Chapter IV.
How accidie hinders the mind from all contemplation of
the virtues.
All
the inconveniences of
this disease are admirably expressed by David in a single verse, where
he says, “My soul slept from weariness,”
967
that is, from accidie. Quite
rightly does he say, not that his
body, but that his soul slept. For in truth the soul which is wounded
by the shaft of this passion does sleep, as regards all contemplation
of the virtues and insight of the spiritual senses.
967
Ps. cxviii.
(cxix.) 28
, where the LXX.
has
ἐνύσταξεν ἡ
ψυχή μου ἀπὸ
ἀκηδίας
.