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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Oecumenius
The "fire" of wrath and punishment is a symbol; the "hyacinth" signifies that those sent are heavenly, for heaven is akin to the "hyacinth"; and the godlike ones please God, as if they were divine, for to please is to sing. And who would please God more than the holy angels?
Dionysius bar Salibi
Their breastplates like fire and hyacinth and sulfur—By this he shows the clothes of those who will come from the places of the nations, because the peoples are dressed in a variety of colors who live at the banks of the Euphrates. And the heads of their horses like heads of lions, and out of their mouth comes fire—This is also said by Isaiah: they run like lions and like lion's whelps. For he says this showing the vehemence and bitterness of those who will be gathered with the Antichrist.
Western Saints
Bede
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, etc. The malignant spirits, in whose hearts they preside, are clothed with their punishments. For we read that those worshipping the beast are to be tormented with fire and sulfur, and the smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever. Note that in the plague of locusts he did not say he saw horsemen, but only horses. Here indeed, the magnitude of the persecutions shows the open presence of the opposing power. …
Alcuin of York
And thus I saw the horses in the vision: and they that sat on them, had breastplates of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone. These horses, that is preachers of errors, in whom the seduced people are also understood, have demons as riders, not to guide them, but to make them fall headlong. By the name of breastplates are symbolized the torments of the wicked, hard and impossible to get rid of with any prayer. By of hyacinth we should understand "of smoke," for out of fire comes smoke. …
Translation