§14Una igitur placida et fida tranquillitas, una solida et firma securitas, si qui ab his inquietantis saeculi turbinibus extractus. salutaris portus statione fundetur: ad caelum oculos tollit a terris et ad Domini munus admissus ac Deo suo mente iam proximus, quidquid apud ceteros in rebus humanis sublime ac magnum uidetur, intra suam iacere conscientiam gloriatur.
Therefore, there is one peaceful and trustworthy tranquility, one solid and firm security, if anyone, rescued from these tempests of the disquieting world, is established in the anchorage of the salutary harbor: he raises his eyes from the earth to heaven, and having been admitted to the gift of the Lord and being now very near to his God in mind, he boasts that whatever seems sublime and great to others in human affairs lies beneath his own conscience.
nihil adpetere iam, nihil desiderare de saeculo potest, qui saeculo maior est.
He who is greater than the world can no longer seek or desire anything from the world.
\'quam stabilis, quam inconcussa tutela est, quam perennibus bonis caeleste praesidium, inplicantis mundi laqueis solui, in lucem immortalitatis aeternae de terrena faece purgari.
'How stable, how unshaken is the protection, how heavenly a defense with everlasting goods, to be released from the snares of the entangling world, to be cleansed from earthly dregs into the light of eternal immortality!
uiderit, quae in nos prius infestantis inimici pernicies insidiosa grassata ait plus amare conpellimur, quod futuri sumus, dum et scire conceditur et damnare, quod eramus.
Let it see to it, what insidious ruin of the enemy previously raging and attacking us has done; we are compelled to love more what we are to be, while it is permitted both to know and to condemn what we were.
nec ad hoc pretiis ant ambitu aut manu opus est, ut hominis summa uel dignitas uel potestas elaborata mole pariatur: et gratuitum de Deo munus et facile est.
Nor is there need for this of bribery, or ambition, or force, so that the highest dignity or power of man should be produced with elaborate effort: it is a free gift from God and easy.
ut sponte sol radiat, dies luminat, fons rigat, imber inrorat, ita se spiritus caelestis infundit.
Just as the sun radiates of its own accord, the day illuminates, the fountain irrigates, the rain bedews, so the heavenly spirit pours itself in.
postquam auctorem suum caelum intuens anima cognouit, sole altior et hac omni terrena potestate sublimior id esse incipit, quod esse se credit.
After the soul, looking at heaven, has recognized its author, higher than the sun and more sublime than all this earthly power, it begins to be what it believes itself to be.
§15Tu tantum, quem iam spiritalibus castris caelestis militia signauit, tene incorruptam, tene sobriam religiosis uirtutibus disciplinam.
Do you only, whom the heavenly warfare has already enlisted in the spiritual camp, maintain a discipline uncorrupted, maintain it sober with religious virtues.
sit tibi uel oratio adsidua uel lectio.
Let there be for you either constant prayer or reading.
nunc cum Deo loquere, nunc Deus tecum.
Now speak with God, now let God speak with you.
ille te praeceptis suis instruat, ille disponat.
Let Him instruct you with His precepts, let Him dispose you.
quem ille diuitem fecerit, nemo pauperem faciet.
Whom He has made rich, no one will make poor.
penuria esse nulla iam poterit, cum semel pectus caelestis sagina saturauerit.
There can no longer be any penury, when once heavenly nourishment has saturated the breast.
iam tibi auro distincta laquearia et pretiosi marmoris crustis uestita domicilia sordebunt, cum scieris te excolendum magis, te potius ornandum, domum tibi hanc esse potiorem, quam Dominus insedit templi uice, in qua Spiritus sanctus coepit habitare.
Now the ceilings distinguished with gold and the dwellings clad with slabs of precious marble will seem sordid to you, when you know that you yourself are rather to be cultivated, you rather to be adorned, that this house is more precious to you, which the Lord has occupied in place of a temple, in which the Holy Spirit has begun to dwell.
pingamus hanc domum pigmentis innocentiae, luminemus luce iustitiae.
Let us paint this house with the colors of innocence, let us illuminate it with the light of justice.
non haec umquam procumbet in lapsum senio uetustatis, nec pigmento parietis aut auro exolescente foedabitur.
This will never fall into ruin through the decay of old age, nor will it be defiled by the fading of the wall's pigment or gold.
caduca sunt, quaecumque fucata sunt, nec fiduciam praebent!possidentibus stabilem, quae possessionis non habeant ueritatem.
Fanciful things are fleeting, nor do they afford a stable trust to those who possess them, which do not have the reality of possession.
hoc manet cultu iugiter uiuido, honore integro, splendore diuturno.
This remains with an ever-vivid cultivation, with entire honor, and lasting splendor.
aboleri non potest nec extingui, potest tantum in melius corpore redeunte formari.
It cannot be abolished or extinguished; it can only, when the body returns, be formed into something better.
§16Haec interim breuibus, Donate carissime.
These things for now in brief, dearest Donatus.
nam etsi facilem de bonitate patientiam, mentem in domino solidam, fidem tutam salutaris auditus oblectat, nihilque tam tuis auribus gratum est, quam quod in Dominum gratum est, moderari tamen dicenda debemus \' simul iuncti et saepius locuturi, et quoniam feriata nunc quies ac tempus est otiosum, quidquid inclinante iam sole in uesperam dies superest, ducamus hunc diem laeti nec sit uel hora conuiuii gratiae caelestis inmunis.
For although a listening that brings salvation delights a patient mind that is open to goodness, a mind solid in the Lord, and a secure faith, and nothing is so pleasing to your ears as what is pleasing in the Lord, yet we must moderate what is to be said, since we are joined together and will speak more often. And since there is now a holiday rest and time is at leisure, whatever of the day remains as the sun now inclines toward evening, let us pass this day happy, nor let even the hour of banquet be devoid of heavenly grace.
sonet psalmos conuiuium sobrium: ut tibi tenax memoria est, uox canora, adgredere hoc munus ex more.
Let the sober banquet resound with psalms: as you have a retentive memory and a musical voice, undertake this task according to custom.
magis carissimos pascis, si sit nobis spiritalis auditio, prolectet aures religiosa mulcedo.
You feed your dearest ones more if there is spiritual listening for us, and if religious sweetness entices our ears.