{
  "meta": {
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-10-chapter-x.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
      "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 11,
    "slug": "vol-1-10-chapter-x",
    "title": "Chapter  X.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 574,
    "text": "## Chapter  X.\n\nHow  he  began  the  New  Year. \nIt  is  the  custom  in  certain  parts  of  Swabia, \nhis  native  country,  for  the  young  men  to  go  out \nin  their  folly  on  New- Year's  Night,  and  beg  for \nMay  wreaths :  that  is  to  say,  they  sing  ditties \nand  recite  pretty  verses,  and  do  all  they  can, \nwith  such  like  courtesies,  to  make  their  sweet- \nhearts give  them  garlands.  Now,  when  he  heard \nof  this,  the  thought  came  at  once  to  his  young \nand  loving  heart,  that  he  too  would  go  on  that \nsame  night  to  his  Eternal  Love,  and  beg  a  May \nwreath.  Accordingly,  before  break  of  day  he \nwent  to  the  image  of  the  most  pure  Mother, \nwhich  represents  her  holding  in  her  arms,  and \npressing  to  her  heart,  her  gentle  Child,  the \nbeautiful  Eternal  Wisdom ;  and,  kneeling  down \nbefore  it,  he  began  with  the  sweet  voiceless \nmelody  of  his  soul  to  sing  a  sequence  to  the \nMother,  praying  her  leave  to  beg  a  garland  from \n\n\nnew-year's  night.  37 \n\nher  Child,  and,  should  he  fail  to  obtain  this, \nthat  she  would  help  him  in  his  suit.  And  so \nearnest  was  his  prayer,  and  so  little  could  he  re- \nstrain himself  from  weeping,  that  the  hot  tears \nkept  rolling  down  his  cheeks.  When  his  song \nwas  ended,  he  turned  him  to  his  heart's  love,  the \nEternal  Wisdom,  and  bowing  down  at  His  feet, \ngreeted  Him  from  the  very  bottom  of  his  heart, \nand  praised  and  celebrated  Him  as  one  who  far \nsurpasses  all  this  world's  fairest  maidens  in  come- \nliness, nobility,  virtue,  gentleness,  and  freedom, \nunited  with  everlasting  majesty.  And  this  he \ndid  with  songs  and  words,  with  thoughts  and \nlongings,  as  best  he  could ;  and  much  he  wished \nthat  he  could  be,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  the  fore- \nrunner of  all  lovers  and  loving  hearts,  and  the \ninventor  of  all  tender  thoughts,  words,  and  sen- \ntiments, that  the  most  worthy  One  might  be \nlauded  with  due  love  by  His  unworthy  Servitor. \nThen  at  length  he  broke  forth  into  words  like \nthese : — Ah,  my  beloved !  Thou  art  indeed  an \nEaster  Day  of  joy  to  me.  Thou  art  the  bliss \nof  summer  to  my  heart,  and  the  hour  of  my  de- \nlight. Thou  art  the  loved  One,  whom  alone  my \nyoung  heart  loves  and  thinks  upon,  and  for \nwhom  it  has  scorned  all  earthly  love.  Let  this \navail  me  now,  my  heart's  beloved,  and  let  me \n\n\n38  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nobtain  a  garland  from  Thee  to-day.  Ah,  gentle \nheart !  do  this  for  Thy  divine  virtue's  sake,  and \nfor  Thy  innate  goodness,  and  let  me  not  depart \nfrom  Thee  with  empty  hands  this  New  Year's \nDay.  Ah  !  how  well  this  will  beseem  Thee,  O \nsweet  sweetness !  Eemember  that  one  of  Thy \ndear  servants  has  told  us  of  Thee,  that  in  Thee \nthere  is  not  nay  and  yea,  but  only  yea  and  yea \n(2  Cor.  i.  19).  Therefore,  my  heart's  beloved, \nsay  to  me  to-day  a  loving  yea  in  regard  to  Thy \nheavenly  gift,  and  as  foolish  lovers  obtain  a  gar- \nland from  their  loves,  so  let  my  soul  receive \nto-day,  as  a  New  Year's  gift,  some  special  grace, \nor  some  new  light  from  Thy  fair  hand,  my  own \nsweet  love,  O  Divine  Wisdom.  These  and  the \nlike  prayers  he  used  to  offer  up  there,  and  he \nnever  went  away  thence  with  his  prayer  un- \ngranted.",
    "project_translation": false,
    "text_trust": "verbatim",
    "quote_safe": true,
    "license": null,
    "methodology_url": null
  }
}