p. 45.
I see not what one thing there is of so many as are to be found in the
whole world, wherein there is need of a greater courage than to treat
of committing treason against a king, and to know that he knows it
well, and yet never to go out of his presence. For howsoever it be
very true that we are always in the presence of God; yet methinks that
they who converse with him in prayer are in his presence after a more
particular manner; for they are seeing then that he sees them; whereas
others may, perhaps, remain some days in his presence, yet without
remembering that he looks upon them.
A very pretty and sweet remark: truth in new feminine beauty!
'In fine'.
How incomparably educated was Teresa for a mystic saint, a mother of
transports and fusions of spirit!
1. A woman;
2. Of rank, and reared delicately;
3. A Spanish lady;
4. With very pious parents and sisters;
5. Accustomed in early childhood to read "with most believing heart" all
the legends of saints, martyrs, Spanish martyrs, who fought against the
Moors;
6. In the habit of privately (without the knowledge of the superstitious
Father) reading books of chivalry to her mother, and then all night to
herself.
7. Then her Spanish sweet-hearting, doubtless in the true Oroondates
style--and with perfect innocence, as far as appears; and this giving of
audience to a dying swain through a grated window, on having received a
lover's messages of flames and despair, with her aversion at fifteen or
sixteen years of age to shut herself up for ever in a strict nunnery,
appear to have been those mortal sins, of which she accuses herself,
added, perhaps to a few warm fancies of earthly love;
8.
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