Chapter IX.

Other passages from the Song of Songs are considered with relation to the present subject, and St. Ambrose exhorting the virgin to seek for Christ, points out where He may be found. A description of His perfections follows, and a comparison is made between virgins and the angels.

44. Take, then, O Virgin, the wings of the Spirit, that you may fly far above all vices, if you wish to attain to Christ: “He dwelleth on high, but beholdeth lowly things;”42    Ps. cxiii. 5, 6. and His appearance is as that of a cedar of Lebanon, which has its foliage in the clouds, its roots in the earth. For its beginning is from heaven, its ending on earth, and it produces fruit very close to heaven. Search diligently for so precious a flower, if perchance you may find it in the recesses of your breast, for it is most often to be enjoyed in lowly places.

45. It loves to grow in gardens, in which Susanna, while walking, found it, and was ready to die rather than it should be violated. But what is meant by the gardens He Himself points out, saying: “A garden enclosed is My sister, My spouse, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed;”43    Cant. iv. 12. because in gardens of this kind the water of the pure fountain shines, reflecting the features of the image of God, lest its streams mingled with mud from the wallowing places of spiritual wild beasts should be polluted. For this reason, too, that modesty of virgins fenced in by the wall of the Spirit is enclosed lest it should lie open to be plundered. And so as a garden inaccessible from without smells of the violet, is scented with the olive, and is resplendent with the rose, that religion may increase in the vine, peace in the olive, and the modesty of consecrated virginity in the rose. This is the odour of which the patriarch Jacob smelt when he heard his father say: “See the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which is full.”44    Gen. xxvii. 27. For although the field of the holy patriarch was full of almost all fruits, the other brought forth its crops with greater labour, the latter flowers.

46. To work, then, O Virgin, and if you wish your garden to be sweet after this sort, enclose it with the precepts of the prophets: “Set a watch before thy mouth, and a door to thy lips,”45    Ps. cxli. [cxl.] 3. that you, too, may be able to say: “As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. In His shadow I delighted and sat down, and His fruit was sweet to my palate.46    Cant. ii. 3. I found Him Whom my soul loved, I held Him and would not let him go. My beloved came down into His garden to eat the fruit of His trees.47    Cant. iii. 4, 16. Come, my Beloved, let us go forth into the field.48    Cant. vii. 11. Set me as a signet upon Thine heart, and as a seal upon Thine arm.49    Cant. viii. 6. My Beloved is white and ruddy.”50    Cant. v. 10. For it is fitting, O Virgin, that you should fully know Him Whom you love, and should recognize in Him all the mystery of His Divine Nature and the Body which He has assumed. He is white fittingly, for He is the brightness of the Father; and ruddy, for He was born of a Virgin. The colour of each nature shines and glows in Him. But remember that the marks of His Godhead are more ancient in Him than the mysteries of His body, for He did not take His origin from the Virgin, but, He Who already existed came into the Virgin.

47. He Who was spoiled by the soldiers, Who was wounded by the spear, that He might heal us by the blood of His sacred wounds, will assuredly answer you (for He is meek and lowly of heart, and gentle in aspect): “Arise, O north wind, and come, O south, and blow upon My garden, that My spices may flow out.”51    Cant. iv. 16. For from all parts of the world has the perfume of holy religion increased, and the limbs of the consecrated Virgin have glowed. “Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem.”52    Cant. vi. 4. So it is not the beauty of the perishable body, which will come to an end with sickness or old age, but the reputation for good deserts, subject to no accidents and never to perish, which is the beauty of virgins.

48. And since you are worthy to be compared not now with men but with heavenly beings, whose life you are living on earth, receive from the Lord the precepts you are to observe: “Set Me as a signet upon thine heart, and as a seal upon thine arm;”53    Cant. viii. 6. that clearer proofs of your prudence and actions may be set forth, in which Christ the Figure of God may shine, Who, equalling fully the nature of the Father, has expressed the whole which He took of the Father’s Godhead. Whence also the Apostle Paul says that we are sealed in the Spirit;54    Eph. i. 13. since we have in the Son the image of the Father, and in the Spirit the seal of the Son. Let us, then, sealed by this Trinity, take more diligent heed, lest either levity of character or the deceit of any unfaithfulness unseal the pledge which we have received in our hearts.

49. But let fear secure this for the holy virgins, for whom the Church first provided such protection, who, anxious for the prosperity of her tender offspring, herself as a wall with breasts as many towers,55    Cant. viii. 10. increases her care for them, until, the fear of hostile attack being at an end, she obtains by the care of a mother’s love peace for her vigorous children. Wherefore the prophet says: “Peace be on thy virtue, and abundance in thy towers.”56    Ps. cxxii. [cxxi.] 7.

50. Then the Lord of peace Himself, after having embraced in His strong arms the vineyards committed to Him, and beholding their shoots putting forth buds, with glad looks, tempers the breezes to the young fruits, as Himself testifies, saying: “My vineyard is in My sight, a thousand for Solomon, and two hundred who keep the fruit thereof.”57    Cant. viii. 12.

51. Above it is said: “Sixty strong men round about its offspring, armed with drawn swords, and expert in warlike discipline,”58    Cant. iii. 7, 8. here there are a thousand and two hundred. The number has increased, where the fruit has increased, for the more holy each is, the more is he guarded. So Elisha the prophet showed the hosts of angels who were present to guard him; so Joshua the son of Nun recognized the Captain of the heavenly host. They, then, who are able also to fight for us are able to guard the fruit that is in us. And for you, holy virgins, there is a special guardianship, for you who with unspotted chastity keep the couch of the Lord holy. And no wonder if the angels fight for you who war with the mode of life of angels. Virginal chastity merits their guardianship whose life it attains to.

52. Why should I continue the praise of chastity in more words? For chastity has made even angels. He who has preserved it is an angel; he who has lost it a devil. And hence has religion also gained its name. She is a virgin who is the bride of God, a harlot who makes gods for herself. What shall I say of the resurrection of which you already hold the rewards: “For in the resurrection they will neither be given in marriage, nor marry, but shall be,” He says, “as the angels in heaven.”59    S. Matt. xxii. 30. That which is promised to us is already present with you, and the object of your prayers is with you; ye are of this world, and yet not in this world. This age has held you, but has not been able to retain you.

53. But what a great thing it is that angels because of incontinence fell from heaven into this world, that virgins because of chastity passed from the world into heaven. Blessed virgins, whom the delights of the flesh do not allure, nor the defilement of pleasures cast down. Sparing food and abstinence in drink train them in ignorance of vices, seeing they keep them from knowing the causes of vices. That which causes sin has often deceived even the just. In this way the people of God after they sat down to eat and drink denied God.60    Exod. xxxii. 5. In this way, too, Lot knew not, and so endured his daughters’ wickedness.61    Gen. xix. 32, 33. So, too, the sons of Noah going backward covered their father’s nakedness, which he who was wanton saw, he who was modest blushed at and dutifully hid, fearful of offending if he too saw it.62    Gen. ix. 22. How great is the power of wine, so that wine made him naked which the waters of the deluge could not.

CAPUT VIII*.

Pergit alios e Canticis canticorum locos aptare subjecto argumento, et primum virginem ad Christum inquirendum exhortatus, ubinam ille inveniatur, exponit: tum descripta ejusdem secundum utramque naturam praestantia, quibus ab eo perfectionibus Sponsa exornetur, quibusve muniatur praesidiis, aperit: postremo 0200D eamdem cum angelis ob castitatem confert, nec non illi eorum parti quos e coelo intemperantia deturbavit, praefert.

44. Sume igitur alas, virgo, sed spiritus; ut supervoles vitia, si contingere cupis Christum: In altis habitat, et humilia respicit (Psal. CXII, 5); et species ejus sicut cedrus Libani, qui comam nubibus, radicem terris inserit. Principium enim ejus e coelo, 0201A posteriora ejus in terris, fructus coelo proximos edit. Scrutare diligentius tam bonum florem, necubi eum in pectoris tui convalle reperias; humilibus enim frequenter inhalatur.

45. Amat generari in hortis, in quibus eum Susanna dum deambularet, invenit: mori prius, quam violari parata (Dan. XIII, 7). Qui sint autem horti, ipse demonstrat dicens: Hortus conclusus, soror mea Sponsa, hortus conclusus, fons signatus (Cant. IV, 12); eo quod in hortis hujusmodi impressa signaculis imagine Dei, sinceri fontis unda resplendeat; ne volutabris spiritalium bestiarum sparsa coeno fluenta turbentur. Hinc ille murali septus spiritu pudor clauditur, ne pateat ad rapinam. Itaque sicut hortus furibus inaccessus vitem redolet, flagrat oleam, rosam 0201B renidet; ut in vite religio, in olea pax, in rosa pudor sacratae virginitatis inolescat. Hic est odor quem Jacob patriarcha flagravit, quando meruit audire: Ecce odor filii mei sicut odor agri pleni (Gen. XXVII, 27). Nam licet plenus omnibus fere fructibus patriarchae sancti fuerit ager; ille tamen fruges majore virtutis labore generavit, hic flores.

46. Accingere itaque, virgo, et si vis hujuscemodi tibi ut hortus aspiret, propheticis eum claude praeceptis. Pone custodiam ori tuo, et ostium circumstantiae labiis tuis (Psal. CXL, 3); ut etiam tu possis dicere: Tamquam malus in lignis nemoris, ita fraternus meus in medio filiorum. In umbra ejus concupivi et sedi, et fructus ejus dulcis in faucibus meis (Cant. II, 3). Inveni quem dilexit anima mea, tenui eum, et 0201C non relinquam (Cant. III, 4). Descendit fraternus meus in hortum suum, ut manducet fructum pomorum suorum (Cant. V, 1). Veni, fraterne mi, exeamus in agrum (Cant. VII, 11). Pone me ut sigillum in cor tuum, et velut signaculum super brachium tuum (Cant. VIII, 6). Fraternus meus candidus et rubeus (Cant. V, 10). Decet enim ut plene noveris, virgo, quem diligis, atque omne in eo et ingenitae divinitatis et assumptae mysterium incorporationis agnoscas. Candidus merito, quia patris splendor: 158 rubeus, quia partus est virginis. Color in eo fulget et rutilat utriusque naturae. Memento tamen antiquiora in eo divinitatis insignia, quam corporis sacramenta; quia non coepit a virgine, sed qui erat, venit in virginem.

47. Ille discretus a militibus, ille lancea vulneratus 0201D (Matth. XXVII, 29 et seq.), ut nos sacri vulneris cruore sanaret, respondebit tibi profecto (est enim mitis et humilis corde (Joan. XIX, 34), blandus aspectu): Exsurge, Aquilo, et veni, Auster, aspira hortum meum, et fluant aromata mea (Cant. IV, 16). Ex omnibus enim partibus mundi odor sacratae religionis inolevit, dilectaeque virginis membra flagrarunt. 0202A Formosa es, proxima mea, ut bona opinio: pulchra, ut Hierusalem (Cant. VI, 3). Non caduci itaque corporis pulchritudo vel morbo peritura, vel senio; sed nullis obnoxia casibus opinio bonorum numquam moritura meritorum, virginibus est decori.

48. Et quoniam non humanis jam, sed coelestibus, quorum vitam vivis in terris, digna es comparari: accipe a Domino praecepta quae serves. Pone me ut sigillum, inquit, in cor tuum, et velut signaculum super brachium tuum (Cant. VIII, 6): quo signatiora prudentiae tuae factorumque documenta promantur, in quibus figura Dei Christus eluceat, qui paternae ambitum exaequans naturae, totum quidquid a Patre divinitatis assumpsit, expressit. Unde etiam apostolus Paulus in Spiritu nos dicit esse signatos (Ephes. 0202B I, 13); quoniam Patris imaginem habemus in Filio, sigillum Filii habemus in Spiritu. Hac Trinitate signati caveamus diligentius, ne quod accepimus pignus in cordibus nostris, aut morum levitas, aut ullius adulterii fraus resignet.

49. Sed facessat hic sacris virginibus metus, quibus tanta praesidia tribuit primum Ecclesia, quae tenerae prolis sollicita successu, ipsa quasi murus abundantibus in modum turrium increscit uberibus, donec soluto obsidionis hostilis incursu, pacem validae juventuti, maternae praesidio virtutis, acquirat (Cant. VIII, 10). Unde et Propheta ait: Fiat pax in virtute tua, et abundantia in turribus tuis (Psal. CXXI, 7).

50. Tum ipse pacis Dominus postquam validioribus 0202C brachiis commissa sibi vineta complexus, palmites suos gemmare conspexerit, vultu praesule, nascentibus fructibus auras temperat, sicut ipse testatur dicens: Vinea mea est in conspectu meo, mille Salomoni, et ducenti qui servant fructum ejus (Cant. VIII, 12).

51. Supra ait: Sexaginta potentes in circumitu propaginis ejus, strictis armatos ensibus, et eruditos praeliaribus disciplinis (Cant. III, 7, 8); hic mille et ducentos. Crevit numerus, ubi crevit et fructus; quia quo sanctior quisque, eo communitior. Sic Elisaeus propheta exercitus angelorum praesidia sibi adesse monstravit (IV Reg. VI, 17): sic Jesus Nave ducem militiae coelestis agnovit (Josue V, 14). Possunt igitur fructum in nobis custodire, qui possunt etiam 0202D militare pro nobis. Vobis autem, virgines sanctae, speciale praesidium est, quae intemerato pudore sacrum Domini servatis cubile. Neque mirum si pro vobis angeli militant, quae angelorum moribus militatis. 159 Meretur eorum praesidium castitas virginalis, quorum vitam meretur.

52. Et quid pluribus exsequar laudem castitatis? 0203A Castitas etiam angelos fecit. Qui eam servavit, angelus est: qui perdidit, diabolus. Hinc religio etiam nomen accepit. Virgo est, quae Deo nubit: meretrix, quae deos fecit. Nam de resurrectione quid dicam, cujus praemia jam tenetis? In resurrectione autem neque nubent, neque ducent uxores: sed erunt sicut angeli, inquit, in coelo (Matth. XXII, 30). Quod nobis promittitur, vobis praesto est, votorumque nostrorum usus apud vos. De hoc mundo estis, et non estis in hoc mundo. Saeculum vos habere meruit, tenere non potuit.

53. Quam praeclarum autem angelos propter intemperantiam suam in saeculum cecidisse de coelo, virgines propter castimoniam in coelum transisse de saeculo? Beatae virgines, quas non illecebra sollicitat 0203B corporum, non colluvio praecipitat voluptatum! Cibus parcimoniae, potus abstinentiae docet vitia nescire, qui docet causas nescire vitiorum. Causa peccandi etiam justos saepe decepit. Hinc populus Dei postquam sedit manducare et bibere, Deum negavit (Exod. XXXII, 6). Hinc Loth concubitus filiarum ignoravit, et pertulit (Gen. XIX, 33). Hinc inversis vestigiis filii Noe patris quondam pudenda texerunt (Gen. IX, 22): quae procax vidit, modestus erubuit, pius texit, offensurus si et ipse vidisset. Quanta vini est vis, ut quem diluvia non nudaverunt, vina nudarent!