R80: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Adalbert von Ellwangen
No Wings for the Storm
Hildegard warns Adalbert that he lacks the spiritual wings and stability to endure shifting storms and is exposed like a pillar in an open square.
Hildegard's reply. Whoever sees and is not changed by shifting circumstance says. You, my friend, don't yet have wings for flying that can endure storms. and they belong to the right measure of the air! but you're like a pillar in an open square without the support of a building. and standing without the climb of a ladder. so that you're splashed with the mud of the street. For you are soft.
Grace and Sluggishness
Hildegard reproves Adalbert for lacking sharpness in rebuke, yet notes God’s grace looks on his tender heart, calling him to rise as a good soldier amid slack and deceptive times.
And you are not sharp in the eye of reproof, to rebuke the corrupt and the dark ways of men. But the grace of God looks upon you — you who have no barrier of hardness in your heart. But only sleeping in the sluggishness of lust! So much so that you don't attend to God. So don't treat your Lord as you would a mere steward. But look to Him in integrity, as a good soldier fights most bravely, armed with breastplate and helmet.✦ For now the times are as if in forgetfulness of God, and slack in the struggle of Christ! But rumor flies about in lies, through the shifting of vanities, as if they see God!
Where Is the Straight Path?
Hildegard laments that few walk the straight path and insists no mortal can hasten God’s appointed time of vengeance, then calls Adalbert to rise and clarify his mind in her.
But still they don't know him. Where, then, is man? Who walks the straight path? There are few. But who is speaks. No mortal can, through the vomit of his own chattering, hastily draw the sword of my vengeance from its sheath.1 before the time of my will comes in vengeance. Rise up then, O man, and make your mind clear in me.
Seek and Find Life
Hildegard urges Adalbert to seek watchfully so that he may find her and live.
So seek watchfully, so that you may find where to find me. and you will live.
Read the original Latin
Responsumm hildegardis. Qui uidet nec uicissitudine mutatur dicit. Tu homo nondum habes alas uolandi quę tempestates tolerant. et ad rectam moderationem aeris pertinent! sed quasi columpna es in platea sine instrumento edificij. et sine ascensu scalę stans. ita ut luto plateę aspergaris. Nam lenis es.
et non acutus in oculo correptionis ad arguendum prauos et nigros mores hominum. Sed gratia dei inspicit te non habentem clausuram duricię cordis. sed tantum dormientem in torpore lasciuię! ita quod deum non adtendis. Ergo dominum tuum sicut uillicum non habe. sed in illum aspice in probitate ut probus miles fortissime pugnans armatus lorica et galea. Nunc enim sunt tempora quasi in obliuione dei et lassa in certamine christi! sed fama uolat in mendacijs per uicissitudinem uanitatum quasi deum uideant!
sed tamen nesciunt eum. Ubi ergo homo est! qui ambulet in recto itinere? Pauci sunt. Sed qui est dicit. Nullus hominum ualet per uomitum garrulitatis suę gladium ultionis meę de uagina sua precipitanter educere! antequam ueniat tempus uoluntatis meę in ultione. Tu ergo o homo surge et clarifica animum tuum in me!
ita ut uigilanter queras ubi me inuenias. et uiues.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Eph.6.11-Eph.6.17 — Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Eph.6.12 — For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph.6.13 — Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand firm in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Eph.6.14 — Stand firm, then, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. Eph.6.15 — and having shod your feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace Eph.6.16 — In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph.6.17 — And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Notes
- 1 ↩uomitus (vomiting/vomit) is a rare word used metaphorically for the outpouring of idle talk; rendered as 'vomit' to preserve the visceral Hildegardian imagery. garrulitas suae = 'his own chattering' — the genitive construction is compressed in Latin.
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