It
was
never
better
sustained;
but
nature
is,
as
it
were,
left
a
little
alone,
and
makes
all
these
ravages
without
the
soul
in
itself
taking
any
part
in
them.
This
poor
desolate
bride,
running
hither
and
thither
in
search
of
her
Beloved,
not
only
soils
herself
grievously,
as
I
have
said,
by
falling
into
faults
of
surprise
and
self-esteem,
but
she
wounds
herself
with
the
thorns
that
come
in
her
way.
She
becomes
so
wearied
at
length
that
she
is
forced
to
die
in
her
race
for
want
of
help
;
that
is,
to
expect
nothing
from
herself
or
her
own
activity.
That
which
is
productive
of
the
highest
good
to
the
soul
in
this
condition
is
that
God
manifests
no
pity
towards
it;
and
when
He
desires
to
pro-mote
its
advancement.
He
lets
it
run
even
to
death;
if
He
stops
it
for
a
moment,
by
doing
which
He
ravishes
and
revives
it,
it
is
because
of
its
weakness,
and
in
order
that
its
weariness
may
not
compel
it
to
rest.
When
He
sees
that
it
is
becoming
disheartened
and
inclined
to
give
up
the
race
altogether,
He
looks
upon
it
for
a
moment,
and
the
poor
bride
finds
herself
wounded
anew
by
this
look.
She
