[ll. 1-68]
Stella, starless, I examine
Constellations in the heavens:
Does there shine above but one
Star to please me as my own?
Stella, other constellations
(Candles in the moonlight fading)
Fade like moonshine in my sight,
Dim beside the mother-light.
Stella, of my joys the marrow,
Who with ‘yes’ did once delight me,
Ne’er with ‘no’ will sadden me,
‘No’ to reason's affirmation.
Stella, ruler of my reason,
From the time my suit accepted
To your rule delivered me,
Stella, sole and whole salvation.
Now that Heaven has ordained it
That our souls live on as one,
I am you, while you conversely
Are turned me in that same moment,
Names are all that part us now.
My desires your will becoming
And your will my sole desiring,
Peace for one's the other's joy.
Hear now the deliberations
(Long gestated, now completed,
Come to birth) which now my soul
Longs to pour, like water dropping
In the sea, into your wisdom.
Through this birth my Soul would lead on
Your strong thought, find consummation
Find completion, brought to bed.
Make the child's name Calm Advisement:
Help me through the pains of labour
Daer Ghij Ick zijt, en Ick ghij,
Moet de moeder heeten, Wij.
Soo en vrees ick voor uw’ straff niet,
Off ick hier te schielick af liet,
Daer te langhe lagh en sponn
Over wat ick eens begonn,
Of mij hier mijn’ hand ontholde,
Om een Rijm die ronder rolde
Dan de Reden; of ick daer
Wrang, of hier te lecker waer.
’Tis uw hert dat in mijn’ adren
Dese krachten helpt vergadren,
’Tis het mijn dat in u schuijlt,
Ziel is tegen Ziel geruijlt.
Staet u niet in aller feilen
Wederhelft met mij te deilen?
Of wat feilen kander zijn
Dat of ‘tuwe zij of ‘tmijn’?
Luijstert dan; en hoort ghij dolen,
Denckt, dat was ons beij verholen,
Soo u ijet om ‘therte lacht,
Segt, soo hadd’ ick 't oock gedacht.
Hoe wij dese kleine wereld,
Die ghij, Sterr, alleen beperelt,
Die ick, verr van uws gelijck,
Ick, en ick alleen beslijck,
Dese, om nauwer te beschrijven
Bedd-gemeente van twee Lijven,
Van twee lieven, segg ick best,
Tortelen van eener nest,
Tamelixt bestieren sullen,
En met vreugd op vreugd vervullen,
Hebb ick, hebben ick en ghij
Dus beregelt, seggen wij.
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