Chapter X.—Through a Love of
Ball-Playing and Shows, He Neglects His Studies and the Injunctions
of His Parents.
16. And yet I erred, O Lord God, the Creator and
Disposer of all things in Nature,—but of sin the Disposer
only,—I erred, O Lord my God, in doing contrary to the wishes of
my parents and of those masters; for this learning which they (no
matter for what motive) wished me to acquire, I might have put to
good account afterwards. For I disobeyed them not because I had
chosen a better way, but from a fondness for play, loving the
honour of victory in the matches, and to have my ears tickled with
lying fables, in order that they might itch the more
furiously—the same curiosity beaming more and more in my eyes for
the shows and sports of my elders. Yet those who give these
entertainments are held in such high repute, that almost all desire
the same for their children, whom they are still willing should be
beaten, if so be these same games keep them from the studies by
which they desire them to arrive at being the givers of them. Look
down upon these things, O Lord, with compassion, and deliver us who
now call upon Thee; deliver those also who do not call upon Thee, that they may call upon Thee, and that Thou mayest deliver them.