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MARRIAGE OF CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ. 133
inequality, according to demerit, was observed. Some
were sent away naked, without other hurt ; others were
driven out with small bells; some again were scourged
forth. In brief, the punishments were so various, that I
am not able to recount them all. With the last a some-
what longer time was spent, for whilst some were hanging,
some beheading, some forced to leap into the water, much
time was consumed. Yerily, at this execution my eyes
ran over, not indeed in regard of the punishment which im-
pudency well deserved, but in contemplation of human blind-
ness, in that we are continually busying ourselves over that
which since the first fall hath been sealed to us. Thus the
garden which lately was quite full was soon emptied,
As soon as this was done, and silence had been kept for expositio.
the space of five minutes, there came forward a beautiful
snow-white Unicorn, with a golden collar, ingraved with
certain letters, about his neck. He bound himself down
upon his fore-feet, as if hereby he had shown honour to the
Lyon, who stood so immoveably upon the fountain that I Leo.
took him to be stone or brass, but who immediately took
the naked sword which he bare in his paw, brake it into
two in the middle, the two pieces whereof sunk into the
fountain, after which he so long reared until a white Dove
brought a branch of olive in her bill, which the Lyon
devoured in an instant, and so was quieted. The Unicorn
returned to his place with joy, while our Virgin led us
down by the winding staires from the scaffold, and so we
again
made our reverence towards the curtain. We washed Discessus
our hands and heads in the fountain, and thereby waited
in order till the King through a secret gallery returned
into his hall, and then we also, with choice musick, pomp,
state, and pleasant discourse, were conducted into our for-