When
death did not exist, nor yet eternity,
Before
the seed of life had first set living free,
When
yesterday was nothing, and time had not begun,
And one
included all things, and all was less than one,
When sun
and moon and sky, the stars, the spinning earth
Were
still part of the things that had not come to birth,
And You
quite lonely stood... I ask myself with awe,
Who is
this mighty God we bow ourselves before.
Ere yet
the Gods existed already He was God
And out
of endless water with fire the lightning shed;
He gave
the Gods their reson, and joy to earth did bring,
He
brought to man forgiveness, and set salvation's spring
Lift up
your hearts in worship, a song of praise enfreeing,
He is the
death of dying, the primal birth of being.
To him I
owe my eyes that I can see the dawn,
To him I
owe my heart wherein is pity born;
Whene'er
I hear the tempest, I hear him pass along
Midst
multitude of voices raised in a holy song;
And yet
of his great mercy I beg still one behest:
That I at
last be taken to his eternal rest.
Be curses
on the fellow who would my praise acclaim,
But
blessings upon him who does my soul defame;
Believe
no matter whom who slanders my renown,
Give
power to the arm that lifts to strike me down;
Let him
upon the earth above all others loom
Who
steals away the stone that lies upon my tomb.
Hunted by
humanity, let me my whole life fly
Until I
feel from weeping my very eyes are dry;
Let
everyone detest me no matter where I go,
Until
from persecution myself I do not know;
Let
misery and horror my heart transform to stone,
That I
may hate my mother, in whose love I have grown;
Till
hating and deceiving for me with love will vie,
And I
forget my suffering, and learn at last to die.
Dishonoured
let me perish, an outcast among men;
My body
less than worthy to block the gutter then,
And may,
o God of mercy, a crown of diamonds wear
The one
who gives my heart the hungry dogs to tear,
While for
the one who in my face does callous fling a clod
In your
eternal kingdom reserve a place, o God.
Thus only,
gracious Father, can I requitance give
That you
from your great bounty vouched me the joy to live;
To gain
eternal blessings my head I do not bow,
But
rather ask that you in hating compassion show.
Till
comes at last the evening, your breath will mine efface,
And into
endless nothing I go, and leave no trace.
(1879,
Translated by Corneliu M. Popescu)
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