The Instructor 2.8.68
Summary: Some fragrances have medicinal uses and may be used as remedies; but pleasure without usefulness belongs to the character of a courtesan.
Greek text · Stählin 1:198
καθάπερ οἱ βόες τοῖς κρίκοις καὶ τοῖς σχοίνοις, οὕτω δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀκόλαστος θυμιάμασι καὶ μύροις καὶ ταῖς ἀπὸ τῶν στεφάνων εὐωδίαις περιέλκεται. ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐδεμίαν χώραν ἀπονέμομεν ἡδονῇ πρὸς οὐδεμίαν συμπεπλεγμένῃ λυσιτελῆ τῷ βίῳ χρείαν, φέρε κἀνταῦθα διαστειλώμεθα, τὸ χρειῶδες αἱρούμενοι. εἰσὶ γάρ τινες εὐωδίαι οὐ καρωτικαὶ οὐδὲ ἐρωτικαί, οὔκουν συμπλοκῆς καὶ τῆς ἀκολάστου ἑταιρείας ἀποπνέουσαι, ὑγειναὶ δὲ μετὰ σωφροσύνης καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐγκέφαλον ὑποτρέφουσαι, ὁπηνίκα ἂν καχεκτῇ, ῥωννύουσαι δὲ καὶ τὸν στόμαχον. [πολλοῦ τοίνυν δεῖ τοῖς ἄνθεσιν ἐπιψύχειν αὐτόν, ὁπότε ἀλεαίνεσθαι ἐθέλει τὸ νευρῶδες·] οὐ γὰρ κατὰ πάντα ἀποσκορακιστέον τὴν χρῆσιν αὐτῶν, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ φαρμάκῳ καὶ βοηθήματι χρηστέον τῷ μύρῳ πρός τε τὸ ἐπεγεῖραι τὴν ἀπαυδῶσαν δύναμιν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς κατάρρους καὶ πρὸς τὰς καταψύξεις δυσαρέστησίν τε, καθὰ καὶ ὁ κωμικός φησί που· μύροις ὑπαλείφεται τὰς ῥῖνας· ὑγιείας μέρος μέγιστον ὀδμὰς ἐγκεφάλῳ χρηστὰς ποιεῖν· καὶ ἡ τῶν ποδῶν διὰ τοῦ λίπους τῶν ἀναθερμαινόντων ἢ ἐμψυχόντων μύρων ἀνάτριψις ὠφελείας ἕνεκεν ἐπιτηδεύεται, ὡς δὴ ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῖς πεπληρωμένοις ὁλκήν τινα καὶ ὑποχώρησιν ἐπὶ τὰ μὴ κύρια τῶν μερῶν γίνεσθαι. ἡδονὴ δέ, ᾗ μὴ πρόσεστι τὸ χρειῶδες, ἤθους ἐστὶν ἑταιρικοῦ διαβολὴ καὶ φάρμακον ἐρεθισμῶν.
English · Claude translation
As oxen are led by rings and ropes, so the licentious man is dragged about by incense and perfumes and the fragrance of garlands. But since we give no room to pleasure that is not joined to some profitable use in life, let us make a distinction here too, choosing what is useful. There are some fragrances that are neither stupefying nor erotic, not smelling of intercourse and licentious company, but healthful with self-control, nourishing the brain when it is in poor condition and strengthening the stomach. [It is far from right, then, to chill it with flowers, when the sinews want warming.] We must not reject their use altogether, but use perfume as a medicine and remedy, to rouse failing strength, and for catarrhs, chills, and discomfort, as the comic poet says somewhere: “He rubs his nostrils with perfumes; the greatest part of health is to give the brain good smells.” And rubbing the feet with the fat of warming or cooling perfumes is practiced for its benefit, so that there may be a drawing off and withdrawal from the head, when it is congested, to the less vital parts. But pleasure without usefulness is a charge of a courtesan's character and a drug for provocations.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The bracketed sentence is marked by the editor as out of place (it belongs in 2.8.70). The comic verses are from an unidentified poet (perhaps Alexis).
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.8.68 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/8/68/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.8.68 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/8/68/).
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