13:1
Quantum, vobis apud Deum suffragantibus, qualiscunque voti mei dies propinquantur, tantum animi mei dcsiderium pudorque decertant. Benedictionem quippe flagito operi imperfecto. Esset quantulacunque excusatio, si in eo inertiæ meæ noxam velaret ac tegeret magnitudo. Nunc vero exiguo pariter atque impolilo quid potest esse deformius? Unum igitur est, quod trepidantem animum audaci solatur hortatu, vestro scilicet, si nos Deus exaudire dignatur, adventu cuncta in melius esse vertenda. Neque enim est quod non possitis aut orando componere, aut perorando excusare. Tantum sicut de compertac pietatis voto certi sumus, ita praevio præstolatæ visitationis nunlio gaudeamus.
As the day of my vow, such as it is, draws near — with your intercession before God — so greatly do the longing and the shame of my mind contend with one another. For I beg a blessing upon an unfinished work. There would be some slight excuse if greatness were to veil and cover the fault of my sloth within it. But as it is, what can be more unshapely than a thing at once trifling and unpolished? There is one thing, therefore, that consoles my trembling spirit with a bold encouragement: namely, that by your coming — if God deigns to hear us — all things are to be turned for the better. For there is nothing which you cannot either set in order by praying, or excuse by pleading. Only, just as we are certain of the vow of your proven piety, so may we rejoice in the foregoing announcement of the awaited visitation.
承蒙您在天主前為我代禱，隨著我這微不足道的願望之日臨近，我心中的渴望與羞愧也同樣激烈交戰。因為我懇求為一件未竟之工求得祝福。倘若其偉大能遮掩並覆蓋我怠惰之過，尚可略有藉口；然而如今，一件既微小又粗糙之物，還有什麼比這更不堪呢？因此唯有一事以大膽的勉勵安慰我戰兢的心：就是若天主垂允俯聽，藉您的親臨，一切必將轉好。因為凡事您無不能藉祈禱而整頓，或藉懇切陳詞而辯解。只願正如我們確信您那經證實之虔敬的心願，也讓我們因所期盼之探訪的預先通報而歡欣。