitatibus subjaceant, quamplurimi quoque mortem incurrant, quia cum de ipso aere nebula, ut praefatum est, interdum procedit, aquae superiores, quibus idem aer pro vicinitate subtus adhaeret, per voluntatem Dei a superiori igne supramodum commoventur, quae de inquieto ardore nunc fervent, et de pessimo frigore quod in nigro igne est, nunc algent, et sic nebula ab utroque perfusa, in utraque parte nociva existit. Plagae autem istae non procedunt, nisi cum, peccatis hominum provocatae, justo Dei judicio super ipsos inducuntur, demonstrantes quod de discretione sanctorum operum, vindicta ad operationes, quae sine discretione sunt, procedit, contritionem hominibus immoderatam in peccato moderationem non habentibus infligens, ita ut in ipsis ea quae indiscreta secundum corpus hominis sunt, debilitet, et illa quae ad salutem animae discretione carent, omnino mortificet. Discretio enim omnia quae tam corpori quam animae utilia sunt, temperat. Cui tamen nebulae aquosus aer se opponit, eamdem nebulam temperans, ne creaturis ultra modum laesionem inferat, quoniam aquositate sua vires fortitudinis illius attenuat, quia sancta opera in exemplis justorum vindictae huic quae de discretione procedit, demonstrant quibus modis illa quae immoderata sunt feriat.
De humore a tenui aere emanante, cujus utilitatis sit, et quod guttae pluviarum superiori frigore in nivem vertantur, et quod idem tenuis aer a superioribus terram muniat, eamque fecundet.
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