OF SIX MEDIAEVAL WOMEN 



breath, and from His human mouth, through 

 the wisdom of the Holy Ghost. How couldest 

 thou endure it for an hour ? " 



And the soul answers : " The fish cannot 

 drown in the water, the bird cannot sink in the 

 air, gold cannot perish in the fire, where it 

 gains its clear and shining worth. God has 

 granted to each creature to cherish its own 

 nature. How can I withstand my nature ? 

 I must go from all things to God, who is my 

 Father by Nature, my Brother through His 

 Humanity, my Bridegroom through Love, and 

 I am His for ever." 



Silenced by this wondrous flight of holy 

 passion, we bid farewell to Mechthild. She 

 lived for her time, and she lives for us, as one 

 of " humanity's pioneers on the only road to 

 rest." " Out of the depths," she cried to Heaven. 

 We leave her in the music of the spheres. 



82 



