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Preface 29. These ought to manifest themselves to one who presages anything. For the presage which is made by the exterior light comes infallibly to judge partly with it and by means of the exterior light. Truly, the part which seems to come by the eye of the understanding comes only by the lesion of the imaginative sense.

30, The reason is very evident. All is predicted through divine inspiration, and by means of the angelic spirit with which the man prophesying is inspired, rendering him anointed with prophecies, illuminating him, moving him before his fantasy through diverse nocturnal apparitions. With astronomic calculations certifying the prophesy in the daytime, there is nothing more to the holiest future prediction than free courage.

31, You must see now, my son, that I find by my calculations, which are according to revealed inspiration, that the sword of death is now approaching us, in the shape of pestilence, war more horrible than has been known in three lifetimes, and famine. This famine will fall upon the earth, and return there often, according to the words I will visit their iniquities with a rod of iron, and will strike them with blows.

32. For the mercy of the Lord, my son, shall not be extended at all for a long time, not until most of my prophecies will have been accomplished, and will by accomplishment have become resolved. Then several times during the sinister tempests, the Lord will say, I will trample them, and break them, and not show pity.

33. And thousands of other events will come to pass, because of floods and continual rains, as I have set forth more fully in writing my other Prophecies, which are drawn out in length, in prose, setting forth the places and times so that men coming after may see them, knowing the events to have occurred infallibly. This we have noted in connection with the others, speaking more clearly. For although they are written under a cloud, the meanings will be understood. When the time comes for the removal of ignorance, the event will be cleared up still more.

34. I make an end here, my son. Take now this gift of your father, Michel Nostradamus, who hopes to explain to you each prophecy of the quatrains included here. I beseech the immortal God that he will be willing to endow you with long life in good and prosperous happiness.

From Salon this first of March, 1555.