Chapter XXI.
A question whether the relaxation of the fast is not
prejudicial to the chastity of the body.
Germanus
: Can the flesh,
attracted by the unwonted luxuries of so long a festival fail to
produce something thorny from the incentives to sin although they have
been cut down? or can the soul weighed down by the consumption of
unaccustomed feasts fail to mitigate the rigour of its rule over its
servant the body, especially when in our case our mature age can excite
our subject members to a speedy revolt, if we venture to take our usual
food in larger quantities, or unaccustomed food more freely than
usual?