Chapter II.

Touching next upon the training of a virgin, he speaks of moderation in food and drink, and of restraint upon the impulses of the mind, introducing some teaching upon the fable of the death and resurrection of Hippolytus, and advises the avoidance of certain meats.

5. But sometimes even when faith is to be relied upon, youth is not trusted. Use wine, therefore, sparingly, in order that the weakness of the body may not increase, not for pleasurable excitement, for each alike kindles a flame, both wine and youth. Let fasts also put a bridle on tender age, and spare diet restrain the unsubdued appetites with a kind of rein. Let reason check, hope subdue, and fear curb them. For he who knows not how to govern his desires, like a man run away with by wild horses, is overthrown, bruised, torn, and injured.

6. And this is said to have happened to a youth for his love of Diana. But the fable is coloured with poet’s tales, that Neptune, stirred with grief at his rival being preferred, sent madness upon his horses, whereby his great power might be set forth in that he overcame the youth, not by strength, but by fraud. And from this event a yearly sacrifice is celebrated for Diana, when a horse is offered at her altar. And they say that she was a virgin, and (of which even harlots would be ashamed) yet could love one who did not love her. But as far as I am concerned let their fables have authority, for though each be criminal, it is yet a less evil that a youth should have been so enamoured of an adulteress as to perish, than that two gods should, as they relate, contend for committing adultery, and that Jupiter avenged the grief of his daughter who played the harlot on the physician who cured the wound of him who had violated Diana in the woods, a most excellent huntress, no doubt, not of wild beasts, but of lust: yet also of wild beasts, so that she was worshipped naked.

7. Let them ascribe, then, to Neptune the mastery over madness, in order to fix on him the crime of unchaste love. Let them ascribe to Diana the rule over the woods, wherein she dwelt, so as to establish the adultery which she practised. Let them ascribe to Æsculapius the restoration of the dead so long as they confess that when struck by lightning he himself escaped not. Let them also ascribe to Jupiter the thunderbolts which he did not possess, so that they witness to the disgrace with which he was laden.

8. And I think that one should sparingly eat all kinds of food which cause heat to the limbs, for flesh drags down even eagles as they fly. But within you let that bird of which we read, “Thy youth shall be renewed like the eagle’s,”112    Ps. ciii. [cii.] 5. holding its course on high, swift in its virgin flight, be ignorant of the desire for unnecessary food. The gathering of banquets and salutations must be avoided.

CAPUT II.

Virginis institutionem aggreditur, quae in potu et cibo 0221Cratio servanda, et quo pacto motus animae cohibendi sint, praecipiens: qua occasione ubi fabulosam Hippolyti necem ac suscitationem retulit suggillavitque, postremo calidiores escas et convivia vitanda monet.

5. Sed interdum etiam cum fides tuta sit, juventus suspecta est. Modico itaque vino utere, ne infirmitatem corporis augeas, non ut voluptatem excites; incendunt enim pariter duo, vinum et adolescentia. Infrenent etiam teneram aetatem jejunia, et parcimonia cibi retinaculis quibusdam indomitas cohibeat cupiditates. Ratio revocet, mitiget spes, restringat metus. Nam qui moderari nescit cupiditatibus, is sicut equis raptatus indomitis, volvitur, obteritur, laniatur, affligitur.

6. Quod aliquando juveni ob amorem Dianae 0221D contigisse proditur. Sed poeticis mendaciis coloratur fabula, ut Neptunus praelati rivalis dolore incitatus, equis dicatur furorem immisisse, quo ejus magna potentia praedicetur, quod juvenem non virtute vicit, sed fraude decepit. Unde etiam sacrificium quotannis instaurant Dianae, ut equus ad ejus immoletur aras. Quam virginem dicunt, quae (id quod etiam meretrices 0222A erubescere solent) amare potuit non amantem. Sed habeant per me licet fabulae suae auctoritatem; quia licet scelestum utrumque, minus tamen sit juvenem amore adulterae sic flagrasse ut periret, quam duos, ut ipsi dicunt, deos de adulterio certasse: Jovem autem dolorem scortantis filiae in medicum vindicasse adulteri, quod ejus curarit vulnera, qui Dianam in silvis adulteraverit, venatricem sane optimam non ferarum, sed libidinum, sed ferarum etiam, ut nuda venaretur.

176 7. Dent igitur Neptuno dominatum furoris, ut astruant crimen incesti amoris. Dent Dianae regnum in silvis quas incolebat, ut confirment adulterium quod gerebat. Dent Aesculapio quod mortuum reformaverit, dummodo profiteantur quod fulminatus 0222B ipse non evaserit. Dent etiam Jovi fulmina quae non habuit, ut testificentur quae habuit opprobria. Sed a fabulis ad propositum revertamur.

8. Escis quoque omnibus quae gignant membris calorem, parce utendum puto; carnes enim etiam aquilas volantes deponunt. In vobis quoque ales interior illa, de qua legimus: Renovabitursicut aquila juventus tua (Psal. CII, 5), sublime tenens, virgineo praepes volatu, superfluae carnis nesciat appetentiam. Conviviorum devitandae celebritates, fugiendae salutationes.