Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/77

68 gif hit ðonne aðistriað ða flæsclican weorc. Hwæt on ðæs siweniggean eagum beoð ða æplas hale, ac ða bræwas greatiað, forðam hie bioð oft drygge [drygde] for ðæm tearum þe fær gelome offlowað, oððtæt sio scearpnes bið gewierd ðæs æples. Swæ sindon wel monige ðara þe gewundiað hiora mod mid ðæm weorcum ðisses flæsclican lifes, ða þe meahton smealice & scearplice mid hiera ondgiete ryht gesion, ac mid ðam gewunan ðara wona weorca ðæt mod bið adimmod. Se bid eallenga siwenigge ðonne his mod & his ondgit ðæt gecynd ascyrpð, & he hit ðonne self gescent mid his ungewunan & wóm wilnungum. Be ðæm wæs wel gecweden ðurh ðone engel: Smirewað eowre eagan mid sealfe ðæt ge mægen gesion. Đonne we smirewað ure heortan eage mid sealfe þæt we mægen ðy bet gesion, ðonne we mid ðæm læcedome godra weorca gefultumað urum ondgiete ðæt hit bið ascirped to ongietonne ða birhtu ðæs soðan leohtes. Se ðonne hæfð eallenga fleah on his modes eagum, þe on nane wisan ne mæg ryhtwisnesse gesion, ac bið ablend mid unwisdome þæt he ne ongiet ða uplican rihtwisnesse. Đurh ðone æpl ðæs eagean mon mæg gesion, gif him ðæt fleah on ne gæð, gif hine ðonne ðæt fleah mid ealle ofergæð, ðonne ne mæg he noht gesion. Swæ eac be ðæs modes eagum, gif ðæt ondgit ðæs mennescan geðohtes ongit þæt hit self dysig bið [sie] & synfull, ðonne gegripð hit ðurh ðone wenan ðæt ondgit ðære incundan birhto; gif he ðonne self weneð ðæt he sie wis & gesceadwislice ryhtwis, mid ðy he hiene bedæleð ðære oncnawnesse ðæs uplican leohtes, [& micle þy læs he ongiet þa bierhto ðæs soðan leohtes] ðonne he hiene upahefð on his mode on swelc

frequent flow of tears, until the sharpness of the pupil is dulled. Thus there are very many who wound their mind with the works of this fleshly life who could clearly and sharply perceive righteousness with their understanding, but with the habit of bad works the mind is dimmed. He is altogether blear-eyed who has a naturally good heart and understanding, and of himself disgraces it with his bad habits and perverse desires. Of which was well spoken through the angel: "Anoint your eyes with salve, that ye may see." We anoint the eyes of our heart to see better, when we aid our understanding with the medicine of good works, so that it is sharpened enough to perceive the brightness of true light. He has altogether albugo in his mind's eyes who can in no wise see righteousness, but is blinded with folly