Chapter V.--Some Refinements in Dress and Personal Appearance Lawful, Some Unlawful. Pigments Come Under the Latter Head.
These suggestions are not made to you, of course, to be developed into an entire crudity and wildness of appearance; nor are we seeking to persuade you of the good of squalor and slovenliness; but of the limit and norm and just measure of cultivation of the person. There must be no overstepping of that line to which simple and sufficient refinements limit their desires--that line which is pleasing to God. For they who rub [176] their skin with medicaments, stain their cheeks with rouge, make their eyes prominent with antimony, [177] sin against Him. To them, I suppose, the plastic skill [178] of God is displeasing! In their own persons, I suppose, they convict, they censure, the Artificer of all things! For censure they do when they amend, when they add to, (His work;) taking these their additions, of course, from the adversary artificer. That adversary artificer is the devil. [179] For who would show the way to change the body, but he who by wickedness transfigured man's spirit? He it is, undoubtedly, who adapted ingenious devices of this kind; that in your persons it may be apparent that you, in a certain sense, do violence to God. Whatever is born is the work of God. Whatever, then, is plastered on [180] (that), is the devil's work. To superinduce on a divine work Satan's ingenuities, how criminal is it! Our servants borrow nothing from our personal enemies: soldiers eagerly desire nothing from the foes of their own general; for, to demand for (your own) use anything from the adversary of Him in whose hand [181] you are, is a transgression. Shall a Christian be assisted in anything by that evil one? (If he do,) I know not whether this name (of "Christian") will continue (to belong) to him; for he will be his in whose lore he eagerly desires to be instructed. But how alien from your schoolings [182] and professions are (these things)! How unworthy the Christian name, to wear a fictitious face, (you,) on whom simplicity in every form is enjoined!--to lie in your appearance, (you,) to whom (lying) with the tongue is not lawful!--to seek after what is another's, (you,) to whom is delivered (the precept of) abstinence from what is another's!--to practise adultery in your mien, [183] (you,) who make modesty your study! Think, [184] blessed (sisters), how will you keep God's precepts if you shall not keep in your own persons His lineaments?
[176] Urgent. Comp. de Pæn., c. xi.
[177] "Fuligine," lit. "soot." Comp. b. i. c. ii.
[178] See c. ii. ad fin.
[179] Comp. b. i. c. viii.
[180] Infingitur.
[181] i.e., subject to whom.
[182] Disciplinis.
[183] Species.
[184] Credite.
Chapter VI.--Of Dyeing the Hair.
I see some (women) turn (the colour of) their hair with saffron. They are ashamed even of their own nation, (ashamed) that their procreation did not assign them to Germany and to Gaul: thus, as it is, they transfer their hair [185] (thither)! Ill, ay, most ill, do they augur for themselves with their flame-coloured head, [186] and think that graceful which (in fact) they are polluting! Nay, moreover, the force of the cosmetics burns ruin into the hair; and the constant application of even any undrugged moisture, lays up a store of harm for the head; while the sun's warmth, too, so desirable for imparting to the hair at once growth and dryness, is hurtful. What "grace" is compatible with "injury?" What "beauty" with "impurities?" Shall a Christian woman heap saffron on her head, as upon an altar? [187] For, whatever is wont to be burned to the honour of the unclean spirit, that--unless it is applied for honest, and necessary, and salutary uses, for which God's creature was provided--may seem to be a sacrifice. But, however, God saith, "Which of you can make a white hair black, or out of a black a white?" [188] And so they refute the Lord! "Behold!" say they, "instead of white or black, we make it yellow,--more winning in grace." [189] And yet such as repent of having lived to old age do attempt to change it even from white to black! O temerity! The age which is the object of our wishes and prayers blushes (for itself)! a theft is effected! youth, wherein we have sinned, [190] is sighed after! the opportunity of sobriety is spoiled! Far from Wisdom's daughters be folly so great! The more old age tries to conceal itself, the more will it be detected. Here is a veritable eternity, in the (perennial) youth of your head! Here we have an "incorruptibility" to "put on," [191] with a view to the new house of the Lord [192] which the divine monarchy promises! Well do you speed toward the Lord; well do you hasten to be quit of this most iniquitous world, [193] to whom it is unsightly to approach (your own) end!
[185] Jam capillos: so Oehler and Rig. But the others read patriam capillo: "they change their country by the instrumentality of their hair."
[186] Comp. ad Ux., b. i. c. vi.
[187] Aram.
[188] See Matt. v. 36.
[189] Gratia faciliorem.
[190] Comp. Ps. xxv. 7 (in LXX. xxiv. 7).
[191] Comp. 1 Cor. xv. 53.
[192] Comp. 2 Cor. v. 1.
[193] Sæculo.