Christian Rosencreutz

...come original Latin: "venire," completing the sentence from the previous page, as it is consuming and suitable only for incorruptible bodies. Choose now from the three whichever you wish, and remain constant in it. Know, however, that whichever you enter upon, it has been so destined for you by immutable Fate the concept that one's spiritual path is predetermined and inescapable once chosen original: "Fato", and it is not permitted to turn back except at the greatest risk to your life.

These are the things we wished you to know: but behold, beware lest you be ignorant of how great a danger you have committed yourself to on this path: for if you know yourself to be guilty of even the smallest offense against our King’s laws, I beg you, while it is still permitted, return home as quickly as possible by the same way you came.

As soon as I had read this writing, all my joy vanished again, and I, who had previously sung so cheerfully, now began to weep bitterly; for I saw all three paths before me, and I knew that I was permitted, at that time, to choose one path for myself. The path to be chosen by the author original: "Via autoris Eligenda." Yet I feared that if I took the stony and rocky path, I might fall miserably to my death; or if I took the long path, I might either lose my way on a detour or otherwise succumb during the long journey. Nor did I dare hope that among a thousand, I should be the one to choose the Royal Path. The fourth I also saw before me, but it was so surrounded by fire and smoke that I dared not approach it at all. Doubt original: "Dubium." I considered this back and forth, whether I should turn back or take one of the paths for myself. I well considered my unworthiness, but I was always comforted...