Christian Rosencreutz

See St. Bernard, Sermon 3, on the 7 fragments. original: "Vide S. Bernhard serm. 3 de 7. fragmentis." This refers to a medieval sermon by St. Bernard of Clairvaux regarding the fragments of bread gathered after Christ fed the multitude, often used as an allegory for gathering spiritual truths.

To whom much good was granted
By a Mother’s hand so true,
Yet since they would not follow,
They remain in such sorrow
And must be held captive.
Yet my dear Mother will not
Heed their stubborn ways;
She lets her beautiful treasures
Come too much into the light—
Though this happens very rarely,
So that they may have some value;
Otherwise, it would be thought a mere fable.
Therefore, in honor of the feast
Which we celebrate today,
That her grace may be increased,
She will do a good work:
The rope will now be lowered;
Whoever hangs onto it,
He himself shall be set free.

Mistress of the Rope. original: "Magistra Restis."

As she had barely finished speaking these words, the old woman commanded her servants to lower the rope into the Tower seven times, Seven times. and to pull up whoever could hang onto it. Oh, would to God I could sufficiently describe what unrest then arose among us! For everyone wanted to catch the rope, and yet each only hindered the other. First drawing out: 4 people. After seven minutes, however, a signal was given with a small bell. Upon this, the servants drew up four people the first time. At that moment, I could not come anywhere near the rope, as I—as previously mentioned—stayed by my...