You should love the nothing,
You should flee the something,
You should stand alone,
And should go to no one.
You should not be too busy
And You should be free of all things.
You should unbind captives
And compel the free.
You should restore the sick
And yet should have nothing yourself.
You should drink the water of suffering
And ignite the fire of love with the kindling of virtue:
Then you are living in the true desert.
(Mechtild von Magdeburg – 1207-1282)
(GRI side 140)

Mechtild von Magdeburg ca. 1207-1282 var en tysk Beginer og mystiker, der var en af de første til at skrive på tysk i stedet for latin.
Hendes bog hedder: Das Fliessende Licht der Gottheit, og her er chancen for at læse middelalder middel-lav-tysk hvis man skulle have den lyst.