Commentary on Isaiah (Super Isaiam)

"Behold, for the ruler." Here begins the second part, in which he accuses their sin as regards the oppression of their neighbors; and it is divided into two parts. In the first is set down the refutation of those who oppress; in the second, the consolation of the oppressed, chapter 4: "and they shall take hold." And because violent dominion is not only a fault of man, but also a punishment from God judging the sins of the people, as is said in Job 34: "who makes a hypocrite reign because of the sins of the people": therefore the first part is divided into two parts. For in the first, it is foretold insofar as it is a punishment inflicted by God; in the second, it is accused insofar as it is a fault committed by man, at the place, "my people." The first is divided into two. In the first he threatens the subversion of government; in the second he assigns the reason for what has been said, at the place, "for it is ruined." The first into three. In the first, those fit for the office of government are taken away; in the second, the unworthy are set in charge, at the place, "and I will give boys"; in the third, those called are refused, at the place, "a man shall take hold." The first into two. In the first he takes away one fit for the office of governing; in the second, one useful for the aid of the ruler, at the place, "and the counselor." The first into three, according to the three things required for the fitness of prelates. For first he takes away one fit as regards power; in the second as regards sagacity, at the place, "the judge"; in the third as regards authority, at the place, "the old man."

Power is required in a leader or king for waging the wars of the people, and for restraining lawless acts: Ecclesiasticus 9: "do not seek to become a judge, unless you have the strength to break through iniquities": and this consists in three things, according to which the first part is divided into three parts; namely, in strength of body, which consists in three things: namely, in vigor of constitution; and as to this he says: therefore I warn that you be still; for, that is, because, behold, it is at hand, he will take away the strong, that is, one well in the health of his constitution. In the robustness of limbs; and thus he says, strong, because strength consists in bones and sinews, as the Philosopher says. Again, in abundance of food; and thus he says, all the strength of bread, in which all food and drink is signified. Ecclesiasticus 29: "the beginning of the life of man is water and bread and clothing." Second, the power spoken of consists in constancy of heart; and thus he says, strong, according as it comes from fortitude, which is a virtue of the soul. Third, it consists in the exercise of the art of war, and thus he says, a man of war.

But wisdom is required for exercising judgments; on account of which Solomon asked wisdom from God. 3 Kings 3: "you will give your servant a teachable heart (...) that he may discern between good and evil." And this is had in three ways. Either by human instruction; and as to this he says, judge, as it were one skilled in law: or by divine inspiration; and as to this he says, prophet: or by the revelation of a demon; and as to this he says, soothsayer, because at the altars of demons they divined, and sometimes spoke the truth.

Authority is necessary for reverence; and this consists in three things. In the dignity of office; and as to this he says, prince, etc.; and by these he understands all the other princes, as the Gloss says: in the honesty of morals; the old man, in morals. In the maturity of countenance; honorable in countenance.

But some are useful to princes for the governing of the people, or for dispatching doubtful matters; and as to this he says, counselor: or for making buildings; the wise man of the architects, from archos, which is chief, and techne, which is art, and especially of the mechanical arts. An architect is called the principal craftsman, who commands the craftsmen to introduce the form, and to prepare the matter, according to the consideration of the end, the knowledge of which he holds in use or in reason. But wisdom, according to the Philosopher, is spoken of in two ways; namely, universal and particular. Defining the particular, he says it is a virtue by which a man is set at the furthest point of any art whatsoever, as of medicine: and a physician is called wise who is most certain in the things belonging to medicine; and likewise a wise craftsman; and so of the others. And it is taken in this way here. Universal wisdom is that which is the furthest point in all arts and sciences; and this is that by which a man is set in the knowledge of the most noble things, namely of separate substances, or spiritual ones. And this, according to the Philosopher, is metaphysics, and according to us, theology. Third, someone is necessary for instructing in divine things: and as to this he says: and prudent in mystical speech, from mystim, which is secret, that is, of divine words which are secret. And concerning all these it is had in 4 Kings, the penultimate chapter, that they were carried away by Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon. He also carried Joachim away into Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and the eunuchs, and led the judges of the land into captivity.

"And I will give boys." Here is shown the subversion of government as regards the fact that the unworthy are put in charge. And it is divided into two. In the first is set down the prelacy of the unworthy; in the second, the consequent disturbance of the people, at the place, "and the people shall fall"; and they are unworthy as regards a lack of wisdom and of age; and thus he says: I will give boys: and as regards a lack of virtue; and thus he says: and effeminate ones, that is, wanton and feeble. Hosea 13: "I will give you kings in my fury." But a threefold effect of this government in the disturbance of the people is touched upon. First, a universal dissension: whence he says: the people shall fall, from the unity of peace, through which it is a people, man to man, that is, against. Proverbs 11: "where there is no governor, the people shall fall." Zechariah 10: "they were led away like a flock: they shall be afflicted, because they have no shepherd." Second, the dissolution of friendship: each one to his neighbor, that is, against his neighbor. Jeremiah 10: "every brother, supplanting, will be supplanted, and every friend will walk deceitfully." Third, confusion of order: the child shall behave insolently against the old man. Lamentations 4: "they did not blush at the faces of the priests, nor did they have pity on the old."

"He shall take hold." Here he shows the subversion of government as regards the fact that those invited refuse (the office), as something ruinous. And it is divided into two parts. In the first is set down the invitation of those choosing; in the second, the refusal of the one elected, at the place, "and he shall answer." Concerning the first, three things are set down: namely, the election itself, the occasion of the election, the imposition of the office. The election is disordered, because it is by one only; whence he says: thence there shall be tumult, for: that is, because they will not choose in common; but a man shall take hold of his brother, one joined by blood, of the household of his father, accepted by familiarity, however lowly he may even be. Micah 3: "who builds Zion in blood, and Jerusalem in iniquity." And this is against the form observed in Numbers 17, in the election of princes made by the command of the Lord, by the authority of the prelate, and the consent of the multitude. But the occasion is base, because it is on account of riches: whence he says: you have a garment: for he hopes for temporal assistance; and this is against the form handed down in Exodus 18: "provide out of all the people able men, and fearing God, in whom there is truth, and who hate avarice; and appoint from among them rulers of thousands and of hundreds," etc., "who may judge the people at all times." But the imposition is dangerous: whence he says: be a prince over us; but this ruin, that is, danger, is under your hand, that is, under your custody and your defense. 3 Kings 20: "keep this man, who if he shall have escaped, your life shall be for his life."

"He shall answer." Here is set down the refusal of the one elected: and first is shown a reasonable excuse; second, the refutation of the office is concluded, at the place, "do not." In the excuse he puts forward three things; namely, his inability to repel harmful things: I am not a physician, namely such that I could heal your miseries. Jeremiah 8: "is there no balm in Gilead, or is there no physician there?" To supply a lack: and in my house there is no bread, by which I might supply the lack of your hunger. Lamentations 4: "the little ones asked for bread, and there was none to break it for them." To foster or preserve what is necessary; nor a garment, by which warmth is preserved. Proverbs, the last chapter: "she shall not fear for her household from the colds of snow. For all her household are clothed with double garments."

"Do not appoint me prince of the people." Here the refutation of the office is concluded, where a threefold reason is set down, namely, the hindrance of devout contemplation, Judges 9: "can I forsake my fatness, which gods and men make use of?" Of sweet affection: below: "can I forsake my sweetness?" Of spiritual exultation: "can I forsake my wine, which cheers God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?"

For Jerusalem is ruined. Here he gives the cause of what has been said, namely of the renunciation: and first he gives the proximate cause, namely the punishment of universal ruin: hence it is said in the person of the prophet: therefore he will refuse — "for," that is "because," Jerusalem is ruined, that is, the city itself; and Judah, that is, the province itself, has collapsed, through punishment, from its integrity. Below 23: they have led its strong men into captivity, they have undermined its houses, they have set it in ruin. Second, he gives the remote cause, namely guilt. And it is divided into three parts. In the first he aggravates the guilt; in the second he ordains punishment against the guilt, at the words, woe to their soul; third he shows the justice of the one who punishes, at the words, say to the just.

He aggravates the sin from three things. From the species of the sin, because it is blasphemy against God: hence he says: therefore it has collapsed, because their tongue is against the Lord. Below 57: over whom have you sported, over whom have you opened wide your mouth, and put out your tongue? Second, from the novelty of the sin: hence he says: their devisings are against the Lord. Hosea 7: now their own devisings have surrounded them, they have been made before my face. Third, from the publication of the sin: hence he says: the recognition of their face; and this, because they made their sin, recognized from their face, known to others. It shall answer them, as a punishment as regards gesture. And as to the commending of the sin he says: and they have preached their sin as Sodom, that is, they have praised it. Jer. 2: you have made yourself a harlot's forehead, and you have refused to blush. It is expounded otherwise in the Gloss: the recognition of their face, that is, the knowledge of their sins, which they will have in the intellect, since the senses are in the face — it shall answer them, when they ask why they are punished. Or otherwise: the recognition of their face, that is, the remorse of conscience, shall answer them, as a punishment. And mystically this is referred to the sin by which, seeing Christ, they refused to recognize him, concerning which conscience will accuse them, according to what the Gloss says. And because the justice of God does not allow such grave evils to go unpunished, therefore woe to their soul, not only to their body: for evils have been rendered to them, in the foreknowledge of God; or the past tense is put for the future.

And lest the punishment be thought to involve everyone, the justice of God in discerning the good from the evil is subjoined: and concerning this he does two things. First he sets down the reward of the good, saying, say to the just man — whoever he may be — that it shall be well with him, when others shall be damned, because he shall eat the fruit, that is, the reward, of his own devisings, as it were receiving the fruit of the good things he has thought out. For just as the wicked are solicitous to find ways by which sin may be committed, so too the good are solicitous to devise how they may be able to please God. 1 Cor. 7: he who is without a wife is solicitous for the things that are the Lord's, how he may please God. Ps. 127: because you shall eat the labors of your hands, you are blessed, and it shall be well with you. Second he sets down the punishment of the wicked, saying, woe to the wicked unto evil, that is, for the evil that impends over him. The retribution of his own hands — Ps. 9: the sinner is caught in the works of his own hands.

My people. Here the oppression of the people is censured, according as it is the sin of the man who oppresses. And it is divided into two parts. In the first the vice of oppression is set down; in the second the judgment of punishment is brought in, at the words, the Lord stands up to judge. Now some oppressed the people in three ways. For first, the princes oppressed by violence, seizing: and as to this he says: they have despoiled my people, of their goods. Ezek. 22: they oppressed the people of the land with oppression, and seized violently; they afflicted the needy and the poor. Second, the women, drawing them on to concupiscence, and even to idolatry, as is said of Solomon, 3 Kings 11; and as to this he says: their women have ruled over them. Ecclus. 9: do not give a woman power over your soul, lest she enter in upon your strength. Third, the prophets, deceiving through the cunning of flattery; and as to this he says, my people; as if to say: I was accustomed to speak to you through the prophets; but because they are liars, I will speak to you through myself, lest it seem that it ought not to be believed, that a prophet speaks against a prophet. They deceive, by promising security. They lay waste, by furnishing occasion for guilt. Mic. 3: thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who bite with their teeth, and preach peace. Jer. 14: the prophets say to them: you shall not see the sword, and there shall be no famine among you; he will give you true peace in this place.

He stands up to judge. Here judgment is brought in to punish the oppressors: and it is divided into two: in the first the judgment against the oppressing princes is set down; in the second, against the women, at the words, and the Lord said. The false prophets deceived in order to despoil the people; and therefore they have the same judgment as the princes. Ezek. 13: they profaned me among my people, for a handful of barley and a piece of bread. Concerning the first he does three things. First the judge is brought in: hence he says, he stands up to judge. Mic. 4: he shall judge many peoples. Dan. 7: the judgment sat, and the books were opened. Second the accused are brought in: hence he says: the Lord will come to judgment with the elders, namely the priests, and the princes, the kings and the leaders. Ezek. 34: I will judge between cattle and cattle, and between ram and he-goat. Third the cause is set down: and first the accusation of the plaintiff is brought in, when he says, you have devoured: Mic. 3: they have eaten the flesh of my people; second the rebuke of the judge is set down, when he says: why do you crush, by afflicting, and grind the faces of the poor, by wasting them with hunger? Amos 4: you do wrong to the needy, and you shall crush the poor. For God himself will be both the plaintiff and the judge.

The fruit of the just man, which he renders: of his own operation, John 10: go and bear fruit, and let your fruit remain; of his own preaching, Hebrews, last chapter: let us offer the sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, the fruit of the lips of those confessing his name; of his own confession. Which he receives: of the remission of guilt, Is. 27: the iniquity of the house of Jacob shall be forgiven, and this is all the fruit, that his sin be taken away; of the participation of grace, Gal. 5: but the fruit of the spirit: charity, joy, etc.; of the contemplation of wisdom, Prov. 3: her acquisition is better than the trading of gold and silver, her first and purest fruits. Which he seeks: in the enjoyment of God, Song 2: his fruit is sweet to my throat; in the fellowship of the heavenly choir, Ezek. 36: mountains of Israel, put forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; in the reception of the divine gift, Song 4: your shoots are a paradise of pomegranates, with the fruits of apples.

'And the Lord said, for this.' Here the divine judgment against the women is set forth: and first the fault is laid open; second, the punishment is foretold, at the words, 'he will make bald.' The first is divided into two. In the first he accuses them of pride; in the second, of wantonness, at the words, 'and with nods.'

Concerning the first he does two things. In the first he accuses the pride in the heart, when he says: 'because they have been lifted up in pride.' Psalm 130: 'Lord, my heart is not exalted.' Second, he accuses the sign of pride in the body: 'they walked with neck outstretched,' which is a sign of pride. Job 15: 'he ran against him with neck erect, and is armed with a fat neck.'

'And with nods.' Here he accuses their wantonness in four things, by which they provoked men to lust. First, in sight itself: hence he says, 'and with nods.' Proverbs 6: 'let not your heart covet her beauty, lest you be caught by her nods.' Second, in play: 'and they clapped.' The Gloss: by playing. Ecclesiasticus 9: 'do not be continually with a dancing girl (...) lest perhaps you perish by her power.' Third, in gait: 'and they walked.' Proverbs 7: 'garrulous, wandering, unable to bear rest, nor able to keep her feet at home.' Fourth, by wanton adornment, 'with measured step.' The Gloss: adorned from the plunder of the poor. Proverbs 7: 'behold, a woman meets him, decked out in harlot's attire, prepared to catch souls.'

'He will make bald.' Here he threatens the punishment: and first as to the taking away of ornaments; second, as to the comfort of men, at the words, 'the most beautiful men also.' Concerning the first he does two things. First he takes away from them the ornaments that are signs of unfitting gladness and wantonness; in the second he recompenses signs of sadness and misery, at the words, 'and it shall be, instead of sweet.' Concerning the first he does two things. First he takes away from them the natural adornment of the hair; second, the artificial, at the words, 'in that day.'

He says therefore first, 'he will make bald,' as to the real hair. Below, 15: 'upon all its heads there shall be baldness.' 'He will lay bare,' as to the false hair, which is like a garment. Deuteronomy 32: 'from the captivity of the bared head of the enemies.'

'In that day.' Here he takes away from them the artificial ornaments; and first those that pertain to the adornment of the members; second, those that pertain to the care of ornaments, at the words, 'and pins, and mirrors.' Concerning the first he does two things. First he takes away those that pertain to the adornment of the parts; second, those that pertain to the adornment of the whole, at the words, 'and the changes of raiment.' Concerning the first he does two things: first he takes away what pertains to the members of the body; second, what pertains especially to the organs of the senses, at the words, 'and the little smelling-bottles.' Concerning the first he does two things. First he takes away those things that pertain to the members of the lower part of the body; second, those that pertain especially to the members of the head, at the words, 'and headdresses.'

He says therefore first, as to the feet, the ornaments of footwear; whatsoever kind, and especially the 'little moons,' certain figures made on the footwear of gilded leather. Song of Songs 7: 'how beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince's daughter.' Second, as to the neck, 'chains,' certain ornaments of the neck hanging down to the breast, given in honor of victory. Proverbs 1: 'that grace may be added to your head, and a chain to your neck.' Third, as to the breast, he says, 'necklaces,' any ornaments whatsoever, but especially the clasps by which the breast is secured, lest the garments come open. Song of Songs 7: 'the joints of your thighs are like necklaces, which have been fashioned by the hand of a craftsman.' Fourth, as to the arms, he says, 'bracelets,' ornaments of the arms, named from the shoulder [armus]. Exodus 35: 'the men, along with the women, provided bracelets.'

'And headdresses.' Here he sets down the ornaments of the head: and first as to the crown of the head. 'Headdresses,' ornaments of the head in the manner of a crown. Judith 10: 'she placed a headdress upon her head, her hair having been parted.' Second, as to the hair, he says: 'hairpins,' certain instruments made of silver or gold in the manner of a sharp stick, by which women part their hair in front of the forehead, just as was said in Judith, in the same place: 'she parted the hair of her head.'

Third, as to the neck, he touches on two things. First, 'periscelides,' from 'peri,' which is 'around,' and 'colon,' which is 'member,' as it were an ornament around a member. Haymo says that it is made of gold in the likeness of bracelets, and is placed around the neck. The Gloss says that it is upon the feet, similar to bracelets. Others say that they are a certain ornament placed around the edges of garments, like gold embroidery, or certain furs, or something of this kind. And this can stand together with both of the aforesaid; for in this way they are both around the neck and around the feet. For garments have such things both in the hoods and in the lower hems, and thus they adorn the neck indirectly. Numbers 31: 'for this reason we offer, each in the gifts of the Lord, whatever of gold we were able to find in the plunder: periscelides, and bracelets, rings.'

Second, he sets down the immediate ornaments of the neck, when he says, 'little chains,' namely certain chains inlaid with little rods of gold and silver in the manner of a moray eel, which are placed around the neck. Song of Songs 1: 'we will make you little chains of gold, inlaid with silver.' And because the neck is the middle between the head and the body, its adornment overflows into both; and therefore it is placed with both.

'And little smelling-bottles.' Here are set down those things that pertain to the organs of sense: and first as to smell. 'Little smelling-bottles,' certain small boxes in which they used to put musk and the like, or also certain vessels, like little 'apples' made of silver, pierced in the manner of a censer, in which fire and something fragrant is placed. Song of Songs 1: 'we will run to the fragrance of your ointments.' Second, as to hearing, 'earrings,' certain circles of gold or silver, which are placed in the ears of women pierced for this purpose. Hosea 2: 'she adorned herself with her earring and her necklace, and went after her lovers.' Third, as to touch, which is most vigorous in the fingers. 'Rings.' Numbers 31, the authority already adduced above: 'for this reason we offer rings, etc.' Fourth, as to sight, 'jewels' hanging on the forehead, with which the women of Egypt were adorned. Exodus 25: 'you shall take onyx stones and jewels for adorning the ephod and the breastplate.' Of taste he makes no mention, because its instrument is internal, and is not adorned.

'And the changes of raiment.' Here he sets down the ornaments pertaining to the whole body; and first for putting on; and thus he says: 'changes of raiment,' that is, different pairs of garments. Zechariah 3: 'I have clothed you with changes of raiment; and he said, place the turban.' Second, for covering: and thus he says, 'cloaks.' Genesis 24: 'but she, quickly taking a cloak, covered herself.' Third, for lying down, and thus he says, 'linen sheets.' John 20: 'Peter came, and went into the tomb, and saw the linen cloths lying there.'

'And pins.' Here he sets down the things that pertain to the care of ornaments; and first for arranging them. 'Pins.' Matthew 19: 'it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.' Second, for discerning, 'and mirrors,' by which women discern whether they are well adorned. Exodus 38: 'he also made the bronze laver with its base from the mirrors of the women who kept watch before the door of the tabernacle and the court.' Third, for covering the ornaments; and first for covering the ornaments of the shoulders, 'and fine linen cloths,' delicate veils by which the shoulders are covered, as is done in Campania by the women. Proverbs, last: 'she made fine linen and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Canaanite.' Second, for covering the ornaments of the head, 'headbands,' that is, veils. Or better, it should be said that they are called certain bindings, by which women bind their hair, made in the manner of a net; and thus it is taken in Exodus 28: 'and you shall bind it with a hyacinth-blue band,' namely the plate of purest gold, on which the holy name of the Lord was written. Third, for covering the ornaments of the whole body, he says, 'theristra.' The Gloss: a very fine woman's garment, penetrable to sight, suitable for summer, and named from this; for 'theria' means 'summer.' And women especially were accustomed to wear this sort of thing over silk garments. Genesis 38: 'the garments of her widowhood having been laid aside, she took up a summer garment.' Of many of these it is said, Ezekiel 16: 'I clothed you with embroidered garments, I shod you with hyacinth-blue, and I girded you with fine linen, and I clothed you with delicate garments (...) and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain around your neck, and I put earrings upon your face, and circles in your ears, and a crown of beauty upon your head.'

'And it shall be.' Here, the ornaments of wantonness having been taken away, he changes them into the trappings of misery. And first, as to that which is external, he says: 'it shall be instead of sweet odor': for odor is from without. Joel 2: 'its stench shall rise up, and its rottenness shall rise up, because it has acted proudly.' Second, as to that which is around, he says, 'instead of a girdle, a rope.' Job 12: 'he looses the belt of kings, and girds their loins with a rope.' Third, as to that which is above, he says, 'instead of curled hair.' Fourth, as to that which is within: 'instead of a breast-band.' The Gloss: by which the breasts are restrained, that is, compressed, lest by their size they cause an unseemliness.

'The most beautiful men also.' Here he takes away from them the comfort of men as to four things. Now women delight in the beauty of men; and as to this he says: 'the most beautiful men also, by the sword.' Lamentations 4: 'her Nazirites were whiter than snow, more radiant than milk, more ruddy than ancient ivory, more beautiful than sapphire.' Second, in strength; and as to this he says, 'and the strong.' Below, 23: 'into captivity.' Third, they delight in dignity; and as to this he says: 'and they shall mourn,' inwardly, 'and shall lament,' outwardly, 'her gates,' that is, the judges sitting in the gates. Lamentations 2: 'her gates have been brought down into the ground; and he has destroyed and broken her bars, her king.' Fourth, they delight in the pleasantness of men; and as to this he says: 'and desolate she shall sit upon the ground.' Lamentations 1: 'he has made me desolate, wasted with grief all the day.'

It is asked first, concerning this chapter, about what he says, 'the soothsayer.' For it seems according to this that it is lawful to inquire about the future from soothsayers: for to take away something unlawful is not a punishment, but rather a benefit. Furthermore, the same seems to follow from the Gloss, that they sometimes speak the truth; but the truth is to be accepted from anyone whatsoever; therefore also from them. Furthermore, since demons are the clearest mirrors according to intellect, as Dionysius says, it seems that in those things which pertain to knowledge, it is at least not evil to receive something from them; and thus to attend to divinations will be lawful; and especially since no knowledge is evil, and divination implies knowledge.

To this it must be said that divination, by its very name, denotes the usurpation of a divine act, and this especially in the knowledge of future things which cannot naturally be known. For there are certain future things which have determinate causes in nature, from which they necessarily arise, like an eclipse of the sun; and concerning these there is no divination. Certain others also have determinate causes from which they arise for the most part, like dryness in summer under the Dog Star: hence concerning these there is no divination. Such indeed are the prognostications of physicians about health or death, and of sailors about a coming storm; unless perhaps they are foretold as future with, as it were, unshakeable certainty, because this belongs to God alone. There are also certain future things which do not have determinate causes in nature, and especially those which come about from free choice; and of these no one has foreknowledge except God, to whom all things are present on account of the stability of his eternity, or someone receiving it from God.

And if indeed such things are foretold by divine inspiration, it will be prophecy, and not divination: but if by one's own contrivance, deceitfully, for the sake of some gain, as old women do, it is called divination, and is a sin, both on account of the lie — because they assert uncertain things as true — and on account of the deception, and on account of the usurpation of the deity. Likewise it is called divination if it is done by the counsel of demons in any way whatsoever; who indeed can foretell certain future things, either those of which they themselves are the cause, or those which they themselves know through the revelation of the good angels, or those which they themselves know by natural knowledge, in those things which have determinate causes in nature — hidden from us, but known to them, both on account of the keenness of their intelligence and on account of the experience of a long time. And yet it is always a sin to inquire from them, and an apostasy from the faith, as Augustine says.

And this for three reasons: first, because although they speak the truth, yet their intention is always to deceive; second, because they cannot have certain knowledge, except concerning those things which they know through revelation; third, because we cannot at the same time be partakers of the gifts of God and of the devil. And this is the chief reason among all. And although it is, absolutely speaking, a benefit to take such things away, nevertheless it is a punishment to those who follow such things, because it is contrary to their will.

Then it is asked concerning choral dances, whether they can be practiced without sin, on account of what he says, 'and they clapped': for he accuses it as though it were a sin. To which indeed it must be said that play in itself is not evil; for otherwise there would not be, in games, the virtue that is called eutrapelia: but according as it is ordered to a different end, and clothed with different circumstances, it can be an act of virtue or of vice. For since it is impossible always to act in the active and contemplative life, it is therefore necessary sometimes to interpose joys amid cares, lest the mind be broken by excessive severity, and so that afterward a man may more readily devote himself to the works of the virtues. And if games are engaged in for such an end, with the other circumstances, it will be an act of virtue, and can be meritorious, if it is informed by grace.

Now these circumstances seem to be especially observed in choral dancing: that the person not be unfitting, such as a cleric, or a religious; that it be at a time of gladness, such as for the sake of deliverance, or at weddings, and the like; that it be done with honest persons, and with honest singing; and that the gestures not be too wanton — and whatever other things there are of this kind. But if it is done to provoke wantonness, and according to other undue circumstances, it is clear that the act will be vicious.

Then it is asked concerning the adornment of women, whether it is lawful for women to adorn themselves. And it seems that it is not, on account of what is said here, and 1 Timothy 2: 'not with braided hair, or gold and silver, or pearls, or costly clothing; but what befits women, etc.' And it must be said that adornment is to be measured especially according to the manner and measure of the person, and according to intention. For if women wear ornaments befitting their state and dignity, so that they conduct themselves with moderation in their doings according to the custom of the country, it will be an act of the virtue of modesty, which sets a measure in gait, dress, and all outward movements, and it can be meritorious, if it is with grace. Likewise if she does this in order to please her husband fittingly, whom she has, or whom she ought to take, and so that she may be set apart from other women. But if they wear ornaments more costly than befits them, it will be arrogance, or even something deformed by the vice of lust, if they do it to provoke desire toward themselves.