Remedium contra peccatum Accidie.
Agayns this horrible synne of Accidie, and the branches
of the same, ther is a vertu that is called fortitudo
or strengthe, that is an affeccioun thurgh which a man despiseth anoyouse thinges.
This vertu is so myghty and so vigerous that it dar withstonde myghtily and
wisely kepen hymself fro perils that been wikked, and wrastle
agayn the assautes of the devel.
For it enhaunceth
and enforceth the soule, right as Accidie abateth it and maketh
it fieble. For this fortitudo may endure by
long suffraunce the travailles that been covenable.
This
vertu hath manye speces; and the firste is cleped magnanimitee,
that is to seyn,
greet corage. For certes, ther
bihoveth greet corage agains Accidie, lest that it ne swolwe the
soule by the synne of sorwe, or destroye it by wanhope.
This
vertu maketh folk to undertake harde thynges and grevouse
thynges, by hir owene wil, wisely and resonably.
And for as
muchel as the devel fighteth agayns a man moore by queyntise and
by sleighte than by strengthe, therfore men shal withstonden hym
by wit and by resoun and by discrecioun.
Thanne arn ther the
vertues of feith and hope in God and in his seintes to acheve and
acomplice the goode werkes in the whiche he purposeth fermely to
continue.
Thanne comth seuretee or sikernesse, and
that is whan a man ne douteth no travaille in tyme comynge of the
goode werkes that a man hath bigonne.
Thanne comth
magnificence; that is to seyn, whan a man dooth and parfourneth
grete werkes of goodnesse; and that is the ende why that men
sholde do goode werkes, for in the acomplissynge of grete goode
werkes lith the grete gerdoun.
Thanne is ther constaunce,
that is stablenesse of corage, and this sholde been in herte by
stedefast feith, and in mouth, and in berynge, and in chiere, and
in dede.
Eke ther been mo speciale remedies against Accidie
in diverse werkes, and in consideracioun of the peynes of helle
and of the joyes of hevene, and in the trust of the grace of the
Holy Goost, that wole yeve hym myght to parfourne his goode
entente.
