50 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN. actions,thatso oftenas the enemy approaches,however often he may tryto come near,he may find the breastclosedand armed againsthim. For a Christianman's crown is not only thatwhich isreceivedin the time of persecution: peace alsohas itscrowns,wherewith the victors,from a varied and manifold engagement, are crowned,when theiradversaryis prostratedand subdued. To have overcome lustisthe palm of continency. To have resistedagainstanger,againstin jury,isthe crown of patience. It isa triumph over avarice to despisemoney. It is the praiseof faith,by trustin the future,to sufferthe adversityof the world. And he who is not haughty in prosperity,obtainsglory for his humility; and he who isdisposedto the mercifulnessof cherishingthe poor,obtainsthe retributionof a heavenlytreasure; and he who knows not to be jealous,and who with one heart and in meekness loveshis brethren,is honoured with the recom pense of loveand peace. In thiscourse of virtueswe daily run ; to thesepalms and crowns of justicewe attainwithout intermissionof time. 17. To these rewards that you alsomay come who had been possessedwith jealousyand rancour,castaway allthat malicewherewith you were beforeheld fast,and be reformed to the way of eternallifein the footstepsof salvation.Tear out from your breast thorns and thistles,that the Lord's seed may enrich you with a fertileproduce,thatthe divine and spiritualcorn-fieldmay abound to the plentifulnessof a fruitfulharvest. Vomit forth the poison of gall,cast out thevirusof discords.Let the mind which the malice1of the serpenthad infectedbe purged ; letallbitternesswhich had settledwithin be softenedby the sweetnessof Christ. If you take both meat and drink from the sacrament of the cross,letthe wood which at Mara 2 availedin a figurefor sweeteningthe taste,availto you in realityforsoothingyour softenedbreast; and you shallnot strivefora medicinefor your increasinghealth. Be cured by thatwhereby you had 1TheOxfordtranslatorgives" blackness;" theoriginalis" livor." 2Or " myrrh,"variouslygivenin originalsas " myrrham" or <(merrham."