Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
is harshness, bitterness, and fare ; and yet they 8 Tne attractare not three things, but one only thing, and they one generate another. Harshness is the first tart> 8niart"
ness.
father, which is strong [fierce or tart], very sharp and attracting to itself ; and that attracting is the [sting] or prickle, or bitterness, which the harshness cannot endure, and it will not be captivated in death, but riseth and flieth up like a strong fierce substance, and yet cannot remove from off its place : And then there is a horrible anguish, which findeth no rest ; and the birth is like a turning wheel, twitching so very hard, and breaking or bruising as it were furiously, which the harshness cannot endure, but attracteth continually more and more, harder and harder ; as whenp. 52 steel and a flint are struck one against the other, from which the twinkling flash of fire pro1 the flash of cecdeth ; and when the harshness perceiveth * it,
Mhe harsh- 2 it; starteth and sinketh back, as if it were dead nes8' and overcome. And so when the flash of fire cometh into its mother, the harshness, and findeth her thus soft and overcome, then it is much more terrified [than the harshness], and becometh in the twinkling of an eye white and clear. And now when the harsh tartness attaineth the white clear light in itself, it is so very much terrified that it [falleth or] sinketh back, as if it were dead and overcome, and expandeth itself, and becometh very thin and [pliable or] vanquished : For its own
3 AS when the source was dark and hard, and now is become s light smi'ttiriitiie and soft ; therefore now it is first rightly become hard cold ice • , j j j • j_i_ • -^ into thin fluid as it were dead, and now is the water-spirit.
50. Thus the birth getteth an essence that hath sharpness from the harshness, and sweetness, thinness, and expansion from the light. And now when the flash of fire cometh into its mother, and
4 Or can work findeth her so sweet, thin, and light, then it *loseth no more. . .
its own propriety m the qualification, and flieth aloft no more, but continueth in its mother, and loseth its fiery right [or propriety], and trembleth and rejoiceth in its mother.
51. And in this joy, in the water-spring [or 6 Or stream, source], the pleasant 5 source of the 6 bottomless lbieMu.?fa- love risetn up, and all that riseth up there is the inconceivable, second Principle : for the whole begetting or generCh. 4]p. 53
ating falleth into a glorious love ; for the harshness now loveth the light dearly, because it is so refreshing, cheerly, and beautiful ; for from this pleasant refreshing it becometh thus sweet, ^our- gentle or f A]
teous, and humble [or lowly] ; and the bitterness now loveth the harshness, because it is no more dark, nor so strongly [eagerly or fiercely] attractive to itself, but is sweet, mild, pure, and light.
52. And here beginneth the taste, whereby one continually [trieth, tasteth, and] proveth the other, and with great desire they mingle one within another, so that there' is nothing but a mere courteous embracing. Thus the bitterness now rejoiceth in its mother, and strengthened itself therein, and for great joy riseth up through all the essences, and declareth to the second Principle, that the loving child is 2born; to which then all2 begotten, the essences give heed and rejoice at that dear child ; from whence the hearing ariseth, which is the sixth form where the wheel of the birth standeth in triumph. And in this great joy the birth cannot contain itself [within its bounds], but expandeth itself, flowing forth very joyfully, and every essence [or substance] generateth now again a centre in the second Principle.
53. And there beginneth the unfathomable [or unsearchable] multiplication ; for the flowing and springing spirit, that proceedeth from the first and second Principles, confirmeth, fixeth and establisheth all ; and in the whole birth it is as ap. 54 growing or multiplying in one will ; and the birth attaineth here the seventh form, viz. the multi1 Or in. plication l into an essence of love. And in this form consisteth paradise, or the kingdom of God, or the numberless divine birth, out of one only
2 Or in ail essence 2 into all essences.
is harshness, bitterness, and fare ; and yet they 8 Tne attractare not three things, but one only thing, and they one generate another. Harshness is the first tart> 8niart"
ness.
father, which is strong [fierce or tart], very sharp and attracting to itself ; and that attracting is the [sting] or prickle, or bitterness, which the harshness cannot endure, and it will not be captivated in death, but rises and flies up like a strong fierce substance, and yet cannot remove from off its place : And then there is a horrible anguish, which finds no rest ; and the birth is like a turning wheel, twitching so very hard, and breaking or bruising as it were furiously, which the harshness cannot endure, but attracts continually more and more, harder and harder ; as when
52 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 4 steel and a flint are struck one against the other, from which the twinkling flash of fire pro1 the flash of cecds ; and when the harshness perceives * it,
Mhe harsh- 2 it; starts and sinks back, as if it were dead nes8' and overcome. And so when the flash of fire comes into its mother, the harshness, and finds her thus soft and overcome, then it is much more terrified [than the harshness], and becomes in the twinkling of an eye white and clear. And now when the harsh tartness attains the white clear light in itself, it is so very much terrified that it [falls or] sinks back, as if it were dead and overcome, and expands itself, and becomes very thin and [pliable or] vanquished : For its own
3 AS when the source was dark and hard, and now is become s light smi'ttiriitiie and soft ; therefore now it is first rightly become hard cold ice • , j j j • j_i_ • -^ into thin fluid as it were dead, and now is the water-spirit.
50. Thus the birth getts an essence that has sharpness from the harshness, and sweetness, thinness, and expansion from the light. And now when the flash of fire comes into its mother, and
4 Or can work finds her so sweet, thin, and light, then it *loses no more. . .
its own propriety m the qualification, and flies aloft no more, but continues in its mother, and loses its fiery right [or propriety], and trembls and rejoics in its mother.
51. And in this joy, in the water-spring [or 6 Or stream, source], the pleasant 5 source of the 6 bottomless lbieMu.?fa- love risetn up, and all that rises up there is the inconceivable, second Principle : for the whole begetting or generCh. 4] OF THE TRUE ETERNAL NATURE 53 ating falls into a glorious love ; for the harshness now loves the light dearly, because it is so refreshing, cheerly, and beautiful ; for from this pleasant refreshing it becomes thus sweet, ^our- gentle or f A]
teous, and humble [or lowly] ; and the bitterness now loves the harshness, because it is no more dark, nor so strongly [eagerly or fiercely] attractive to itself, but is sweet, mild, pure, and light.
52. And here beginns the taste, whereby one continually [tries, tastes, and] proves the other, and with great desire they mingle one within another, so that there' is nothing but a mere courteous embracing. Thus the bitterness now rejoics in its mother, and strengthened itself therein, and for great joy rises up through all the essences, and declares to the second Principle, that the loving child is 2born; to which then all2 begotten, the essences give heed and rejoice at that dear child ; from whence the hearing arises, which is the sixth form where the wheel of the birth stands in triumph. And in this great joy the birth cannot contain itself [within its bounds], but expands itself, flowing forth very joyfully, and every essence [or substance] generats now again a centre in the second Principle.
53. And there beginns the unfathomable [or unsearchable] multiplication ; for the flowing and springing spirit, that proceeds from the first and second Principles, confirms, fixes and establishes all ; and in the whole birth it is as a
54 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 4 growing or multiplying in one will ; and the birth attains here the seventh form, viz. the multi1 Or in. plication l into an essence of love. And in this form consists paradise, or the kingdom of God, or the numberless divine birth, out of one only
2 Or in ail essence 2 into all essences.