er will, or she would despise
him: so quickly, he brought forth the fairest woman that might be as to
her sight, and shewed to her. And she set her on her knees and said,
_Ave Maria_. And so quickly all vanished away, and for shame never after
came he to her. This I say not, because I hope he shall have leave to
tempt thee in this manner, but because I will that thou beware, if any
such temptation befall thee sleeping or waking, that thou trust not over
quickly till thou knowest the truth. More privily he transfigures
himself into an angel of light--that commonly all men are tempted
with--when he hides ill under the likeness of good. And that is in two
manners. One is, when he eggs us on to over-great ease and rest of body,
and softness to our flesh, for need to sustain our nature. For such
thoughts he puts in us: that unless we eat well, and drink well, and
sleep well, and lie soft and sit warm, we can not serve GOD, nor last in
the labour that we have begun. But he thinks to bring us to over-great
pleasure. Another is, when under the likeness of ghostly good, he
entices us to sharp and over-great penance, for to destroy ourselves;
and says thus: "Thou wot'st well that he who suffers most penance for
GOD'S love, he shall have most meed. Therefore eat little, and feeble
meat; and drink less, the thinnest drink is good enough to thee. Reck
not of sleep: wear the hair-shirt and the habergeon. All thing that is
affliction for thy flesh, do it; so that there may be none that can
pass thee in penance. He that speaks thee thus, is about to slay thee
with over-great abstinence; as he that said the other to slay thee with
over-little. Therefore, if we will be rightly disposed, it behoves us to
set ourselves in a good mean, and that we may destroy our vices and hold
our flesh under, and nevertheless that it should be stalwart in the
service of JESUS Christ. Also, our enemy will not suffer us to be in
rest when we sleep, but then he is about to beguile us in many manners.
Sometimes, with ugly images, for to make us afraid and to make us
hateful of our state: sometimes with fair images, fair sights and that
seem comfortable; for to make us glad in vain, and make us think we are
better than we are. Sometimes, tells us we are holy and good, for to
bring us into pride; [sometimes says we are wicked and sinful for to
make us fall into despair.] But He Who is Ordainer of all things,
suffers not that our sleep be without reward to us, if