Song III: Desolation

Decid cielos y tierra, decid mares

TELL me, heaven, tell me, earth and ocean,
Say ye, mountains, valleys, little hillocks,
Tell me, vineyards, olive trees, and wheatfields,
Tell me, O ye plants and flowers and meadows,
Answer, where is He
Who gave to you your beauty and your being ?

Angels, ye who joy to look upon Him,
Blessed souls who love Him and possess Him,
Brides, who are desirous of the Bridegroom,
Striving to obtain His sweet caresses —
Tell me, where is He
Who gave to you your beauty and your being ?
Ah ! no answer cometh — all is silence !
Lord, when Thou speakest not, all else is mute !
My soul doth vainly seek for Thee within it,
My heart is empty, and of all bereft.

Ah ! woe is me ! if war should wage within me
Whom should I find to guard me ? whom to shield ?
Joy of my soul and Glory of my spirit,
If Thou wert absent, should I victor be ?
Tell me where Thou dost wander, O my Bridegroom,
Leaving in solitude the heart that loves Thee !
Where are Thy shining rays, Thou Sun resplendent,
Why hidest Thou Thy beams ?

With anxious care Thou followest the sinner —
Why give no answer to the one who loves Thee ?
Why dost Thou hide Thy face, Thou Friend most cherished,
Holding me for Thine enemy ?

Wherefore didst Thou depart in silence, leaving me
With no farewell ?
Be moved, Thou gentle Love, by the sad sighs
Of anguish, which break forth for Thy return.

Return to me, or bid me follow Thee,
Or bid me die ;
But force me not to live while lacking life ;
For sooth, I live not till I see Thee come.

If Thou dost dwell enskied,
Let me have wings that I may fly to Thee
If in pure souls Thou find'st Thy resting place
Why dost not purify this poor polluted heart ?
If Thou dost make Thy home within Thy creatures,
Reveal in which of them Thou dost repose !
Where is Thy habitation, tender Lover ?
The world, without Thee, holds no place for me !

O ye birds, who warble forth sweet carols,
Serpents, animals, and scaly fish,
Tell me, an ye know, tell me, where is He
Who gave to you your beauty and your being ?