OF THE DISCIPLINE OF CHASTITY. 255
3. Chastityis the dignityof the body, the ornament of
morality,the sacreduessof the sexes,the bond of modesty,
the sourceof purity,the peacefulnessof home, the crown of
concord. Chastityisnot carefulwhom it pleasesbut itself.
Chastityis always modest,being the mother of innocency;
chastityis ever adorned with modesty alone,then rightly
consciousof itsown beauty ifitisdispleasingto the wicked.
Chastityseeks nothing in the way of adornments: it is its
own glory. It is thiswhich commends us to the Lord,
unitesus with Christ; it is thiswhich drivesout from our
members allthe illicitconflictsof desire,instilspeace into
our bodies: blesseditself,and making thoseblessed,whoever
tbey are,in whom itcondescendsto dwell. It isthatwhich
they can never accuse even who possessitnot ; itis even
venerableto itsenemies,sincethey admire it much more
because they are unable to captureit. Moreover, as mature,
itisboth always excellentin men, and to be earnestlydesired
by women ; so itsenemy, unchastity,is always detestable,
making an obscene sport for itsservants,sparingneither
bodies nor souls. For theirown proper characterbeing
overcome, it sends the entireman under itsyoke of lust,
alluringat first,that it may do the more mischiefby its
attraction,exhaustingboth means and modesty— the foe of
continency; the perilousmadness of lustfrequentlyattain
ing to the blood,the destructionof a good conscience,the
mother of impenitence,the ruin of a more virtuousage,the
disgraceof one'srace,drivingaway allconfidencein blood
and family,intrudingone'sown childrenupon the affections
of strangers,interpolatingthe offspringof an unknown and
corruptedstockintothe testamentsof others. And thisalso,
very frequentlyburning without referenceto sex,and not
restrainingitselfwithin the permittedlimits,thinksitlittle
satisfactionto itself,unless even in the bodiesof m&n it
seeks,not a new pleasure,but goes in questof extraordinary
and revoltingextravagances,contraryto natureitself,of men
with men.
4. But chastitymaintainsthe firstrank in virgins,the
second in those who are continent,the thirdin the caseof