Page:The Mediaeval Mind Vol 1.djvu/492

470 bride, is deeper than the abyss, bitterer than the world; but her joy shall exceed that of seraphs, she, Bride of the Trinity.

The Soul must surrender herself, and become sheer desire for God. God's own yearning has begotten this desire. As glorious prince, as knight, as emperor, God comes; also in other forms: I come to my Beloved As dew upon the flowers."

For each other are these lovers wounded, for each other these lovers bleed, and each to the other is joy unspeakable and unforgettable. From the wafer of the holy Eucharist, the Lamb looks out upon me "with such sweet eyes that I never can forget." His eyes in my eyes; His heart in my heart, His soul in my soul, Embraced and untroubled."

No need to say that in the end love draws the Soul to heaven's gate, which the Lord opens to her. All is marvellous; but, far more, all is love: the Lord kisses her—what else than love can the soul thereafter know or feel.

Mechthild, of course, is what is called a "mystic," and a forerunner indeed of many another—Eckhart, Suso, Tauler—of German blood. With direct and utter passion she realizes God's love; also she feels and thinks in symbols, which, with her, never cease to be the things they literally are. They remain flesh and blood, while also signifying the mysteries of God. Jesus was a man, Mechthild a woman. Her love not only uses lovers' speech, but actually holds affinity with a maid's love for her betrothed. If it is the Soul's love of God, it is also the woman's love of Him who overhung her from the Cross.