The fourth of seven days of the Alchemical Wedding of Christian Rosycross is the day of the stage play in the House of the Sun and the day of the beheadings. Here you read the original text of the fourth day from the initiation novel by Johann Valentin Andreae (published 1616). Within the text, you find some selected commentaries from the esoteric analysis by Jan van Rijckenborgh. Full commentaries are published in the printed edition. Furthermore, you find links to related contents which were written by pupils in the Lectorium Rosicrucianum.
To make the orientation easier for online reading, subtitles have been added to the commentaries.
The printed edition in English, translated from the Dutch, was published in two volumes by: Rozekruis Pers, Haarlem, The Netherlands
Part one: First edition 1991
Part two: First edition 1991
All rights reserved, especially regarding translation. It is forbidden to reproduce any part of the following texts and images by means of printing, photo copy, electronic media or any other procedure without written permission by the publishing house in advance.
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I lay in my bed, leisurely surveying the noble statues and paintings in my room, when all of a sudden I heard the sound of trumpets as if the wedding procession had already started. My page, being beside himself with fright, sprang out of his bed, looking more dead than alive. One can imagine how I feit when he told me that the others had already been presented to the King. I knew not what eise to do, but weep outright and curse my laziness. While I dressed, my page, who had become ready long before me, ran out of the room to see how affairs might stand. He soon returned, however, with the joyful news that I had not missed anything. I had only missed my breakfast because, due to my advanced years, they had not wished to awaken me. By now it was time for me to go with him to the fountain where most of the others were already assembled.
Thus consoled my spirit returned again and I put on my habit and followed my page to the fountain in the garden mentioned before.
After we had greeted one another and the Maiden had teased me on account of my long rest, she took my hand and led me to the fountain, where I found that the lion had with him a large tablet, in place of his sword. Upon viewing it well, I found that it had been taken from the ancient monuments and placed here for some special honour. The inscription was soraewhat worn with age and therefore I will set it down here, so that all may reflect upon it:
After so much harm has been inflicted upon the human race, I, Hermes, being the primordial fount, flow forth here as a healing remedy, according to divine decree and assisted by the art. Let him who can, drink of me. Let him who will, cleanse himself in me. Let him who dares, stir me. Drink, brothers, and live.
This text was easy to read and understand, and since was easier than any of the others, it may fitly be placed here.
After we had washed ourselves in the fountain, and everyone had taken a draught from a cup of pure gold, we had to follow the Maiden into the hall once again to put on new garments. These were made erttirely of gold thread and embroidered with flowers. Everyone was also given another golden fleece, which was set about with precious stones, from which emanated various influences in accordance with the active power of each. Upon each fleece hung a weighty medallion of gold, on which were figured the sun and the moon in Opposition. On the reverse were the following words:
The light of the moon
shall be as the light ofthe sun,
and the light of the sun
shall be seven times more radiant
than at present.
