Winter of the soul; spring and going out
The historical telling of winter and spring is of little consequence; everything must be carried over to spiritual understanding. The soul’s winter is the waves of passions and the storms of vices. In winter God’s Word does not urge going outdoors, but fortifying within the walls. The soul’s spring is quiet and calm; then the Word calls her to go out beyond flesh and world.
Latin
Historica narratio hiemis et veris parum consequens est; cuncta ad spiritalem intelligentiam transferenda. Hiems animae: passionum fluctus et vitiorum procellae. In hieme sermo Dei non foras exitum hortatur, sed intramuralem munitionem. Ver animae: quies et tranquillitas; tunc Verbum vocat ut exeat extra carnem et mundum.
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on the Song of Songs, Liber III (Rufinus’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–20.
English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Rufinus’s Latin of Commentary Liber III. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording. This page is Liber III §§1–20 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Commentary Liber III §§1–20)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.