Chapter 3

I am the bond of worlds existing everywhere; I am the extreme grade of matter; I am the centre of living things, The commencing trait of the Divinity; My body will resolve itself into ashes, My mind commands the thunder. I am a king, a slave, a worm, a god! But, being thus wonderful, From whence have I proceeded? This is unknown. But I could not have existed of myself!

I am thy work, Creator! I am the creature of thy supreme wisdom, Fountain of life, Giver of blessings, Soul and monarch of my soul! It was necessary to thy justice That my immortal being Should traverse the abyss of death, That my spirit should be veiled in perishable matter, And that through death I should return, Father! to thy immortality!

Inexplicable, incomprehensible Being! I know that the imaginings Of my soul are unable Even to sketch thy shadow! But, if it be our duty to praise thee, Then it is impossible for weak mortals Otherwise to render thee homage Than, simply, to lift their hearts to thee, To give way to boundless joy, And shed tears of gratitude!

[1] The full beauty of this metaphor can only be felt by those who have witnessed, in a high northern latitude during intensely cold and clear weather, the state of the atmosphere which the poet describes.

TRANSLATOR.