Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/88

Hatton MS.] derlice wilnige, ac his niehstena god he sceal tellan him selfum. Be ðæm is awriten ðæt mon sceolde writan on ðæm hrægle ðe Aron bær on his breostum, ðonne he inneode beforan Gode, ða lare & ða domas & ða soðfæsðnesse. Ða domas he bær on hi[s] breostum beforan Gode Israhela bearna simle. Sua sceal se sacerd giet simle beran ða domas awritene on his breostam Israhela bearna, ðæt is ðæt hie ðara ðing ðe him underðiodde bioð for ðæm ege anum ðæs innecundan deman inweardlice undersece, ðætte si[o] meu(n)isce oliccung for nanum freondscipe ðærto ne gemencge, forðon he bið to Cristes bisene & to his anlicnesse ðær aset. & ðeah for ðære geornfulnesse ðære ryhtinge ne sie he to hræd ne to stið to ðære wrace, ac ðonne he bið ongieten æfstig wið oðra monna yfelu, anscunige he eac his agenu, ðæs ða smyltnesse ðæs domes gewemme oððe se dierna æfst oððe to hræd ierre. Ac gif he geðencð ðone ege ðæs deman ðe ofer eall sitt, ðonne ne stierð he no his hieremonnum butan miclum ege. Ac se ege ðonne he geeaðmed ðæt mod ðe hit geclænsað, ðylæs sio gedyrstignes his modes hine to uppahebbe, oð ðisses flæsces lusðfulnes hiene besmite, oððe ðurh ða wilnunga ðissa eorðcun[d]licra ðinga ðæt mód aðistrige se forhwierfeda gewuna gemalicnesse, sio oft ðæt mod ðæs recceres astyreð. Ac hit is micel ðearf ðæt mon hire suiðe hrædlice wiðbregde, ðylæs sio scyld ðe hiene ðurh scienesse costað for his luste & for his wácmodnesse hine ofersuiðe; forðon gif hio ne bið hrædlice awég adrifen, he bið ofslægen mid ðæm sueorde ðære geðafunge.

And jet his zeal in correcting must not be too excessive, nor his severity in punishing, but whilst showing himself zealous against the faults of others, let him fear his own, lest secret malice or overhasty anger corrupt the calmness of judgment. And if he consider the terror of the Judge who sits over all, he will not correct his subjects without great fear. But fear humbles and purifies the spirit, lest the boldness of his heart puff him up too much, or the pleasures of the flesh corrupt him, or through desire of earthly things the perverse habit of wantonness obscure the mind, which often disturbs the ruler's mind. But it is very necessary to withstand it at once, lest the sin which assails him with temptations through his desire and weakness of mind overcome him; for if it is not quickly driven away, he will be slain with the sword of consent.