1/31/2015

The Chymical Wedding - Day 1

RosicrucianLibrary

TheChymicalWeddingofChristianRosenkreutz
TheFirstDay
TheSecondDay
TheThirdDay
TheFourthDay
TheFifthDay
TheSixthDay
TheSeventhDay

[TheChymicalWeddingwasfirstpublishedinGermanatStrasbourgintheyear1616.However,it
supposedtohaveexistedinmanuscriptasearlyas16012.ItwastranslatedintoEnglishforthefirsttime
in1690byE.Foxcroft.Thistranslationbecamethesourceformanyofthemodernattemptstoimprovethe
original.ThetranslationpresentedhereisthatofE.Foxcroft.Footnotes:AndreRotkiewicz,Latin
translations:CarlWilliams.]
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TheFirstDay
OnanEveningbeforeEasterDay,IsateataTable,andhaving(asmyCustomwas)inmyhumblePrayer
sufficientlyconversedwithmyCreator,andconsideredmanygreatMysteries(whereoftheFatherofLights
hisMajestyhadshewnmenotafew)andbeingnowreadytoprepareinmyHeart,togetherwithmydear
PaschalLamb,asmallunleavened,undefiledCakeallonasuddenarisethsohorribleaTempest,thatI
imaginednootherbutthatthroughitsmightyforce,theHillwhereonmylittleHousewasfounded,would
flyeinpieces.Butinasmuchasthis,andthelikefromtheDevil(whohaddonememanyaspight)wasno
newthingtomeItookcourage,andpersistedinmyMeditation,tillsomebodyafteranunusualmanner,
touchedmeontheBackwhereuponIwassohugelyterrified,thatIdursthardlylookaboutmeyetI
shewedmyselfascheerfulas(inthelikeOccurrences)humanefrailtywouldpermitNowthesamething
stilltwichingmeseveraltimesbytheCoat,Ilookedback,andbeholditwasafairandgloriousLady,
whoseGarmentswereallSkyecolour,andcuriously(likeHeaven)bespangledwithgoldenStars,inher
rightHandshebareaTrumpetofbeatenGold,whereonaNamewasingraven(whichIcouldwellreadin)
butamasyetforbiddentorevealit.InherleftHandshehadagreatbundleofLettersofallLanguages,
whichshe(asIafterwardsunderstood)wastocarryintoallCountries.Shehadalsolargeandbeautiful
Wings,fullofEyesthroughout,wherewithshecouldmountaloft,andflyeswifterthananyEagle.Imight
perhapsbeenabletotakefurthernoticeofher,butbecauseshestaidsosmalltimewithme,andterror
andamazementstillpossessedme,Iwasfaintobecontent.ForassoonasIturnedabout,sheturnedher
Lettersoverandover,andatlengthdrewoutasmallone,whichwithgreatReverenceshelaiddownupon
theTable,andwithoutgivingoneword,departedfromme.Butinhermountingupward,shegaveso
mightyablastonhergallantTrumpet,thatthewholeHillechoedthereof,andforafullquarterofanhour
after,Icouldhardlyhearmyownwords.
InsounlookedforanadventureIwasataloss,howeithertoadvise,orassistmypoorself,andtherefore
felluponmyKnees,andbesoughtmyCreatortopermitnothingcontrarytomyEternalHappinesstobefall
mewhereuponwithfearandtrembling,IwenttotheLetter,whichwasnowsoheavy,ashaditbeenmeet
Gold,itcouldhardlyhavebeensoweighty.NowasIwasdiligentlyviewingit,IfoundalittleSeal,
whereuponacuriousCrosswiththisInscription,InHocSigno

Vinces[1],wasingraven.

AssoonasIespiedthissignIwasthemorecomforted,asnotbeingignorantthatsuchasealwaslittle
acceptable,andmuchlessusefultotheDevil.WhereuponItenderlyopenedtheLetter,andwithinit,inan
AzureField,inGoldenLetters,foundthefollowingVerseswritten:
"Thisday,thisday,this,this
TheRoyalWeddingis.
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Artthoutheretobybirthinclined,
AnduntojoyofGoddesigned?
Thenmayestthoutothemountaintend,
WhereonthreestatelyTemplesstand,
Andthereseeallfromendtoend.
Keepwatch,andward,
Thyselfregard
Unlesswithdiligencethoubathe,
TheWeddingcan'ttheeharmlesssave
Hewilldamagethatheredelays
Lethimbewaretoolightthatweighs."

UnderneathstoodSponsusandSponsa.[2]
AssoonasIhadreadthisLetter,Iwaspresentlyliketohavefaintedaway,allmyHairstoodonend,anda
coldSweattrickleddownmywholeBody.ForalthoughIwellperceivedthatthiswastheappointed
Wedding,whereofsevenYearsbeforeIwasacquaintedinabodilyVision,andwhichnowsolongtimeI
hadwithgreatearnestnessattended,andwhichlastly,bytheaccountandcalculationotthePlannets,I
hadmostdiligentlyobserved,Ifoundsotobe,yetcouldIneverforeseethatitmusthappenunderso
grievousandperilousconditions.ForwhereasIbeforeimaginedthattobeawellcome,andacceptable
Guest,IneededonlybereadytoappearattheWeddingIwasnowdirectedtoDivineProvidence,of
whichuntilthistimeIwasnevercertain.Ialsofoundbymyself,themoreIexaminedmyself,thatinmy
Headtherewasnothingbutgrossmisunderstanding,andblindnessinmysteriousthings,sothatIwasnot
abletocomprehendeventhosethingswhichlayundermyFeet,andwhichIdailyconversedwith,much
lessthatIshouldbeborntothesearchingout,andunderstandingoftheSecretsofNaturesinceinmy
opinionNaturemighteverywherefindamorevertuousDisciple,towhomtointrustherprecious,though
temporary,andchangeableTreasures.Ifoundalsothatmybodilybehaviour,andoutwardgood
Conversation,andBrotherlyLovetowardmyNeighbour,wasnotdulypurgedandcleansedmoreoverthe
ticklingoftheFleshmanifesteditself,whoseaffectionwasbentonlytoPompandBravery,andWorldly
Pride,andnottothegoodofmankind:AndIwasalwayscontrivinghowbythisartImightinashorttime
abundantlyincreasemyprofitandadvantage,rearupstatelyPalaces,makemyselfaneverlastingName
intheWorld,andotherlikeCarnaldesigns.ButtheobscureWordsconcerningtheThreeTemplesdid
particularlyafflictme,whichIwasnotabletomakeoutbyanyafterSpeculation,andperhapsshouldnot
yet,hadtheynotbeenwonderfullyrevealedtome.ThusstickingbetwixtHopeandFear,examiningmy
selfagainandagain,andfindingonlymyownFrailtyandImpotency,notbeinginanywiseabletosuccour
myself,andexceedinglyamazedattheforementionedthreatningatlengthIbetookmyselftomyusual
andmostsecurecourseafterIhadfinishedmyearnestandmostferventPrayer,Ilaidmedowninmy
Bed,thatsoperchancemygoodAngelbytheDivinepermissionmightappear,and(asithadsometimes
formerlyhappened)instructmeinthisdoubtfulaffair,whichtothepraiseofGod,myowngood,andmy
Neighboursfaithfulandheartywarningandamendmentdidnowlikewisefallout.ForIwasyetscarce
fallenasleep,whenmethought,I,togetherwithanumberlessmultitudeofmenlayfetteredwithgreat
ChainsinadarkDungeon,whereinwithouttheleastglimpsofLight,weswarmedlikeBeesoneover
another,andthusrendredeachothersafflictionmoregrievous.ButalthoughneitherI,noranyoftherest
couldseeonejotyetIcontinuallyheardoneheavinghimselfabovetheother,whenhisChainsorFetters
werebecomeeversolittlelighter,thoughnoneofushadmuchreasontoshoveuptheother,sincewe
wereallCaptiveWretches.NowasIwiththeresthadcontinuedagoodwhileinthisaffliction,andeach
wasstillreproachingtheotherwithhisblindnessandcaptivity,atlengthweheardmanyTrumpets
soundingtogether,andKettleDrumsbeatingsoartificallythereto,thatitevenrevivedandrejoycedusin
ourCalamity.DuringthisNoisethecoveroftheDungeonwasfromaboveliftedup,andalittlelightlet
downuntous.Thenfirstmighttrulyhavebeendiscernedthebustlewekept,forallwentpeslemesle,and
hewhoperchancehadtoomuchheaveduphimself,wasforceddownagainundertheothersFeet.In
brief,eachonestrovetobeuppermost,neitherdidImyselflinger,butwithmyweightyFetterssliptup
fromundertherest,andthenheavedmyselfuponaStone,whichIlaidholdofhowbeit,Iwasseveral
timescaughtatbyothers,fromwhomyetaswellasImight,withHandsandFeetIstillguardedmyself.
ForweimaginednootherbutthatweshouldallbesetatLiberty,whichyetfelloutquiteotherwise.For
aftertheNobleswholookeduponusfromabovethroughtheHole,hadawhilerecreatedthemselveswith
thisourstruglingandlamenting,acertainhoaryheadedAncientMancalledtoustobequiet,andhaving
scarceobtainedit,began(asIstillremember)thustosayon.
"IfwretchedMankindwouldforbear
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Themselvessotouphold,
Thensureonthemmuchgoodconfer,
MyrighteousMotherCould:
Butsincethesamewillnotinsue,
TheymustinCareandSorrowrue,
AndstillinPrisonlie.
Howbeit,mydearMotherwill
TheirFolliesouersee,
HerchoicestGoodspermittingstill
ToomuchinLighttobe.
Thoughveryrarelyitmayseem
Thattheymaystillkeepsomeesteem,
WhichelsewouldpassforForgery.
WhereforeinhonouroftheFeast
Wethisdaysolemnizes
ThatsoherGracemaybeincreast,
Agooddeedshe'ddevise.
FornowaCordshallbeletdown,
Andwhosoevercanhangthereon,
Shallfreelybereleast."
Hehadscarcedonespeaking,whenanAntientMatroncommandedherServantstoletdowntheCord
seventimesintotheDungeon,anddrawupwhosoevercouldhanguponit.GoodGod!thatIcould
sufficientlydescribethehurryanddisquietthatthenaroseamongstusForeveryonestrovetogettothe
Cord,andyetonlyhindredeachother.ButaftersevenMinutesasignwasgivenbyalittleBell,whereupon
atthefirstPulltheServantsdrewupfour.AtthattimeIcouldnotcomeneartheCordbymuch,having(as
isbeforementioned)tomyhugemisfourtune,betakenmyselftoaStoneattheWalloftheDungeon,and
therebywasdisabledtogettotheCordwhichdescendedinthemiddle.TheCordwasletdownthesecond
time,butdivers,becausetheirChainsweretooheavy,andtheirHandstootender,couldnotkeeptheir
holdontheCord,butwiththemselvesbeatdownmanyanother,whoelseperhapsmighthaveheldfast
enoughNay,manyanonewasforcablypulledoffbyanother,whoyetcouldnothimselfgetatitso
mutuallyenviouswereweeveninthisourgreatmisery.Buttheyofallothersmostmovedmy
Compassion,whoseweightwassoheavy,thattheytoretheirveryhandsfromtheirBodies,andyetcould
notgetup.Thusitcametopassthatatthesefivetimesveryfewweredrawnup.Forassoonasthesign
wasgiven,theServantsweresonimbleatthedraughtsthatthemostparttumbledoneuponanother,and
theCord,thistimeespecially,wasdrawnupveryempty.Whereuponthegreatestpart,andevenImyself,
despairedofRedemption,andcalleduponGodthathewouldhavepittyonus,and(ifpossible)deliverus
outofthisobscurity,whoalsothenheardsomeofus:ForwhentheCordcamedownthesixthtime,some
ofthemhungthemselvesfastuponitandWhilstinthedrawingup,theCordswungfromonesidetothe
other,it(perhapsbythewillofGod)cametome,whichIsuddainlycatching,uppermostabovealltherest,
andsoatlengthbeyondhopecameoutwhereatIexceedinglyrejoyced,sothatIperceivednotthe
Wound,whichinthedrawingupIreceivedonmyHeadbyasharpStone,tillIwiththerestwhowere
released(aswasalwaysbeforedone)wasfaintohelpattheseventhandlastpull,atwhichtimethrough
straining,theBloodrandownallovermyCloathes,whichIneverthelessforjoyregardednotNowwhen
thelastdraughtwhereonthemostofallhung,wasfinishedTheMatroncausedtheCordtobelaidaway,
andwilledheragedSon(atwhichImuchwondred)todeclareherResolutiontotherestofthePrisoners
whoafterhehadalittlebethoughthimselfspoke,thusuntothem.
"YeChildrendear
Allpresenthere,
Whatisbutnowcompleatanddone,
Waslongbeforeresolvedon:
Whater'rmyMotherofgreatGrace
Toeachonbothsidesherehathshown,
MayneverDiscontentmisplace
Thejoyfultimeisdrawingon,
Wheneveryoneshallequalbe,
Nonewealthy,noneinpenury.
Whoer'ereceivethgreatCommands
HathworkenoughtofillhisHands.
Whoer'ewithmuchhathtrustedbeen,
'Tiswellifhemaysavehisskin.
Whereforeyourlamentationscease,
Whatis'ttowaiteforsomefewdays?"

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AssoonashehadfinishedtheseWords,theCoverwasagainputtoandlockeddown,andtheTrumpets
andKettleDrumsbeganafresh,yetcouldnotthenoisethereofbesoloud,butthatthebitterLamentation
ofthePrisonerswhicharoseintheDungeonwasheardaboveall,whichsoonalsocausedmyEyestorun
over.PresentlyaftertheAncientMatron,togetherwithherSonsatedownuponseatsbeforeprepared,and
commandedtheRedeemedshouldbetold.Nowassoonassheunderstoodthenumber,andhadwrittenit
downinaGoldyellowTablet,shedemandedeveryonesName,whichwerealsowrittendownbyalittle
pagehavingviewedusall,oneafteranother,shesighed,andspoketoherSon,soasIcouldwellhear
her,"AhhowhartilyamIgrievedforthepoorMenintheDungeon!IwouldtoGodIdurstreleasethemall,"
whereuntoherSonreplyed"ItisMotherthusordainedofGod,againstwhomwemaynotcontend.Incase
weallofuswereLords,andpossessedalltheGoodsuponEarth,andwereseatedatTable,whowould
therethenbetobebringuptheService?"whereuponhisMotherheldherpeace,butsoonaftershesaid
"Well,however,letthesebefreedfromtheirFetterswhichwaslikewisepresentlydone,andI,excepta
fewwasthelastyetcouldInotrefrain,but(thoughIstilllookedupontherest,bowedmyselfbeforethe
AntientMatron,andthankedGodthatthroughher,hadgraciouslyandfatherlyvouchsafedtobringmeout
ofsuchDarknessintotheLight:Aftermetherestdidlikewise,tothesatisfactionoftheMatron.Lastly,to
everyonewasgivenapieceofGoldforaRemembrance,andtospendbytheway,ontheoneside
whereofwasstampedtherisingSun,ontheother(asIremember)thesethreeletters,D.L.S.[3]And
therewitheveryonehadLicensetodepart,andwassenttohisownBusinesswiththisannexedIntimation,
ThatWetotheGloryofGodshouldbenefitourNeighbours,andreserveinsilencewhatwehadbeen
intrustedwith,whichwealsopromisedtodo,andsodepartedonefromanotherButinregardofthe
WoundswhichtheFettershadcausedme,Icouldnotwellgoforward,buthaltedonbothFeet,whichthe
Matronpresentlyespying,laughingatit,andcallingmeagaintohersaidthustome,MySon,letnotthis
defectafflictthee,butcalltomindthyInfirmities,andtherewiththankGodwhohathpermittedtheeevenin
thisWorld,andinthestateofthyimperfectiontocomeintosohighalight,andkeepthesewoundsformy
sake.WhereupontheTrumpetsbeganagaintosound,whichsoaffrightedmethatIawoke,andthenfirst
perceivedthatitwasonelyaDream,whichwassostronglyimpresseduponmyimagination,thatIwasstill
perpetuallytroubledaboutit,andmethoughtIwasyetsensibleofthewoundsonmyfeet.Howbeit,byall
thesethingsIwellunderstoodthatGodhadvouchsafedthatIshouldbepresentatthismysterousand
biddenWeddingwhereforewithChildlikeconfidenceIreturnedthankstohisDivineMajesty,&besought
him,thathewouldfurtherpreservemeinhisfear,thathewoulddailyfillmyHeartwithWisdomand
Understanding,andatlengthgraciouslyconductmetothedesiredend.HereuponIpreparedmyselffor
theway,putonmywhitelinnenCoat,girdedmyLoyns,withaBloodredRibbonboundcrosswaysover
myShoulder:InmyHatIstuckfourredRoses,thatImightthesoonerbythisTokenbetakennoticeof
amongstthethrong.ForfoodItookBread,Salt,andWater,whichbythecounselofanunderstanding
personIhadatcertaintimesused,notwithoutprofit,inthelikeoccurrences.ButbeforeIpartedfrommy
Cottage,Ifirstinthismydress,andweddingGarment,felldownuponmyKnees,andbesoughtGod,that
incasesuchathingwere,hewouldvouchsafemeagoodissue.AndthereuponinthepresenceofGodI
madeavow,thatifanythingthroughhisgraceshouldberevealeduntome,Iwouldemployitneitherto
myownhonournorauthorityintheWorld,buttothespreadingofhisName,andtheserviceofmy
Neighbour.Andwiththisvow,andgoodhopeIdepartedoutofmyCellwithjoy.

TheSecondDay
TheThirdDay
TheFourthDay
TheFifthDay
TheSixthDay
TheSeventhDay

Footnotes:
[1]"Inthissignyouwillconquer."
[2]"BridegroomandBride"
[3]ThethreelettersD.L.S.maystandfor:"DeusLuxSolis,velDeoLausSemper"whichcanbetranslated
as:"Godisthelightofthesun"or"PraisetoGodforever"(also,"PraisealwaystoGod").

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