The
astute and malign serpent will not miss the opportunity to tempt us
with his deceptions, even using those virtues that we have acquired.
Opportunities to ruin us lie within them whenever we raise ourselves up
and take pleasure in
them and in ourselves. We will only fall afterwards in the vice of
pride and vainglory.
To guard yourself from this danger, always fight by sitting quietly and
assuredly in the field. Be truly and profoundly aware of the fact that
You
are nothing,
you know
nothing,
you can do nothing,
and you have nothing
aside from sorrows
and defects,
nor do you deserve anything apart from eternal damnation.
Remaining still and firm within the boundaries of this truth, do not
allow yourself ever to wander even the smallest bit away. It does not
matter what
thought or thing may come to you; never doubt that these are all your
enemies. Were you to fall into their hands, you would end up either
dead or wounded.
"had God
not restrained you with his merciful hand": Scupoli
is keen on the fact that we would commit more evils than we already do,
but God's hand stays us constantly. See for example
Chapter 26.
"a nearly infinite number":
As a mathematician, I have also found such phrases a little illogical.
That said, it's clear what Scupoli means to say, and there is no
question that he is correct.
"the angelic salutation":
Catholics will (or should) recognize this as the "Hail Mary," so I have
translated it this way, although a more appropriate translation into
modern English would have a slightly different
phrasing.