Letter 454

To Pamphilus the Deacon. That Solomon says, "The heart of a perceptive man, his soul is grieved" [cf. Proverbs], shows this: that the man who takes perception of the base deeds he has done, and who keeps in mind that fearful, everlasting punishment, heals himself by voluntary grief and by repentance before the departure from life. But whenever such a man rejoices, it [Scripture] says, he is not mingled with insolence. For even should fleshly gladness and luxury be present in abundance, he will not slip away into pride. For this is what is called "insolence" among the prudent.

Τὸ λέγειν τὸν Σολομῶντα, « Καρδία ἀνδρὸς αἰσθητική, λυπηρὰ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ, » τοῦτο δηλοῖ, ὅτιπερ ὁ λαμβάνων αἴσθησιν τῶν φαύλως αὐτῷ πραχθέντων, καὶ μνημονεύων τῆς φρικτῆς κολάσεως τῆς αἰωνίου ἐκείνης, τῇ ἐκουσίᾳ λύπῃ καὶ τῇ μεταμελείᾳ ἑαυτὸν θεραπεύει πρὸ τῆς ἐξόδου τοῦ βίου. Ὅτ’ ἂν δέ, φησὶν, εὐφραίνηται ὁ τοιοῦτος, οὐκ ἐπιμίγνυται ὕβρει. Κἂν γὰρ παροῦσα τύχῃ ἀφθόνως ἡ σαρκικὴ εὐφροσύνη, καὶ τρυφὴ, οὐκ ἐξολισθήσει πρὸς τὴν ὑπερηφάνειαν. Αὕτη γὰρ ὕβρις παρὰ φρονίμοις κικλήσκεται.