19. And again in your bed-chamber itself, I
would have you join psalms in frequent interchange with the
Lord’s prayer, either when you wake up, or before sleep bedews
your body, so that at the very commencement of rest sleep may find you
free from the care of worldly matters, meditating upon the things of
God. And, indeed, he who first found out the name of Philosophy
itself,
Pythagoras. every day
before he went to rest, had the flute-player play softer melodies to
soothe his mind disturbed by worldly cares. But he, like a man
washing tiles, fruitlessly desired to drive away worldly things by
worldly means, for he was, indeed, rather besmearing himself with fresh
mud, in seeking a reward from pleasure, but let us, having wiped off
the filth of earthly vices, purify our utmost souls from every
defilement of the flesh.