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| Chapter V.—Behaviour in the Baths.
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Chapter V.—Behaviour in the Baths.
And of what sort are their baths? Houses skilfully
constructed, compact, portable, transparent, covered with fine linen.
And gold-plated chairs, and silver ones, too, and ten thousand vessels of
gold and silver, some for drinking, some for eating, some for bathing,
are carried about with them. Besides these, there are even braziers
of coals; for they have arrived at such a pitch of self-indulgence,
that they sup and get drunk while bathing. And articles of silver with
which they make a show, they ostentatiously set out in the baths, and
thus display perchance their wealth out of excessive pride, but chiefly
the capricious ignorance, through which they brand effeminate men, who
have been vanquished by women; proving at least that they themselves
cannot meet and cannot sweat without a multitude of vessels, although
poor women who have no display equally enjoy their baths. The dirt of
wealth, then, has an abundant covering of censure. With this, as with
a bait, they hook the miserable creatures that gape at the glitter of
gold. For dazzling thus those fond of display, they artfully try to win
the admiration of their lovers, who after a little insult them naked. They
will scarce strip before their own husbands affecting a plausible pretence
of modesty; but any others who wish, may see them at home shut up naked
in their baths. For there they are not ashamed to strip before spectators,
as if exposing their persons for sale. But Hesiod advises
“Not to wash the skin in the women’s bath.”1627
| 1627 Hesiod, Works and Days,
ii. 371. |
The baths are opened promiscuously to men and women;
and there they strip for licentious indulgence (for from looking, men get
to loving), as if their modesty had been washed away in the bath.1628
| 1628 [Such were women before the
Gospel came. See note to Hermas, cap. xi. note 1,
p. 47, this volume, and Elucidation (p. 57) of the
same.] | Those who have not become utterly destitute of modesty
shut out strangers; but bathe with their own servants, and strip naked
before their slaves, and are rubbed by them; giving to the crouching
menial liberty to lust, by permitting fearless handling. For those who are
introduced before their naked mistresses while in the bath, study to strip
themselves in order to audacity in lust, casting off fear in consequence
of the wicked custom. The ancient athletes,1629
| 1629 [The barbarians were more decent than the Greeks,
being nearer to the state of nature, which is a better guide than pagan
civilization. But see the interesting note of Rawlinson (Herod.,
vol. i. p. 125, ed. New York), who quotes Thucydides (i. 6) to prove the
recent invasion of immodest exposure even among athletes. Our author has
this same quotation in mind, for he almost translates it here.] |
ashamed to exhibit a man naked, preserved their modesty by going through
the contest in drawers; but these women, divesting themselves of their
modesty along with their tunic, wish to appear beautiful, but contrary
to their wish are simply proved to be wicked.1630
| 1630 [Attic girls raced in the games quite naked. Spartan
girls wore only the linen chiton, even in the company of men;
and this was esteemed nudity, not unjustly. David’s
“uncovering himself” (2 Sam. vi. 20) was nudity
of the same sort. Married women assumed to peplus.] |
For through the body itself the wantonness of lust shines clearly; as in
the case of dropsical people, the water covered by the skin. Disease in
both is known from the look. Men, therefore, affording to women a noble
example of truth, ought to be ashamed at their stripping before them,
and guard against these dangerous sights; “for he who has looked
curiously,” it is said, “hath sinned already.”1631
At home,
therefore, they ought to regard with modesty parents and domestics; in
the ways, those they meet; in the baths, women; in solitude, themselves;
and everywhere the Word, who is everywhere, “and without Him
was not anything.”1632
For so only shall one remain without falling,
if he regard God as ever present with him.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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