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To His Wife

Chapter IV.--Of the Hindrances Which an Unbelieving Husband Puts in His Wife's Way.

But let her see to (the question) how she discharges her duties to her husband. To the Lord, at all events, she is unable to give satisfaction according to the requirements of discipline; having at her side a servant of the devil, his lord's agent for hindering the pursuits and duties of believers: so that if a station ¹ is to be kept, the husband at daybreak makes an appointment with his wife to meet him at the baths; if there are fasts to be observed, the husband that same day holds a convivial banquet; if a charitable expedition has to be made, never is family business more urgent. For who would suffer his wife, for the sake of visiting the brethren, to go round from street to street to other men's, and indeed to all the poorer, cottages? Who will willingly bear her being taken from his side by nocturnal convocations, if need so be? Who, finally, will without anxiety endure her absence all the night long at the paschal solemnities? Who will, without some suspicion of his own, dismiss her to attend that Lord's Supper which they defame? Who will suffer her to creep into prison to kiss a martyr's bonds? nay, truly, to meet any one of the brethren to exchange the kiss? to offer water for the saints' feet? ² to snatch (somewhat for them) from her food, from her cup? to yearn (after them)? to have (them) in her mind? If a pilgrim brother arrive, what hospitality for him in an alien home? If bounty is to be distributed to any, the granaries, the storehouses, are foreclosed.

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Ad uxorem

IV

[1] Sed uiderit qualiter uiro officia pendat, Domino certe non potest pro disciplina satisfacere, habens in latere diaboli seruum, procuratorem domini sui ad impedienda fidelium studia et officia, ut si statio facienda est, maritus de die condicat ad balneas, si ieiunia obseruanda sint, maritus eadem die conuiuium exerceat, si procedendum erit, numquam magis familiae occupatio obueniat.

[2] Quis autem sinat coniugem suam uisitandorum fratrum gratia uicatim aliena et quidem pauperiora quaeque tuguria circuire? Quis nocturnis conuocationibus, si ita oportuerit, a latere suo adimi libenter feret? Quis denique sollemnibus Paschae abnoctantem securus sustinebit? Quis ad conuiuium dominicum illud, quod infamant, sine sua suspicione dimittet? Quis in carcerem ad osculanda uincula martyris reptare patietur? [3] Iam uero alicui fratrum ad osculum conuenire, aquam sanctorum pedibus offerre, de cibo, de poculo inuadere, desiderare, in mente habere? Si pereger frater adueniat, quod in aliena domo hospitium? Si cui largiendum erit, horreum, proma praeclusa sunt.