I. ON SPECTACLES.

Just as it saddens me greatly and afflicts my mind deeply when 1

there is no opportunity for me to write to you, for it is a loss
5 to me not to converse with you, so nothing restores such joy and
cheerfulness to me as when the opportunity arises again. I consider myself
to be with you when I speak to you through letters. Although, therefore,
I know that you are certain that these things I say are true and that you
do not doubt the truth of my words, yet the very argument asserts the
10 sincerity of the matter: for when no opportunity at all is passed over,
affection is proven. Although, therefore, I am certain that you are no less
earnest in the conduct of your life than you are faithful in your
sacramentum oath of loyalty/mystery of faith, yet, since there is no lack of
persuasive defenders and indulgent patrons of vices who grant authority to
vices, and—what is worse—convert the censure of the heavenly scriptures into
15 an advocacy for crimes, as if the pleasure of spectacles might be sought
without blame for the relaxation of the mind—for the vigor of
ecclesiastica disciplina church discipline has been so enervated and is so
precipitated into the worse by every languor of vice that now not an excuse
but an authority is given to vices—it has pleased [me]...