Nei tempi in cui Dio camminava ancora su questa terra suolo era molto più fertile di oggi: allora le spighe davano non cinquanta o sessanta chicchi, ma quattrocento o cinquecento, perché tutto lo stelo era una spiga e i chicchi crescevano dalla sua sommità fino al suolo. Ma così sono gli uomini: nell'abbondanza dimenticano che questa benedizione viene loro da Dio e diventano indifferenti e privi di coscienza. Un giorno una donna passava davanti a un campo di grano quando suo figlio, che era con lei, cadde in una pozzanghera e si sporcò il vestito. Allora la madre colse una manciata di spighe e le usò per pulirlo. Nostro Signore, che anche passava di lì, vedendo questo si adirò e disse: "D'ora in poi lo stelo del grano sarà senza spiga, poiché gli uomini non meritano i doni del cielo." Le persone che si trovavano lì intorno, al sentire queste parole caddero in ginocchio e lo supplicarono che lasciasse un po' di chicchi sullo stelo perché, se anche gli uomini non li meritavano, almeno i polli, che erano innocenti, non sarebbero morti di fame. Il Signore, prevedendo la miseria cui li avrebbe condannati, si impietosì e accolse la loro supplica: così la spiga crebbe solo sulla parte superiore dello stelo, come la vediamo oggi.
Traduzione Gian Carlo Macchi, © Gian Carlo Macchi
In former times, when God himself still walked the earth, the fruitfulness of the soil was much greater than it is now; then the ears of corn did not bear fifty or sixty, but four or five hundred-fold. Then the corn grew from the bottom to the very top o f the stalk, and according to the length of the stalk was the length of the ear. Men however are so made, that when they are too well off they no longer value the blessings which come from God, but grow indifferent and careless. One day a woman was passing by a corn-field when her little child, who was running beside her, fell into a puddle, and dirtied her frock. On this the mother tore up a handful of the beautiful ears of corn, and cleaned the frock with them.
When the Lord, who just then came by, saw that, he was angry, and said, "Henceforth shall the stalks of corn bear no more ears; men are no longer worthy of heavenly gifts." The by-standers who heard this, were terrified, and fell on their knees and praye d that he would still leave something on the stalks, even if the people were undeserving of it, for the sake of the innocent birds which would otherwise have to starve. The Lord, who foresaw their suffering, had pity on them, and granted the request. So the ears were left as they now grow.
When the Lord, who just then came by, saw that, he was angry, and said, "Henceforth shall the stalks of corn bear no more ears; men are no longer worthy of heavenly gifts." The by-standers who heard this, were terrified, and fell on their knees and praye d that he would still leave something on the stalks, even if the people were undeserving of it, for the sake of the innocent birds which would otherwise have to starve. The Lord, who foresaw their suffering, had pity on them, and granted the request. So the ears were left as they now grow.