§16In his consistit defensio nostrae opinionis secundum scripturam, secundum naturam, secundum disciplinam.
In these consists the defense of our opinion according to scripture, according to nature, according to discipline.
Scriptura legem condit, natura contestatur, disciplina exigit.
Scripture establishes the law, nature attests to it, discipline requires it.
Cui ex his consuetudo opinionis prodest, vel qui diversae sententiae color est? Dei est scriptura, dei est natura, dei est disciplina.
To which of these does the custom of opinion bring benefit, or what is the pretext of a different view? Scripture is of God, nature is of God, discipline is of God.
Quicquid contrarium est istis, dei non est.
Whatever is contrary to these is not of God.
Si scriptura incerta est, natura manifesta est, et de eius testimonio scriptura incerta non potest esse.
If scripture is uncertain, nature is manifest, and concerning its testimony scripture cannot be uncertain.
Si de natura dubitatur, disciplina quid magis deo ratum sit ostendit.
If there is doubt about nature, discipline shows what is more approved by God.
Nihil est illi carius humilitate, nihil acceptius modestia, nihil operosius gloria et studio hominibus placendi.
Nothing is dearer to Him than humility, nothing more acceptable than modesty, nothing more harmful than glory and the desire to please men.
Illud itaque sit tibi et scriptura et natura et disciplina quod ratum deo inveneris, sicut iuberis omnia examinare et meliora quaeque sectari.
Therefore, let that which you find approved by God be to you both scripture and nature and discipline, just as you are commanded to examine all things and follow whatever is better.
Superest etiam ut ad ipsas convertamur, quo libentius ista suscipiant.
It remains also that we turn to the virgins themselves, so that they may receive these instructions more willingly.
Oro te, sive mater, sive soror, sive filia virgo, secundum annorum nomina dixerim, vela caput: si mater, propter filios, si soror, propter fratres, si filia, propter patres.
I entreat you, whether mother, or sister, or virgin daughter—I speak according to the names of age—veil your head: if a mother, for the sake of your sons; if a sister, for the sake of your brothers; if a daughter, for the sake of your fathers.
Omnes in te aetates periclitantur.
All ages are endangered in you.
Indue armaturam pudoris, circumduc vallum verecundiae, murum sexui tuo strue, qui nec tuos emittat oculos, nec admittat alienos.
Put on the armor of shame, draw around you the rampart of modesty, build a wall for your sex, which will neither let your own eyes go out nor admit those of others.
Adimple habitum mulieris, ut statum virginis serves.
Fulfill the habit of a woman, so that you may preserve the status of a virgin.
Mentire aliquid ex his quae intus sunt, ut soli deo exhibeas veritatem.
Lie somewhat regarding those things which are within, so that you may display the truth to God alone.
Quamquam non mentiris nuptam.
Although you do not lie that you are married.
Nupsisti enim Christo, illi tradidisti carnem tuam, illi sponsasti maturitatem tuam.
For you have married Christ; to Him you have delivered your flesh, to Him you have betrothed your maturity.
Incede secundum sponsi tui voluntatem.
Walk according to the will of your bridegroom.
Christus est qui et alienas sponsas et maritatas velari iubet, utique multo magis suas.
It is Christ who commands both the betrothed of others and the married to be veiled, and surely much more His own.
§17Sed et vos admonemus, alterius pudicitiae mulieres, quae in nuptias incidistis, ne sic a disciplina velaminis exolescatis, ne quidem in momento horae, ut, quia reicere illam non potestis, alio modo destruatis, neque tectae neque nudae incedentes.
But we also admonish you, women of the other chastity, who have entered into marriage, not to fade away so from the discipline of the veil, not even for a moment of an hour, lest, because you cannot reject it, you destroy it in another way, walking neither covered nor bare.
Mitris enim et lanis quaedam non velant caput, sed conligant, a fronte quidem protectae, qua proprie autem caput est, nudae.
For some do not veil their heads with mitres and wool, but tie them, protected indeed from the front, but bare where the head properly is.
Aliae modice linteolis, credo ne caput premant, nec ad aures usque demissis, cerebro tenus operiuntur.
Others, moderately covered with linens—I believe lest they press their heads—not let down even to their ears, are covered only as far as the brain.
Misereor, si tam infirmo auditu sunt, ut per tegmen audire non possint.
I pity them, if they are of such weak hearing that they cannot hear through a covering.
Sciant quia totum caput mulier est.
Let them know that the whole head is the woman.
Limites et fines eius eo usque porriguntur unde incipit vestis.
Its boundaries and limits are extended as far as where the garment begins.
Quantum resoluti crines occupare possunt, tanta est velaminis regio, ut cervices quoque ambiantur.
As much as let-down hair can occupy, so large is the region of the veil, so that the neck is also encircled.
Ipsae enim sunt quas subiectas esse oportet, propter quas potestas supra caput haberi debet.
For these are the parts which ought to be subjected, for whose sake authority ought to be had upon the head.
Velamen iugum illarum est.
The veil is their yoke.
Iudicabunt vos Arabiae feminae ethnicae, quae non caput, sed faciem quoque ita totam tegunt, ut uno oculo liberato contentae sint dimidiam frui lucem quam totam faciem prostituere.
The pagan women of Arabia will judge you, who cover not only the head, but also the whole face in such a way that, content with one eye set free, they prefer to enjoy half the light rather than prostitute the whole face.
Mavult femina videre quam videri.
A woman prefers to see rather than be seen.
Quas propterea infelicissimas ait Romana quaedam regina quod adamare magis quam adamari possint; cum sint vel ex alterius infelicitatis et quidem frequentioris immunitate felices, quia facilius adamari quam adamare feminae possint.
Whom a certain Roman queen called most unhappy because they can love more than they can be loved; whereas they are happy even from the immunity of the other and indeed more frequent unhappiness, because women can more easily be loved than love.
Et ethnicae quidem disciplinae meracior et, ut ita dixerim, barbarior modestia.
And indeed, the modesty of pagan discipline is more unmixed and, so to speak, more barbarian.
Nobis dominus etiam revelationibus velaminis spatia metatus est.
To us, the Lord has measured the boundaries of the veil even by revelations.
Nam cuidam sorori nostrae angelus in somnis cervices, quasi applauderet, verberans, Elegantes, inquit, cervices et merito nudae! bonum est usque ad lumbos a capite reveleris, ne et tibi ista cervicum libertas non prosit.
For to a certain sister of ours, an angel in a dream, beating her neck as if applauding, said, "Elegant neck, and deservedly bare!
Et utique quod uni dixeris, omnibus dixeris.
It is good that you be uncovered from head to loin, lest this liberty of your neck also fail to benefit you." And surely what you say to one, you say to all.
Quantam autem castigationem merebuntur etiam illae quae inter psalmos vel in quacunque dei mentione retectae perseverant, moraturae etiam in oratione ipsa facillime fimbriam aut villum aut quodlibet filum cerebro superponunt et tectas se opinantur? Tanti caput suum mentiuntur.
But what great chastisement will they deserve who remain uncovered during the psalms or in any mention of God, and when they are about to linger in prayer itself, they very easily place a fringe or a tuft of wool or any thread upon their brain and think themselves covered? For so cheap a price do they lie about their head.
Aliae, quibus plane maior est palma omni fimbria et filo, non minus capite suo abutuntur, ut bestia quaedam magis quam avis, licet pennata, brevi capite, protracta cervice, cetera altegradia.
Others, to whom plainly a hand's breadth is greater than any fringe and thread, abuse their head no less, like a certain beast rather than a bird, though winged, with a short head, a stretched neck, and otherwise high-stepping.
Hanc aiunt, cum delitescendum habet, caput solum plane totum in condensum abstrudere, reliquam se in aperto relinquere.
They say that this beast, when it has to hide, thrusts its head alone plainly and entirely into a thicket, and leaves the rest of itself in the open.
Ita dum in capite secura est, nuda qua maior est capitur tota cum capite.
Thus while it is secure in its head, being bare where it is larger, it is captured entirely with its head.
Tales erunt et istae minus quam utile est tectae.
Such will those women also be who are covered less than is useful.
Oportet ergo omni tempore et omni loco memores legis incedere, paratas et instructas ad omnem dei mentionem, qui si fuerit in pectore, cognoscetur et in capite feminarum.
It behoves us therefore at all times and in all places to walk mindful of the law, prepared and equipped for every mention of God, who, if He is in the breast, will be recognized also on the head of women.
Haec cum bona pace legentibus, utilitatem consuetudini praeponentibus, pax et gratia a domino nostro Iesu redundet, cum Septimio Tertulliano, cuius hoc opusculum est.
To those who read these things with good peace, preferring utility to custom, let peace and grace overflow from our Lord Jesus, with Septimius Tertullianus, whose pamphlet this is.