Chapter XIII.

The beauty of wisdom is made plain by the divine testimony. From this he goes on to prove its connection with the other virtues.

64. Is there any one who would like to be beautiful in face and at the same time to have its charm spoilt by a beast-like body and fearful talons? Now the form of virtues is so wonderful and glorious, and especially the beauty of wisdom, as the whole of the Scriptures tell us. For it is more brilliant than the sun, and when compared with the stars far outshines any constellation. Night takes their light away in its train, but wickedness cannot overcome wisdom.447    Wisd. vii. 29, 30.

65. We have spoken of its beauty, and proved it by the witness of Scripture. It remains to show on the authority of Scripture448    Wisd. vii. 22, 23. that there can be no fellowship between it and vice, but that it has an inseparable union with the rest of the virtues. “It has a spirit sagacious, undefiled, sure, holy, loving what is good, quick, that never forbids a kindness, kind, steadfast, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things.” And again:449    Wisd. viii. 7. “She teacheth temperance and justice and virtue.”

85 CAPUT XIII.

Declarata divinis testimoniis sapientiae pulchritudine, ad probandam ejus cum virtutibus aliis societatem transit oratio.

0119C 64. Quis igitur tanquam vultu speciem praeferat pulchritudinis, et belluinis posterioribus ac ferinis unguibus formae superioris dehonestet gratiam; cum tam admirabilis et praeclara forma virtutum sit, et specialiter pulchritudo sapientiae, sicut series Scripturae indicat? Est enim haec speciosior sole, et super omnem stellarum dispositionem luci comparata invenitur prior. Lucem etenim hanc suscipit nox, sapientiam autem non vincit malitia (Sap. VII, 29).

65. Diximus de ejus pulchritudine, et Scripturae testimonio comprobavimus: superest ut doceamus Scripturae auctoritate nullum ei contubernium cum vitiis esse, sed inviduam cum caeteris virtutibus conjunctionem: cujus spiritus est disertus, sine inquinamento, certus, sanctus, amans bonum, acutus, 0120A qui nihil vetet benefacere, benignus, stabilis, securus, omnem habens virtutem, omnia prospiciens (Sap. VII, 22 et seq.). Et infra: Sobrietatem docet, et justitiam et virtutem (Sap. VIII, 7).