) Conspicuous amongst
these is St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who in his _Sermones in Canticum_
took the "Song of Songs" as a base for mystically-sexual imaginings.
There is nothing really new in this direction. But I will cite a few
stanzas written by St. Bernard which might equally well have come from
one of the amorous nuns:
TO THE SIDE-WOUND OF CHRIST.
Lord, with my mouth I touch and worship Thee,
With all the strength I have I cling to Thee,
With all my love I plunge my heart in Thee,
My very life blood would I draw from Thee,
Oh, Jesus! Jesus! Draw me unto Thee!
How sweet Thy savour is! Who tastes of Thee,
Oh, Jesus Christ, can relish naught but Thee!
Who tastes Thy living sweetness lives by Thee;
All else is void; the soul must die for Thee,
So faints my heart--so would I die for Thee!
(_Transl. by_ EMILY MARY SHAPCOTE.)
The greatest religious poet of all times after St. Bernard was Jacopone
da Todi, who also, though rarely, revelled in fervid utterances.
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