The Unnecessary Load
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: The Unnecessary Load
Scripture Reference:
- Mark 4 (further images / scripture text)
Description: A man, who carries the World on his shoulders with great effort, is spoken to by another man, who proceeds without impediment. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712), whose initials are at the lower right, was responsible for drawing and etching this emblem and for the poem that accompanies it (below). The attendant scripture text is Mark 4:18-19.
Poem:
Throw from thine neck the heavy load,
That way thou art relieved from the burden,
And will follow with rest and more comfort,
The path of thine life’s days.
Who carries on his back a heavy stone,
From which his hunger cannot be satisfied,
On his Journey, to somewhere,
And makes himself sweat needlessly?
He who would like to complete the Heavenly journey,
And is loaded down by the World,
Will be laughed at by the wise man,
Because he carries his own damage.
Because he who voluntarily so bends himself,
Under what Wisdom has forbidden,
Should ensure that he doesn’t arrive too late,
And miss the worthy, because of the base.
Because, if he out of his own choice,
Has now arrived with this burden,
In front of the dismal Death’ door,
The Treasure will in any case be taken from him.
It’s a treasure, because he regarded it as such.
But it is no Treasure, it cannot profit,
When the body becomes lifeless,
And life must leave everything behind.
Throw down the world, be wise,
So thou canst lighten thine heels,
And make better progress on thine journey,
To the Goal, for which everything must yield.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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