The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 2 (of 2)Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Religion
The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
What is voluntary is either what is by desire, or what is by
choice, or what is of intention. Closely allied to each other are
these things--sin, mistake, crime. It is sin, for example, to live
luxuriously and licentiously; a misfortune, to wound one’s friend in
ignorance, taking him for an enemy; and crime, to violate graves or
commit sacrilege. Sinning arises from being unable to determine what
ought to be done, or being unable to do it; as doubtless one falls
into a ditch either through not knowing, or through inability to leap
across through feebleness of body. But application to the training of
ourselves, and subjection to the commandments, is in our own power;
with which if we will have nothing to do, by abandoning ourselves
wholly to lust, we shall sin, nay rather, wrong our own soul. For the
noted Laius says in the tragedy:
“None of these things of which you admonish me have escaped me;
But notwithstanding that I am in my senses, Nature compels me;”
_i.e._ his abandoning himself to passion. Medea, too, herself
cries on the stage:
“And I am aware what evils I am to perpetrate,
But passion is stronger than my resolutions.”[134]
Further, not even Ajax is silent; but, when about to kill himself,
cries:
“No pain gnaws the soul of a free man like dishonour.
Thus do I suffer; and the deep stain of calamity
Ever stirs me from the depths, agitated
By the bitter stings of rage.”[135]
Anger made these the subjects of tragedy, and lust made ten thousand
others--Phædra, Anthia, Eriphyle,
“Who took the precious gold for her dear husband.”
For another play represents Thrasonides of the comic drama as saying:
“A worthless wench made me her slave.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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