abit: her hair was cut
off, and the bishop put on her a veil, and a ring as the pledge of her
fidelity to her heavenly spouse. After she was consecrated to God in
religion, she seemed entirely to forget that she had been empress, and
behaved as the last in the house, being persuaded that she was so before
God. She feared nothing more than what ever could bring to her mind the
remembrance of her former dignity. She prayed and read much, worked with
her hands, abhorred the least appearance of worldly nicety, and took a
singular pleasure in visiting and comforting the sick. Thus she passed
the fifteen last years of her life, never suffering the least preference
to be given her above anyone in the community. Her mortifications at
length reduced her to a very weak condition, and brought on her last
sickness. Her monastery and the whole city of Cassel were grievously
afflicted at the thought of their approaching loss; she alone appeared
without concern, lying on a coarse hair-cloth, ready to give up the
ghost, while the prayers of the agonizing were read by her side.
Perceiving they were preparing a cloth fringed with gold to cover her
corpse after her death, she changed color and ordered it to be taken
away; nor could she be at rest till she was promised she should be
buried as a poor religious in her habit. She died on the 3d of March,
1040. Her body was carried to Bamberg, and buried near that of her
husband. The greatest part of her relics still remains in the same
church. She was solemnly canonized by Innocent III. in 1200. The author
of her life relates many miracles wrought at the tomb, or by the
intercession of this holy virgin and widow.

* * * * *

Few arrive at any degree of perfection amongst those who aspire after
virtue, because many behave as if they placed it barely in multiplying
exercises of piety and good works. This costs little to self-love, which
it rather feeds by entertaining a secret vanity, or self-complacency, in
those who are not very careful in watching over their hearts. It is a
common thing to see persons who have passed forty or fifty years in the
constant practice of penance and all religious exercises, and the use of
the most holy sacraments, still subject to habitual imperfections, and
venial disorders, incompatible with a state of sanctity or perfection.
They give marks of sudden resentment, if they happen to be rebuked or
despised: are greedy of the esteem o