THE EPISTLE OF JOHN RUUSBROEC, Priest, to the brothers of Groenendael original: "Capella Rosana." This refers to the monastery of Groenendael (Green Valley) in the Sonian Forest near Brussels, where Ruusbroec was prior. in Flanders, concerning the interpretation of his book On the Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage.

A large ornamental woodcut initial 'E' depicting a figure, likely a monk or saint, standing in a landscape with foliage and clouds. You have requested, most dear brothers, with humble and devout letters, that I interpret for you into the Latin tongue our little book On the Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage, which we formerly wrote in the Brabantine dialect of Middle Dutch original: "teutonico Brabantino.". Although (as you have written) because of the differences between the dialects of northern Flanders and Brabant, you cannot fully grasp its flavor; yet, because of a certain proximity of speech, you perceive from it a faint scent of such sweetness that you in no way doubt that in it is shown not only all holiness, but indeed the perfection of all holiness, the fulfillment of all perfection, and the end of all fulfillment. There is indeed a great multitude of sweetness hidden for those who hunger, and it is worthy of being brought to light by a Latin translation (as you asked), or rather by the light of any tongue—if indeed it were as you believe. Certainly, you should have been careful lest, perhaps emulating only the fragrant mandrakes with Rachel A biblical reference to Genesis 30. In medieval exegesis, Rachel (representing the contemplative life) seeking mandrakes was often interpreted as seeking the "sweetness" or "fragrance" of spiritual gifts., you seemed to look for a knot in a bulrush original: "in scirpo nodum." A common Latin proverb meaning to look for a difficulty where none exists, or to find a problem in something that is perfectly smooth and simple..

But what shall we say to these things? First of all, we give thanks to JESUS CHRIST, who by a share of apostolic grace has granted us to be the "good scent" of Himself original: "bonum sui nos esse dedit odorem." A reference to 2 Corinthians 2:15: "For we are the sweet aroma of Christ to God."—if not in every place, at least in yours. For the rest, even if it is not as you believe, yet because you believe, let it be done to you. Indeed, a wonderful faith shall be reaped. Since this is the case, I wish that we could speak in the tongues of all nations, so that we might be able to reveal the grace of such great perfection (as you wrote) to all peoples. Surely the labor would be small if compensated by the gain of such common salvation. Therefore, we have yielded to your petitions; rather, we have obeyed the command of charity, and that very book of which you wrote...