De fratre Bertoldo dicto Bruhavee commendatore de Kunigsbergk et vita ejus.
Berthold's Appointment at Königsberg
Berthold is appointed commander at Königsberg, and his virtuous life is praised.
This brother Berthold, after being in charge of the aforementioned castle of Ragnit for a short time, was appointed commander of the brothers at Königsberg. Concerning the life of this man and the wonderful radiance of his virtues, remarkable deeds are reported.
The Trial of Chastity
Berthold tests his ability to keep chastity by lying naked with a beautiful virgin for over a year without sin.
For when he himself, inspired by the Lord, wished to surrender himself to the religious life, he considered those two things—namely poverty and the religious houses—and, beyond them, the third, namely chastity, to be among the difficult things, since no one can be chaste unless God grants it. He wanted to test whether he would be equal to the observance of chastity, and having taken up the challenge, he undertook a thing both unusual and full of danger. For he took a young virgin who, because of the eminence of her beauty, had no equal among the neighbors, and lying with her, as it were, every night in his bed, naked with the naked woman, for a year and longer—as she herself afterward affirmed by her oath, and as the signs of her integrity showed—he never knew her carnally.
Greater Than Samson, David, and Solomon
The author compares Berthold favorably to Samson, David, and Solomon, who all fell to women, and humbly dares to declare him superior.
Behold, a wonderful and astonishing thing: Samson the strongest, David the holiest, Solomon the wisest—conquered by the wiles of a woman, they fell; this one, willingly embracing her companionship, conquered, and has been raised to the summit of virtues. Is he not, then, stronger than Samson, holier than David, wiser than Solomon? If I might dare to say so—saving their peace—certainly in this case, yes.
Read the original Latin
Hie frater Bertoldus postquam dicto Castro Raganite prefuit modico tem pore, fuit in commendatorem fratribus de Kunigsbergk ordinatus. De hujus viri vita, et virtutum refulgencia mira facta referuntur. Ipse enim cum se domino inspirante vellet reddere religioni, considerans illa duo scilicet paupertatem et religionibus et extra, sed tercium scilicet castitatem esse unumf de arduis, quia nemo potest esse castus, nisi deus det, voluit examinare, utrum sufficeretg ad observanciam castitatis, aggressusque est rem inusitatam et plenam periculo. Assumpsit enim virginem juvenem, que propter eminenciam pulchritudinis sue parem non habuit in vicinis, jacensque cum ea quasi singulis noctibus in stratu suo nudus cum nuda per annum et amplius, ut ipsa per sacramentum suum postea affirmabat, et integritatis sue signa ostendebant, nunquam ipsam carnaliter cognovit. Ecce mira res et stupenda, Samson fortissimus, David sanctissimus, Salomon sapientissimus mulieris victi blandiciis ceciderunt; hic sponte consorcium ejus amplectens, vicit, et in virtutum culmine est erectus. Numquid ergo forcior Samsone, sanctior Davide, sapiencior Salomone? Si audeam dicere, salva pace ipsorum utique in hoc casu.
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