The on and fourty chapitre. That in alle other werks binethe this, men schuld kepe discrecion; bot in this, none.
No Discretion in This Work
The author asserts that in the contemplative work, no discretion or measure should be applied, while in all other activities discretion is necessary.
And if you ask me what discretion you should have in this work, I'll answer you: "None at all!" For in all your other activities you should have discretion—in eating and drinking, in sleeping, in protecting your body from extreme cold or heat, in lengthy prayer or reading, or in conversing with your fellow Christians. In all these you should use discretion, so that they are neither too much nor too little. But in this work you should not keep any measure; for I want you to never stop this work as long as you live.
Always in Earnest or in Play
Although constant intensity is impossible due to bodily and spiritual hindrances, one should always have the work either actively or in will.
I'm not saying you'll be able to keep at it always equally fresh; for that can't be. Because sometimes sickness and other disordered conditions in body and in soul, along with many other natural needs, will hinder you a great deal, and often draw you down from the height of this working. But I say you should always have it either in earnest or in play—that is to say, either in the work itself or in the will.
Caring for Body and Soul in Sickness
One should guard health reasonably, and if sickness comes, patience pleases God more than sweet devotion.
And therefore, for the love of God, guard against sickness as much as you reasonably can, so that you aren't the cause of your own weakness, as far as you can. For I tell you truly that this work requires a very great restfulness, and a thoroughly sound and clean disposition, in body as well as in soul. And therefore, for the love of God, govern yourself with discretion in body and soul, and make yourself as healthy as you can. And if sickness comes beyond your control, have patience and humbly wait for God's mercy; and then all is good enough.1 For I tell you truly that patience in sickness, and in other various tribulations, often pleases God much more than any sweet devotion you may have in your health.2
Read the original Middle English
And forthermore, yif thou aske me what discrecion thou schalt have in this werk, than I answere thee and sey: "Ryght none!" For in alle thin other doynges thou schalt have discrecion, as in etyng and in drynkyng, and in slepyng, and in kepyng of thi body fro outrageous colde or hete, and in longe preiing or redyng, or in comounyng in speche with thin even-Crysten. In alle thees schalt thou kepe discrecion, that thei be nouther to mochel ne to lityl. Bot in this werk schalt thou holde no mesure; for I wolde that thou schuldest never seese of this werk the whiles thou levyst.
I sey not that thou schalt mowe ever contynow therin iliche fresche; for that may not be. For sumtyme seeknes and other unordeind disposicions in body and in soule, with many other needfulnes to kynde, wol let thee ful mochel, and oft tymes drawe thee doun fro the height of this worching. Bot I sey that thou schuldest evermore have it outher in ernest or in game; that is to sey, outher in werk or in wille. And therfore for Godes love beware with seeknes as moche as thou maist goodly, so that thou be not the cause of thi febilnes, as forth as thou maist. For I telle thee trewly that this werk asketh a ful greet restfulnes, and a ful hole and a clene disposicion, as wele in body as in soule.
And therfore for Godes love governe thee discreetly in body and in soule, and gete thee thin hele as mochel as thou mayst. And yif seeknes come agens thi power, have pacyence and abide meekly Goddes mercy; and al is than good inowgh. For I telle thee trewly that oftymes pacyence in seeknes, and in othere diverse tribulacions, plesith God moche more then any likyng devocyon that thou mayst have in thi hele.
Notes
The Cloud of Unknowing companion
A daily portion of stillness
Chosen Portion delivers one short contemplative reading and a guided moment of silence each day — the ascent, one step at a time.
Chosen Portion is the paced doorway into this collection: it portions the dense mystical treatises into one daily reading plus guided silence, exactly as the 14-day plan teaches.
- Daily bite-sized excerpts from the contemplative classics, never a wall of text
- A built-in timed stillness practice that grows from 2 minutes to 10
- Gentle progression through the tradition — the app remembers where you are on the ascent