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Romance and Poetry: Marbodeus

The Rev. J. M. Neale, in his "Mediaeval Hymns and Sequences," gives the translation of a "Prose" by Marbodeus, and also selections from his Commentary. The following are extracts from the work, and a few passages from the notes.

Diamond, the most beautiful, brilliant, and precious of all stones, signifies light, innocence, purity, life, and joy. Ruby signifies divine power and love, dignity and royalty. Carbuncle, with its red or blood colour, symbolizes Our Lord's Passion and Martyrdom. Five carbuncles placed on the cross represent the five wounds received by Christ. Sardius, of a purple red colour, typifies the martyrs who poured out their blood for Christ-- "The Sardius, with its purple red, Sets forth their merit who have bled, The martyr-band, now blest above, That agoniz'd for Jesu's love." The blue-coloured Sapphire is an emblem of heaven, virtue, truth, constancy, heavenly love, and contemplation. "The azure light of Sapphire's stone Resembles that celestial throne, A symbol of each simple heart That grasps in hope the better part, Whose life each holy deed combines, And in the light of virtue shines." In his "Commentary," Marbodeus says, "The Sapphire is of the colour of the sky. It signifies, then, that while they be yet on earth, set their affections on things above, and despise things terrestrial."

The yellow Topaz signifies the goodness of God, love towards God, fruitfulness and faithfulness. Marbodeus says, "It signifies those who love God and their neighbour."

The Emerald, in its brilliant green, represents hope in immortality, exalted faith, and victory over trial and sin. "The Emerald burns intensely bright, With radiance of an olive light; This is the faith that highest shines, No need of charity declines, And seeks no rest, and shuns no strife, In working out a holy life."

The violet or purple-coloured Amethyst is emblematic of earthly sufferings, sorrow, deep love, and truth unto death. "Last in the Holy City set, With hue of glorious violet, Forth from the Amethyst are rolled Sparks crimson bright, and flames of gold. The humble heart it signifies, That with its dying Master dies." The Pearl signifies humility, purity, innocence, and a retiring spirit. We are told by Matthew Paris, that Pope Innocent, desirous to gain King John of England to his plans, and knowing that he was covetous, and a diligent seeker after costly jewels, sent him four gold rings adorned with precious stones, in token that the rotundity of the rings signified eternity; "therefore your royal discretion may be led by the form of them to pray for a passage from earthly to heavenly, from temporal to eternal things. The number of four, which is a square number, denotes the firmness of mind which is neither depressed in adversity nor elated in prosperity, which will then be fulfilled, when it is based on the four principal virtues--namely, justice, fortitude, prudence, and virtue......Moreover, the greenness of the emerald denotes faith; the clearness of the sapphire, hope; the redness of the pomegranate denotes charity; and the purity of the topaz, good works...In the emerald, therefore, you have what to believe; in the sapphire, what to hope for; in the pomegranate, what to love; and in the topaz, what to practise; that you ascend from one virtue to another, till you see the Lord in Zion." The essence of all that is sacred in Lamaism is comprised under the name of what may be translated the "three" most precious jewels, viz., the "Buddha" jewel, the "doctrine" jewel, and the "priesthood" jewel--a kind of trinity, representing an essential unity.