Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/315

306 menn, ðæt hie ne læten hiera geðeaht & hiera wenan sua feor beforan ealra oðerra monna wenan. Ac ðæm unbealdum is to kyðanne, gif hie be ænegum dæle wolden geðencean hwæt hie selfe wæren, ðonne ne leten hie no hie eallinga on ælce healfe gebigean, ne furðum no awecggan, ðeah ðe hie mon manigfealdlice & mislice styrede, sua sua wác hreod & idel, ðe ælc hwiða windes mæg awecggan. Ac to ðæm anstræcum is gecueden ðurh sanctus Paulus: Ne sculon ge no ðyncan eow selfum to wise. Ond eft he cuæð to ðam unbealdum: Ne læte ge eow ælcre lare wind awecggan. To ðæm anstræcum is gecueden ðurh Salomon: Hie etað ðone wæsðdm hiera ægnes weges. Đæt is ðonne ðonne hie beoð gefyllede mid hiera ægnum geðeahte. Eft cuæð Salomon be ðæm unbealdum: Dysigra monna mod bið suiðe unemn & suiðe ungelic, ond ðæs wisan monnes mod bið suide emn, & simle him selfum gelic. He bið simle ryhtes geðeahtes geðafa, forðæm he bið suið[e] arod & suiðe gereðre on ryhtum weorcum. Ac ðara monna mod bið suite únemn, forðæm hit gedeð hit self him selfum suiðe ungelic for ðære gelomlican wendinge, forðæm hit næfre eft ne bið ðæt hit ær wæs. Eac is to wietanne ðætte sume unðeawas cumað of oðrum unðeawum sua ilce sua h[i]e comon ær of oðrum. Forðy (ús) is to wietanne ðæt we magon hie sua iðesð mid ðreaunga gebetan, gif

themselves better and wiser than others, they would not let their plans and opinions preponderate so much over the opinions of all other men. The irresolute are to be told that, if they considered at all what they themselves were, they would not at all let themselves be inclined on every side, nor even be moved, although they were manifoldly and variously stirred up, like a weak and useless reed, which can be moved by every breath of wind. It is said to the resolute through St. Paul : “Ye must not think yourself too wise." And again, he said to the irresolute : "Let not the wind of every doctrine move you.” To the resolute is said through Solomon : “They shall eat the fruit of their Own way. That is, when they are filled with their own devices. Again, Solomon said of the irresolute : “ The minds of fools are very variable and inconsistent; but the wise man's mind is always even, and consistent with itself.” He is always the supporter of good designs, because he is very bold and ready for good works. But the minds of those others are very variable, because they make themselves very inconsistent by constant changes, for they never remain the same as they were before. It is also to be known that some vices originate from others, just as these formerly originated from others. Therefore