MECHTHILD OF MAGDEBURG 



Then speaks the youth : " Thy dance of 

 praise is well done. Thou shalt have thy will, 

 for thou art heartily wearied. Come at mid-day 

 to the shady fountain, to the bed of love. There 

 shalt thou be refreshed." 



Then, weary of the dance, the soul says to 

 her Chamberlains, the senses : " Withdraw from 

 me, I must go where I may cool myself." 



Then s,ay the senses : " Lady, wilt thou be 

 refreshed with the loving tears of St. Mary 

 Magdalene ? They may well suffice thee." 



" Be silent, sirs ; you know not what I mean. 

 Hinder me not. I would drink for a space of 

 the unmingled wine." 



" Lady, in the Virgin's chastity the great 

 love is reached." 



"That may be. For me it is not the 

 highest." 



" Lady, thou mightst cool thyself in the 

 martyrs' blood." 



" I have been martyred many a day, so that 

 I have no need to come to that now." 



" Lady, bright are the angels, and lovely 

 in love's hue. Wouldst thou cool thyself, be 

 lifted up with them." 



"The bliss of the angels brings me love's 

 woe unless I see their Lord, my Bridegroom." 



" Lady, if thou comest there, thou wilt be 

 blinded quite, so fiery hot is the Godhead, as 

 thou thyself well knowest, for the fire and the 

 glow which make heaven and all the holy 

 ones burn and shine, all flow from His divine 



81 G 



