Kebra Nagast

have her stripped from me grant that I may build myself upon her, and may not topple over grant that I may become vigorous through her, and not suffer ; ; from exhaustion grant that I may stand through her, and may not fall grant that I may lay hold upon her, and may not slip away grant that I may grasp her grant that I may dwell in firmly, and may not slide ; ; ; ; her in her peace [grant that] I may be satisfied at her table, and may not vomit, and drink her and not get drunk upon her, and may be satisfied with her and not spit her out." " I have drunk of her, but have not tottered ; I have tottered through her, but have not fallen I have fallen because of her, but have not been destroyed. Through her I have dived down into the great sea and have seized in the place of her depths a pearl whereby I am rich. I went down like the great iron anchor whereby men anchor ships for the night on the high seas, and I received a lamp which lighteth me, and I came up by the ropes of the boat of understanding. I went to sleep in the depths of the sea, and not being overwhelmed with the water I dreamed a dream. And it seemed to me that there was a star in my womb, and I marvelled thereat, and I laid hold upon it and made it I laid hold upon it, strong in the splendour of the sun and I will never let it go. I went in through the doors of the treasury of wisdom and I drew for myself the I went into the blaze of the waters of understanding. flame of the sun, and it lighted me with the splendour ; ; ; thereof, and I made of it a shield for myself, and I saved myself by confidence therein, and not myself only but all those who travel in the footprints of wisdom, and not myself only but all the men of my country, the kingdom of Ethiopia, and not those only but those who travel in their ways, the nations that are round about. For the Lord hath given us seed in Zion and a habitaAnd moreover, there hath come to tion in Jerusalem. IS4