Chapter XI.—A Compendious View of the Christian Life.

Wherefore the wearing of gold and the use of softer clothing is not to be entirely prohibited. But irrational impulses must be curbed, lest, carrying us away through excessive relaxation, they impel us to voluptuousness. For luxury, that has dashed on to surfeit, is prone to kick up its heels and toss its mane, and shake off the charioteer, the Instructor; who, pulling back the reins from far, leads and drives to salvation the human horse—that is, the irrational part of the soul—which is wildly bent on pleasures, and vicious appetites, and precious stones, and gold, and variety of dress, and other luxuries.

Above all, we are to keep in mind what was spoken sacredly: “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by the good works which they behold, glorify God.”635    1 Pet. ii. 12.

Clothes.

The Instructor permits us, then, to use simple clothing, and of a white colour, as we said before. So that, accommodating ourselves not to variegated art, but to nature as it is produced, and pushing away whatever is deceptive and belies the truth, we may embrace the uniformity and simplicity of the truth.636    [Surely the costly and gorgeous ecclesiastical raiment of the Middle Ages is condemned by Clement’s primitive maxims.]

Sophocles, reproaching a youth, says:—

For, as in the case of the soldier, the sailor, and the ruler, so also the proper dress of the temperate man is what is plain, becoming, and clean. Whence also in the law, the law enacted by Moses about leprousy rejects what has many colours and spots, like the various scales of the snake. He therefore wishes man, no longer decking himself gaudily in a variety of colours, but white all over from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, to be clean; so that, by a transition from the body, we may lay aside the varied and versatile passions of the man, and love the unvaried, and unambiguous, and simple colour of truth. And he who also in this emulates Moses—Plato best of all—approves of that texture on which not more than a chaste woman’s work has been employed. And white colours well become gravity. And elsewhere he says, “Nor apply dyes or weaving, except for warlike decorations.”637    Plato’s words are: “The web is not to be more than a woman’s work for a month. White colour is peculiarly becoming for the gods in other things, but especially in cloth. Dyes are not to be applied, except for warlike decorations.”—Plato: De Legibus, xii. 992.

To men of peace and of light, therefore, white is appropriate.638    [Another law against colours in clerical attire.] As, then, signs, which are very closely allied to causes, by their presence indicate, or rather demonstrate, the existence of the result; as smoke is the sign of fire, and a good complexion and a regular pulse of health; so also clothing of this description shows the character of our habits. Temperance is pure and simple; since purity is a habit which ensures pure conduct unmixed with what is base. Simplicity is a habit which does away with superfluities.

Substantial clothing also, and chiefly what is unfulled, protects the heat which is in the body; not that the clothing has heat in itself, but that it turns back the heat issuing from the body, and refuses it a passage. And whatever heat falls upon it, it absorbs and retains, and being warmed by it, warms in turn the body. And for this reason it is chiefly to be worn in winter.

It also (temperance) is contented. And contentment is a habit which dispenses with superfluities, and, that there may be no failure, is receptive of what suffices for the healthful and blessed life according to the Word.639    Καρὰ Λόγον. The reading in the text is κατάλογον.

Let the women wear a plain and becoming dress, but softer than what is suitable for a man, yet not quite immodest or entirely gone in luxury. And let the garments be suited to age, person, figure, nature, pursuits. For the divine apostle most beautifully counsels us “to put on Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.”640    Rom. xiii. 14.

Ear-rings.

The Word prohibits us from doing violence to nature641    [Natural instinct is St. Paul’s argument (1 Cor. xi. 14, 15); and that it rules for modesty in man as well as women, is finely illustrated by an instructive story in Herodotus (book i. 8–12). The wife of Gyges could be guilty of a heathenish revenge, but nature taught her to abhor exposure. “A woman who puts off her raiment, puts off her modesty,” said Candaules to her foolish husband.] by boring the lobes of the ears. For why not the nose too?—so that, what was spoken, may be fulfilled: “As an ear-ring in a swine’s nose, so is beauty to a woman without discretion.”642    Prov. xi. 22. For, in a word, if one thinks himself made beautiful by gold, he is inferior to gold; and he that is inferior to gold is not lord of it. But to confess one’s self less ornamental than the Lydian ore, how monstrous! As, then, the gold is polluted by the dirtiness of the sow, which stirs up the mire with her snout, so those women that are luxurious to excess in their wantonness, elated by wealth, dishonour by the stains of amatory indulgences what is the true beauty.

Finger-rings.

The Word, then, permits them a finger-ring of gold.643    [Possibly used thus early as a distinction of matrons.] Nor is this for ornament, but for sealing things which are worth keeping safe in the house in the exercise of their charge of housekeeping.

For if all were well trained, there would be no need of seals, if servants and masters were equally honest. But since want of training produces an inclination to dishonesty, we require seals.

But there are circumstances in which this strictness may relaxed. For allowance must sometimes be made in favour of those women who have not been fortunate644    Εὑτυχούσαις, for which the text has ἐντοχούσαις. in falling in with chaste husbands, and adorn themselves in order to please their husbands. But let desire for the admiration of their husbands alone be proposed as their aim. I would not have them to devote themselves to personal display, but to attract their husbands by chaste love for them—a powerful and legitimate charm. But since they wish their wives to be unhappy in mind, let the latter, if they would be chaste, make it their aim to allay by degrees the irrational impulses and passions of their husbands. And they are to be gently drawn to simplicity, by gradually accustoming them to sobriety. For decency is not produced by the imposition of what is burdensome, but by the abstraction of excess. For women’s articles of luxury are to be prohibited, as things of swift wing producing unstable follies and empty delights; by which, elated and furnished with wings, they often fly away from the marriage bonds. Wherefore also women ought to dress neatly, and bind themselves around with the band of chaste modesty, lest through giddiness they slip away from the truth. It is right, then, for men to repose confidence in their wives, and commit the charge of the household to them, as they are given to be their helpers in this.

And if it is necessary for us, while engaged in public business, or discharging other avocations in the country, and often away from our wives, to seal anything for the sake of safety, He (the Word) allows us a signet for this purpose only. Other finger-rings are to be cast off, since, according to the Scripture, “instruction is a golden ornament for a wise man.”645    Ecclus. xxi. 21.

But women who wear gold seem to me to be afraid, lest, if one strip them of their jewellery, they should be taken for servants, without their ornaments. But the nobility of truth, discovered in the native beauty which has its seat in the soul, judges the slave not by buying and selling, but by a servile disposition. And it is incumbent on us not to seem, but to be free, trained by God, adopted by God.

Wherefore we must adopt a mode of standing and motion, and a step, and dress, and in a word, a mode of life, in all respects as worthy as possible of freemen. But men are not to wear the ring on the joint; for this is feminine; but to place it on the little finger at its root. For so the hand will be freest for work, in whatever we need it; and the signet will not very easily fall off, being guarded by the large knot of the joint.

And let our seals be either a dove, or a fish, or a ship scudding before the wind, or a musical lyre, which Polycrates used, or a ship’s anchor, which Seleucus got engraved as a device; and if there be one fishing, he will remember the apostle, and the children drawn out of the water. For we are not to delineate the faces of idols,646    [How this was followed, is proved by the early Christian devices of the catacombs, contrasted with the engraved gems from Pompeii, in the Museo Borbonico at Naples.] we who are prohibited to cleave to them; nor a sword, nor a bow, following as we do, peace; nor drinking-cups, being temperate.

Many of the licentious have their lovers647    Masculine. engraved,648    γεγλυμμἐνους, written on the margin of Codex clxv. for γεγυμνωμένους (naked) of the text. [Royal Library, Naples.] or their mistresses, as if they wished to make it impossible ever to forget their amatory indulgences, by being perpetually put in mind of their licentiousness.

The Hair.

About the hair, the following seems right. Let the head of men be shaven, unless it has curly hair. But let the chin have the hair. But let not twisted locks hang far down from the head, gliding into womanish ringlets. For an ample beard suffices for men. And if one, too, shave a part of his beard, it must not be made entirely bare, for this is a disgraceful sight. The shaving of the chin to the skin is reprehensible, approaching to plucking out the hair and smoothing. For instance, thus the Psalmist, delighted with the hair of the beard, says, “As the ointment that descends on the beard, the beard of Aaron.”649    Ps. cxxxiii. 2.

Having celebrated the beauty of the beard by a repetition, he made the face to shine with the ointment of the Lord.

Since cropping is to be adopted not for the sake of elegance, but on account of the necessity of the case; the hair of the head, that it may not grow so long as to come down and interfere with the eyes, and that of the moustache similarly, which is dirtied in eating, is to be cut round, not by the razor, for that were not well-bred, but by a pair of cropping scissors. But the hair on the chin is not to be disturbed, as it gives no trouble, and lends to the face dignity and paternal terror.650    [Here Clement’s rules are arbitrary, and based on their existing ideas of propriety. If it be not improper to shave the head, much less to shave the face, which he allows in part.]

Moreover, the shape instructs many not to sin, because it renders detection easy. To those who do [not]651    “Not” does not occur in the mss. wish to sin openly, a habit that will escape observation and is not conspicuous is most agreeable, which, when assumed, will allow them to transgress without detection; so that, being undistinguishable from others, they may fearlessly go their length in sinning.652    For δεδοικότες, the conjectural emendation δεδυκότες, has been adopted. A cropped head not only shows a man to be grave, but renders the cranium less liable to injury, by accustoming it to the presence of both cold and heat; and it averts the mischiefs arising from these, which the hair absorbs into itself like a sponge, and so inflicts on the brain constant mischief from the moisture.

It is enough for women to protect653    φυλάσσειν, Sylburg and Bod. Reg., agree better than μαλάσσειν with the context. their locks, and bind up their hair simply along the neck with a plain hair-pin, nourishing chaste locks with simple care to true beauty. For meretricious plaiting of the hair, and putting it up in tresses, contribute to make them look ugly, cutting the hair and plucking off it those treacherous braidings; on account of which they do not touch their head, being afraid of disordering their hair. Sleep, too, comes on, not without fear lest they pull down without knowing the shape of the braid.

But additions of other people’s hair are entirely to be rejected, and it is a most sacrilegious thing for spurious hair to shade the head, covering the skull with dead locks. For on whom does the presbyter lay his hand?654    [The chrism (confirmation) was thus administered then, not with material oil, and was called anointing, with reference to 1 John ii. 27. Consult Bunsen, however, who attributes great antiquity to his canons (collected in vol. iii. Hippolytus), p. 22, Church and House Book.] Whom does he bless? Not the woman decked out, but another’s hair, and through them another head. And if “the man is head of the woman, and God of the man,”655    1 Cor. xi. 3. Nov. reads “Christ,” as in St. Paul, instead of “God.” how is it not impious that they should fall into double sins? For they deceive the men by the excessive quantity of their hair; and shame the Lord as far as in them lies, by adorning themselves meretriciously, in order to dissemble the truth. And they defame the head, which is truly beautiful.

Consequently neither is the hair to be dyed, nor grey hair to have its colour changed. For neither are we allowed to diversify our dress. And above all, old age, which conciliates trust, is not to be concealed. But God’s mark of honour is to be shown in the light of day, to win the reverence of the young. For sometimes, when they have been behaving shamefully, the appearance of hoary hairs, arriving like an instructor, has changed them to sobriety, and paralyzed juvenile lust with the splendour of the sight.

Painting the Face.

Nor are the women to smear their faces with the ensnaring devices of wily cunning. But let us show to them the decoration of sobriety. For, in the first place, the best beauty is that which is spiritual, as we have often pointed out. For when the soul is adorned by the Holy Spirit, and inspired with the radiant charms which proceed from Him,—righteousness, wisdom, fortitude, temperance, love of the good, modesty, than which no more blooming colour was ever seen,—then let corporeal beauty be cultivated too, symmetry of limbs and members, with a fair complexion. The adornment of health is here in place, through which the transition of the artificial image to the truth, in accordance with the form which has been given by God, is effected. But temperance in drinks, and moderation in articles of food, are effectual in producing beauty according to nature; for not only does the body maintain its health from these, but they also make beauty to appear. For from what is fiery arises a gleam and sparkle; and from moisture, brightness and grace; and from dryness, strength and firmness; and from what is aërial, free-breathing and equipoise; from which this well-proportioned and beautiful image of the Word is adorned. Beauty is the free flower of health; for the latter is produced within the body; while the former, blossoming out from the body, exhibits manifest beauty of complexion. Accordingly, these most decorous and healthful practices, by exercising the body, produce true and lasting beauty, the heat attracting to itself all the moisture and cold spirit. Heat, when agitated by moving causes, is a thing which attracts to itself; and when it does attract, it gently exhales through the flesh itself, when warmed, the abundance of food, with some moisture, but with excess of heat. Wherefore also the first food is carried off. But when the body is not moved, the food consumed does not adhere, but falls away, as the loaf from a cold oven, either entire, or leaving only the lower part. Accordingly, the fœces are in excess in the case of those who do not throw off the excrementitious matters by the rubbings necessitated by exercise. And other superfluous matters abound in their case too, and also perspiration, as the food is not assimilated by the body, but is flowing out to waste. Thence also lusts are excited, the redundance flowing to the pudenda by commensurate motions. Wherefore this redundance ought to be liquefied and dispersed for digestion, by which beauty acquires its ruddy hue. But it is monstrous for those who are made in “the image and likeness of God,” to dishonour the archetype by assuming a foreign ornament, preferring the mischievous contrivance of man to the divine creation.

The Instructor orders them to go forth “in becoming apparel, and adorn themselves with shamefacedness and sobriety,”656    1 Tim. ii. 9. “subject to their own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold,” he says, “your chaste conversation. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”657    1 Pet. iii. 1–4.

For the labour of their own hands, above all, adds genuine beauty to women, exercising their bodies and adorning themselves by their own exertions; not bringing unornamental ornament wrought by others, which is vulgar and meretricious, but that of every good woman, supplied and woven by her own hands whenever she most requires. For it is never suitable for women whose lives are framed according to God, to appear arrayed in things bought from the market, but in their own home-made work. For a most beautiful thing is a thrifty wife, who clothes both herself and her husband with fair array of her own working;658    In reference to Prov. xxxi. 22. in which all are glad—the children on account of their mother, the husband on account of his wife, she on their account, and all in God.

In brief, “A store of excellence is a woman of worth, who eateth not the bread of idleness; and the laws of mercy are on her tongue; who openeth her mouth wisely and rightly; whose children rise up and call her blessed,” as the sacred Word says by Solomon: “Her husband also, and he praiseth her. For a pious woman is blessed; and let her praise the fear of the Lord.”659    Prov. xxxi. 26, 27, 28, 30, quoted from memory, and with variety of reading.

And again, “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.”660    Prov. xii. 4. They must, as far as possible, correct their gestures, looks, steps, and speech. For they must not do as some, who, imitating the acting of comedy, and practising the mincing motions of dancers, conduct themselves in society as if on the stage, with voluptuous movements, and gliding steps, and affected voices, casting languishing glances round, tricked out with the bait of pleasure. “For honey drops from the lips of a woman who is an harlot; who, speaking to please, lubricates thy throat. But at last thou wilt find it bitterer than bile, and sharper than a two-edged sword. For the feet of folly lead those who practice it to hell after death.”661    Prov. v. 3–5, Septuagint.

The noble Samson was overcome by the harlot, and by another woman was shorn of his manhood. But Joseph was not thus beguiled by another woman. The Egyptian harlot was conquered. And chastity,662    We have read from the New College ms. σωφροσύνη for σωφροσύνης. assuming to itself bonds, appears superior to dissolute licence. Most excellent is what has been said:—

But feminine motions, dissoluteness, and luxury, are to be entirely prohibited. For voluptuousness of motion in walking, “and a mincing gait,” as Anacreon says, are altogether meretricious.

“As seems to me,” says the comedy, “it is time664    Some read ᾤραν ἀπολείπει . [New College ms.] In the translation the conjecture ᾤρα ἀπολείπειν is adopted. to abandon meretricious steps and luxury.” And the steps of harlotry lean not to the truth; for they approach not the paths of life. Her tracks are dangerous, and not easily known.665    An adaptation of Prov. v. 5, 6. The eyes especially are to be sparingly used, since it is better to slip with the feet than with the eyes.666    An imitation of Zeno’s saying, “It is better to slip with the feet than the tongue.” Accordingly, the Lord very summarily cures this malady: “If thine eye offend thee, cut it out,”667    Quoting from memory, he has substituted ἔκκοψον for ἔξελε (Matt. v. 29). He says, dragging lust up from the foundation. But languishing looks, and ogling, which is to wink with the eyes, is nothing else than to commit adultery with the eyes, lust skirmishing through them. For of the whole body, the eyes are first destroyed. “The eye contemplating beautiful objects (καλά), gladdens the heart;” that is, the eye which has learned rightly (καλῶς) to see, gladdens. “Winking with the eye, with guile, heaps woes on men.”668    Prov. x. 10. Such they introduce the effeminate Sardanapalus, king of the Assyrians, sitting on a couch with his legs up, fumbling at his purple robe, and casting up the whites of his eyes. Women that follow such practices, by their looks offer themselves for prostitution. “For the light of the body is the eye,” says the Scripture, by which the interior illuminated by the shining light appears. Fornication in a woman is in the raising of the eyes.669    Ecclus. xxvi. 9.

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, and concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience,”670    Col. iii. 5, 6. cries the apostle.

But we enkindle the passions, and are not ashamed.

Some of these women eating mastich,671    [A similar practice, very gross and unbecoming, prevails among the lower class of girls brought together in our common schools.] going about, show their teeth to those that come near. And others, as if they had not fingers, give themselves airs, scratching their heads with pins; and these made either of tortoise or ivory, or some other dead creature they procure at much pains. And others, as if they had certain efflorescences, in order to appear comely in the eyes of spectators, stain their faces by adorning them with gay-coloured unguents. Such a one is called by Solomon “a foolish and bold woman,” who “knows not shame. She sits at the door of her house, conspicuously in a seat, calling to all that pass by the way, who go right on their ways;” by her style and whole life manifestly saying, “Who among you is very silly? let him turn to me.” And those devoid of wisdom she exhorts, saying, “Touch sweetly secret bread, and sweet stolen water;” meaning by this, clandestine love (from this point the Bœotian Pindar, coming to our help, says, “The clandestine pursuit of love is something sweet”). But the miserable man “knoweth not that the sons of earth perish beside her, and that she tends to the level of hell.” But says the Instructor: “Hie away, and tarry not in the place; nor fix thine eye on her: for thus shalt thou pass over a strange water, and cross to Acheron.”672    Prov. ix. 13–18. Wherefore thus saith the Lord by Isaiah, “Because the daughters of Sion walk with lofty neck, and with winkings of the eyes, and sweeping their garments as they walk, and playing with their feet; the Lord shall humble the daughters of Sion, and will uncover their form”673    τὸ ἄσχημον σχῆμα (Isa. iii. 16, 17), Sept.—their deformed form. I, deem it wrong that servant girls, who follow women of high rank, should either speak or act unbecomingly to them. But I think it right that they should be corrected by their mistresses. With very sharp censure, accordingly, the comic poet Philemon says: “You may follow at the back of a pretty servant girl, seen behind a gentlewoman; and any one from the Platæicum may follow close, and ogle her.” For the wantonness of the servant recoils on the mistress; allowing those who attempt to take lesser liberties not to be afraid to advance to greater; since the mistress, by allowing improprieties, shows that she does not disapprove of them. And not to be angry at those who act wantonly, is a clear proof of a disposition inclining to the like. “For like mistress like wench,”674    ἀ κύων, catella. The literal English rendering is coarser and more opprobrious than the original, which Helen applies to herself (Iliad, vi. 344, 356). as they say in the proverb.

Walking.

Also we must abandon a furious mode of walking, and choose a grave and leisurely, but not a lingering step.

Nor is one to swagger in the ways, nor throw back his head to look at those he meets, if they look at him, as if he were strutting on the stage, and pointed at with the finger. Nor, when pushing up hill, are they to be shoved up by their domestics, as we see those that are more luxurious, who appear strong, but are enfeebled by effeminacy of soul.

A true gentleman must have no mark of effeminacy visible on his face, or any other part of his body. Let no blot on his manliness, then, be ever found either in his movements or habits. Nor is a man in health to use his servants as horses to bear him. For as it is enjoined on them, “to be subject to their masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward,”675    1 Pet. ii. 18. as Peter says; so fairness, and forbearance, and kindness, are what well becomes the masters. For he says: “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be humble,” and so forth, “that ye may inherit a blessing,”676    1 Pet. iii. 8. Clement has substituted ταπεινόφρονες for φιλόφρονες (courteous). excellent and desirable.

The Model Maiden.

Zeno the Cittiæan thought fit to represent the image of a young maid, and executed the statue thus: “Let her face be clean, her eyebrows not let down, nor her eyelids open nor turned back. Let her neck not be stretched back, nor the members of her body be loose. But let the parts that hang from the body look as if they were well strung; let there be the keenness of a well-regulated mind677    This passage has been variously amended and translated. The reading of the text has been adhered to, but ὸρθόνου has been coupled with what follows. for discourse, and retention of what has been rightly spoken; and let her attitudes and movements give no ground of hope to the licentious; but let there be the bloom of modesty, and an expression of firmness. But far from her be the wearisome trouble that comes from the shops of perfumers, and goldsmiths, and dealers in wool, and that which comes from the other shops where women, meretriciously dressed, pass whole days as if sitting in the stews.”

Amusements and Associates.

And let not men, therefore, spend their time in barbers’ shops and taverns, babbling nonsense; and let them give up hunting for the women who sit near,678    Sylburg suggests παριούας (passing by) instead of παριζούσας. and ceaselessly talking slander against many to raise a laugh.

The game of dice679    κὔβος, a die marked on all the six sides. [This prohibition would include cards in modern ethics.] is to be prohibited, and the pursuit of gain, especially by dicing,680    διὰ ͠ῶν ἀστραγάλων. The ἀστραγάλοι were dice marked on four sides only. Clemens seems to use the terms here indifferently. which many keenly follow. Such things the prodigality of luxury invents for the idle. For the cause is idleness, and a love681    Lowth’s conjecture of ἔρως instead of ἐρᾷ has been adopted. for frivolities apart from the truth. For it is not possible otherwise to obtain enjoyment without injury; and each man’s preference of a mode of life is a counterpart of his disposition.

But, as appears, only intercourse with good men benefits; on the other hand, the all-wise Instructor, by the mouth of Moses, recognising companionship with bad men as swinish, forbade the ancient people to partake of swine; to point out that those who call on God ought not to mingle with unclean men, who, like swine, delight in corporeal pleasures, in impure food, and in itching with filthy pruriency after the mischievous delights of lewdness.

Further, He says: “Thou art not to eat a kite or swift-winged ravenous bird, or an eagle,”682    Lev. xi. 13, 14; Deut. xiv. 12. meaning: Thou shalt not come near men who gain their living by rapine. And other things also are exhibited figuratively.

With whom, then, are we to associate? With the righteous, He says again, speaking figuratively; for everything “which parts the hoof and chews the cud is clean.” For the parting of the hoof indicates the equilibrium of righteousness, and ruminating points to the proper food of righteousness, the word, which enters from without, like food, by instruction, but is recalled from the mind, as from the stomach, to rational recollection. And the spiritual man, having the word in his mouth, ruminates the spiritual food; and righteousness parts the hoof rightly, because it sanctifies us in this life, and sends us on our way to the world to come.

Public Spectacles.

The Instructor will not then bring us to public spectacles; nor inappropriately might one call the racecourse and the theatre “the seat of plagues;”683    Ps. i. 1, Septuagint. for there is evil counsel as against the Just One,684    Acts iii. 14. and therefore the assembly against Him is execrated. These assemblies, indeed, are full of confusion685    ἀναμιξιας adopted instead of the reading ἀμιξίας, which is plainly wrong. and iniquity; and these pretexts for assembling are the cause of disorder—men and women assembling promiscuously if for the sight of one another. In this respect the assembly has already shown itself bad: for when the eye is lascivious,686    λιχνευούσης on the authority of the Pal. ms. Nov. Reg. Bod. the desires grow warm; and the eyes that are accustomed to look impudently at one’s neighbours during the leisure granted to them, inflame the amatory desires. Let spectacles, therefore, and plays that are full of scurrility and of abundant gossip, be forbidden.687   [Jeremy Collier’s Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage (London, 1698) and the discussions that followed belong to literature, and ought to be republished with historic notes.] For what base action is it that is not exhibited in the theatres? And what shameless saying is it that is not brought forward by the buffoons? And those who enjoy the evil that is in them, stamp the clear images of it at home. And, on the other hand, those that are proof against these things, and unimpressible, will never make a stumble in regard to luxurious pleasures.

For if people shall say that they betake themselves to the spectacles as a pastime for recreation, I should say that the cities which make a serious business of pastime are not wise; for cruel contests for glory which have been so fatal are not sport. No more is senseless expenditure of money, nor are the riots that are occasioned by them sport. And ease of mind is not to be purchased by zealous pursuit of frivolities, for no one who has his senses will ever prefer what is pleasant to what is good.

Religion in Ordinary Life.

But it is said we do not all philosophize. Do we not all, then, follow after life? What sayest thou? How hast thou believed? How, pray, dost thou love God and thy neighbour, if thou dost not philosophize? And how dost thou love thyself, if thou dost not love life? It is said, I have not learned letters; but if thou hast not learned to read, thou canst not excuse thyself in the case of hearing, for it is not taught. And faith is the possession not of the wise according to the world, but of those according to God; and it is taught without letters; and its handbook, at once rude and divine, is called love—a spiritual book. It is in your power to listen to divine wisdom, ay, and to frame your life in accordance with it. Nay, you are not prohibited from conducting affairs in the world decorously according to God. Let not him who sells or buys aught name two prices for what he buys or sells; but stating the net price, and studying to speak the truth, if he get not his price, he gets the truth, and is rich in the possession of rectitude. But, above all, let an oath on account of what is sold be far from you; and let swearing, too, on account of other things be banished.

And in this way those who frequent the market-place and the shop philosophize. “For thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.”688    Ex. xx. 7.

But those who act contrary to these things—the avaricious, the liars, the hypocrites, those who make merchandise of the truth—the Lord cast out of His Father’s court,689    In allusion to the cleansing of the temple (John ii. 13–17; Matt. xxi. 12, 13; Luke xix. 45, 46). not willing that the holy house of God should be the house of unrighteous traffic either in words or in material things.

Going to Church.

Woman and man are to go to church690    [This early use of the word “church” for the place or house of worship, is to be noted. See Elucidation ii.] decently attired, with natural step, embracing silence, possessing unfeigned love, pure in body, pure in heart, fit to pray to God. Let the woman observe this, further. Let her be entirely covered, unless she happen to be at home. For that style of dress is grave, and protects from being gazed at. And she will never fall, who puts before her eyes modesty, and her shawl; nor will she invite another to fall into sin by uncovering her face. For this is the wish of the Word, since it is becoming for her to pray veiled.691    1 Cor. xi. 5. [This helps to the due rendering of ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς in 1 Cor. xi. 10.]

They say that the wife of Æneas, through excess of propriety, did not, even in her terror at the capture of Troy, uncover herself; but, though fleeing from the conflagration, remained veiled.

Out of Church.

Such ought those who are consecrated to Christ appear, and frame themselves in their whole life, as they fashion themselves in the church692    [1 Cor. xi. 22. But I cannot say that the word ἐκκλησία is used for the place of Christian worship, even in this text, where it seems to be in antithesis with the dwelling-house.] for the sake of gravity; and to be, not to seem such—so meek, so pious, so loving. But now I know not how people change their fashions and manners with the place. As they say that polypi, assimilated to the rocks to which they adhere, are in colour such as they; so, laying aside the inspiration of the assembly, after their departure from it, they become like others with whom they associate. Nay, in laying aside the artificial mask of solemnity, they are proved to be what they secretly were. After having paid reverence to the discourse about God, they leave within [the church] what they have heard. And outside they foolishly amuse themselves with impious playing, and amatory quavering, occupied with flute-playing, and dancing, and intoxication, and all kinds of trash. They who sing thus, and sing in response, are those who before hymned immortality,—found at last wicked and wickedly singing this most pernicious palinode, “Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” But not to-morrow in truth, but already, are these dead to God; burying their dead,693    Matt. viii. 22. that is, sinking themselves down to death. The apostle very firmly assails them. “Be not deceived; neither adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers,” and whatever else he adds to these, “shall inherit the kingdom of God.”694    1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.

Love and the Kiss of Charity.

And if we are called to the kingdom of God, let us walk worthy of the kingdom, loving God and our neighbour. But love is not proved by a kiss, but by kindly feeling. But there are those, that do nothing but make the churches resound with a kiss,695    [The sexes sat apart in the primitive churches, and the kiss of peace was given by women only to women (Bunsen, Hippol., iii. p. 15). Does the author, here, imply that unholy kissing had crept in? Among the Germans, even in our days, nothing is more common than to see men, not at all related, salute one another in this way. It was therefore all one with shaking hands, in the apostolic ordinance. For some very fine reflections on the baiser de paix, see De Masitre, Soirèes, ii. p. 199, ed. Paris, 1850.] not having love itself within. For this very thing, the shameless use of a kiss, which ought to be mystic, occasions foul suspicions and evil reports. The apostle calls the kiss holy.696    Rom. xvi. 16.

When the kingdom is worthily tested, we dispense the affection of the soul by a chaste and closed mouth, by which chiefly gentle manners are expressed.

But there is another unholy kiss, full of poison, counterfeiting sanctity. Do you not know that spiders, merely by touching the mouth, afflict men with pain? And often kisses inject the poison of licentiousness. It is then very manifest to us, that a kiss is not love. For the love meant is the love of God. “And this is the love of God,” says John, “that we keep His commandments;”697    1 John v. 3. not that we stroke each other on the mouth. “And His commandments are not grievous.” But salutations of beloved ones in the ways, full as they are of foolish boldness, are characteristic of those who wish to be conspicuous to those without, and have not the least particle of grace. For if it is proper mystically “in the closet” to pray to God, it will follow that we are also to greet mystically our neighbour, whom we are commanded to love second similarly to God, within doors, “redeeming the time.” “For we are the salt of the earth.”698    Matt. v. 13. “Whosoever shall bless his friend early in the morning with a loud voice, shall be regarded not to differ from cursing.”699    Prov. xxvii. 14.

The Government of the Eyes.

But, above all, it seems right that we turn away from the sight of women. For it is sin not only to touch, but to look; and he who is rightly trained must especially avoid them. “Let thine eyes look straight, and thine eyelids wink right.”700    Prov. iv. 25. For while it is possible for one who looks to remain stedfast; yet care must be taken against falling. For it is possible for one who looks to slip; but it is impossible for one, who looks not, to lust. For it is not enough for the chaste to be pure; but they must give all diligence, to be beyond the range of censure, shutting out all ground of suspicion, in order to the consummation of chastity; so that we may not only be faithful, but appear worthy of trust. For this is also consequently to be guarded against, as the apostle says, “that no man should blame us; providing things honourable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”701    2 Cor. viii. 20, 21. “But turn away thine eyes from a graceful woman, and contemplate not another’s beauty,” says the Scripture.702    Ecclus. ix. 8. And if you require the reason, it will further tell you, “For by the beauty of woman many have gone astray, and at it affection blazes up like fire;”703    Ecclus. ix. 8. the affection which arises from the fire which we call love, leading to the fire which will never cease in consequence of sin.

Ἐπιδρομὴ κεφαλαιώδης τοῦ ἀρίστου βίου. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὸ χρυσοφορεῖν καὶ τὸ ἐσθῆτι μαλακωτέρᾳ χρῆσθαι οὐ τέλεον περικοπτέον, χαλινωτέον δὲ τὰς ἀλόγους τῶν ὁρμῶν, μὴ εἰς τὸ ἁβροδίαιτον ἡμᾶς ἐνσείσωσιν φέρουσαι ὑπὸ πολλῆς τῆς ἀνέσεως ἐξαρπάσασαι· δεινὴ γὰρ ἡ τρυφὴ εἰς κόρον ἐξοκείλασα σκιρτῆσαι καὶ ἀναχαιτίσαι καὶ τὸν ἡνίοχον, καὶ τὸν παιδαγωγόν, ἀποσείσασθαι, ὃς πόρρωθεν ἀνακόπτων τὰς ἡνίας ἄγει καὶ φέρει πρὸς σωτηρίαν τὸν ἵππον τὸν ἀνθρώπειον, τὸ ἄλογον μέρος τῆς ψυχῆς τὸ περὶ ἡδονὰς καὶ ὀρέξεις ἐπιψόγους καὶ λίθους καὶ χρυσίον καὶ ἐσθῆτα ποικίλην καὶ τὴν ἄλλην χλιδὴν ἐκθηριούμενον· ἐκεῖνο μάλιστα ἐν νῷ ἔχοντες τὸ εἰρημένον ἁγίως τὴν ἀναστροφὴν ὑμῶν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἔχοντες καλήν, ἵνα ἐν ᾧ καταλαλοῦσιν ὑμῶν ὡς κακοποιῶν, ἐκ τῶν καλῶν ἔργων ἐποπτεύσαντες δοξάσωσι τὸν θεόν. ∆ίδωσιν οὖν ἡμῖν ὁ παιδαγωγὸς ἐσθῆτι χρῆσθαι τῇ λιτῇ, χρόᾳ δὲ τῇ λευκῇ, ὡς προειρήκαμεν, ἵνα μὴ τέχνῃ ποικιλλομένῃ, φύσει δὲ γεννωμένῃ οἰκειούμενοι, πᾶν ὅσον ἀπατηλὸν καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας καταψευδόμενον παρωσάμενοι τὸ μονότροπον καὶ μονοπρόσωπον τῆς ἀληθείας ἀσπασώμεθα. Ἁβροδίαιτον ὀνειδίζων νεανίαν ὁ Σοφοκλῆς λέγει· γυναικομίμοις ἐμπρέπεις ἐσθήμασιν. Ὡς γὰρ στρατιώτου καὶ ναύτου καὶ ἄρχοντος, οὕτως δὲ καὶ σώφρονός ἐστιν οἰκεία στολὴ ἡ ἀπερίεργος καὶ εὐσχήμων καὶ καθάριος. Παρ' ὃ καὶ ὁ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ περὶ τῆς λέπρας διὰ Μωυσέως τεθεὶς νόμος τὸ ποικίλον καὶ πολύστικτον οὐχ ὡς ὅσιον ἀπωθεῖται ταῖς ποικίλαις τοῦ ὄφεως φολίσιν ἐοικός. Τὸν γοῦν μηκέτι διηνθισμένον ποικιλίᾳ χρωμάτων, ὅλον δὲ λευκωθέντα δι' ὅλων ἀπὸ κεφαλῆς ἄκρας ἄχρι ποδῶν ἐσχάτων καθαρὸν εἶναι ἐθέλει, ἵνα κατὰ τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος μετάβασιν τὸ ποικίλον καὶ πανοῦργον τῆς διανοίας μεθέμενοι πάθος τὸ ἀποίκιλτον καὶ ἀνενδοίαστον τῆς ἀληθείας ἁπλοῦν ἀγαπήσωμεν χρῶμα. Ὁ δὲ καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἄρα ζηλωτὴς Μωυσέως, ὁ πάντα ἄριστος Πλάτων, ὑφὴν ἐκείνην ἀποδέχεται, ᾗ μὴ πλέον ἔργον πρόσεστι γυναικὸς σώφρονος· χρώματα δὲ λευκὰ πρέποντα ἂν εἴη σεμνότητι καὶ ἄλλοθι λέγει καὶ ἐν ὑφῇ· βάμματα δὲ μὴ προσφέρειν ἀλλ' ἢ πρὸς τὰ πολέμου κοσμήματα. Εἰρηνικοῖς ἄρα ἀνθρώποις καὶ φωτεινοῖς κατάλληλον τὸ λευκόν. Ὡς οὖν τὰ σημεῖα τὰ ἐγγυτάτω ὄντα τῶν αἰτίων παρόντα σημαίνει, μᾶλλον δὲ δείκνυσι τὴν τοῦ ἀποτελέσαντος ὕπαρξιν, οἷον καπνὸς μὲν πῦρ, εὔχροια δὲ καὶ εὐσφυξία ὑγίειαν, οὕτως καὶ παρ' ἡμῖν ἡ τοιάδε στολὴ τοῦ ἤθους τὴν κατάστασιν ἐνδείκνυται. Καθάριος δὲ καὶ ἀφελὴς ἡ σωφροσύνη, ἐπεὶ ἡ μὲν καθαριότης ἕξις ἐστὶν παρασκευαστικὴ διαίτης καθαρᾶς καὶ ἀμιγοῦς αἰσχροῖς, ἡ δὲ ἀφέλεια ἕξις ἀφαιρετικὴ τῶν περιττῶν. Ἡ δὲ στερεὰ ἐσθὴς καὶ μάλιστα ἡ ἄγναφος ἀποστέγει τὸ θερμὸν τὸ ἐν τῷ σώματι, οὐχ ὅτι ἐν αὑτῇ ἔχει τὴν θερμότητα ἡ ἐσθής, ἀλλ' ὅτι τὴν ἐν τῷ σώματι ἐξιοῦσαν ἀναστρέφει καὶ πάροδον αὐτῇ οὐ παρέχει, εἰ δὲ καὶ ἐμπέσοι τις, συλλαβοῦσα αὐτὴν ἐν αὑτῇ ἔχει καὶ ὑπ' αὐτῆς θερμανθεῖσα ἀντιθερμαίνει τὸ σῶμα, δι' ὃ καὶ χειμῶνος μάλιστα ταύτῃ χρηστέον· εὔκολος δὲ αὕτη· εὐκολία δέ ἐστιν ἕξις ἀπέριττος προσδεκτικὴ τῶν πρὸς τὸ ἀνελλιπὲς ἐξαρκούντων εἰς τὸν κατὰ λόγον, τὸν ὑγιῆ καὶ μακάριον, βίον. Κεχρήσθω δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῇ λιτῇ στολῇ καὶ τῇ σεμνῇ, μαλακωτέρᾳ δὲ μᾶλλον ἢ προσῆκεν ἀνδρί, πλὴν οὐ τέλεον ἀπηρυθριακυίᾳ, οὐ διαρρεούσῃ τῇ μαλακότητι. Ἔστων δὲ αἱ ἐσθῆτες ἁρμόζουσαι ἡλικίᾳ, προσώπῳ, τόποις, φύσει, ἐπιτηδεύμασιν. Ἐνδύσασθαι γὰρ παγκάλως ἡμῖν ὁ θεῖος ἀπόστολος συμβουλεύει τὸν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθαι εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Κωλύει δὲ βιαζομένους τὴν φύσιν ὁ λόγος τοὺς λοβοὺς τῶν ὠτίων τιτρᾶναι. ∆ιὰ τί γὰρ οὐχὶ καὶ τὴν ῥῖνα; Ἵνα δὴ κἀκεῖνο πληρωθῇ τὸ εἰρημένον· Ὥσπερ ἐνώτιον ἐν ῥινὶ ὑός, οὕτως γυναικὶ κακόφρονι κάλλος. Καθόλου γὰρ εἴ τις ἡγεῖται κοσμεῖσθαι χρυσίῳ, ἐλάττων ἐστὶν χρυσίου, ὁ δὲ ἐλάττων χρυσίου οὐκ ἔστι κύριος αὐτοῦ. Ἀκοσμότερον δὲ ὁμολογεῖν ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἥττονα τοῦ Λυδίου ψήγματος πῶς οὐκ ἀτοπώτατον; Καθάπερ οὖν καὶ τὸ χρυσίον μιαίνεται τῆς συὸς τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ τῷ ῥύγχει τὸν φορυτὸν ἐκταρασσούσης, οὕτως ἀσελγαίνειν αἱ τρυφητικώτεραι ὑπὸ τῆς περιουσίας ἐπαιρόμεναι τὸ κάλλος τὸ ἀληθινὸν καθυβρίζουσιν ἀφροδισίων μολυσμοῖς. ∆ίδωσιν οὖν αὐταῖς δακτύλιον ἐκ χρυσίου, οὐδὲ τοῦτον εἰς κόσμον, ἀλλ' εἰς τὸ ἀποσημαίνεσθαι τὰ οἴκοι φυλακῆς ἄξια διὰ τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν τῆς οἰκουρίας. Εἰ γὰρ οἱ πάντες ἦσαν παιδαγωγούμενοι, οὐδὲν τῶν σφραγίδων ἔδει ἐπ' ἴσης ὄντων δικαίων καὶ οἰκετῶν καὶ δεσποτῶν· ἐπεὶ δὲ ἡ ἀπαιδευσία πολλὴν ἐνδίδωσι ῥοπὴν εἰς ἀδικίαν, σφρα γίδων ἐδεήθημεν. Ἀλλ' ἔστιν οὗ καθυφεῖναι τοῦ τόνου καιρός. Καὶ γὰρ ἔσθ' ὅτε συγγνωστέον ταῖς οὐκ εὐτυχούσαις περὶ γάμον σώφρονα καὶ τἀνδρὸς διὰ τὴν ἀρέσκειαν κοσμουμέναις. Ὅρος δὲ αὐταῖς ἐπικείσθω ἡ πρὸς μόνους τοὺς ἑαυτῶν ἄνδρας φιλοτιμία. Ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἐβουλόμην τὴν σωματικὴν εὐπρέπειαν ἀσκεῖν αὐτάς, ἐπάγεσθαι δὲ τοὺς γήμαντας φιλανδρίᾳ σώφρονι, βιαστικῷ καὶ δικαίῳ φαρμάκῳ· πλὴν ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ δυστυχεῖν βούλονται τὴν ψυχήν, προκείσθω αὐταῖς, εἴ γε σωφρονεῖν ἐθέλοιεν, τὰς ἀλόγους ὁρμὰς καὶ ἐπιθυμίας τῶν ἀνδρῶν καταπραΰνειν ἠρέμα· ἡσυχῇ δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν λιτότητα ὑπακτέον τῷ πρὸς ὀλίγον πρὸς τὸ σωφρονέστερον ἐθισμῷ. Τὸ γὰρ σεμνὸν κατάστημα οὐ προσθήκῃ τοῦ φορτικοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἀφαιρέσει τοῦ περιττοῦ περιγίγνεται. Καθάπερ οὖν ὠκύπτερα περικοπτέον τῶν γυναικῶν τὰ χρήματα τὰ τρυφητικά, χαυνότητας ἀβεβαίους καὶ κενὰς ἐμποιοῦντα ἡδονάς, ὑφ' ὧν ἐπαιρόμεναι καὶ πτερούμεναι πολλάκις ἀποπέτονται τῶν γάμων. ∆ιὸ καὶ συστέλλειν χρὴ τὰς γυναῖκας κοσμίως καὶ περισφίγγειν αἰδοῖ σώφρονι, μὴ παραρρυῶσι τῆς ἀληθείας διὰ χαυνότητα. Καλὸν μὲν οὖν ταῖς γαμεταῖς πεπιστευκότας ταῖς σφῶν τοὺς ἄνδρας τὴν οἰκουρίαν αὐταῖς ἐπιτρέπειν βοηθοῖς εἰς τοῦτο δε δομέναις. Εἰ δὲ ἄρα δέοι καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐμπολιτευομένους καὶ ἄλλας τινὰς τῶν κατ' ἀγρὸν διοικουμένους πράξεις, πολλάκις δὲ καὶ ἄνευ γυναικῶν γενομένους ὑπὲρ ἀσφαλείας ἀποσφραγίζεσθαί τινα, δίδωσιν καὶ ἡμῖν εἰς τοῦτο μόνον σημαντῆρα, τοὺς δὲ ἄλλους ἀπορριπτέον δακτυλίους, ἐπεὶ κόσμος κατὰ τὴν γραφὴν χρυσοῦς φρονίμῳ παιδεία. Αἱ δὲ χρυσοφοροῦσαι τῶν γυναικῶν δεδιέναι μοι δοκοῦσιν, μή, ἢν ἀφέληταί τις αὐτῶν τὰ χρυσία, δοῦλαι νομισθῶσιν οὐ κοσμούμεναι. Τὸ δὲ εὐγενὲς τῆς ἀληθείας, ἐν τῷ φύσει καλῷ κατὰ ψυχὴν ἐξεταζόμενον, οὐ πράσει καὶ ὠνῇ τὸν δοῦλον, ἀλλὰ τῇ γνώμῃ τῇ ἀνελευθέρῳ διακέκρικεν, ἡμῖν δὲ οὐ φαίνεσθαι ἐλευθέροις, ἀλλὰ εἶναι ἁρμόζει, τοῖς θεῷ μὲν παιδαγωγουμένοις, θεῷ δὲ εἰσπεποιημένοις. ∆ιὸ καὶ στάσιν καὶ κίνησιν καὶ βάδισμα καὶ ἐσθῆτα καὶ ἁπαξαπλῶς τὸν πάντα βίον ὅτι μάλιστα ἐλευθεριώτατον ἐπαναιρετέον. Ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν δακτύλιον οὐκ ἐπ' ἄρθρῳ φορητέον τοῖς ἀνδράσι–γυναικεῖον γὰρ τοῦτο–, εἰς δὲ τὸν μικρὸν δάκτυλον, καὶ τούτου εἰς τοὔσχατον καθιέναι· ἔσται γὰρ οὕτως εὐεργὴς ἡ χείρ, ἐν οἷς αὐτῆς δεόμεθα· καὶ οὐ ῥᾷστα ὁ σημαντὴρ ἀποπεσεῖται τῇ μείζονι τοῦ ἄρθρου συνδέσει φυλαττόμενος. Αἱ δὲ σφραγῖδες ἡμῖν ἔστων πελειὰς ἢ ἰχθὺς ἢ ναῦς οὐριοδρομοῦσα ἢ λύρα μουσική, ᾗ κέχρηται Πολυκράτης, ἢ ἄγκυρα ναυτική, ἣν Σέλευκος ἐνεχαράττετο τῇ γλυφῇ, κἂν ἁλιεύων τις ᾖ, ἀποστόλου μεμνήσεται καὶ τῶν ἐξ ὕδατος ἀνασπωμένων παιδίων· οὐ γὰρ εἰδώλων πρόσωπα ἐναποτυπωτέον, οἷς καὶ τὸ προσέχειν ἀπείρηται, οὐδὲ μὴν ξίφος ἢ τόξον τοῖς εἰρήνην διώκουσιν ἢ κύπελλα τοῖς σωφρονοῦσιν. Πολλοὶ δὲ τῶν ἀκολάστων ἐγγεγλυμμένους ἔχουσι τοὺς ἐρωμένους ἢ τὰς ἑταίρας, ὡς μηδὲ ἐθελήσασιν αὐτοῖς λήθην ποτὲ ἐγγενέσθαι δυνηθῆναι τῶν ἐρωτικῶν παθημάτων διὰ τὴν ἐνδελεχῆ τῆς ἀκολασίας ὑπόμνησιν. Τριχῶν δὲ πέρι ταύτῃ δοκεῖ· ψιλὴ μὲν ἡ τῶν ἀνδρῶν κεφαλή, πλὴν εἰ μὴ οὔλας ἔχοι τὰς τρίχας, λάσιον δὲ τὸ γένειον, αἱ δὲ συνεστραμμέναι τῶν τριχῶν ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς μὴ καθικέσθωσαν ἄγαν εἰς πλοκάμους κατολισθαίνουσαι γυναικείους· ἀπόχρη γὰρ τὸ ἠυγένειον τοῖς ἀνδράσιν. Εἰ δέ τις καὶ κείραιτό τι τοῦ γενείου, οὐ μέντοι παντελῶς ψιλωτέον αὐτό· αἰσχρὸν γὰρ τὸ θέαμα καὶ κατέγνωσται ἡ τοῦ γενείου ἐν χρῷ κουρὰ παρατίλσει καὶ λειότητι γειτνιῶσα. Αὐτίκα γοῦν ὁ ψαλμῳδὸς τοῦ γενείου τερπόμενος τῇ κόμῃ ὡς τὸ μύρον φησὶ τὸ καταβαῖνον ἐπὶ πώγωνα, τὸν πώγωνα τὸν Ἀαρών· τῇ παλινῳδίᾳ τοῦ πώγωνος τὸ εὐπρεπὲς ὑμνήσας πρόσωπον τῷ μύρῳ κατεγάνωσε κυρίου. Ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐχ ὡραϊσμοῦ χάριν ἡ κουρὰ παραληπτέα, διὰ περίστασιν δέ, τὰς μὲν τῆς κεφαλῆς τρίχας ὡς μὴ αὐξόμεναι ταῖς ὄψεσιν ἐμποδίζοιεν καταβαίνουσαι, καὶ ἴσως τὰς ἐπὶ τῷ μύστακι μολυνομένας κατὰ τὴν τροφὴν περικαρτέον, οὐ ξυρῷ–ἀγεννὲς γάρ–, ἀλλὰ ταῖς δυοῖν μαχαίραις ταῖς κουρικαῖς, τὰς δὲ τοῦ γενείου μηδέν τι παραλυπούσας οὐκ ἐνοχλητέον, σεμνότητα μὲν τοῦ προσώπου καὶ καταπλήξεως γεννητικὴν ἐμποιούσας· πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ τὸ σχῆμα παραπαιδαγωγεῖ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν διὰ τὸ εὐεξέλεγκτον, τοῖς δὲ μὴ ἀναφανδὸν ἁμαρτάνειν ἐθέλουσιν τὸ λανθάνον τοῦ σχήματος καὶ μὴ παράσημον ἐπιτερπέστατον, ὑφ' ᾧ δεδυκότες οἷς ἔξεστι δι' ἄγνοιαν πλημμελεῖν τοῖς πολλοῖς ἐξομοιούμενοι τὸ ἁμαρτάνειν ἀδεῶς κεκάρπωνται. Οὐ μόνον οὖν αὐστηρὸν δεικνύει τὸν ἄνδρα τῆς κεφαλῆς τὸ ψιλόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ δυσπαθὲς κατασκευάζει τὸ κρανίον, προσομιλεῖν ἐθίζον καὶ κρύει καὶ καύματι, καὶ τὰς ἀπὸ τούτων διωθεῖται βλάβας, ἃς ἡ κόμη σπόγγου τρόπον εἰς ἑαυτὴν ἀναλαμβάνουσα, ἐγκατασκήπτει τῷ ἐγκεφάλῳ παράμονον ἐκ τῆς νοτίδος τὴν βλάβην. Ταῖς γυναιξὶ δὲ ἀπόχρη μαλάσσειν τὰς τρίχας καὶ ἀναδεῖσθαι τὴν κόμην εὐτελῶς περόνῃ τινὶ λιτῇ παρὰ τὸν αὐχένα, ἀφελεῖ θεραπείᾳ συναυξούσαις εἰς κάλλος γνήσιον τὰς σώφρονας κόμας. Καὶ γὰρ αἱ περιπλοκαὶ τῶν τριχῶν αἱ ἑταιρικαὶ καὶ αἱ τῶν σειρῶν ἀναδέσεις πρὸς τῷ εἰδεχθεῖς αὐτὰς δεικνύναι κόπτουσι τὰς τρίχας, ἀποτίλλουσαι ταῖς πανούργοις ἐμπλοκαῖς, δι' ἃς οὐδὲ θιγγάνουσι τῆς κεφαλῆς τῆς σφῶν αὐτῶν συγχεῖν τὰς τρίχας φοβούμεναι, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁ ὕπνος αὐταῖς μετὰ δέους παραγίνεται, μὴ κατασκύλωσιν λαθοῦσαι τὸ σχῆμα τῆς ἐμπλοκῆς. Ἀλλοτρίων δὲ αἱ προσθέσεις τριχῶν τέλεον ἔκβλητοι, ὀθνείας τε ἐπισκευάζεσθαι τῇ κεφαλῇ τὰς κόμας ἀθεώτατον νεκροῖς ἐνδιδυσκούσας πλοκάμοις τὸ κρανίον· τίνι γὰρ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐπιθήσει χεῖρα; τίνα δὲ εὐλογήσει; Οὐ τὴν γυναῖκα τὴν κεκοσμημένην, ἀλλὰ τὰς ἀλλοτρίας τρίχας καὶ δι' αὐτῶν ἄλλην κεφαλήν. Εἰ δὲ κεφαλὴ γυναικὸς μὲν ἀνήρ, ἀνδρὸς δὲ ὁ Χριστός, πῶς οὐκ ἄθεον διττοῖς αὐτὰς περιπίπτειν ἁμαρτήμασιν; Τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἀπατῶσι, τοὺς ἄνδρας, διὰ τὴν ὑποβολὴν τῆς κόμης, καταισχύνουσι δὲ τὸν κύριον τὸ ὅσον ἐπ' αὐταῖς ἑταιρικῶς κοσμούμεναι εἰς ἀπάτην ἀληθείας καὶ τὴν ὄντως οὖσαν καλὴν βλασφημοῦσαι κεφαλήν. Οὐκοῦν οὐδὲ βαπτέον τὰς τρίχας οὐδὲ μὴν τὰς πολιὰς μεταχρωστέον· οὐδὲ γὰρ τὴν ἐσθῆτα ποικίλλειν συγκεχώρηται· καὶ μάλιστα τὸ γεραιὸν τῆς ἡλικίας καὶ ἀξιόπιστον οὐκ ἐπικαλυπτέον, ἀναδεικτέον δὲ ὑπ' αὐγὰς τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ τίμημα εἰς σέβασμα τῶν νέων· καὶ γὰρ ἀναισχυντοῦσιν ἔσθ' ὅτε πολιᾶς ἐπιφάνεια παιδαγωγοῦ δίκην ἐπιστᾶσα ἐπὶ σωφροσύνην μεθηρμόσατο αὐτοὺς καὶ κατεπλήξατο τῇ στιλπνότητι τῆς ὄψεως τὸ νεάζον τῆς ἐπιθυμίας. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τὰ πρόσωπα ἐντριπτέον αὐταῖς πανούργου σοφίας τερθρεύμασιν· ὑποδείξωμεν δὲ αὐταῖς κομμωτικὴν σώφρονα· κάλλος γὰρ ἄριστον πρῶτον μὲν τὸ ψυχικόν, ὡς πολλάκις ἐπεσημηνάμην, ὅταν ᾖ κεκοσμημένη ψυχὴ ἁγίῳ πνεύματι καὶ τοῖς ἐκ τούτου ἐμπνεομένη φαιδρύσμασιν, δικαιοσύνῃ, φρονήσει, ἀνδρείᾳ, σωφροσύνῃ φιλαγαθίᾳ τε καὶ αἰδοῖ, ἧς οὐδὲν εὐανθέστερον χρῶμα ἑώραται πώ ποτε. Ἔπειτα καὶ τὸ σωματικὸν κάλλος ἠσκήσθω, συμμετρία μελῶν καὶ μερῶν μετ' εὐχροίας. Ἡ κομμωτικὴ τῆς ὑγείας ἐνταῦθα εὔθετος, καθ' ἣν ἡ τοῦ εἰδώλου τοῦ ἐπιπλάστου εἰς τὸ ἀληθὲς μετάβασις κατὰ τὸ σχῆμα τὸ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ δεδομένον περιγίνεται. ∆εινὴ δὲ καλλωπίσαι κατὰ φύσιν ἡ τῶν ποτῶν εὐκρασία καὶ ἡ τῶν σιτίων συμμετρία. Οὐ γὰρ μόνον τὴν ὑγίειαν ἴσχει τὸ σῶμα ἐκ τούτων, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ κάλλος διαφαίνεσθαι ποιεῖ. Ἀπὸ γὰρ τοῦ πυρώδους τὸ στιλπνὸν καὶ μαρμαρυγῶδες περιγίνεται, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ ὑγροῦ τὸ λαμπρὸν καὶ κεχαρισμένον, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ ξηροῦ τὸ ἀνδρῶδες καὶ πάγιον, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ ἀερώδους τὸ εὔπνουν καὶ ἰσοστάσιον, ἐξ ὧν ὁ εὔρυθμος καὶ καλὸς οὗτος ἀνδριὰς τοῦ λόγου κεκόσμηται. Ἄνθος δὲ τῆς ὑγιείας ἐλευθέριον τὸ κάλλος. ἣ μὲν γὰρ ἔνδον τοῦ σώματος ἐργάζεται, τὸ δὲ εἰς τὸ ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος ἐξανθῆσαν φανερὰν ἐνδείκνυται τὴν εὔχροιαν. Αἱ γοῦν κάλλισται καὶ ὑγιεινόταται ἀγωγαὶ διαπονοῦσαι τὰ σώματα τὸ κάλλος τὸ γνήσιον καὶ παράμονον ἐργάζονται, ἕλκοντος ἐφ' ἑαυτὸ τοῦ θερμοῦ τήν τε ἰκμάδα πᾶσαν καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ψυχρόν· ὁλκὸν δὲ εἰς ἑαυτὴν ἡ θερμότης ἐκριπιζομένη κινήσεσιν. Ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἑλκύσῃ, ἀλεαινομένην ἠρέμα δι' αὐτῶν ἀτμίζει τῶν σαρκῶν τὴν ἐκ τῆς τροφῆς περιουσίαν, ποσῇ μὲν τῇ ὑγρότητι, ὑπερβολῇ δὲ θερμότητος. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἡ προτέρα κενοῦται τροφή· ἀκινήτῳ δὲ τῷ σώματι τὸ βρωθὲν σιτίον οὐ προσφύεται, ἀλλὰ ἐκπίπτει, ὥσπερ ἀπὸ ψυχροῦ κλιβάνου ὁ ἄρτος ἢ ὅλος ἢ μόνον ὑπολειπόμενος τὸν πυθμένα. Εἰκότως οὖν τοῖς περιττεύουσι κατὰ τὰς ἀποτρίψεις τὰ οὖρα καὶ τὰ σκύβαλα πλεονάζει, πλεονάζει δὲ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα περιττώματα αὐτοῖς, πρὸς δὲ καὶ οἱ ἱδρῶτες, οὐκ ἀναδιδομένης τῷ σώματι τῆς τροφῆς, ἀλλὰ εἰς τὰ περιττὰ ἐκχεομένης. Ἐντεῦθεν καὶ αἱ λαγνεῖαι ὁρμῶνται, περὶ τὰ παιδοποιίας μόρια ἐπιρρεούσης τῆς περιττείας. ∆ιὸ κινήσεσι συμμέτροις διὸ τηκτέον ταύτην τὴν περιττείαν καὶ εἰς πέψιν ἀναχυτέον, δι' ἧς τὸ κάλλος ἐρυθραίνεται. Ἄτοπον δὲ τοὺς κατ' εἰκόνα καὶ καθ' ὁμοίωσιν θεοῦ γεγονότας ὥσπερ ἀτιμάζοντας τὸ ἀρχέτυπον ἔπηλυν ἐπάγεσθαι κομμωτικήν, τὴν ἀνθρώπειον κακοτεχνίαν πρὸ τῆς θείας αἱρουμένους δημιουργίας. Προσιέναι δὲ αὐτὰς ὁ παιδαγωγὸς κελεύει ἐν καταστολῇ κοσμίῳ, μετὰ αἰδοῦς καὶ σωφροσύνης κοσμεῖν ἑαυτάς, ὑποτασσομένας τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν, ὡς καὶ εἴ τινες ἀπειθοῖεν τῷ λόγῳ, διὰ τῆς τῶν γυναικῶν ἀναστροφῆς ἄνευ λόγου κερδηθήσονται, ἐποπτεύσαντες φησὶ τὴν ἐν λόγῳ ἁγνὴν ἀναστροφὴν ὑμῶν· ὧν ἔστω οὐχ ὁ ἔξωθεν ἐμπλοκῆς καὶ περιθέσεως χρυσίων ἢ ἐνδύσεως ἱματίων κόσμος, ἀλλ' ὁ κρυπτὸς τῆς καρδίας ἄνθρωπος ἐν τῷ ἀφθάρτῳ τοῦ πραέος καὶ ἡσυχίου πνεύματος, ὅ ἐστιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ πολυτελές. Ἡ δὲ αὐτουργία ταῖς γυναιξὶν μάλιστα τὸ γνήσιον ἐπιφέρει κάλλος γυμνάζουσα τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν καὶ σφᾶς αὐτὰς δι' αὑτῶν κοσμοῦσα, οὐ τὸν ὑπ' ἄλλων πεπονημένον προσφέρουσα κόσμον, ἄκοσμον καὶ ἀνελεύθερον καὶ ἑταιρικόν, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἑκάστης σώφρονος γυναικὸς διὰ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῆς, ὁπότε χρῄζοι μάλιστα, ἀσκούμενον καὶ ἐξυφαινόμενον· οὐ γάρ ποτε καθήκει ἐξ ἀγορᾶς ὠνητοῖς, ἀλλὰ τοῖς οἰκουρικοῖς τοῖς ἰδίοις ἔργοις κοσμουμένας φαίνεσθαι τὰς κατὰ θεὸν πολιτευομένας. Κάλλιστον γὰρ ἔργον γυνὴ οἰκουρὸς αὑτήν τε καὶ τὸν ἄνδρα τοῖς ἰδίοις περιβάλλουσα κοσμήμασι, δι' ὧν ἀγάλλονται πάντες, οἱ μὲν παῖδες ἐπὶ τῇ μητρί, ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ τῇ γυναικί, αὕτη δὲ ἐπὶ τούτοις, πάντες δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ. Συλλήβδην γοῦν ταμιεῖον ἀρετῆς ἐστιν ἀνδρεία γυνή, ἥτις σῖτα ὀκνηρὰ οὐκ ἔφαγεν, θεσμοὶ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνης ἐπὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτῆς, ἥτις τὸ στόμα αὐτῆς διήνοιξεν σοφῶς καὶ ἐννόμως, ἧς τὰ τέκνα ἐμακάρισαν ἀνιστάμενα, ὡς διὰ Σολομῶντος λέγει ὁ ἅγιος λόγος, ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ἐνεκωμίασεν. Γυνὴ γὰρ εὐσεβὴς εὐλογεῖται, φόβον δὲ κυρίου αὐτὴ αἰνείτω. Καὶ πάλιν· Γυνὴ ἀνδρεία στέφανος τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς. Ἐπανορθωτέον δὲ ὅτι μάλιστα καὶ τὰ σχήματα καὶ τὰ βλέμματα καὶ τὰ βαδίσματα καὶ τὰς φωνάς. Οὐ γὰρ ὥς τινες τὴν ὑπόκρισιν ζηλοῦσαι τῆς κωμῳδίας καὶ τὰς κατεαγυίας τῶν ὀρχηστῶν κινήσεις παραφυλάττουσαι παρὰ τὰς ὁμιλίας σκηνοβατοῦσιν, αὐτοῖς τοῖς κινήμασιν τοῖς ἁβροῖς καὶ τοῖς ὑγροῖς βαδίσμασιν καὶ φωναῖς ταῖς πεπλασμέναις, κλαδαρὸν περιβλέπουσαι, δέλεαρ ἡδονῆς ἐξησκημέναι. Μέλι γὰρ ἀποστάζει ἀπὸ χειλέων γυναικὸς πόρνης, ἣ πρὸς χάριν λαλοῦσα λιπαίνει σὸν φάρυγγα, ὕστερον μέντοι πικρότερον χολῆς εὑρήσεις καὶ ἠκονημένον μᾶλλον ἢ μάχαιραν δίστομον· τῆς γὰρ ἀφροσύνης οἱ πόδες κατάγουσι τοὺς χρωμένους αὐτῇ μετὰ θανάτου εἰς Ἅιδην. Σαμψὼν γοῦν τὸν γεννάδαν ἡ πόρνη νενίκηκεν, καὶ τὸν ἄνδρα ἔκειρεν αὐτοῦ ἑτέρα γυνή. Ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτως ἠπάτησεν τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἄλλη γυνή, νενίκηται δὲ ἡ πόρνη ἡ Αἰγυπτία, καὶ δεσμὰ σωφροσύνη λαμβάνουσα κρείττων ἀναφαίνεται λελυμένης ἐξουσίας. Ἔχοι δ' ἂν κἀκεῖνο ἄριστα τὸ εἰρημένον· Τὸ δ' ὅλον οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι ἐγὼ ψιθυρίζειν οὐδὲ κατακεκλασμένως πλάγιον ποιήσας τὸν τράχηλον περιπατεῖν, ὥσπερ ἑτέρους ὁρῶ κιναίδους ἐνθάδε πολλοὺς ἐν ἄστει καὶ πεπιττοκοπημένους. Αἱ δὲ γυναικεῖοι κινήσεις καὶ θρύψεις καὶ χλιδαὶ κολουστέαι παντελῶς· τὸ γὰρ ἁβροδίαιτον τῆς περὶ τὸν περίπατον κινήσεως καὶ τὸ σαυλὰ βαίνειν, ὥς φησιν Ἀνακρέων, κομιδῇ ἑταιρικά, ὥς γέ μοι φαίνεται. Ἡ κωμῳδία φησὶν τὰ ἴχνη τὰ ἑταιρικὰ ὥραν ἀπολείπειν καὶ τρυφήν. Ἴχνη δὲ πορνικὰ οὐκ ἐρείδεται εἰς ἀλήθειαν· ὁδοὺς γὰρ ζωῆς οὐκ ἐπέρχεται, σφαλεραὶ δὲ αἱ τροχιαὶ αὐτῆς καὶ οὐκ εὔγνωστοι. Μάλιστα δὲ ὀφθαλμῶν φειστέον, ἐπεὶ τοῖς ποσὶν ἢ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἄμεινον ὀλισθεῖν. Ὁ γοῦν κύριος συντομώτατα ἰᾶται τὸ πάθος τοῦτο, εἰ σκανδαλίζει σε ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου, ἔκκοψον αὐτόν λέγων, ἐκ βάθρων ἀνασπῶν τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν· κλαδαραὶ δὲ ὄψεις καὶ τὸ ἐνιλλώπτειν, ὃ διὰ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν βλεφαρίζειν ἐστίν, οὐδὲν ἀλλ' ἢ διὰ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μοιχεύειν ἐστὶν ἀκροβολιζομένης τῆς ἐπιθυμίας δι' αὐτῶν. Πρὸ γὰρ τοῦ παντὸς σώματος διαφθείρονται οἱ ὀφθαλμοί. Θεωρῶν δὲ καλὰ ὀφθαλμὸς εὐφραίνει καρδίαν, τουτέστι καλῶς μαθὼν θεωρεῖν εὐφραίνει, ἐννεύων δὲ ὀφθαλμὸν μετὰ δόλου συνάγει ἀνδράσι λύπας. Τοιοῦτόν που τὸν θηλυδρίαν Σαρδανάπαλλον, τῶν Ἀσσυρίων τὸν βασιλέα, ἐπὶ κλίνῃ ἀναβάδην ἑζόμενον εἰσάγουσι πορφύραν ξαίνοντα καὶ τὰ λευκὰ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἐπαναβάλλοντα. Αἱ ταῦτα ἐπιτηδεύουσαι γυναῖκες ἰδίαις ὄψεσι προαγωγεύουσιν αὑτάς· Λύχνος γὰρ τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλ μός, φησὶν ἡ γραφή, δι' οὗ καταφαίνεται τὰ ἔνδον φωτὶ τῷ φαινομένῳ καταυγαζόμενα. Πορνεία δὲ γυναικὸς ἐν μετεωρισμῷ ὀφθαλμῶν. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακὴν καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, δι' ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ, ὁ μὲν ἀπόστολος βοᾷ, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀναζωπυροῦμεν τὰ πάθη καὶ οὐκ αἰσχυνόμεθα. Αἳ μὲν αὐτῶν μαστίχην ἐντραγοῦσαι, περιιοῦσαι, σεσήρασι τοῖς παριοῦσιν, αἳ δὲ τὰς κεφαλάς, ὡς μὴ δακτύλους ἔχουσαι, ταῖς ὑπ' αὐτῶν φερομέναις περόναις σκαλεύουσαι θρύπτονται, καὶ ταύτας ἢ χελώνης ἢ ἐλέφαντος ἤ τινος ἄλλου ζῴου νεκροῦ πεποιη μένας πολυπραγμονοῦσιν· ἄλλαι δὲ καθάπερ ἐξανθήματά τινα ἔχουσαι πρὸς εὐπρέπειαν τῶν ὁρώντων εὐανθέσι περιχρίστοις κοσμούμεναι σπιλοῦσι τὰ πρόσωπα τὰ αὑτῶν. Ἄφρονα τὴν τοιαύτην καὶ θρασεῖαν γυναῖκα διὰ Σολομῶντος λέγει, ἣ οὐκ ἐπίσταται αἰσχύνην· ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ θύραις τοῦ ἑαυτῆς οἴκου ἐπὶ δίφρου, ἐμφανῶς προσκαλουμένη τοὺς παριόντας ὁδόν, τοὺς εὐθύνοντας τὰς ἑαυτῶν τροχιάς, διὰ τοῦ σχήματος αὐτῆς καὶ τοῦ βίου παντὸς δηλονότι λέγουσα· Τίς ἐστιν ὑμῶν ἀφρονέστατος; ἐκκλινάτω πρός με. Ἐνδεέσι δὲ φρονήσεως παρακελεύεται λέγουσα· ἄρτων κρυφίων ἡδέως ἅψασθε καὶ ὕδατος κλοπῆς γλυκεροῦ, τὴν ἐπίκλοπον ταύτην Ἀφροδίτην λέγει. Ἐντεῦθεν ὠφελημένος ὁ Βοιώτιος Πίνδαρος γλυκύ τι φησὶν κλεπτόμενον μέλημα Κύπριδος. Ὃ δὲ οὐκ οἶδεν ἄθλιος ὅτι γηγενεῖς παρ' αὐτῇ ὀλοῦνται, καὶ ἐπὶ πέτευρον Ἅιδου συναντᾷ. Ἀλλὰ ἀποπήδησον, φησίν, μὴ χρονίσῃς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ὁ παιδαγωγός, μηδὲ ἐπιστήσῃς τὸ σὸν ὄμμα πρὸς αὐτήν. Οὕτως γὰρ διαβήσῃ ὕδωρ ἀλλότριον καὶ ὑπερβήσῃ τὸν Ἀχέροντα. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος διὰ Ἡσαΐου· Ἀνθ' ὧν ἐπορεύθησαν αἱ θυγατέρες Σιὼν ὑψηλῷ τραχήλῳ καὶ ἐν νεύμασιν ὀφθαλμῶν, καὶ τῇ πορείᾳ ἅμα σύρουσαι τοὺς χιτῶνας καὶ τοῖς ποσὶ παίζουσαι, καὶ ταπεινώσει ὁ θεὸς τὰς θυγατέρας Σιὼν καὶ ἀνακαλύψει τὸ σχῆμα αὐτῶν, τὸ ἄσχημον σχῆμα. Ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδὲ τὰς θεραπαίνας ἀξιῶ τὰς ἐπ' ἀριστερᾶς ταῖς γυναιξὶν ἢ τὰς ἑπομένας αὐταῖς αἰσχρολογεῖν ἢ αἰσχροεργεῖν, σωφρονίζεσθαι δὲ αὐτὰς πρὸς τῶν δεσποινῶν· σφόδρα γοῦν ἐπιτιμητικώτατα ὁ κωμικὸς Φιλήμων φησίν· Ἐξιὼν γυναικὸς ἐξόπισθ' ἐλευθέρας βλέπω μόνην θεράπαιναν κατόπιν ἀκολουθεῖν καλὴν ἐκ τοῦ Πλαταιικοῦ τε παρακολουθοῦντά τινα ταύτῃ κατιλλώπτειν. Ἀναστρέφει γὰρ ἐπὶ τὴν δέσποιναν ἡ τῆς θεραπαίνης ἀκολασία, ἐπιβάθραν ἐνδιδοῦσα τοῖς πειρῶσι τὰ ἥττονα τοῦ μὴ εὐλαβεῖσθαι τὰ μείζονα, διὰ τοῦ συγγιγνώσκειν τοῖς αἰσχροῖς τὸ μὴ καταγιγνώσκειν ἐμφαινούσης τῆς δεσποίνης. Τὸ δὲ μὴ ἐπαγανακτεῖν τοῖς ἀκολασταίνουσιν σαφὲς γίνεται τεκμήριον γνώμης εἰς τὸ ὅμοιον ἐκτρεπομένης. Οἵα γὰρ δέσποινα, φασὶν οἱ παροιμιαζόμενοι, τοιάδε χἀ κύων. Ἀποσκορακιστέον δὲ ἡμῖν καὶ τοῦ περιπάτου τὸ μανιῶδες, τὸ δὲ σεμνὸν καὶ τὸ σχολαῖον ἐκλεκτέον, οὐ τὸ βάδισμα τὸ μελλητικόν, οὐδὲ τὸ ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς σαλεύειν καὶ ἐξυπτιάζοντα παραβλέπειν εἰς τοὺς ἀπαντῶντας, εἰ ἀποβλέπουσιν εἰς αὐτόν, καθάπερ ἐπὶ σκηνῆς ἐμπομ πεύοντα καὶ δακτυλοδεικτούμενον. Οὐδὲ ὑπὸ οἰκετῶν ἀναστρέφεσθαι χρὴ πρὸς τὸ σιμὸν ὠθουμένους, ὥσπερ τοὺς τρυφητικωτέρους ὁρῶμεν, ἐρρωμένους εἶναι δοκοῦντας, ὑπὸ μαλακίας δὲ ψυχικῆς διατεθρυμμένους. Ἀνδρὸς δὲ γενναίου σημεῖον οὐδὲν εἶναι δεῖ περιφανὲς ἐν τῷ προσώπῳ μαλακίας, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἐν ἑτέρῳ μέρει τοῦ σώματος. Μὴ τοίνυν μηδὲ ἐν κινήσεσιν μηδὲ ἐν σχέσεσιν εὑρεθείη ποθ' ἡ ἀσχημοσύνη τῆς ἀνανδρίας. Οὐδὲ μὴν καθάπερ ὑποζυγίοις τοῖς οἰκέταις χρηστέον τῷ ὑγιαίνοντι. Ὡς γάρ τοι ἐκείνοις παραγγέλλεται παντὶ φόβῳ τοῖς δεσπόταις, οὐ μόνον τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς καὶ ἐπιεικέσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς σκολιοῖς ὑποτάσσεσθαι, φησὶν ὁ Πέτρος, οὕτως ἡ ἰσότης καὶ ἡ μακροθυμία καὶ ἡ φιλανθρωπία τοῖς δεσπόταις εὐάρμοστος. Τὸ γὰρ τέλος, φησί, πάντες ὁμόφρονες, συμπαθεῖς, φιλάδελφοι, εὔσπλαγχνοι, ταπεινόφρονες καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τούτοις, ἵνα εὐλογίαν κληρο νομήσητε. Καλήν τινα καὶ ἀξιέραστον ὑπογράφειν ὁ Κιτιεὺς ἔοικεν Ζήνων εἰκόνα νεανίᾳ καὶ οὕτως αὐτὸν ἀνδριαντουργεῖ· ἔστω, φησί, καθαρὸν τὸ πρόσωπον, ὀφρὺς μὴ καθειμένη, μηδὲ ὄμμα ἀναπεπταμένον μηδὲ διακεκλασμένον, μὴ ὕπτιος ὁ τράχηλος, μηδὲ ἀνιέμενα τὰ τοῦ σώματος μέλη, ἀλλὰ τὰ μετέωρα ἐντόνοις ὅμοια, ὀρθόνους πρὸς τὸν λόγον ὀξύτης, καὶ κατοκωχὴ τῶν ὀρθῶς εἰρημένων, καὶ σχηματισμοὶ καὶ κινήσεις μηδὲν ἐνδιδοῦσαι τοῖς ἀκολάστοις ἐλπίδος. Αἰδὼς μὲν ἐπανθείτω καὶ ἀρρενωπία· ἀπέστω δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀπὸ τῶν μυροπωλίων καὶ χρυσοχοείων καὶ ἐριοπωλίων ἄλυς καὶ ὁ ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐργαστηρίων, ἔνθα ἑταιρικῶς κεκοσμημένοι, ὥσπερ αἱ ἐπὶ τέγους καθεζόμεναι, διημερεύουσι. Μὴ τοίνυν μηδὲ οἱ ἄνδρες ἐπὶ τῶν κουρείων καὶ καπηλείων διατρίβοντες ἀδολεσχούντων στωμυλευόμενοι, καὶ τὰς παριούσας θηρώμενοι γυναῖκας παυσάσθων ποτέ· πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ βλασφημοῦντες εἰς γέλωτα οὐ παύονται. Κωλυτέα γε μὴν ἔτι καὶ ἡ διὰ τῶν κύβων παιδιά, πρὸς δὲ καὶ ἡ διὰ τῶν ἀστραγάλων μελέτη πλεονεξίας, ἣν μεταχειρίζεσθαι φιλοῦσι. Τοιαῦτά τινα τῆς τρυφῆς τὸ ἀταμίευτον αὐτοῖς κακοσχολοῦσιν ἐξευρίσκει· αἰτία γὰρ ἡ ἀργία· ματαίων δέ τις ἐρᾷ τῶν ἐκτὸς τῆς ἀληθείας ὄντων· οὐ γὰρ ἔστι καὶ ἄλλως θυμηδίαν ἄνευ βλάβης κτήσασθαι· τῆς δὲ ἑκάστου τῶν ἀνθρώπων διανοίας μίμησίς ἐστιν ἡ τοῦ βίου προαίρεσις. Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔοικεν, μόναι αἱ μετὰ τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀνδρῶν συναναστροφαὶ ὠφελοῦσιν. Ἔμπαλιν γοῦν τὴν μετὰ τῶν φαύλων συνδιαίτησιν ἀνθρώπων ὑώδη γνωρίζων ὁ πάνσοφος διὰ Μωυσέως παιδαγωγὸς χοιρείων ἀπηγόρευσεν μεταλαμβάνειν τῷ λαῷ τῷ πρεσβυτέρῳ, ἐμφαίνων μὴ δεῖν τοὺς θεὸν ἐπιβοωμένους ἀκαθάρτοις ἀναμίγνυσθαι ἀνθρώποις, οἳ δίκην ὑῶν ἡδοναῖς σωματικαῖς καὶ δεισαλέαις τροφαῖς καὶ γαργαλισμοῖς ἀσελγέσι κνηστιῶντες πρὸς ἀφροδίτην κα κόχαρτον ἡδονὴν χαίρουσιν. Ἀλλ' οὐδ' ἴκτινα ἢ ὠκύπτερον μαστοφαγῆ ἢ αἰετὸν φαγεῖν φησιν, οὐκ ἐγγιεῖς, λέγων, τοῖς δι' ἁρπαγῆς τὸν βίον ποριζομένοις· καὶ τὰ ἄλλα δὲ ὁμοίως ἀλληγορεῖται. Τίσιν οὖν οἰκειωτέον; τοῖς δικαίοις, πάλιν ἀλληγορῶν φησιν. Πᾶν γὰρ διχηλοῦν καὶ μαρυκώμενον καθαρόν ἐστιν, ὅτι τὸ διχηλοῦν δικαιοσύνην ἐμφαίνει τὴν ἰσοστάσιον μηρυκάζουσαν τὴν οἰκείαν δικαιοσύνης τροφήν, τὸν λόγον ἔκτοσθεν μὲν εἰσιόντα κατὰ ταὐτὰ τῇ τροφῇ διὰ κατηχήσεως, ἔνδοθεν δὲ ἀναπεμπόμενον ὥσπερ ἐκ κοιλίας τῆς διανοίας εἰς ἀνάμνησιν λογικήν. Μηρυκάζει δὲ ὁ δίκαιος τὴν πνευματικὴν τροφὴν ἀνὰ στόμα ἔχων τὸν λόγον, καὶ διχηλεῖ ἡ δικαιοσύνη εἰκότως, κἀνταῦθα ἁγιάζουσα καὶ εἰς τὸν μέλλοντα παραπέμπουσα αἰῶνα. Οὐκοῦν οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τὰς θέας ὁ παιδαγωγὸς ἄξει ἡμᾶς, οὐδὲ ἀπεικότως τὰ στάδια καὶ τὰ θέατρα καθέδραν λοιμῶν προσείποι τις ἄν· βουλὴ γὰρ κἀνταῦθα πονηρὰ καθάπερ καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ δικαίῳ, διὸ καταρᾶται ὁ ἐπ' αὐτῷ σύλλογος. Πεπλήθασι γοῦν πολλῆς ἀταξίας καὶ παρανομίας αἱ συναγωγαὶ αὗται, καὶ αἱ προφάσεις τῆς συνηλύσεως ἀκοσμίας ἐστὶν αἰτία ἀναμὶξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ γυναικῶν συνιόντων ἐπὶ τὴν ἀλλήλων θέαν. Ἐνταῦθα ἤδη περπερεύεται τὸ συνέδριον. Λιχνευούσης γὰρ τῆς ὄψεως χλιαίνονται αἱ ὀρέξεις, καὶ ἰταμώτερον βλέπειν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ πρὸς τοὺς πλησίον ἐθιζόμενοι τῷ ἔχειν σχολὴν ἐφειμένην ἐκφλέγουσι τὰς ἐρωτικὰς ἐπιθυμίας. Ἀπειρήσθων οὖν καὶ αἱ θέαι καὶ τὰ ἀκροάματα βωμολοχίας καὶ σπερμολογίας πολλῆς γέμοντα. Τί μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ἐπι δείκνυνται αἰσχρὸν ἔργον ἐν θεάτροις; Τί δ' οὐ προφέρονται ῥῆμα ἀναίσχυντον οἱ γελωτοποιοί; Οἱ δὲ ἀπολαύσαντες τῆς ἐν αὐτοῖς κακίας ἐναργεῖς οἴκοι ἀπομάσσονται τὰς εἰκόνας, ἔμπαλιν δὲ οἱ πρὸς ταῦτα ἀκήλητοι καὶ ἀπαθεῖς οὐκ ἂν περὶ τὰς ῥᾳθύμους ἡδονὰς σφαλεῖέν ποτε. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει παραλαμβάνεσθαι φήσουσι τὰς θέας εἰς θυμηδίαν, οὐ σωφρονεῖν φήσαιμ' ἂν τὰς πόλεις, αἷς καὶ τὸ παίζειν σπουδάζεται. Οὐκέτι γὰρ παιδιαὶ αἱ φιλοδοξίαι ἀνηλεεῖς εἰς τοσοῦτον θανατῶσαι, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ αἱ κενοσπουδίαι καὶ αἱ ἀλόγιστοι φιλοτιμίαι, πρὸς δὲ καὶ αἱ μάταιοι καταναλώσεις τῆς οὐσίας, οὐδὲ μὴν αἱ ἐπὶ τούτοις στάσεις ἔτι παιδιαί. Τὸ δὲ ῥᾳθυμεῖν οὐδέποτε ὠνητέον κενοσπουδίᾳ. Οὐ γὰρ πρὸ τοῦ βελτίονος ἕλοιτο ἄν ποτε ὁ νοῦν ἔχων τὸ ἥδιον. Ἀλλ' οὐ πάντες, φησί, φιλοσοφοῦμεν. Μή τι οὖν οὐδὲ πάντες τὴν ζωὴν μετερχόμεθα; Τί σὺ λέγεις; Πῶς οὖν πεπίστευκας; Πῶς δὲ ἔτι ἀγαπᾷς τὸν θεὸν καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου μὴ φιλοσοφῶν; Πῶς δὲ σεαυτὸν ἀγαπᾷς, εἰ μὴ φιλοζωεῖς; Γράμματα, φησίν, οὐκ ἔμαθον. Ἀλλ' εἰ μὴ τὸ ἀναγιγνώσκειν ἔμαθες, τὸ ἀκούειν ἀναπολόγητον, ὅτι μὴ διδακτόν· πίστις δὲ οὐ σοφῶν τῶν κατὰ κόσμον, ἀλλὰ τῶν κατὰ θεόν ἐστιν τὸ κτῆμα· ἣ δὲ καὶ ἄνευ γραμμάτων ἐκπαιδεύεται, καὶ τὸ σύγγραμμα αὐτῆς τὸ ἰδιωτικὸν ἅμα καὶ θεῖον ἀγάπη κέκληται, σύνταγμα πνευματικόν. Ἐξὸν δὲ ἀκροᾶσθαι μὲν σοφίας θεϊκῆς, ἀλλὰ καὶ πολιτεύσασθαι ἐξόν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ ἐν κόσμῳ κοσμίως κατὰ θεὸν ἀγαγεῖν οὐ κεκώλυται. Καὶ ὁ πωλῶν τι ἢ ὠνούμενος μή ποτε εἴπῃ δύο τιμάς, ὧν ἂν ἢ ὠνῆται ἢ πιπράσκῃ, ἁπλῆν δὲ εἰπὼν καὶ ἀληθεύειν μελετῶν, ἂν μὴ τυγχάνῃ ταύτης, τυγχάνων τῆς ἀληθείας πλουτεῖ τῇ διαθέσει τῇ ὀρθῇ. Ἔπαινος δὲ ὅρκος τε περὶ παντὸς τοῦ πωλουμένου ἀπέστω, ἀπέστω δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὁ ὅρκος. Καὶ ταύτῃ φιλοσοφούντων οἱ ἀγοραῖοι καὶ οἱ κάπηλοι· Οὐ γὰρ λήψῃ τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου ἐπὶ ματαίῳ, οὐ γὰρ μὴ καθαρίσῃ κύριος τὸν λαμβάνοντα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ ματαίῳ. Τοὺς δὲ παρὰ ταῦτα πράττοντας, τοὺς φιλαργύρους, τοὺς ψεύστας, τοὺς ὑποκριτάς, τοὺς καπηλεύοντας τὴν ἀλήθειαν, τῆς πατρῴας ἐξέβαλεν αὐλῆς ὁ κύριος, μὴ βουλόμενος ἀδίκου ἐμπορίας ἢ λόγων ἢ τῶν ἐξ ὕλης κτημάτων οἶκον εἶναι τὸν οἶκον τοῦ θεοῦ τὸν ἅγιον. Ἐπὶ δὲ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἀκτέον τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὸν ἄνδρα ἐστολισμένους κοσμίως, ἀπλάστῳ βαδίσματι, ἐχεμυθίαν ἀσπαζομένους, ἀγάπην ἀνυπόκριτον κεκτημένους, ἁγνοὺς τὰ σώματα, ἁγνοὺς τὰς καρδίας, ἐπιτηδείους προσ εύξασθαι τῷ θεῷ. Πλεῖον τοῦτο ἐχέτω ἡ γυνή· κεκαλύφθω τὰ πάντα, πλὴν εἰ μὴ οἴκοι τύχοι· σεμνὸν γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα καὶ ἀκατάσκοπον· καὶ οὔποτε αὐτὴ σφαλήσεται πρὸ τῶν ὀμμάτων τὴν αἰδῶ καὶ τὴν ἀμπεχόνην θεμένη οὐδὲ ἄλλον εἰς ὄλισθον ἁμαρτίας ἐκκαλέσεται τὸ πρόσωπον ἀπογυμνουμένη. Τοῦτο γὰρ ὁ λόγος βούλεται, ἐπεὶ πρέπον αὐτῇ ἐγκεκαλυμμένῃ προσεύχεσθαι. Τὴν δὲ Αἰνεία γυναῖκά φασι δι' ὑπερβολὴν σεμνότητος μηδὲ τῆς Τροίας ἁλισκομένης περιδεᾶ γενομένην ἀποκαλύψασθαι, ἀλλὰ καίτοι φεύγουσαν ἐκ τῆς ἐκπυρώσεως μεῖναι συγκεκαλυμμένην. Τοιούτους δὲ ἐχρῆν παρ' ὅλον τὸν βίον φαίνεσθαι καὶ διαπλάττεσθαι τοὺς Χριστῷ τελουμένους οἵους σφᾶς ἐν ἐκκλησίαις ἐπὶ τὸ σεμνότερον σχηματίζουσιν, καὶ εἶναι, μὴ δοκεῖν εἶναι, τοιούτους, οὕτως πραεῖς, οὕτως εὐλαβεῖς, ἀγαπητικοὺς οὕτως· νυνὶ δὲ οὐκ οἶδ' ὅπως συμμεταβάλλονται τοῖς τόποις καὶ τὰ σχήματα καὶ τοὺς τρόπους, καθάπερ καὶ τοὺς πολύποδας ταῖς πέτραις φασὶν ἐξομοιουμένους, αἷς ἂν προσομιλῶσιν, τοιούτους φαίνεσθαι καὶ τὴν χροιάν. Τὸ γοῦν τῆς συναγωγῆς ἔνθεον μετὰ τὴν ἐνθένδε ἀπαλλαγὴν ἀποθέμενοι τοῖς πολλοῖς ἐξομοιοῦνται, μεθ' ὧν καὶ διαιτῶνται· μᾶλλον δὲ ἐλέγχονται, τὴν ἐπίπλαστον ἀποθέμενοι τῆς σεμνότητος ὑπόκρισιν, οἷοι ὄντες ἐλελήθεσαν· καὶ τὸν περὶ θεοῦ λόγον σεβασάμενοι καταλελοίπασιν ἔνδον οὗ ἤκουσαν, ἔξωθεν δὲ ἄρα μετὰ τῶν ἀθέων ἀλύουσι, κρουμάτων καὶ τερετισμάτων ἐρωτικῶν αὐλῳδίας τε καὶ κρότου καὶ μέθης καὶ παντὸς ἀναπιμπλάμενοι συρφετοῦ· τοῦτο δὴ ᾄδοντες καὶ ἀντᾴδοντες αὐτοὶ οἱ πρόσθεν ἐξυμνοῦντες ἀθανασίαν, ἐπὶ τέλει τὴν ἐξωλεστάτην κακοὶ κακῶς ψάλλοντες παλινῳδίαν· Φάγωμεν καὶ πίωμεν, αὔριον γὰρ ἀποθνῄσκομεν. Οἳ δὲ οὐκ αὔριον ἀληθῶς, ἀλλ' ἤδη τεθνήκασι τῷ θεῷ, θάπτοντες τοὺς σφετέρους νεκρούς, τουτέστιν αὑτοὺς εἰς θάνατον κατορύττοντες. Ἀντιτάσσεται δὲ αὐτοῖς εὖ μάλα ἐρρωμένως ὁ ἀπόστολος· Μὴ πλανᾶσθε· οὔτε μοιχοὶ οὔτε μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται οὔτε κλέπται οὔτε πλεονέκται, οὐ μέθυσοι, οὐ λοίδοροι, καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα τούτοις ἐπᾴδει, βασιλείαν θεοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν. Εἰ δὲ καὶ εἰς βασιλείαν θεοῦ κεκλήμεθα, ἀξίως τῆς βασιλείας πολιτευώμεθα θεὸν ἀγαπῶντες καὶ τὸν πλησίον. Ἀγάπη δὲ οὐκ ἐν φιλήματι, ἀλλ' ἐν εὐνοίᾳ κρίνεται. Οἳ δὲ οὐδὲν ἀλλ' ἢ φιλήματι καταψοφοῦσι τὰς ἐκκλησίας, τὸ φιλοῦν ἔνδον οὐκ ἔχοντες αὐτό. Καὶ γὰρ δὴ καὶ τοῦτο ἐκπέπληκεν ὑπονοίας αἰσχρᾶς καὶ βλασφημίας τὸ ἀνέδην χρῆσθαι τῷ φιλήματι, ὅπερ ἐχρῆν εἶναι μυστικόν–ἅγιον αὐτὸ κέκληκεν ὁ ἀπόστολος–, † ἀποφαινομένης ἀξίως τῆς βασιλείας πολιτευώμεθα τῆς ψυχῆς τὴν εὔνοιαν διὰ στόματος σώφρονος καὶ μεμυκότος, δι' οὗ μάλιστα δείκνυται τρόπος ἥμερος. Ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλο ἄναγνον φίλημα, πλῆρες ἰοῦ, ἁγιωσύνην ὑποκρινόμενον. Ἦ οὐκ ἴστε ὅτι καὶ τὰ φαλάγγια προσαπτόμενα μόνον τῷ στόματι ὀδύναις ἐπιτρίβει τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, φιλήματα δὲ πολλάκις ἐνίησιν ἰὸν ἀκολασίας; Σαφὲς τοίνυν ἡμῖν γεγένηται ὡς οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγάπη τὸ φίλημα· ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστίν. Αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ, φησὶν Ἰωάννης, ἵνα τὰς ἐντολὰς τηρήσωμεν, οὐχ ἵνα σαίνωμεν ἀλλήλους ἐν τῷ στόματι, καὶ αἱ ἐντολαὶ αὐτοῦ βαρεῖαι οὐκ εἰσίν. Ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ οἱ κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς τῶν ἀγαπητῶν ἀσπασμοὶ παρρησίας ἀνοήτου γέμοντες καταφανῶν τοῖς ἐκτὸς εἶναι βουλομένων οὐδὲ ἐλαχίστης μετέχουσι χάριτος. Εἰ γὰρ ἐν τῷ ταμιείῳ μυστικῶς προσεύχεσθαι τῷ θεῷ δίκαιον, ἑπόμενον ἂν εἴη καὶ τὸν πλησίον, ὃν δεύτερον ἀγαπᾶν κελευόμεθα, ὁμοίως τῷ θεῷ καὶ μυστικῶς φιλοφρονεῖσθαι ἔνδοθεν ἐξαγοραζομένους τὸν καιρόν· τὸ γὰρ ἅλας τῆς γῆς ἡμεῖς, ὃς δ' ἂν εὐλογῇ, φησί, φίλον τὸ πρωῒ μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ, καταρωμένου οὐδὲν διαφέρειν δόξει. ∆οκεῖ δὲ ὑπὲρ πάντα τῆς τῶν γυναικῶν ὄψεως ἀπεστράφθαι. Οὐ γὰρ ἁψαμένους μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ θεασαμένους ἔστιν ἁμαρτεῖν, ὃ μάλιστα ἀποφεύγειν χρὴ τὸν γνησίως παιδαγωγούμενον. Οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ γάρ σου ὀρθὰ βλεπέτωσαν, τὰ δὲ βλέφαρα νευέτω δίκαια· μὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἐξὸν καὶ ἰδόντα καρτερεῖν; Ἀλλὰ τὸ ἐμπεσεῖν φυλακτέον. ∆υνατὸν γὰρ ἰδόντα ὀλισθεῖν, ἀμήχανον δὲ μὴ ἰδόντα ἐπιθυμεῖν. Οὐ γὰρ τὸ καθαρεύειν μόνον ἀπόχρη τοῖς σώφροσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἐκτὸς εἶναι τοῦ ψόγου σπουδαστέον πᾶσαν ἀποκλείσαντας ὑπονοίας αἰτίαν πρὸς συγκεφαλαίωσιν ἁγνείας, ὡς μὴ μόνον εἶναι ἡμᾶς πιστούς, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀξιοπίστους φανῆναι. Καὶ γὰρ οὖν καὶ τοῦτο παραφυλακτέον, ὥς φησιν ὁ ἀπόστολος, μή τις ἡμᾶς μωμήσηται· προνοούμενοι γὰρ καλὰ οὐ μόνον ἐνώπιον κυρίου, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνώπιον ἀνθρώπων. Ἀπόστρεψον δὲ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἀπὸ γυναικὸς κεχαριτωμένης, καὶ μὴ καταμάνθανε κάλλος ἀλλότριον, φησὶν ἡ γραφή. Κἂν πύθῃ τὴν αἰτίαν, προσεπεξηγήσεταί σοι· ἐν γὰρ κάλλει γυναικὸς πολλοὶ ἀπεπλανήθησαν, καὶ ἐκ τούτου φιλία ὡς πῦρ ἀνακαίεται, εἰς πῦρ ἄγουσα ἀκατάπαυστον διὰ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἡ ἐκ πυρὸς ὁρμωμένη φιλία, ἣν ἔρωτα κεκλήκασιν.