OF CHASTITY
" I love the forest. It is bad to live in towns : too many of the lustful are there.
Is it not better to fall into the hands of a murderer than into the dreams of a lustful woman ?
And look at these men : their eye saith it they know of nothing better on earth than to lie by a woman's side.
Mud is at the bottom of their soul; alas! if there is spirit in their mud !
Would ye were perfect, at least as animals are. But innocence is a necessary quality of animals.
Do I counsel you to slay your senses ? I counsel the innocence of the senses.
Do I counsel chastity ? Chastity is a virtue with some, but with most almost a vice.
True, these abstain : but the she-dog of sensuality looketh with envy out of all they do.
This beast and its no-peace followeth them even unto the heights of their virtues and into their cold spirit.
And with what grace the she-dog of sensuality knoweth how to beg for a piece of spirit, if it be denied a piece of flesh !
7*
�� �
