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Let the wise fight 603 with opposing myths, scattering the faithless. May God not be snatched from you by hateful cares, Which have cast swiftly to the earth even one running on high, Nor let your mind wander, being carried here and there From the goal, like a prize-winning and untamed colt Running afar, from the great glory of Christ. But if bitter Belial should steal you away, your mind wandering, as quickly as possible Turn back, and go to the goal, running a straight course. Let the shuttle be your care, and wool, and meditations On the divine oracles, wisdom, and divine songs, The thoughtful murmur of a subtle voice, not for show, Of which let more be in your heart, and a little on your lips. Often the enemy has rushed even through the ears of the deaf. 604 Nor you, having fled the yoke and burdens of women with more divine longings, O all-prudent one, Should you pursue the marriage chambers of others and the works of marriage, And instead of a maiden, be called a wedded wife. Do not sit in the houses of strangers, nor at their tables. Nor in the midst of the din of servants and household slaves Turn about. Do not speak a flattering word for satiety's sake. Embrace the measures of hospitality; if anyone is excellent, Open your humble home readily; if anyone is of the crowd, Let him be well-disposed from afar. But for you, a secure house is glory. Better is inhospitality than a very hospitable house For maidens. For modesty is destroyed among many, And among them radiant virginity would be insulted. 605 Therefore, do not gather faith for me from the ends of the earth. Revere for me gray hair, and be like it in good character. For gray hair brings something more than prudent youth. And though you are pious, do not go running about here and there, Often not in an orderly way, with more flighty men, Whirling your foot, hastening to holy places, Even though they are far away. Christ the King is at the hearth for all who approach and in the heart of him who loves. Revere for me first God, then the priest, Christ on earth, the commander of your life; To whom you should approach on wings, and to whom you should yield in silence, 606 In whom you should rejoice rising, and to whom you should yield falling, So that trembling, you may be carried back on high. Be dead to all others, since this is better For maidens, than to have a naked and unsheltered life. I praise those women whom men do not even know, Who live far from the world, but have been revealed as hidden things to God. To be very pious, but not to exult very much. Desiring glory, you might soon lose your good reputation, Which is very conspicuous to men; but may a woman's pride perish. Let the best man be emulated, but let the worst be hated. To envy the good is equal to loving the worst. Neither seeing the wicked prospering, from the path 607 Be restrained, nor vex your mind at the good who are bent. These are the dice of life, but look to the end of all things. Rejoice when the weather is fair; but you do not know for sure what stands, Lest some man-destroying wind should blow. Therefore, one must either tremble, or tremble before life. And when evil falls, plant your foot more firmly, And if you are running well, even more so. For if the best Fall, to have a life without slipping is not very easy. All of life is coals for the feet, not very light; And you always walk over hidden snares. I fear lest the foundation of life in the sands Being laid, I might be scattered by rain, and rivers, and winds, Or like a seed going onto dry and barren ground, 608 I might spring up quickly, but very soon be withered, Struck by the rays of the sun, and by small troubles. Let him not mix in an evil seed for me while I sleep, The sower of evil tares, and the envious enemy. And when the ten pure maidens with blazing torches, Watching with sleepless lights, Await the lovely Bridegroom, God the King. So that they may meet him coming, shining brightly, Do not place me among the empty-minded and foolish, Who are already in distress when Christ is at hand, Nor, seeing with my eyes the feeble light of my torches, May I late desire the liquid oil of the light of life. And let not the wedding gates, being shut, thrust me out, 609 Where the Word, with pure ones, under the great bonds of desire, Mingling with hearts, grants brightness and glory. There is a wedding feast, which the good loving Father for His best Son Prepares, laughing aloud. May I meet with it. May I meet with it, and he who is a friend to me. But let that man remain outside, whoever puts before the wedding feast Or

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μάχοιντο 603 Μύθοις ἀντιθέτοισι σοφοὶ σκεδάοντες ἀπίστους. Μή σοί γ' ἁρπάζοιτο Θεὸς στυγερῇσι μερίμναις, Αἵ τε καὶ ὕψι θέοντα θοῶς ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἕηκαν, Μηδὲ νόος πλάζοιτο φερεύμενος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα Τέρματος, οἷά τε πῶλος ἀεθλοφόρος κ' ἀδάμαστος Τῆλε θέων, Χριστοῖο μέγα κλέος. Εἰ δέ σε πικρὸς Κλέψειεν Βελία, πλάγκτης νόος, ὅττι τάχιστα Καμπτόμενος, πρὸς νύσσαν ἴοις δρόμον ἰθὺν ἐπελθών. Κερκίς σοί γε μέλοι, καὶ εἴρια, καὶ μελεδῶναι Θείοις ἐν λογίοις, σοφίη, καὶ ᾄσματα θεῖα, Λεπταλέης φωνῆς ἔμφρων θρόος, οὐκ ἐπίδεικτος, Ἧς πλέον ἐν πραπίδεσσι, μικρὸν δ' ἐπὶ χείλεσι κείσθω. Πολλάκι καὶ κωφοῖσι δι' οὔατος ἔσθορεν ἐχθρός. 604 Μηδὲ σὺ συζυγίην τε καὶ ἄχθεα θηλυτεράων Θειοτέροισι πόθοισι φυγοῦσ', ὦ πάντα σαόφρων, Ἀλλοτρίους μεθέπειν θαλάμους καὶ ἔργα γάμοιο Ἀντὶ δὲ παρθενικῆς γε, γυνὴ ζυγίη καλέεσθαι. Μηδὲ δόμοις ξείνουσι παρέζεο, μηδὲ τραπέζαις. Μηδὲ μέση δμώων τε καὶ οἰκιδίων ὀρυμαγδῶν Στρωφᾶσθαι. Μὴ θῶπα φέρειν λόγον ἀντὶ κόροιο. Μέτρα φιλοξενίης ἀσπάζεο· εἴ τις ἄριστος, Οἶγε προφρονέως ἐλαχὺν δόμον· εἴ τις ὁμίλου, Τηλόθεν εὐμενέοι. Σοὶ δὲ κλέος οἶκος ἐρυμνός. Λώϊον ἀξενίη πουλυξείνοιο δόμοιο Παρθενικαῖς. Αἰδὼς γὰρ ἐνὶ πλεόνεσσιν ὀλεῖται, Καὶ τοῖς παρθενίη κεν ἐφυβρίζοιτο φαεινή. 605 Τῷ, μή μοι περάτων γαίης ἄπο πίστιν ἀγείρειν. Αἴδεό μοι πολιὴν, καὶ ἕσπερ ἤθεσι κεδνοῖς. Πλεῖον γάρ τι φέρει πολιὴ νεότητος ἐχέφρων Μηδὲ μὲν εὐσεβέουσα περίδρομον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα, Πολλάκις οὐ κατὰ κόσμον, ἅμ' ἀνδράσι κουφοτέροισι Σὸν πόδα δινεύειν ἱεροὺς σπεύδοντ' ἐπὶ χώρους, Καί περ τηλόθ' ἐόντας Ἐφέστιός ἐστιν ἅπασι Χριστὸς ἄναξ πελάων τε καὶ ἐν κραδίῃ φιλέοντος. Ἅζεό μοι πρώτιστα Θεὸν, μετέπειθ' ἱερῆα Χριστὸν ἐπιχθόνιον, ζωῆς σημάντορα σεῖο· Ὧ πελάειν πτερόεσσα, καὶ ᾧ σιγῶσ' ὑποείκειν, 606 Ὧ γήθειν ἀνιοῦσα, καὶ ᾧ ῥειουσ' ὑποείκειν, Ὥς κεν ὑποτρομέουσα, παλίσσυτος ὕψι φέρηαι Ἄλλοις τέθναθι πᾶσιν, ἐπεὶ τόδε λώϊόν ἐστι Παρθενικαῖς, ἢ γυμνὸν ἔχειν βίον, ἀσκεπέα τε. Αἰνῶ θηλυτέρων, τὰς ἄρσενες οὐδὲ ἴσασι, Ζῶσι δ' ἑκὰς βιότοιο, Θεῷ δέ τε κρυπτὰ πέφανται. Λίην εὐσεβέειν, λίην δέ τε μὴ βλεμεαίνειν. Κύδεος ἱμείρουσα, τάχ' ἂν κλέος ἐσθλὸν ὀλέσσαις, Ἀνδράσι τὸ περίφαντον· ὄλοιτο δὲ θήλεος αὐχήν. Ζηλούσθω μὲν ἄριστος, ὁ δὲ στυγέοιτο κάκιστος. Τὸ φθονέειν ἀγαθοῖς ἶσον, στέργειν τε κακίστους. Μήτε κακοὺς ὁρόωσα γαληνιόωντας, ὁδοῖο 607 Ἴσχεο, μήτ' ἀγαθοῖς φρένα δάπτεο καμπτομένοισι. Πεσσοὶ ταῦτα βίοιο, τὰ δ' ὕστατα δέρκεο πάντα. Χαίρειν εὐδιόωσα· τὰ δ' ἑστάμεν' οὐ σάφα οἶδας, Μή πού τις βροτολοιγὸς ἐπιπνεύσειεν ἀήτης. Τοὔνεκεν ἢ τρομέειν, ἢ προτρομέειν βιότοιο Πίπτοντος δὲ κακοῖο, τεὸν πόδα μᾶλλον ἐρείδειν, Εἰ δὲ καὶ εὐδρομέοντος, ἔτι πλέον. Εἰ γὰρ ἄριστοι· Πίπτουσιν, ἀνόλιστον ἔχειν βίον, οὐ μάλ' ἐλαφρόν. Ἄνθρακές εἰσι πόδεσσιν ἅπας βίος, οὐ μάλ' ἐλαφροί· Καὶ κρυπτῶν παγίδων αἰεὶ καθύπερθεν ὁδεύεις. ∆είδω μὴ βιότοιο θεμείλιον ἐν ψαμάθοισι Βαλλόμενος, ὄμβρῳ, ποταμοῖς τ' ἀνέμοις τε κεδασθῶ, Ἢ σπόρος ὡς ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἰὼν ξηρὴν καὶ ἄκαρπον, 608 Ὦκα μὲν ἀντείλαιμι, τάχιστα δὲ αὖος ἔοιμι, Ἠελίοιο βολῇσι τυπεὶς, καὶ πήμασι τυτθοῖς. Μὴ δέ μοι ὑπνώοντι κακὸν σπόρον ἐγκαταμίξῃ Ζιζανίων ἀρότης τε κακῶν, καὶ βάσκανος ἐχθρός. Ἡνίκα δ' αἰθομέναις ἁγνῶν δεκὰς ἐν δαΐδεσσι Παρθένοι ἐγρήσσουσαι ἀκοιμήτοις φαέεσσι Νυμφίον ἱμερόεντα Θεὸν δοκέωσιν ἄνακτα. Ὡς λαμπραὶ γανόωντι ὑπαντήσωσιν ἰόντι, Μή μ' ἐνὶ ταῖς κενεῇσι νόον καὶ ἄφροσι θείης, Ἤδη που Χριστοῖο παρεσσομένου μογεούσαις, Μηδ' ὀλιγοδρανέον δαΐδων σέλας ὄμμασι λεύσσων Ὀψὲ φάους ζωῆς ὑγρὸν ποθέοιμι ἔλαιον. Μὴ δέ με κληϊσθέντα γάμων ὤσαιτο θύρετρα, 609 Ἔνθα Λόγος καθαρῇσι, πόθου μεγάλοις ὑπὸ δεσμοῖς, Μιγνύμενος κραδιῇσι, σέλας καὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει. Ἔστι γάμος, τὸν παιδὶ πατὴρ φίλος ἐσθλὸς ἀρίστῳ ∆αίνυσι καγχαλόων. Τοῦ δ' ἀντιάσαιμι ἔγωγε. Τοῦ δ' ἐγὼ ἀντιάσαιμι, καὶ ὃς φίλος ἐστὶν ἔμοιγε. Μίμνοι δ' ἔκτοθι κεῖνος, ὅ τις πρὸ γάμοιο τίθησιν Ἢ