Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
eternally in the virgin, and to generate the virgin again out of himself, and so generate an angelical kingdom.
36. But seeing it could not so be (because of the spirit of this world) therefore was the outward temptation first taken in hand by the tree of the fruit of this world. And there Adam became
2 Or at length. 2 perfectly a man of this world, and did eat and drink of the earthly essences, and infected [or mingled] himself with the spirit of this world, and became that [spirit's] own ; as we now see by woeful experience, how that [spirit] possesseth a child in the mother's body in the incarnation : For he knoweth not any where else to seek the virgin, but in man, where he first of all espied her.
37. Therefore he doth wrestle in many a man (that is of a strong complexion, in whom the virgin doth often behold herself) so very hard, continually supposing he shall get the virgin, and that she shall be generated for him : And the more the soul resisteth him, and draweth near to the Heart of God, and panteth to yield itself over thereto (where the amiable virgin not only freely looketh upon it, but dareth even for a long time even to sit in its nest [viz. in] the tincture of the soul), the moreCh. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 275 strong and [eciger or] desirous doth the spirit of this world come to be.
38. Where then the king (viz, the light of the sun) is so very joyful in the spirit, and doth so highly triumph, exult, and rejoice, that he moveth all the essences of the stars, and bringeth them into their highest degree, to generate her ; where then all centres of the stars fly open, and the loving virgin beholdeth herself in them. Where then the essences of the soul (in the light of the virgin) can see in the centres of the stars, what is Mn its » in the onoriginal and source. gbaiand well-spring of
39. Of which my soul knoweth full well, andtbesou1' hath also received its knowledge thus, which
2 the learned master in the 8hood of his degree » the great cannot believe, because he cannot apprehend it ; iSflhet™60 therefore he holdeth it to be impossible, and SSJghtb? the ascribeth it to the devil (as the Jews did by the Holy Ghost' Son of the Virgin, when he in [the virtue of] the virgin shewed signs and wrought miracles) which my soul regardeth not, neither esteemeth their pride, it hath enough in the Pearl; and it hath a longing to shew the thirsty [where] the Pearl [lieth] : The crowned hood [or cornered cap] may play merrily behind the curtain of Antichrist, 4 till « They that the lily groweth, and then the smell of the lily will [cause some to] throw away the hood [or cap], saith the virgin; and the thirsty shall drink of the water of life ; and [at that time] the Son of the Virgin will rule in the valley of Jehosaphat.
p. 276
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 14
40. Therefore seeing the mystery in the light of the virgin thus wonderfully meeteth us, we will here, for the seeking mind (which in earnest hope seeketh that it might find the Pearl) open yet one gate, as the same is opened to us in the virgin. For the mind asketh, Seeing that the sun, stars, and elements were never yet in the second Principle (where the virgin generateth herself out of the light) therefore how could they be able to know the virgin in Adam, so that they labour thus eagerly with longing after the virgin ?
The Depth in the Centre.
eternally in the virgin, and to generate the virgin again out of himself, and so generate an angelical kingdom.
36. But seeing it could not so be (because of the spirit of this world) therefore was the outward temptation first taken in hand by the tree of the fruit of this world. And there Adam became
2 Or at length. 2 perfectly a man of this world, and did eat and drink of the earthly essences, and infected [or mingled] himself with the spirit of this world, and became that [spirit's] own ; as we now see by woeful experience, how that [spirit] possesses a child in the mother's body in the incarnation : For he knows not any where else to seek the virgin, but in man, where he first of all espied her.
37. Therefore he does wrestle in many a man (that is of a strong complexion, in whom the virgin does often behold herself) so very hard, continually supposing he shall get the virgin, and that she shall be generated for him : And the more the soul resists him, and draws near to the Heart of God, and pants to yield itself over thereto (where the amiable virgin not only freely looks upon it, but dars even for a long time even to sit in its nest [viz. in] the tincture of the soul), the more
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 275 strong and [eciger or] desirous does the spirit of this world come to be.
38. Where then the king (viz, the light of the sun) is so very joyful in the spirit, and does so highly triumph, exult, and rejoice, that he moves all the essences of the stars, and brings them into their highest degree, to generate her ; where then all centres of the stars fly open, and the loving virgin beholds herself in them. Where then the essences of the soul (in the light of the virgin) can see in the centres of the stars, what is Mn its » in the onoriginal and source. gbaiand well-spring of
39. Of which my soul knows full well, andtbesou1' has also received its knowledge thus, which
2 the learned master in the 8hood of his degree » the great cannot believe, because he cannot apprehend it ; iSflhet™60 therefore he holds it to be impossible, and SSJghtb? the ascribs it to the devil (as the Jews did by the Holy Ghost' Son of the Virgin, when he in [the virtue of] the virgin showed signs and wrought miracles) which my soul regards not, neither esteems their pride, it has enough in the Pearl; and it has a longing to show the thirsty [where] the Pearl [lies] : The crowned hood [or cornered cap] may play merrily behind the curtain of Antichrist, 4 till « They that the lily grows, and then the smell of the lily will [cause some to] throw away the hood [or cap], says the virgin; and the thirsty shall drink of the water of life ; and [at that time] the Son of the Virgin will rule in the valley of Jehosaphat.
p. 276
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 14
40. Therefore seeing the mystery in the light of the virgin thus wonderfully meets us, we will here, for the seeking mind (which in earnest hope seeks that it might find the Pearl) open yet one gate, as the same is opened to us in the virgin. For the mind asks, Seeing that the sun, stars, and elements were never yet in the second Principle (where the virgin generats herself out of the light) therefore how could they be able to know the virgin in Adam, so that they labour thus eagerly with longing after the virgin ?
The Depth in the Centre.