1. And I observed during the time, that thus thirty-seven[229] shepherds
were overlooking, all of whom finished in their respective periods as
the first. Others then received them into their hands, that they might
overlook them in their respective periods, every shepherd in his own
period.
2. Afterwards I saw in the vision, that all the birds of heaven arrived;
eagles, the avest, kites and ravens. The eagle instructed them all.
3. They began to devour the sheep, to peck out their eyes, and to eat up
their bodies.
4. The sheep then cried out; for their bodies were devoured by the
birds.
5. I also cried out, and groaned in my sleep against that shepherd which
overlooked the flock.
6. And I looked, while the sheep were eaten up by the dogs, by the
eagles, and by the kites. They neither left them their body, nor their
skin, nor their muscles, until their bones alone remained; until their
bones fell upon the ground. And the sheep became diminished.
7. I observed likewise during the time, that twenty-three shepherds[230]
were overlooking; who completed in their respective periods fifty-eight
periods.
8. Then were small lambs born of those white sheep; who began to open
their eyes and to see, crying out to the sheep.
9. The sheep, however, cried not out to them, neither did they hear what
they uttered to them; but were deaf, blind, and obdurate in the greatest
degrees.