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| Chap. XII.—On Shoes. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chap. XII.—On Shoes.
Women fond of display act in the same manner with
regard to shoes, showing also in this matter great luxuriousness. Base,
in truth, are those sandals on which golden ornaments are fastened;
but they are thought worth having nails driven into the soles in
winding rows. Many, too, carve on them1550
1550 [It was such designs which early Christian art
endeavoured to supplant, by the devices on lamps, ΧΡ, ΑΩ.,
etc.] | amorous embraces, as if they would by their walk
communicate to the earth harmonious movement, and impress on it the
wantonness of their spirit. Farewell, therefore, must be bidden to
gold-plated and jewelled mischievous devices of sandals, and Attic and
Sicyonian half-boots, and Persian and Tyrrhenian buskins; and setting
before us the right aim, as is the habit with our truth, we are bound
to select what is in accordance with nature.
For the use of shoes is partly for covering, partly
for defence in case of stumbling against objects, and for saving the
sole of the foot from the roughness of hilly paths.
Women are to be allowed a white shoe, except when
on a journey, and then a greased shoe must be used. When on a journey,
they require nailed shoes. Further, they ought for the most part to wear
shoes; for it is not suitable for the foot to be shown naked: besides,
woman is a tender thing, easily hurt. But for a man bare feet are
quite in keeping, except when he is on military service. “For
being shod is near neighbour to being bound.”1551
1551 υποδεδεσθαι
τῷ δεδέσθαι.
“Wearing boots is near neighbour to wearing
bonds.” |
To go with bare feet is most suitable for
exercise, and best adapted for health and ease, unless where
necessity prevents. But if we are not on a journey, and cannot endure
bare feet, we may use slippers or white shoes; dusty-foots1552
the Attics called them, on account of their bringing the feet near the
dust, as I think. As a witness for simplicity in shoes let John suffice,
who avowed that “he was not worthy to unloose the latchet of the
Lord’s shoes.”1553
1553
Mark. i. 7; Luke iii. 16. [It was reserved for Chrysostom to give a more
terrible counterblast against costly chaussure, in commenting
upon Matt. xvi. 13, et seq. Opera, tom. vii. p. 502,
ed. Migne.] | For he who exhibited to the Hebrews the type of
the true philosophy wore no elaborate shoes. What else this may imply,
will be shown elsewhere.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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