R59: Eberhard von Eberbach an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Humble Address
The abbot of Eberbach greets Hildegard with humble self-description and praises Christ for exalting the lowly.
The abbot of Eberbach. To Hildegard. To the beloved of God and venerable among men, the lady and mother Hildegard of Bingen. Brother E. Abbot — that is, the unworthy one — of Eberbach. A small thing, this that it is. We magnify and glorify Christ our Savior for you. He who looks upon those who tremble at him.✦
God's Dwelling in the Soul
Christ has chosen Hildegard's heart as His dwelling, revealed hidden wisdom to her, and embraced her with spousal tenderness.
The One who is powerful exalts the humble and has done great things for you.✦ Because he is powerful. He has chosen — just as we ourselves have heard and seen — the sanctuary of your heart as a dwelling place for himself.✦ He has revealed to you divine knowledge, and the uncertain and hidden things of his wisdom.✦ Leading you into his chamber, to the flowers of roses and the lilies of the valleys.✦ To the flowering fields of the eternal mountains.✦ His left hand is under your head.✦ And his right hand embraces you!✦
The Fragrance of Her Holiness
Her name is oil poured out, drawing many to run in the fragrance of her ointments, and the writer prays God preserves both natural and graced gifts in her.
So that you can truly say, My beloved is mine, and I am his.✦1 In all these things, your name is oil poured out.✦2 And so young women have loved you.✦3 And we run in the fragrance of your ointments.✦4 We also ask the Lord that he may deign to preserve in you both the gifts of nature and the gifts of his grace.5 To his glory, and to your crown!
Joy, Example, and Mutual Intercession
The writer rejoices in Hildegard's holiness as an example to many and asks her to remember them at the coming of the Bridegroom, pledging continued obedience.
This is for our joy. And as an example to many. We also pray and earnestly ask with humble prayer that you may deign to be mindful of us as well, and at the coming of your bridegroom to commend our lowliness to him! so that, just as we rejoice and are glad at the reputation of your holiness, so through your intercession we may deserve to receive joy and exultation. If you deign to command anything concerning our service, we will joyfully embrace it. We will also do in the future just as we have done now.
Pledge of Ready Service
The abbot concludes with a brief declaration of readiness to serve Hildegard in every holy desire.
And we are ready to serve you in every holy desire of yours.
Read the original Latin
Abbas de eberbach. hildegardi. Dilectę deo et hominibus uenerandę dominę et matri hildegardi in binge. frater E. abbas scilicet indignus de eberbach. modicum id quod est. Magnificamus et glorificamus pro uobis christum saluatorem nostrum. qui respicit se trementes.
potens exaltat humiles qui et magna uobis fecit. quia potens est. Elegit sicut ipsi audiuimus et uidimus sacrarium pectoris uestri in habitaculum sibi. scientiamque diuinam incerta et occulta sapientię suę uobis manifestauit. introducens in cubiculum suum ad flores rosarum et lilia conuallium. ad florida rura montium eternorum. Leua eius sub capite uestro. et dextera illius amplexatur uos!
ita ut ueraciter dicere ualeatis. dilectus meus mihi et ego illi. In omnibus his oleum effusum nomen uestrum. et ideo adolescentulę dilexerunt uos. et nos currimus in odore ungentorum uestrorum. rogamus et dominum ut et dona naturę et munera gratię suę uobis conseruare dignetur. sibi ad gloriam. uobis ad coronam!
nobis ad gaudium. multis in exemplum. Oramus quoque et humili prece deposcimus. ut nostri etiam memor esse dignemini atque in aduentu sponsi uestri nostram sibi paruitatem commendare! ut sicut de opinione sanctitatis uestrę letamur et gaudeamus. sic intercessione uestra mereamur gaudium et exultationem percipere. Si quid de seruicio nostro precipere dignamini letanter amplectimur. faciemus quoque sicut et modo fecimus.
et ad omnem sanctam uoluntatem uestram subseruire parati sumus.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.137.6 — Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my chief joy.
- ↩Luke.1.52;1Sam.2.7-1Sam.2.8 — He has brought down rulers from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. 1Sam.2.7 — The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, and also lifts up. 1Sam.2.8 — He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap, to seat them with princes and to give them a throne of honor. For the pillars of the earth belong to the LORD, and on them he has set the world.
- ↩John.1.14;1Cor.3.16 — And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 1Cor.3.16 — Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
- ↩1Cor.2.10;Dan.2.22 — But to us God has revealed it through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. Dan.2.22 — He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
- ↩Song.2.1-Song.2.2 — I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys. Song.2.2 — As a lily among thorns, so is my beloved among the daughters.
- ↩Ps.103.15;Isa.40.9 — As for mortals, their days are like grass; like a flower of the field, so they blossom. Isa.40.9 — Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"
- ↩Song.2.6 — His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
- ↩Song.2.6 — His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
- ↩Song.2.16 — My beloved is mine, and I am his — the one who grazes among the lilies.
- ↩Song.1.3 — The fragrance of your oils is good; your name is poured oil; therefore young women love you.
- ↩Song.1.3 — The fragrance of your oils is good; your name is poured oil; therefore young women love you.
- ↩Song.1.4 — Draw me after you—let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice and be glad in you; we will remember your love more than wine. The upright love you.
Notes
- 1 ↩Direct quotation of Song of Songs 2:16 (Vulgate: dilectus meus mihi et ego illi).
- 2 ↩Alludes to Song of Songs 1:3 (Vulgate: oleum effusum nomen tuum).
- 3 ↩Continues the allusion to Song of Songs 1:3 (Vulgate: adulescentulae dilexerunt te).
- 4 ↩Quotation of Song of Songs 1:4 (Vulgate: post te in odorem unguentorum nostrorum curremus; here adapted as currimus in odore ungentorum uestrorum).
- 5 ↩The Latin source shows truncated forms (naturę, gratię) in the normalized text; translation assumes the intended full forms naturae and gratiae.
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