The Virtuous Woman

I saw you... I saw you, and did not believe my eyes that you were of humankind... Your beauty bewitched me, and I imagined I was in a world other than this world of ours! I longed to draw near you and ask you: are you an angel, or a girl like all other girls?

You are beautiful — beautiful to the farthest degree of human beauty!

Woman by her nature loves beauty... loves it to the farthest degree of love... loves it even unto worship...

But how good it would be if this beauty of yours were wedded to virtue... the virtue that drives you upward... and so gains you a beauty more beautiful than your beauty... stronger in substance... and greater in worth!

Do you know what this beauty is? It is the beauty of your soul... and is there in all the universe anything more beautiful than the beauty of the soul?

If you wish to possess this beauty, then follow me and walk with me... Come, let us search out the paths of virtue and follow them, for it is they that bring us to what we seek...

Why do I see you slow your steps?... Do you fear the roughness of the road? No! Do not fear: the road of virtue is smooth and straight.. roses and sweet basil line its way. It is the seedbed of flowers, not the seedbed of thorns... But if you should find some of these thorns, do not turn aside from them; tread them under your feet, and do not fear their pricking, for they draw no blood...

Here — we have found the way... that we were searching for! Walk with me, and let us follow it!

In your home, be a dutiful daughter to your parents, and be the comfort and solace of your mother!! Be to her not a daughter only, but a sister and a devoted companion... To your brothers and sisters be the highest example, and the comfort and solace of each one of them.. and above all that, be a sister... but a true sister!

In your married home, do not be unjust to your children; rather be to them that ideal mother — that virtuous, loving mother who makes them feel tenderness and affection together with sobriety and dignity... Be to them the good example they follow in their lives. Beware of making your home a resort for the late parties and games your Lord has forbidden you, for then you would have committed two great sins... your violation of the laws of religion, and then your planting of these seeds in the souls of your children... Be to them a guiding mother... Instill in their souls love of the homeland, and courage, and strength... for it is you who raise the homeland to the summit, and you who lower it to the depths...

Be cultivated with a culture of the mind... and a culture of the spirit... for the culture of the mind lifts you above those silly things... and the culture of the spirit softens your feeling and gives you a noble sentiment.. and a deep sense!

Be modest, with modesty suffusing your face... like the mountain violet that will not raise its head for shyness... and know that this color which clothes your cheeks adds to their dignity and their beauty...

Do not be a spendthrift; be economical, thrifty, faithful to your husband's house...

Finally! Be a true woman... a woman in the full meaning of this word... and do not overstep the bounds of womanliness; for if you go beyond them, your beauty leaves you, and there leaves you the womanliness God bestowed on you, by which He set you apart from your companion, man... And if you are so, and do not stray from the road... then rejoice in happiness... and rejoice that you are virtuous to the farthest degree of virtue... and beautiful to the farthest degree of beauty!!