The Fathers on Reading Scripture, XIV

St Ephraim the Syrian on the Book of Genesis:

I read the opening of this book
And was filled with joy,
For its verses and lines spread out their arms to welcome me;
The first rushed out and kissed me,
And led me on to its companion;
And when I reached that verse
Wherein is written
The story of Paradise,
It lifted me up and transported me
From the bosom of the book
To the very bosom of Paradise.

Hymns on Paradise 5.3 (CSCO 174:16); translation by Sebastian Brock, St Ephrem the Syrian: Hymns on Paradise.