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16. And yet I erred, O Lord God, the Creator and Disposer of
all things in Nature, but of sin the Disposer only, I
erred, O Lord m.y God, in doing contrary to the wishes of my
parents and of those masters; for this learning which they (no matter
for what motive) wished me to acquire, I might have put to good
account afterwards. For I disobeyed them not because I had chosen a
better way, but from a fondness for play, loving the honour of victory
in the matches, and to have my ears tickled with lying fables, in
order that they might itch the more furiously the same curiosity
beaming more and more in my eyes for the shows and sports of my elders.
Yet those who give these entertainments are held in such high repute,
that almost all desire the same for their children, whom they are still
willing should be beaten, if so be these same games keep them from the
studies by which they desire them to arrive at being the givers of
them. Look down upon these things, O Lord, I with compassion,
and deliver us who now call! upon Thee; deliver those also who do not
call upon Thee, that they may call upon Thee, and that Thou mayest
deliver them.
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