1. I do not conceive that I have exceeded any portions of my duty, in always striving as much as possible, by daily discussions of the Gospels, to aff

 2. Although, therefore, I exhort you always, as you are aware, to many things, and to the precepts of the Lord’s admonition—for what else can be desir

 3. Chastity is the dignity of the body, the ornament of morality, the sacredness of the sexes, the bond of modesty, the source of purity, the peaceful

 4. But chastity maintains the first rank in virgins, the second in those who are continent, the third in the case of wedlock. Yet in all it is gloriou

 5. The precepts of chastity, brethren, are ancient. Wherefore do I say ancient? Because they were ordained at the same time as men themselves. For bot

 6. Christ gave this judgment when, being inquired of, He said that a wife must not be put away, save for the cause of adultery such honour did He put

 7. But as laws are prescribed to matrons, who are so bound that they cannot thence be separated, while virginity and continency are beyond all law, th

 8. But since the precepts of chastity have thus briefly been set forth to us, let us now give an instance of chastity. For it is more profitable when

 9. But not less from a different direction arises to us another similar instance of chastity from the continence of women. Susanna, as we read, the da

 10. The memory of noble descent could not enervate them, although to some this is a suggestive licence to lasciviousness nor the comeliness of their

 11. Nothing so delights the faithful soul as the healthy consciousness of an unstained modesty. To have vanquished pleasure is the greatest pleasure

 12. For what is chastity but a virtuous mind added to watchfulness over the body so that modesty observed in respect of the sexual relations, atteste

 13. But to return to what I began with: chastity is ever to be cultivated by men and women it is to be kept with all watchfulness within its bounds.

 14. It must be said, moreover, that adultery is not pleasure, but mutual contempt nor can it delight, because it kills both the soul and modesty. Let

7. But as laws are prescribed to matrons, who are so bound that they cannot thence be separated, while virginity and continency are beyond all law, there is nothing in the laws of matrimony which pertains to virginity; for by its loftiness it transcends them all. If any evil undertakings of men endeavour to transcend laws, virginity places itself on an equality with angels; moreover, if we investigate, it even excels them, because struggling in the flesh it gains the victory even against a nature which angels have not. What else is virginity than the glorious preparation for the future life? Virginity is of neither sex. Virginity is the continuance of infancy. Virginity is the triumph over pleasures. Virginity has no children; but what is more, it has contempt for offspring: it has not fruitfulness, but neither has it bereavement; blessed that it is free from the pain of bringing forth, more blessed still that it is free from the calamity of the death of children. What else is virginity than the freedom of liberty? It has no husband for a master. Virginity is freed from all affections: it is not given up to marriage, nor to the world, nor to children. It cannot dread persecution, since it cannot provoke it from its security.

VII. Sed sicut matronis jura praescripta sunt, quae ita sunt nexae, ut divelli inde non possint, virginitas vero et continentia extra jus omne sunt: nihil ad virginitatem de matrimoniorum legibus pertinet, altitudine sua transcendit omnes. Si ulla prava hominum ausa leges supergredi conantur, virginitas aequat se Angelis: si vero exquiramus, etiam excedit; dum in carne luctata victoriam etiam contra naturam refert, quam non habent Angeli. Virginitas quid aliud est quam futurae vitae gloriosa meditatio? Virginitas neutri sexus est: virginitas est perseverans infantia: virginitas est voluptatum triumphus: virginitas filios non habet, sed quod plus est, filiorum contemptum 0823B habet, non habet foecunditatem, sed non habet orbitatem: felix quod est extra partus dolorem, felicior autem quod est extra funerum filiorum calamitatem. Virginitas quid est aliud quam soluta libertas? Maritum non habet dominum. Virginitas affectationibus omnibus soluta est: non matrimoniis est dicata, non saeculo, non liberis. Persecutionem non potest timere, dum illam de securitate potest provocare.