82 When therefore I had done
asking her concerning all these
things, she said unto me, Wilt
thou see something else? And
being desirous of seeing it,
I became very cheerful of
countenances.
83 She therefore looking back
upon me, and smiling a little, said
unto me, Seest thou seven women
about the tower? Lady, said I,
I see them.
84 This tower, replied she, is
supported by them, according to
the command of the Lord: hear
therefore the effects of them.
85 The first of them, which
holds fast with her hand, is called
Faith; The next, which is girt
up, and looks manly, is named
Abstinence: she is the daughter
of Faith.
86 Whosoever therefore shall
follow her shall be happy in all
his life, because he shall abstain
from all evil works, believing that
if he shall contain himself from
all concupiscence, he shall be
the heir of eternal life. And
what, lady, said I, are the other
five?
87 They are, replied she, the
daughters of one another. The
first of them is called Simplicity;
the next Innocence; the third
Modesty; then Discipline; and
the last of all is Charity. When
therefore thou shalt have fulfilled
the works of their mother, thou
shalt be able to do all things.
88 Lady, said I, I would know
what particular virtue every one
of these has.
89 Hear then, replied she;
they have equal virtues, and their
virtues are knit together, and
follow one another as they were
born.
90 From Faith proceeds Abstinence;
from Abstinence, Simplicity; from
Simplicity, Innocence; from Innocence,
Modesty; from Modesty, Discipline
and Charity. Therefore the works
of these are holy, and chaste, and
right.
91 Whoever therefore shall
serve these, and hold fast to their
works, he shall have his dwelling
in the tower with the saints of
God.