R122: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Propst A. von Hameln
The King and the Darkened Ladder
Hildegard introduces a vision of a king who sees a ladder darkened by pestilence, yet the sun shines forth and splits the darkness, pleasing the king.
Hildegard's response. Who is, she says. The king sees a ladder. It was darkened in the shifting shadow of pestilence. And the sun shone forth! And he split that darkness apart. And this pleased the king. And he said:
The Restless Mind Between Light and Darkness
The worn and fleeing ladder symbolizes the human mind that alternates between climbing to joyful heights and being swallowed in darkness, making such instability impossible.
This ladder, worn out and fleeing, is a weariness. Because sometimes it climbs toward steep heights, and sometimes it's swallowed in darkness. Such is your mind, O man. In the day of your spirit's restless questioning, you rise up to me in a joy that gladdens! And again, in a harmful pestilence, you tend to a disease that is falling, collapsing. As though the cause of your salvation were not something to be sought out. It's impossible!
Look to God and Live Forever
Hildegard urges the reader to look to God, seek medicinal ointment in times of storm, cultivate pure law, and flee doubt so that God will bring salvation and eternal life.
Because it may be ash, immovable. Look to me. And always seek out the medicinal ointment in the day and in the storm. And you will live forever. Cultivate a pure law. And flee doubt! And God will save you.
Read the original Latin
Responsum hildegardis. Qui est dicit. Rex uidet scalam. quę obtenebrata est in uicissitudine pestilentię. Et sol effulsit! et obtenebrationem illam scidit. Et hoc regi placuit. et dixit.
Hęc fugitiua scala in fatigatione est. quia interdum ad ardua scandit. et interdum obtenebratur. Talis est mens tua o homo. In die sciscitationis animi tui ascendis in leto gaudio ad me! et iterum in nociua pestilentia colis cadentem morbum. quasi non exquirenda sit causa salutis. Inpossibile est!
quod cinis immobilis sit. Aspice ad me. et semper requiquire ungentum medicinę in die et in turbine. et in eternum uiues. Puram legem cole. et dubietatem fuge! et deus saluabit. te.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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