Chapter I
BOOK III Chapter I Concerning the matter of thefourth contemplation and its particular nature
After we have said those things which seemed to need saying concerning the rings and poles, the order of exposition demands that we ought to say some things concerning the fourth kind of contemplation. This kind of contemplation, as we have already said above, is with respect to incorporeal and invisible essences, namely angelic spirits and human spirits. The material is surely worthy; knowledge of these things is quite worthy. For this is that noble nay that most noble—creature created according to the image of God, exalted above all creatures, made for the highest good, and deserving to be blessed by the Creator of all goods Himself. The knowledge of all other creatures certainly looks at the knowledge of these from the lowest place, as it were, and however much it may increase, even though it may raise itself up very much, it cannot reach to the peak of this height. Pay attention to how rightly it is indicated by the propitiatory because it was not gilded at all but was solid gold, being made of only clean and purest gold. The propitiatory is commanded to be made of pure and clean gold; from it you will learn that in this consideration you ought to use an intellect that is subtle and pure. How does the imagination—the creator, moderator and restorer of corporeal phantasies—do this?
The imagination, maker of so many phantasies—which continually creates so many new forms of corporeal things, restores ancient forms and skillfully disposes and orders many and varied modes as it wills—withdraws far from this activity. So abundant a multitude of its representations are of no advantage here; indeed, they are
RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR
greatly at a disadvantage. Why do you rush yourself shamelessly to this work? Why do you force yourself with such rudeness into the workshop of this contemplation? Why are you in this workshop?
What have you to do with pure understanding? You do not know how to work in gold; you have nothing in such a craft. You who always disturb the pure intellect do not know how to purify gold.
Your gold has been mixed with dross; indeed, you have no abundance of gold at all. Our propitiatory ought to be made from the cleanest gold; there is nothing for you to offer; there is nothing at all for you to do for or in such an activity. In this work we have no need of your poor and undisciplined works. You have no gold; nor do you know the art of goldsmithing. Whatever it is other than gold that you prepare to offer, we have no need for it. Take what is yours and go. In this work we have no need for the hairs of shegoats, the skins of rams or even any pieces of wood whatsoever.
Although you are very rich and even if you have these or something more than these, nevertheless, you cannot have gold, nor do you have anything by which you may assist the goldsmiths. The hairs of she-goats—the filth of concupiscences from the delight of foul flesh—when reconsidered often with careful examination, are able to assist persons being pricked by compunction in prayer. Examples of suffering—any skins of rams that have been made red with their own blood— are able to assist those afflicted with any tribulation. Workings of kindness—any trees of this sort, when cut down from the forest of the world and hewn according to the standard of justice—are able to be useful by the work of fruitful mercy to those assiduous in ministering. But the memory of every one of these and of any such things whatsoever can disturb rather than assist souls that are suspended in the watchtower of this contemplation. For the more perfectly we forget the phantasies of corporeal things, the more deeply and freely we examine the hidden things of supermundane essences. Therefore he who strives eagerly to be making a propitiatory for himself should cleanse his gold and strive zealously to purify his intellect of every incursion of phantasies. Who would grant to me to find a man of riches, a man fully learned, and finally such a man who lacks neither an abundance of gold nor the activity of the art for making the propitiatory by which the ark is covered?
Who is that one who knows how to clean his gold from all dross.