§19Quid uero quae promiscuas balneas adeunt quaeque oculis ad libidinem curiosis pudori ac pudicitiae corpora dicata prostituunt? quae cum uiris adque uiros nudae uident turpiter ac uidentur, nonne ipsae inlecebram uitiis praestant? non ad corruptelam et iniuriam suam desideria praesentium sollicitant et inuitant? uiderit, inquis, qua illuc mente quis ueniat, mihi tantum reficiendi corpusculi cura est et lauandi. non te purgat ista defensio nec lasciuiae et petulantiae crimen excusat.
But what of those who go to mixed baths, and who prostitute their bodies, which have been dedicated to shamefacedness and chastity, to eyes curious for lust? When they, naked, shamefully see men and are seen by men, do they not themselves offer an enticement to vices? Do they not solicit and invite the desires of those present to their own corruption and injury? 'Let him see to it,' you say, 'with what mind anyone comes there; my only care is to refresh my poor body and to wash.' That defense does not cleanse you, nor does it excuse the crime of lasciviousness and petulance.
sordidat lauatio ista, non abluit, nec emundat membra sed maculat.
That washing soils you, it does not cleanse; it does not purify your limbs, but stains them.
inpudice tu neminem conspicis, sed ipsa conspiceris inpudice: oculos tuos turpi oblectatione non polluis, sed dum oblectas alios, ipsa pollueris.
You look at no one unchastely, but you yourself are looked at unchastely. You do not pollute your eyes with base pleasure, but while you please others, you yourself are polluted.
spectaculum de lauacro facis, theatro sunt foediora quo conuenis.
You make a spectacle of the bath; the places where you assemble are filthier than a theater.
uerecundia illic omnis exuitur, simul cum amictu uestis honor corporis ac pudor ponitur, denotanda et contrectanda uirginitas reuelatur.
All modesty is stripped off there; along with the wrapping of clothing, the honor and shame of the body are laid aside; virginity, exposed to notice and handling, is revealed.
iam nunc considera an cum uestita est uerecunda sit inter uiros talis quae ad inuerecundiam profecit audacia nuditatis.
Consider now whether she, when clothed, can be modest among men, who has advanced to immodesty by the boldness of nakedness.
§20Sic ergo frequenter ecclesia uirgines suas plangit, sic ad infomes earum ac detestabiles fabulas ingemescit: sic flos uirginum extinguitur, honor continentiae ac pudor caeditur, gloria omnis ac dignitas profanatur.
Thus, therefore, the church frequently bewails its virgins; thus it groans at their infamous and detestable rumors. Thus the flower of virgins is extinguished, the honor of continence and modesty is cut down, and all glory and dignity are profaned.
sic se expugnator inimicus per artes suas inserit: sic insidiis per occulta fallentibus diabolus obrepit: sic dum ornari cultius, dum liberius euagari uirgines uolunt, esse uirgines desinunt, furtiuo dedecore corruptae, uiduae antequam nuptae, non mariti sed Christi adulterae, quam fuerant praemiis ingentibus uirgines destinatae, tam magna supplicia pro amissa uirginitate sensurae.
Thus the conquering enemy inserts himself through his arts; thus the devil creeps in with snares deceiving through hidden ways. Thus while virgins wish to be adorned more elegantly and to wander more freely, they cease to be virgins, corrupted by secret disgrace, widows before they are married, adulteresses not of a husband but of Christ; who, just as they had been destined as virgins for immense rewards, are to suffer punishments as great for their lost virginity.
§21Audite itaque uirgines, ut parentem: audite quaeso uos timentem pariter ac monentem: audite utilitatibus et commodis uestris fideliter consulentem.
Listen therefore, virgins, as to a parent; listen, I pray you, to one who both fears and warns you; listen to one who faithfully counsels for your utility and benefit.
estote tales quales uos Deus artifex fecit, estote tales quales uos manus patris instituit: maneat in uobis facies incorrupta, ceruix pura, forma sincera: non inferantur auribus uulnera, nec brachia includat aut colla de armillis et monilibus catena pretiosa: sint a compedibus aureis pedes liberi, crines nullo colore fucati, oculi conspiciendo Deo digni.
Be such as God the creator made you; be such as the hand of the Father fashioned you. Let there remain in you a face uncorrupted, a neck pure, and a form sincere. Let no wounds be inflicted on your ears, nor let a precious chain of armlets and necklaces encase your arms or necks. Let your feet be free from golden fetters, your hair dyed with no color, your eyes worthy of beholding God.
celebrentur lauacra cum feminis, quarum in uos pudica lauatio est.
Let baths be celebrated with women, whose bathing is modest toward you.
nuptiarum festa inproba et conuiuia lasciua uitentur, quorum periculosa contagio est.
Let wicked wedding feasts and lascivious banquets be avoided, the contagion of which is dangerous.
uince uestem quae uirgo es, uince aurum quae carnem uincis et saeculum.
Overcome clothing, you who are a virgin; overcome gold, you who overcome the flesh and the world.
non est eiusdem non posse a maioribus uinci et inparem minoribus inueniri.
It is not characteristic of the same person to be unable to be overcome by greater things, and to be found unequal to lesser things.
arta et angusta est uia quae ducit ad uitam, durus et arduus limes qui tendit ad gloriam.
Narrow and close is the way which leads to life; hard and difficult is the path which tends to glory.
per hunc uiae limitem martyres pergunt, eunt uirgines, iusti quique gradiuntur.
Through this path of the way martyrs proceed, virgins go, all the righteous walk.
lata et spatiosa itinera uitate: letales illic inlecebrae et mortiferae uoluptates: illic diabolus blanditur ut fallat, adridet ut noceat, inlicit ut occidat.
Avoid broad and spacious roads; there are deadly enticements and fatal pleasures; there the devil flatters to deceive, smiles to harm, entices to kill.
primus cum centeno martyrum fructus est, secundus sexagenarius uester est.
The first fruit with a hundredfold is that of the martyrs; the second, sixtyfold, is yours.
ut aput martyras non est carnis et saeculi cogitatio nec parua et lenis et delicata congressio, sic et in uobis, quarum ad gratiam merces secunda est, sit et uirtus ad tolerantiam proxima.
Just as with the martyrs there is no thought of the flesh and the world, nor is there a small, gentle, and delicate conflict, so also in you, whose reward is second in grace, let there be a virtue nearest to their endurance.
non est ad magna facilis ascensus.
The ascent to great things is not easy.
quem sudorem perpetimur, quem laborem, dum conamur ascendere colles et uertices montium? quid ut ascendamus ad caelum? si praemium pollicitationis adtendas, minus est quod laboras.
What sweat do we endure, what labor, while we attempt to ascend hills and the summits of mountains? What then that we may ascend to heaven? If you consider the reward of the promise, what you labor is less.
inmortalitas perseueranti datur, perpetua uita promittitur, regnum Dominus pollicetur.
Immortality is given to the persevering, perpetual life is promised, the Lord promises the kingdom.