OF THE DISCIPLINE OF CHASTITY. 259 by hiswife'saccusation,isaroused; and the modest youth, because he did not defilehis consciencewith the crime,is thrustintothe lowestdungeon of the prison. But chastity isnot alonein thedungeon ; for God iswith Joseph,and the guiltyaregivenintohischarge,becausehe had been guiltless. Moreover, he dissolvesthe obscuritiesof dreams,becausehis spiritwas watchful in temptations,and he is freed from chainsby the master [ofthe prison]. He who had been an inferiorin the house with peril,was made lordof the palace without risk; restoredto his noble station,he receivedthe reward of chastityand innocence by the judgment of God, from whom he had deservedit. 9. But not lessfrom a differentdirectionarisesto us another similarinstanceof chastityfrom the continenceof women. Susanna, as we read,the daughterof Chelcias,the wife of Joachim, was exceedinglybeautiful— more beautiful stillin character. Her outward appearanceadded no charm to her,forshe was simple: chastityhad cultivatedher ; and in additionto chastity,nature alone. With her,two of the eldershad begun to be madly in love,mindful of nothing, neither of the fear of God, nor even of theirage,already witheringwith years. Thus the flame of resuscitatedlust recalledthem intothe glowing heatsof theirbygone youth. Robbers of chastity,they profess love,while they really hate. They threatenher with calumnieswhen she resists; the adulterersin wish declarethemselvesthe accusersof adultery. And between theserocksof lustshe sought help of the Lord, becauseshe was not equalto prevailingagainst them by bodilystrength. And the Lord heard from heaven chastitycrying to Him ; and when she,overwhelmed with injustice,was being led to punishment, she was delivered, and saw her revenge upon her enemies. Twice victorious, and in her perilsooftenand sofatallyhedged in,sheescaped both the lustand death. It willbe endlessif I continueto produce more examples; I am contentwith thesetwo, espe ciallyas in thesecaseschastityhas been defendedwith all theirmight. 10. The memory of noble descent could not enervate