"St. Bernard lost none of the ground which he desired to gain in this holy love by passing much time in the courts and armies of great Princes where he laboured to guide matters of state to the advancement of God's glory. He changed his habitation, but he changed not his heart, nor did his heart change its love, nor his love its object; in fine, to speak his own language, changes were made round about him, but not in him. "His employments were different, yet he was indifferent to all employment, and different from them all, his soul not taking its colour from his affairs and conversations, as the chameleon does from the places where it is, but remaining ever wholly united to God, ever white in purity, ever red with charity, and ever full of humility. "I am not ignorant, Theotimus, of that wise man's counsel, He ever flies the Court and legal strife Who seeks to sow the seeds of holy life: Rarely do camps effect the soul's increase, Virtue and faith are daughters unto peace. "And the Israelites had good reason to excuse themselves to the Babylonians, who urged them to sing the sacred Canticles of Sion: _How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land?_[2] But do not forget that those poor people were not only among the Babylonians, but were also their captives, and whoever is intent only on winning the favours of princes, dignities, military honours, alas! he is lost, he cannot sing the hymn of heavenly love. But he who is at Court, in the army, at the bar, only because it is his duty, God helps him, and heavenly sweetness is an _Epithem_ on his heart, to preserve him from the plague which rages round about him. "There are some kinds of fish, such as salmon, and the like, which, instead of losing their flavour, become better and more agreeable to the taste when they forsake the salt water of the sea for the sweet water of rivers. "Roses smell sweeter when planted near garlic, and in like manner there are souls which grow more fervent in places where libertinism and irreligion seem to drag all virtue at their chariot wheels."[3] Our Blessed Father's piety was of this sort, for, knowing that he who is consecrated to God should not entangle himself in the intrigues of the world.[4] he speaks thus to one in whom he confided: "I must confess that, as regards business, especially that of a worldly nature, I feel myself more than ever to be nothing but a poor priest, having, thank God, learnt at court to be more simple and less worldly." Truly, we may say here with the wise man: _Who is he and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful things in his life._[5] [Footnote 1: Psalm lxxii. 25.] [Footnote 2: Psalm cxxxvi. 4.] [Footnote 3: _Love of God_. Book xii. c. 4.] [Footnote 4: 2 Tim. ii. 4.] [Footnote 5: Eccles. xxxi. 9.] UPON THE CARNIVAL.