Canticle (XLIV) for the Greek Nazirite

Canticle for the Greek Nazirite

XLIV

To the Gentiles into the sea,
Into Africa and Lydia who draws the bow,
Into Italy and Greece and to the islands afar off,
To them that have not heard of me and have not seen my glory..

Now I relay to thee what was described by Baruch to me after
When we were fleeing from Zealots with Saleh: so goes the beginning,
Born as Aquila to parents in Smyrna, a child of laughter
Came in the eighth year Claudius reigned, with no concept of sinning

Coming to mind in his youth, till come he was aged to have reason,
Which he began to be thieving and carried his heart with a wrath great
Over the pettiest things both, thus so his father would seize him
Therewith correcting his fault, and as much would be setting his path straight,

Seeing his skills with his hands, for in work he had delicate senses,
Starting with wood-crafts; then, more precious designs — as a worthy preamble,
Yea, for no man can account for the gifts the Creator dispenses
Which are so seemingly random, Aquila a proper example,

Neither his father nor fathers, a right poor lineage stretching
Even to Delian days, but Aquila had talent in treasure,
Which was acknowledged and thus he, no maker of tents or of fletching
Found by his father apprenticing where he would practice his measure,

Marble and gold, he has told me, and right to his master’s conformment
Able by talent to rise from, defy his original placement,
That he had eyes for seeing the shapes of its gracious adornment
Which so estranged him from those of his origins that their abasement

Racked by their poverty grew to be senseless and alien living,
Even so time would estrange it all further as time is so frequent,
Wont to be done, for Aquila observed these tragically giving
Few their possessions to others in grace and, he ever-delinquent,

Burglarized (not robbed) over his days in the city Ionic,
Tending his hands for the delicate work and became his ‘wn person,
Drifting from family, whom all (a turn he admits is ironic)
Found for themselves new faith in a sect of the Jewish dispersion

Which was esteemed, at the time, as the Way, and Aquila resisted,
Finding the Jews strange, even the sect who would worship a mortal
More than ridiculous, cult of a people confused they consisted,
Further estranging him down to the hatred of countenance cord’al,

Thereby depriving him feeling when, after an interval passing,
Mother and father approached him for help as a filial watchm’n:
After the Fire in Rome, blame fell on the Jews and their thrashing,
Exile, hatred and virtu’lly ev’rything save for a coffin

Men had decided was owed, and the sect of Aquila’s ascendants
Seemed to be Jews to their neighbors who harried and stole from their marches;
Thence he was bid to forgo of his own indirect independence
Where he was needed; no sooner he came that men and their charges

Fell on the place: two dozen had snuck to him when all were sleeping
After a day they had rightfully spoke for magistrates’ dealing,
Barring the doors and as though all were chaff from a terrible reaping
Set all ablaze in the home, but he slept not, woken to feeling

Much as he might if a thing he had stolen was found on his person,
Rose and determined an exit, but wicked had come their destroyers,
Shoving Aquila and others inside, but he never did worsen
Wanting for strength, and the panic his family had felt of despoilers

Paled to the fear of the heat: in the end, it was nothing enduring,
Only Aquila survived and a sister by flight and maneuver;
Youngest, Penelope: fair and of good breed, sweet and maturing
Well in her sixth year, giving a blessing to any who knew her

Lovely Penelope, followed her brother of fifteen in sorrow,
Father and mother, her mother, and siblings of various ages,
Brothers and sisters of two each never again for tomorrow,
Whilst she was mourning, and quite inconsolable lacking in phrases,

Wherefore Aquila absconded by night in a diligent flight west
Down to the coast, and by various dealings and jocular trials
Garnered a passage by boat for their safety on waters they might best;
Little Penelope feared all around her for weapon or wiles,

Though with her brother she trusted him toward the promise of harbor,
Talent in fashioning metal demanded by many vocations,
Whence it was sought in the places of tame and parochial ardor,
Islands as Cyprus and Crete, and the former preferred for location

Since in the city of Paphos Aquila would find opportune place
Since they were building a temple and needed for (false) adoration
Shaping the gold of the Huntress and lining the grin of the moon’s face,
Certainly promising work for Aquila’s supporting relation,

Paphos the port on the island of Cyprus remote to their troubles
Made for a fair safe haven in time, for Aquila had found pay
Quickly in working the gold for the temple, but both had their struggles,
That for Penelope time by herself was too fearful to downplay

Finding alone to be horrible time, and Aquila’s attention,
Justified thus for supporting his sister, had sole dedication,
Treating his role as apprentice as though it sufficed so to mention
Anything fell to its needs, and for months they had nursed their frustration

Worsened because that temple was opposite where they resided,
Meaning no small, quick journey was possible when he was needed
Leaving Penelope vacant and bored and Aquila unconfided,
Drifting and drowsing alike to the point in the night as they greeted

Only connecting in trips to the temple: obedient daughter,
Raised in the sect of the Jews of her parents, had nothing remembered,
Worshipping idols in Paphos though washed in the penitence-water
Lonely Penelope’s worship was meant for Aquila and centered,

Therefore, on pleasing him, which she did well by somewise attendance
Not understanding the songs or the poets regarding the gods’ deeds,
Only believing the music, and kept to herself all her questions;
Later Aquila continued in sculpting the columns and bodies

Fashioning capitals, idols and trims for the House Aphrodite
Where consecrations for harlotry, even the actions so, happened,
Thus for Aquila, aesthetics in Hellenized elegance sightly
Lent to his style unique poise, making his products unflattened,

Natural, living and terror-inspired, he said with a grimace,
Even injecting a personal touch, for in capital-making
Done in Corinthian ways the acanthus was proper in fitness
Though he designed palm fronds for Penelope’s favor obtaining,

Which skills made, by his flourishing youth, an astounding engraving,
Adding for ornament roses and plump wine-apples (the standard)
Lavished in gold and in marble with thin-cut delicate shaving
Looking as nat’ral as live fruits, wrapping with plumage meandered,

Mostly to custom, except for Leander and Hero, the lovers,
Switched to their opposite sex, so the swimmer was female and priestess,
Male; and Penelope never so grasped this tale of her brother’s,
Though in reversing their places for purposes maybe facetious,

Caused her to laugh for the first time since they had fled from disaster,
Bidding her brother the same, and for this he attracted attention,
Some of it bad but a bit of it good, for a technical master
Needs to be daring to dare be remark’ble, defying convention;

Leading Aquila to serve the proconsul and work at his palace
Fitting it proper with murals for years, but this was a remote place
More than before, and Aquila insisted he never was callous
Toward Penelope, though his removal from talented showcase

Left her alone, more lonely than ever, and feeling unnoticed,
Girls any age go to seek it, as men for survival should find bread,
That she would wither away if no eyes are upon her in focus,
Wherefore in autumn, a dark year, the rains had been widespread

Leaving her steps in the road from the house she had shared with her brother,
Whence on return, at the close of the busiest Velveter Season
(Four in a row), he distressed — no Penelope home to discover —
Thinking she, now of sufficient maturity, might have a reason

Leaving the shelter of home would be trouble, her being eleven;
Followed Aquila her steps to a awful, familiar target:
Where he had worked, Aphrodite’s demesne, a shadow of heaven
Where too Penelope worked in the twilight, she, playing a harlot

Sharing her flesh with a Cypriot man in the light of a candle,
Candle! Aquila, enraged, struck fast from behind and, no light-weight
Even in youth, in a few short strikes he had vanquished the vandal,
Blood on the gold he had forged, and in wordless command (it was quite late)

Fled from the city of Paphos, and Cyprus as well, if in striking
One should be dead, he be killer and atheist: brute, irreligious,
Wicked and even so, true; so Aquila who prior had liking
Towards the things of the Greeks had at once seen these as suspicious,

Snatching his sister away, and their drachmas had poisoned his doings,
Leading him stranded from Paphos with sister in tow who in hatred
Slipped from his sight on occasion, but found her again in pursuings
Came to be something of games for the pair as they journeyed unaided

Traveling far in the vast Mediterranean world on the earnings
Saved from his service to Paphos idolaters, safe by misnaming:
Taking on new names each place, filling their eyes with their yearnings
After the cities and sights, and their gods all the while profaning,

Since for her harlotry came with it blame for the Hellenized cultures,
Starting as vengeance, Aquila developed robust indignation
Once he established it more of a sickness, a pageant of vultures
Feasting on languages, tribes and religions and, after ablation,

Reckoned at least it was fault of the cities and that it requires
Making a living and hating thy neighbors and living in squalor
Turning all men into thieves and transgressors and killers and liars,
Though he suspected the same would be found in a settlement smaller

Hatred would soon coalesce in Aquila in fleeing
Which with Penelope acted as though it a game of disguises
Giving a false name, dying the hair and in general being,
Pardon the phrase, con artists, but sport for the pair had its prizes,

Namely, a fresh start, that by engaging in common deception
Both were as friends, not enemies, which was as well for redemption
Since for Penelope, what she had craved, Aquila’s perception,
Came to her now as abundant, and soon disappeared her contemption

Seeing her brother again with regret for her spiteful reprisal,
Coupled with witnessing that man, crushed and impaled on the altar
Filled her with fear of Aquila, but fear is a need for survival
Both for protection from predators, also to save from a falter

Leaving her gentle and dangerous patron, and closer than ever,
Came to the port Alexandria, Greek but as well Oriental,
Roman and African, taking a part from all places, but better,
Raucous and wealthy indeed; and they arrived incidental,

Making their way to the East, but desired the city discovered,
Thus they decided to stay, so the siblings as much were clandestine:
Cadmus, Nemé were Aquila, Penelope othered,
Cutting their hair to the style of Rome so nobody would question;

Eating and drinking and laughing and singing and needing no lending
Seeing as Cadmus had time to employ skills toward peculiar fashion
When they had want for a sum, and although it was little for spending
Both of them saw it as wind-fall, not to be slaked to their passion

Whereto Nemé was content with her brother in labor subsistent,
Cadmus in turn had no thought but to work for as much as required,
Which as in three years past, he had regular clients consistent
Building in quarters the city forgot was for which he was hired

Where it was Jews who were hated by Greeks had corralled habitation:
Cadmus had good opportunity there in the synagogue-styling
Which had specific restrictions, and clever avoiding the graven,
Made for the Jews signs natural, costumed in decor’tive tiling

Showing the shapes of the world, for the world was the temple of heaven,
Borrowing Corinth technique to bestow it a regency’s laurels,
Pleasing the Jews who contracted his skills and esteemed his profession
Trusted his nature in time as he showed he respected their morals

Saving his pay as a dowry Nemé could expect if she married,
Cadmus considered a sizable total a recompense owed her
After he failed to protect her as maiden, submitting if queried
Money enough to dispose of a marriage respected moreover,

Cadmus was oft to be found in the north-east ostracized quarter
Filling requests from his Hebrew commissions at leisurely freedom
Sharing his time with his sister, as needed fulfilling an order;
Favor became him and soon proved Cadmus no child of Edom,

That by the three year mark in their service he built reputation,
Sharing it thus with Nemé who was then at an age to be courted
Armed with a dowry, but while he labored his heart’s invitation
Went to a woman he met of the Jews, and as much he reported,

Beauty and wisdom abounded in Bathlavan, whom he had greeted
Building a synagogue paid by Jerusalem, brought by who other!
Father Elijah, indeed the identical man we had needed —
Cadmus assured me that two decades were spanned to her brother —

Bathlavan, sister of Father Elijah, had favor for Cadmus
Second in beauty to none, of a tawny and delicate figure
Speaking with elegant joy, and her presence he savored with gladness,
Waited however he thought to, for what he had saved by his rigor

Owed to Nemé and had naught to bestow as to marry the maiden,
Though he assisted his sister in search for her love everlasting
None had Nemé’s heart, which interrupted Cadmus’ fixation
Such to be burdensome, though on arrival from Judah, de-fasting

Father Elijah had heard from his sister the plight of her spirit
Thought it profound for a goy to ensnare her in marital yearning,
Thence he invited him, sister as well, to them personally hear it
Over a meal, and he found this Cadmus deficient in learning,

Though he was skilled with his hands, and had served Alexandria gladly
Building the buildings the Greeks would destroy if the chance would be given,
Equal as well to the talents required to, needing it badly,
Gild and repair the Jerusalem temple, and thence his decision

Set it all forth: for the right of the Aaronite stake would be wasted
Given to Cadmus, a Greek, but the heart has its impudent wishes
Whether we wish it or not, for the tongue which longs to have tasted
Only accepts that which it desires, inferior dishes

Drag and pollute, so Elijah agreed for his Phineaite sister
Marriage to Cadmus, a Greek, with condition: to stay in engagement
Taking her back to his home, and forbidden to see her or kiss her,
Though he was granted to know her, until he could muster a payment

Like to a dowry, a penalty levied on virgin’s deflow’ring,
Such was the master of law of Elijah, by juris invention,
Waxes the Law of his fathers to wage with a legal empow’ring
Rightly impressing on Cadmus the pains of the Jews’ apprehension

Whereby their wisdom or cunning surpasses the Romans in lawcraft,
Forging a justice from man’s hands, what could be said of it fairly!
Cadmus rejoiced at his bride, thanked God, and to which his in-law laughed:
That he required as well circumcision; agreeing so (barely),

Cadmus received it, and labored in pain for a period waiting,
Thinking of Bathlavan, watched by Nemé as he quickly recovered
Therewhich he paid for the priv’lege of Bathlavan, patience abating,
Took her to live with him plus with Nemé, but a sister and lover,

Needing attention in twain, were in fierce and unfair competition,
Cadmus discovered he cared not much for the feminine whimsy
Hearing embittered resentment from both for his baleful position
Which for his brother-in-law, he observed the arrangement was flimsy,

Gladly in fact, and remarked he, considering Cadmus to hire,
See the Jerusalem Temple and, after accepting conversion,
Find him a Jew and permit him to work by the holiest fire
Gilding the walls and repairing the doors to so honor the person

Therein inhabiting, God of the Hebrews who, over all nations,
Reigns; and indeed, this Cadmus considered, but staid from the offer
Only if alien cultures discouraged his own habitation,
That he be still to the Jews not Jewish, at least as improper,

Cadmus concluded it not to his pref’rence to show and be hated,
Even with great reassurance the contr’ry Elijah provided:
Sweetness indeed for his wife and his sister in conflict had faded,
Turning to ash in his mouth, and the war for himself coincided

While the Greeks of the city arose unprovoked in aggression
Toward the Jews Alexandria quartered, and options for husbands
Cadmus could find for Nemé disappeared, and the hatred’s progression
Came to be common, and Jews in the city had turned into shut-ins

Fearing the violence and thievery common to seasons of loathing,
Strangers they felt in all places, and thus it began with the fires,
Breaking and entering, spitting and patrols of banditry roving
Wherein officials as well were no strangers to find their desires

Trapped in the hands of the Jews, and alike had concerns interrupted
What had so long been hostile among Jews bickering nat’ral,
Many electing to leave, and for others from whom had erupted
Penchant for vengeance, and finally some who besought in the past’ral,

Out of the city, an option of flight, but for Cadmus by nature
Greek, he was taken to side with the Jews for the state of his sister
That for her time in the temple had noticed a husband would hate her
Thus she remained in the quarreling home of her brother, who missed her

When she was sweet and of kind eyes, not in distraught disappointment;
Cadmus admitted he noticed as well, for he took all he promised
Earned as a dowry, investing it toward a faster employment
That of escape, and admitted the truth to her that he, dishonest,

Stole from his word, and she spat and she shrieked, xx — xx — X
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Tractatus

one • two
three • four
five • six