The Death-Bed of Virtue
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: The Death-Bed of Virtue
Scripture Reference:
- Revelation 14 (further images / scripture text)
Description: The tranquil deathbed of a woman, next to which the husband and child kneel and two angels stand with a palm-branch while cherubs watch from the clouds. On the left, Death is about to cut the thread that connects the dying woman to the World, which is being carried away by Time. 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 Revelation 14:13.
Poem:
Oh Fair Virtue! How sweetly you close your eyes!
When by the force, of one and same hand,
That robs others of all their treasures and endeavors,
Your Burden and Cross are blessedly put aside.
The moving Time, arriving at Death,
Has taken all possessions, and all that’s visible,
In his arm, to be carried away,
While the End cuts the connecting tie;
And blessedly divides, the coarse from the fine,
To be no longer enslaves, and chained,
But liberated and free, to wonderfully appear,
Out of darkness into clear Sunshine.
Oh Fair Virtue, how should the viewing and the hearing,
Of your departure, here from this vale of misery,
Entice everyone’s yearning and heart,
To come along your path to that time,
That lasts Eternally with sweet satisfaction,
Whereto you ready and joyful now go,
Into the Eternal Breadth, from your narrow paths,
And then your Salvation and great happiness has no end.
Approach oh foot, from broad to narrow paths,
While you see, that no one complains,
Who has obtained the salutary End, along these,
Whereas the worldly spirit, is gnawed by regret.
Oh Fair Virtue! Everyone wishes to die with you!
But whoever wishes that, must follow your paths,
And in this time be deprived of his pleasures,
So that delight is not followed by disquiet.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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