Secunda epistola, in qua agitur de disciplina debita potestatum et officialium. Capitulum primum, ubi ponitur prologus.
A Humble Obedience to the King's Command
The author responds to the king's request to continue his work, humbly submitting to the royal command and entrusting the letter to the king's own prudence for correction.
You have asked, most merciful Lord — you who have already tasted beforehand — that the following material be continued, namely the matter I have begun, so that it may be brought to completion. I gladly obey, according to the ability granted to my humble state. So let the second letter go forward eagerly — the letter His Royal Serenity commands to come before the public — and let the prudence of so great a dignity either direct it or excuse whatever may seem badly formed or flawed.
The Weight of Unworthiness
The author confesses his deep inadequacy in life, knowledge, and example, and fears that his obedience may expose him to the slander of envious critics.
For I am driven by the goads of this task by His Royal Majesty, who considers nothing in me that would hold the attention of hearers — for whom neither my life suffices as a matter of conscience, nor my knowledge suffices for sound teaching, nor my deeds suffice as an example. So it is not without reason that I fear, lest while I gird myself devotedly in obedience, I bring loss upon my good name and provoke the tongues of rivals — tongues through which the faults of others are most easily torn apart, even though those very people never imitate the good they find in others.
Leaning on Christ Alone
Despite his poverty of speech and talent, the author places his hope entirely in the Lord Jesus Christ, without whom nothing of true value can be accomplished.
Yet amid the varied riches and delights of spiritual teachers, with which the king's generosity abounds, let allowance be made for the poverty of my speech and the meagerness of my talent. If the leanness of my barren prayer proceeds, if my unskilled tongue stammers — it is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, however, whom we call upon, without whom nothing of any real use can be achieved.
Read the original Latin
Postulatis, clementissime domine, praelibatis continuari sequentia, materiam scilicet perfici quam incœpi. Libens pareo pro facultate meae tradita parvitati. Alacriter ergo secunda procedat epistola quam Serenitas regia prodire jubet in publicum, et tantae dignationis prudentia vel dirigat vel excuset quod deforme videbitur, vel apparuerit vitiosum. Ad hanc enim operam stimulis urgeor regiae Majestatis, qui nihil in me perpendo quod attentionem provocet auditorum, cui nec vita ad conscientiam, nec ad doctrinam scientia, nec opéra suppetunt ad exemplum. Unde non immerito vereor ne dum ad obsequium devotus accingor, dispendium pudoris faciens aemulorum provocem linguas, per quos aliorum facillime mala carpuntur, cum tamen et ipsi aliéna bona nullatenus imitentur. Inter opes autem varias et delitias doctorum spiritualium quibus affluit regis munificentia, parcatur exilitati sermonis et ingenii. Si jejunae procedat orationis macies, si lingua crepitet imperita, ipsum autem invocamus Dominum Jhesum Christum, sine quo nihil obtinet utilitatis effectum.
Eruditio regum et principum (Education of Kings and Princes) companion
Louis IX kept a daily rule of reading. Keep yours.
After day 21, Chosen Portion keeps the habit going with one historic devotional portion each morning, free on iOS.
Guibert formed Louis IX through short scheduled installments, and Chosen Portion delivers formation in the same daily-installment pattern.
- One reading and prayer per day, about 3 minutes
- Continue with 78 royal and monastic works after the plan ends
- Reflection questions suited to reading with a teen or small group