(132) But the wisdom of God prevents this speedy end, He says, "O parts, the appointed time is not yet; It is useless for you to take wing before that day." But as each part desires reunion with its original, How is it with the soul who is a stranger in exile? It says, "O parts of my habitation here below, My absence is sadder than yours, as I am heaven-born. The body loves green pastures and running water, The love of the soul is for life and the living one, The love of the soul is for wisdom and knowledge,

(10) Let me reach the Land of Ages, let me gain the Land of Eternity; for thou, my Lord, hast destined them for me

(11) Let me be glorified there, and eat and drink there, and plough there, and reap there, and grind there, and have my fill of love there

(16) The holy city, the dwelling, of their hearts' desire, they proclaimed supreme

(13) Thus I conceived of Thee as bounteous, O Ahura Mazda! when with Thy Good Mind (Sraosha, Obedience) approached me. (And I would therefore pray thus of Thee, that bounteous one.) In order that I may make known to men the true and sacred aims of their desires (in the rite or daily toil), grant Ye me long life for this, (that blessing ) which none with daring may extort from You, even this (gift) of that desired place which has been declared to be within Thy Realm.

(11) My Soul hath come, far advanced in age, and I create the Darkness at the confines of Heaven at my pleasure

(64) That Part which it here has comprehended in its Departure, that is now its eternal, permanent, incessant Dwelling-house, and from thence it can never get; for there is a great 'Cliff between them and the other,' as Christ speaks of the rich Man. [† Luke 16. 26.]

(6) And him I saw return to all the lights Of his highway nine hundred times and thirty, Whilst I upon the earth was tarrying. The language that I spake was quite extinct Before that in the work interminable The people under Nimrod were employed; For nevermore result of reasoning (Because of human pleasure that doth change, Obedient to the heavens) was durable. A natural action is it that man speaks; But whether thus or thus, doth nature leave To your own art, as seemeth best to you. Ere I descended to the infernal anguish, 'El' was on earth the name of the Chief Good, From whom comes all the joy that wraps me round 'Eli' he then was called, and that is proper, Because the use of men is like a leaf On bough, which goeth and another cometh. Upon the mount that highest o'er the wave Rises was I, in life or pure or sinful, From the first hour to that which is the second, As the sun changes quadrant, to the sixth."

(5) And to the mortal world, when thou returnest, This carry back, that it may not presume Longer tow'rd such a goal to move its feet. The mind, that shineth here, on earth doth smoke; From this observe how can it do below That which it cannot though the heaven assume it?" Such limit did its words prescribe to me, The question I relinquished, and restricted Myself to ask it humbly who it was. "Between two shores of Italy rise cliffs, And not far distant from thy native place, So high, the thunders far below them sound, And form a ridge that Catria is called, 'Neath which is consecrate a hermitage Wont to be dedicate to worship only." Thus unto me the third speech recommenced, And then, continuing, it said: "Therein Unto God's service I became so steadfast, That feeding only on the juice of olives Lightly I passed away the heats and frosts, Contented in my thoughts contemplative. That cloister used to render to these heavens Abundantly, and now is empty grown, So that perforce it soon must be revealed.