Hymn X.
In
Thee will I begin to speak, Thou Head that didst begin all created things.
471
I, even I will open my mouth, but it
is Thou that fillest my mouth.
472
I am the
earth to Thee, and Thou art the husbandman. Sow Thy voice in
me,
473
Thou that sowedst Thyself in the womb of thy Mother.
“All the chaste daughters of the Hebrews,
474
and the
virgins’ daughters of the chief men, are astonished at me!
For Thee doth the daughter of the poor meet with envy, for Thee, the
daughter of the weak with jealousy. Who hath given Thee to
me?
“O Son of the Rich One, Who abhorred the bosom of
the rich women, who led Thee to the poor? for Joseph was needy and I
also in want, yet Thy merchants have come, and brought gold, to the
house of the poor.”
She saw the Magi: her songs increased at their
offerings; “Lo! Thy worshippers have surrounded me, yea thy
offerings have encircled me. Blessed be the Babe who made His
Mother a harp for His words:
“And as the harp waiteth for its master, my mouth
waiteth for Thee. May the tongue of Thy Mother bring what pleases
Thee; and since I have learnt a new Conception by Thee, let my mouth
learn in Thee, O new born Son, a new song of praise.
“And if hindrances are no hindrances to Thee,
since difficulties are easy to Thee, as a womb without marriage
conceived Thee, and a belly without seed brought Thee forth, it is easy
for a little mouth to multiply Thy great glory.
“Lo! I am oppressed and despised, and yet
cheerful: mine ears are filled with reproof and scorn; and it is
a small thing to me to bear, for ten thousand troubles can a single
comfort of Thine chase away.
“And since I am not despised by Thee, O Son, my
countenance is bright; and I am slandered for having conceived, and yet
have brought forth the Truth who justifies me. For if Tamar was
justified by Judah, how much more shall I be justified by
Thee!”
David Thy father sung in a psalm of Thee before Thou hadst come, that to Thee should be given the gold of
Sheba.
475
This psalm that he sung of Thee, lo!
it, whilst Thou art yet a child, in reality heaps before thee myrrh and
gold.
And the hundred and fifty Psalms that he wrote, in Thee were seasoned, because
all the sayings of prophecy stood in need of Thy sweetness, for without
Thy salt all manner of wisdom were tasteless.
476
471
Rev. iii. 14
.
472
Ps. lxxxi. 10
.
473
Heb. vi. 7
.
474
The Virgin Mother
here speaks.
475
Ps. lxxii. 15
.
476
Job vi. 6
.