The Hymn of the Pearl

The Hymn of the Pearl

When I was a little child living in my father’s palace, content in the wealth and splendor of those who raised me, my parents sent me from the East, our homeland, with provisions for the journey. From the riches of the treasury they made me a bundle—great, yet light enough to carry alone: gold of the high country, silver, and precious stones.

They took from me the bright robe of glory which in their love they had made for me, and the purple mantle woven to my measure; and they made a covenant with me, writing it in my heart that I should not forget: “If you go down into Egypt and bring back the one pearl that lies in the midst of the sea, encircled by the devouring serpent, then you shall put on again your robe of glory and your mantle, and with your brother, our next in rank, you shall be an heir in our kingdom.”

So I left the East and went down, two guardians with me, for the way was dangerous and hard and I was young to travel it. I passed the borders and came into Egypt. I drew near to the serpent and lodged close by his dwelling, waiting for him to slumber, that I might take the pearl. Being alone, a stranger to those among whom I stayed, I kept myself apart; yet I saw there one of my own kindred, a free-born youth, fair and gracious, who joined himself to me, and I made him my companion and confided my errand to him. I warned him against the Egyptians and against keeping company with the unclean.

But I put on their clothing, lest they suspect I had come from afar to take the pearl and rouse the serpent against me. By some cause they perceived I was not their countryman, and they dealt with me cunningly and gave me their food to eat. I forgot that I was a king’s son, and I served their king. I forgot the pearl for which my parents had sent me, and through the heaviness of their food I sank into a deep sleep.

All this that befell me, my parents knew, and they grieved for me. A proclamation was made in our kingdom that all should come to our gate; and the kings and chieftains of the East took counsel, that I should not be left in Egypt. So they wrote to me a letter, and every noble set his name to it:

“From your father, the king of kings,

and your mother, mistress of the East,

and your brother, our second:

to you, our son in Egypt, greeting.

Awake and rise from your sleep,

and hear the words of our letter.

Remember that you are a king’s son;

see whom you have served in your bondage.

Remember the pearl

for which you were sent into Egypt.

Remember your robe of glory,

and your splendid mantle,

that you may wear them again

when your name is read in the book of life,

and with your brother, our heir,

you may come into our kingdom.”

The letter took wing like an eagle and flew, and alighted beside me, and became all speech. At its voice and the sound of it I awoke and rose from my sleep. I took it up, kissed it, broke its seal, and read; and the words written on my heart were the words of the letter. I remembered that I was a son of kings, and my free soul longed for its own kind. I remembered the pearl for which I had been sent into Egypt, and I began to charm the terrible serpent. I lulled him to sleep by naming over him my father’s name, and the name of our second, and of my mother, the queen of the East. I seized the pearl, and turned to carry it back to my father.

I stripped off the filthy and unclean clothing and left it in their land, and I made my way toward the light of our homeland in the East. On the road, my letter that had awakened me went before me as a guide; and as it had roused me with its voice, so now it led me with its light. As I drew near, my robe of glory which I had taken off came out to meet me; for my parents had sent it ahead by the hands of their treasurers. I had forgotten its splendor, having left it as a child in my father’s house; but when I saw it, the robe seemed to become a mirror of myself: I saw myself wholly in it, and it in me, for we were two in distinction and yet one in likeness.

And the robe, when I put it on, made me complete; and clothed in it I ascended to the gate of greeting and homage. I bowed my head and worshiped the splendor of my father who had sent it to me, for I had done his command, and he had done what he promised. And I was received with joy into the kingdom, among all the servants of my father, who praised him that he had promised I should come again to the palace of the king of kings, and with my gift, my pearl, appear together with him.