The Hymn of the Pearl

or The Hymn of the Soul. or Hymn of the Robe of Glory

In the Syriac text of the Acts, we find the Hymn of the Pearl, where the soul which has been sent down from her heavenly home to fetch the pearl guarded by the serpent, but has forgotten here below her heavenly mission until she is reminded of it by a letter from "the father, the mother, and the brother", performs her task, receives back again her glorious dress, and returns to her old home.

A passage of the apocryphal Acts of Thomas 2nd–3rd century

returning to be re-crowned
reclaiming treasure (the pearl = soul/light)
awakening through remembrance
living as a commoner
forgetfulness
descent into a foreign land
royal son

It describes a royal child (the King’s Son) who is sent to Egypt to retrieve a lost pearl. Upon arrival he is given food that causes him to forget his royal origin. He becomes as one of the Egyptians, living among them as a servant, until a letter from his Father awakens him. He remembers his identity, takes the pearl, and returns to his Father to be clothed again in his royal robe.

A royal or noble son leaves his Father’s house, wastes his inheritance, falls into poverty, and lives among swine. He “comes to himself” (a phrase ACIM highlights) and returns to the Father, who restores him to full sonship.

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

King Harishchandra (Indian tradition)

A righteous king loses everything, becomes a beggar or slave, forgets his royal identity, and undergoes severe trials before being restored to his throne.

He had promised that with him to the Court of the King of Kings I should speed, and taking with me my Pearl should with him be seen by our King.

I clothed me therewith, and ascended to the Gate of Greeting and Homage. I bowed my head and did homage to the Glory of Him who had sent it, whose commands I [now] had accomplished, and who had, too, done what He’d promised. [And there] at the Gate of His House-sons I mingled myself with His Princes; for He had received me with gladness, and I was with Him in His Kingdom; to whom the whole of His Servants with sweet-sounding voices sing praises.

And now with its Kingly motions was it pouring itself out towards me, and made haste in the hands of its Givers, that I might [take and] receive it. And me, too, my love urged forward to run for to meet it, to take it. And I stretched myself forth to receive it; with its beauty of colour I decked me, and my Mantle of sparkling colours I wrapped entirely all o’er me.

I saw that moreover all o’er it the motions of Gnosis abounding; I saw it further was making ready as though for to speak. I heard the sound of its Music which it whispered as it descended [?]: “Behold him the active in deeds! For whom I was reared with my Father; I too have felt in myself how that with his works waxed my stature.”

The Glorious Robe all-bespangled with sparkling splendour of colours: with Gold and also with Beryls, Chalcedonies, iris-hued [Opals?], with Sards of varying colours. To match its grandeur, moreover, it had been completed: with adamantine jewels all of its seams were off-fastened. [Moreover] the King of Kings’ Image was depicted entirely all o’er it; and as with Sapphires above was it wrought in a motley of colour.

I saw it in all of me, and saw me all in [all of] it—that we were twain in distinction, and yet again one in one likeness. I saw, too, the Treasurers also, who unto me had down-brought it, were twain [and yet] of one likeness; for one Sign of the King was upon them—who through them restored me the Glory, the Pledge of my Kingship.

My Glorious Robe that I’d stripped off, and my Mantle with which it was covered, down from the Heights of Hyrcania, thither my Parents did send me, by the hands of their Treasure-dispensers who trustworthy were with it trusted. Without my recalling its fashion—in the House of my Father my childhood had left it—at once, as soon as I saw it, the Glory looked like my own self.

I went forth; through Sarbãg I passed; I left B~ bel-land on my left hand; and I reached unto Maishan the Great, the meeting-place of the merchants that lieth hard by the Sea-shore.

And I snatched up the Pearl, and turned to the House of my Father. Their filthy and unclean garments I stripped off and left in their country. To the way that I came I betook me, to the Light of our Home, to the Dawn-land. On the road I found [there] before me my Letter that had aroused me—as with its voice it had roused me, so now with its light it did lead me—on fabric of silk, in letter of red [?], with shining appearance before me [?], encouraging me with its guidance, with its love it was drawing me onward.

I remembered that I was a King’s son, and my rank did long for its nature. I bethought me again of the Pearl for which I was sent down to Egypt. And I began [then] to charm him, the terrible loud-breathing Serpent. I lulled him to sleep and to slumber, chanting o’er him the Name of my Father, the Name of our Second, [my Brother], and of my Mother, the East-Queen.

My Letter was a Letter the King had sealed up with His Right Hand, against the Children of Babel, the wicked, the tyrannical Daimons of Sarbãg. It flew in the form of the Eagle, of all the winged tribes the king-bird; it flew and alighted beside me, and turned into speech altogether. At its voice and the sound of its winging I waked and arose from my deep sleep. Unto me I took it and kissed it; I loosed its seal and I read it. E’en as it stood in my heart writ, the words of my Letter were written.

“From Us—King of Kings, thy Father, and thy Mother, Queen of the Dawn-land, and from Our Second, thy Brother—to thee, Son, down in Egypt, Our Greeting! Up and arise from thy sleep, give ear to the words of Our Letter! Remember that thou art a King’s son; see whom thou hast served in thy slavedom. Bethink thyself of the Pearl for which thou didst journey to Egypt. Remember thy Glorious Robe, thy Splendid Mantle remember, to put on and wear as adornment when thy Name may be read in the Book of the Heroes, and with Our Successor, thy Brother, thou mayest be Heir in Our Kingdom.”

All this that now was befalling, my Parents perceived and were anxious. It was then proclaimed in our Kingdom that all should speed to our Gate—Kings and Chieftains of Parthia, and of the East all the Princes. And this is the counsel they came to: I should not be left down in Egypt. And for me they wrote out a Letter; and to it each Noble his Name set:

But from some occasion or other they learned I was not of their country. With their wiles they made my acquaintance; yea, they gave me their victuals to eat. I forgot that I was a King’s son, and became a slave to their king. I forgot all concerning the Pearl for which my Parents had sent me; and from the weight of their victuals I sank down into a deep sleep.

I made him my chosen companion, a comrade for sharing my wares with. He warned me against the Egyptians, against mixing with the unclean ones. For I had clothed me as they were, that they might not guess I had come from afar to take off the Pearl, and so rouse the Serpent against me.

Straightway I went to the Serpent; near to his lodging I settled, to take away my Pearl while he should sleep and should slumber. Lone was I there, yea, all lonely; to my fellow-lodgers a stranger. However I saw there a noble, from out of the Dawn-land my kinsman, a young man fair and well favoured, Son of Grandees; he came and he joined me.

I left the East and went down with two Couriers; for the way was hard and dangerous, for I was young to tread it. I traversed the borders of Maish~ n, the mart of the Eastern merchants, and I reached the Land of Babel, and entered the walls of Sarbãg. Down further I went into Egypt; and from me parted my escorts.

And with me They then made a compact; in my heart wrote it, not to forget it: “If thou goest down into Egypt, and thence thou bring’st the one Pearl—The Pearl that lies in the Sea, hard by the loud-breathing Serpent—then shalt thou put on thy Robe and thy Mantle that goeth upon it, and with thy Brother, Our Second, shalt thou be Heir in our Kingdom.”

Gold from the Land of Beth-Ellaya, silver from Gazak the Great, chalcedonies of India, iris-hued Opals from Kãshan. They girt me with Adamant that hath power to cut even iron. My Glorious Robe they took off me, which in their love they had wrought me, and my Purple Mantle also which was woven to match with my stature.

When, a quite little child, I was dwelling in the House of my Father’s Kingdom, and in the wealth and the glories of my upbringers I was delighting, from the East, our Home, my Parents forth-sent me with journey-provision. Indeed, from the wealth of our Treasure, they bound up for me a load. Large was it, yet was it so light that all alone I could bear it.

Translated by G. R. S. Mead

(Prose Rendering)

Modernized language version

Gold from the Land of Beth-Ellaya, silver from Gazak the Great, chalcedonies of India, iris-hued Opals from Kãshan. They girt me with Adamant that has power to cut even iron. My Glorious Robe they took off me, which in their love they had wrought me, and my Purple Mantle also which was woven to match with my stature.

And with me they then made a compact; in my heart wrote it, not to forget it: “If you go down into Egypt, and from there you bring the one Pearl—the Pearl that lies in the Sea, hard by the loud-breathing Serpent—then you shall put on your Robe and your Mantle that goes upon it, and with your Brother, Our Second, you shall be Heir in our Kingdom.”

“From Us—King of Kings, your Father, and your Mother, Queen of the Dawn-land, and from Our Second, your Brother—to you, Son, down in Egypt, Our Greeting! Up and arise from your sleep, give ear to the words of Our Letter! Remember that you are a King’s son; see whom you have served in your slavedom. Bethink yourself of the Pearl for which you journeyed to Egypt. Remember your Glorious Robe, your Splendid Mantle remember, to put on and wear as adornment when your Name may be read in the Book of the Heroes, and with Our Successor, your Brother, you may be Heir in Our Kingdom.”

My Letter was a Letter the King had sealed up with His Right Hand, against the Children of Babel, the wicked, the tyrannical Daimons of Sarbãg. It flew in the form of the Eagle, of all the winged tribes the king-bird; it flew and alighted beside me, and turned into speech altogether. At its voice and the sound of its winging I waked and arose from my deep sleep. Unto me I took it and kissed it; I loosed its seal and I read it. Even as it stood in my heart written, the words of my Letter were written.

I remembered that I was a King’s son, and my rank longed for its nature. I bethought myself again of the Pearl for which I was sent down to Egypt. And I began then to charm him, the terrible loud-breathing Serpent. I lulled him to sleep and to slumber, chanting over him the Name of my Father, the Name of our Second, my Brother, and of my Mother, the East-Queen.

And I snatched up the Pearl, and turned to the House of my Father. Their filthy and unclean garments I stripped off and left in their country. To the way that I came I betook me, to the Light of our Home, to the Dawn-land. On the road I found there before me my Letter that had aroused me—as with its voice it had roused me, so now with its light it did lead me—on fabric of silk, in letter of red, with shining appearance before me, encouraging me with its guidance, with its love it was drawing me onward.

I went forth; through Sarbãg I passed; I left Babel-land on my left hand; and I reached unto Maishan the Great, the meeting-place of the merchants that lies hard by the Sea-shore.

My Glorious Robe that I had stripped off, and my Mantle with which it was covered, down from the Heights of Hyrcania, thither my Parents did send me, by the hands of their Treasure-dispensers who trustworthy were with it trusted. Without my recalling its fashion—in the House of my Father my childhood had left it—at once, as soon as I saw it, the Glory looked like my own self.

I saw it in all of me, and saw me all in all of it—that we were two in distinction, and yet again one in one likeness. I saw, too, the Treasurers also, who unto me had down-brought it, were two and yet of one likeness; for one Sign of the King was upon them—who through them restored me the Glory, the Pledge of my Kingship.

The Glorious Robe all-bespangled with sparkling splendour of colours: with Gold and also with Beryls, Chalcedonies, iris-hued Opals, with Sards of varying colours. To match its grandeur, moreover, it had been completed: with adamantine jewels all of its seams were off-fastened. Moreover the King of Kings’ Image was depicted entirely all over it; and as with Sapphires above was it wrought in a motley of colour.

I saw that moreover all over it the motions of Gnosis abounding; I saw it further was making ready as though to speak. I heard the sound of its Music which it whispered as it descended: “Behold him the active in deeds! For whom I was reared with my Father; I too have felt in myself how with his works waxed my stature.”

And now with its Kingly motions it was pouring itself out towards me, and made haste in the hands of its Givers, that I might take and receive it. And me, too, my love urged forward to run to meet it, to take it. And I stretched myself forth to receive it; with its beauty of colour I decked myself, and my Mantle of sparkling colours I wrapped entirely all over me.

I clothed myself therewith, and ascended to the Gate of Greeting and Homage. I bowed my head and did homage to the Glory of Him who had sent it, whose commands I now had accomplished, and who had also done what He had promised. And there at the Gate of His House-sons I mingled myself with His Princes; for He had received me with gladness, and I was with Him in His Kingdom; to whom the whole of His Servants with sweet-sounding voices sing praises.

He had promised that with him to the Court of the King of Kings I should speed, and taking with me my Pearl should with him be seen by our King.

From The Gnostic Bible, Willis Barnstone

DRESSING FOR THE JOURNEY

When I was a little child living in my father’s palace in his kingdom, happy in the glories and riches of my family that nurtured me, my parents gave me supplies and sent me out on a mission from our home in the east. From their treasure house they made up a cargo for me. It was big though light enough so I could carry it myself, holding gold from the highest houses and silver of Gazzak the Great and rubies of India and opals from the land of Kushan, and they girded me with adamant that can crush iron. They took off my bright robe of glory, which they had made for me out of love, and took away my purple toga, which was woven to fit my stature. They made a covenant with me and wrote it in my heart so I would not forget: “When you go down into Egypt and bring back the one pearl that lies in the middle of the sea and is guarded by the snorting serpent, you will again put on your robe of glory and your toga over it, and with your brother, our next in rank, you will be heir in our kingdom.”

THE DRAGON AND THE DEEP SLEEP

I left the east and traveled down to Egypt with my two royal guides, since the way was dangerous and harsh and I was very young to walk alone. I crossed the borders of Maishan, the gathering place of merchants of the east, came into the land of the Babylonians, and entered the walls of Sarbug. When I went down into Egypt my companions left me. I went straight to the serpent and settled close by him in an inn, waiting for him to sleep so I could take my pearl from him. Since I was alone I was a stranger to others in the inn, yet I saw one of my own people there, a nobleman from the east, young, handsome, lovable, a son of kings — an anointed one, and he came and was close to me. And I made him my confidante with whom I shared my mission. I warned him against the Egyptians and of contact with the unclean ones. Then I put on a robe like theirs, lest they suspect me as an outsider who had come to steal the pearl, lest they arouse the serpent against me. Somehow they learned I was not their countryman, dealt with me cunningly, and gave me their food to eat. I fell into a deep sleep. I forgot that I was a son of kings and served their king. I forgot the pearl for which my parents had sent me. Through the heaviness of their food I fell into a deep sleep.

“REMEMBER THE PEARL”

When all these things happened my parents knew and grieved for me. It was proclaimed in our kingdom that all should come to our gate. And the kings and princes of Parthia and all the nobles of the east wove a plan on my behalf so I would not be left in Egypt. And they wrote me a letter and every noble signed it with his name: “From your father, the king of kings, and your mother, the mistress of the east, and from your brother, our next in rank, and to you, our son in Egypt, peace! Awake and rise from your sleep and hear the words of our letter! Remember that you are a son of kings and see the slavery of your life. Remember the pearl for which you were sent into Egypt! Remember your robe of glory and your splendid mantle, which you may wear when your name is called in the book of life, when it is read in the book of heroes, when you and your brother inherit our kingdom.”

THE BIRD OF SPEECH

And serving as messenger, the letter was a letter sealed by the king with his right hand against the evil children of Babylon and the savage demons of the Sarbug labyrinth. It rose up in the form of an eagle, the king of all winged fowl; it flew and alighted beside me and became Speech. At its Voice and the Sound of its rustling I awoke and rose from my sleep. I took it, kissed it, broke its seal, and read. And the words written on my heart were in the letter for me to read. I remembered that I was the son of kings and my free soul longed for its own kind. I remembered the pearl for which I was send down into Egypt, and I began to enchant the terrible and snorting serpent. I charmed him into sleep by calling the Name of my Father over him and of my mother, the queen of the east. I seized the pearl and turned to carry it to my father. Those filthy and impure garments I stripped off, leaving them in the fields, and went straight on my way into the light of our homeland in the east.

THE LETTER’S VOICE

On my way the letter that awakened me was lying like a woman on the road. And as she had awakened me with her voice so she guided me with her light as if she were an oracle. She was written on Chinese silk and shone before me in her own form. Her voice soothed my fear and its love urged me on. I hurried past the labyrinth walls of Sarbug and Babylon on the left and came to Maishan, the haven of merchants, perched over the coast of the sea. My robe of glory that I had taken off and the toga over it were sent by my parents from the heights of Hyrcania. They were in the hands of treasurers to whom they were committed because of their faith, and I had forgotten the robe’s splendor, for as a child I had left it in my father’s house.

THE GARMENT OF GNOSIS

As I gazed on it, suddenly the garment like a mirror reflected me, and I saw myself apart as two entities in one form. The treasurers had brought me one robe, yet in two halves I saw one shape with one kingly seal. They gave me wealth, and the bright embroidered robe was colored with gold and beryls, with rubies and opals, and sardonyxes of many colors were fastened to it in its high home. All its seams were fastened with stones of adamant, and the image of the king of kings was embroidered on it as it rippled with sapphires of many colors. I saw it quiver all over, moving with gnosis, in a pulsing knowledge, and as it prepared to speak it moved toward me, murmuring the sound of its songs. It descended and said, “I am the one who acted for him. For him I was brought up in my father’s house. I saw myself growing in stature in harmony with his labors.”

THE TOGA AND THE PEARL

With regal movements the robe was spreading toward me, urging me to take it, and love urged me to receive it, and I stretched forth and received it and put on the beauty of its hues. I cast my toga of brilliant colors all around me. Therein I clothed myself and ascended to the gate of salutation and adoration. I bowed my head and adored the majesty of my father, who sent it to me. I had fulfilled his commands and he fulfilled what he had promised. At the gate of his princes I mingled with his nobles. He was happy through me and received me, and I was with him in his kingdom, and his slaves praised him resoundingly. He promised me that I would journey soon with him to the gate of the king of kings, and with my gifts and my pearl I would appear with him before our king.