XXVIII.
Accidia. Accidia multos retrahit a bono
opere.
Cesarius tellis how þat a monk on̛ a tyme was so tempyd with sleuthe & slugisnes, þat evur when̛ he sulde rise vnto matyns, he was euer stryken̛ into a grete ferdnes & a fayntnes, to so mekuƚƚ þat he supposid̛ hym̛ selfe þat it was a sekenes. & ilk nyght, when̛ his brethir went to matyns, he happed̛ his hede with clothis & lay stiƚƚ. So it happend̛ on̛ a gude night, aƚƚ his brether, when̛ þai hard̛ þe beƚƚ, rase & went to matyns. And when̛ þai wer gone, he thoght he wold̛ ryse & go with þaim, & bukkled vpward̛. And onone þis slugisnes come on̛ hym̛, & causid̛ hym̛ lay hym̛ down̛ agayn̛ & happ̛ hys heade. And sodanle he hard a voyce þat was vnknowen̛ to hym̛, as hym̛ þoght, speke vnder his hede, & said̛, " Noli surgere; noli sudorem tuum interrumpere. Rise nott, bod ly stiƚƚ, & lett not þi selfe to swete; for & þou do, it wiƚƚ hurte the." & þan̛ he was halfe agaste, & liftid up his hand̛ & saynyd̛ hym̛. And onone it smate in his mynd̛ þat it was bod ane illusion̛ of þe devuƚƚ & a fantasie, & onone he rase vp̛ & went to matyns with hys brether. And fro thens furtℏ, he was neuer slugissℏ to rise & go vnto Goddis serves, nor þat fayntnes nor þat swete come neuer on̛ hym̛ aftre.
- ... Accidia in oratione est vitanda. Infra de dormire in oratione.