5The Pilgrim Sees the World From a Height

8/9/2019 5The Pilgrim Sees the World From a Height

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5The pilgrim sees the world from a height

Outside the world there is nothing

While I thus mused, suddenly we found ourselves - I do not know how - on a tower above any height so thatwe seemed to touch the clouds. Looking at the top of the tower, I saw a city seemingly beautiful, brilliant,and enormously expanded, but not big enough so that I can discern the limits and boundaries. This city wascircular in shape, and was surrounded by walls and ramparts, but instead of murky abyss yawning moatseemingly unlimited and unfathomable. The light was shining on the city, so that beyond the walls wascomplete darkness.

T citymap

The city itself, as I noticed, was divided into numerous streets, squares, houses and buildings large andsmall. To the east, I saw a door which left a path that ran to another door, located to the west. The seconddoor opened on the different streets of the city. I counted six main streets from the west, parallel to eachother. In the middle of these streets was a great place or market place.Farther west, on a steep rocky hill,stood an imposing and magnificent castle that seemed to be the main attraction of all the inhabitants of thecity.

The eastern gate and door distribution

My guide, Mat, remarked:Take care, my pilgrim, you have here this beautiful world that you were so anxious to see! I first brought youeverything on this hill so that you can have an overview, and so that you can understand itsorganization. The eastern gate is the gate of life, by which all who live in the world to enter. The other doorthat is closest to us is the door of the division where everyone gets their lot in life and move towards theirrespective states.

The world is divided into six ranks

The streets that you see are the various groups, orders, and occupations in which men are installed. Youobserve six main streets: in a southerly, the domestic group lives - parents, children, and service staff; live inthe following artisans and tradesmen in the third, near the place You can find the learned professions,dedicated to intellectual work, on the other side, in front of them, is the clergy, which others have used forreligious ministry. Further on is the ruling class and legal and north end, there is the order of chivalry, whichdeals with military affairs. As all this is excellent! First we generate all; the second sustentent us all, teach allthe third, fourth and pray for all, the fifth judge and maintain all proper order, the sixth fight for you! So theyall serve one another, and everything remains in harmony. "

Castle of Fortune, the marketplace, and the castle in the world

"Castle to the west is the Arx Fortunae the Castle of Fortune, where only the most distinguished living in the

enjoyment of wealth, pleasure and glory. The central square is common to all.Here men of all groups gettogether to conduct trade. In its center, as the axis of everything else, is (stands) the residence of the Queenof the World, Wisdom.

The beginning of wandering ...

Me was satisfied with this excellent arrangement, and began to praise God for organizing all groups howsplendid. But there was one thing that I did not: I watched the streets intersected in several places, so thathere and there they crossed each other. It seemed to me that this could easily lead to confusion andwandering. Also, while I contemplated the circular shape of the world, I felt really spin and move, so much sothat I was afraid to have vertigo. For wherever I turn my gaze, even the smallest speck of dust seemed todance before my eyes. And then, when I listened, the air was full of hits and thumps, whispers, landslide,and cries.

... Where proves blinding.


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My interpreter, Illusion, remarked:"You see, my dear, like the world is nice, and like all things are excellent, even if you do not consider that byfar! What will you say when you come in to examine them in detail, with all their delights? Who would notfeel happy to live in such a world! ""By far, I am well pleased" I replied. How I would appreciate it closely, I can not say ""Everything will be fine, believe me!" He replied, "but let's go now!"

The nature of childhood years.

Mat intervened:"Wait, let me show here, what else we do not intend to visit. Turn around to the east:notice it, then something slips out of the darkness of the door and crawled towards us? ""I see," I replied."These are human beings who have just entered the world," he continued, "themselves do not know wherethey come from, because so far they are not aware of themselves, nor not know they are human. Darknessenvelops them, and do nothing but groan and yell. But as they progress through the streets, darkness andthe light disappears slowly increases, until they reach the door below us. For what is happening there, wenow find out. "

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Fate divides occupations

Fate, gatekeeper of the world

We went down a dark staircase and entered through a door beyond which a large hall was filled with youngpeople. On the right side sat an old man with relentless air, a large copper pot in hand. I noticed thateveryone who came through the door of life appeared before him, and thrusting his hand into the pot,withdrew a piece of paper covered with letters. Then they entered a street, some running and shouting,others walking painfully, sadly complaining, and looking back.

Fate divides activities

I went closer and examined some of the pieces of paper, one shot: Leads!, Other: Used! And another:Order! Another: "Obey!And another: Bine! And another: Justice! And another: Fight! , And so on. I wascurious to understand the meaning of the scene.Mat explained, saying, "held here the distribution of occupations and states, according to which work isallocated to each for life.Whoever controls these functions is called Destiny, and from him that all thoseentering the world must receive their task.

The pilgrim seeks first to be allowed to choose to discover

Just then, Illusion nudged me, encouraging me to take my lot. I begged him not to be affected definitelysomething special before he had first studied in order not to get over this lot, "come what may" on blindchance. I am told, however, that such exception was not permitted without the Lord Regent, Destiny, and

was not informed consent. The docking So, I presented my humble request: I came with the intention toconsider everything before deciding what attracts me most.

The pilgrim gets his

"My son," he replied, "you see that others use them otherwise, but comply with what they receive what istheirs. But since you desire so much, I agree. "After scoring on a piece of paper the word "Specular" (ie study, research), and I have stretch, he dismissedme.

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The pilgrim sees the market square in the world

He sees the diversity of people


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In this my guide remarked, "Since you want to investigate all things, let us go to the market place." He tookme there once.And lo! An innumerable multitude was gathered there if it was like a fog. People from allnations and all languages, all ages, any size, any group or class and all occupations, as well as both sexeswere present. As I gazed, they came and went like bees to swarm, and worse.

Various characters and behaviors of men

Some walked, others ran, while others drove or remained motionless, while another group was seated orlying down. A group stood up, frisked, while another went down. Some were alone, others in small or bigcompany. Their dress and appearance differed greatly: some were in fact completely naked, gesticulatingwildly to communicate with others. When they met, they exchanged many awkward hand gestures and lip,knees and other, or kissing and cuddling in short, they allowed many absurd weirdness.

"You see here the noble humanity, these exquisite creatures, reasonable and immortal, the very image ofGod's immortal likeness as their immortal shares we learn" said my companion."Here, as in a mirror, youcontemplate the dignity of your kind."

Huichelarij bij allen

I then examined them more closely, and observed, first, that all those who swarmed in the crowd woremasks over their faces, but when they were alone or with peers, retired, adjusting it to their faces when theyjoined the crowd. I asked about the significance of this procedure. My guide said:"This is my son, of human prudence, not to appear at all as it really is. Only we did not need to coerce, butamong others it is in our interest to do well and give an appearance suited to his business. "I conceived the desire to examine more closely what people looked like without this artificial cheating.

Their wonderful "wanstaltigheden"

Looking closely, I discovered they were all disfigured in various ways, not only in their features, but also intheir bodies. Most were pimply, crusted or lepers. In addition, they had either pig lips or dogs' teeth, a fox tailor horns of ox, or donkey's ears, eyes or basil, or legs of a wolf. I watched again with a neck like a peacock

proudly erect, others with a crest of erect Lapwing, others with horse hooves, and so on. The largest numberlike monkeys.Horrified, I exclaimed:"But I see monsters here!""What are you talking about monsters, talkative?" Said my interpreter, threatening me with his fist. "If onlyyou lookproperly with the glasses, you will recognize for humans! "In addition, some passers surprised my comment about the monsters and stopped to question me andthreaten me. I realized it was useless to discuss, so I remained silent, thinking to myself: if they want to seethemselves as human, very well. But I see what I see. Also I was afraid that my companions completelyadjust glasses, and succeed in this way to deceive me. So I decided to stay quiet and watch these beautifulthings that I started to see. I looked around me again and noticed that many were very good at using theirmask, dodging quickly and delivering it in a moment so they could take something that suited them.Then Ibegan to understand how the world works. Nevertheless, I remained quiet.

Mutual incomprehension

I watched and heard that most of them were talking in different languages. So they do not understand (eachother), and therefore, they do not respond, or they gave a totally inadequate response.In some places theywere crowd, all talking at the same time and each for himself, nobody paying attention to others, despitetheir efforts to capture the listening drawing others to them. But they could not, which often degenerated intofights and fights."In the name of God, am I to Babel?" I exclaimed. "Everyone here plays its clean air could there be moreconfusion?"

Where we take care of things completely useless

Few of them remained inactive, most went about some occupation. But the various tasks - and that I'd neversuspected - were child's play or at best unnecessary chore. Some were collecting garbage and distributed


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them to others here and there rolling stones and planks, or hoisted with pulleys and then let them fall, otherswere digging the ground and moving earth from one place to the rest worked with bells, mirrors, bellows,rattles and other trinkets. Some played even with their own shadow, trying to measure, prosecuted or tocatch it. All this was done with such simplicity that many sighed and sweating, while others are overworkedto the pain and exhaustion. In addition, there were officers who ran around and distributed the tasks withgreat zeal, while others obeyed with the same diligence. Astonished, I exclaimed:

"Alas man he was created with the intention of squandering his talents, divine gifts, to such petty and trivialwork? "What do they mean? "Said my interpreter. "Appears this not as clearly in a mirror allproblems are solved by the ingenuity of man? One does one thing and one another. ""But all I said," are concerned about unnecessary chores unworthy of their glorious possibilities .. "Do not be so fussy, "he said, they are not yet in heaven, but still lead an earthly existence, and mustcare of things terrestrial. Observe the way, the order in which everything is accomplished. "

Vreselijke wanorde

I watched them again, and I noticed that we could not imagine anything more chaotic. For while a staggeringand tottering under a burden, the other was intervening: causing disputes, quarrels and fights. Then theywere reconciled for a short time later, start up again. Sometimes more is seized of the same thing, then they

all left her and ran down their respective sides. Those who were under orders from officers and supervisorsobeyed them willy-nilly, but even there I saw great confusion. Some broke ranks and escaped, others wereopposed to their team leaders and refused to do what they had been ordered. Other clubs steal supervisorsand flew. What makes everything was upside down. But as it was "supposed to be about," I do not feel freeto express my opinion.

Men geeft in een slecht voorbeeld ergens

In addition, I discovered another evil denoting the blindness and folly. All the space of this marketplace -along the streets - was dotted with hollows, holes and puddles, beams, large stones and other obstacleslying pell-mell into the greatest disorder. Nobody, however, thought to restore order, to clear or resolveanything, or to avoid or circumvent the obstacles. All rushed forward without paying attention, facedobstacles, fell, wounded or killed. It was pitiful. Nobody, however, no one paid any attention to the injury of

others, and when one fell, others were only laugh. As I saw who threw themselves blindly on a branch, abeam, or in a hole, I warned. But nobody listened. Some laughed at me, and others even threatened to beatme. Some fell dead on the spot the other rose and fell again head over heels, again and again. Covered inbruises and bumps, they did not care, so that the apathy with which they viewed their wounds filled me withamazement. By cons, if anyone would pretend to touch, they immediately showed his teeth, ready to pounceon him and fight.

From Wankel moedigheid onbestendigheid in human

I watched as their great love of novelty and change in clothing, architecture, speech, gait and other. I noticedsome that did not stop that change of clothes. Others were busy inventing new styles of architecture,demolishing shortly after they had just built.Similarly, they changed from time to time to work, but quicklyabandoned their new fads. So they showed their inconsistency in everything. If one died under his burden,

or had left, we immediately found several who were fighting, quarreling or fighting fiercely for the site,offering an amazing spectacle. Meanwhile, none of them could say, do or build anything without beingridiculed or maligned by others, and see his work destroyed. If after completing its project to be hard andgreat expenditure of energy, seemed satisfied, another came to overthrow, destroy or damage it so that Icould see nowhere man do something solid and durable. Some would not even wait that others destroy theirwork, but did themselves, so much so that I was amazed to their instability and their stupid senseless wasteof energy.

Zijn Hoogmoed in zelfoverschatting

I watched as much clodhoppers wearing thick-soled, as well as others who were walking on stilts to beraised above lot and look down, and they strutted. But the longer they stood, they were more easily reversedor shoved - out of envy, I suppose - by others. This happened often, and they went and the object of derision

from the audience. I have witnessed many times.


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Their selfishness and opgeblazenheid

I noticed many who wore a mirror in which they watched each other while chatting, fighting, fighting, rollinglogs, or even walking on stilts. They examine themselves in front, back or sideways, and then shouted forjoy upon their beauty, their stature, their appearance or their actions, with their mirror to others so they toocan join this admiration .

Death leads to all ellendig om

Finally, I saw the dead, carrying a scythe, a bow and arrows, planting them everywhere among them,warning them all in a loud voice to remind them that they were mortal. However, nobody paid attention to hiswarning, and they continued this insanity and this villainy. She went out and shot his arrows at them in alldirections.He was touched, young or old, rich or poor, literate or not, fell immediately. Then the victims wereemitting more or less shrill cries or screams; passersby at the sight of their wounds, went away quickly fromthem and in no time simply ignore it altogether.Some approached, contemplating the dying and theirmembers when they stiffened and stopped breathing, they gathered around and sang. Then they feasted,drank and cried while some of them show a wealth of tristesse.Puis they seized the body, pulled to theoutside and threw him into the abyss around the world. Back home, they were recovering their debauchery,and nobody was trying to avoid death, but they were just avoiding looking at her.

Various diseases

I noticed also that all those who were affected by the arrows of death did not succumb immediately:Some were only wounded, maimed, stunned, blind or dumb. After being beaten, some were swollen likebubbles, other dried as splinters, while others were shaking like leaves. Thus there were more seriousinjuries to members putrid and fetid, that slight injuries.

There is nothing to do against death

Also, I saw that many ran here and there, selling plasters, ointments, and potions. Everyonebuying, rejoicing loudly and imagining that death had been played.But she did not care, and continuedthrow his arrows to fly, even among vendors. I found in it a spectacle worthy of pity to see how

the point intended to be immortal creature was ruled dead so miserable, so sudden and so multifaceted. Isaw me as almost always, when one plans to live a long life, which brings together friends around, wesettled in business, they built houses, which amasses wealth and struggles to improve its comfort, suddenlythe arrow of death puts an end to all this. And anyone who has made his nest, is torn down, and all effortsare destroyed. Moreover, his heir, as the third, tenth, and hundredth are housed in the sameboat. Considering that nobody is willing to take into account the uncertainty of life, but to all act to death as ifthey were sure of their immortality (what a pity), I was going to raise your voice by way of warning andsupplication so that people open their eyes and take heed to the arrows of death to avoid them. But when Irealized that since the Death with his repeated warnings and its continuing efforts to frighten them by herhideous appearance had not been able to accomplish anything, I find that my exhortations would be weakeven less popular . So I whispered softly:"That is a shame, eternal God, that we, men and miserable mortals, be so blind to our own misfortunes""My dear friend," replied my interpreter, "Would it be wise to torment us with the thought of Death? As we all

know it can not be avoided. It is preferable not to pay attention to it, but mind his own business and be full ofdrive. When death comes, it comes. It only takes one hour, sometimes even a moment. The other shouldthey cease to be happy because someone is dead? Several were born in the meantime to take his place! "

The man himself created the illness and death

"If this is the wisdom, then I do not understand very much," I replied, and I fell back into my silence.I do not deny that when I saw the innumerable features of death, the following thought occurred to me:"where she gets so many arrows that never exhausts his stock?" I looked again and saw very clearly it wasnot at all with arrows, but she possessed a bow: it was the victims themselves who prepared them, andfashioned them supplied him. They were unconscious and the effrontery to offer him, so she could barelyfind the time to take them all and shoot them in their heart.

"Now I see the truth of the saying: What is quilibet faber ipse mortis suae," I exclaimed, "I see that nobodydies through no fault of his own intemperance, and incontinence, carelessness or negligence which provides


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malignancies, aches and injuries both internal and external. Because these are the consequences of thearrows of death. "As I watched the death and the pursuit of men, Illusion pulled me aside and said:"Watching You, you fool, the dead than the living? When someone dies, it no longer, and you'd betterprepare to live! "

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The Palmer inquiry into the matrimonial state

My companions led me then in a street where, they said, married people live, and I promised to expose mepleasant joys of this union. And look! there stood a door, which, according to the guide, calledEngagement. Beforethat door lay a large square full of people of both sexes coming and going while looking in the eyesa quizzical expression, and self-examination from head to feet, ears, nose, teeth, neck, tongue, hands, feetand other parts of the body, front, side, and assessing what they saw. They were approaching or receding,andestimated the size, body size, energy, or thinness. . . They were particularly curious (as I could see veryfrequently) to wallets, purses, and wallets, the weighing and measuring length, width, paiseur, finesse

and narrowness. Sometimes several had their sights on the same woman. If a man tried to chase the others,it followedquarrel, quarrels, fights, sometimes even death, as I could observe. Sometimes one drove his rival, andwasturn expelled. Another setting rout a rival group, ended up running away too. Some did not lose timesearch, but seized the first comer. Then the couple went hand in hand fromthe door. Features suchchildish all around me, I inquired about their fateMy interpreter said: "They want to settle in the Rue du not...

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5The Pilgrim Sees the World From a Height