Therefore, come, break off delays and the clinging chains of the world, and do not fear the gentle yoke of the peaceful Lord.
§32.5.3pulchra quidem sed mira uagis praesentia rerum §32.5.4mentibus, at sapiens non stupet ista animus.
Beautiful indeed, but deceptive to wandering minds is the presence of things, but a wise soul is not amazed by them.
Now, with various shapes, there tempts you alas, Rome, powerful enough to subvert even the strong.
But for you, my son, I pray that father Augustine may always present himself before you against all the allurements of the city.
Him, amid such great dangers of this fragile life, if you look upon him and hold him in your heart, you will be safe.
Yet this I will warn you of, repeating it again and again, that you flee from the slippery paths of harsh service.
§32.5.13blandum nomen honos, mala seruitus, exitus aeger, §32.5.14quem nunc uelle iuuat, mox uoluisse piget.
Honor is a sweet name, but an evil servitude, a painful end; though to wish for it now pleases you, soon you will regret having wished for it.
§32.5.15scandere celsa iuuat, tremor est descendere celsis; §32.5.16si titubes, summa peius ab arce cades.
It is pleasing to scale the heights, but to descend from them is a terror; if you stumble, you will fall more miserably from the highest citadel.
§32.5.17nunc tibi falsa placent bona, nunc rapit omnibus auris §32.5.18ambitus et uitreo fert caua fama sinu.
Now false goods please you, now ambition snatches you with every breeze, and empty fame carries you in its glassy bosom.
§32.5.19ast ubi te magno damnosus cinxerit aestu §32.5.20balteus et sterilis fregerit inde labor, §32.5.21serus et in cassum spes accusabis inanes §32.5.22et modo, quae nectis, rumpere uincla uoles.
But when the harmful belt of office girds you with great heat and sterile labor breaks you from that moment, too late and in vain will you accuse your empty hopes, and will wish to break the chains that you are now weaving.
Then in vain will you remember father Augustine, grieving that you despised his truthful warnings.
Therefore, if you are wise and if you are pious, boy, listen and receive the words of the fathers and the counsel of the elders.
§32.5.27quid retrahis fera colla iugo? mea sarcina lenis,
Why do you withdraw your wild neck from the yoke?
§32.5.28suaue iugum, Christi est uox pia; crede deo §32.5.29et caput adde iugis, da mollibus ora capistris §32.5.30demissosque leui subde humeros oneri.
"My burden is light, my yoke is sweet," is the pious voice of Christ; believe in God, and submit your head to the yoke, give your mouth to the gentle halters, and place your bowed shoulders under the light burden.
§32.5.31nunc potes hoc, dum liber agis, dum nulla retentant §32.5.32uincula, nulla tori cura nec altus honor.
Now you can do this, while you act as a free man, while no chains retain you, nor care of the marriage bed, nor high honor.
This is good freedom: to serve Christ and in Him to be above all things.
non dominis hominum, §32.5.35non uitiis seruit, non regibus ille superbis, §32.5.36tantum qui Christo se dederit domino.
He does not serve human masters, nor vices, nor proud kings, only he who has given himself to Christ the Lord.
§32.5.37nec tibi nobilitas uideatur libera, quam nunc §32.5.38sublimem attonita conspicis urbe uehi, §32.5.39quam cernis tanta sibi libertate uideri, §32.5.40ut dedignetur flectere colla deo.
Nor let nobility seem free to you, which you now behold carried aloft through the astonished city, which you see appearing to itself with such great freedom that it disdains to bend its neck to God.
§32.5.41multis ille miser mortalibus et quoque seruis §32.5.42seruit et ancillas, ut dominentur, emit.
That wretched man serves many mortals and even servants, and buys maidservants so that they may rule over him.
§32.5.43norunt eunuchos et magna palatia passi §32.5.44et quisquis Romam sponte miser patitur, §32.5.45quanto sudoris pretio damnoque decoris §32.5.46constet ibi chlamydis, hic honor officii.
Those who have suffered eunuchs and great palaces know this, and whoever wretchedly endures Rome of his own accord, with how great a price of sweat and damage to honor the honor of the cloak there, and of office here, consists.
§32.5.47nec tamen ipse potens, qui celsior omnibus esse §32.5.48emerit, ut nulli seruiat, adsequitur.
Nor yet does that powerful man himself, who has bought to be loftier than all, so that he may serve no one, achieve this.
Though he has boasted himself well as master in the whole city, he serves demons if he worships idols.
§32.5.51pro dolor! hos propter remoraris in urbe, Licenti,
Oh grief!
§32.5.52et regnum Christi spernis, ut his placeas?
For their sake do you linger in the city, Licentius, and despise the kingdom of Christ, so that you may please them?