rizal writings
THE INTIMATE ALLIANCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND GOOD EDUCATION
As the climbing ivy over lefty elm
Creeps tortuously, together the adornment
Of the verdant plain, embellishing
Each other and together growing,
But should the kindly elm refuse its aid
The ivy would impotent and friendless wither
So is Education to Religion
By spiritual alliance bound
Through Religion, Education gains reknown, and
Woe to the impious mind that blindly spurning
The sapient teachings of religion, this
Unpolluted fountain-head forsakes.
As the sprout, growing from the pompous vine,
Proudly offers us its honeyed clusters
While the generous and loving garment
Feeds its roots; so the fresh’ning waters
Of celestial virtue give new life
To Education true, shedding
On it warmth and light; because of them
The vine smells sweet and gives delicious fruit
Without Religion, Human Education
Is like unto a vessel struck by winds
Which, sore beset, is of its helm deprived
By the roaring blows and buffets of the dread
Tempestuous Boreas, who fiercely wields
His power until he proudly send her down
Into the deep abysses of then angered sea.
As the heaven’s dew the meadow feeds and strengthen
So that blooming flowers all the earth
Embrioder in the days of spring; so also
If Religion holy nourishes
Education with its doctrine, she
Shall walk in joy and generosity
Toward the good, and everywhere bestrew
The fragrant and luxuriant fruits of virtue My First Inspiration
Why falls so rich a spray of fragrance from the bowers of the balmy flowers upon this festive day?
Why from woods and vales do we hear sweet measures ringing that seem to be the singing of a choir of nightingales?
Why in the grass below do birds start at the wind's noises, unleashing their honeyed voices as they hop from bough to bough?
Why should the spring that glows its crystalline murmur be tuning to the zephyr's mellow crooning as among the flowers it flows?
As the climbing ivy over lefty elm
Creeps tortuously, together the adornment
Of the verdant plain, embellishing
Each other and together growing,
But should the kindly elm refuse its aid
The ivy would impotent and friendless wither
So is Education to Religion
By spiritual alliance bound
Through Religion, Education gains reknown, and
Woe to the impious mind that blindly spurning
The sapient teachings of religion, this
Unpolluted fountain-head forsakes.
As the sprout, growing from the pompous vine,
Proudly offers us its honeyed clusters
While the generous and loving garment
Feeds its roots; so the fresh’ning waters
Of celestial virtue give new life
To Education true, shedding
On it warmth and light; because of them
The vine smells sweet and gives delicious fruit
Without Religion, Human Education
Is like unto a vessel struck by winds
Which, sore beset, is of its helm deprived
By the roaring blows and buffets of the dread
Tempestuous Boreas, who fiercely wields
His power until he proudly send her down
Into the deep abysses of then angered sea.
As the heaven’s dew the meadow feeds and strengthen
So that blooming flowers all the earth
Embrioder in the days of spring; so also
If Religion holy nourishes
Education with its doctrine, she
Shall walk in joy and generosity
Toward the good, and everywhere bestrew
The fragrant and luxuriant fruits of virtue My First Inspiration
Why falls so rich a spray of fragrance from the bowers of the balmy flowers upon this festive day?
Why from woods and vales do we hear sweet measures ringing that seem to be the singing of a choir of nightingales?
Why in the grass below do birds start at the wind's noises, unleashing their honeyed voices as they hop from bough to bough?
Why should the spring that glows its crystalline murmur be tuning to the zephyr's mellow crooning as among the flowers it flows?