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A Canticle of Mar Jacob the Teacher on Edessa
Jacob of Serugh
Salutation / Introduction About this work A Syriac poetic homily celebrating Edessa’s Christian memory and sacred history, transmitted under the name of Jacob the Teacher and reflecting a much later tradition than the pre-Nicene corpus.
Author Jacob of Serugh
Date Late 5th or early 6th century
Origin Syriac-speaking Mesopotamia
Genre Poetry The identity of “Mar Jacob,” the translation, and the precise source witness should be verified before publication.
Ancient Syriac Documents .
A Canticle of Mar
Jacob
the
Teacher
on
Edessa
.
Edessa sent to Christ by an epistle to come to her and enlighten her . On behalf of all the peoples did she make intercession to Him that He would leave Zion , which hated Him , and come to the peoples , who loved Him .
She despatched a messenger to Him , and begged of Him to enter into friendship with her . By the righteous king she made intercession to Him , that He would depart from the Jewish people , and towards the other peoples direct His burden .
From among all kings one wise king did the daughter of the peoples find . Ambassador she made him . To her Lord she sent by him : Come Thou unto me ; I will forget in Thee all idols and carved images .
The harlot heard the report of Him from afar , as she was standing in the street , going astray with idols , playing the wench with carved images . She loved , she much desired Him , when He was far away , and begged Him to admit her into His chamber .
Let the much - desired Bridegroom kiss me : with the kisses of His mouth let me be blessed . I have heard of Him from afar : may I see Him near ; and may I place my lips upon His , and be delighted by seeing Him with mine eyes .
Thy breasts are better to me than wine : for the fragrance of Thy sweetness is life for evermore . With Thy milk shall I be nourished ; with Thy fragrance shall I grow sweet from the smoke of idols , which with its rank odour did make me fetid .
Draw me after Thee into Thy fold : for I am a sheep gone astray in the world . After Thee do I run , and Thy converse do I seek : that in me may be completed that number of a hundred , by means of a lost one which is found .
Let Gabriel rejoice and be exceeding glad , with the company of all the angels , in Thee , the Good Shepherd , who on Thy shoulders didst carry the maimed sheep , that that number of a hundred might be preserved .
Thy love is better than wine ; than the face of the upright Thy affection . By wine let us be reminded of Thee , how by the cup of Thy blood Thou didst grant us to obtain new life , and the upright did celebrate Thy love .
A church am I from among the peoples , and I have loved the Only - begotten who was sent by God : whereas His betrothed hated Him , I have loved Him ; and by the hands of Abgar the Black do I beseech Him to come to me and visit me .
Black am I , yet comely . Ye daughters of Zion , blameless is your envy , seeing that the Son of the Glorious One hath espoused me , to bring me into His chamber . Even when I was hateful , He loved me , for He is able to make me fairer than water .
Black was I in sins , but I am comely : for I have repented and turned me . I have put away in baptism that hateful hue , for He hath washed me in His innocent blood who is the Saviour of all creatures .
Here end the Extracts from the Canticle on Edessa .
Notes 1 Or, “My Lord,” or “Mr.”—Tr.
2 This is taken from Cod. Add. 17, 158, fol. 56, where is added: “when she sent to our Lord to come to her.”
3 [Luke xv. 6.]
4 See note on p. 652.
5 [This ancient imitation of the Canticles shows how that book was understood, as of Christ and His Church.]
