DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

 INTRODUCTION

 Prologue

 BOOK THE FIRST Which treats of the Night of Sense.

 Chapter I. Sets down the first line and begins to treat of the imperfections of beginners.

 Chapter II. Of certain spiritual imperfections which beginners have with respect to the habit of pride.

 Chapter III. Of some imperfections which some of these souls are apt to have, with respect to the second capital sin, which is avarice, in the spiritu

 Chapter IV. Of other imperfections which these beginners are apt to have with respect to the third sin, which is luxury.

 Chapter V. Of the imperfections into which beginners fall with respect to the sin of wrath.

 Chapter VI. Of imperfections with respect to spiritual gluttony.

 Chapter VII. Of imperfections with respect to spiritual envy and sloth.

 Chapter VIII. Wherein is expounded the first line of the first stanza, and a beginning is made of the explanation of this dark night.

 Chapter IX. Of the signs by which it will be known that the spiritual person is walking along the way of this night and purgation of sense.

 Chapter X. Of the way in which these souls are to conduct themselves in this dark night.

 Chapter XI. Wherein are expounded the three lines of the stanza.

 Chapter XII. Of the benefits which this night causes in the soul.

 Chapter XIII. Of other benefits which this night of sense causes in the soul.

 Chapter XIV. Expounds this last line of the first stanza.

 BOOK THE SECOND Of the Dark Night of the Spirit.

 Chapter I. Which begins to treat of the dark nights of the spirit and says at what time it begins.

 Chapter II. Describes other imperfections which belong to these proficients.

 Chapter III. Annotation for that which follows.

 Chapter IV. Sets down the first stanza and the exposition thereof.

 Chapter V. Sets down the first line and begins to explain how this dark contemplation is not only night for the soul but is also grief and torment.

 Chapter VI. Of other kinds of pain that the soul suffers in this night.

 Chapter VII. Continues the same matter and considers other afflictions end constraints of the will.

 Chapter VIII. Of other pains which afflict the soul in this state.

 Chapter IX. How, although this night brings darkness to the spirit, it does so in order to illumine it and give it light.

 Chapter X. Explains this purgation fully by a comparison.

 Chapter XI. Begins to explain the second line of the first stanza. Describes how, as the fruit of these rigorous constraints, the soul finds itself wi

 Chapter XII. Shows how this horrible night is purgatory, and how in it the Divine wisdom illumines men on earth with the same illumination that purges

 Chapter XIII. Of other delectable effects which are wrought in the soul by this dark night of contemplation.

 Chapter XIV. Wherein are set down and explained the last three lines of the first stanza.

 Chapter XV. Sets down the second stanza and its exposition.

 Chapter XVI. Explains how, though in darkness, the soul walks securely.

 Chapter XVII. Explains how this dark contemplation is secret.

 Chapter XVIII. Explains how this secret wisdom is likewise a ladder.

 Chapter XIX. Begins to explain the ten steps of the mystic ladder of Divine love, according to Saint Bernard and Saint Thomas. The first five are here

 Chapter XX. Wherein are treated the other five steps of love.

 Chapter XXI. Which explains the word ‘disguised,’ and describes the colours of the disguise of the soul in this night.

 Chapter XXII. Explains the third line of the second stanza.

 Chapter XXIII. Expounds the fourth line and describes the wondrous hiding place wherein the soul is set during this night. Shows how, although the dev

 Chapter XXIV. Completes the explanation of the second stanza.

 Chapter XXV. Wherein is expounded the third stanza.

Prologue

Exposition of the stanzas describing the method followed by the soul in its journey upon the spiritual road to the attainment of the perfect union of love with God, to the extent that is possible in this life. Likewise are described the properties belonging to the soul that has attained to the said perfection, according as they are contained in the same stanzas.

PROLOGUE

IN this book are first set down all the stanzas which are to be expounded; afterwards, each of the stanzas is expounded separately, being set down before its exposition; and then each line is expounded separately and in turn, the line itself also being set down before the exposition. In the first two stanzas are expounded the effects of the two spiritual purgations: of the sensual part of man and of the spiritual part. In the other six are expounded various and wondrous effects of the spiritual illumination and union of love with God.

STANZAS OF THE SOUL

1. On a dark night, Kindled in love with yearnings—oh, happy chance!— I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest.

2. In darkness and secure, By the secret ladder, disguised—oh, happy chance!— In darkness and in concealment, My house being now at rest.

3. In the happy night, In secret, when none saw me, Nor I beheld aught, Without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart.

4. This light guided me More surely than the light of noonday To the place where he (well I knew who!) was awaiting me— A place where none appeared.

5. Oh, night that guided me, Oh, night more lovely than the dawn, Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover, Lover transformed in the Beloved!

6. Upon my flowery breast, Kept wholly for himself alone, There he stayed sleeping, and I caressed him, And the fanning of the cedars made a breeze.

7. The breeze blew from the turret As I parted his locks; With his gentle hand he wounded my neck And caused all my senses to be suspended.

8. I remained, lost in oblivion; My face I reclined on the Beloved. All ceased and I abandoned myself, Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies.

Begins the exposition of the stanzas which treat of the way and manner which the soul follows upon the road of the union of love with God.

Before we enter upon the exposition of these stanzas, it is well to understand here that the soul that utters them is now in the state of perfection, which is the union of love with God, having already passed through severe trials and straits, by means of spiritual exercise in the narrow way of eternal life whereof Our Saviour speaks in the Gospel, along which way the soul ordinarily passes in order to reach this high and happy union with God. Since this road (as the Lord Himself says likewise) is so strait, and since there are so few that enter by it,[1] the soul considers it a great happiness and good chance to have passed along it to the said perfection of love, as it sings in this first stanza, calling this strait road with full propriety ‘dark night,’ as will be explained hereafter in the lines of the said stanza. The soul, then, rejoicing at having passed along this narrow road whence so many blessings have come to it, speaks after this manner.