Antithetical Lists of Virtues and Vices

Drowsiness, a sleep that turns one about, the weight of mania, the hatred of the cell, the rival of labors, the counterweight to endurance, a tomb for meditation, ignorance of the Scriptures, a participant in sorrow, the almanac of hunger. Patience, the cessation of acedia, the cutting off of logismoi, the care for death, the meditation on the cross, a fear that holds one nailed down, gold being struck, a lawbook of tribulations, a book of thanksgiving, the armor of stillness, a weapon of labors, a beauty that seeks, a record of virtues.

Vanity, the fantasy of chance, a semblance of fondness, the opposite of truth, the leader of heresies, the presidency of desire, the extreme of social intercourse, the slavery of praise, a much-scheming spirit, a thousand-toothed beast; vanity is enwrapped in the midst of pride and envy, being among one another and warring through one another, the three-fold chain of evils, the three-fold medicinal draught for the passions, the triple tongue of the heretics.

Freedom from vanity, the work of humility, the departure from pleasing-others, the overlooking of praise, the contemplation of knowledge, the opposite of the world, the sensitivity of the soul, the doctrine of simplicity, the secrecy of labors, the hostility to good report, a hidden treasure in a corruptible body.

Envy, the garment of pride, the footwear of humility, the root of slandering, the blindness of cheerfulness, the hypocrisy of friendship, the deceit of boldness, the enmity of love, the jealousy of those prospering, the turmoil of those standing firm, the mockery of those spoken well of, the alteration of the eyes.

Who is the one pure in heart (Matt 5:8), who does not take it upon himself to disregard, or fail, or neglect a commandment of God? But let Christ our Lord be the easy path for every work of His will. To Him be the glory unto the ages. Amen.