CAPITULUM II

HOW SORROW RISETH IN THE AFFECTION

While Reuben waxeth, Simeon is born; for after dread it needeth greatly that sorrow come soon.  For ever the more that a man dreadeth the pain that he hath deserved, the bitterlier he sorroweth the sins that he hath done.  Leah in the birth of Simeon cried and said:  “Our Lord hath heard me be had in despite."[36] And therefore is Simeon cleped “hearing";[37] for when a man bitterly sorroweth and despiseth his old sins, then beginneth he to be heard of God, and also for to hear the blessed sentence of God’s own mouth:  “Blessed be they that sorrow, for they shall be comforted."[38] For in what hour the sinner sorroweth and turneth from his sin, he shall be safe.[39] Thus witnesseth holy Scripture.  And also by Reuben he is meeked,[40] and by Simeon he is contrite and hath compunction of tears; but, as witnesseth David in the psalm:  “Heart contrite and meeked God shall not despise";[41] and without doubt such sorrow bringeth in true comfort of heart.

CAPITULUM III

HOW HOPE RISETH IN THE AFFECTION

But, I pray thee, what comfort may be to them that truly dread and bitterly sorrow for their old sins, ought but a true hope of forgiveness? the which is the third son of Jacob, that is Levi, the which is cleped in the story “a doing to."[42] For when the other two children, dread and sorrow, are given of God to a man’s soul, without doubt he this third, that is hope, shall not be delayed, but he shall be lone to;[43] as the story witnesseth of Levi, that, when his two brethren, Reuben and Simeon, were given to their mother Leah, he, this Levi, was done to.  Take heed of this word, that he was “done to” and not given.  And therefore it is said that a man shall not presume of hope of forgiveness before the time that his heart be peeked in dread and contrite in sorrow; without these two, hope is presumption, and where these two are, hope is done to; and thus after sorrow cometh soon comfort, as David telleth in the psalm that “after the muchness of my sorrow in my heart,” he saith to our Lord, “Thy comforts have gladded my soul."[44] And therefore it is that the Holy Ghost is called Paracletus, that is, comforter, for oft times he vouchethsafe to comfort a sorrowful soul.

CAPITULUM IV

HOW LOVE RISETH IN THE AFFECTION

From now forth beginneth a manner of homeliness for to grow between God and a man’s soul; and also on a manner a kindling of love, in so much that oft times he feeleth him not only be visited of God and comforted in His coming, but oft times also he feeleth him filled with an unspeakable joy.  This homeliness and this kindling of love first felt Leah, when, after that Levi was born, she cried with a great voice and said:  “Now shall my husband be