emmerich -7

The trees did not stand close together. 

Of all plants, at least of the largest, I saw only one of each kind, and they stood apart like seedlings [zaailingen] set out in a garden bed. 

Vegetation was luxuriant [weelderig], perfectly green, of a species pure, sound, and exempt from decay. Nothing appeared to receive or to need the attention of an earthly gardener. 

I thought: How is it that all is so beautiful, since as yet there are no human beings! Ah! Sin has not yet entered. There has been no destruction, no rending asunder [verscheuring, uit elkaar scheuren]. All is sound, all is holy. As yet there has been no healing, no repairing. All is pure, nothing has needed purification.

The plain that I beheld [aanschouwde]... 

was gently undulating [glooiend] and covered with vegetation. In its center rose a fountain, from all sides of which flowed streams, crossing one another and mingling their waters. 

I saw in them first a slight movement as of life, and then I saw living things. After that I saw, here and there among the shrubs and bushes, animals peeping forth, as if just roused from sleep. 

They were very different from those of a later day, not at all timorous [bang]. Compared with those of our own time, they were almost as far their superior as men are superior to beasts. 

They were pure and noble, nimble [behendig], and joyous. Words cannot describe them. I was not familiar with many of them, for I saw very few like those we have now. 

I saw the elephant, the stag [hert], the camel, and even the unicorn. This last I saw also in the ark. It is remarkably gentle and affectionate, not so tall as a horse, its head more rounded in shape. 

I saw no asses, no insects, no wretched [ellendig], loathsome [walgelijke] creatures. These last, I have always looked upon as a punishment of sin. 

But I saw myriads of birds, and heard the sweetest notes as in the early morning. There were no birds of prey that I could see, nor did I hear any animals bellowing [brullen].

-

Paradise is still in existence... 

but it is utterly impossible for man to reach it. 

I have seen that it still exists in all its splendor. It is high above the earth and in an oblique [schuin, zijdelings] direction from it, like the dark globe of the angels fallen from Heaven.

~bron~