_A._ Cease, O cease! Do not vex me, nor increase my sorrow. Enough have I, though thou increase it not. _Thou seekest it at times so high, at times so deep, that I understand now that I am not such as I supposed, but I am ashamed that I supposed that which was not. Truly enough thou hast said. The Physician_ whom I wish to heal me knoweth how _sound my eyes_ are. He knoweth what He wisheth to show me. To Him I commit myself, and to His goodness I entrust myself. May He do unto me according to His will! On Him I call, that He may make fast my soul to Him. I will never again say that I have _sound eyes until I see wisdom itself_.
_R._ I know no better advice for thee than thou formerly saidst. But leave off woe and sorrow, _and be measurably happy_. Thou wert formerly too immoderately sorrowful, _for sorrow injureth both mind and body_.
_A._ Thou wouldst restrain my weeping and my sorrow, and still I perceive no limit to my misery and misfortunes. Thou bidst me leave off sorrow lest I, _either in mind_ or in body, be weaker; yet I find no strength, _either in mind_ or body, but am full nigh in despair. But I beseech thee, if thou in any wise canst, to lead me by some shorter way, somewhat nearer the light _of the understanding_ which I long ago desired and yet could not come by in my ignorance; notwithstanding that I may afterwards be ashamed to look again toward the darkness which I formerly desired to forsake, if ever I draw nigh to the light.
_R._ Let us now end this book here properly, and name a shorter way in another book, if we can.
_A._ Nay, nay; let us not leave this book yet until I am able to understand that which we are after.
_R._ Methinks I ought to do as thou bidst me. Something draweth me on, I know not what, _but I surmise it is the God thou seekest after_.
_A._ _Thanks be to Him that adviseth thee, and to thee also, if thou praise Him._ Lead whither thou wilt: _I will follow after thee if I can_.
_R._ Methinks thou desirest still to know that same thing about God and thy soul which thou didst formerly desire.
_R._ Wishest thou aught more? Wishest thou not to know truth?
_A._ How can I, without truth, know aught of truth, _or what wilt thou say, without truth, that God is? For we hear it read in the Gospel that Christ said that He is the way, the truth, and the life._