O Ecclesia,
your eyes are like sapphire:
your ears the mount of Bethel,
your nose
like a mountain of myrrh and incense,
and your mouth is like the sound
of many waters.
In a vision of true faith
Ursula loved the son of God
and rejected betrothed and world alike;
she gazed at the sun
and implored the most beautiful youth,
saying:
With a great desire
I have desired to come to you
and rest with you in the marriage of Heaven
running to you by a new path
as the clouds course in the purest air
like sapphire.
And after Ursula had said this
rumour spread amongst the people.
And they said:
In the innocence of girlish ignorance
she does not know what she is saying.
And they began to play with her
in a great music,
until the burden of fire
fell upon her.
Whence they all knew,
for scorn of the world
is like the mount of Bethel.
And they sensed also
the sweetest odour of myrrh and incense,
for scorn of the world
rises over all things.
Then the devil
invaded those that were his own,
they that in the bodies of these women
had struck down the noblest qualities.
And all the Elements
heard the great cry,
and before the throne of God
they said:
O! the red blood
of the innocent lamb
has streamed out
in the moment of union.
Let all the Heavens hear this,
and let them praise the lamb of God
with the celestial harmony,
for the throat of the Ancient Serpent
has been choked with these pearls
made of the word of God.
(Hildegard von Bingen)
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