The same. — 'And a very great household.' 42. A great household is a multitude of thoughts to be held in check. — We possess a very great household, when we restrain innumerable thoughts under the dominion of the mind; lest by their very multitude they overcome the soul, lest by a perverse order they trample down the sovereignty of our discretion. And well is the crowd of thoughts signified by the appellation of a great household. For we know that, when the mistress is absent, the tongues of the handmaids clamour, they forsake silence, they neglect the duties of the work assigned them, and they confound for themselves the whole order of living. But if the mistress suddenly comes, at once the clamouring tongues are silent, they resume the duties of each one's work; and so they return to their proper task as if they had not departed.
If, therefore, reason departs from the house of the mind to the tomb, then, as though the mistress were absent, the clamor of thoughts multiplies within us like a chattering crowd of maidservants. But as soon as reason returns to the mind, the tumultuous confusion is at once restrained; and, as maidservants silently return to their appointed task, the thoughts submit themselves forthwith to their proper causes for our benefit. We possess, therefore, a great household when by the rightful law of discernment we rule over countless thoughts by our reason. And when we do this skillfully, we strive to be joined, through that same discernment, to the angels. Whence it is rightly added: