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