De superfluitate verborum.
The Danger of Worldly Talk
The author urges withdrawal from the noise of people because worldly conversation quickly stains the soul with vanity.
Stay away from the uproar of people as much as you can. For talking about worldly affairs gets in the way a great deal, even when it's offered with a simple intention. We're quickly stained by vanity and carried away.
A Lament over Our Failure to Keep Silence
The author confesses regret for not keeping silence more often and explores why we talk so much—seeking consolation for restless hearts.
I wish I had more often kept silent — and never been among people at all. But why do we talk and chat with each other so often, when we rarely return to silence without some wound to our conscience? We talk so often because through many conversations with one another we seek to be consoled, and we want to relieve our hearts, worn out by all kinds of restless thoughts. And we very much enjoy speaking and thinking about the things we love, or the things we long for, or the things we feel are against us.
The Emptiness of Outer Consolation
The author laments that our many conversations are often vain and that outer consolation comes at the cost of inner, divine consolation.
But — alas, what grief — it is often empty and in vain. For this outer consolation is no small loss to the inner and divine consolation.
Guarding the Tongue and the Value of Edifying Speech
The author calls for watchfulness and prayer against idle time, permits speech only when it builds others up, and acknowledges that devout spiritual conversation among like-minded souls truly aids growth.
So we must stay watchful and pray that time doesn't slip by in idleness. If it's right and helpful to speak, then speak what builds others up. Bad habit and neglect in our spiritual growth go a long way toward leaving our mouths unguarded. Still, a devout conversation about spiritual things helps no little toward spiritual growth — especially when those who are alike in mind and spirit are joined together in God.
Read the original Latin
Caveas tumultum hominum, quantum potes. Multum nam impedit tractatus sæcularium gestorum, etiamsi simplici intentione proferantur. Cito enim inquinamur vanitate et captivamur. Vellem me pluries tacuisse, et inter homines non fuisse. Sed quare tam frequenter loquimur, et invicem fabulamur, cum tamen sine læsione conscientiæ raro ad silentium redimus? Ideo tam frequenter loquimur, quia per multas locutiones ad invicem consolari quærimus, et cor diversis cogitationibus fatigatum optamus relevare, et multum libenter, de his quæ diligimus, seu cupimus, vel quæ nobis sentimus contraria, libet loqui et cogitare.
Sed proh dolor sæpe inaniter, et frustra. Nam hæc exterior consolatio interioris et divinæ consolationis non modicum detrimentum est. Ideo vigilandum est et orandum ne tempus otiose transeat. Si loqui licet et expedit, quæ ædificabilia sunt loquere. Malus usus et negligentia profectus nostri multum facit ad incustodiam oris nostri. Juvat tamen non parum ad profectum spiritualem devota spiritualium rerum collatio, maxime ubi pares animo et spiritu in Deo sibi sociantur.