CHAPTER XXIII. It is needful to put away all Inclination for Useless and
Dangerous Things.

SPORTS, balls, plays, festivities, pomps, are not in themselves evil,
but rather indifferent matters, capable of being used for good or ill;
but nevertheless they are dangerous, and it is still more dangerous to
take great delight in them. Therefore, my daughter, I say that although
it is lawful to amuse yourself, to dance, dress, feast, and see seemly
plays,–at the same time, if you are much addicted to these things,
they will hinder your devotion, and become extremely hurtful and
dangerous to you. The harm lies, not in doing them, but in the degree
to which you care for them. It is a pity to sow the seed of vain and
foolish tastes in the soil of your heart, taking up the place of better
things, and hindering the soul from cultivating good dispositions. It
was thus that the Nazarites of old abstained not merely from all
intoxicating liquors, but from grapes fresh or dried, and from vinegar,
not because these were intoxicating, but because they might excite the
desire for fermented liquors. Just so, while I do not forbid the use of
these dangerous pleasures, I say that you cannot take an excessive
delight in them without their telling upon your devotion. When the stag
has waxed fat he hides himself amid the thicket, conscious that his
fleetness is impaired should he be in need to fly: and so the human
heart which is cumbered with useless, superfluous, dangerous clingings
becomes incapacitated for that earnest following after God which is the
true life of devotion. No one blames children for running after
butterflies, because they are children, but is it not ridiculous and
pitiful to see full-grown men eager about such worthless trifles as the
worldly amusements before named, which are likely to throw them off
their balance and disturb their spiritual life? Therefore, dear child,
I would have you cleanse your heart from all such tastes, remembering
that while the acts themselves are not necessarily incompatible with a
devout life, all delight in them must be harmful.
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