And this people that thus be marred, hold themselves for caitiffs, and so they be, but they may come to the free being, the which we speak of, by the teaching of this divine light, of whom these little [ones] that be marred, ask the dressing of their way., Yea, yet little, saith the Holy Ghost, in sooth, as long as they make askings either of Knowing or of Love, or do anything that may be in love,[213] or in knowing, or in craving, for no wise man prayeth without cause, nor careth he for that which may not be. It seems to imply a final defiance on the part of the soul. '[PDF] DOWNLOAD' The Mirror of Simple Souls by Marguerite Porete, Margaret Porette, Clare KIRCHBERGER All those that live in life of grace, in fulfilling the commandments, and so live as to be satisfied in that, these have name of soul soothly, and not name of spirit, but name of soul for the life of grace that they stand in. And it withdraweth if she withholdeth anything that is hers from the perfection of peace of charity in which she lieth; all this is her right food. And then holdeth the soul that there is none higher life than to have this, of which she hath lordship; for love hath so greatly fed her with his delights that she wot not that God hath any greater gift nigh to give to the soul than this love, which Love, by love, hath within her spread. She should ask, saith Love, who is mother of her, and of the other virtues that be of her germain.[279]. This sole power[226] of love, saith Love, giveth her the deepness, the rest, and the stillness, and also it giveth her the flame and the burning of the working of love; witness of Love himself. Thus I shall tell you how I relinquish you and me and mine even-Christian, everyone, in witting of your divine wisdom, in the streams of your divine might, in. O right noble folks, naughted and upraised[220] by conjunction of union with divine love, let it not displease you if I touch something for them that be, I shall speak enough afterwards of your being. even thus the deer will run to the death unless you hinder it. [1] Right so I tell you, saith this soul, of these that live in desire alway, they hold that there is no Being that attaineth to the Being of desire, wherein this people be always and will to dwell, for they may not believe that there is any so good. And she followeth this, and she doth that which she ought to do, and she willeth only one thing, and it is that the will of God be alway in her done., She is right, saith Love, for this is all. These that be such as this book deviseth, are come to the knowing of their naught; that is to say, they may not know of their naught by any thing that is in them, for their knowing is too little to know their loss; and so they are come by believing of more.[181] And see here the knowledge of their believing! MS. Bod. Therefore true love hath but only one purpose, and that is that she might alway love truly. [Editors note: M. N. interprets the mystic in the light of moral theology, and supplies the ascetical basis of the authors more transcendent doctrines. Are not all these virtues allowed, written and commanded for the souls, and not the souls for the virtues? But she is settled in the fifth state[217] with her Beloved, there faulteth her nothing. I excuse me to you and to all those that lead in naught, that be fallen of love into this being, for I have made this book right great and high by words, which to you seem right little and low. The same thing happens (in suo modo) in a manner, in the union of man with God, as in that which unites the Son substantially with the Father, and the Father with the Son. This is all deadly! Then the soul is dangerous, noble, and delicious, in which she may not suffer that anything touch her but the touchings of pure delight of love, in the which she is singularly gladsom and jolly, and it maketh her proud, of abundance of love. The mystical exaltation of the soul proceeds not so much from what she has already experienced of the divine love, but from the knowledge of the infinite possibilities of the content of the divine being and his love. Pure is that which is of him, in love. This is the fulhead and the substance of my peace, and the true rest of my thought, for I love not myself but for him. The joys of these folks are to have poverties and tribulations, and then it is the time of spirit. And yet in all this time is not the spirit perfectly dead while the wills [still] have their powers by inward feelings. [214] Therefore it may well be said, that they be little that often ask, but those be lords that nothing ask nor crave, for all beings, whatever they be, are but as strong as a reed,[215] and a default as compared to the sovereign Being of naught-willing; where the free in their right being may not remove, nor will, nor nothing ask, for nothing that men may do; but give all that they may, to love truly and keep., Ah, God, saith Reason, what thing hath aneantised[216] these souls?. by a meditation of [the] love [that is] without [the] hearing [that cometh from] creatures, by such meditation that souls receive in love without desiring any of his gifts, which men call consolations that comfort souls, by feeling of sweetness in prayer. Oh, without fail, saith Love, and if they had willed, they had been delivered of that in which they are in right great servitude, at little profit, and they shall [continue to] be so as compared to the other. There is the divine school held with closed mouth, that no wit of man may put into speech., Ah, Love, saith Reason, say among us something of the country where this soul dwelleth., Thus it is, saith Love, where this soul is, of him, in him, for him; that is, without receiving from any, but purely from him. And since the bounty by me is known, I am his glory and his laud, for none other thing is his glory nor his laud, but the knowing of his divine bounty. This most brief introduction intends to offer no such judgement. Of this, saith Love, we will speak in asking a soul. Take we this soul that is best, that could now be richest and would be quit of her debt that she oweth to God, and pay him neither more nor less, but this that she oweth him for one fault alone. At what time that it be, let them not ever refuse what love sendeth, for to do the message of the will of love, by letters ensealed of his signet. That is, saith Love, that such a soul that is naughted, hath so great inward knowing, by the virtue of faith, that she is thus called in her inwardness to sustain that which faith hath ministered to her of the might of the Father, of the wisdom of the Son, and of the goodness of the Holy Ghost. It seemeth well that these folks that thus seek him by hills and dales and valleys, hold that God is subject to his sacraments and to his works. And such end, saith Love, taketh nurture.[107]. For he who feeleth [any thing] of God, through any substance that he seeth or heareth outside himself, or by effort that he maketh of himself, that,[127] is not all fire, but there is substance [mixed] with this fire. To him only, saith this soul, that is so strong that he may never die, whose doctrine may not be written, nor by works of ensamples showed, nor by doctrine sounded. But so hath he given me, that he may nothing withhold from me, for love asketh that; else it were not love of [the] Beloved, unless it were of such a [kind]. A few years earlier her book, The Mirror of Simple Souls, had also been burned in Valenciennes, with Marguerite as a witness. And who is then mother of virtues? saith this soul. And that robbeth them of the knowledge, so that they may not the fulness of this deepness understand, nor the goodness of God for them, largely trust. And all that men have need for, is needful, and no more. They fare like the crow that weeneth there be none so fair a bird in the wood as his bride, the crow. But nay, for Jesu Christ made this accordance so abundantly, so anguishously. One is she, the mother of this Saviour. Who that asketh these free souls sure and peaceable, if they would be in purgatory? Not for me, nor for my disciples, but for them that have taken leave of me, that this book may bear light if God will!, Reason, saith Love, those under your teaching have yet much to do [to come to the understanding] of the two deaths in which this soul is dead, but the third death understandeth none alive, but they of the mountain., O Lady Love, saith Reason, tell us this, what folk be they of the mountain?, They have not in earth, saith Love, shame nor worship nor dread for thing that may befall., Eh, saith Reason, Lady Love, for God, answer us our questions, ere you say anything more; for I am a-wondered to hear the life of these souls., Reason, saith Love, they that see this book, that have the being of this life, understand it well save this, that it behoveth them expound the glosses. And when this sun is in the soul and this beam and this brightness, the body hath no more feebleness, nor the soul dread, for the very Sun of Righteousness, when he did his miracles on earth, never healed soul without the body; but he healed both body and soul; and right so he doeth yet, but he doeth it to none that hath no faith in the same.. I have no possession in this doing. . This is sooth, saith Love, that this soul sets not so much prize nor love on temporal things, that she could win [anything] in refusing natures askings; wherefore then should she make [it a matter of] conscience, to give nature that which is his due? Ah, Lord, certainly you; for your plenteous goodness,[260] that is swimming and flowing full of courtesy, may not suffer but that I be quit by you, God of love, for you have my debts paid in a moment!. But she is abashed, saith Love, by the knowledge of her poverty, which she hath of herself, that it seemeth her that it is a humiliation[116] before all the world, as it is to her. The seventh is of the seraphins, how they be in the divine will.. And Love hath in him no discretion. How truly this manhood dwelleth with them, Faith teacheth it, and this clerks know.. And this point he hath assured me of without doubt by his pure bounty. Three of these are in the Vatican,[7] and it appears that they are translations from the lost French text, and differ considerably from Methleys version made from the English translation. For the peace of auditors was this proved. Wit it well, my chosen daughter, Paradise is given to them., Paradise, saith this chosen one, [not] unless you work it! For a note on willing and not willing, see Introduction. in the British Museum, pointed it out to Miss E. Underhill, in a MS. purchased for the British Museum at the Amherst sale (now MS. Nor she leaveth naught for God. And if he be [afeared], he is not all fully drunk. For the labour of man and the desire to have some substance outside himself, to increase his love, that is but some shadowing or glimmering of knowing of the bounty of God. (1910-1999), was a priest of the Augustinian . R.H. Steuart, S.J., who have kindly read the MSS., and have made valuable suggestions with great generosity and courtesy. As to the accusation of Quietism, we may probably safely take the humorous comment of Richard Methley in his later translation of the passage descriptive of the last stages of the souls journey (p. 293). And in hope, I here them salute, by the love of peace of charity, in the High Trinity, that will warrant it,[21] seeing in them the witness of their living by record of clerks that have read this book. This divine love engendereth in a naughted soul, in a soul freed, in a soul clarified, substance enduring, fruition agreeable, conjunction amiable. All thing that is of him, it is of him verily fulfilled and thus it is that nothing is, unless it be of him, and this I say hath me of all things consumed.. The sweetness draweth me, the beauty pleaseth me; what, then, can I desire more, than to live at peace?, O right sweet flower without lack, saith Reason. I tell you, saith Truth, that the humanity of Christ Jesu neither cometh nor goeth. And how may this be? saith Temptation. [182], Mercy God, saith Reason, dare we call naught anything that is in God?. He calleth me to peace, without fail., It is right, saith pure Courtesy. And this may not be but that ye were it [indeed]. There is another resemblance with God which is much more perfect than that which is effected through the practice of virtue. She hath no shame before anyone but him against whom she had sinned, for she was so upraised and drawn, that she had naught in her other than what was of him. But Love hath now told me the truth, and biddeth me pacify myself; for all that men may tell me is naught in comparison with that which is in him, which may not be said. I may not be there-against, but I yield me to you in all, saith Reason. . She recketh no more of the war that she was wont to have, for the will of her is nakedly laid in the place whence it was first taken, where it ought by rights to be. These, saith Love, be much more courteous than be the other foresaid, and nevertheless, saith Love, yet be they little; so little that none can see it, as compared with the greatness of them that be dead of life of spirit, and be in the life of glory. And nevertheless, as simple as I was, Will anon took me Love to love. Now first edited from the ms by Clare Kirchberger ed. That is, to understand it better, that whoso knew of him all that is said, it should be naught as in regard of the great knowledge that dwelleth in him beyond our knowing. [315] Certainly, do it they must, before they come to perfect freedom of all points. And of the book of life and the opening thereof, CHAPTER IV: Of three beholdings that one should have to come to peace. And that little that I had of worth, I have not withholden it from him, but all fully I have given him, body, heart, and soul; this knoweth he. Charity is so wise a merchant that she winneth over all where others lose, and escapeth from perils where others perish, unto plenteous multiplying of that that is in love. The MSS. Mary hath but one intention in her, and that only one intent maketh her to have peace, and Martha in many intentions, have ofttimes unrest. Him so high and me so low that I might no more from thence rise, nor help of myself have, and that was best. This is the established state that later writers call Spiritual Marriage. And by this understanding is she [made] naught with regard to that which is of her [nature]. Eh, does not every man know that this may not be? [2], An example of this influence can be seen in the 1536 work of Giovanni Pili da Fano, The Art of Union. And always I might have no peace, unless I answered to this aforesaid. And so she doth in that she asketh him afresh by her wit, by understanding, of the most high and pure thought, and there she seeketh; this is a begging creature also. Of this life tasteth none unless he be dead of the life of spirit., These souls, saith Truth, bear the flower of the love of the Deity. The Mirror of Simple Souls Download PDF version of the book. He seeketh naught, why then should I seek? Letter to the Brethren of Mons Dei (M.P.L. This book saith sooth of the soul, that saith she has six wings. Therefore it is said in such terms as alway, thus, in this wise. Many such other words in this book must be taken [thus]. Thus am I drawn into the thing that I love more than me, that is, in Love, for I love only Love., O Lady Love, saith Reason, tell us what, it means, this that ye say: that then is the soul in her right freedom of pure clean love, when she doth no thing that is against the asking of peace of her inward being?, I shall tell you, saith Love, it is that she doth nothing for aught that may fall, that is against the perfect peace of her spirit. [19] Also, in translating of French, some words need to be changed or it will fare ungoodly, not according to the sense. And hastily she taketh the stirrings of her wills, and fasteneth it in him that she loveth. So it befell that this lady heard tell of the great courtesy and of the great largesse of King Alexander; and anon she loved him for his noble gentleness and for his high renown. Wit it forsooth, no! Michael of Northbrook had visited Flanders as a young clerk, before his active career in the service of Edward III brought him there as a statesman; and the early documents and charters of the London Charterhouse make it clear that there was communication between the houses in Flanders and the new foundation, in the establishment of which the Bishop had a larger share than is commonly known. From this ravishable opening, and at the spreading of this opening, the soul hath taken her shutting and abideth in the peace of this work, right free and noble, and discharged of all encumbrances and of all things, as long as the peace endureth that is given in this opening. For, to see the humanity of Jesu Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar, glorified, except by the understanding, that doth not appertain to the glory of those in glory. This Love, the Holy Ghost, swimmeth in a soul and is poured out in abundance of delights, of a gift right high that is given of upraised ravishing, by knitting of union of the sovereign Beloved, that giveth himself simply and simple her maketh. Now I have not in me neither this nor that, nor may I have. And though I had it, ye see well what I should be, when I were quit of one sin. Here clearly the expression outruns the mystical intuition on which it is based. And I tell you that when Jesus Christ transfigured him before three of his disciples, he did it for this, that ye should wit well, that few folks see the brightness of his transfiguration, and that he showeth it not but to his special lovers. And when she seeth this, thus saith to herself, that she will seek him. Adds. For at the beginning, this soul did all that it might of heart and of body, all that reason taught her which was at that time mistress. But one thing sufficeth me. M. O these words seem full strange to the readers, that say the soul is lost in the Right High by plenty of knowing, and becometh naught in her understanding. But among you that have not been such, nor be, nor shall be, ye trouble yourselves in vain, if ye will understand it. She is germain sister of Reason. Gladly, saith Love, and unless she be such as I shall tell you, Truth, saith Love, I command you that you answer her that she is ill-arrayed to speak to me in my secret chamber, where none entereth unless they be thus arrayed, as ye shall hear me say. All work is forbidden her,[402] and she is in the simple Being of the Deity, as it was commanded sometime of Jesu Christ, the Son of God the Father. She may not will by her own will, for her will is not with-her, but it is [without any leading thither], in him that she loveth. Now I shall tell you why God forbade them that they should not speak of that they had seen, till he were arisen. Ah, soul! saith Love, how you are encumbered by your self!, Yea, soothly, saith this soul, my body is in feebleness and my soul in dread, and often I have heaviness, saith she, will I or nill I of these two natures, that the far-off freedom I may not have.. I love not myself nor him, nor all his works, but only for him. This knowing is of the substance of understanding of love in this life, that harboureth in her all the life of goodness, and setteth her in this good seat in a high place, through love. This was of free will, and this free will he may not take from her, without the pleasing of the soul. Now understand, if ye have this gift!, Now I say to them that serve, saith this soul, to bring them into life of freedom, I owe it not. , written and commanded for the souls for the virtues who that asketh these free souls sure peaceable! Had it, ye see well what I should be, when I were quit of one.! Free will, and not the souls for the souls for the souls, and then it is based ]. 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