Hymn of The Pearl - Extracts From The Text

Extracts From The Text

Please note that wikisource contains the full text of the hymn.

When I was a little child,

and dwelling in my kingdom of my father's house,

and in the riches and luxuries of my teachers,

I was living at ease.

from our home in the East,

after they had made preparations,

my parents sent me forth.

Then they made with me an agreement,

and they inscribed it in my heart so that it would not be forgotten:

"If down into Egypt

and bring the one pearl,

which is in the middle of the sea

surrounded by the hissing serpent,

then you will put on your glorious garment

and your toga which rests (is laid) over it.

And with your brother, our second in command,

you will be heir in our kingdom."

I went straight to the serpent,

around its lodging I settled

until it was going to slumber and sleep,

that I might snatch my pearl from it.

Then I became single and alone,

to my fellow-lodgers I became a stranger.

But in some way or another,

they perceived that I was not of their country.

So they mingled their deceit with me,

and they made me eat their food.

I forgot that I was a son of kings,

and I served their king.

And I forgot the pearl,

on account of which my parents had sent me.

Because of the burden of their exhortations,

I fell into a deep sleep.

But all these things which happened to me,

my parents perceived, and were grieved for me.

And they wrote a letter to me,

and every noble signed his name on it.

"From your father, the king of kings,

and your mother, the governor of the East,

and from your brother, our second in command,

to you, our son, who is in Egypt, peace.

Awake and arise from your sleep,

and hear the words of our letter.

Remember that you are a son of kings,

consider the slavery you are serving.

Remember the pearl,

on account of which you were sent to Egypt.

Think of your glorious garment,

remember your splendid toga,

which you will put on and wear

when your name is called out from the book of the combatants (athletes).

And with your brother, our viceroy,

With him, you will be in our kingdom."

I remembered that I was a son of kings,

and my free soul longed for its natural state.

I remembered the pearl,

on account of which I was sent to Egypt.

Then I began charming it,

the formidable and hissing serpent.

I caused it to slumber and to fall asleep,

for my father's name I named over it,

and the name of our second in command (our double),

and of my mother, the queen of the East.

Then I snatched away the pearl,

and I turned to go back to my father's house.

And their filthy and unclean clothing,

I stripped off and left it in their country.

and my glorious garment which I had stripped off,

and my toga which was wrapped with it,

(from Ramatha and Reken), from the heights of Hyrcania,

my parents sent it there,

with the hand of their stewards,

who, on account of their faithfulness, could be trusted with it.

I clothed with it and ascended,

to the palace of peace and worship.

I bowed my head and worshipped him,

the brightness of my father who sent it to me.

Because I had done his commandments,

so also he did what he had promised.

And in the palace of his scribes

I mingled with his teachers,

because he rejoiced in me and received me,

and I was with him and in his kingdom.

And with the voice of praise,

all his servants were praising him.

And he also promised that to the palace

of the king of kings I will hasten with him.

And with my offering and with my pearl,

I should appear with him before our king.