Once, when returning from far Transylvania br Through mountain forests, rocks, and Carpathian ridges, br Halting by a ford at the close of day br (My companions had sent me ahead to look br For passage), I let my horse graze br And out of the saddlebag took the Holy Scripture; br The light was so gracious, murmur of streams so sweet, br That reading Paul's epistles, and seeing the first star, br I was soon lulled into a profound sleep. br br A young man in ornate Greek raiment br Touched my arm and I heard his voice: br 'Your time, O mortals, hastens by like water, br I have descended and known its absyss. br It was I, whom cruel Paul chastised in Corinth br For having stolen my father's wife, br And by his order I was to be excluded br From the table at which we shared our meals. br Since then I have not been in gatherings of the saints, br And for many years I was led by the sinful love br Of a poor plaything given to temptation, br And so we doomed ourselves to eternal ruin. br But my Lord and my God, whom I knew not, br Tore me from the ashes with his lightning, br In his eyes your truths count for nothing, br His mercy saves all living flesh.' br br Awake under a huge starry sky, br Having received help unhoped for, br Absolved of care about our platry life, br I wiped my eyes wet with tears. br br No, I have never been to Transylvania. br I have never brought messages from there to my church. br But I could have. br This is an exercise in style. br The pluperfect tense br Of countries imperfective.