LXXVI.—Of Those Who Gossip, and of Silence.

When a thing appears to anybody of no consequence, and is not shunned, and it rushes forth, as if easy, whilst thou abusest it.  Fables assist it when thou comest to pour out prayers, or to beat thy breast for thy daily sin.  The trumpet of the heralds sounds forth, while the reader is reading, that the ears may be open, and thou rather impedest them.  Thou art luxurious with thy lips, with which thou oughtest to groan.  Shut up thy breast to evils, or loose them in thy breast.  But since the possession of money gives barefacedness to the wealthy, thence every one perishes when they are most trusting to themselves.  Thus, moreover, the women assemble, as if they would enter the bath.  They press closely, and make of God’s house as if it were a fair.  Certainly the Lord frightened the house of prayer.  The Lord’s priest commanded with “sursum corda,” when prayer was to be made, that your silence should be made.  Thou answerest fluently, and moreover abstainest not from promises.  He entreats the Highest on behalf of a devoted people, lest any one should perish, and thou turnest thyself to fables.  Thou mockest at him, or detractest from thy neighbour’s reputation.  Thou speakest in an undisciplined manner, as if God were absent—as if He who made all things neither hears nor sees.

LXXVI.---DE FABULOSIS ET SILENTIO.

Dum leve videtur cuicumque neque vitatur, Et quasi facile ruit, dum abuteris illud, Fabulae subveniunt, quo venisti fundere preces, Aut pulsare domum stomachi pro delicto diurno. Buccina praeconum clamat, lectore legente, Ut pateant aures, et tu magis obstruis illas; Luxaris labia, quibus ingemiscere debes. Obsera malis pectus, vel in pectore solve. Sed quia divitibus faciunt pecuniae frontem, Inde perit omnis, quando sibi maxime fidunt. Sic feminae quoque coeunt quasi initient balneo; Et de domo Dei facitis ceu nundinas, artent. Terruit sane Dominus domum orationis, 0258B Sacerdos Domini cum sursum corda praecepit, In prece fienda, ut fiant silentia vestra; Limpide respondes, nec temperas quoque promissis. Exorat ille Altissimum pro plebe devota, Ne pereat aliquis, et tu te in fabulas vertis; Tu subrides ibi, aut detrahis proximi famae; Indisciplinate loqueris, quasi sit Deus absens, Omnia qui fecit, nec audiat neque cernat.