The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

—
196 ON THE DEATH OF JOHN BAR-Ma'dANI.
Its own habitation is far removed from consolation.
In the dreams of the night when [my] rational soul is
empty,
It becometh painted with shapes of vanity in thy form,_
165 For thou knowest that that which was sweet hath become
most bitter.
And what ill luck hath come upon the soul that was
thine handmaiden, O mistress!
From the time when became certain to thee the intention
It
of departure
became empty and destitute of both knowledge and
understanding.
In the treasury of the mind blazing fire halh been piled up,
170 Which overcometh with fierce flame and burning the
Babylonish woman.
With the dew of life of thine angelic shadow
Unless thou sprinkle her behold she will be burnt up
like the Chaldean woman.
Her liver
hath become to her a well^— like the Israelitish
woman
And in it is preserved the unquenchable fire of thy love.
175 In two mighty fire-temples it hath become a dweller.
And within a very little it had worshipped the fire
like
a Persian.
In the heart and liver, which are the houses of life,
the fire kindleth.
And into them entereth the Magian prophetess to prophesy.
Inasmuch as her body is enfeebled and her mind
wandereth,
180 If she erreth in her speech let her not be blamed.
My heart hath no peace and quietness, and my mind
getteth no rest,