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MATELDA
AND THE
CLOISTER OF HELLFDE
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_
_TREES PLANTED BY THE RIVER_. Crown 8vo, 4s. 6d.
"This excellent book will commend itself to many a contemplative
Christian during hours of quiet communion with his own soul and with
God."--_Christian Commonwealth._
"A delightful book, and presents points of interest quite
novel."--_Rock._
"There are some exquisite sketches of the religious history of
individuals who exerted a powerful influence in their day, but of
whom we know nothing now, which will be highly appreciated by every
spiritually-minded Christian."--_Methodist Times._
"A deeply interesting book."--_Aberdeen Free Press._
_THREE FRIENDS OF GOD._ Records from the Lives of John Tauler, Nicholas
of Basle, Henry Suso. By Frances A. Bevan, Author of "The Story
of Wesley," etc. Crown 8vo, 5s.
"Fascinating glimpses of the strange religious life of mediaeval
Europe. No student of history and human nature can fail to be
interested by this book, while to pious minds it will bring stimulus
and edification."--_Scotsman_.
_HYMNS OF TER STEEGEN, SUSO, AND OTHERS._ Edited by Mrs. Frances Bevan,
Author of "Trees Planted by the River," etc. Crown 8vo, 1s. 6d.
"Some of the hymns are very beautiful, calculated to strengthen the
weary, comfort the sad, stimulate the down-hearted, and draw the soul
nearer to God."--_Record._
"The literary quality of many of the hymns will be welcome to many
lovers of sacred poetry."--_Manchester Guardian._
MATELDA
AND THE
CLOISTER OF HELLFDE
EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOK OF
MATILDA OF MAGDEBURG
SELECTED AND TRANSLATED BY
FRANCES BEVAN
AUTHOR OF
"THREE FRIENDS OF GOD,"
"TREES PLANTED BY THE RIVER,"
"HYMNS OF TER STEEGEN, SUSO, AND OTHERS," ETC.
__London__
JAMES NISBET & CO.
21 BERNERS STREET
1896
_Printed by_ Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
_At the Ballantyne Press_
PREFACE
To most of us the Matelda of Dante has been scarcely more than a shape
existing in the mind of a poet. It may be that she now stands before us
not only as a woman of flesh and blood, but as one who has for us in
these days a marvellous message. One of the great cloud of witnesses to
the love and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaks to us in a German
Beguine, who is now recognised by many as the original of her who
conducted Dante into "the terrestrial Paradise."
Whether or no we regard her as the guide of Dante, may she be to us a
means whereby we "forget the things that are behind, and press forward to
those that are before." May she yet be to some sorrowful souls the guide
into the blessed Garden of God--the garden no longer guarded by a flaming
sword, but opened to the sinner who "has washed his robes, and made them
white in the Blood of the Lamb." May some to whom the future is dark and
fearful, and who carry as a heavy burden the sin of past years, be led on
across the river into the light, the sweetness, and the rest of the green
pastures of Christ--the sin and sorrow left behind, remembered no more,
for the Lord remembers them not. And in His Presence, where there is the
fulness of joy, the sufferings of this present time can also be
forgotten, for sorrow rejoiceth before Him.
Six persons have up to this time been regarded as the original of the
Matelda of Dante. The Countess Matilda of Tuscany most commonly till
modern times; Matilda, mother of Otto the Great; the nun of Hellfde,
Matilda of Hackeborn; the "gentle lady" of the _Vita Nuova_, and of the
_Convito_; Vanna, the lover of Guido Cavalcanti; and finally, the
Beguine, also of Hellfde, known as Matilda of Magdeburg.
The claims of the Countess Matilda appear to rest on her name only,
without further traits of resemblance; those of Matilda of Hackeborn have
been disproved by the chronological researches of Preger; of the rest,
only Matilda of Magdeburg shows any resemblance striking enough to lead
to the conclusion that she was in the mind of Dante when he described the
lady who sang the sweet songs of Paradise. Scartazzini, who regards the
gentle lady of the _Vita Nuova_ as the true Matelda, can assign no valid
reason for doubting that Matilda the Beguine has a better claim. I think
that few can doubt it who have carefully read the proofs furnished by the
ancient records of the convent of Hellfde, and by the book of Matilda of
Magdeburg. These proofs will be found summarised in a brochure published
at Munich in 1873, "Dante's Matelda, _ein akademischer Vortrag von
Wilhelm Preger_."
The extracts from her book, which I have endeavoured to translate, are
chosen from the passages in her prose and poetry which best exemplify the
Divine teaching, rather than from those which identify her with the
Matelda of Dante. That which is useless, except for purposes of historic
research, has been passed over. The writing of Mechthild, especially when
in rhyme and measure, is difficult to translate, and I am conscious that
the rendering of her poems is extremely imperfect.
In one case extracts from more than one have been placed together; in
others, only a part of a longer poem has been given. The object has been
rather to pass on Mechthild's message than to give an adequate idea of
the whole book, a great deal of which is defaced by the superstition of
her times.
But the truth which is eternal is found richly in the midst of much that
is false, and thus far, she being dead yet speaketh. That she learnt so
fully much that we are now very slow to learn, is a fact the more
remarkable when we consider, how lost and buried was the Gospel teaching
of the Apostles in the ages that succeeded them. Their "successors" had
been too often employed in "darkening counsel by words without
knowledge." All the more do the love and wisdom of God shine forth in the
teaching which those who turned to Him only, received from His lips.
Mechthild was one who sat at His feet and heard His words, and it is well
for us to hear that which she learnt of Him. A somewhat free translation
has been necessary, in order to render in English the equivalent to
German mediaeval language; but I trust that the sense and meaning have
been faithfully, however unworthily, rendered.