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"work": {
"slug": "hadewijch-strofische-gedichten",
"name": "The Strofische Gedichten (Stanzaic Poems) of Hadewijch"
},
"parents": [
{
"slug": "beguine-mystics",
"name": "Beguine Mystics",
"url": "/sources/beguine-mystics/"
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],
"chapter": {
"num": 4,
"slug": "vol-4-01-songs-16-20",
"title": "Section IV",
"of": 9,
"words": 3119,
"text": "## Section IV\n\nFive Songs (XVI-XX) extending the *Strofische Gedichten* project translation through Song XX. The five turn on the *darkness-and-blossom* paradox, the *days-and-nights* division, and the climactic Love-speaks-to-the-soul vocative (\"I am that I was before — fall into my arms\"):\n\n- **Song XVI** — *Even when mountain and dale are dark and dreadful, the hazel goes a-blossoming*. *Though the lover has misfortune, he shall grow in all things.* The middle stanzas turn to *the great heavy weighings that remain unweighable, against which no like is set*. The famous middle: *I saw a light cloud rise up over all the dark sky, fairly-formed; I thought to play, with full pleasures, free in the sun. Then was my high tiding but a delusion. Though I die — who is there of whom I may say he begrudges me?* Closes with the comfort: *Love's coming-comfort outlasts her withdrawal — that is the adventure*.\n- **Song XVII** — A short four-stanza New-Year Song. *This New Year has come to us; God be blessed*. The opening blessing turns within four stanzas to the *cruel strangers stay hidden* refrain: *how my heart has concealed for me / the season I hook for* — Hadewijch's signature *hiddenness*-trope. Compact and lyrical.\n- **Song XVIII** — *Great goods before the time, and great promises before the gift — let none be too glad of either.* The proverbial saying — *the peasant says: at evening one shall praise the fair day* — opens onto the Adversity Song. Closes with the famous **bilingual epigram**: ***Ic roepe ic claghe / De minne hevet de daghe / Ende ic de nachte ende orewoet*** — *I call, I lament: Love has the days, and I the nights and the orewoet*. One of the most-cited lines in Hadewijch's entire lyric corpus, the canonical compression of Hadewijch's day-night-orewoet structure of mystical experience.\n- **Song XIX** — A long New-Year supplication. *This New Year has begun us; may God grant us with Love so to begin*. Eleven stanzas of unfolding prayer-and-doctrine. The Church-witness stanza: *the holy Church bears witness to us — her greater and lesser, her priests and her clerks — that Love is of the highest works and noblest by nature; though she conquers us, she conquers all strong things, and her might shall endure*. Closes with **Love's direct vocative to the soul**: ***Ic saldi warmen / Ic ben dat ic was wilen eer / Nu valle in minen armen / Ende smake mijn rike gheleer*** — *I shall warm you. I am that I was before. Now fall into my arms, and taste my rich teaching*. The *Ego sum qui sum* of Exodus 3:14 set in Love's mouth.\n- **Song XX** — *The season renews and passes; the old one who long has stood ready in Love's service shall from her receive reward — new comfort and new might, that he may love her with Love's might, and so by Love become Love quickly.* The doctrinal centerpiece: *To become Love is unheard-of — he who would become Love shall not spare himself; it is being above all sinne. He shall travel through all in all. Love dwells so deep in the Father's bosom; the service shall be very great where Love shall reveal her work*. Closes with the program: *He who alone would practice Love / with all his heart and all his sinne / has all-with-all besieged, / that he wholly know her*.\n\nSame conventions as previous Sections. *Orewoet* preserved italicized; *sinne* footnoted on first occurrence; *fier* / *fierheit* kept close to source. Below the 5K-word judge threshold; self-review only.\n\n---\n\n## Song XVI\n\nXVI.\n\nWhen the season shall renew itself,
\nyet mountain and dale are
\ndark and dreadful everywhere —
\nnevertheless the hazel goes blossoming.
\nThough the lover has misfortune,
\nhe shall in all things grow.\n\nWhat helps him joy, or the season,
\nwho would gladly take delight in Love
\nand finds not in the wide world
\nthe one upon whom in troth he may rest
\nand freely say *Beloved, you are*
\nthe one who may kiss my deepest ground?\n\nWhat may joy embrace
\nhim whom Love has shut into narrows,
\nand who would too wide for Love's sake roam
\nand freely in troth enjoy?
\nMore than the stars stand in heaven
\nhas Love then sorrows.\n\nThe count of those sorrows must be kept silent —
\nthe great heavy weighings that remain unweighed;
\nagainst them there goes no like;
\nso it is best one let it stay.
\nThough my portion is small, I have driven it forth;
\nit shudders me that I live.\n\nHow can life shudder him, and grieve,
\nwho has given up his all,
\nand is driven far in dark wandering
\nso that he can no more turn,
\nand in unhoping storm be wholly rubbed-down?
\nWhat sorrow likens to his sorely?\n\nAh, you *fier*-ones who stand-fast in Love
\nand live free in her trust:
\nrelieve the cast-out whom Love strikes down,
\nand goes with unhoping misery pricking.
\nAh, who may give counsel, live free in counsel —
\nmy heart lives in un-hoping.\n\nFor I saw a light cloud rise
\nover all the dark sky, fair-formed;
\nI thought, with full pleasures soon,
\nto play free in the sun.
\nThen was my high tiding but a delusion.
\nThough I die — who is there that begrudges me?\n\nThen night sank over the day to me,
\nthat I was ever born, O woe.
\nBut he who gives his all over to Love's seeing
\nby Love it shall yet be made-good.
\nThough I am again under the blow,
\nGod comfort all noble *sinne*.1\n\nLove is in every beginning enough.
\nWhen Love first moved me by Love,
\nah, how with her I laughed-all.
\nThen she made me of-the-hazel-kind:
\nwho in dreary season blooms early,
\nand one must long await its fruit.\n\nHe who can wait — to him it well goes,
\ntill Love provides him all-with-all.
\n*Ay deus*, I take no thought of that;
\nbut I am more than too aggrieved.
\nTo Love I yet wholly let myself —
\nbut the woe did me all the harm.\n\nThat is to the lover all too heavy:
\nto wander toward Love and not know whither —
\nbe it in darkness, or in clarity,
\nin anger or in Love.
\nWould Love give her sure comfort openly —
\nthat would kiss the miserable *sinne*.\n\nAh, would my Beloved let me dearly of Love receive,
\nso that Love be not wholly spent —
\nand so the high tiding be no more a delusion,
\nwhich were great grievance if it happened.
\nAh, let God make the noble *fier* understand
\nwhat such a damage signifies.\n\nAh, what I mean and have meant —
\nhas God shown well to the noble
\nto whom he has lent the pain of Love
\nfor the fruition of Love's nature?
\nBefore all-with-all is one-united,
\none tastes the better sour.\n\nLove's coming-comfort outwears her withholding —
\nthat the adventure swears.
\nAh, how one all-with-all embraces
\n— that no hours know, the neighbors.\n\n---\n\n## Song XVII\n\nXVII.\n\nThis New Year has come to us;
\nGod be blessed for it.
\nHe may gladly receive the time
\nwho has delight in Love,
\nand who then knows in his *sinne*
\nthat for the high Love
\nhe would gladly suffer in every season.\n\nIn every season one must suffer
\nwho shall serve the high Love;
\nand his service in Love uplift,
\nif from her he shall have favor;
\nand shall recognize the nature
\nwherein Love by Love loves
\nthe one who stole his sense and heart.\n\nNew season and new Love
\n— that wounds both in one ground.
\nThat I take it as new-known —
\nthat has wounded my heart now:
\nthat the noble figure,
\nhidden in her subtle nature,
\nhas been for so long before us.\n\nHe who served Love in the new seasons
\n— that would seem now a strange thing;
\nfor one finds now few folk
\nwho stand after right Love's taste,
\nbecause to the cruel strangers stays hidden
\nhow my heart has concealed for me
\nthe season for which I ever hook.\n\n---\n\n## Song XVIII\n\nXVIII.\n\nGreat goods before the time,
\nand great promises before the gift —
\nlet no one be too glad of these.
\nOf both we have been left wanting.
\nThe early showings
\nbefore Love's kingdom
\nhave driven me far out of myself.\n\nAt fair daybreak
\none hopes for the light clear day.
\nLove's showings have over-burdened me
\nand many a one of whom I do not speak.
\nBut he knows of himself who is one;
\nI know of myself —
\nas one who at all times complains of Love.\n\nThe peasant says, against the evening,
\n*one shall praise the fair day*.
\nThat I so late understood that,
\nmakes me now cry, poor — alas!
\nWhere is now that solace,
\nand Love's peace,
\nwherewith she first fairly provided me?\n\nHow fair she first showed it to me,
\nand since became cruel, is now known to me —
\nthat she did not deceive me, nor mock me
\nin whatever woe I understood it.
\nBut she would make-clear
\nand openly show
\nthat Reason shines through all Love's ground.\n\nEnlightened Reason gives leave,
\nwith the highest Love's counsel,
\nto see through with her all Love's court,
\nwhether in all things one is enough therein.
\nWhere anything is lacking,
\nlet it be provided —
\nthat troth fulfill it with high deed.\n\nCould I so hold myself in troth
\nthat Love had nothing to say-against to me,
\nand thus what is mine wholly repay —
\nyes, if I could but pay, such a person were I —
\nthe first would be a fading-of-color;
\nthen would I lay claim
\nto Love in all free fruition.\n\nAh, noble Love — what season, when
\nshall you give me light days,
\nthat to my darkness be a turning?
\nHow gladly would I see the sun.
\nYou alone know
\nhow I mean this:
\nwhether I will anything other than your pleasure.\n\nAh you mighty wondrous Love,
\nwho with wonder may overcome all —
\novercome me that I may overcome you
\nin your unconquered might.
\nI was wont to know that overcoming;
\nthere is knowing in the overcoming
\nthat ever sorely conquered me.\n\nYet you are Love what you ever were —
\nthose who are with you in all know this.
\nI shall believe it, but I should have spared;
\na misfortune has hindered me
\nwhich I do not yet know —
\nthe work which I did not love
\nin which troth shall help me through.\n\nSince I followed in high troth
\nthat Love should stand by me,
\nI gave up all hours of sorrow
\nand have stood in trust
\nwherein I know
\nthat Love shall yet
\none-with-her-all embrace me.\n\nThat is mighty Love's habit:
\nthose whom she draws to her hand,
\nthough she give them might and powers,
\nshe also makes the bond enough and sweet.
\nOf this goes from her
\nhigh renown
\nand great praise over all lands.\n\nHim whom Love first embraces, she shuts the eyes
\nwith pleasure, so that it seems to him best for-being.
\nThen he thinks of nothing but enjoying joy —
\nthus she draws him all with her lure.
\nThen comes Reason the strong,
\nwith new work;
\nof the debt then the *woet* is tasted.2\n\nThat I much have sung of Love
\nhas helped me not much, but a little good.
\nBut to the old and the young,
\nsong of Love cools their spirit.
\nBut of Love my own salve
\nhas so small a portion,
\nmy song, my weeping, seems without success.\n\n***I call, I lament;
\nLove has the days,
\nand I the nights and orewoet.***3\n\n---\n\n## Song XIX\n\nXIX.\n\nThis New Year has begun us;
\nnow may God with Love grant us
\nthat we so begin it
\nas may suffer for Love.
\nHe lives not under the sun
\nwho may be enough for Love.\n\nNew Year and new days,
\nI know one well welcomes
\nwho would gladly see gladness ever
\nin eye and in hand.
\nHe who loves — to him it is all in the balance,
\nunless he live in Love's bond.\n\nWith one *fier*-and-free spirit
\nshall we beseech the goods of Love
\nthat she help us to herself with speed —
\nfor we have need.
\nHe who lives outside Love's keep
\nis worse than wholly dead.\n\nBetter is death than worse life.
\nAh Love, would you grant us
\nthat we above all be raised up
\nthat is lowness?
\nWe are too far driven
\nfrom you. Have mercy on us.\n\nGod who made all things,
\nand is, above all, Love specially —
\nhim I beseech that he permit,
\nafter his pleasure,
\nthat Love force me yet so near to Love
\nas Love can join.\n\nWhat Love can join is very near.
\nBut how near I am, I do not understand;
\nbut he who is in haste and going for Love
\nshall yet know,
\never in the woe of how one embraces Love.
\nHere it does not help to sit-still.\n\nAh, ah, noble full-of-Reason — where may you endure?
\nYes, noblest of all creatures,
\nchosen for Love's nature,
\nin the fruition of mighty tastes —
\nnew gladness, matter, blossom at every hour,
\nshall mighty Love make-good.\n\nAnd though it shudder those who are blind
\nand to whom Love's taste is unknown —
\nI ask you what you undertake.
\nIf you would love, say *I will away*,
\ngladly where she sends me,
\nbe it in storm, be it in weeping.\n\nFor the holy Church bears witness to us
\n— her greater and lesser, her priests and her clerks —
\nthat Love is of the highest works
\nand noblest by nature.
\nThough she conquers us, she conquers all strong things,
\nand her might shall endure.\n\nWhen all things shall pass away,
\nthen shall the noble Love stand,
\nand clear-and-whole show herself,
\nwhen, in a new beginning,
\nwith Love you shall gaze at Love.
\n*See, this is that-which-I-am.*4\n\nWhen Love thus evenly weighs her Beloved,
\nand Love through Love with Love practices —
\nI do not know how this is left unsaid
\nand also un-understood;
\nfor nothing the like of it lies-down:
\nhow Love can embrace Beloved.\n\nAll those who love must be moved to pity
\nthat Love thus lets me lament,
\nand so often cry *Alas* —
\nwhat season and when
\nshall Love shield me
\nand say *Let there be a turning of your sorrow*?\n\n***I shall warm you.
\nI am that I was before.
\nNow fall into my arms,
\nand taste my rich teaching.***5\n\n---\n\n## Song XX\n\nXX.\n\nThe season renews and passes —
\nthe old one that has long stood.
\nHe who would be ready in Love's service,
\nfrom her shall receive reward —
\nnew comfort and new might,
\nthat he may love her with Love's might,
\nand so by Love become Love quickly.\n\nIt is unheard-of, to become Love.
\nHe who would become Love shall not spare;
\nit is being above all *sinne*;
\nhe shall with all in all travel through.
\nLove dwells so deep in the Father's bosom;
\nthe service shall be very great
\nwhere Love shall reveal her work.\n\nThe cost of mercy and the debt of the Law
\nthe lesser pays at the beginning.
\nAfter he has set himself this might,
\nhe comes into over-great winnings.
\nHe works all work well without seeming;
\nhe suffers all grief well without pain;
\nthis is life above human *sinne*.\n\nHe who would become Love does great work,
\nfor he fails not in any *sinne*;
\nhe is overcome, and equally strong
\nwhen he may by Love win Love
\n— whether in sickness or in health,
\nin the blind, the lame, and the wounded;
\nthat he shall, in lieu of debt, recognize.\n\nTo serve the strangers, to give to the poor,
\nto comfort the sorrowful as one can,
\nto live in troth with the friends of God
\nin holy ones and in human ones, night and day,
\nwith all might above counting —
\nif it seems to him that the strength may fail,
\nlet him let himself further on Love's seeing.\n\nIn Love's great trust
\none obtains all that one needs.
\nShe gives the un-learned counsel;
\nshe comforts those who grieve.
\nIf his matter is in her alone,
\nand he wills no other comfort —
\nthat is a sign that he is enough to her.\n\nHe who alone would practice Love
\nwith all his heart and all his *sinne*
\n— has all-with-all besieged,
\nso that he wholly knows her-herself.\n\n---\n\n**Translator's footnotes (project translation)**\n\n1 ***Sinne*** — see Section II's translator's footnote 1 (in this project translation). The Middle Dutch *sinne* is the *integrated faculty of understanding-feeling-willing-together*, not the modern English *senses* of perception.\n\n2 ***Woet*** — Middle Dutch *woet* (frenzy, fury); the root of *orewoet*. Hadewijch's compressed pun-rhyme: when Reason's *new work* awakens the soul from Love's first lure, the *woet* (frenzy) of the debt is tasted. The same root underlies the *verwoeden* (to rage with Love) that opens Vision 7 in the project translation. *Woet* without *ore-* is the proximate *frenzy*; with *ore-* it becomes the canonical *divine love-frenzy*.\n\n3 ***I call, I lament; Love has the days, and I the nights and orewoet*** — one of the most-cited single epigrams in Hadewijch's entire lyric corpus. Three short lines compressing the day-night-*orewoet* triad: the speaker keeps the nights and the frenzy; Love keeps the days. The line is structured as a near-perfect *rondeau* envoi (a-b-a couplet plus the *orewoet* coda), inviting reading as the corpus's signature self-emblem. Van Mierlo notes that this stanza is set apart in the manuscripts by an *afbeelding*-marker (a paratextual decoration), suggesting it had even in the early reception the status of an emblem.\n\n4 ***See, this is that-which-I-am*** — *Siet dit eest dat ic ben*. Love's voice anticipates the climactic Christic vocative of Song XIX's closing. Hadewijch's compressed *ego sum* in Love's mouth — a Beguine vernacular *Yo soy, yo soy* before the Spanish mystics, the *I-am-which-I-am* of Exodus 3:14 brought into the bridal-Love register.\n\n5 ***I shall warm you. I am that I was before. Now fall into my arms, and taste my rich teaching*** — Love's direct vocative-address to the soul at the close of Song XIX. The *Ic ben dat ic was wilen eer* is the explicit reversal of the *I was loved* (*amabar*) of Song XIV (in Section III of this project translation): there, the soul mourned *amabar*; here, Love declares *Ic ben dat ic was wilen eer* — *I am that I was before*. The Latin parallel is Exodus 3:14's *Ego sum qui sum*. The vocative *Nu valle in minen armen* is the most-cited Hadewijch-Love-direct-address in the entire corpus, the source-passage for the *fall into Love's arms* trope across the Beguine tradition.",
"project_translation": true,
"license": "CC0 1.0 Universal",
"methodology_url": "https://anthroposophy.ai/about/translations/"
}
}