Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

106 JEHUDAH HALEVI

53

TO THE SOUL

The precious one abiding in her body,
As light abideth in deep darkness—
Longeth she not to separate from the body,
And return to the majesty of her trappings?
For she shall eat, on the day of her separation,
The fruit of her law¹—and this is the fruit
thereof:

Honey of Eden, a honeycomb of sweetness,
Ps. 103,5. To satisfy her mouth with good things.

The ways of her Maker she shall see,
And shall forget the days of her affliction;
She shall praise His Name with all
The souls that be praising God.

¹  The reward of her observance of the Torah. Note
play on the words פרידתה and פרי דתה.