initial

These are the last words of the episode. The situation is a little cleared by a sentence in the Greek Acts of Titus ascribed to Zenas (not earlier than the fifth century?): ‘They arrived at Antioch and found Barnabas the son of Panchares, whom Paul raised up.’ Barnabas may be a mistake, but Panchares is, I doubt not, right: for the Coptic definite article is p prefixed to the word, and the Coptic translator finding Panchares in his text has confused the initial of it with his own definite article, and cut it out.

And he shall have the initial sign of ten;

Three hundred for his first initial sign,

Then shall one rule who has the initial sign

Who shall for first initial have twice ten;

A ruler, of the initial sign of four,

Who has the first mark of the initial sign

Of the initial letter show the name.

Shall for initial have the number ten,

And warlike, the initial of whose name

Shall bear rule, and with his initial be

Weaving guile, and the initial of his name

Who has three hundred for initial sign,

To his son whose initial letter heads