CHAPTER XIII
SAINT BERNARD
is tKrown but of silence, find full and free vent, from his narrow jaws in guffaws of laughter.
He constantly hides his face as if ashamed, compresses his lips, and clenches his teeth.
He laughs loudly without meaning to do so, and even against his will.
And when he has stopped his mouth with his fists he is frequently heard to sneeze.
CHAPTER XIII
The fourth degree Boastfulness.
(The opposite of the ninth degree of humility.
Reticence until questioned.) But when vanity increases, and the bladder begins to be inflated, it becomes necessary to loosen the belt and allow a larger outlet for the air, otherwise the bladder will burst.
So the monk who is unable to discharge his superabundant store of unseemly merriment by laughter or by gesture, breaks forth with the words of Elihu, My belly is as new wine which wanteth
He must vent, which bursteth the new vessels. speak out or break down.
For he is full of matter to speak of, and the spirit of his bowels con-
He hungers and thirsts for straineth him. hearers, at whom he may throw his banalities, to whom he may pour out his feelings, and let them know what a fine fellow he is.
But when he has 1 For this and other matters of monastic discipline see Excursus.
Life in a Cistercian Monastery.
2 Jobxxxii. 19.
3 Ibid. v. 18.
DEGREES OF PRIDE
found his opportunity of speaking if the conversation turns on literary matters, old and new points are brought forward ; he airs his ideas in loud and lofty tone.
He interrupts his questioner and answers before he is asked.
He himself puts the question and gives the answer, nor does he even allow the person to whom he is talking to finish his remarks.
When the striking of the silence gong puts a stop to conversation, he complains that a full hour is not a sufficient allowance, and asks for indulgence that he may go on with his gossip after the time for it is over not to add to the knowledge of any one else, but to boast of his own.
He has the power but not the purpose of giving useful information.
His care is not to teach you or to learn from you things which he does not know, but that the extent of his learning may be made known.
If the subject under discussion is religion, he is forward with his vision and his dreams.
He upholds fasting, prescribes vigils, and maintains the paramount importance of prayer.
He enlarges at great length but with excessive conceit on patience, humility and all the virtues in turn, with the intention that you on hearing him should say, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
1 and that a good man out of his good treasure bringing forth good things.
If the talk speaketh, turns on light subjects he becomes more 1 Matt. xii. 34, 35.