THE THUNDER PERFECT MIND (Translated by George W. MacRae)

“I am the one who is disgraced and the great one.

Give heed to my poverty and my wealth.

Do not be arrogant to me when I am cast out upon the earth,

And you will find me in those that are to come.

And do not look upon me on the dung-heap,

Nor go and leave me cast out,

And you will find me in the kingdoms.

And do not look upon me when I am cast out among those,

Who are disgraced and in the least places,

Nor laugh at me.

And do not cast me out among those who are slain in violence.

But I, I am compassionate and I am cruel.

Be on your guard!

Do not hate my obedience,

And do not love my self-control.

In my weakness, do not forsake me,

And do not be afraid of my power.

For why do you despise my fear,

And curse my pride?

But I am she who exists in all fears,

And strength in trembling.

I am she who is weak,

And I am well in a pleasant place.

I am senseless and I am wise.

Why have you hated me in your counsels?

For I shall be silent among those who are silent,

And I shall appear and speak,

Why then have you hated me, you Greeks?

Because I am a barbarian among the barbarians?

For I am the wisdom of the Greeks,

And the knowledge of the barbarians.

I am the judgment of the Greeks and of the barbarians.

I am the one whose image is great in Egypt.

And the one who has no image among the barbarians.

I am the one who has been hated everywhere

And who has been loved everywhere.”

A longer and slightly different translation can be found here:

http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/thunder.shtml

The website of Peter van Staten can be found here:

http://www.petervanstraten.co.za/the-artist/