MECHTHILD OF MAGDEBURG 



fallen out, since thou dost outrage and bring 

 dishonour on the holy Christian vows. Thy 

 gold has become tarnished in the morass of 

 unchastity, for thou art become degenerate, and 

 art lacking in true love. Thy abstinence is 

 consumed by the ravenous fire of gluttony, thy 

 humility is drowned in the slough of the flesh, 

 thy word no longer avails against the lies of the 

 world, the flowers of all the virtues have fallen 

 from thee. Alas, O thou Crown of the holy 

 Priesthood, how diminished thou art, and verily 

 thou now possessest naught but priestly power, 

 with the which thou fightest against God and 

 His elect. For this will God humble thee, ere 

 thou learnest wisdom. For thus saith the Lord : 

 ' My shepherds of Jerusalem have become mur- 

 derers and wolves, for that they slay before My 

 very eyes the white lambs, and the sheep are all 

 sickly for that they may not eat .of the whole- 

 some pasture that grows on the high mountains, 

 the which is godly love and holy doctrine.' He 

 who knows not the way that leads to Hell, let 

 him give heed to the unholy clergy, who, with 

 wives and children and many heinous sins, go 

 straightway thither/' 



Whilst condemning the priesthood, Mecht- 

 hild eulogises nunnery life in an allegory entitled 

 " The Ghostly Cloister," in which she pictures 

 the virtues as dwelling. " Charity " is the abbess, 

 who with zeal takes care of the congregation in 

 both body and soul ; " Godly Humility " is the 

 chaplain ; " The Holy Peace of God " is the 



69 



