Greco-Christian stream·Beguine Mystics·The Strofische Gedichten (Stanzaic Poems) of Hadewijch·IV

IV

Now the time and the birds shall grow sad —
yet he shall not need it,
he who would set himself in truth
to work in high troth's counsel.
He shall please his Beloved with troth —
that is the all-richest trust.

However it goes with the season,
he who walks with works in truth
— for him are at all hours ready
blossom, joy, summer, and day.
He is at all times new, and from desire hot;
no more does winter strike him.

He who in truth gives himself with troth,
and then with truth lives troth,
the hidden word⁶ is spoken to him
that no one stranger may understand,
but one who has felt it of taste
and in high rumor has received silence.

After lowly stillness, high rumor,
perfect comfort and an anxious sweetness —
let no thanks meet those who fear against this,
since it has so great a gain:
the noble flower with the fruit —
understand and mark, free noble sense.

Ah, noble senses, where have you gone?
How can you so lower yourselves —
you who have long shown and shone
as if you ever must live upon troth,
as if of troth you were ever moved?
How can you nourish yourselves on Love?

Many are called and fairly shown,
and few chosen — what help is the fairness?
The loose-of-tongue are most of all themselves mocked,
when troth shall pay-all after works,
and she shall crown all her friends
with what she is and shall be.

But free, noble senses, and well-born,
both called and chosen —
spare neither cost nor pain therein,
to live in the diligence of high troth.
Your life let be all holy travail
until you possess your Beloved.

Ah hearts, let it not weary you;
your many smartings shall soon flower for you.
You shall row through every storm
until you come into that splendid land
where Beloved into Beloved shall flow-through-all;
of which let here noble troth be your pledge.

God must give the noble Reason
that lights up the miserable lives
that now are wounded and sorely driven
under cruel and strange blows,
when Beloved into Beloved shall be raised up
— how well, then, it shall please him.

Song V

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