Letter 429

To the same person. It would be absurd to stand high upon the column in body, conspicuous and held in honor by all, but in your thoughts to be dragged down below, to think nothing worthy of the things of heaven, and only to take pleasure in chattering with women in these days. For formerly you addressed yourself to men with eagerness, but now for the most part you welcome the little women. Since, then, the Scripture condemns the serpent to be dragged along upon the ground and forever to feed on earth [Genesis 3:14], take care that you yourself do not fulfill that condemnation, creeping upon the ground with your mind and devouring earthly words of every kind. But there is nothing more earthbound than groveling vainglory.

Ἄτοπον ἄν εἴη ἐφ᾽ ὑψηλοῦ μὲν τοῦ κίονος ἵστασθαι τῷ σώματι τοῖς πᾶσι φαινόμενον ἔνδοξεν, κάτω δὲ τοῖς λογισμοῖς σύρεσθαι, μηδὲν ἄξιον τῶν οὐρανίων πραγμάτων διανοεῖσθαι, μόνον δὲ ταῖς γυναιξὶν ἡδέως προσλαλοῦντα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις. Πρώην μὲν γὰρ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἐκ προθυμίας ἐφθέγγου, νῦν δὲ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πλεῖστον τὰ γύναια προσδέχῃ. Ἐπειδὴ οὖν ἡ Γραφὴ τὸν ὄφιν καταδικάζει ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς σύρεσθαι, καὶ γῆν σιτεῖσθαι ἀεὶ, βλέπε μήποτε τὴν καταδίκην αὐτὸς πληροῖς, χαμαὶ τε τῇ διανοίᾳ ἕρπων, καὶ τοὺς γηίνους λόγους παντὸς ἐσθίων. Ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς χαμαιρεποῦς κενοδοξίας οὐδὲν γηνώτερον.