Page:Gide - Strait is the Gate.pdf/214

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STRAIT IS THE GATE 212

read nothing but the Bible (perhaps the Imitation), and to write nothing more in this book, except every evening the chief text of my reading. There followed a kind of diary, in which the date of each day, starting with July 1st, was accompanied by a text. I transcribe only those which are accompanied by some commentary.


20th July. "Sell all that thou hast and give it to the poor." I understand that I ought to give to the poor this heart of mine which belongs only to Jerome. And by so doing should I not teach him at the same time to do likewise? ... Lord, grant me this courage.


24th July. I have stopped reading the Interior Consolation. The old-fashioned language greatly charmed me, but it was distracting, and the almost pagan joy it gives me is far removed from the edification which I set myself to get from it. I have taken up the Imitation again and not even in the Latin text, which I was vain of understanding. I am glad that the translation in which I read it should not even be signed. It

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