Edition ausblenden
De Virginibus Velandis

XIV.

[1] Referunt aliquando dictum a quodam, cum primum quaestio ista temptata est: 'Et quomodo ceteras sollicitabimus ad huiusmodi opus?' Scilicet felices nos facient, si plures erunt, et non dei gratia vel merita cuiusque. Virgines ecclesiam an ecclesia virgines ornant deo sive commendant? [2] Confessus est igitur gloriam esse in causa; porro ubi gloria, illic sollicitatio, ubi sollicitatio, illic coactio, ubi coactio, illic necessitas, ubi necessitas, illic infirmitas. Merito itaque dum caput non tegunt, ut sollicitentur gloriae causa, ventres tegere coguntur infirmitatis ruina; aemulatio enim illarum, non religio producit. [3] Aliquando et ipse venter deus earum, quia facile virgines fraternitas suscipit. Nec tantum autem ruunt, sed et funem longum delictorum sibi attrahunt; prolatae enim in medium et publicato bono suo elatae et fratribus omni honore et caritatis operatione cumulatae dum , non latent, ubi quid admissum est, tantum dedecoris cogitantes, quantum honoris habuerunt. [4] Si intectum caput virginitati adscribitur, si qua virgo exciderit de gratia virginitatis, ne prodatur, intecto permanet capite esse et tunc iam alieno ambulat habitu [id est quem sibi vindicat virginitas; permanet nihilo minus in habitu vel tunc saltem alieno, ne scilicet mutatione prodatur].

[5] Et consci[enti]ae mulieritatis iam indubitatae audent nudo capite ad deum adire; sed aemulator deus et dominus, qui dixit: Nihil occultum quod non reveletur, plerasque etiam in conspectum deducit. [6] Non enim confitebuntur nisi ipsorum infantium suorum vagitibus proditae. Quantum autem plures, non etiam de pluribus sceleribus suspectas habebis? [7] Dicam, licet nolim: difficile mulier semel fit, quae timet fieri quaeque iam facta potest virginem mentiri sub deo. Quanta item circa uterum suum audebit, ne etiam mater detegatur? Scit deus, quot iam infantes et perfici et perduci ad partum integros duxerit debellatos aliquamdiu a matribus. [8] Facillime semper eoncipiunt et felicissime pariunt huius modi virgines et quidem simillimos patribus. [9] Haec admittit flagitia coacta et invitata virginitas. [10] Ipsa concupiscentia non latendi non est pudica: patitur aliquid, quod virginis non sit, studium placendi, utique et viris. Quantum velis bona mente conetur, necesse est publicatione sui periclitetur, dum percutitur oculis incertis et multis, dum digitis demonstrantium titillatur, dum nimium amatur, dum inter amplexus et oscula assidua concalescit. Sic frons duratur, sic pudor feritur, sic solvitur, sic discitur aliter iam placere desiderare.

Übersetzung ausblenden
On the Veiling of Virgins

Chapter XIV.--Perils to the Virgins Themselves Attendant Upon Not-Veiling.

They report a saying uttered at one time by some one when first this question was mooted, "And how shall we invite the other (virgins) to similar conduct?" Forsooth, it is their numbers that will make us happy, and not the grace of God and the merits of each individual! Is it virgins who (adorn or commend) the Church in the sight of God, or the Church which adorns or commends virgins? (Our objector) has therefore confessed that "glory" lies at the root of the matter. Well, where glory is, there is solicitation; where solicitation, there compulsion; where compulsion, there necessity; where necessity, there infirmity. Deservedly, therefore, while they do not cover their head, in order that they may be solicited for the sake of glory, they are forced to cover their bellies by the ruin resulting from infirmity. For it is emulation, not religion, which impels them. Sometimes it is that god--their belly ¹ --himself; because the brotherhood readily undertakes the maintenance of virgins. But, moreover, it is not merely that they are ruined, but they draw after them "a long rope of sins." ² For, after being brought forth into the midst (of the church), and elated by the public appropriation of their property, ³ and laden by the brethren with every honour and charitable bounty, so long as they do not fall,--when any sin has been committed, they meditate a deed as disgraceful as the honour was high which they had. (It is this.) If an uncovered head is a recognised mark of virginity, (then) if any virgin falls from the grace of virginity, she remains permanently with head uncovered for fear of discovery, and walks about in a garb which then indeed is another's. Conscious of a now undoubted womanhood, they have the audacity to draw near to God with head bare. But the "jealous God and Lord," who has said, "Nothing covered which shall not be revealed," ⁴ brings such in general before the public gaze; for confess they will not, unless betrayed by the cries of their infants themselves. But, in so far as they are "more numerous," will you not just have them suspected of the more crimes? I will say (albeit I would rather not) it is a difficult thing for one to turn woman once for all who fears to do so, and who, when already so turned (in secret), has the power of (still) falsely pretending to be a virgin under the eye of God. What audacities, again, will (such an one) venture on with regard to her womb, for fear of being detected in being a mother as well! God knows how many infants He has helped to perfection and through gestation till they were born sound and whole, after being long fought against by their mothers! Such virgins ever conceive with the readiest facility, and have the happiest deliveries, and children indeed most like to their fathers!

These crimes does a forced and unwilling virginity incur. The very concupiscence of non-concealment is not modest: it experiences somewhat which is no mark of a virgin,--the study of pleasing, of course, ay, and (of pleasing) men. Let her strive as much as you please with an honest mind; she must necessarily be imperilled by the public exhibition ⁵ of herself, while she is penetrated by the gaze of untrustworthy and multitudinous' eyes, while she is tickled by pointing fingers, while she is too well loved, while she feels a warmth creep over her amid assiduous embraces and kisses. Thus the forehead hardens; thus the sense of shame wears away; thus it relaxes; thus is learned the desire of pleasing in another way!