Walters Ms. W.13, Synonyms of Isidore of Seville

you suffer similar things. Preserve modesty in yourself, maintain justice in others, uphold the equity of the law, follow the truth of judgments; in all things, maintain justice, defend no one against the truth. While judging, let no personal feelings swerve you from the truth, whether the person is poor or rich, look at the cause, not the person. In your conversations, guard the truth, be not moved by ambition or reward. Despise even gifts, lest through them justice be corrupted, for gifts often betray the truth of judgments. For justice is easily violated by gold, easily corrupted by a gift. Do not desire temporal gains from a just judgment, seek no worldly reward for justice, dispense justice only for eternal recompense.

For he who desires present gifts does not hope for future glory; he who receives goods here will have no reward to expect later on. While you judge, judge for the sake of a future reward, and do not seek on earth what will be given to you in the future; shake off your hands from every gift if you wish to dwell on high, but in judgement never sit without mercy, guard the discretion of justice, do not be more just than what is just. For everything that is excessive is a vice. It is impious justice to not forgive human frailty. Therefore, do not love to condemn, but rather to amend and correct. So, hold rigor in the discussion of justice, and mercy in the pronouncement of the sentence.

The examination of judgment should follow piety, and forgiveness should temper the censure severity. Be as merciful towards the faults of others as you are towards your own, and do not judge anyone more strictly than you judge yourself, nor weigh yourself and others differently. Judge others as you wish to be judged yourself. For when you are lenient towards another's sin, you are also merciful to yourself. For the justice you decree upon another, you will be held to that same justice. By the law and penalty with which you have judged someone, by that same law you will be judged. Your law binds you, the judgment you impose on others you will carry; for in that which you judge, you are to be condemned, and by the measure you have used, it will be measured back to you, and added to.

First, however, seek all things, and then you will define what's right. Condemn no one before judgment, judge no one on the whim of suspicion. First test, and then judge. For it's not the accused, but the convicted who is guilty. It's dangerous to judge someone on suspicion, in ambiguous matters, leave the judgment to God. What you know, judge for yourself; what you don't know, entrust to divine judgment. A person cannot be condemned by human judgment, whom God has reserved for His own. Do not judge uncertainties, until the Lord comes who will bring hidden things to light, who will illuminate the secrets of the darkness, who will reveal the intentions of hearts. For even if they are true, they should not be believed unless they are proven with certain judgments, unless they

are proven by clear examination, unless they are made public by judicial order. In the highest honor, let there be utmost humility for you; even if you are the greatest, hold humility, even if you are of lofty power, restrain your pride within. Let not honor elevate you; preside humbly over the pinnacle of sublimity, the more noticeably humble, the greater in dignity you are elevated. The duties imposed upon you, accept with humility, fulfill the entrusted service with a submissive mind, be obedient to divine dispensation, dare not go against His will. Having gained the rights of power, exercise them moderately, having received the rights of power, administer them with a disciplined soul, arrange all things not with a turbulent