Chapter X
RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR
tomed sometimes to be mixed together, and this mode of proper natures that we have assigned is accustomed to be mingled by being mixed one with the other. However, our purpose in this place was to teach the characteristic of each individually according to the evidence of doctrine, and no less to show what they might have in common and in similarity.
Chapter X That even perfect persons scarcely advance to all six kinds ofcontemplations
Everyone who desires to arrive at the peak of knowledge must know these six kinds of contemplation familiarly. Certainly we are suspended above the earth and raised to the heavens by these six wings of contemplations. Even if you lack some of them now, you should not doubt that you are near perfection. Certainly with me, and with persons similar to me, it goes well if only one—or if one of these three pairs of wings— is given. "Who will give me wings
Hke those of a dove, and I will fly away and rest?"
(Ps.
54:7).
Nevertheless, I know that on the first pair of such wings, one is not permitted to fly upward from earthly things to heavenly things and to seek and penetrate the lofty places of the heavens. For as it was said above, in those six kinds of contemplations, the whole consideration of the first two is taken up with earthly and corporeal things; nothing in them treats of invisible things. Thus, however sublime, however very subtle the flights we may have around these earthly things on these first two wings of contemplations, it should not be enough for us if we suffice only for that, in which we see that the philosophers of this world are distinguished. You clearly show that you are an earthly animal and in no way a heavenly one as long as you are content with only two wings. How are you able to cover your body, how are you able to fly? Certainly, if until now you are an earthly animal, if until today you continue to live in an earthly body, and thereupon a body of such a kind as the Apostle describes and admonishes you to mortify, it will certainly be good to have in readiness that with which you may, when you wish, cover such a body and hide it from the eyes of your memory. He says: "Mortify
THE MYSTICAL ARK
your members which are upon the earth, fornication and impurity"
(Col.
3:5). However, what is it to cover such a body under the designated wings of contemplation except to temper the craving for earthly things by consideration of earthly mutability—nay rather to lead it into oblivion? You carefully consider,
I think, how much such a veiling and obscuring by wings you should be capable of.
Again: You have in these wings that with which you may be able to fly, when you wish. Surely it is good to fly well and to go as far away from the love of the world as you can. In any case, they fly well on these wings who daily consider the deceitful nature of earthly mutability and, by continual reconsideration, separate themselves from the vain desire for it. Thus, although you may not be able to fly up as far as heavenly things on these two wings, nevertheless perhaps by flapping them you will be able to find a safe and tranquil haven. Press forward in these things as much as you can; grasp at least the edge of the sea: "If I use my wings at daybreak and dwell in the farthest limits of the sea" (Ps. 138:9). The farthest limits of the sea: the end of the world and the end of one's own life. And so, to dwell in the farthest limits of the sea is to look forward with longing to the end of the world and to the end of life. I think by flying he already grasped the farthest limit of the sea who could truly say: "I desire to die and be with Christ" (Phil.
1:23).
I think that you have not received these two wings of contemplations in vain if you have flown to such an extent. Yet it should be too Httle for you that you receive these two wings; but to prove that you are a celestial animal, be zealous and be busy about having at least two pairs, and then you will certainly have those with which you can fly up to heavenly things. The four animals that the prophet
Ezechiel saw, and having seen, described, certainly had four wings.
By this they showed that they were celestial, not terrestrial.
Ezechiel says: "Four faces for each one, and four wings for each one" (Ezech.
1:6). However, as we read there, they cover their body with two; for without doubt they fly with the other two. And so, when you begin to have four wings, when you think that you are now a heavenly animal and have put on a heavenly body, yet nonetheless be zealous to cover that body under the aforementioned wings.
For there are heavenly bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; and the glory of heavenly things is one thing, and the glory