LIBER CORDIS CINCTI SERPENTE
tle, and is called white and glistening; one absorbs all and
is called black.
19. Therefore, O my darling, art thou black.
20. O my beautiful, I have likened thee to a jet Nubian
slave, a boy of melancholy eyes.
21. O the filthy one! the dog! they cry against thee.
Because thou art my beloved.
22. Happy are they that praise thee; for they see thee
with Mine eyes.
23. Not aloud shall they praise thee; but in the night
watch one shall steal close, and grip thee with the secret
grip; another shall privily cast a crown of violets over
thee; a third shall greatly dare, and press mad lips to thine.
24. Yea! the night shall cover all, the night shall cover
all.
25. Thou wast long seeking Me; thou didst run forward
so fast that I was unable to come up with thee.
O thou darling fool! what bitterness thou didst crown
thy days withal.
26. Now I am with thee; I will never leave thy being.
27. For I am the soft sinuous one entwined about thee,
heart of gold!
28. My head is jewelled with twelve stars; My body is
white as milk of the stars; it is bright with the blue of the
abyss of stars invisible.
29. I have found that which could not be found; I have
found a vessel of quicksilver.
30. Thou shalt instruct thy servant in his ways, thou
shalt speak often with him.
31. (The scribe looketh upwards and crieth) Amen!
Thou hast spoken it, Lord God!
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