6.4 The downfall of the United Nations

The seven children left in hostage,
The third will come to slaughter his child.
Two will be pierced by a hook because of his son,
he will come to strike against Genoa and Florence. (IV-60)

This quatrain describes the downfall of the United Nations during the time of troubles. Someone coming to kill someone else represents the backstabbing that will occur as a result of the collapse of the central form of the debate. When things return to order and people begin figuring out who did what, there will be a lot of political assassinations taking place. But instead of killing the leaders, some of the countries will occasionally choose to do something to one of the followers or their children to get the results they desire – «two will be pierced by a hook because of his son».


The line «he will come to strike against Genoa and Florence» describes the destruction of cultural centers. He’ll be striking against places like Genoa and Florence or trying to reduce them to rubble. (Also see ΙΙ-84, 7.2).