The Labyrinth
(Spring 1516)
[[Der Labyrinth. In Schuler and Schulthess ed., ii., 2, 245-51; in modern]
[literary German, pp. 251-6. In Egli and Finsler ed.,i., 53-60. Translated by]
[Walter Lichtenstein, Ph.D., librarian of Northwestern University, Evanston,]
[Illinois.]
[This poem is a great improvement upon its predecessor. It is a fruit of]
[Zwingli’s humanistic studies, and tells in a pleasing manner one of the most]
[familiar classical tales. He has given us himself the moral he wished to draw,]
[and there is no evidence that he had any other design. But others, as for in-]
[stance Schuler and Schulthess, disregarding Zwingli’s own statement, have]
[considered it an allegorical poem like that about the Ox and so have made this]
[table of identifications: The one-eyed lion is Spain—Aragon; the crowned eagle]
[is Maximilian; the winged lion is Venice; the cock is France; the ox is the]
[Swiss; the cats are those who entice the Swiss to become mercenaries; the bear]
[is the abbot of St. Gall; the ring is the law of Schwyz and Glarus; the dogs are]
[the allies of the Swiss cantons.]]
[IE you are surprised at this construction, hearken and]
[immediately the whole affair will be described; it is]
[known as the Labyrinth and was first thought of in Egypt,]
[later it became known in Italy, Lemnos, and Candia. It]
[was builded very neatly, as you will see, in accordance with]
[the plans of Daedalus of Athens, in Crete (now known as]
[Candia). The expense of construction was borne by Minos,]
[who wished to hide therein the shame of his wife, Pasiphaé,]
[who, having had intercourse with a bull, gave birth to a]
[monstrosity, which from head to waist was human, while]
[the rest of its body resembled that of a strong bull. “This]
[terrible creature had to be fed on human beings. Minos]
[imprisoned the Minotaur in the Labyrinth and gave him]
[only human beings to eat, especially Athenians, whom he]
punished 1n this fashion for having slain his son, Androgeos, without cause. All this Theseus learned when he came to his father ZEgeus. This young hero, who had already slain the robber Sciron, the murderer Corynetes, and others, besides capturing the Marathonian bull, was accompanied by Heracles. The anger of Theseus was aroused by the means Minos took to revenge himself, and he determined to put an end to this disgrace to the fair name of Athens. Therefore he sailed to Crete in order to battle valiantly. When Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, saw him, she fell in love with him and sent secretly to him, and when he came she spoke: ” Theseus, do not fear. Though you are compelled to fight this monster, you will not be conquered. Remember well, however, the entrance to the Labyrinth, and do not allow yourself to be made insane by the dreary horror of the place. For this terrible battle take along this roll of thread, which unroll behind you, in order that you may regain the entrance; otherwise after the battle with the monster is over you will die miserably in the solitary place.” Theseus took the thread and his club, and boldly hurried to the entrance of the Labyrinth. First he opened the creaking door and then entered the cave. It must be understood that the Labyrinth was so constructed that the sound of one vault re-echoed in all the others, and the sound broke in upon the stillness as if the bull was bellowing near by. But Theseus did not allow himself to be frightened, and he soon became accustomed to this sound. Then again the dreariness frightened him, the cave, so curiously constructed, had now a long walk, then suddenly sharp corners and narrow passageways, changing soon after to chambers with high ceilings, so that he could feel the air, and then again he had to crawl through sand. There were many doors and unexpected windings, as well as descents, hallways, blind passages, and the like. Furthermore the walls were disfigured with images of cruel animals of all kinds. Thus he saw the image of a terrible lion, single-eyed, which would have frozen his heart with fear; but he bethought himself in time to
examine this deception, and he soon discovered that the lion was merely a figure on the tapestry. This greatly encouraged him. A little later he caught sight of a picture, which seemed to him very terrifying. It was a crowned eagle looking in all directions, with its mouth wide open and having terrible claws and large wings and tail. He reflected, however, that the crown signified virtue rather than anger, and confidently passed on. Then he came to a cock, whose comb stood upright in elegant fashion as if he were afraid of no animal, be it large or small, and looking as if he wished to fight all. The cock had attracted a large number of hens and was showing them food, and in the middle of them all the cock himself was sitting. Theseus did not permit this to worry him, but concluded that these animals after wandering about for some time had lost their way and had been unable to regain the exit alive. Therefore Theseus, thread in hand, continued on his way. Suddenly he saw another image, which frightened him greatly. It wasa terrible winged lion, who closed the path; Theseus wondered whether it was a griffin, but approaching closer, he bethought himself that wings are intended for flight, not for standing still, if the animal is attacked; he recognised it to be a lion non-ferocious, but full of deceit. He was intermixed with the birds lest he be recognised as a beast-of-prey and he could never escape unattacked. Boldly advancing he saw an intelligent, beautiful ox, led by many cats, each of which fancied he was able to lead him according to its desire, so that it might jump upon him. Some drew him this way, others that way; in front, behind, and everywhere walked on the reckless crew, so that Theseus recognised easily how much they were annoying the ox; but since they were so roguish, he let them be in order to pass on. Thus he soon saw an ugly representation, which frightened him greatly. It was a bear, an untamed animal, in order that it might terrify all the more. But since he thought it a mere picture he approached and saw that an iron ring passed through the bear’s nose and in front some one was beating and
taming him. Theseus cast all fear aside, thinking the bear would be tamed in due time. Thus he passed on unharmed and soon went through another door, where he saw a large number of dogs, which he despised, for he saw they were mere images, since they were motionless. Soon thereafter he heard the monster pawing and roaring in terrible fashion. Therefore he strengthens himself against fear, saying to himself: “If you overcome this monster, you will bring fortune to yourself and great honour; also you will release the people of Athens from this onerous tyrant. Forward then; fortune favours the brave. If fortune does not smile, but deceives you, it is still something for one to have attempted the great deed. For he alone dies bravely, who perishes while attempting to do a brave deed.”
Thus he came to the beast, who, pleased, raised itself and launched itself against Theseus, thinking first to throw the hero to earth and then devour him. But Theseus defended himself bravely and threw the roll of thread into the mouth of the beast, so that it could not readily open its jaws. Then fighting bravely he gave the monster so many blows that it finally was weakened and at last was tamed by death. Then Theseus took out the thread. Thus retribution always comes in the end to all who are presumptuous. God does not forget, however long He delays.’
Now you shall learn that this Labyrinth signifies the worry and work of this world; but Theseus, the bold hero, stands for the strong, good man of honour, who always does right and sacrifices himself for his native land. The monster signifies shame, sin, and vice; but the thread, intelligence, which teaches us to follow the straight path of duty if we ’ [The sentiment of the German rhyme is familiar through the English of Longfellow, in his poem ”Retribution,” a translation of one of the Sinn-gedichte of Friedrich von Logau (see Complete Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Cambridge edition, ed., H. E. Scudder, Boston, 1908, p. 616):
[“Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small;]
[Though with patience he stands waiting, with exactness grinds he all.”]
[But the German poet echoed Greek poets. m d]
wish to cover ourselves with glory. The maiden Ariadne signifies the reward of virtue, which no one ever regrets.
Now look at men, how without reason they wander around in the Labyrinth without the thread; therefore they will hardly be able to come to the light again. I fear that they have decided to dwell here forever with their following, though we are only guests here, strangers, exiles, sufferers, and wanderers; thence when we think ourselves to be well settled our souls are taken from us. In us there is no love of God, which would turn aside from as much evil, and would lead us to despise all earthly treasures, in order to gain God more easily. The world is so full of deceit that we have no more the image of Christ than the heathen. Yea we are worse; for the heathen do all deliberately, so that repentance and misery does not come over them. We, on the other hand, in our conceit hurry all matters along thoughtlessly. Therefore we are all in trouble. Whoever commits crime and murder is considered a bold man. Did Christ teach us that? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” [John xv., 13.] See how for a little gain we barter away our lives; thus we plague our neighbours, and injure all natural right with wars, quarrels, and other matters, so that we might think the hellish furies to have broken loose. Tell me what have we of Christians more than the name? No one shows patience or wisdom. Most of all the princes have learnt nothing except to pursue their own desires. As soon as a notion enters their heads, everything else must cease. But when God allows peace to shine upon us, men become beasts. In order, however, not to stir the fire (for men are very angry, when abused), I have bethought myself of the pleasant fashion of a series of fables, which you can easily understand. I shall tell how each animal wandered up and down the Labyrinth and shall request them all to acquire better manners.’
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