OF GREAT LONGING 32$
Hath the giver not to thank the taker for taking ? Is giving not a necessity ? Is taking not pity ? '
O my soul, I understand the smile of thy melan- choly. Thine over-great riches themselves now stretch out longing hands !
Thy fulness gazeth over roaring seas and seeketh and waiteth. The longing of over-abundance gazeth from the smiling heaven of thine eyes !
And, verily, O my soul ! who could see thy smile and not melt into tears ? Angels themselves melt into tears because of the over-kindness of thy smile.
Thy kindness and over-kindness wanteth not to complain and cry ! And yet, O my soul, thy smile longeth for tears, and thy trembling mouth longeth to sob.
' Is not all crying a complaining ? And all com- plaining an accusing ? ' Thus thou speakest unto thy- self, and therefore, O my soul, thou likest better to smile than to pour out thy sorrow
To pour out in gushing tears all thy sorrow over thine abundance, and over all the longing of the vine plant for vine-dressers and vine-knives !
But if thou wilt not cry, nor give forth in tears thy purple melancholy, thou wilt have to sing, O my soul ! Behold, I myself smile who foretell such things unto thee.
Thou wilt have to sing with a roaring song, until all seas are stilled in order to hearken unto thy longing
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