Prologus
Reluctant Obedience to the Abbot's Command
Odo, believing his work complete, is nonetheless compelled by the abbot's insistent demand to undertake yet another book despite his inner exhaustion.
Now that this little book has been completed as best I could, I thought I had done enough for you and for the lord abbot — enough, as I believed, to satisfy you both. But the lord abbot demands the charge he once undertook on your behalf with, if I may put it this way, excessive insistence. For although I have already declared that the storehouse of my heart is exhausted, nevertheless — just as I undertook the preceding little book, so too have I been compelled to take up this one that follows.
The Burden of Consoling a Weary Pontiff
Odo explains that the preceding books neglected consolation for the afflicted and that he must now counsel a pontiff whose mind, like Moses', is wearied by the depravity of evils.
This, however, is how it happened: because in the preceding two little books very few things were said about the consolation of the afflicted, and because counsel needed to be given to a pontiff whose mind — like that of Moses — is exasperated by the depravity of evils, I, who can neither resist a command nor report anything beyond what you yourselves know better, do indeed what I can. But while I lay out your affairs to you at such length, I greatly fear I'll produce tedium.
Indignation Against Exploitative Shepherds
Odo deflects potential criticism of his prolixity by pointing to the far greater wickedness of evil men who burden Christ's flock, citing Isaiah's image of sin drawn in cords of vanity.
If, however, the flow of my words has perhaps displeased anyone, let him compare it with the wickednesses of evil men — prolonged and set before us — who, building upon the backs of Christ's little flock, extend their own iniquity. And let them rather be indignant at those who drag sin behind them, as Isaiah says, in cords of vanity.✦ They demand that such great things be said against themselves.✦
A Humble Invitation to Discernment
Odo asks the reader to exercise discernment, trimming what is superfluous from his writing, and concludes with the humble hope that amid much worthlessness a few useful things may be found, as ripe fruit among sour.
You, therefore, should have foreseen to whom and what you were giving orders. Consider these words as a vessel just now poured out, and with the file of discernment, cut away whatever is superfluous — like droplets clinging to the vessel in an unsightly way. Just as with sour fruits, some ripe ones are gathered among them, so in this writing — though you will perhaps find much that rightly deserves to be rejected — you will at least find a few things that carry some usefulness.
Read the original Latin
Libello hoc utcunque expleto, tam vobis quam domno abbati satis, ut frustra credidi, me jam fecisse putabam: sed domnus abba jussionem legationis vestrae, quam semel suscepit, nimis, ut ita dicam, imperiose exigit. Nam licet promptariolum cordis mei exhaustum jam pronuntiaverim, tamen sicut praecedentem libellum, ita quoque hunc sequentem aggredi coegit. Ea tamen occasione factum est, quod in praecedentibus duobus libellis de afflictorum consolatione pauca dicta sint, et ad consilium pontifici dandum, cujus mentem sicut Moysi malorum pravitas exacerbat, ego sane qui nec praecepto resistere, nec alia nisi ea quae vos melius nostis, possum referre, facio quidem quod valeo: sed dum vestra vobis tam prolixe refero, fastidium generare pertimesco. Cui tamen ductus verborum forte displicuerit, comparet illum protelatis pravorum nequitiis, qui supra dorsa pusilli gregis Christi fabricantes prolongant iniquitatem suam, eisque potius indignentur qui trahentes peccatum, ut Isaias dicit, in funiculis vanitatis (Isa. V, 18), exigunt ut contra se tanta dicantur. Vos ergo praevidere debuistis cui et quid juberetis, dicta haec veluti quoddam vas modo transfusum considerate, et superflua quaeque tanquam guttulas vasi deformiter adhaerentes lima discretionis recidite. Ut acidis frugibus quaedam matura leguntur, ita in isto calamo, cum plurima, quae merito reprobentur, forte inveneritis, pauca saltem utilitatis quiddam gerentia reperietis.
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