Angelus Silesius: Selections from The Cherubinic Wanderer: XIV THOUGHT AND DEED
XIV
THOUGHT AND DEED
333 (V. 89)
THOU MUST WIN IT HERE
| Here must thy deed be done. 'Twere an undreamed-of thing That he who wins no Kingdom here Should there become a King. |
334 (II. 75)
THOU MUST ALSO BEAR FRUIT
| If thou dost drink the Blood of God And yet no fruit be found in thee, On thee shall fall a curse more fell Than once did blast that barren tree. |
335 (I. 53)
VIRTUE REMAINETH AT REST
| If putting Virtue into act Thou findest drudgery and moil, Virtue thou hast not yet attained But after Virtue still dost toil. |
336 (I. 273)
RISE ABOVE HOLINESS
| If thou art holy, it is well; but wouldst thou find Favour with God and Man, leave holiness behind. |
337 (VI. 33)
MAN MUST CHANGE HIMSELF
| Everything changeth, Man. Canst thou remain alone Careless of betterment and changeless as a Stone? |
338 (VI. 72)
SLUGGARDRY WINNETH NOT HEAVEN
| Sluggard, bestir thyself! Wilt thou For ever lie abed and doze? Heaven will not fly into thy mouth While thou art taking thy repose. |
339 (VI. 42)
WHO STANDS UNMOVED BELONGS NOT TO THE WHOLE
| The Sun gives movement unto all, And makes the Stars dance in the sky: If I still stand immovable No part in the great Whole have I. |
340 (IV. 203)
A DARKENED HEART SEETH NOT
| Give heed unto the Flame. If lamps are burning dim, The Bridegroom when he comes, who shall distinguish him. |
341 (VI. 146)
THE WORK PROVETH THE MASTER
| A Master of the Craft art thou When Virtue is but thought and planned: But when it comes to Workmanship Thou show'st thyself a Prentice-hand. |
342 (V. 64)
WE SERVE OURSELVES, NOT GOD
| God is not served by Fast, Vigil or Litany; Thou rather serv'st thyself, being purified thereby. |
343 (I. 153)
THOU MUST BECOME A CHILD
| Unless thou dost become a Child Thou canst not enter in the place Where all God's children are—for thee The doorway hath too small a space. |
344 (V. 286)
SIMPLICITY MUST BE INTELLIGENT
| I honour that Simplicity To which God joins intelligence, But scarcely worth the name I count Simplicity that lacketh sense. |
345 (I. 229)
ANGER
| Anger is like the fire of Hell. If it break out within thy breast, It burneth up the little bed Whereon the Holy Ghost doth rest. |
346 (VI. 198)
SAFETY IN SECLUSION
| If thou wouldst shun those strangers, Bride, Who seek to be thy paramours, Then close the casement shutters fast And linger not at open doors. |
347 (VI. 163)
HATE MAKETH ITSELF HATED
| If Hate and envy rule thy heart When thou for gifts dost supplicate, The gift thy prayers achieve will be Return of Envy and of Hate. |
348 (IV. 203)
MAN FINDETH AS HE SEEKETH
| As thou dost seek, so shalt thou find; As thou dost knock and dost implore, So shall the gift be unto thee, And so the opening of the door. |
349 (IV. 14)
GOD GIVETH THE GREAT IN THE SMALL
| Take what God giveth thee. He giveth Great in Small, Gold in base slag, where we surmise it least of all. |
350 (V. 49)
THE FINEST WISDOM
| Climb not too high; frame no unneedful subtleties; The finest Wisdom is to be not overwise. |
351 (IV. 122)
GOD SEETH NOT ABOVE HIMSELF
| God seeth not above Himself. If thou dost seek to raise thy height Above thy stature, have a care Lest thou shouldst vanish from His sight. |
352 (I. 265)
UNITY
| Ah, were men's voices like the wood-birds' melody— Each happy note distinct, but all in harmony! |
353 (I. 266)
NOTHING HATH WORTH FOR THE SCORNER
| The Nightingale mocks not the Cuckoo's note, 'tis true, And yet you scorn my song if I sing not as you. |
354 (I. 218)
DIVINE SEEING
| Who in his fellow-man sees God and Christ, none else, He seeth with the light wherein the Godhead dwells. |
355 (VI. 263)
CONCLUSION
| Friend, it is now enough. Wouldst thou read more, go hence, Become thyself the Writing and thyself the Sense. |