Chapter II.

This treatise has a favourable beginning, since it is the birthday of the holy Virgin Agnes, of whose name, modesty, and martyrdom St. Ambrose speaks in commendation, but more especially of her age, seeing that she, being but twelve years old, was superior to terrors, promises, tortures, and death itself, with a courage wholly worthy of a man.

5. And my task begins favourably, that since to-day is the birthday of a virgin, I have to speak of virgins, and the treatise has its beginning from this discourse. It is the birthday of a martyr, let us offer the victim. It is the birthday of St. Agnes, let men admire, let children take courage, let the married be astounded, let the unmarried take an example. But what can I say worthy of her whose very name was not devoid of bright praise? In devotion beyond her age, in virtue above nature, she seems to me to have borne not so much a human name, as a token of martyrdom, whereby she showed what she was to be.

6. But I have that which may assist me. The name of virgin is a title of modesty. I will call upon the martyr, I will proclaim the virgin. That panegyric is long enough which needs no elaboration, but is within our grasp. Let then labour cease, eloquence be silent. One word is praise enough. This word old men and young and boys chant. No one is more praiseworthy than he who can be praised by all. There are as many heralds as there are men, who when they speak proclaim the martyr.

7. She is said to have suffered martyrdom when twelve years old. The more hateful was the cruelty, which spared not so tender an age, the greater in truth was the power of faith which found evidence even in that age. Was there room for a wound in that small body? And she who had no room for the blow of the steel had that wherewith to conquer the steel. But maidens of that age are unable to bear even the angry looks of parents, and are wont to cry at the pricks of a needle as though they were wounds. She was fearless under the cruel hands of the executioners, she was unmoved by the heavy weight of the creaking chains, offering her whole body to the sword of the raging soldier, as yet ignorant of death, but ready for it. Or if she were unwillingly hurried to the altars, she was ready to stretch forth her hands to Christ at the sacrificial fires, and at the sacrilegious altars themselves, to make the sign of the Lord the Conqueror,11    i.e. raise her arms in the form of a cross. or again to place her neck and both her hands in the iron bands, but no band could enclose such slender limbs.

8. A new kind of martyrdom! Not yet of fit age for punishment but already ripe for victory, difficult to contend with but easy to be crowned, she filled the office of teaching valour while having the disadvantage of youth. She would not as a bride so hasten to the couch, as being a virgin she joyfully went to the place of punishment with hurrying step, her head not adorned with plaited hair, but with Christ. All wept, she alone was without a tear. All wondered that she was so readily prodigal of her life, which she had not yet enjoyed, and now gave up as though she had gone through it. Every one was astounded that there was now one to bear witness to the Godhead, who as yet could not, because of her age, dispose of herself. And she brought it to pass that she should be believed concerning God, whose evidence concerning man would not be accepted. For that which is beyond nature is from the Author of nature.

9. What threats the executioner used to make her fear him, what allurements to persuade her, how many desired that she would come to them in marriage! But she answered: “It would be an injury to my spouse to look on any one as likely to please me. He who chose me first for Himself shall receive me. Why are you delaying, executioner? Let this body perish which can be loved by eyes which I would not.” She stood, she prayed, she bent down her neck. You could see the executioner tremble, as though he himself had been condemned, and his right hand shake, his face grow pale, as he feared the peril of another, while the maiden feared not for her own. You have then in one victim a twofold martyrdom, of modesty and of religion. She both remained a virgin and she obtained martyrdom.

CAPUT II.

0189C Docet libri sui auspicato proferri exordium, cum natalis dies esset virginis, beatae Agnetis videlicet: quam a nomine, a pudore, a martyrio elegantissime commendat: sed potissimum ab aetate; quippe quae annos duodecim nata, terrores, promissa, cruciatus, mortem denique ipsam virili prorsus constantia devicerit.

5. Et bene procedit, ut quoniam hodie natalis est virginis, de virginibus sit loquendum, et a praedicatione liber sumat exordium. Natalis est virginis, integritatem sequamur. Natalis est martyris, hostias immolemus. Natalis est sanctae Agnes, mirentur 0190A viri, non desperent parvuli; stupeant nuptae, imitentur innuptae. Sed quid dignum de ea loqui possumus, cujus ne nomen quidem vacuum luce laudis fuit? Devotio supra aetatem, virtus supra naturam; ut mihi videatur non hominis habuisse nomen, sed oraculum martyris, quo indicavit quid esset futura.

6. Habeo tamen unde mihi subsidium comparetur. Nomen virginis titulus est pudoris. Appellabo martyrem, praedicabo virginem. Satis prolixa laudatio est, quae non quaeritur, sed tenetur. Facessant igitur ingenia, eloquentia conticescat, vox una praeconium est. Hanc senes, hanc juvenes, hanc pueri canant. Nemo est laudabilior, quam qui ab hominibus laudari potest. Quot homines, tot praecones, 0190B qui martyrem praedicant, dum loquuntur.

7. Haec duodecim annorum martyrium fecisse 148 traditur. Quo detestabilior crudelitas, quae nec minusculae pepercit aetati: immo magna vis fidei, quae etiam ab illa testimonium invenit aetate. Fuitne in illo corpusculo vulneri locus? Et quae non habuit quo ferrum reciperet, habuit quo ferrum vinceret. At istius aetatis puellae torvos etiam vultus parentum ferre non possunt, et acu districta solent puncta flere, quasi vulnera. Haec inter cruentas carnificum impavida manus, haec stridentium gravibus immobilis tractibus catenarum, nunc furentis mucroni militis totum offerre corpus, mori adhuc nescia, sed parata: vel si ad aras invita raperetur, tendere Christo inter ignes manus, atque in ipsis 0190C sacrilegis focis tropaeum Domini signare victoris: nunc ferratis colla manusque ambas inserere nexibus: sed nullus tam tenuia membra poterat nexus includere.

8. Novum martyrii genus? Nondum idonea poenae, et jam matura victoriae: certare difficilis, facilis coronari: magisterium virtutis implevit, quae praejudicium vehebat aetatis. Non sic ad thalamum nupta properaret, ut ad supplicii locum laeta successu, gradu festina virgo processit, non intorto crine caput compta, sed Christo: non flosculis redimita, sed moribus. Flere omnes, ipsa sine fletu. Mirari plerique 0191A quod tam facile vitae suae prodiga, quam nondum hauserat, jam quasi perfuncta donaret. Stupere universi, quod jam divinitatis testis existeret, quae adhuc, arbitra sui per aetatem esse non posset. Effecit denique ut ei de Deo crederetur, cui de homine adhuc non crederetur. Quia quod ultra naturam est, de auctore naturae est.

9. Quanto terrore egit carnifex ut timeretur, quantis blanditiis ut suaderet! quantorum vota ut sibi ad nuptias perveniret! At illa: Et haec Sponsi injuria est exspectare placiturum. Qui me sibi prior elegit, accipiet. Quid, percussor, moraris? Pereat corpus quod amari potest oculis quibus nolo. Stetit, oravit, cervicem inflexit. Cerneres trepidare carnificem, quasi ipse addictus fuisset: tremere percussoris 0191B dextram, pallere ora alieno timentis periculo, cum puella non timeret suo. Habetis igitur in una hostia duplex martyrium, pudoris et religionis. Et virgo permansit, et martyrium obtinuit.