,transcriber's note3 ,in the ,preface1 ,dr4 ,hargrove mentions the numbers at the top of each page which refer to the page and line of the corresponding text of the ,old ,english4 ,in this e-book version1 these numbers have been preserved as sidenotes1 placed at the nearest paragraph break4 ,yale ,studies in ,english ,albert ,s4 ,cook1 ,editor ,,xxii ,,king ,,alfred',s ,,old ,,english ,,version ,,of ,,st4 ,,augustine',s ,,soliloquies ,turned into ,modern ,english by ,,henry ,,lee ,,hargrove1 ,,ph4,d4 ,professor of ,english1 ,baylor ,university ,illustration ,new ,york ,henry ,holt and ,company #aijd ,,to ,,my ,,dear ,,brother ,,warren ,,penn ,,hargrove ,,who ,,departed ,,this ,,life ,,february #h1 #aijc ,,aged #be ,,preface ,since the publication of my ,king ,alfred's ,old ,english ,version of ,st4 ,augustine's ,soliloquies1 which appeared in #aijb1 ,i have been at work on this translation4 ,with the faith that the unique importance of the work justifies its being given this form for the benefit of the general reader1 and with the encouragement from scholars that my rendering will be received in the kindly spirit which characterized the reception of my former edition1 ,i now venture this publication4 ,for those who care to use the two editions together it will be seen 7#a7 that the ,alfredian additions to the ,latin are set in italics2 and 7#b7 that the numbers at the top of each page refer to the page and line of the corresponding text of the ,old ,english4 ,i must add that ,professor ,albert ,s4 ,cook has been my counsellor and critic throughout the work4 ,,henry ,,lee ,,hargrove4 ,,baylor ,,university1 ,july #f1 #aijd4 ,king ,alfred's ,old ,english ,version ,,of ,st4 ,augustine's ,soliloquies ,,turned ,,into ,,modern ,,english ,,king ,,alfred',s ,,preface ,i then gathered for myself staves1 and stud-shafts1 and cross-beams1 and helves for each of the tools that ,i could work with2 and bow-timbers and bolt-timbers for every work that ,i could perform--as many as ,i could carry of the comeliest trees4 ,nor came ,i home with a burden1 for it pleased me not to bring all the wood home1 even if ,i could bear it4 ,in each tree ,i saw something that ,i needed at home2 therefore ,i exhort every one who is able1 and has many wains1 to direct his steps to the self-same wood where ,i cut the stud-shafts4 ,let him there obtain more for himself1 and load his wains with fair twigs1 so that he may wind many a neat wall1 and erect many a rare house1 and build a fair enclosure1 and therein dwell in joy and comfort both winter and summer1 in such manner as ,i have not yet done4 ,but ,he who taught me1 and to whom the wood was pleasing1 hath power to make me dwell more comfortably both in this transitory cottage by the road while ,i am on this world-pilgrimage1 and also in the everlasting home which ,he hath promised us through ,saint ,augustine and ,saint ,gregory and ,saint ,jerome1 and through many other holy ,fathers2 as ,i believe also for the merits of all those ,he will both make this way more convenient than it hitherto was1 and especially will enlighten the eyes of my mind so that ,i may search out the right way to the eternal home1 and to everlasting glory1 and to eternal rest1 which is promised us through those holy ,fathers4 ,so may it be4 ,sidenote3 #a4ba--b4bc ,it is no wonder that one should labor in timber-work1 both in the gathering and also in the building2 but every man desireth that1 after he hath built a cottage on his lord's lease and by his help1 he may sometimes rest himself therein1 and go hunting1 fowling1 and fishing2 and use it in every manner according to the lease1 both on sea and land1 until such time as he shall gain the fee simple of the eternal heritage through his lord's mercy4 ,so may the rich ,giver do1 who ruleth both these temporary cottages and the homes everlasting4 ,may ,he1 who created both and ruleth both1 grant me to be fit for each--both here to be useful and thither to attain4 ,augustine1 bishop of ,carthage1 made two books about his own mind4 ,these books are called ,soliloquies1 that is1 concerning the meditation and doubts of his mind--how his ,reason answered his mind when the mind doubted about anything1 or wished to know anything that it could not before clearly understand4 ,,book ,i ,then said he1 his mind often went fearing and searching out various and rare things1 and most of all about himself--what#a he was2 whether his mind and his soul were mortal and perishable1 or ever-living and eternal2 and again1 about his ,god1 what ,he was1 and of what nature ,he was2 and what good it were best for him to do1 and what evil best to forsake4 ,then answered me something1 ,i know not what1 whether myself or another thing2 nor know ,i whether it was within me or without2 but this one thing ,i most truly know1 that it was my ,reason2 and it said to me3 #a ,passages in italics were added by ,alfred to the original ,latin4 ,reason4 ,if thou have any good steward that can well hold that which thou gettest and committest unto him1 show him to me2 but if thou have none so prudent1 search till thou find him2 for thou canst not both always keep watch and ward over that which thou hast gained1 and also get more4 ,augustine4 ,to what shall ,i commit what more ,i get1 if not to my memory8 ,r4 ,is thy memory powerful enough to hold all things that thou thinkest out and bidst it to hold8 ,a4 ,nay1 nay2 neither mine nor any man's is so strong that it can hold everything that is committed to it4 ,r4 ,then commit it to words and write it down4 ,howbeit methinks thou art too feeble to write it all2 and though thou wert entirely sound1 thou wouldst need to have a place retired and void of everything else1 and a few wise and skilful men with thee who would hinder thee in no wise1 but give aid to thy ability4 ,a4 ,i have none of these1 neither the leisure1 nor the help of other men1 nor a place retired enough to suit me for such work2 therefore ,i know not what ,i shall do4 ,sidenote3 #d4ad--f4f ,r4 ,i know then nothing better than that thou shouldst pray4 ,make known thy wish to ,god1 ,saviour of mind and body1 that thou mayst through such salvation obtain what thou wishest4 ,and when thou hast prayed1 write the prayer1 lest thou forget it1 that thou be the fitter for thy task4 ,and pray sincerely in few words and with full understanding4 ,a4 ,i will do even as thou teachest me1 saying thus3 ,o ,lord1 ,thou who art the ,creator of all things1 grant me first to know how to pray to ,thee aright and acceptably1 and that ,i may merit to be worthy that ,thou for thy mercy wilt redeem and deliver me4 ,on ,thee ,i call1 ,o ,lord1 who madest all that could not else have sprung into being1 nor without ,thee could even abide4 ,i call to ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 who leavest none of thy creatures to become naught4 ,to ,him ,i call who hath made all creatures beautiful without any original substance4 ,to ,thee ,i call1 who never wroughtest any evil1 but rather every good work4 ,to ,him ,i call who teacheth to a few wise men that evil is naught4 ,o ,lord1 thou hast wrought all things perfect1 and nothing imperfect2 to ,thee is no creature untoward2 though any thing will1 it can not be so1 for ,thou hast shapen them all orderly1 and peaceable1 and so harmonious that none of them can altogether destroy another1 but the ugly ever adorneth the beautiful4 ,to ,thee ,i call1 whom everything loveth that can love1 both those which know what they love1 and those which know not what they love4 ,thou who hast shapen all creatures very good1 without any evil--,thou who wilt not altogether show thyself openly to any but to them that are pure in heart1 ,i call to ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 because ,thou art the ,father of truth and wisdom1 of the true and highest life1 and of the highest blessedness1 and of the highest good1 and of the highest brightness1 and of the intelligible light2 ,thou who art the ,father of the ,son who hath awakened us1 and still arouseth us1 from the sleep of our sins1 and warneth us to come to ,thee4 ,sidenote3 #f4g--g4ba ,to ,thee ,i pray1 ,o ,lord1 who art the highest truth1 and through whom is true all that is true4 ,i pray to ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 who art the true life1 and through whom all things live that do live4 ,thou art the highest blessedness1 and through ,thee are blessed all that are blessed4 ,thou art the highest good#b 444 is and beautiful4 ,thou art the intelligible light through which man knoweth4 ,i pray to ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 who wieldest all the world2 whom we can not know bodily1 neither by eyes1 nor by smell1 nor by ears1 nor by taste1 nor by touch2 although such laws as we have1 and such virtues as we have1 we take all those that are good from thy realm1 and from thy realm we draw an example of all the good we perform4 ,for every one falleth who fleeth from ,thee1 and every one riseth who turneth to ,thee1 and every one standeth who abideth in ,thee2 he dieth who wholly forsaketh ,thee1 he is quickened who turneth to ,thee1 and he liveth indeed who abideth in ,thee4 ,no one that is wise forsaketh ,thee1 no one seeketh ,thee except he be wise1 and no one altogether findeth ,thee but the pure in heart4 ,that is1 he perisheth who forsaketh ,thee4 ,he who loveth ,thee seeketh ,thee2 he who followeth after ,thee hath ,thee4 ,thy truths which ,thou hast given us awaken us from the sleep of our sins4 ,our hope lifteth us to ,thee4 ,our love1 which ,thou hast given us1 bindeth us to ,thee4 ,through ,thee we overcome our foes1 both spiritual and carnal4 ,thou who forgivest1 draw nigh to me and have mercy upon me1 because ,thou hast bestowed upon us great gifts1 to wit1 that we shall never entirely perish and thus come to naught4 #b ,an omission in the ,,ms4 ,o ,lord1 who warnest us to watch1 ,thou hast given us reason1 wherewith to find out and distinguish good and evil1 and to flee the evil4 ,thou hast given us patience not to despair in any toil nor in any misfortune4 ,nor is this a wonder1 because ,thou dost verily rule well1 and makest us to serve ,thee well4 ,thou hast taught us to understand that worldly wealth1 which we looked upon as our own1 is alien to us1 and transitory2 and ,thou hast also taught us to consider as our own what we looked upon as alien to us1 to wit1 the kingdom of heaven1 which we once despised4 ,thou who hast taught us to do no unlawful thing1 and hast also taught us not to mourn even though our riches should wane4 ,thou who hast taught us to subject our body to our mind4 ,sidenote3 #g4ba--i4aa ,thou who didst overcome death when ,thou thyself didst arise1 and also wilt make all men arise4 ,thou who makest us all worthy of ,thee1 and cleansest us from all our sins1 and justifiest us1 and hearest our prayers4 ,thou who madest us of thy household1 and who teachest us all righteousness1 and always teachest us the good1 and always dost us good1 and leavest us not to serve an unrighteous lord1 as we did aforetime4 ,thou callest us back to our way1 and leadest us to the door1 and openest to us1 and givest us the bread of eternal life and the drink of life's well4 ,thou who threatenest men for their sins1 and who teachest them to judge righteous judgments1 and to do righteousness4 ,thou strengthenedst us1 and yet dost strengthen us1 in our belief1 in order that unbelievers may not harm us4 ,thou hast given us1 and yet givest us1 understanding1 that we may overcome the error of those who teach that#c men's souls have1 after this world1 no reward for their deserts1 either of good or of evil1 whichever they do here4 ,thou who hast loosed us from the thraldom of other creatures1 ,thou always preparest eternal life for us1 and always preparest us for eternal life4 #c ,supplied by translator to complete the sense4 ,come now to my aid1 ,thou who art the only eternal and true ,deity--,father1 and ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost--without any variableness or turning1 without any need or impotence1 and without death4 ,thou who always dwellest in the highest brightness and in the highest steadfastness1 in the highest unanimity and the highest sufficiency2 for to ,thee there is no want of good1 but ,thou always dwellest thus full of every good unto eternity4 ,thou art ,father1 and ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,sidenote3 #i4ab--aj4bc ,thee serve all the creatures that ,thou didst create2 to ,thee is every good soul subject2 at thy command the heavens turn and all stars hold their courses2 at thy behest the sun bringeth the bright day1 and the moon light by night2 after the image of these ,thou dost govern and wield all this world1 so that all creatures change even as day and night4 ,thou rulest and fixest the year by the alternations of the four seasons--to wit1 spring1 and summer1 autumn1 and winter2 each of which alternateth and varieth with the other1 so that each of them is again exactly what and where it formerly was2 and so all stars change and vary in the same manner--likewise the sea and the rivers2 in the same manner all creatures suffer change4 ,howbeit1 some vary in another manner1 so that the same come not again where they formerly were1 nor become just what they were2 but others come in their stead1 as leaves on trees2 and apples1 grass1 plants1 and trees grow old and sere1 and others come1 wax green1 and grow1 and ripen2 wherefore they again begin to wither4 ,and likewise all beasts and fowls1 in such manner that it is now too long to reckon them all4 ,yea1 even men's bodies wax old1 just as other creatures do2 but just as they formerly lived more worthily than trees or other animals1 so shall they arise more worthily on ,doomsday1 so that never afterward shall their bodies become naught nor wax old2 and though the body had decayed1 yet the soul was ever-living since first it was created4 ,and all the creatures1 about whom we say that they seem to us inharmonious and unsteadfast1 have yet somewhat of steadiness1 because they are bridled with the bridle of ,god's commandments4 ,god gave freedom to men's souls1 that they might do either good or evil1 whichever they would2 and promised good for a reward to them that do good1 and evil to them that do evil4 ,sidenote3 #aa4a--ab4ag ,with ,god is prepared the well-spring of every good1 and thence is prepared and granted to us every good of those which we have2 ,he shieldeth us against every evil4 ,nothing is above ,him1 but all things are under ,him1 or with ,him1 or in ,him4 ,he created man in ,his own image1 and every man who knoweth himself knoweth that all this is true4 ,to that ,god ,i cry1 and say3 ,hear me1 hear me1 ,o ,lord1 for ,thou art my ,god and my ,lord1 my ,father1 and my ,creator1 and my ,governor1 and my hope1 and my riches1 and my honor1 and my house1 and my inheritance1 and my salvation1 and my life4 ,hear me1 ,o ,lord1 hear me1 ,thy servant4 ,few understand ,thee4 ,thee alone ,i love truly above all other things2 ,thee ,i seek1 ,thee ,i follow1 ,thee ,i am ready to serve2 under ,thy rule ,i wish to dwell1 for ,thou alone reignest4 ,i pray ,thee to command me what ,thou wilt2 but heal and open mine eyes that ,i may see ,thy wonders1 and drive from me folly and pride1 and give me wisdom that ,i may understand ,thee1 and teach me whither ,i should look to behold ,thee2 then shall ,i1 methinks1 do gladly that which ,thou commandest me4 ,i beseech ,thee1 ,thou merciful1 benevolent1 and beneficent ,lord1 to receive me1 ,thy fugitive2 since once ,i was formerly ,thine1 and then fled from ,thee to the devil1 and fulfilled his will1 enduring much misery in his service4 ,but if to ,thee it seemeth as it doth to me1 long enough have ,i felt the pains which ,i have now suffered1 and longer have ,i served ,thy foes than ,i should those whom ,thou hast under ,thy feet4#d ,long enough have ,i been in the reproach and shame which they brought on me2 but do ,thou receive me now1 ,thine own servant1 for ,i am fleeing from them4 ,behold1 did they not receive me even before ,i had fled from ,thee to them8 ,never again restore me to them1 now that ,i have sought ,thee1 but open to me ,thy door1 and teach me how to come4 ,i have naught to bring ,thee but good will1 for ,i myself have nothing else1 nor know ,i aught better than to love the heavenly and the spiritual above the earthly2 and this ,i do1 good ,father1 since ,i know naught better than that4 ,but ,i know not how ,i shall now come to ,thee except ,thou teach me2 teach it1 then1 to me1 and help me4 ,if it is by faith that they find ,thee who do find ,thee1 give me that faith4 ,if by any other power they find ,thee who do find ,thee1 give me that power4 ,if by wisdom they find ,thee who find ,thee1 then give me wisdom4 ,augment in me the hope of eternal life1 and increase ,thy love in me4 #d ,supplied from the ,latin4 ,sidenote3 #ab4ag--ad4e ,o1 how wonderful is ,thy goodness1 for it is unlike all other good things4 ,i desire to come to ,thee2 and all that ,i have need of on the way ,i desire from ,thee1 and chiefly that without which ,i can not come to ,thee4 ,if ,thou forsake me1 ,i perish2 yet ,i know that ,thou wilt not forsake me unless ,i forsake ,thee2 nor will ,i forsake ,thee1 for ,thou art the highest good4 ,there is none who rightly seeketh ,thee that doth not find ,thee4 ,he alone seeketh ,thee aright whom ,thou teachest aright to seek ,thee1 and how he should seek ,thee4 ,o1 good ,father1 free me entirely from the error in which ,i have hitherto wandered1 and yet wander2 and teach me the way in which no foe can encounter me before ,i come to ,thee4 ,if ,i love naught above ,thee1 ,i beseech ,thee that ,i may find ,thee2 and if ,i desire any thing beyond measure and wrongly1 deliver me from it4 ,make me worthy to behold ,thee4 ,thou most ancient and most wise ,father1 ,i commit to ,thee my body1 that ,thou mayest keep it whole4 ,yet ,i know not what ,i ask--whether ,i am asking a thing useful or useless to me or to the friends whom ,i love and who love me2 nor do ,i know how long ,thou wilt keep it whole4 ,therefore ,i commit and commend it to ,thee1 for ,thou knowest better than ,i what ,i need4 ,wherefore ,i pray ,thee alway to teach me1 while ,i am in this body and this world1 and help me alway to utter the counsel which is pleasing to ,thee1 and which is best and most righteous for me in this life4 ,but above all other things ,i earnestly pray ,thee to convert me wholly to ,thee1 and let nothing overcome me on this way1 to prevent me from coming to ,thee2 and cleanse ,thou me while ,i am in this world1 and make me humble4 ,give me loftiness of soul4 ,make me reasonable and just and prudent and perfect2 and1 ,o ,god1 make me a lover of ,thy wisdom and a perceiver of it1 and make me worthy to dwell in ,thy blessed kingdom4 ,amen6 99 99 99 99 99 ,sidenote3 #ad4e--ae4ae ,now ,i have done as thou didst teach me2 now ,i have prayed even as thou badest me4 ,then answered me my ,reason and said3 ,r4 ,i see that thou hast prayed2 but say now what thou hast merited1 or what thou wouldst have4 ,a4 ,i would understand all1 and know what ,i just now said4 ,r4 ,sum up1 then1 from all that thou hast just spoken about1 that which seemeth to thee that thou most needest and most requirest to know2 then clothe it in few words1 and tell it to me4 ,a4 ,i will tell it to thee at once3 ,i would understand ,god and know mine own soul4 ,r4 ,wouldst thou know any thing more8 ,a4 ,many things ,i fain would know that ,i know not4 ,howbeit there is nothing ,i wish more to know than this4 ,r4 ,then inquire after and seek what thou askest1 and tell me first what thou knowest with most certainty1 and then say to me3 ',sufficiently known will ,god and my soul be to me1 if they shall be as well known to me as this thing4' ,a4 ,i can name nothing so well known to me as ,i would that ,god were4 ,r4 ,what1 then1 can we do1 if thou knowest not the measure8 ,thou oughtest to know when it seemed to thee enough1 and if thou ever come to that limit1 then thou shouldst go no further1 but shouldst seek something else1 lest thou shouldst desire any thing beyond measure4 ,a4 ,i know what thou wishest2 ,i should illustrate to thee by some example2 but ,i can not1 for ,i know naught like unto ,god1 so that ,i can say to thee3 ',i should like to know ,god as well as ,i know this thing4' ,sidenote3 #ae4af--ag4h ,r4 ,i am astonished at thee1 why thou sayest that thou knowest nothing like unto ,god1 and yet dost not know what ,he is4 ,a4 ,if ,i knew aught like unto ,him1 ,i would love that thing exceedingly4 ,since ,i know naught like unto ,him1 ,i love nothing but ,him and mine own soul2 howbeit1 ,i know not what either of them is4 ,r4 ,thou sayest that thou lovest naught but ,god and thy soul2 if that is true1 lovest thou then no other friend8 ,a4 ,why1 if ,i love a soul1 do ,i not love my friend8 ,hath not he a soul8 ,r4 ,if thou lovest thy friend because he hath a soul1 why1 then1 lovest thou not every thing that hath a soul8 ,why dost thou not love mice and fleas8 ,a4 ,i love them not1 because they are carnal animals1 not men4 ,r4 ,have not thy friends likewise bodies1 even as beasts have8 ,a4 ,yet it is not on this account ,i love them1 but because they are men1 and have reason in their minds--that quality ,i love even in slaves4 ,those that ,i hate1 ,i hate because they turn the good of reason into evil1 since ,i am allowed both to love the good and to hate the evil4 ,therefore ,i love all my friends1 some less1 some more2 and him whom ,i love more than another1 ,i love him so much more than the other as ,i perceive that he hath a better will than the other1 and the desire to make his reason more serviceable4 ,r4 ,thou understandest it well enough1 and rightly enough4 ,but if any one should now say to thee that he could teach thee how thou mightest know ,god as well as thou knowest ,alypius thy servant1 would that seem enough to thee1 or how much wouldst thou thank him for it8 ,a4 ,i should thank him1 but nevertheless ,i would not answer 'enough4' ,r4 ,why8 ,a4 ,alypius is better known to me than ,god1 yet even him ,i know not so well as ,i would4 ,sidenote3 #ag4i--ai4b ,r4 ,look to it now that thy desire be not beyond measure1 now that thou comparest them together4 ,wouldst thou know ,god just as thou dost ,alypius8 ,a4 ,nay2 nor do ,i make them the more alike1 albeit ,i name them together4 ,but ,i say that one often knoweth more about higher than about lowlier things4 ,i know now about the moon1 how it will move to-morrow and other nights2 but1 ,i know not what ,i shall eat to-morrow1 which is a baser matter4 ,r4 ,then wouldst thou know enough about ,god1 if ,he should be as well known to thee as the motion of the moon--in what constellation it now is1 or into which it is going next8 ,a4 ,nay2 ,i wish that ,he were better known to me than the moon which ,i see with mine eyes4 ,yet ,i do not know but that ,god may1 for some secret reasons1 which we know not1 change it in another wise2 then should ,i be perplexed in what ,i now imagine ,i know about it4 ,but ,i would have such knowledge about ,god1 in my reason and in my understanding1 that nothing could disturb me1 nor bring me into any doubt4 ,r4 ,dost thou believe1 therefore1 that ,i can make thee wiser about ,god than thou now art about the moon8 ,a4 ,yea2 ,i believe it1 but ,i should prefer to know it1 for we believe all that we know1 and we are ignorant of many things which we believe4 ,r4 ,methinks that thou dost not trust the external senses--eyes1 ears1 smell1 taste1 and touch--as a means of clearly understanding what thou wouldst1 unless thou comprehend it in the mind by the reason4 ,a4 ,that is true2 ,i trust them not4 ,r4 ,wouldst thou know thy servant1 whom we were just now speaking of1 with the outer senses1 or with the inner8 ,a4 ,i know him now as well as ,i can know him with the external senses2 but ,i should like to know his mind with my mind2 then ,i should know what was his loyalty toward me4 ,sidenote3 #ai4c--bj4ag ,r4 ,can one know otherwise than with the mind8 ,a4 ,it doth not seem to me that ,i can know it as ,i would4 ,r4 ,dost thou1 then1 not know thy servant8 ,a4 ,how can ,i know him1 seeing ,i am not certain that ,i know myself8 ,it is said in the law that one shall love his neighbor even as himself4 ,how then do ,i know in what way ,i should love him1 if ,i do not know whether ,i love myself8 ,nor do ,i know how he loveth me2 yet ,i know that it is the same with him in regard to me4 ,r4 ,if thou with the inner sense wouldst know ,god1 why pointest thou me to the outer senses1 as if thou wouldst see ,him bodily1 just as thou formerly saidst thou sawest the moon8 ,i know not therefore how thou teachest it to me1 nor can ,i teach it to any one1 by the outer senses4 ,but tell me whether it seemeth enough for thee to know ,god as ,plato and ,plotinus knew him8 ,a4 ,i dare not say that it would seem to me enough1 because ,i know not whether it seemed to them enough in regard to that which they knew4 ,i know not whether it seemed to them that they needed to know more of ,him1 but even so they formerly seemed to me4#e ,when ,i prayed1 methought ,i did not so fully understand that which ,i besought as ,i would4 ,but ,i still could not forbear to speak about it1 just as it seemed to me that ,i needed1 and just as ,i supposed it was4 #e ,doubtful rendering of and sw-sw m r phton4 ,r4 ,methinks now it seemeth to thee that it is one thing to know1 and quite another only to suppose4 ,a4 ,yea1 so methinks2 therefore ,i would now that thou tell me what difference there is between these1 or what one certainly knoweth4 ,r4 ,knowest thou that thou didst learn the science which we call geometry8 ,in that science thou learnedst on a ball1 or an apple1 or a painted egg1 that thou mightest by the painting understand the motion of the heavens and the course of the stars4 ,knowest thou that thou didst learn in the same science about a line drawn along the middle of the ball8 ,knowest thou what was there taught thee about the positions of the twelve stars and the path of the sun8 ,sidenote3 #bj4ag--bb4aj ,a4 ,yea2 ,i know well enough what the line signifieth4 ,r4 ,now that thou sayest thou doubtest this no whit1 dost thou not fear the ,academicians1 those philosophers who said that there was never anything certain beyond a doubt8 ,a4 ,nay2 ,i do not fear them much1 for they said that there never was a wise man4 ,therefore ,i am not at all ashamed not to be wise1 for ,i know that as yet ,i am not wise2 but if ,i ever become as wise as they1 then ,i will do as they teach1 until ,i can say that ,i know without doubt what ,i seem to myself to know4 ,r4 ,i do not object at all to thy doing so4 ,but thou sayest thou knowest about the line which was painted on the ball on which thou learnedst the revolution of this heaven2 ,i would know whether thou also knowest about the ball on which the line is drawn4 ,a4 ,yea2 ,i know both4 ,no man can mistake that4 ,r4 ,didst thou learn with the eyes or with the mind8 ,a4 ,with both3 first with the eyes1 then with the mind4 ,the eyes brought me to the understanding2 but after ,i had perceived it1 ,i left off looking with the eyes1 and reflected1 for it seemed to me that ,i could contemplate much more of it than ,i could see1 after the eyes had fixed it in my mind4 ,just so a ship bringeth one over the sea2 when he cometh ashore1 he letteth the ship stand1 for it seemeth to him that he can travel more easily without it than with it4 ,however1 it seemeth easier to me to travel by skiff on dry land than to learn any science with the eyes1 but without the reason--though the eyes must at times give aid4 ,r4 ,therefore thou must needs look rightly with the eyes of the mind to ,god1 just as the ship's anchor-cable is stretched direct from the ship to the anchor1 and fasten the eyes of thy mind on ,god1 just as the anchor is fastened in the earth4 ,though the ship be out among the sea-billows1 it will remain sound and unbroken if the cable holdeth1 since one end of it is fast to the earth and the other to the ship4 ,sidenote3 #bb4aa--bd4g ,a4 ,what is that which thou callest the mind's eyes8 ,r4 ,reason1 in addition to other virtues4 ,a4 ,what are the other virtues8 ,r4 ,wisdom1 and humility1 and honor1 and moderation1 and righteousness1 and mercy1 and prudence1 and constancy1 and benevolence1 and chastity1 and abstinence4 ,with these anchors thou art able to fasten to ,god the cable that shall hold the ship of thy mind4 ,a4 ,may the ,lord ,god make me entirely as thou teachest me to be4 ,i would if ,i could1 but ,i can not understand how ,i shall be able to obtain these anchors1 or how ,i shall fasten them1 except thou teach it to me more clearly4 ,r4 ,i could teach thee1 but ,i ought first to ask thee how many of this world's lusts thou hast renounced for ,god4 ,after thou hast told me that1 then ,i can say to thee without any doubt that thou hast obtained so many of the anchors as thou hast renounced the lusts of the world4 ,a4 ,how can ,i forsake that which ,i know and am familiar with1 and have been used to from childhood1 and love that which is unknown to me except by hearsay8 ,howbeit1 ,i feel sure that if ,i knew what thou sayest about me as certainly as what ,i here see for myself1 ,i would love that1 and despise this4 ,r4 ,i wonder why thou speakest so4 ,suppose now if a letter with seal from thy lord should come to thee1 canst thou say thou art not able to understand him by that1 nor to recognise his will therein8 ,if thou sayest that thou canst know his will therein1 say then whether it seemeth to thee better to follow his will1 or to follow after the wealth which he gave thee over and above his friendship4 ,a4 ,whether ,i will or not1 ,i must speak truly1 unless ,i am prepared to lie4 ,if ,i lie1 ,god knoweth it4 ,therefore ,i dare speak only the truth1 so far as ,i can know it4 ,methinks it is better to forsake the gift1 and follow the giver1 who is to me the steward both of the riches and of his friendship1 unless ,i can have both4 ,i should like1 however1 to have both1 if ,i could follow both the wealth and also his will4 ,sidenote3 #bd4g--be4bc ,r4 ,full rightly hast thou answered me1 but ,i would ask thee whether thou supposest that thou canst have all that thou now hast without thy lord's friendship4 ,a4 ,i do not suppose that any man is so foolish as to think that4 ,r4 ,thou understandest it rightly enough1 but ,i would know whether thou thinkest that what thou hast is temporal or eternal4 ,a4 ,i never supposed it to be eternal4 ,r4 ,what thinkest thou about ,god and the anchors which we spake of--are they like these1 or are they eternal8 ,a4 ,who is so mad as to dare say that ,god is not eternal8 ,r4 ,if ,he is eternal1 why lovest thou not the eternal ,lord more than the temporal8 ,lo1 thou knowest that the ,eternal will not leave thee1 except thou go from ,him2 and thou must needs depart from the other whether thou will or no2 thou must either leave him1 or he thee4 ,howbeit ,i perceive that thou lovest him very much1 and also fearest and dost well2 very rightly and very becomingly thou dost4 ,but ,i wonder why thou dost not love the ,other much more1 ,him who giveth thee both the friendship of the worldly lord and ,his own1 and1 after this world1 life eternal4 ,the ,lord is the ruler of you both--thine and thy lord's whom thou so immeasurably lovest4 ,a4 ,i confess to thee that ,i would love ,him above all other things1 if ,i could understand and know ,him as ,i would4 ,but ,i can understand very little of ,him1 or nothing at all1 and yet at times1 when ,i think carefully of ,him1 and any inspiration cometh to me about the eternal life1 then ,i by no means prefer this present life to that1 nor even love it so much4 ,r4 ,wishest thou now to see ,him and clearly understand ,him8 ,a4 ,i have no wish above that4 ,r4 ,keep1 then1 ,his commandments4 ,sidenote3 #be4bd--bg4ac ,a4 ,what commandments8 ,r4 ,i named them to thee before4 ,a4 ,methinks they are very burdensome and very manifold4 ,r4 ,what one loveth1 methinks1 is not burdensome4 ,a4 ,nor doth any work seem burdensome to me if ,i can see and have what ,i work for4 ,but doubt begetteth heaviness4 ,r4 ,thou graspest it well enough in speech1 and well enough thou understandest it4 ,but ,i can say to thee that ,i am the faculty of ,reason1 which argueth with thee--the discursive faculty whose province it is to explain to thee in such wise that thou mayest see ,god with thy mind's eyes as clearly as thou now seest the sun with the eyes of the body4 ,a4 ,almighty ,god reward thee6 ,i am truly grateful for thy promise to teach it to me so clearly4 ,although ,i was ignorant1 yet ,i emerge from this condition to a clearer vision of ,him1 if ,i come to see ,him as ,i now see the sun4 ,howbeit ,i do not see the sun so clearly as ,i would like to4 ,i know very little better what the sun is1 though ,i look on it every day4 ,still it seemed good to me that ,i might thus clearly see ,god4 ,r4 ,now consider very earnestly what ,i formerly said to thee4 ,a4 ,i will1 so much as possible4 ,r4 ,first know of a truth that the mind is the eye of the soul2 secondly1 thou must know that it is needful for one to see what one looketh at2 the fourth is what one would see4 ,for every one having eyes first looketh at that which he would see till he hath beheld it4 ,when he hath beheld it then he truly seeth it4 ,but thou must know that ,i who now speak with thee am ,reason1 and ,i am to every human mind what looking is to the eyes4 ,three things it behooveth the eyes of every human body to have2 the fourth is what it seeketh and would draw to them4 ,one is that thou hast and usest and lovest that which thou formerly didst hope for4 ,sidenote3 #bg4ac--bi4ac ,a4 ,alas6 ,shall ,i ever come to that which ,i hope for1 or shall that ever come to me which ,i desire8 ,r4 ,add now love as a third besides faith and hope2 for the eyes of no soul are entirely sound--especially to see ,god with--if lacking these three4 ,seeing1 then1 is knowing4 ,a4 ,if then there be sound eyes1 that is1 perfect understanding1 what is then wanting to it1 or what is more needful8 ,r4 ,the soul's vision is ,reason and ,contemplation4 ,but many souls look with these1 and yet see not what they desire1 because they have not entirely sound eyes4 ,but he who wisheth to see ,god must have the eyes of his mind whole2 that is1 he must have an abiding faith and a just hope and a full love4 ,when he hath all these1 then hath he life blessed and eternal4 ,the vision which we shall catch of ,god is knowledge4 ,that knowledge is between two things--between that which understandeth and that which is understood--and is fastened on both even as love is between the lover and the one loved4 ,on both it is fastened1 as we said before concerning the anchor-cable that the one end was fast to the ship1 and the other to the land4 ,a4 ,then if it ever again happeneth that ,i can see ,god as thou now teachest me that ,i should behold ,him1 would ,i need all three of the things that thou formerly spakest about1 namely3 faith and hope and love8 ,sidenote3 #bi4ac--cj4bg ,r4 ,what need then is there of faith1 when one seeth that which he formerly exercised faith toward1 and again knoweth that which he formerly hoped for8 ,but love never waneth--it abideth greatly increased when the understanding is fixed on ,god2 nor hath love ever any end4 ,omni consummatione uidi finem2 latum mandatum tuum nimis3#f that is1 of everything in the world ,i shall see the end1 but the end of thy commandments ,i shall never see4 ,that is the love about which he prophesied4 ,but1 although the soul be perfect and pure while it is in the body1 it can not see ,god as it desireth1 because of the sorrow and tribulation of the body1 except with much labor through faith and hope and love4 ,these are the three anchors which sustain the ship of the mind in the midst of the dashing of the waves4 ,yet the mind hath much comfort because it believeth and clearly knoweth that the misfortunes and unhappiness of this world are not eternal4 ,so the ship's master1#g when the ship rideth most unsteadily at anchor and the sea is roughest1 then knoweth of a truth that calm weather is coming4 ,three things are needful to the eyes of each soul3 ,one is that they be whole2 the second1 that they should look at what they would see2 the third1 that they may see what they look at4 ,for the three is ,god's help necessary1 for one can neither do good nor any thing without ,his aid4 ,therefore ,he is always to be entreated that ,he be ever helpful2 therefore also ,he inspireth us and inciteth us first to be well-wishing1 and afterwards worketh with us that which ,he willeth till such time as we perfect it with ,him2 and especially ,he worketh with us as with some powerful tool1 just as it is written#h that with each well-working person ,god is a co-worker4 ,we know that no man can perform any good unless ,god work with him2 howbeit no man must be so idle as not to begin something through the strength that ,god giveth him4 #f ,ps4 #aai4 #if1 inexactly quoted4 #g ,translating ,,ms41 ho feut1 emended to hlford at the suggestion of ,professor ,cook4 ,cf4 translator's ed4 of the ,,oe4 version1 #bi4 #bj4 #h #a ,cor4 #c4 #i4 ,a4 ,thou teachest me the right way4 ,now ,i know what ,i ought to do2 but ,i do not know whether ,i can or can not4 ,r4 ,thou oughtest not to despair because thou canst not come at once to that which thou desirest for thyself4 ,can he who would learn a science ever do so in a short time1 a little more or a little less8 ,thine is the science of all sciences1 to wit1 that one should seek after ,god and look toward ,him and see ,him4 ,sidenote3 #cj4bg--cb4g ,a4 ,well thou advisest me2 but ,i recall what thou didst formerly promise me1 and very joyfully ,i abide that promise2 thou didst promise to teach me how to see ,god with the eyes of my mind as clearly as ,i now see the sun with the eyes of my body4 ,r4 ,well thou remindest me2 ,i will do for thee what ,i promised4 ,call to mind now that thou canst see with thy body's eyes three things in regard to the sun3 ,one is that it existeth2 another1 that it shineth2 the third1 that it lighteth up many things with its shining4 ,all the things which are bright1 when the sun shineth on them1 shine against it1 each after its own kind4 ,but those things which are not bright shine not against the sun1 although it shineth on them4 ,but the sun shineth1 nevertheless1 on them1 and yet he who looketh toward it can not see it wholly just as it is4 ,all this and more thou canst observe concerning ,god4 ,he is the high ,sun4 ,he always abideth1 lighting up with ,his own light both the sun which we see with bodily eyes and all creatures both spiritual and terrestrial4 ,therefore he seemeth to me a very foolish man who wisheth to understand ,him just as ,he is1 while we are yet in this world4 ,behold6 ,i suppose that no one is so foolish that he becometh sorrowful because he can not see and understand1 just as it is1 the sun which we look at with corporeal eyes2 but every one rejoiceth that at least he can understand according to the measure of his understanding4 ,he doth well who desireth to understand the ,eternal and ,almighty ,sun2 but he doth very foolishly1 if he wisheth to know ,him perfectly while he is in this world4 ,a4 ,very wonderfully and very truly thou teachest1 and very much thou hast comforted me and brought me into good hope4 ,but ,i pray still for what thou aforetime didst promise me4 ,r4 ,two things ,i promised that ,i would accomplish and teach thee1 to wit1 to understand ,god and thyself4 ,but ,i would know how thou desirest to understand that--whether thou wouldst believe without experience1 or know by experience4 ,sidenote3 #cb4h--cc4ai ,a4 ,i would know it by experience1 for ,i know nothing of it surely4 ,r4 ,that is no wonder4 ,i did not explain it to thee in such wise that thou couldst know it by experience2 for there is yet something which thou must first know1 to wit1 whether we both are whole4 ,a4 ,thou must know whether thou findest any health1 either in me1 or in thyself1 or in us both4 ,it becometh thee to teach and me to listen2 and it becometh me to answer what ,i understand according to the measure of my understanding1 if so be ,i understand it at all2 if ,i do not understand it at all1 then must ,i admit it and leave it to thy judgment4 ,r4 ,wishest thou to know more than about ,god and thyself8 ,a4 ,i answer thee that ,i do not wish anything more earnestly2 but ,i dare not promise thee that ,i shall not desire any thing else than that2 for it is verily hidden from me1 albeit something cometh into my mind which1 methinks1 nothing can hinder me from furthering and performing4 ,when another thing cometh which seemeth to me more right and reasonable1 then ,i leave off that which ,i formerly held enough2 and therefore at times it happeneth that something is so fixed in my mind1 that ,i think ,i shall never let it go so long as ,i live4 ,howbeit there cometh to me then some trouble which occupieth me so that ,i can never leave it1 nor can ,i perform it although ,i can not think of any better thing to be done4#i ,but three things have troubled me most3 ,one is1 ,i fear that ,i must part with my friends whom ,i love most1 or they with me--either for life or for death2 the second is1 ,i fear sickness1 both the known and the unknown2 the third is1 ,i fear death4 #i ,supplied by translator4 ,r4 ,i hear now what thou lovest most next to thine own reason and ,god3 ,they are1 the life of thy friends1 and thine own health1 and thine own life4 ,of these five things thou art afraid that thou shalt lose some1 because thou lovest them all very much4 ,if thou didst not love them1 then thou hadst not dreaded that thou wouldst lose them4 ,sidenote3 #cc4ai--ce4h ,a4 ,i admit what thou sayest to me4 ,r4 ,therefore methinks that ,i see thee very sad and greatly cast down in thy mind1 because thou hast not such health as thou hadst2 nor hast thou all thy friends with thee so agreeable and harmonious as thou wouldst4 ,nor doth it seem to me any wonder that thou art sad for that reason4 ,a4 ,thou understandest it rightly2 ,i can not gainsay that4 ,r4 ,if then it ever happen that thou shalt find thyself full whole and full strong1 and hast all thy friends with thee1 both in mind and in body1 and in that same work and in that same will which pleaseth thee best to do1 wilt thou then be happy at all8 ,a4 ,yea1 verily2 if it should now suddenly happen1 ,i do not know how on earth ,i would begin4 ,r4 ,hast thou not then still some trouble1 such as immoderate sorrow1 either of mind or of body--seeing now thou hast those two things8 ,wert thou1 therefore1 foolish in heart1 when thou didst wish that thou shouldst see with such eyes the high and everlasting ,sun8 ,a4 ,now thou hast overcome me withal1 so that ,i by no means know how much of health ,i have1 nor how much of sickness4 ,r4 ,that is no wonder4 ,no man hath such sound eyes that he can look any length of time toward the sun which we here see1 much less if he have weak eyes4 ,but those that have weak eyes can be more at ease in the darkness than in the light4 ,methinks1 though1 that it seemeth to thee that thou hast sound eyes4 ,thou thinkest of the health of thy soul's eyes1 but thou dost not think of the great light which thou wishest to see4 ,be not wroth with me1 albeit ,i question thee and examine thee1 for ,i needs must do that4 ,methinks thou dost not understand thyself4 ,sidenote3 #ce4i--cg4c ,a4 ,i am in no wise wroth with thee1 but rejoice in what thou sayest1 because ,i know that thou seekest my good4 ,r4 ,wishest thou any wealth8 ,a4 ,long ago ,i resolved that ,i should despise it4 ,i am now three and thirty years old1 and ,i was one less than twenty when ,i first resolved that ,i would not love wealth overmuch4 ,though enough should come to me1 ,i would not rejoice very much1 nor enjoy it too immoderately1 nor would ,i gain more to keep than ,i could fitly make use of1 and keep and support the men on1 whom ,i must help2 and the residue ,i think as orderly to divide as ,i best am able so to do4 ,r4 ,wishest thou any honor8 ,a4 ,i confess to thee that ,i did wish that till recently desire failed4 ,r4 ,desirest thou not a beautiful wife1 and withal modest and well instructed and of good manners and subject to thy will1 and one who hath much substance and would not engross thee in any thing1 nor hinder thee from enjoying leisure at thy will8 ,a4 ,dost thou not praise her overmuch that ,i may wish her all the more8 ,for methinks there is nothing worse for him that willeth to serve ,god than to take a wife--though some one hath said that it is better to take one for the rearing of children4 ,howbeit ,i say that it is better for priests not to have a wife4 ,therefore ,i decided that ,i would take none1 because ,i wished to be the freer to serve ,god4 ,r4 ,i hear now that thou dost not think to take a wife2 but ,i would know whether thou still hast any love or lust after any uncleanness4 ,a4 ,why askest thou more about that8 ,i do not now desire that2 but if lust ever cometh to me1 ,i dread it as an adder4 ,ever the less is my desire for it1 and ever the more ,i wish to see the light1 even as ,i lust the less after this manner4 ,r4 ,how about food8 ,how much dost thou desire that8 ,sidenote3 #cg4d--ci4ac ,a4 ,i desire none of those meats which ,i have renounced2 ,i desire those which ,i have thought right to eat1 when ,i see them4 ,what shall ,i say more either about meat1 or drink1 or baths1 or riches1 or honor1 or any worldly lusts8 ,nor do ,i wish any more of these than ,i shall need to have for my bodily comfort and to keep my strength4 ,howbeit ,i need much more for the wants of those men which ,i must take care of1 and moreover this ,i needs must have4 ,r4 ,thou art right4 ,but ,i would know whether thy old covetousness and greediness be entirely extirpated and uprooted from thy mind1 so that it can not still grow4 ,a4 ,why askest thou that8 ,r4 ,i speak of the things which thou before saidst to me that thou hadst decided to leave off and for nothing would turn back to again1 namely3 overmuch wealth1 and immoderate honor1 and inordinately rich and luxurious living2 and therefore ,i now ask whether1 either for the love of them or for the love of any thing1 thou wilt return to them again4 ,i heard formerly that thou saidst that thou lovedst thy friends1 next to ,god and thine own reason1 above other things4 ,now ,i would know whether thou1 for their love1 wouldst lay hold of these things again4 ,a4 ,i will lay hold of all again for their love1 if ,i can not else have their companionship--yet it doth not please me so to do4 ,r4 ,very reasonably thou dost answer me and very rightly4 ,howbeit ,i understand that the lusts of the world are not entirely uprooted from thy mind1 although the trench be prepared2 for the roots can sprout thence again4 ,yet ,i impute that not to thee as a fault1 for thou layest hold of it not for the love of those things but for the love of this thing which it is more right to love than that4 ,i never ask about any man1 what he doth2 but yet ,i ask thee now why thou lovest thy friends so much1 or what thou lovest in them1 or whether thou lovest them for their own sake or for some other thing4 ,sidenote3 #ci4ad--da4ai ,a4 ,i love them for friendship and for companionship1 and above all others ,i love those who most help me to understand and to know reason and wisdom1 most of all about ,god and about our souls2 for ,i know that ,i can more easily seek after ,him with their help than ,i can without4 ,r4 ,how then if they do not wish to inquire after the ,one whom thou seekest8 ,a4 ,i shall teach them so that they will4 ,r4 ,but how then if thou canst not1 and if they be so foolish as to love other things more than that which thou lovest1 and say that they can not or will not8 ,a4 ,i1 nevertheless1 will have them3 they will be helpful to me in some things and ,i likewise to them4 ,r4 ,but how then if they disturb thee1 and if the infirmities of the body hinder thee8 ,a4 ,that is true2 howbeit ,i would not fear at all the infirmities1 if it were not for three things3 ,one of these is heavy sorrow2 another is death2 the third is that ,i can not seek nor truly find what ,i desire just as thou madest me know4 ,toothache hindered me from all learning1 but yet it did not altogether snatch from me the remembrance of that which ,i formerly learned4 ,howbeit ,i suppose1 if ,i should understand certainly that which ,i yearn to understand1 sorrow would seem to me very little1 or else naught1 compared with faith4 ,yet ,i know many a pain is much sharper than toothache1 albeit ,i never suffered any sharper4 ,i learned that ,cornelius ,celsus taught in his books that in every man wisdom is the highest good and sickness the greatest evil4 ,the saying appeareth to me very true4 ,concerning the same thing the same ,cornelius saith3 ',of two things we are what we are1 to wit1 of soul and of body4 ,the soul is spiritual1 and the body earthy4 ,the best faculty of the soul is wisdom1 and the worst affliction of the body is sickness4' ,methinks moreover that this is not false4 ,sidenote3 #da4ai--dc4ab ,r4 ,have we not now shown clearly enough that wisdom is the highest good8 ,is it not also beyond a doubt that it is to every man the best of all the virtues8 ,and is it not his best work to search after wisdom1 and love it whenever he findeth it8 ,but ,i would that we two might now search out who the lovers of this wisdom should be4 ,dost thou not know that every man who loveth another very much liketh better to caress and kiss the other on the bare body than where the clothes come between8 ,now ,i understand that thou lovest wisdom very much1 and wishest so much to know and feel it naked that thou wouldst not that any cloth were between2 but it will seldom so openly reveal itself to any man4 ,at those times when it will show any limb thus bare1 it doth so to very few men2 but ,i know not how thou canst receive it with gloved hands4 ,thou must also place the bare body against it1 if thou wilt feel it4 ,but tell me now1 if thou lovedst a certain beautiful woman very immoderately and above all other things1 and if she fled from thee and would reciprocate thy love on no other condition than that thou wouldst renounce every other love for hers alone1 wouldst thou then do as she wished8 ,a4 ,alas6 what a hard thing thou dost enjoin upon me6 ,didst thou not formerly admit that ,i loved nothing above wisdom1 and moreover ,i too admitted it1 albeit thou saidst then that whoever loveth one thing for the sake of another1 he doth not of a truth love that former thing for which he professeth love1 but really that for which he loved the former thing and thought to obtain it4 ,therefore ,i assert that ,i love wisdom for no other thing than for its own sake4 ,i love all the world--each thing as ,i consider it profitable1 and especially that thing most which helpeth me to wisdom2 and moreover those things which ,i fear most to lose4 ,howbeit ,i do not love any thing else in such wise as ,i love wisdom4 ,every thing which ,i love most ,i grant1 while ,i love it most1 to no man but to myself1 except wisdom alone4 ,it ,i love above all other things1 and yet of my free will ,i would grant it to every man1 so that all who are on this earth might love it and search after it1 yea1 find it1 and then use it2 for ,i know that each of us would love the other by so much more as our will and our love were more in unison4 ,sidenote3 #dc4ac--dd4bd ,r4 ,said ,i not formerly that he who would feel the bare body must feel it with bare hands8 ,and ,i say also1 if thou wilt behold wisdom itself thus bare1 that thou must not allow any cloth between thine eyes and it1 nor even any mist2 albeit to that thou canst not come in this present life1 though ,i enjoin it upon thee1 and though thou wish it4 ,wherefore no man ought to despair1 though he have not so sound eyes as he who can look the sharpest2 even he who can look the sharpest of all can not himself see the sun just as it is while he is in this present life4 ,yet no man hath such weak eyes that he can not live by the sun and use it1 if he can see at all1 unless he be purblind4 ,moreover1 ,i can teach unto thee other parables about wisdom4 ,consider now whether any man seeketh there the king's home where he is in town1 or his court1 or his army1 or whether it seemeth to thee that they all must come thither by the same road2 on the contrary1 ,i suppose they would come by very many roads3 some would come from afar1 and would have a road very long and very bad and very difficult2 some would have a very long and very direct and very good road2 some would have a very short and yet hard and strait and foul one2 some would have a short and smooth and good one2 and yet they all would come to one and the same lord1 some more easily1 some with more difficulty2 neither do they come thither with like ease1 nor are they there alike at ease4 ,some are in more honor and in more ease than others2 some in less1 some almost without1 except the one that he loveth4 ,so is it likewise with wisdom4 ,each one who wisheth it and who anxiously prayeth for it1 he can come to it and abide in its household and live near it2 yet some are nearer it1 others farther from it2 just so is every king's court3 some dwell in cottages1 some in halls1 some on the threshing-floor1 some in prison2 and yet they all live by the favor of one lord1 just as all men live under one sun1 and by its light see what they see4 ,some look very carefully and very clearly2 some see with great difficulty2 others are stark blind1 yet use the sun4 ,but just as the visible sun lighteth the eyes of our body1 so wisdom lighteth the eyes of our mind1 which is our understanding4 ,and just as the eyes of the body are more sound1 thus to use more of the sun's light1 so is it also with the mind's eyes1 that is1 the understanding3 just by so much as that is sounder1 by so much more may it see the eternal sun1 which is wisdom4 ,every man that hath sound eyes needeth no other guide nor teacher to see the sun1 except health4 ,if he hath sound eyes1 he may himself look at the sun4 ,on the contrary1 if he hath unsound eyes1 then he needeth that one teach him to look first on the wall1 then on gold1 and on silver2 when he can more easily look on that1 then let him look#aj on fire1 before he looketh at the sun4 ,then after he hath learned that his eyes do not at all avoid the fire1 let him look on the stars and on the moon1 then on sunshine1 before he looketh on the sun itself4 ,and just so with the other sun that we formerly spake of1 that is1 wisdom4 ,he who wisheth to see it with his mind's eyes must begin very gradually1 and then little by little mount nearer and nearer by steps1 just as if he were climbing on a ladder and wished to ascend some sea-cliff4 ,if he then ever cometh up on the cliff1 he may look both over the shore and over the sea1 which then lieth beneath him1 and also over the land that formerly was above him4 ,but if it seemeth good to us1 let us stop here for this day1 and to-morrow seek further after the same thing which we before sought after4 #aj ,supplied by translator4 ,sidenote3 #dd4be--df4aj ,a4 ,nay1 not at all2 but ,i humbly pray thee that thou weary not1 nor leave off the conversation here2 but say somewhat more clearly about it so that ,i may more clearly feel and understand something concerning this wisdom1 and bid me what thou wilt4 ,i will understand it1 if it lies in my power4 ,r4 ,i know not anything to command thee of which thou hast more need for the science which thou wishest to know1 than that thou despise1 so much as thou art able1 worldly honors1 and especially intemperate and unlawful ones1 because ,i fear that they may bind thy mind to themselves and take it with their snare1 just as one catcheth wild beasts or fowls1 so that thou canst not accomplish what thou wishest2 for ,i know that the freer thou art from the things of this world1 the more clearly thou shalt understand about the wisdom which thou desirest2 and if it ever happen that thou canst so entirely forsake them that thou desirest naught of them1 then shall ,i be able to say to thee forsooth 7believe me if thou wilt71 that in that very hour thou shalt know all that thou wishest now to know1 and shalt have all that thou wishest to have4 ,sidenote3 #df4aj--dh4f ,a4 ,when shall that be8 ,i do not believe that it will ever be that ,i shall not yearn at all after this world's honors1 unless one thing happen1 namely3 that ,i see those honors which thou promisest me4 ,howbeit ,i know not that it would please me so well to yearn no more after this world's honors4 ,r4 ,now methinks thou dost not answer me with reason4 ,methinks that thou speakest very much as if thine eyes should say to thy mind3 ',we will never avoid the darkness of the night until we can see the sun itself4' ,thus1 methinks1 the eyes do1 if they avoid that part of the sun's light which they can see4 ,it can not happen even to the soundest of all eyes that they can look from this world and see the sun as it is4 ,by this thou mayest conclude that thou oughtest not to sigh though thou canst not see wisdom naked with the eyes of thy mind just as it is2 for thou canst never do that while thou art in the darkness of thy sins4 ,but enjoy the wisdom which thou hast1 and have joy in the part which thou canst understand1 and seek more with thy whole heart4 ,wisdom itself knoweth what thou art worthy of1 and how much it may show itself to thee4 ,there is naught worse in a man than to suppose that he is worthy of what he is not4 ,the physician knoweth better than the sick whether he can be healed or not1 or whether he can be healed by mild or by severe treatment4 ,therefore thou must not excuse thyself too much1 nor sigh too much after aught4 ,the eyes of thy mind are not so wholly sound as thou dost suppose4 ,sidenote3 #dh4g--di4ah ,a4 ,cease1 ,o cease6 ,do not vex me1 nor increase my sorrow4 ,enough have ,i1 though thou increase it not4 ,thou seekest it at times so high1 at times so deep1 that ,i understand now that ,i am not such as ,i supposed1 but ,i am ashamed that ,i supposed that which was not4 ,truly enough thou hast said4 ,the ,physician whom ,i wish to heal me knoweth how sound my eyes are4 ,he knoweth what ,he wisheth to show me4 ,to ,him ,i commit myself1 and to ,his goodness ,i entrust myself4 ,may ,he do unto me according to ,his will6 ,on ,him ,i call1 that ,he may make fast my soul to ,him4 ,i will never again say that ,i have sound eyes until ,i see wisdom itself4 ,r4 ,i know no better advice for thee than thou formerly saidst4 ,but leave off woe and sorrow1 and be measurably happy4 ,thou wert formerly too immoderately sorrowful1 for sorrow injureth both mind and body4 ,a4 ,thou wouldst restrain my weeping and my sorrow1 and still ,i perceive no limit to my misery and misfortunes4 ,thou bidst me leave off sorrow lest ,i1 either in mind or in body1 be weaker2 yet ,i find no strength1 either in mind or body1 but am full nigh in despair4 ,but ,i beseech thee1 if thou in any wise canst1 to lead me by some shorter way1 somewhat nearer the light of the understanding which ,i long ago desired and yet could not come by in my ignorance2 notwithstanding that ,i may afterwards be ashamed to look again toward the darkness which ,i formerly desired to forsake1 if ever ,i draw nigh to the light4 ,r4 ,let us now end this book here properly1 and name a shorter way in another book1 if we can4 ,a4 ,nay1 nay2 let us not leave this book yet until ,i am able to understand that which we are after4 ,r4 ,methinks ,i ought to do as thou bidst me4 ,something draweth me on1 ,i know not what1 but ,i surmise it is the ,god thou seekest after4 ,a4 ,thanks be to ,him that adviseth thee1 and to thee also1 if thou praise ,him4 ,lead whither thou wilt3 ,i will follow after thee if ,i can4 ,sidenote3 #di4ai--eb4b ,r4 ,methinks thou desirest still to know that same thing about ,god and thy soul which thou didst formerly desire4 ,a4 ,yea1 that alone ,i desire4 ,r4 ,wishest thou aught more8 ,wishest thou not to know truth8 ,a4 ,how can ,i1 without truth1 know aught of truth1 or what wilt thou say1 without truth1 that ,god is8 ,for we hear it read in the ,gospel that ,christ said that ,he is the way1 the truth1 and the life4 ,r4 ,rightly thou sayest2 but ,i would know whether it seemeth to thee that the true and truth are one and the same thing4 ,a4 ,two things1 methinks1 they are1 just as wisdom is one thing1 and that which is wise is another2 and likewise chastity is one thing1 and that which is chaste is another4 ,r4 ,which1 then1 doth seem to thee better1 the true or truth8 ,a4 ,truth2 for all that is true is so because of truth2 and every thing that is chaste is so because of chastity2 and he who is wise is so because of wisdom4 ,r4 ,thanks be to ,god that thou understandest it so well4 ,howbeit ,i would know whether thou suppose1 if a wise man were dead1 wisdom would be dead4 ,or again1 if a chaste man were dead1 chastity would be dead4 ,or if a truthful man were dead1 would truth then be dead4 ,a4 ,nay1 nay1 verily2 that can not come to pass4 ,r4 ,well dost thou understand it4 ,but ,i would know whether thou suppose that wisdom is gone1 or chastity1 or truth1 when the man passeth away2 or whence they formerly came1 or where they are1 if they exist8 ,or whether they be corporeal1 or spiritual8 ,for no man doubteth that every thing that is existeth somewhere4 ,a4 ,very searching is thy question1 and pleasant for him to know who can know it4 ,what is wanting to him who knoweth that8 ,r4 ,canst thou recognize the righteous and the unrighteous8 ,sidenote3 #eb4c--ec4ai ,a4 ,yea1 to some extent2 not1 however1 as ,i would4 ,but ,i would like to know what thou formerly didst ask4 ,r4 ,i wonder why thou hast so completely forgotten what thou only a little before didst admit that thou knewest4 ,didst thou not say before that thou knewest truth to be eternal1 although the true man passed away8 ,and now thou sayest1 ',if it existeth4' ,a4 ,that same thing ,i say still4 ,i know that it abideth1 although the true man passeth away4 ,r4 ,all that is true abideth while it doth exist2 but that which thou callest truth is ,god4 ,he ever was1 and ever will be1 immortal and eternal4 ,god hath all knowledge in ,himself sound and perfect4 ,he hath made two eternal things1 to wit1 angels and men's souls1 to which ,he gave some portion of eternal gifts1 such as wisdom and righteousness1 and many others which it seemeth to us too numerous to count4 ,to angels ,he giveth according to their capacity1 and to the souls of men ,he giveth gifts according to the capacity of each4 ,these same they need never lose1 for they are everlasting1 and to men ,he giveth many and divers good gifts in this world1 although they be not eternal4 ,howbeit they are serviceable while we are in this world4 ,dost thou yet understand that souls are immortal8 ,if thou hast understood it1 do not conceal it from me1 but confess it4 ,if it is otherwise1 tell me then4 ,a4 ,thanks be to ,god for the part ,i know4 ,i will now consider this and hold it as ,i best can1 and if ,i have doubts about any thing1 ,i will promptly tell them to thee4 ,r4 ,believe firmly in ,god1 and commit thyself wholly to ,god1 and seek not too much the fulfilling of thine own will above ,his2 but be ,his servant1 not thine own2 and confess that thou art ,his servant4 ,then ,he will raise thee ever nearer and nearer to himself1 and will not let any adversity befall thee4 ,howbeit if ,he permit any adversity to befall thee1 it will be for thy good1 although thou canst not understand it4 ,sidenote3 #ec4bj--ed4f ,a4 ,that ,i both hear and believe1 and this instruction ,i will follow as ,i best can1 and will pray ,god that ,i may fulfil it as thou long ago didst instruct me2 do thou now teach me1 if thou wilt4 ,r4 ,do this for me first1 and tell me again1 after thou hast studied this1 what thou likest of this2 and if thou doubtest aught about any of these things1 then tell it to me4 ,here endeth the anthology of the first book4 ,,book ,,ii ,here beginneth the anthology of the second book4 ,a4 ,alas6 ,long have we been unoccupied1 yet we have not sought after what thou didst promise me4 ,r4 ,let us make amends for it2 let us carry it forward into another book4 ,a4 ,yea1 let us indeed4 ,r4 ,let us believe that ,god is our ,helper4 ,a4 ,truly would ,i that we believed it1 if ,i had power4 ,but methinks faith is not in our power1 in such measure as we seek1 unless ,god give it to us4 ,r4 ,both faith and all the good that we shall have4 ,therefore ,i know not what else we can do without ,his help4 ,howbeit ,i advise thee that thou begin it4 ,pray in as few words as thou most sincerely canst1 and ask for that which is and may be most needful for thee4 ,a4 ,then said ,i3 ',lord1 ,lord1 ,thou who remainest unchangeable1 grant me these two things which ,i always wished1 to wit1 that ,i may understand ,thee and myself4' ,now ,i have done as thou didst instruct me2 truly have ,i prayed4 ,r4 ,now ,i hear what thou wishest to know4 ,howbeit ,i would first learn from thee whether thou knowest without doubt that thou dost exist or not2 or that thou dost live or dost not live4 ,a4 ,these are two things which ,i certainly know4 ,r4 ,what now wishest thou to know8 ,a4 ,whether ,i be immortal4 ,r4 ,i hear that thou wouldst live always4 ,a4 ,that ,i confess4 ,r4 ,wilt thou1 then1 know enough if ,i cause thee to know that thou mayest live always8 ,sidenote3 #ef4ac--eh4bb ,a4 ,that is a very good desire2 yet say what ,i ask thee about3 whether ,i shall live always2 and then ,i would know whether ,i1 after the parting of the body and the soul1 shall ever know more than ,i now know of all that which ,i have long wished to know2 for ,i can not find any thing better in man than that he know1 and nothing worse than that he be ignorant4 ,r4 ,now ,i know all that thou wishest3 ,one thing is1 thou wouldst exist2 another1 thou wouldst live2 the third1 thou wouldst know4 ,and ,i know also why thou wishest these three things3 ,thou wouldst exist in order to live1 and thou wouldst live in order to know4 ,and these three things ,i hear that thou certainly knowest3 ,thou knowest that thou art1 and thou knowest that thou livest1 and thou also knowest that thou knowest something1 albeit thou knowest not all that thou wouldst know4 ,a4 ,that is true4 ,these three things ,i know1 and these three things ,i desire4 ,i would exist in order that ,i may live4 ,what would ,i care whether ,i existed1 if ,i lived not8 ,or what would ,i care for life1 if ,i knew nothing8 ,r4 ,now ,i hear that thou lovest all that thou dost love on account of these three things1 and ,i know also which of the three things thou lovest most4 ,thou lovest to exist because thou wouldst live1 and thou wouldst live in order to know4 ,thus ,i perceive that thou lovest wisdom above all other things4 ,that1 methinks1 is the highest good1 and also thy ,god4 ,a4 ,truth thou sayest to me4 ,what is the highest wisdom other than the highest good8 ,or what is the highest good except that every man in this world love ,god as much as he loveth wisdom--whether he love it much1 or little1 or moderately8 ,so much as he loveth wisdom1 so much doth he love ,god4 ,r4 ,very rightly thou hast understood it4 ,but ,i would we began again where we were before4 ,now thou knowest that thou art1 and that thou livest1 and that thou knowest something1 albeit not so much as thou wouldst2 and a fourth thing thou wouldst also know1 to wit1 whether the three things all be eternal or not1 or whether any of them be eternal2 or1 if they are all eternal1 whether any of them after this world in the eternal life shall either become worse or wane4 ,sidenote3 #eh4bb--ei4bg ,a4 ,all my yearning hast thou understood very well4 ,r4 ,about what doubtest thou now8 ,didst thou not before confess that ,god is eternal and almighty1 and hath created two rational and eternal creatures1 as we before said1 namely3 angels and men's souls1 to which ,he hath given eternal gifts8 ,these gifts they need never lose4 ,if thou now rememberest this and believest this1 then knowest thou beyond doubt that thou art1 and always wilt be1 and always wilt love1 and always wilt know something1 albeit thou mayest not know all that thou wouldst4 ,now thou knowest about those three things that thou askedst about1 namely3 7#a7 ,whether thou art immortal2 7#b7 ,whether thou shalt know something throughout eternity2 7#c7 ,whether thou1 after the parting of the body and the soul1 shalt know more than thou now knowest1 or less4 ,after the fourth we shall still seek--now that thou knowest the three--until thou also know that4 ,a4 ,very orderly thou dost explain it1 but ,i will yet say to thee what ,i firmly believe1 and about what ,i yet doubt4 ,i do not doubt at all about ,god's immortality and about ,his omnipotence1 for it can not be else respecting the trinity and the unity1 which was without beginning and is without end4 ,therefore ,i can not otherwise believe1 for ,he hath created so great and so many and so wonderful visible creatures2 and ,he ruleth them all and directeth them all1 and at one time adorneth them with the most winsome appearances1 while at another time ,he taketh away their adornments and beauties4 ,he ruleth the kings who have the most power on this earth--who like all men are born1 and also perish like other men4 ,then ,he letteth them rule while ,he willeth4 ,for such and for many such things ,i do not know how ,i can doubt ,his eternity2 and also about the life of our souls ,i do not now doubt any more4 ,but ,i doubt yet about the eternity of souls1 whether they are immortal4 ,sidenote3 #ei4bh--fj4bi ,r4 ,about what dost thou doubt8 ,are not all the holy books well nigh full of the immortality of the soul8 ,but methinks that too long to enumerate now in full1 and too long for thee to hear4 ,a4 ,i have heard a good deal of it1 and ,i also believe it2 but ,i desire rather to know it than to believe it4 ,r4 ,i wonder why thou yearnest to know so very much and so certainly what no man in the prison of this present life ever so certainly could know as thou wishest1 although many yearn to understand it more clearly in this present life than many others believe it from the sayings of these and truthful men4 ,no one can ever understand all that he would1 till the soul be parted from the body2 nor indeed before ,doomsday so clearly as he would4 ,and yet the holy ,fathers that were before us knew very truly about that which thou before didst ask1 to wit1 about the immortality of men's souls1 which was so clear to them that they had no doubt1 since they despised this present life#aa 444 they would be parted2 and just as they endured the greatest torments in this world1 so they would afterward have the greater reward in the eternal life4 ,through the sayings of such men we should infer that we can not understand it as clearly as they could2 howbeit as regards the immortality of the soul1 if thou dost not yet assent to it1 ,i will make thee to understand it1 and ,i will also cause thee to be ashamed that thou understoodest it so slowly4 #aa ,a break in the ,,ms4 ,a4 ,even so do6 ,cause me to be ashamed therefor4 ,r4 ,behold1 ,i know that thou hast to-day the lord whom thou trustest in all things better than thyself2 and so also hath many a servant who hath a less powerful lord than thou hast2 and ,i know that thou hast also many friends whom thou trustest well enough1 though thou dost not trust them altogether so well as thou dost thy lord4 ,how seemeth it to thee now1 if thy lord should tell thee some news which thou never before heardest1 or if he should say to thee that he saw something which thou never sawest8 ,doth it seem to thee that thou wouldst doubt his statement at all1 because thou didst not see it thyself8 ,sidenote3 #fj4bi--fa4bi ,a4 ,nay1 nay1 verily2 there is no story so incredible that ,i would not believe it1 if he should tell it4 ,yea1 ,i even have many companions1 whom1 if they should say that they themselves saw or heard it1 ,i would believe just as well as if ,i myself saw or heard it4 ,r4 ,i hear now that thou believest thy lord better than thyself1 and thy companions quite as well as thyself4 ,thou dost very rightly and very reasonably1 in that thou hast such good faith in them4 ,but ,i would that thou shouldst tell me whether ,honorius1 the son of ,theodosius1 seem to thee wiser or more truthful than ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,a4 ,nay1 verily nay2 nowhere near6 ,but methinks that it is difficult for thee to compare them together4 ,honorius is very good1 although his father was better2 the latter was very devout and very prudent and very rightly of my lord's kin2 and so is he who still liveth there4 ,i will honor them just as a man should a worldly lord1 and the others of whom thou didst formerly speak just as their masters1 and as one should the king who is the ,king of all kings1 and the ,creator and ,ruler of all creatures4 ,r4 ,now ,i hear that the ,almighty ,god pleaseth thee better than ,theodosius2 and ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 better than ,honorius1 the son of ,theodosius4 ,i blame thee not that thou lovest both1 but ,i advise thee to love the higher lords more1 for they know all that they wish and can perform all that they wish4 ,a4 ,all that thou sayest is true4 ,i believe it all4 ,r4 ,now ,i hear that thou trustest the higher lord better4 ,but ,i would know whether it seem to thee that thy worldly lords have wiser and truer servants than the higher lords have4 ,trustest thou now thyself and thy companions better than thou dost the ,apostles1 who were the servants of ,christ ,himself8 ,or the ,patriarchs8 ,or the ,prophets1 through whom ,god ,himself spake to ,his people what ,he would8 ,a4 ,nay1 nay2 ,i trust not ourselves so well1 nor anywhere near1 as ,i do them4 ,sidenote3 #fa4cj--fb4cj ,r4 ,what spake ,god then more often1 or what said ,he more truly through ,his ,prophets to ,his people than about the immortality of souls8 ,or what spake the ,apostles and all the holy ,fathers more truly if not about the eternity of souls and about their immortality8 ,or what meant ,christ1 when ,he said in ,his ,gospel3 ',the unrighteous shall go into eternal torments1 and the righteous into eternal life'8 ,now thou hearest what said ,christ and ,his ,apostles2 and ,i heard before that thou didst doubt nothing of the word of ,honorius and his servants4 ,why doubtest thou1 then1 about the words of ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and those of the ,apostles1 which they themselves uttered8 ,they spake to us more of such like words than we can count1 and with many examples and proofs they explained it to us4 ,why canst thou1 then1 not believe them all1 and why saidst thou before that thou wert their man8 ,a4 ,so ,i say still1 and say that ,i believe them1 and also know exactly that it is all true that ,god either through ,himself or through them said2 for there are more of these occurrences in the holy books than ,i can ever count4 ,therefore ,i am now ashamed that ,i ever doubted about it1 and ,i confess that ,i am rightly convinced1 and ,i shall always be much happier when thou dost convince me of such things than ,i ever was when ,i convinced another man4 ,all this ,i knew1 however1 before2 but ,i forgot it1 as ,i fear also that ,i shall this4 ,i know also that ,i had so clean forgotten it that ,i should never have remembered it again1 if thou hadst not cited me clearer examples1 both about my lord and about many parables4 ,r4 ,i wonder why thou couldst ever suppose that men's souls were not eternal1 for thou clearly enough knewest that they are the highest and the most blessed of the creatures of ,god2 and thou knowest also clearly enough that ,he alloweth no creature entirely to pass away so that it cometh to naught--not even the most unworthy of all4 ,but ,he beautifieth and adorneth all creatures1 and again taketh away their beauty and adornments1 and yet again reneweth them4 ,they all so change1 however1 that they pass away1 and suddenly come again and return to that same beauty and to the same winsomeness for the children of men1 in which they were before ,adam sinned4 ,now thou canst perceive that no creature so fully passeth away that it cometh not again1 nor so fully perisheth that it doth not become something4 ,now that the weakest creatures do not pass away entirely1 why then supposest thou that the most blessed creature should entirely depart8 ,sidenote3 #fb4cj--fc4cd ,a4 ,alas6 ,i am beset with wretched forgetfulness1 so that ,i can not remember it as well as before4 ,methinks now that thou hadst explained it to me clearly enough by this one example1 though thou hadst said nothing more4 ,r4 ,seek now in thyself the examples and the signs1 and thou canst know well what thou before wouldst know1 and what ,i explained to thee by the concrete examples4 ,ask thine own mind why it is so desirous and so zealous to know what was formerly1 before thou wert born1 or ever thy grandfather was born2 and ask it also why it knoweth what is now present and what it seeth and heareth every day2 or why it wisheth to know what shall be hereafter4 ,then ,i suppose it will answer thee1 if it is discreet1 and say that it desireth to know what was before us for the reason that it always existed since the time that ,god created the first man2 and therefore aspireth to what it formerly was1 to know what it formerly knew1 although it is now so heavily weighed with the burden of the body that it can not know what it formerly knew4 ,and ,i suppose that it will say to thee that it knoweth what it here seeth and heareth1 because it is here in this world2 and ,i suppose also that it will say that it wisheth to know what shall happen after our days1 because it knoweth that it shall ever be4 ,a4 ,methinks now that thou hast clearly enough said that every man's soul ever is1 and ever shall be1 and ever was since ,god first made the first man4 ,r4 ,there is no doubt that souls are immortal4 ,believe thine own reason1 and believe ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 and believe all ,his sayings1 because they are very reliable witnesses2 and believe thine own soul1 which always saith to thee through its reason that it is in thee2 it saith also that it is eternal1 because it wisheth eternal things4 ,it is not so foolish a creature as to seek that which it can not find1 nor wish for that which doth not belong to it4 ,give over now thy foolish doubting4 ,clear enough it is that thou art eternal and shalt ever exist4 ,sidenote3 #fc4cd--fd4ce ,a4 ,that ,i hear and that ,i believe and clearly know1 and ,i am rejoiced as ,i never was at anything4 ,now ,i hear that my soul is eternal and ever liveth1 and that the mind shall ever hold all that my mind and my reason gathered of good virtues4 ,and ,i hear also that my intellect is eternal4 ,but ,i wish yet to know what ,i before asked about the intellect3 whether it shall1 after the parting of the body and the soul1 wax or wane1 or shall stand still in one place1 or do as it before did in this world--for a time wax1 then for a time wane4 ,i know now that life and reason are eternal1 albeit ,i fear that it shall be in that world as it is here in children4 ,i do not suppose that the life there shall be without reason1 any more than it is here in children2 in that case there would be too little winsomeness in that life4 ,r4 ,i hear now what thou wouldst know1 but ,i can not tell thee in a few words4 ,if thou wilt know it clearly1 then shalt thou seek it in the book which we call ,de ,videndo ,deo4 ,in ,english the book is called ,of ,seeing ,god4 ,but be now of good cheer1 and think over what thou hast now learned1 and let us both pray that ,he may help us1 for ,he promised that ,he would aid every one who called on ,him and rightly wished it2 and ,he promised without any doubt that ,he would teach us after this world that we might very certainly know perfect wisdom and full truthfulness1 which thou mayest hear about more clearly in the book which ,i have before named to thee--,de ,videndo ,deo4 ,here endeth the anthology of the second book which we call ,soliloquies4 ,,book ,,iii ,then said ,i3 ,now thou hast ended the sayings which thou hast selected from these two books1 yet hast not answered me about what ,i last asked thee1 to wit1 about my intellect4 ,i asked thee whether1 after the parting of body and soul1 it would wax or wane1 or whether it would do both as it before did4 ,r4 ,did ,i not say to thee before that thou must seek it in the book which we then spake of8 ,learn that book1 then thou wilt find it there4 ,a4 ,i do not care now to study all that book2 but ,i would that thou tell me that#ab 444 the glory of the good1 that their own torment may seem the more to them1 because they would not by their ,father's advice merit the same honors while they were in this world4 ,and the good see also the torments of the wicked in order that their own glory may seem the more4 ,the wicked see ,god as the guilty man who is condemned before some king2 when he seeth him and his own dear ones1 then seemeth to him his punishment the greater4 ,and so also the dear ones of the king see their punishment1 so that their honors always may seem to them the greater4 ,no man ought to suppose that all those that are in hell have like torments1 nor that all those that are in heaven have like glory2 but every one hath according to his merits1 punishment as well as glory1 whichever he is in4 ,the like have their like4 ,moreover1 it is not to be supposed that all men have like wisdom in ,heaven2 for every one hath it in the measure which he here merited4 ,as he toileth better here and better yearneth after wisdom and righteousness1 so hath he more of it there2 likewise more honor and more glory4 ,hath it now been clearly enough explained about wisdom and about the vision of ,god8 #ab ,a break in the ,,ms4 ,sidenote3 #ff4e--fg4i ,a4 ,yea2 truly enough ,i believe that we need not lose aught of the wisdom which we now have1 although the soul and the body part4 ,but ,i believe that our intellect shall thereby be very much increased1 though we can not all know before ,doomsday what we would know4 ,howbeit ,i believe that after ,doomsday naught will be hidden from us1 neither of that which is in our days1 nor of that which was before us1 nor of that which shall come after us4 ,thou hast now related to me many examples1 and ,i myself have seen in the writings of the sacred books more than ,i can reckon1 or even can remember4 ,thou didst show me also such reliable testimony that ,i can do nothing else but believe it2 for if ,i believe not weaker testimony1 then know ,i very little or naught4 ,what know ,i except that ,i wish we knew about ,god as clearly as we would8 ,but the soul is weighed down and busied with the body so that we can not1 with the eyes of the mind1 see any thing just as it is1 any more than thou canst see at times the sun shine1 when the clouds shoot between it and thee1 although it shineth very brightly where it is4 ,and even though there be no cloud between thee and it1 thou canst not see it clearly just as it is1 because thou art not where it is2 nor can thy body be there2 nor can thy bodily eyes come any nearer there1 nor even see that far4 ,not even the moon1 which is nearer us1 can we see just as it is4 ,we know that it is larger than the earth1 and yet it doth not seem at times larger than a shield on account of the distance4 ,now thou hast heard that we can not with the eyes of the mind ever see any thing of this world just as it is2 yet from the part of it which we see we must believe the part which we do not see4 ,but it is promised us beyond any doubt that1 as soon as we come out of this world and the soul is released from the prison of the body1 we shall know every thing which we now desire to know1 and much more than the ancients1 the wisest of all on the earth1 could know4 ,and after ,doomsday it is promised that we may see ,god openly--yea1 see ,him just as ,he is2 and know ,him ever afterwards as perfectly as ,he now knoweth us4 ,there shall never be any wisdom wanting to us4 ,he who granteth us to know ,himself will conceal naught from us4 ,howbeit we shall know then all that we now wish to know1 and also that which we do not now wish to know4 ,we shall all see ,god1 both those who here are worst1 and those who here are best4 ,all the good shall see ,him1 to their comfort1 and joy1 and honor1 and happiness1 and glory2 and the wicked shall see ,him just the same as the good1 though to their torment1 for they shall see#ac 444 might or could in this world1 or whether they had any remembrance of the friends whom they left behind in this world4 #ac ,omission in the ,,ms4 99 99 99 99 99 ,sidenote3 #fg4i--fh4aj ,then answered he his own thoughts and said3 ,why supposest thou that the departed good who have full and complete freedom shall know what they wish to know1 either in this present life or in that to come8 ,why supposest thou that they have no memory of their friends in this world1 inasmuch as the wicked ,dives feared the same torments for his friends in hell as he had merited8 ,it was he whom ,christ spake of in ,his ,gospel that besought ,abraham to send ,lazarus the beggar to him that he1 with his little finger1 might place a drop of water on his tongue and therewith cool his thirst4 ,then said ,abraham3 ',nay1 my son2 but consider that thou didst withhold from him all comforts when ye were both in the body1 thou having every good1 and he every misfortune4 ,he can not now do more for thy comfort than thou wouldst then do for him4' ,then said the rich man3 ',abraham1 if that can not be1 send him to my five brethren who are still on the earth where ,i was1 that he may tell them in what punishment ,i am1 and may admonish them to take warning not to come hither4' ,then said ,abraham3 ',nay1 nay2 they have the books of the holy ,fathers with them on earth4 ,let them study them and believe them4 ,if they do not believe them1 neither will they believe ,lazarus1 though he come to them4' ,sidenote3 #fh4aa--fi4ad ,now we can hear that both the departed good and the wicked know all that happeneth in this world1 and also in the world in which they are4 ,they know the greatest part--though they do not know it all before ,doomsday--and they have very clear remembrance of their kin and friends in the world4 ,and the good help the good1 every one of them another1 as much as they can4 ,but the good will not have mercy on their wicked friends1 because the latter do not wish to depart from their evil1 any more than ,abraham would not pity the rich man who was his own kin because he perceived that he was not so humble to ,god as he ought rightly to be4 ,the wicked1 then1 can neither do their friends nor themselves any good1 because they were formerly1 when they were in this world1 of no aid either to themselves or to their friends who had passed away before them4 ,but it shall be with them even as it is with men1 who are in this world brought into the prison of some king and can see their friends all day and ask about them what they desire1 albeit they can not be of any good to them1 nor the prisoners to them2 they have neither the wish nor the ability4 ,wherefore the wicked have the greater punishment in the world to come1 because they know the glory and the honor of the good2 and all the more because they recall all the honor which they had in this world2 and moreover they know the honor which those have who shall then be left behind them in this world4 ,sidenote3 #fi4ad--gj4e ,howbeit the good1 then1 who have full freedom1 see both their friends and their enemies1 just as in this life lords and rulers often see together both their friends and their enemies4 ,they see them alike and know them alike1 albeit they do not love them alike4 ,and again the righteous1 after they are out of this world1 shall recall very often both the good and the evil which they had in this world1 and rejoice very much that they did not depart from their ,lord's will1 either in easy or in hidden things1 while they were in this world4 ,just so some king in this world may have driven one of his favorites from him1 or he may have been forced from the king against both of their wills2 then hath he many torments and many mishaps in his exile1 yet he may come to the same lord whom he before was with1 and there be much more worshipful than he was4 ,then he will recall the misfortunes which he had there in his exile1 and yet not be the more unhappy4 ,but ,i myself saw or believed what more untrustworthy men told me than those were who told what we are seeking4 ,must ,i not needs do one of two things--either believe some men or none8 ,methinks now that ,i know who built the city of ,rome1 and also many another thing which existed before our day1 all of which ,i can not sum up4 ,i know not who built the city of ,rome for the reason that ,i myself saw it4 ,nor even know ,i of what kin ,i am1 nor who my father or mother was1 except by hearsay4 ,i know that my father begat me and my mother bare me1 but ,i do not know it because ,i myself saw it1 but because it was told me4 ,howbeit not so trustworthy men told that to me as those were who said that which we now for a long time have sought for2 and still ,i believe it4 ,therefore methinks that man very foolish and very wretched who will not increase his intelligence while he is in this world1 and also wish and desire that he may come to the eternal life1 where nothing is hid from us4 ,here end the sayings which ,king ,alfred collected from the book which we call in4444 ,,yale ,,studies ,,in ,,english4 ,,albert ,s4 ,,cook1 ,,editor4 ,i4 ,the ,foreign ,sources of ,modern ,english ,versification4 ,,charlton ,m4 ,,lewis1 ,ph4,d4 #j4ej4 ,,ii4 lfric3 ,a ,new ,study of his ,life and ,writings4 ,,caroline ,,louisa ,,white1 ,ph4,d4 #a4ej4 ,,iii4 ,the ,life of ,st4 ,cecilia1 from ,,ms4 ,ashmole #dc and ,,ms4 ,cotton ,tiberius ,e4 ,,vii1 with ,introduction1 ,variants1 and ,glossary4 ,,bertha ,,ellen ,,lovewell1 ,ph4,d4 #a4jj4 ,,iv4 ,dryden's ,dramatic ,theory and ,practice4 ,,margaret ,,sherwood1 ,ph4,d4 #j4ej4 ,v4 ,studies in ,jonson's ,comedy4 ,,elisabeth ,,woodbridge1 ,ph4,d4 #j4ej4 ,,vi4 ,a ,glossary of the ,west ,saxon ,gospels1 ,latin-,west ,saxon and ,west ,saxon-,latin4 ,,mattie ,,anstice ,,harris1 ,ph4,d4 #a4ej4 ,,vii4 ,andreas3 ,the ,legend of ,st4 ,andrew1 translated from the ,old ,english1 with an ,introduction4 ,,robert ,,kilburn ,,root4 #j4ej4 ,,viii4 ,the ,classical ,mythology of ,milton's ,english ,poems4 ,,charles ,,grosvenor ,,osgood1 ,ph4,d4 #a4jj4 ,,ix4 ,a ,guide to the ,middle ,english ,metrical ,romances dealing with ,english and ,germanic ,legends1 and with the ,cycles of ,charlemagne and of ,arthur4 ,,anna ,,hunt ,,billings1 ,ph4,d4 #a4ej4 ,x4 ,the ,earliest ,lives of ,dante1 translated from the ,italian of ,giovanni ,boccaccio and ,lionardo ,bruni ,aretino4 ,,james ,,robinson ,,smith4 #j4ge4 ,,xi4 ,a ,study in ,epic ,development4 ,,irene ,t4 ,,myers1 ,ph4,d4 #a4jj4 ,,xii4 ,the ,short ,story4 ,,henry ,,seidel ,,canby4 #j4cj4 ,,xiii4 ,king ,alfred's ,old ,english ,version of ,st4 ,augustine's ,soliloquies1 edited with ,introduction1 ,notes1 and ,glossary4 ,,henry ,,lee ,,hargrove1 ,ph4,d4 #a4jj4 ,,xiv4 ,the ,phonology of the ,northumbrian ,gloss of ,st4 ,matthew4 ,,emily ,,howard ,,foley1 ,ph4,d4 #j4ge4 ,,xv4 ,essays on the ,study and ,use of ,poetry by ,plutarch and ,basil the ,great1 translated from the ,greek1 with an ,introduction4 ,,frederick ,m4 ,,padelford1 ,ph4,d4 #j4ge4 ,,xvi4 ,the ,translations of ,beowulf3 ,a ,critical ,bibliography4 ,,chauncey ,b4 ,,tinker1 ,ph4,d4 #j4ge4 ,,xvii4 ,the ,alchemist1 by ,ben ,jonson3 edited with ,introduction1 ,notes1 and ,glossary4 ,,charles ,m4 ,,hathaway1 ,,jr41 ,ph4,d4 #b4ej4 ,cloth1 #c4jj4 ,,xviii4 ,the ,expression of ,purpose in ,old ,english ,prose4 ,,hubert ,,gibson ,,shearin1 ,ph4,d4 #a4jj4 ,,xix4 ,classical ,mythology in ,shakespeare4 ,,robert ,,kilburn ,,root1 ,ph4,d4 #a4jj4 ,,xx4 ,the ,controversy between the ,puritans and the ,stage4 ,,elbert ,n4 ,s4 ,,thompson1 ,ph4,d4 #b4jj4 ,,xxi4 ,the ,elene of ,cynewulf3 ,an ,old ,english ,poem1 translated into ,english ,prose4 ,,lucius ,,hudson ,,holt4 #j4cj4 ,,xxii4 ,king ,alfred's ,old ,english ,version of ,st4 ,augustine's ,soliloquies1 turned into ,modern ,english4 ,,henry ,,lee ,,hargrove1 ,ph4,d4 #j4ge4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,obvious typographical and printer errors have been corrected without comment4 ,other than obvious errors1 the author's spelling1 grammar1 and use of punctuation are retained as in the original publication4