11.12.07
Hymnen an die Nacht (Novalis)
After inhaling the delightful scent of a book’s virgin pages,
I was ready to plunge into another Pamuk opus. Known for its opening line, “I read a book one day and my whole life was
changed,” I expected to find the exact words on the first page. So I was surprised when I came face to face
with a quote from “Novalis.”
Novalis, the name with a philosophical ring sounded so familiar but I knew I had no substantial
knowledge about him whatsoever. Intrigued
enough, I had to put Pamuk down to do some fact-finding. Several clicks away brought me to a man
deeply tormented by the death of a young fiancé in his set of six prose and
verse lyrics Hymnen an die Nacht (Hymns to the Night).
I read Hymns to the Night and here
you shall see that despite being a man of great worldly triumphs, he was not
able to escape the throes and the dark seasons of losing a beloved. I may not have been able to relate to it
wholly – which is a good thing, but I was exceedingly moved. Here are some of the touching phrases;
-=-
Afar lies
the world — sunk in a deep grave — waste and lonely is its place. In
the chords of the bosom blows a deep sadness. I am ready to sink away
in drops of dew, and mingle with the ashes. — The distances of memory,
the wishes of youth, the dreams of childhood, the brief joys and vain
hopes of a whole long life, arise in gray garments, like an evening
vapor after the sunset.
-=-
…now
am I awake — for now am I thine and mine — thou hast made me know the
Night — made of me a man — consume with spirit-fire my body, that I,
turned to finer air, may mingle more closely with thee, and then our
bridal night endure forever.
…andthrough the cloud I saw the glorified face of my beloved. In her eyes
eternity reposed — I laid hold of her hands, and the tears became a
sparkling bond that could not be broken. Into the distance swept by,
like a tempest, thousands of years. On her neck I welcomed the new life
with ecstatic tears. It was the first, the only dream — and just since
then I have held fast an eternal, unchangeable faith in the heaven of
the Night, and its Light, the Beloved.
-=-
I die every night.
-=-
Have courage, for life is striding
To endless life along;
Stretched by inner fire,
Our sense becomes transfigured.
One day the stars above
Shall flow in golden wine,
We will enjoy it all,
And as stars we will shine.
—————-=======================—————-
No wonder Novalis’ name seemed familiar! How soon I forget! Franz reminded me that
Jostein Gaarder had mentioned him in Sophie’s World. Within 24 hours, I mulled
over Gaarder then to Pamuk which led to Novalis and back to Gaarder. Novalis’ Blaue Blume, the central symbol of
Romanticism… hmmmm… strong emotions… unrequited love… Floria, Floria…
is there a connection?
