Chapter XX.

If we are to preserve our modesty we must avoid fellowship with profligate men, also the banquets of strangers, and intercourse with women; our leisure time at home should be spent in pious and virtuous pursuits.

85. Modesty has indeed its rocks—not any that she brings with her, but those, I mean, which she often runs against, as when we associate with profligate men, who, under the form of pleasantry, administer poison to the good. And the latter, if they are very constant in their attendance at banquets and games, and often join in jests, enervate that manly gravity of theirs. Let us then take heed that, in wishing to relax our minds, we do not destroy all harmony, the blending as it were of all good works. For habit quickly bends nature in another direction.

86. For this reason I think that what ye wisely do is befitting to the duties of clerics, and especially to those of the priesthood—namely, that ye avoid the banquets of strangers, but so that ye are still hospitable to travellers, and give no occasion for reproach by reason of your great care in the matter. Banquets with strangers engross one’s attention, and soon produce a love for feasting. Tales, also, of the world and its pleasures often creep in. One cannot shut one’s ears; and to forbid them is looked on as a sign of haughtiness. One’s glass, too, even against one’s will, is filled time after time. It is better surely to excuse oneself once for all at one’s own home, than often at another’s. When one rises sober, at any rate one’s presence need not be condemned by the insolence of another.

87. There is no need for the younger clergy to go to the houses of widows or virgins, except for the sake of a definite visit, and in that case only with the elder clergy, that is, with the bishop, or, if the matter be somewhat important, with the priests. Why should we give room to the world to revile? What need is there for those frequent visits to give ground for rumours? What if one of those women should by chance fall? Why shouldst thou undergo the reproach of another’s fall? How many even strong men have been led away by their passions? How many are there who have not indeed yielded to sin, but have given ground for suspicion?

88. Why dost thou not spend the time which thou hast free from thy duties in the church in reading? Why dost thou not go back again to see Christ? Why dost thou not address Him, and hear His voice? We address Him when we pray, we hear Him when we read the sacred oracles of God. What have we to do with strange houses? There is one house which holds all. They who need us can come to us. What have we to do with tales and fables? An office to minister at the altar of Christ is what we have received; no duty to make ourselves agreeable to men has been laid upon us.

89. We ought to be humble, gentle, mild, serious, patient. We must keep the mean in all things, so that a calm countenance and quiet speech may show that there is no vice in our lives.

CAPUT XX.

Ad conservandam verecundiam intemperantium hominum 0049B consortia, convivia extraneorum, ac mulierum commercia vitanda: sed otium nostrum domi in piis honestisque studiis insumendum.

85. Habet sane suos scopulos verecundia, non quos ipsa invehit, sed quos saepe incurrit; si intemperantium incidamus consortia, qui sub specie jucunditatis venenum infundunt bonis. Hi si assidui sunt, et maxime in convivio, ludo ac joco, enervant gravitatem illam virilem. Caveamus itaque ne dum relaxare animum volumus, solvamus omnem harmoniam, quasi concentum quemdam bonorum operum; usus enim cito inflectit naturam.

86. Unde quam prudenter factis convenire ecclesiasticis, et maxime ministrorum officiis arbitror, declinare extraneorum convivia: vel ut ipsi hospitales 0049C sitis peregrinantibus, vel ut ea cautione nullus sit opprobrio locus. Convivia quippe extraneorum occupationes habent, tum etiam epulandi produnt cupiditatem. Subrepunt etiam fabulae frequenter de saeculo ac voluptatibus: claudere aures non potes, prohibere, putatur superbiae. Subrepunt etiam praeter voluntatem pocula. Melius est tuae domui semel excuses, quam alienae frequenter: et ut ipse sobrius surgas, tamen ex aliena insolentia condemnari non debet praesentia tua.

87. Viduarum ac virginum domos, nisi visitandi gratia, 25 juniores adire non est opus: et hoc cum 0050A senioribus, hoc est, vel cum episcopo, vel si gravior est causa, cum presbyteris. Quid necesse est ut demus saecularibus obtrectandi locum? Quid opus est ut illae quoque visitationes crebrae accipiant auctoritatem? Quid si aliqua illarum forte labatur? cur alieni lapsus subeas invidiam? Quam multos etiam fortes illecebra decepit! Quanti non dederunt errori locum, et dederunt suspicioni!

88. Cur non illa tempora, quibus ab Ecclesia vacas, lectioni impendas? Cur non Christum revisas, Christum alloquaris, Christum audias? Illum alloquimur cum oramus, illum audimus cum divina legimus oracula. Quid nobis cum alienis domibus? Una est domus, quae omnes capit. Illi potius ad nos veniant, qui nos requirunt. Quid nobis cum fabulis? 0050B Ministerium altaribus Christi, non obsequium hominibus deferendum recepimus.

89. Humiles nos esse decet, mites, mansuetos, graves, patientes, modum tenere in omnibus; ut nullum vitium esse in moribus vel tacitus vultus, vel sermo annuntiet.