Oh, how could I not be ardent for Eternity, and for the marriage-ring of rings — the ring of the return?

Never yet have I found the woman by whom I should like to have children, unless it be this woman whom I love; for I love thee, O Eternity!

For I love thee, O Eternity!

4

If ever I have drunk a full draught of the foaming spice and confection-bowl in which all things are well mixed —

If ever my hand hath mingled the furthest with the nearest, fire with spirit, joy with sorrow, and the harshest with the kindest —

If I myself am a grain of the saving salt which maketh everything in the confection-bowl mix well —

For there is a salt which uniteth good with evil; and even the most evil is worthy, as spicing and as final overfoaming —

Oh, how could I not be ardent for Eternity, and for the marriage-ring of rings — the ring of the return?

Never yet have I found the woman by whom I should like to have children, unless it be this woman whom I love; for I love thee, O Eternity!

For I love thee, O Eternity!

5

If I be fond of the sea, and all that is sealike, and fondest of it when it angrily contradicteth me —

If the exploring delight be in me, which impelleth sails to the undiscovered, if the seafarer’s delight be in my delight —

If ever my rejoicing hath called out: ‘The shore hath vanished, now hath fallen from me the last chain —

The boundless roareth around me, far away sparkle for me space and time; well! Cheer up, old heart!’ —

Oh, how could I not be ardent for Eternity, and for the marriage-ring of rings — the ring of the returns?

Never yet have I found the woman by whom I should like to have children, unless it be this woman whom I love; for I love thee, O Eternity!

For I love thee, O Eternity!

6

If my virtue be a dancer’s virtue, and if I have often sprung with both feet into golden-emerald rapture —

If my wickedness be a laughing wickedness, at home among rose-banks and hedges of lilies —

For in laughter is all evil present, but it is sanctified and absolved by its own bliss —

And if it be my Alpha and Omega that everything heavy shall become light, every body a dancer, and every spirit a bird; and verily, that is my Alpha and Omega —