Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

178 NOTES ON TEXT

who observes the night sees a Mooress (the black
ness of the night) in a dress interwoven with gold
threads, and purple blue plains (sky and sea),
set with jewels (the stars in heaven and their
reflection in the mirror of the sea); comp. the fol-
lowing verses and שהתכלת דומה לים וים דומה לרקיע
in Sota 17a, Hul. 89a, Men. 43b. I consider
Edelmann's reading ובתכלת, preferred by Halper,
as a scribal error or a misprint.

LI. 73-74. שרי ים עד־י ל;ל] Halper corrects and reads עךים
for עדי ים, following MS. Amram against all
other texts, עלי ליל for עז־י לןל. The obvious
correction עדיים is found also in S. Joseph, Gibeat
Saul, p. 108, who, however, retains עדי ליל, though
apparently vocalizing it עך־י ליל. I cannot imagine
that the poet wishes to designate sky and sea as
ornaments of the night, nor do I find an analogy
to this daring picture in any other poet. As
long therefore as there is not a better reading or
a MS. confirmation of this emendation, I shall
cling to the traditional text, of which it can by no
means be said that it "makes no sense". The
poet says, while applying עדי to space and time:
"as far as the sea stretches, as long as the night
lasts—smooth watery mirror and clear celestial
canopy". This thought is by no means unworthy
of expression.