Christ the Educator

Chapter 4

220 CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA unwieldy than the chariot, his horse, mount it and ride where he will. When he suffers from hunger, he seeks nourishment from his horse, which offers him the only thing it has, blood from its open veins. This makes the horse both chariot and food for the nomad. (25 ) Among the Arabs, other nomads, the young warrior rides on a she-camel that is pregnant. The camel grazes while it runs and carries its master, bringing its own larder with it. If drink fails, he can milk his camel, and if food runs short, the Arab does not spare even their blood, as they say of wolves on the prowl. The camel, gentler than the barbarian, does not think it is being wronged, but runs through the desert carrying its master trustingly, supplying him at the same time with his food. If only wild beasts were destroyed who wait to prey upon blood! Yet, it is not right for man to touch blood, either, for his own body is nothing less than flesh quickened by blood. Human blood has its portion of reason , and its share in grace, along with the spirit. If anyone injures it, he will not escape punishment. A man can speak to the Lord, even if he is stripped of all clothing. I favor the plain simplicity of the barbarians. They respected a less cumbersome way of life and therefore avoided luxuriousness. The Lord calls us to be like them, stripped of all excessive love of finery, of all gaudy appearances, freed from sin, wearing only the wood of life18 and intent only upon salvation. Chapter 4 (26) But I forget myself, and have sailed in spirit right past the due progression of my thought. I must now retrace 18 That is, the Cross. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 221 my steps and express my disapproval of the possession of too many slaves. Men resort to servants to escape work and waiting on themselves. They hire a great host of bakers and cooks and waiters and men who can carve meat skillfully into slices. They portion out this service into many different duties : some are engaged to minister to their gluttony, carvers and cooks of the rich dish called caruce, others to prepare and to make the pastries, others to make the honey cakes, and still others to prepare the porridges; then there are those whose duty it is to care for their innumerable garments; others keep watch over their gold like griffins, others guard their silver and keep their goblets clean and get the dishes ready for the banquets; then there are those who groom their beasts of burden; there are a host of wine-pourers in constant attendance upon them; and finally, there are a crowd of handsome youths from whom, like cattle, they draw milk: the milk of beauty. The women employ beauticians and handmaids, some to take care of their mirrors; others, the hairnets; others, their combs.l Then there are scores of eunuchs, who are little more than panderers; because of the trust they inspire, since they are incapable of sexual pleasure, they can minister to those wanting to carry on some love affair and not incur suspicion . The true eunuch, however, is not he who is unable, but he who is unwilling to gratify his passions. (27) The Word has given a complete description of these offenders when He promised through the Prophet Samuel that the people who were demanding a king would have, not a kind master, but one who would be an unfeeling tyrant, given over to immorality, 'who will take,' He said, 'your daughters to make him ointments, and to be his cooks 1 There is a lacuna in the text here. 222 CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA and bakers,'2 who will rule by law of war, and not be zealous for the administration of peace. There are many Celts to lift and carry the litters for these women, but nowhere can one see any spinning or weaving or loom-working or, for that matter, any feminine occupations or household chores. Story-tellers spend the whole day with the women, idly spinning erotic legends, wearying body and soul by their false tales and deeds. 'Thou shalt not be with many,' Scripture says, 'for evil, nor join with a multitude,'3 because wisdom is found only among the few, disorder in the multitude. These women...