40. And because in this life we cannot remain [intent] upon any one object, therefore the soul has twelve matters like twelve stars around which it always moves as in a circle, as the sun runs through the twelve constellations, that is, the twelve signs [of the zodiac] and never goes outside [of them]. These considerations adorn the soul, wherefore they are like a crown of twelve stars, to wit, the considerations of bodily natures, spiritual substances, intellectual notions, affective virtues, divinely instituted laws, divinely infused graces, irrevocable judgments, incomprehensible mercies, merits worthy of reward, rewarding gifts, periods of time, eternal reasons. In such matters, then, the contemplative soul must at all times be intent upon one of these lights, as the sun is always in one of the [zodiac] signs. 40. Et quia in hac vita non possumus stare in uno, ideo anima habet duodecim materias sicut duodecim lumina, circa quae semper moveatur in quodam circulo, sicut sol percurrit duodecim constellationes, scilicet per duodecim signa, et nunquam exit. Hae autem considerationes ornant animam, et ideo sunt sicut corona ex duodecim stellis, quae sunt: consideratio corporalium naturarum, spiritualium substantiarum, intellectualium scientiarum, affectualem virtutum, institutarum divinitus legum, infusarum divinitus gratiarum, irreprehensibi- Hum iudiciorum , incomprehensibilium misericordiarum, remunerabilium meritorum, praemiantium praemiorum, temporalium decursuum, aeternalium rationum. -- In his debet contemplativa anima versari semper in aliquo istorum luminum, sicut sol semper est in aliquo signo.
E. Warning
41. And note that the moon suffers an eclipse in the head or in the tail of the dragon: for there are two intersections in the sky on the ecliptic, through which the moon passes, and which are called the head and the tail of the dragon. The name dragon is used because of the circle, as if it were holding its tail in its mouth. That intersection which is to the north is called the "head," because the sun injures us more when it is there, for it burns us more diametrically, as a dragon is the worst and the most damaging in its head. But the "tail" is toward the south, and the sun injures us less when it is there, because it is at a greater distance from us. And when the sun is in one place and the moon at the opposite point, as in the case of a full moon, it is eclipsed. 41. Et nota, quod luna patitur eclipsim in capite, vel in cauda draconis. Sunt autem duae intersectiones in caelo super eclipticam, per quam transit luna, quae vocantur caput et cauda draconis: draco vocatur propter circulum, quasi tenens caudam in ore. Illa intersectio, quae est versus aquilonem, vocatur caput, quia sol magis laedit nos, quando est ibi, quia magis diametraliter urit nos, sicut draco est peior et magis nocivus in capite. Cauda autem est versus meridiem, et minus laedit nos sol, quando est in parte illa, quia magis a nobis elongatur. Et quando sol in una parte est, et luna in puncto alio sibi opponitur, ut in plenilunio; tunc eclipsatur.
42. Likewise, the contemplative man is eclipsed twice and he falls shamefully, and often dangerously, in that he hardly rises up again. And no wonder, because he falls from high. He may fall, indeed, through error and through presumption, becoming luciferian; he falls from the light into horrible darkness. He may fall, likewise, through an error of estimation which arises from presumption when he believes that he possesses everything through revelation. For there must always be a rule. Hence, he said that many are deceived who believe they possess everything through revelation. Wherefore in this vision and apparition which is the rule of all apparitions, that of the Lord on the mountain, Christ appeared with Moses and Elias so that no one would believe anything to be true or revealed unless it concorded with the Law, the Prophets and the Gospels. And so, the contemplative must be humble and circumspect, lest he come to the head of the dragon through presumption, or to its tail through error. Wherefore the woman, that is, the hierarchized soul, sees two visions, the ark and the city. 42. Similiter vir contemplativus eclipsatur dupliciter et cadit turpiter et multum periculose, eo quod vix resurgit; nec mirum, quia de alto cadit. Cadit enim per errorem et per praesumptionem. Videt enim se illuminatum et praesumit, et fit luciferianus et cadit a luce in tenebras horribiles. Cadit similiter per errorem aestimationis, quae oritur ex praesumptione, quando credit, se omnia habere per revelationem. Semper tamen debet esse regula. -- Unde dicebat, quod multi decipiuntur, quod credunt, se habere omnia per revelationem. -- Unde in illa visione et apparitione, quae est regula omnium apparitionum, Domini in monte, apparuerunt Christus, Moyses et Elias , ut nihil credatur verum vel revelatum, nisi quod consonat Legi, Prophetis et Evangelio. -- Debet ergo contemplativus esse humilis et circumspectus, ut non ad caput draconis veniat per praesumptionem, vel in cauda involvatur per errorem. Et ideo mulier, scilicet anima hierarchizata, videt duas visiones, scilicet arcam et civitatem .