The ancient athletes, 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 chemise, wish to appear beautiful,
but, contrary to their wish, are simply proved to be wicked."
(Clement of Alexandria, _Paedagogus_, Book III, Chapter V. For
elucidations of this passage, see Migne's _Patrologiae Cursus
Completus_, vol. vii.) Promiscuous bathing was forbidden by the
early Apostolical Constitutions, but Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage,
found it necessary, in the third century, to upbraid even virgins
vowed to chastity for continuing the custom. "What of those," he
asks, "who frequent baths, who prostitute to eyes that are
curious to lust, bodies that are dedicated to chastity and
modesty? They who disgracefully behold naked men, and are seen
naked by men? Do they not themselves afford enticement to vice?
Do they not solicit and invite the desires of those present to
their own corruption and wrong? 'Let every one,' say you, 'look
to the disposition with which he comes thither: my care is only
that of refreshing and washing my poor body.' That kind of
defence does not clear you, nor does it excuse the crime of
lasciviousness and wantonness. Such a washing defiles; it does
not purify nor cleanse the limbs, but stains them.
Pages:
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77