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On the Veiling of Virgins

Tertullian

Chapter 17

About this work

Author: Tertullian

Chapter XVII.—An Appeal to the Married Women.

But we admonish you, too, women of the second

‹ Chapter 16

(

degree

of

)

modesty

,

who

have

fallen

into

wedlock

,

not

to

outgrow

so

far

the

discipline

of

the

veil

,

not

even

in

a

moment

of

an

hour

,

as

,

because

you

cannot

refuse

it

,

to

take

some

other

means

to

nullify

it

,

by

going

neither

covered

nor

bare

.

For

some

,

with

their

turbans

and

woollen

bands

,

do

not

veil

their

head

,

but

bind

it

up

;

protected

,

indeed

,

in

front

,

but

,

where

the

head

properly

lies

,

bare

.

Others

are

to

a

certain

extent

covered

over

the

region

of

the

brain

with

linen

coifs

of

small

dimensions

—

I

suppose

for

fear

of

pressing

the

head

—

and

not

reaching

quite

to

the

ears

.

If

they

are

so

weak

in

their

hearing

as

not

to

be

able

to

hear

through

a

covering

,

I

pity

them

.

Let

them

know

that

the

whole

head

constitutes

“

the

woman

.

”

Its

limits

and

boundaries

reach

as

far

as

the

place

where

the

robe

begins

.

The

region

of

the

veil

is

co

-

extensive

with

the

space

covered

by

the

hair

when

unbound

;

in

order

that

the

necks

too

may

be

encircled

.

For

it

is

they

which

must

be

subjected

,

for

the

sake

of

which

“

power

”

ought

to

be

“

had

on

the

head

:

”

the

veil

is

their

yoke

.

Arabia’s

heathen

females

will

be

your

judges

,

who

cover

not

only

the

head

,

but

the

face

also

,

so

entirely

,

that

they

are

content

,

with

one

eye

free

,

to

enjoy

rather

half

the

light

than

to

prostitute

the

entire

face

.

A

female

would

rather

see

than

be

seen

.

And

for

this

reason

a

certain

Roman

queen

said

that

they

were

most

unhappy

,

in

that

they

could

more

easily

fall

in

love

than

be

fallen

in

love

with

;

whereas

they

are

rather

happy

in

their

immunity

from

that

second

(

and

indeed

more

frequent

)

infelicity

,

that

females

are

more

apt

to

be

fallen

in

love

with

than

to

fall

in

love

.

And

the

modesty

of

heathen

discipline

,

indeed

,

is

more

simple

,

and

,

so

to

say

,

more

barbaric

.

To

us

the

Lord

has

,

even

by

revelations

,

measured

the

space

for

the

veil

to

extend

over

.

For

a

certain

sister

of

ours

was

thus

addressed

by

an

angel

,

beating

her

neck

,

as

if

in

applause

:

“

Elegant

neck

,

and

deservedly

bare

!

it

is

well

for

thee

to

unveil

thyself

from

the

head

right

down

to

the

loins

,

lest

withal

this

freedom

of

thy

neck

profit

thee

not

!

”

And

,

of

course

,

what

you

have

said

to

one

you

have

said

to

all

.

But

how

severe

a

chastisement

will

they

likewise

deserve

,

who

,

amid

(

the

recital

of

)

the

Psalms

,

and

at

any

mention

of

(

the

name

of

)

God

,

continue

uncovered

;

(

who

)

even

when

about

to

spend

time

in

prayer

itself

,

with

the

utmost

readiness

place

a

fringe

,

or

a

tuft

,

or

any

thread

whatever

,

on

the

crown

of

their

heads

,

and

suppose

themselves

to

be

covered

?

Of

so

small

extent

do

they

falsely

imagine

their

head

to

be

!

Others

,

who

think

the

palm

of

their

hand

plainly

greater

than

any

fringe

or

thread

,

misuse

their

head

no

less

;

like

a

certain

(

creature

)

,

more

beast

than

bird

,

albeit

winged

,

with

small

head

,

long

legs

,

and

moreover

of

erect

carriage

.

She

,

they

say

,

when

she

has

to

hide

,

thrusts

away

into

a

thicket

her

head

alone

—

plainly

the

whole

of

it

,

(

though

)

—

leaving

all

the

rest

of

herself

exposed

.

Thus

,

while

she

is

secure

in

head

,

(

but

)

bare

in

her

larger

parts

,

she

is

taken

wholly

,

head

and

all

.

Such

will

be

their

plight

withal

,

covered

as

they

are

less

than

is

useful

.

It is incumbent, then, at all times and in every place, to walk mindful of the law, prepared and equipped in readiness to meet every mention of God; who, if He be in the heart, will be recognised as well in the head of females. To such as read these (exhortations) with good will, to such as prefer Utility to Custom, may peace and grace from our Lord Jesus Christ redound: as likewise to Septimius Tertullianus, whose this tractate is.

Notes

1
1 Cor. xi. 6, etc.