Idleness.

A man went out very early and went to the marketplace to hire workers. Now, there he saw two men of the common people who were sitting with their arms crossed. He went to one of them and addressed him, saying: “What are you doing here?” To which the same replied: “I have no work”; the one who was seeking workers then said: “Take the hoe and go to my field, on the slope of the hill where the south wind blows; you shall cut the heath and turn over the soil until night comes; the task is hard, but you shall have a good wage.” And the man of the people placed the hoe on his shoulder and thanked the other from his heart. Hearing this, the other worker rose from his place and approached, saying: “Sir, allow me also to go, to work in your field”; and having told them both to follow him, he marched ahead to show them the way. Then, when they reached the slope of the hill, he divided the work in two and went away.

As soon as he had left, the last of the hired workers set fire to the brush of the plot that had fallen to him in the division and tilled the earth with the hoe. The sweat trickled on his brow, under the burning heat of the sun. Murmuring at first, the other imitated him, but soon abandoned the task; thrusting the hoe into the ground, he sat down beside it, watching the work his companion was doing. Now, at the beginning of the night the owner of the field came to examine the work that had been done; calling the diligent worker, he greeted him, saying: “You have worked well; here is your wage”; and he dismissed him, after giving him a silver coin. The other also approached, claiming the amount of his wage; but the owner said to him: “Bad worker, my bread shall not satisfy your hunger, because you left untilled the part of the field that was entrusted to you; it is not just that he who did nothing should be rewarded like the one who worked well.” And he dismissed him, giving him nothing. II.

I tell you that strength was not given to man, nor intelligence to his spirit, to consume the days in idleness, but to be useful to one's fellows. Now, the one whose hands are unoccupied and whose spirit is idle will be punished and must begin his task again.

In truth I tell you that his life will be set aside like a thing of use to no one, when his time is fulfilled; understand this as a comparison. Which of you, if you had in your orchard a tree that does not bear good fruit, would not say to your servant: “Cut down that tree and cast it into the fire, for its branches are barren?” Now, just as such a tree will be cut down because of its barrenness, the life of the idler will be cast onto the refuse heap, for having been barren in good works. Saint Louis. n [1] Translator's note: The name of the medium Ermance Dufaux also appears spelled with an h (Hermance).

[2] [see Saint Louis.]