258 TREATISES ATTRIBUTED TO CYPRIAN.
bringing forth,more blessedstillthat it is free from the
calamityof the death of children. What elseis virginity
than the freedom of liberty? It has no husband for a
master. Virginityis freed from all affections: it is not
given up to marriage,nor to the world,nor to children. It
cannot dread persecution,sinceitcannot provokeitfrom its
security.
8. But sincethe preceptsof chastityhave thusbrieflybeen
setforthto us,letus now givean instanceof chastity.For
it is more profitablewhen we come in the very presence
of thething; nor willthere be any doubt about the virtue,
when thatwhich isprescribedis alsodesignatedby illustra
tions. The example of chastitybegins with Joseph. A
Hebrew youth,noble by his parentage,nobler by hisinno
cence,on account of the envy excitedby his revelations
exposedforsaleby hisbrethrento theIsraelites,had attained
to the household of a man of Egypt ; by hisobedienceand
hisinnocence,and by the entirefaithfulnessof hisservice,
he had arousedin hisfavour the easy and kindlydisposition
of hismaster; and his appearance had commended itselfto
allmen, alikeby hisgraciousspeechas by hisyouthfulness.
But thatsame nobilityof manner was receivedby hismaster's
wife in anothermanner than was becoming ; in a secretpart
of the house,and without witnesses,— a place high up, and
fittedfor deeds of wickedness,the unrestrainedunchastity
of the woman thought that it could overcome the youth's
chastity,now by promises,now by threats. And when he
was restrainedfrom attemptingflightby her holding his
garments,shocked at the audacityof such a crime,tearing
hisvery garments,and able to appeal to the sincerityof his
naked body as a witnessof his innocence,the rash woman
did not shrinkfrom adding calumny to the crime of her un
chastity;dishevelled,and raging that her desireshouldbe
despised,she complained both to othersand to her husband
thatthe Hebrew youth had attempted to use thatforceto
her which she herselfhad strivento exercise.1The hus
band'spassion,unconsciousof thetruth,and terriblyinflamed
1 " Irrogare."