XVI.  For there are eunuchs which were made eunuchs from their mother’s womb, etc.  I should very much like to be able to say something bold about eunuchs.  Be not proud, ye who are eunuchs by nature.  For, in point of self-restraint, this is perhaps unwilling.  For it has not come to the test, nor has your self-restraint been proved by trial.  For the good which is by nature is not a subject of merit; that which is the result of purpose is laudable.  What merit has fire for burning, for it is its nature to burn?  What merit has water for falling, a property given to it by its Maker?  What thanks does the snow get for its coldness, or the sun for its shining?—It shines even if it does not wish.  Claim merit if you please by willing the better things.  You will claim it if, being carnal, you make yourself spiritual; if, while drawn down by the leaden flesh, you receive wings from reason; if though lowly born, you are found to be heavenly; if while chained down to the flesh, you shew yourself superior to the flesh.

Ι#2ʹ. Εἰσὶ γὰρ εὐνοῦχοι, οἵτινες ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς εὐνουχίσθησαν, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς. Σφόδρα ἐβουλόμην ἀνδρικόν τι περὶ τῶν εὐνούχων ἔχειν εἰπεῖν. Μὴ μέγα φρονεῖτε, οἱ ἐκ φύσεως εὐνοῦχοι. Τὸ γὰρ τῆς σωφροσύνης, ἴσως ἀκούσιον. Οὐ γὰρ ἦλθεν εἰς βάσανον, οὐδὲ τὸ σωφρονεῖν ἐδοκιμάσθη διὰ τῆς πείρας. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐκ φύσεως ἀγαθὸν, ἀδόκιμον: τὸ δ' ἐκ προαιρέσεως, ἐπαινετόν. Τίς πυρὶ χάρις τοῦ καίειν; τὸ γὰρ καίειν ἐκ φύσεως ἔχει. Τίς ὕδατι τοῦ κάτω φέρεσθαι; τοῦτο γὰρ ἔχει παρὰ τοῦ δημιουργήσαντος. Τίς χιόνι τῆς ψυχρότητος χάρις; ἢ τῷ ἡλίῳ τοῦ φαίνειν; Φαίνει γὰρ κἂν μὴ βούληται. Χαρίζου μοι τὸ βούλεσθαι τὰ βελτίονα. Χαρίζῃ δὲ, ἐὰν σὰρξ γενόμενος, πνευματικὸς γένῃ: ἐὰν τῇ μολίβδι τῆς σαρκὸς ἑλκόμενος, πτερωθῇς ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου: ἐὰν οὐράνιος εὑρεθῇς, ταπεινὸς γεγονώς: ἐὰν σαρκὶ συνδεθεὶς, ὑπὲρ σάρκα φανῇς.