Lucky It’s John of the Cross’s 472nd - TopicsExpress



          

Lucky It’s John of the Cross’s 472nd birthday: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_the_Cross#mediaviewer/File:Zurbarán_St._John_of_the_Cross.jpg I bought this - the Roy Campbell translation - for three-and-six fifty years ago: ukbookworld/book-for-sale/stevehare/HAR6353/roy-campbell-trans-john-the-cross-poems Here’s one: Song of the soul in rapture at having arrived at the height of perfection, which is union with God by the road of spiritual negation Upon a gloomy night, With all my cares to loving ardours flushed, (O venture of delight!) With nobody in sight I went abroad when all my house was hushed. In safety, in disguise, In darkness up the secret stair I crept, (O happy enterprise!) Concealed from other eyes When all my house at length in silence slept. Upon that lucky night In secrecy, inscrutable to sight, I went without discerning And with no other light Except for that which in my heart was burning. It lit and led me through More certain than the light of noonday clear To where One waited near Whose presence well I knew, There where no other presence might appear. Oh night that was my guide! Oh darkness dearer than the mornings pride, Oh night that joined the lover To the beloved bride Transfiguring them each into the other. Within my flowering breast which only for himself entire I save He sank into his rest And all my gifts I gave Lulled by the airs with which the cedars wave. Over the ramparts fanned While the fresh wind was fluttering his tresses, With his serenest hand My neck he wounded, and Suspended every sense with its caresses. Lost to myself I stayed My face upon my lover having laid From all endeavour ceasing: And all my cares releasing Threw them among the lilies there to fade. Now you would need to pay four-figure sums for the manuscript of the one poem: bonhams/auctions/20922/lot/84/ No thank you. Thank you. No.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:55:38 +0000

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