The Pearl 3:1 - Beauty Unadorned


Hymn 3:1 of St. Ephrem's The Pearl

Thou dost not hide thyself in thy bareness, O pearl!
With the love of thee is the merchant ravished also,
For he strips off his garments;
Not to cover thee --
     (thy clothing is thy light, thy garment is thy brightness,
      O thou that art bared!)
Thou art like Eve who was clothed with nakedness.
Cursed be he that deceived her and stripped her and left her.
The serpent cannot strip off thy glory.
In the mysteries whose type thou art,
Women are clothed with Light in Eden.

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