76. But the exercise of my office now bids me rest
awhile, and attention to my priestly duties draws my mind away; but
what will happen to my holy sister, who though she moderates her
affection by the fear of God, yet again kindles the grief itself of the
affection by the zeal of her devotion? Prostrate on the ground,
embracing her brother’s tomb, wearied with toilsome walking, sad
in spirit, day and night she renews her grief. For though she
often breaks off her weeping by speech, she renews it in prayer; and
although in her knowledge of her Scriptures she excels those who bring
consolation, she makes up for her desire of weeping by the constancy of
her prayers, renewing the abundance of her tears then chiefly, when no
one can interrupt her. So thou hast that which thou mayest pity,
not what thou mayest blame, for to weep in prayer is a sign of
virtue. And although that be a common thing with virgins, whose
softer sex and more tender affection abound in tears at the sight of
the common weakness, even without the feeling of family grief, yet when
there is a greater cause for sorrowing, no limit is set to that
sorrow.