The Song of the Pearl - Hymn of the Soul

Hymn of the Apostle Jude Thomas to the land of the Indians.
A - The mission

1 When, as a very small child,
in my kingdom, my Father's house

2 and that wealth and
of my educators filled me with joy,

3 it was from the East, our region,
that after having equipped me, my parents sent me

4 and that with the wealth of our treasure
they (made) perhaps, by tying it to me, a bundle.

5 It was big and yet (so) light
that I could carry it alone:

6 it was gold from the house of the gods,
silver,

7 of India,
shimmering (stones)Kingdom of Kushan.

8 They girded me with the diamond
that cuts iron.

9 They took away from me (the resplendent mantle)
which in their love they had made for me,

10 and my purple robe
which was fitted to my measure, woven;

11 They made an agreement with me
and wrote it on my heart, so that I would not forget:

12 If you go down to the depths of Egypt
and bring back the only pearl,

13 she who is in the depths of the sea,
(in) the vicinity of the serpent that foams,

14 you will re-clothe your resplendent (cloak)
and your toga that rests on it,

15 and with your Brother, our second,
youin our Kingdom.

B - The descent and oblivion

16 I left the east and went down,
and with me were two companions,

17 because the path was perilous and difficult
and I was too small to travel it.

18 I cross the borders of Mesene,
the meeting point of traders from the East,

19 and I came to the land of Babel
and entered the walls of Sarbüg.

20 I went down to the depths of Egypt,
and my companions separated from me.

21 I went straight to the serpent and
dwelt near its dwelling place (saying):

22 while he sleeps and rests,
I will take my pearl from him.

23 And because I was alone, because I was isolated,
I was a stranger to the people of my dwelling.

24 But I saw there a son of my own race, a son of nobles,
of,

25 a handsome, graceful young man,

26 sons of the anointed (or: of the anointing);

27 and I made him my confidant,
companion to whom I communicated my matter.

28 I warned him against
and against contact with impure beings.

29 And I wore their garment,
lest it shouldto have come from outside

30 to get hold of the pearl,
and(not')the snake against me.

31 But as a result of something
they noticed that I was not a son of their country

32 and bound themselves to me in their perfidies,
they even gave me to eat of their meal;

33 and I forgot that I was the son of Kings
and I served their king.

34 And I forgot the pearl
about whom my parents had sent me.

35 Because of the heaviness of their food
I fell into a deep sleep.

36 Everything that happened to me,
my parents noticed and were grieved for me.

37 It was proclaimed in our kingdom
that everyone should come to our door,

38 the kings and rulers of Parthia
and all the great ones of the east.

39 They decided concerning me,
that I should not be left in Egypt,

40 and they wrote me a letter,
and each Great one put his Name on it:

41 “From your Father, the King of Kings,
and from your Mother, the Empress of the East,

42 and from your brother, our second,
to you, our son in Egypt, greetings.

43 and arise from your sleep,
hear the words of our letter;
because of their faithfulness, they took care of it.

44 remember that you are the son of kings,
see the slavery, who you serve,

45 remember the pearl
about whom you went into Egypt;

46 remember your resplendent (garment),
think of your glorious toga,

47 so that you put it on and,
may your Name be pronounced in the book of heroes,

48 and that with your Brother, our successor,
youin our Kingdom. »

49 My letter was a letter
that the King with his right hand had sealed,

50 far from (the eyes) of the wicked, and of the children of Babel,
and of demonsfrom Sarbüg.

C - The call and the return

51 She flew away in the form of the eagle,
the kingthe birds,

52 She flew and landed near me
and became all speech.

53 At his voice and at the sound of his cry
I awoke and arose from my sleep,

54 I took her against me and kissed her,
I challengedand read.

55 Just as (it) was engraved in my heart,
(so) were the words of my letter written.

56 I remembered that I was the son of Kings
and that my elevation corresponded to his nature,

57 I remembered the pearl
about whom I had been sent to Egypt.

58 I began to perform magical rites
around the terrifying and foaming serpent.

59 I made him sleepy and put him to sleep,
pronouncing the Name of my Father over him,

60 the Name of our second
and of my Mother, the queen of the East,

61 I took the pearl
and turned to head towards my Father's house.

62 Their filthy and unclean garment
I stripped off and left in their land,

63 I took the path
towards the light of our region, the Orient.

64 And my letter, the one that had awakened me,
I found before me on the road;

65 just as by her voice shehad awakened,
so by her light she directed me.

66 For the silk of Seleucia (?)
shone before me with its brightness

67 and the direction of his voice
also revived my enthusiasm

68 and, in his love, I.

69 I went out, passed through Sarbüg,
left Babel on my left

70 and arrived in the great Mesene,
at the port of the traders,

71 located on the sea shore.

D - Royal clothing

72 My shining garment, which I had taken off,
and my robe, with which it was covered,

73 were brought to me there from the heights of Hyrcania
on behalf of my parents

74 by their treasurers;

75 While not remembering his dignity,
because it was in my childhood that I left him with my Father,

76 suddenly, as soon as I encountered it,
like my mirror, the resplendent (clothing) resembled me:

77 all, I live it in myself
as, I found myself in him,

78 for two we were in division,
but one again we were in one form;

79 likewise, for the treasurers,
who had brought it to me, I also saw

80 that they were two (and) one form,
because a single seal was engraved on them, (that) of the King

81 who returned it to me,
wealth by their hands,

82 my resplendent (garment) adorned
with superb colors (and),

83 of gold and beryls,
chalcedony and shimmering (stones)

84 andofvaried.
He was also wrought according to his greatness,

85 with diamond stones,
all its seams well sewn;

86 and the image of the King of Kings
waspainted over its entire extent,

87 andthe sapphire stones,
so it was, in its height, of varied colors.

E — The ascent

88 And I further saw that everything in him
was shaken by the movements of,

89 and as if speaking,
I also saw that he was getting ready.

90 I heard the sound of his melodies
thathe whispered:

91 “I am the most devoted of the servants
who have been trained in the service of my Father,

92 also in me
that my stature, like his works, has increased. »

93 And in his royal impulses
he tends with all his being towards me

94 and in the hand of its donors
rushes for me to take it; he came to attach himself to me,

95 and my love urges me
to run to meet him and receive him.

96 I stretched out (my body) and received it,
I adorned myself with the beauty of its colors,

97 and my toga shimmering with colors,
Idressedof her whole.

98 I put it on and went back
to the gate of salvation and worship.

99 I bowed my head and worshiped
the splendor of my Fatherhad sent him to me,

100 whose orders I had followed,
as he had fulfilled what he had promised.

101 At the gate of his satraps
I mingled with his Greats;

102 for he rejoiced over me and received me,
and I was with him into his kingdom,

103 and in the invocation of his
all his servants cheered him,

104 he had promised me
to (re)come with him to the door of the King of Kings,

105 and withpearl
to appear with him before our King.

Colophon: End of the Hymn of Jude Thomas the Apostle
which he sang in prison.