Poetic-Verses from ATHANASE
The Astronomer - painting of Vermeer (English)
The Astronomer
to Pieter Boel
'Magicians hold it as axiomatic that, whatever the work in hand, one should take into consideration the fact that God acts directly on the minor gods, that these gods in their turn act on the celestial bodies or stars, which are divinities in physical form, that the stars then act on demons which are the inhabitants and guardians of the stars (one of which is earth), that the demons act on the elements, the elements on the mixed bodies, the mixed bodies on the senses, the senses on the spirit and the spirit on living beings.'
Giordano Bruno, De Magia
Yes, my soul, you know the world is infinite
and infinite is Time that bears the stars,
that virtue is a hierarchy, and that this always been the way of
this universe where man is formed and perfected.
There are cohorts of archangels, light upon light,
the weavers, the intercessors whose task is to join
the life of the celestial spheres to the heart's tremblings,
the sublime essence of the air to all beings on this earth!
Yes, my soul, you know, that God is harmony,
the only plenum, sufficient unto itself,
the seed within all seeds, the Voice within all voices,
that God's cosmic Joy is exalted and bountiful!
O Astronomer, tell me there is truth in my ardent cries,
these songs I write to spread the gospel, my blood-drenched faith!
translated from the French of Athanase Vantchev de Thracy by Norton Hodges 05.01.08.
to Pieter Boel
'Magicians hold it as axiomatic that, whatever the work in hand, one should take into consideration the fact that God acts directly on the minor gods, that these gods in their turn act on the celestial bodies or stars, which are divinities in physical form, that the stars then act on demons which are the inhabitants and guardians of the stars (one of which is earth), that the demons act on the elements, the elements on the mixed bodies, the mixed bodies on the senses, the senses on the spirit and the spirit on living beings.'
Giordano Bruno, De Magia
Yes, my soul, you know the world is infinite
and infinite is Time that bears the stars,
that virtue is a hierarchy, and that this always been the way of
this universe where man is formed and perfected.
There are cohorts of archangels, light upon light,
the weavers, the intercessors whose task is to join
the life of the celestial spheres to the heart's tremblings,
the sublime essence of the air to all beings on this earth!
Yes, my soul, you know, that God is harmony,
the only plenum, sufficient unto itself,
the seed within all seeds, the Voice within all voices,
that God's cosmic Joy is exalted and bountiful!
O Astronomer, tell me there is truth in my ardent cries,
these songs I write to spread the gospel, my blood-drenched faith!
translated from the French of Athanase Vantchev de Thracy by Norton Hodges 05.01.08.
Comment On This Poem ---
The Astronomer - painting of Vermeer (English)
The Astronomer - painting of Vermeer (English)
