R83: Abt B. von Michaelsberg an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting to the Bride of the King
The abbot humbly greets Hildegard as the bride of the highest King and acknowledges her devotion.
Abbot of Saint Michael's at Babenberg. of Hildegard. To Lady Hildegard, betrothed to the highest King, and teacher of the sisters of Saint Robert. B. The unworthy abbot of Saint Michael's at Babenberg. Whatever strength prayer and devotion have. In the love of him who redeemed us with his own blood. We hear that you burn with devotion.
Longing and Hindered Desire
The abbot expresses his ardent desire to visit Hildegard and confesses that the obstacles of sin have prevented it.
May He also, according to our measure, guard the gifts bestowed upon you forever. We earnestly beseech you. With a great desire of heart, we long for your presence! But the obstacles of our sins stand in the way. Until now we have not been able to obtain this.
Prayer for Tempered Mercy
He asks Hildegard to intercede so that God may mercifully temper the divine scourge afflicting him.
Through Him, therefore, whom you love. Your sweetness — which we most earnestly implore — beseech the Lord's mercy for me, so that He may deign to temper the scourge of His mercy by which He has touched me and daily touches me. May He deign to temper it in such a way.
Hope Beyond the Darkness
The abbot voices hope for salvation and future grace, commends his soul to her prayers, and asks for her consoling writings.
so that I may find salvation here as well. And may I deserve to find mercy and grace in the time to come. Because if divine predestination should deign, as I hope, soon to call me out of these darknesses —1 I want my soul to be commended to your hands and prayers. As for your consoling writings, send them to us by the messenger who is here now.2
Read the original Latin
Abbas De sancto Michale in babenberch. hildegardi. Dominę hildegardi summo regi desponsatę et sororum de sancto Roberto magistrę. B. de sancto Michale in babenberch abbas inmeritus. quicquid ualet oratione et deuotione. In amore ipsius qui sanguine proprio nos redemit. uos feruere audimus.
quem etiam iuxta modulum nostrum ut munera uobis collata perpetuo custodiat. obnixe flagitamus. Magno autem desiderio cordis presentiam uestram desideramus! uerum peccatorum obstaculis prepedientibus. hucusque id adipisci nequimus. Per ipsum ergo quem amatis. dulcedinem uestram quam intime exoramus ut domini misericordiam pro me imploretis quatenus flagellum misericordię suę quo me tetigit et cottidie me tangit. taliter temperare dignetur.
ut et hic salutem. et in futuro misericordiam et gratiam inuenire merear. Quod si predestinatio diuina in proximo ut spero de his tenebris me uocare dignata fuerit! uolo animam meam uestris manibus et orationibus commendari. Scripta autem consolationis uestre per presentem nuncium nobis dirigite.
Notes
- 1 ↩quod rendered as causal 'Because' following candidate gloss; could also function as relative. ut spero rendered as comparative 'as I hope'. Conditional structure (si … fuerit) rendered as present-possibility English; perfect subjunctive fuerit left implicit in the English auxiliary 'should … deign'.
- 2 ↩autem rendered as topical frame 'As for' following candidate gloss's continuative reading; adversative reading ('however') also possible.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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