§2.1Proxime tibi, dilectissima in domino conserva, quid feminae sanctae matrimonio quacumque sorte adempto sectandum sit, ut potui prosecutus sum.
Recently to you, my most beloved fellow-servant in the Lord, I have followed out as best as I could what a holy woman must pursue when her marriage has been taken away by whatever lot.
Nunc ad secunda consilia convertamur, respectu humanae infirmitatis, quarundam exemplis admonentibus, quae divortio vel mariti excessu ablata continentiae occasione non modo abiecerunt opportunitatem tanti boni, sed ne in nubendo quidem rursum disciplinae meminisse voluerunt, ut in domino potissimum nuberent.
Now let us turn to secondary counsels, out of regard for human infirmity, since the examples of certain women warn us. These women, when the opportunity of continence was offered to them by divorce or the death of a husband, not only threw away the opportunity of so great a good, but did not even wish, in marrying again, to remember the discipline, so that they might marry above all in the Lord.
Itaque mihi confusus est animus, ne, qui nuper te ad univiratus et viduitatis perseverantiam hortatus sim, nunc mentione nuptiarum proclivium tibi labendi oblationem faciam.
Therefore my mind is troubled, lest I, who recently exhorted you to perseverance in single marriage and widowhood, should now, by the mention of marriage, present to you a downhill slope for slipping.
Quod si integre sapis, certe scis id servandum tibi esse quod sit utilius.
But if you are entirely wise, you certainly know that that which is more useful must be kept by you.
Quod vero difficile est, et non sine necessitatibus, et hoc maximum propositum vitae, subresedi; nec mihi de isto quoque referendi ad te causae fuissent, nisi graviorem iam sollicitudinem comprehendissem.
However, as to what is difficult, and not without necessities, and this being the greatest purpose of life, I have relented; nor would there have been causes for me to refer to you about this as well, had I not already conceived a heavier anxiety.
Nam quanto grandis est continentia carnis, quae viduitati ministrat, tanto, si non sustineatur, ignoscibile videri potest.
For by how much the continence of the flesh is great, which ministers to widowhood, by so much, if it should not be sustained, it can seem pardonable.
Difficilium enim facilis est tunc venia.
For the pardon of difficult things is then easy.
Quanto autem nubere in domino perpetrabile est, uti nostrae potestatis, tanto culpabilius est non observare quod possis.
On the other hand, by how much marrying in the Lord is achievable, as being of our power, by so much is it more culpable not to observe what you can.
Eo accedit quod apostolus de viduis quidem et innuptis, ut ita permaneant, suadet, cum dicit, Cupio autem omnes meo exemplo perseverare: de nubendo vero in domino, cum adicit, Tantum in domino, iam non suadet, sed exerte iubet.
To this is added that the apostle indeed advises concerning widows and the unmarried, that they remain so, when he says: "But I wish all to persevere after my example"; but concerning indeed marrying in the Lord, when he adds: "Only in the Lord," he no longer advises, but expressly commands.
Igitur in ista maxime specie, nisi obsequimur, periclitamur; quia suasum impune quis neglegat quam iussum, quod illud de consilio veniat et voluntati proponatur, hoc autem de potestate descendat et necessitati obligetur, illic libertas, hic contumacia delinquere videatur.
Therefore in this aspect especially, if we do not obey, we are in danger; because one may neglect what is advised with impunity rather than what is commanded, because the former comes from counsel and is proposed to the will, but the latter descends from authority and is bound to necessity; there freedom, here stubbornness may seem to commit the offense.