People and nations: literal and anagogical
And the multitude of the people, as far as the wording, seems to indicate the dwelling Israelites, and the multitude of the nations, as we said before, the proselytes. But unto anagogy—since the contemplative things are more kindred to the soul and less circumstantial than the practical—the wealth of contemplations; and the multitude of the nations the large number of good deeds. And after a little: She who was multiplied with people sits alone; by casting off the bridegroom Word the bride becomes as a widow who once was filled with the aforementioned nations.
Greek
Klagel. Jerm. 1, 1. Ἔοικε δὲ τὸ μὲν πλῆθος τοῦ λαοῦ, ὅσον ἐπὶ τῇ λέξει, δηλοῦν τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας Ἰσραηλίτας, τὸ δὲ πλῆθος τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὡς προειρήκαμεν, τοὺς προσηλύτους. εἰς δὲ ἀναγωγὴν ἐπεὶ συγγενέστερά ἐστι τῇ ψυχῇ καὶ ἀπερίστατα τὰ θεωρητικὰ μὰλλον ἄν τὰ πρακτικά, τὸν πλοῦτον τῶν θεωρημάτων· τὸ δὲ πλῆθος τῶν ἐθνῶν τὸν πολὺν ἀριθμὸν τῶν καλῶν πράξεων. Καὶ μετ’ ὀλίγα· Ἡ πεπληθυμμένη λαοῦ μόνη καθέζεται· τῷ τὸν νγμφίον λόγον ἡ νύμφη ἀποβεβληκέναι γίνομένη ὡς χήρα ἥ ποτε τοῖς προειρημένοις ἔθνεσι πλήθουσα.
About this text
Origen, Fragments on Lamentations. Original English Translation from the Greek (Klostermann).
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.