31. But they who were looking with their
eyes, yet saw not, raged like robbers for prey, or wolves for a
lamb. One who was more shameless went in. But when he took
in the state of the matter with his eyes, he said, What is this?
A maiden entered, now a man is to be seen here. This is not the
old fable of a hind instead of a maiden, but in truth a virgin become a
soldier. I had heard but believed not that Christ changed water
into wine; now He has begun also to change the sexes. Let us
depart hence whilst we still are what we were. Am I too changed
who see things differently from what I believe them to be? I came
to a house of ill-fame, and see a surety. The soldier who
remained in the place of the virgin is spoken of as being her
“surety.” And yet I go forth changed, for
I shall go out chaste who came in unchaste.