Commodian — Instructiones 58
You want to be a Christian matron as one learning the world’s way: you surround yourself with gold or a silk dress, modest one; you send the law’s terror from the ears on the wind; you chase vain things, all from the Devil’s pomp; you adorn at the mirror curls bent back on the brow; and you put false drugs on the cheeks; on pure eyes antimony with twisted beauty; or you dye the hair so it stays black the whole time. God is the inspector who pierces every heart. Besides, for the chaste these things are not needed. With clear and chaste sense pierce the breast; God’s law witnesses that such laws depart. Let the woman who believes from the heart, proven to her husband, be enough — not by adornments but by a good mind. Put on clothes as needed, to show cold or too much sun — only that you be proven chaste and among God’s people show gifts of means. Tabitha, once most bright, gives you a memorial: she lies lifeless, raised by widows’ prayers. By giving she deserved to be lifted — not by hairdressings. You good matrons, flee vanity’s beauty: such culture fits unchaste women, the brothel. Conquer the evil one, chaste women of Christ; in giving show all your riches. [A holy woman of God shows riches in the heart. With a hymning choir and with Christ well pleased to serve, offer a fragrance to Christ, zealous with favor.]
Latin
58 MATRONIS ECCLESIAE DEI VIVI. Matrona uis esse Christiana ut saeculi discens: Auro te circumdas aut sirica ueste, pudica, Terrorem legis ex auribus uento remittis, Res uanas adfectas cuncta de Zabuli pompa, Ornas et ad speclum cincinnos fronte reflexos, Nec non et inducis malis medicamina falsa, In oculis puris stibium peruerso decore, Seu crines tingis, ut sint toto tempore nigri. Est Deus inspector, penetrat qui singula corda. Ceterum pudicis ista necessaria non sunt. Claro ac pudico sensu pertundite pectus; Lex Dei testatur tales abscedere leges, Ex corde quae credit femina marito probata Sufficiat esse non cultibus sed bona mente. Induite uestes quas oportet, frigus ut ostent Aut nimium solis, tantum ut pudico proberis Et in plebe Dei facultatis dona demonstres. Dat tibi memoriam <Tabitha> clarissima quondam; Exanimata iacet precibus uiduarum erecta. In dando promeruit, non comtibus, inde leuari. Uos matronae bonae uanitatis fugite decorem: In<cestas in> feminas congruet cultura lupana. Uincite malignum, pudicae feminae Christi, In dando diuitias uestras ostendite totas. [Xancta Dei mulier diuitias corde demonstrat. Ymnificato choro placitoque Christo seruire Zelantes fauore Christo offerte odorem.]