Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!
You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I search for you.
In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things, which you created.
You were with me, but I was not with you.
Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all.
You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness.
You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness.
You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you.
I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more.
You touched me, and I burned for your peace.
(The Confessions of St. Augustine).
"Tão tarde Vos amei, ò beleza tão antiga e tão nova, tão tarde Vos amei!
Vós estáveis dentro de mim, mas eu estava fora, e fora de mim Vos procurava;
com o meu espírito deformado, precipitava-me sobre as coisas formosas que criastes.
Estáveis comigo e eu não estava convosco.
Retinha-me longe de Vós aquilo que não existiria se não existisse em Vós.
Chamastes, clamastes e rompestes a minha surdez.
Brilhastes, resplandecestes e dissipastes a minha cegueira.
Exalastes sobre mim o vosso perfume: aspirei-o profundamente, e agora suspiro por Vós.
Saboreei-Vos, e agora tenho fome e sede de Vós.
Tocastes-me e agora desejo ardentemente a vossa paz."
(Santo Agostinho, em Confissões).
'Saint Augustine with the Holy Family and Saint Catherine of Alexandria ('The Vision of Saint Augustine')' - The National Gallery, London.
