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On the Dress of Virgins

Cyprian of Carthage

Section 19

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

19. But what of those who frequent promiscuous baths; who

‹ Section 18 Section 20 ›

prostitute

to

eyes

that

are

curious

to

lust

,

bodies

that

are

dedicated

to

chastity

and

modesty

?

They

who

disgracefully

behold

naked

men

,

and

are

seen

naked

by

men

,

do

they

not

themselves

afford

enticement

to

vice

,

do

they

not

solicit

and

invite

the

desires

of

those

present

to

their

own

corruption

and

wrong

?

“

Let

every

one

,

”

say

you

,

“

look

to

the

disposition

with

which

he

comes

thither

:

my

care

is

only

that

of

refreshing

and

washing

my

poor

body

.

”

That

kind

of

defence

does

not

clear

you

,

nor

does

it

excuse

the

crime

of

lasciviousness

and

wantonness

.

Such

a

washing

defiles

;

it

does

not

purify

nor

cleanse

the

limbs

,

but

stains

them

.

You

behold

no

one

immodestly

,

but

you

yourself

are

gazed

upon

immodestly

.

You

do

not

pollute

your

eyes

with

disgraceful

delight

,

but

in

delighting

others

you

yourself

are

polluted

.

You

make

a

show

of

the

bathing

-

place

;

the

places

where

you

assemble

are

fouler

than

a

theatre

.

There

all

modesty

is

put

off

together

with

the

clothing

of

garments

,

the

honour

and

modesty

of

the

body

is

laid

aside

;

virginity

is

exposed

,

to

be

pointed

at

and

to

be

handled

.

And

now

,

then

,

consider

whether

when

you

are

clothed

you

are

modest

among

men

,

when

the

boldness

of

nakedness

has

conduced

to

immodesty

.