|
Nor is it wonderful if one who lives in a cell, having his thoughts
collected together as it were in a narrow cloister, is oppressed by a
multitude of anxieties, which break out with the man himself from the
confinement of the dwelling, and at once dash here and there like wild
horses. But while they are now roaming at large from their stalls, for the
moment some short and sad solace is enjoyed: but when, after the body has
returned to its own cell, the whole troop of thoughts retires again to its
proper home, the habit of chronic licence gives rise to worse pangs. Those
then who are unable and ignorant how to struggle against the promptings of
their own fancies, when they are harassed in their cell, by accidie
attacking their bosom more violently
than usual, if they relax their strict rule and allow themselves the
liberty of going out oftener, will arouse a worse plague against themselves
by means of this which they fancy is a remedy: just as men fancy that they
can check the violence of an inward fever by a draught of the coldest
water, though it is a fact that by it its fire is inflamed rather than
quenched, as a far worse attack follows after the momentary alleviation.
|
|