ON THE PUBLIC SHOWS. 227 be done in secretthan what is learntin pnblic; and in the midst of the laws themselvesis taught everythingthat the laws forbid. What does a faithfulChristiando among these things,sincehe may not even thinkupon wickedness? Why does he find pleasurein the representationsof lust,so as among them to layasidehismodesty and become more daring in crimes? He is learningto do, while he is becoming accustomed to see. Nevertheless,thosewomen whom their misfortunehas introducedand degraded to thisslavery,con cealtheirpublicwantonness,and find consolationfor their disgraceintheirconcealment. Even theywho have soldtheir modesty blush to appear to have done so. But thatpublic prodigyis transactedin the sightof all,and the obscenity of prostitutesissurpassed. A method is sought to commit adulterywith the eyes. To thisinfamy an infamy fully worthy of itissuperadded: a human being broken down in every limb,a man melted to something beneath the effemi nacy of a woman, has found the artto supplylanguage with his hands; and on behalf of one I know not what, but neitherman nor woman, the whole city is in a stateof commotion, that the fabulousdebaucheriesof antiquitymay be representedin a ballet.Whatever is not lawful is so beloved,thatwhat had even been lostsightof by the lapse of time is brought back again into the recollectionof the eyes. 7. It is not sufficientfor lustto make use of itspresent means of mischief,unlessby the exhibitionitmakes itsown that in which a former age had also gone wrong. It is not lawful,I say,forfaithfulChristiansto be present; itis not lawful,I say,at all,even forthosewhom forthe delight of theirears Greece sends everywhere to allwho are in structedin her vain arts. One imitatesthe hoarsewarlike clangours of the trumpet; anotherwith hisbreathblowing into a pipe regulatesitsmournful sounds; another with dances, and with the musical voice of a man, striveswith his breath,which by an efforthe had drawn from his bowels into the upper partsof his body, to play upon the stopsof pipes,— now lettingforththe sound,and now closing