Their submission to the prioress is absolute and passive. It is the canonical subjection in the full force of its abnegation. As at the voice of Christ, ut voci Christi , at a gesture, at the first sign, ad nutum, ad primum signum , immediately, with cheerfulness, with perseverance, with a certain blind obedience, prompte, hilariter, perseveranter et caeca quadam obedientia , as the file in the hand of the workman, quasi limam in manibus fabri , without power to read or to write without express permission, legere vel scribere non addiscerit sine expressa superioris licentia .