CAPUT LVI. Quod mens in omni corruptione sua debeat et patienter dolere, et de sua correctione non desperare

Grief and Hope Together

The mind must both grieve over its corruption and hope for correction, as symbolized by Simeon and Levi, who must work together for true satisfaction and foresight.

Yet the mind that knows its own guilt and is put to shame by its own weakness must both patiently grieve and not despair of its own correction. She truly needs both to grieve over her corruption and, all the same, to hope for correction, so that, afflicted by a measured sorrow and lifted by the confidence of hope, she may make satisfaction for the past and take care for the future. Earlier, though, we already said how we ought to understand sorrow and hope through Simeon and Levi. These are Dinah's two brothers, Simeon and Levi, fierce avengers of the wrongs done them—but if only they were as discerning as they are strong! It belongs to Simeon to make satisfaction for what has been done wrong; it belongs to Levi to lift the heart toward what must be watched over for the future. So if you grieve over your corruption but despair of correction, you have Simeon—but only Simeon alone. If you neglect satisfaction for the past, yet still hope in caution for the future, Levi is there—but only Levi alone. For so great a task, then, both must come together, and each must give the other help.