designed to lead to the sexual union.] Besides they gave them
no one that had to go into the chamber to wait on them, but after
they put in all the necessities in the way of meat and drink,
which were created from the afore mentioned water, the door of the
chamber was fast bolted and locked, the faculty seal impressed on
it and I was enjoined that I should guard them here, and spend the
winter before the door; the chamber should be duly warmed so that
they be neither too hot nor too cold, and they could neither come
out nor escape. But should they, on account of any hope of
breaking this mandate, escape, I would thereupon be justly
subjected to heavy punishment. I was not pleased by the thing, my
fear and solicitude made me faint hearted, for I communed with
myself that it was no small thing that had befallen me, as I knew
also that the college of wisdom was accustomed not to lie but to
put into action what it said. Yet because I could not change it,
beside which this locked chamber stood in the center of a strong
tower and surrounded with strong bulwarks and high walls, in which
one could with a small but continuous fire warm the whole chamber,
I undertook this office, and began in God's name to warm the
chamber, and protect the imprisoned pair from the cold. But what
happened? As soon as they perceived the slightest warmth they
embraced each other so tenderly that the like will not soon be
seen, and stayed so hot that the young bridegroom's heart in his
body dissolved for ardent love, also his whole body almost melted
in his beloved's arms and fell apart. When she who loved him no
less than he did her, saw this, she wept over him passionately
and, as it were buried him with her tears so that one could not
see, for her gushing tears that overflowed everything, where he
went. Her weeping and sorrowing had driven her to this in a short
time, and she would not for deep anguish of heart live longer, but
voluntarily gave herself to death. Ah woe is me. In what pain and
need and trouble was I that my two charges had quite disappeared
in water, and death alone was left for me. My certain destruction
stood before my eyes, and what was the greatest hardship to me, I
feared the threatened shame and disgrace that would happen to me,
more than the injury that would overtake me.

[15]. As