The Sabbatean Prophets

From Mystical Vision to Prophetic Eruption 91
house of worship for the wedding before the city magistrate, as is their
wont, that the father of the girl, who had died about two years previously,
came to her in a dream. He said to her, “Woe to you and woe to your soul!
What have you done” Upon hearing her father’s voice, the girl broke out
in cries and weeping, saying “Father! Father! What can I do if I am in their
power and they do not permit me to go where I wish” Replied the father,
“Listen to me now. Wear this leather cloak which I am giving you and go to
the graveyard this night. Sit there and the Lord will be your confidence; he
will not let your foot be caught.” And this is what she did. Early in the
morning the people of the city came to bury a certain Jew there, and the
community saw the girl in the same cloak. Upon it was written in clear
script, “This will be the wife of the Messiah.”
They immediately took the girl and sent her from one place to the next
and from one city to another, through Venice, until she was brought to
Livorno. She remained there a long time until a ship came through headed
for Egypt. While she was there she prophesied about the future and all her
statements came true. It came to pass that when the great sage Rabbi Isaac
ha-Levi Valle (long may he live!) heard these things, he too went to speak
with her. He asked her to reveal to him the [spiritual] roots of his soul and
other things which may not be written, and she answered him according to
what he wished to know. He knew for certain that her answers were correct
and true. The woman who owned the house said to the above-mentioned
sage, in the presence of the girl, “I am aware of the claim made by this girl
that she will be the wife of the Messiah.” The girl said nothing.
Now the people of Livorno sent her to Egypt, to the hand of the great
and exalted noble Rabbi Raphael Joseph, the chelebi in Egypt, treasurer to
the king. He received her with great honor and told her that he wished to
marry her to a friend of his, and he would give her much money. She declined,
saying that she must go to Jerusalem where her proper and appropriate
mate was to be found. Therewith he sent her to Jerusalem with a
straight and reliable Jew. When they reached the city she saw our master
(may he be raised up!), upon which she said to the Jew who was with
her, “Do you see that sage there among the sages He is the one destined
for me.”
Our master lifted his eyes and saw the girl. He said to the sages who were
with him, “That girl coming toward us is my proper spouse . . .” The wedding
was made, but he did not consummate it until after he placed the pure
turban [of Islam] on his head. She bore him a son and a daughter, as will be
told, God willing. 3