The second book of wonders

what love and regard they had shown me, and how they had done everything to clear my honor from the malicious inventions lies that had been raised against my character. I remembered how they had come forward and applied to the law for redress legal remedy or compensation against the book in which I was scandalously abused, and how they had challenged my enemies to come forward and prove the infamous assertions they boldly made against me.

All these malicious slanders and reports came strongly into my mind, which burned like fury on the one hand, while love for my friends burned strongly on the other. And as I was answered, there was no way that my innocence and injured honor could be cleared except by a marriage union. Thus, the love of God and love for my friends broke in so strongly upon me that I thought I could freely go to the flames and die a martyr rather than let my enemies triumph over me and my friends. And as the command was given to me by the Lord, I would rather die any death than disobey. My pondering thoughts were then called out, which I am ordered to write down in part, explaining my sorrows.—

“What you have suffered first for man—
And then they will know my heavenly plan.
For this was known to you before:
I ask, what Bride could appear like this
If you did not rise up in courage
To say, ‘I despise my sufferings’?
‘I would rather die on the fatal night
‘Than let my foes fight in triumph
‘So boldly to hurt my reputation.
‘No! They shall know every one of my names;
‘In love for God, in love for man,
‘I will now take this great risk hazard.
‘So it is my love that will carry me;
‘I will not fear my great dangers.
‘If I am destined to go through them,
‘It is his command, and I will do it.’”