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Eleven books by a shoemaker of Görlitz who wrote, by his own account, because he could not help it. Ten of them stand here in the seventeenth-century English of John Sparrow, who translated Boehme within a generation of his death and whose prose is itself now four hundred years old; where that English has drifted out of reach, the facing pane carries a modern register — the same text with archaic inflection and spelling normalised by rule, never paraphrased. Nothing is reworded, and where no register appears beside a passage it is because the rules found nothing to change.
The eleventh book is not in English at all, and it is the reason this note exists.
Des trois principes de l'essence divine, printed at Paris in 1802, is the same work as Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence, which stands here as the second book — the same twenty-seven chapters in the same order, opening `Du premier principe de l'essence divine` against Sparrow's `Of the first Principle of the Divine Essence`. Its translator was Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin, who gave the last years of his life to putting Boehme into French, and who has a shelf of his own in this Lycaeum.
That makes a closed circuit inside this archive, and it is worth naming plainly. Saint-Martin translates Boehme. La Iniciación, printed in Montevideo a hundred and forty years later, traces its own descent through Saint-Martin. A reader can therefore follow one thread from a German mystic of 1619, through the French philosopher who carried him into another language, to a Spanish-language monthly of the 1940s that claimed them both — and read every step of it in the original.
The two are shelved as one work rather than two because that is what they are. They are not set as facing panes: an English translation of 1619 and a French translation of 1802 are two independent readings of a lost German original, and pairing them line by line would assert a correspondence neither translator ever claimed.
1supporting his life, is not his corporeal propriety, as if he had it by a natural right, but the heavenly Father giveth it to the angels in love. 31. True it is that their body is their own propriety, for God hath given it to them for a propriety. Now whatsoever is given to any one for his own, or for propriety, that is his by right of nature, and he doth not deal righteously who taketh it from him again, unless [he doth so] upon condition and agreement; and thus neither doth God [take things away again]. Therefore an angel is an eternal incorruptible creature, which standeth or subsisteth in all eternity. 32. But what would the body profit him, if God did not feed it, for then it would have no mobility, and would lie still like a dead block. Now, therefore, the angels are obedient to God, and humble themselves before the powerful God; they honour, laud and praise him in his great deeds and works of wonder, and sing continually of God's holiness, because he feedeth them. Of the Gracious, Blessed, and Joyful Love of the Angels towards God, from a true Ground. 33. The right love in the divine nature cometh from the fountain of the Son of God. Behold, thou child of man, let this be told thee: The angels know already what is the right love toward God, but thou needest it in thy cold heart. 34. Observe, when the gracious, amiable, blessed, joyful glance and light, together with the sweet power out of the Son of God, shineth into all powers in the whole Father, then all the powers are kindled by the gracious, amiable,
2blessed, lovely light and sweet power, in a triumphing and joyful manner. 35. So also when the gracious, amiable, blessed and joyful light of the Son of God shineth on the loving angels, and casteth its beams into their heart, then all the powers in their body are kindled, and there riseth up such a joyful lovefire, that for great joy they sing and ring forth praises, and [there riseth up] that which neither I nor any other creature is able to express. 36. With this song I would have the Reader cited into the other life, where he will have experience thereof: I am not able to set it down in writing. 37. But if thou wilt have experience of it in this world, give over thy hypocrisy, bribery and deceit, and thy scorning; and turn thy heart in all seriousness to God: Repent thee of thy sins, with a true intention and resolution to live holily, and pray to God for his holy spirit. 38. Wrestle with him, as the holy patriarch Jacob did, [Gen. xxxii.] who wrestled with him all the night, till the dawning of the day, or morning redness broke forth, and would not give over till God had blessed him. Do thou so likewise with him, and the Holy Ghost will get a form in thee. 39. If thou holdest on in thy earnestness, and wilt not give over, then will this fire come suddenly upon thee, like lightning, and shine into thee; and then thou wilt well experience that which I have here written, and wilt easily believe that which is in my book. 40. Thou wilt also become quite another man, and wilt think thereon all the days of thy life; thy delight will be more in heaven than on earth.
341. For the conversation of the holy soul is in heaven, and though indeed it converseth in the body on earth, yet it is always continually with its Redeemer JESUS CHRIST, and eateth as a guest with him. Note this! THE SEVENTH CHAPTER Of the Court, Place and Dwelling, also of the Government of Angels, how these things stood at the Beginning, after the Creation, and how they became as they are. 1. HERE the devil will oppose like a snarling dog, for his shame will be discovered; and he will give the Reader many a sore stroke, and always put him in doubt that these things are not so. 2. For nothing doth torment the devil more than when his glory is upbraided to him, by signifying what a glorious king and prince he hath been: When this is objected to him, then he is in a rage and madness, as if he would storm and overflow all the world. 3. If this chapter should be lighted upon by a Reader in whom the fire of the Holy Spirit should be somewhat weak, I fear the devil would be very busy to set upon him, tempting him to doubt whether the things set down here be so or no, that the devil's kingdom might not stand so very naked, nor his shame be so quite discovered. 4. Now if he can but suppose that he will bring it to pass to be doubted of in any heart, he will not fail to use his utmost skill, pains and labour therein. Already I see very well that he hath it in his purpose. 5. Therefore I would have the Reader warned that he be diligent in the reading hereof, and patient so long till he cometh to the reading of the creation and of the government of this world, then he will find it plainly and clearly demonstrated from nature.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
1supporting his life, is not his corporeal propriety, as if he had it by a natural right, but the heavenly Father giveth it to the angels in love. 31. True it is that their body is their own propriety, for God hath given it to them for a propriety. Now whatsoever is given to any one for his own, or for propriety, that is his by right of nature, and he doth not deal righteously who taketh it from him again, unless [he doth so] upon condition and agreement; and thus neither doth God [take things away again]. Therefore an angel is an eternal incorruptible creature, which standeth or subsisteth in all eternity. 32. But what would the body profit him, if God did not feed it, for then it would have no mobility, and would lie still like a dead block. Now, therefore, the angels are obedient to God, and humble themselves before the powerful God; they honour, laud and praise him in his great deeds and works of wonder, and sing continually of God's holiness, because he feedeth them. Of the Gracious, Blessed, and Joyful Love of the Angels towards God, from a true Ground. 33. The right love in the divine nature cometh from the fountain of the Son of God. Behold, thou child of man, let this be told thee: The angels know already what is the right love toward God, but thou needest it in thy cold heart. 34. Observe, when the gracious, amiable, blessed, joyful glance and light, together with the sweet power out of the Son of God, shineth into all powers in the whole Father, then all the powers are kindled by the gracious, amiable,
2blessed, lovely light and sweet power, in a triumphing and joyful manner. 35. So also when the gracious, amiable, blessed and joyful light of the Son of God shineth on the loving angels, and casteth its beams into their heart, then all the powers in their body are kindled, and there riseth up such a joyful lovefire, that for great joy they sing and ring forth praises, and [there riseth up] that which neither I nor any other creature is able to express. 36. With this song I would have the Reader cited into the other life, where he will have experience thereof: I am not able to set it down in writing. 37. But if thou wilt have experience of it in this world, give over thy hypocrisy, bribery and deceit, and thy scorning; and turn thy heart in all seriousness to God: Repent thee of thy sins, with a true intention and resolution to live holily, and pray to God for his holy spirit. 38. Wrestle with him, as the holy patriarch Jacob did, [Gen. xxxii.] who wrestled with him all the night, till the dawning of the day, or morning redness broke forth, and would not give over till God had blessed him. Do thou so likewise with him, and the Holy Ghost will get a form in thee. 39. If thou holdest on in thy earnestness, and wilt not give over, then will this fire come suddenly upon thee, like lightning, and shine into thee; and then thou wilt well experience that which I have here written, and wilt easily believe that which is in my book. 40. Thou wilt also become quite another man, and wilt think thereon all the days of thy life; thy delight will be more in heaven than on earth.
341. For the conversation of the holy soul is in heaven, and though indeed it converseth in the body on earth, yet it is always continually with its Redeemer JESUS CHRIST, and eateth as a guest with him. Note this! THE SEVENTH CHAPTER Of the Court, Place and Dwelling, also of the Government of Angels, how these things stood at the Beginning, after the Creation, and how they became as they are. 1. HERE the devil will oppose like a snarling dog, for his shame will be discovered; and he will give the Reader many a sore stroke, and always put him in doubt that these things are not so. 2. For nothing doth torment the devil more than when his glory is upbraided to him, by signifying what a glorious king and prince he hath been: When this is objected to him, then he is in a rage and madness, as if he would storm and overflow all the world. 3. If this chapter should be lighted upon by a Reader in whom the fire of the Holy Spirit should be somewhat weak, I fear the devil would be very busy to set upon him, tempting him to doubt whether the things set down here be so or no, that the devil's kingdom might not stand so very naked, nor his shame be so quite discovered. 4. Now if he can but suppose that he will bring it to pass to be doubted of in any heart, he will not fail to use his utmost skill, pains and labour therein. Already I see very well that he hath it in his purpose. 5. Therefore I would have the Reader warned that he be diligent in the reading hereof, and patient so long till he cometh to the reading of the creation and of the government of this world, then he will find it plainly and clearly demonstrated from nature.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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