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Thomas Aquinas
Works 3
Latin original · 2 verses · some words can be tapped for a gloss
3:1
Quia quaesisti a me, in Christo mihi carissime Ioannes, qualiter te studere oporteat in thesauro scientiae acquirendo, tale a me tibi traditur consilium: ut per rivulos, non statim in mare, eligas introire, quia per faciliora ad difficiliora oportet devenire. Haec est ergo monitio mea et instructio tua. Tardiloquum te esse iubeo et tarde ad locutorium accedentem; conscientiae puritatem amplectere. Orationi vacare non desinas; cellam frequenter diligas si vis in cellam vinariam introduci. Omnibus te amabilem exhibe; nihil quaere penitus de factis aliorum; nemini te multum familiarem ostendas, quia nimia familiaritas parit contemptum et subtractionis a studio materiam subministrat;
Since you have asked me, John, most dear to me in Christ, in what manner you ought to apply yourself to acquiring the treasure of knowledge, such counsel is handed on to you from me: that you choose to enter by way of the little streams and not at once into the sea, because one must come through easier things to the more difficult. This therefore is my admonition and your instruction. I bid you be slow to speak, and slow in approaching the parlor; embrace purity of conscience. Do not cease to be free for prayer; love your cell often, if you wish to be led into the wine-cellar. Show yourself amiable to all; seek nothing at all concerning the deeds of others; show yourself overly familiar to no one, because too much familiarity breeds contempt and furnishes occasion for withdrawal from study;
約翰，我在基督裡最親愛的，既然你問我，你當以何種方式致力於獲取知識的寶藏，我便把這樣的勸告傳給你：你要選擇從小溪流入，不要立刻進入大海，因為人必須藉著較容易的事達到較困難的事。所以這就是我的勸誡，也是給你的教導。我吩咐你說話要遲緩，到會客室也要遲緩；要持守良心的純潔。不要停止騰出時間禱告；你若願被領入酒室，就要常常喜愛你的居室。要向眾人顯出可親；對別人的行為絕不要探究；不要向任何人顯得過分親密，因為過分的親密生出輕慢，並供給人離開學業的藉口；
3:2
de verbis et factis saecularium nullatenus te intromittas; discursus super omnia fugias; sanctorum et bonorum imitari vestigia non omittas; non respicias a quo audias, sed quidquid boni dicatur, memoriae recommenda; ea quae legis et audis, fac ut intelligas; de dubiis te certifica; et quidquid poteris in armariolo mentis reponere satage, sicut cupiens vas implere; altiora te ne quaesieris. Illa sequens vestigia, frondes et fructus in vinea Domini Sabaoth utiles, quandiu vitam habueris, proferes et produces. Haec si sectatus fueris, ad id attingere poteris, quod affectas.
in no way meddle in the words and deeds of worldly men; flee above all things from gadding about; do not omit to imitate the footsteps of the holy and the good; do not regard from whom you hear a thing, but whatever good is spoken, commit it to memory; make sure that you understand the things you read and hear; make yourself certain concerning doubtful matters; and strive to store whatever you can in the little cupboard of your mind, like one desiring to fill a vessel; seek not the things that are above you. Following those footsteps, you shall, as long as you have life, bring forth and produce useful leaves and fruits in the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts. If you follow these things, you shall be able to attain that which you long for.
絕不要插手世人的言語和行為；要遠避一切閒蕩遊逛；不要忽略效法聖徒與善人的腳蹤；不要看你從誰口中聽見，乃要無論聽見什麼善言，都記在心上；務要使你明白所讀所聽的事；對可疑之事要使自己確定；並要竭力把你所能的存入你心智的小櫥中，如同渴望裝滿一個器皿的人；不要尋求那高過你的事。你若跟隨那些腳蹤，只要你還活著，就必在萬軍之主的葡萄園中結出並生產有益的葉子和果子。你若遵行這些事，就必能達到你所渴慕的。