On the Apparel of Women.

 Book I

 Chapter I.—Introduction.  Modesty in Apparel Becoming to Women, in Memory of the Introduction of Sin into the World Through a Woman.

 For they, withal, who instituted them are assigned, under condemnation, to the penalty of death,—those angels, to wit, who rushed from heaven on the d

 I am aware that the Scripture of Enoch, which has assigned this order (of action) to angels, is not received by some, because it is not admitted into

 Chapter IV.—Waiving the Question of the Authors, Tertullian Proposes to Consider the Things on Their Own Merits.

 Chapter V.—Gold and Silver Not Superior in Origin or in Utility to Other Metals.

 Chapter VI.—Of Precious Stones and Pearls.

 Chapter VII.—Rarity the Only Cause Which Makes Such Things Valuable.

 Chapter VIII.—The Same Rule Holds with Regard to Colours.  God’s Creatures Generally Not to Be Used, Except for the Purposes to Which He Has Appointed

 Chapter IX.—God’s Distribution Must Regulate Our Desires, Otherwise We Become the Prey of Ambition and Its Attendant Evils.

 Book II

 Chapter I.—Introduction.  Modesty to Be Observed Not Only in Its Essence, But in Its Accessories.

 Chapter II.—Perfect Modesty Will Abstain from Whatever Tends to Sin, as Well as from Sin Itself.  Difference Between Trust and Presumption.  If Secure

 Chapter III.—Grant that Beauty Be Not to Be Feared:  Still It is to Be Shunned as Unnecessary and Vainglorious.

 Chapter IV.—Concerning the Plea of “Pleasing the Husband.”

 Chapter V.—Some Refinements in Dress and Personal Appearance Lawful, Some Unlawful.  Pigments Come Under the Latter Head.

 Chapter VI.—Of Dyeing the Hair.

 Chapter VII.—Of Elaborate Dressing of the Hair in Other Ways, and Its Bearing Upon Salvation.

 Chapter VIII.—Men Not Excluded from These Remarks on Personal Adornment.

 Chapter IX.—Excess in Dress, as Well as in Personal Culture, to Be Shunned.  Arguments Drawn from I Cor. VII.

 It was God, no doubt, who showed the way to dye wools with the juices of herbs and the humours of conchs!  It had escaped Him, when He was bidding the

 Chapter XI.—Christian Women, Further, Have Not the Same Causes for Appearing in Public, and Hence for Dressing in Fine Array as Gentiles.  On the Cont

 Chapter XII.—Such Outward Adornments Meretricious, and Therefore Unsuitable to Modest Women.

 Chapter XIII.—It is Not Enough that God Know Us to Be Chaste:  We Must Seem So Before Men.  Especially in These Times of Persecution We Must Inure Our

Chapter VI.—Of Dyeing the Hair.

I see some (women) turn (the colour of) their hair with saffron.  They are ashamed even of their own nation, (ashamed) that their procreation did not assign them to Germany and to Gaul:  thus, as it is, they transfer their hair106    Jam capillos:  so Oehler and Rig.  But the others read patriam capillo:  “they change their country by the instrumentality of their hair.” (thither)!  Ill, ay, most ill, do they augur for themselves with their flame-coloured head,107    Comp. ad Ux., b. i. c. vi. and think that graceful which (in fact) they are polluting!  Nay, moreover, the force of the cosmetics burns ruin into the hair; and the constant application of even any undrugged moisture, lays up a store of harm for the head; while the sun’s warmth, too, so desirable for imparting to the hair at once growth and dryness, is hurtful.  What “grace” is compatible with “injury?”  What “beauty” with “impurities?”  Shall a Christian woman heap saffron on her head, as upon an altar?108    Aram.  For, whatever is wont to be burned to the honour of the unclean spirit, that—unless it is applied for honest, and necessary, and salutary uses, for which God’s creature was provided—may seem to be a sacrifice.  But, however, God saith, “Which of you can make a white hair black, or out of a black a white?”109    See Matt. v. 36.  And so they refute the Lord!  “Behold!” say they, “instead of white or black, we make it yellow,—more winning in grace.”110    Gratia faciliorem.  And yet such as repent of having lived to old age do attempt to change it even from white to black!  O temerity!  The age which is the object of our wishes and prayers blushes (for itself)! a theft is effected! youth, wherein we have sinned,111    Comp. Ps. xxv. 7 (in LXX. xxiv. 7). is sighed after! the opportunity of sobriety is spoiled!  Far from Wisdom’s daughters be folly so great!  The more old age tries to conceal itself, the more will it be detected.  Here is a veritable eternity, in the (perennial) youth of your head!  Here we have an “incorruptibility” to “put on,”112    Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 53. with a view to the new house of the Lord113    Comp. 2 Cor. v. 1. which the divine monarchy promises!  Well do you speed toward the Lord; well do you hasten to be quit of this most iniquitous world,114    Sæculo. to whom it is unsightly to approach (your own) end!

CAPUT VI.

Video quasdam capillum croco vertere, pudet eas etiam nationis suae, quod non Germanae aut Gallae sint procreatae; ita patriam capillo transferunt ; male ac pessime sibi auspicantur flammeo capite , et decorum putant, quod inquinant. Atquin et detrimentum crinibus medicaminum vis inurit et cerebro perniciem, etiam cujuslibet sinceri humoris assiduitas reservat, tum solis animando simul et siccando capillo exoptabilis ardor . Quis decor cum injuria? quae cum immunditiis pulchritudo? Crocum 1322B capiti suo mulier christiana ingeret, ut in aram? Quodcumque enim immundo spiritui excremari solet, id nisi probis et necessariis et salutaribus usibus adhibeatur, ad quod creatura Dei prospecta est, sacrifificium videri potest. Sed enim Dominus ait: Quis vestrum potest capillum atrum ex albo facere, aut album ex atro (Matt., V, 36)? Itaque revincunt Deum; ecce, inquiunt, pro albo vel atro flavum facimus gratia faciliorem; quamvis et atrum ex albo conantur facere, quas poeniteat ad senectam usque vixisse. Pro temeritatem! erubescit aetas exoptata votis , furtum confitetur , adolescentia, in qua delinquimus, suspiratur, occasio gravitatis interpolatur. Absit a sapientiae filiabus stultitia tanta. Senectus, cum plus occultari studuerit, plus detegetur . Haec est aeternitas 1322C nostra de capitis juventute . Hanc incorruptibilem habemus semper induere ad domum Domini, 1323A quam ἀκακία pollicetur . Bene properatis ad Dominum, bene festinatis excedere de isto iniquissimo saeculo, quibus in fine appropinquare deforme est.