The Instructor 2.8.76
Summary: Perfumes made from flowers have medicinal value, and all these things were created for our good use; the godly may enjoy flowers' scent but should not wear garlands.
Greek text · Stählin 1:203–204
Ἀλλʼ ἐξέβην γὰρ τοῦ παιδαγωγικοῦ τύπου τὸ διδασκαλικὸν εἶδος παρεισάγων, αὖθις οὖν ἐπὶ τὸ προκείμενον ἐπάνειμι. ὡς μὲν οὖν ἐν φαρμάκου μοίρᾳ ἰάσεως ἕνεκα, ἔσθʼ ὅπῃ δὲ καὶ διαχύσεως σώφρονος, οὐκ ἀποβλητέον τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθῶν τέρψιν καὶ τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν μύρων τε καὶ θυμιαμάτων ὠφέλειαν, δεδηλώκαμεν. εἰ δὲ καὶ λέγοιέν τινες, τίς οὖν ἔτι χάρις ἀνθῶν τοῖς μὴ χρωμένοις αὐτοῖς, ἴστων ὡς ἄρα καὶ τὰ μύρα ἐξ αὐτῶν σκευάζεται καὶ ἔστι πολυωφελῆ· σούσινον μὲν ἐκ κρίνων καὶ λειρίων, ἔστι δὲ θερμαντικόν, ἀναστομωτικόν, ἑλκυστικόν, ὑγραντικόν, σμηκτικόν, λεπτομερές, χολῆς κινητικόν, μαλακτικόν· ναρκίσσινον δὲ τὸ ἐκ ναρκίσσου ἐπʼ ἴσης ὀνίνησι τῷ σουσίνῳ· μύρσινον δὲ τὸ ἐκ μύρτων καὶ μυρρίνης στυπτικόν, παρακατέχον τὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος ἀποφοράς· τὸ δὲ ἐκ ῥόδων ἐμψυκτικόν. καθόλου γὰρ καὶ ταῦτα εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν εὐχρηστίαν δεδημιούργηται. »εἰσακούσατέ μου«, φησί, »καὶ ὡς ῥόδον πεφυτευμένον ἐπὶ ῥευμάτων ὑδάτων βλαστήσατε, ὡς λίβανος εὐωδιάσατε ὀσμήν, καὶ εὐλογήσατε κύριον ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.« καὶ πολὺς ἂν εἴη ὁ περὶ τούτων λόγος, εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας ὠφελείας λεγόντων ἡμῶν τὰ ἄνθη καὶ τὰ ἀρώματα, οὐκ εἰς τὰς ὕβρεις τῆς τρυφῆς γεγονέναι. εἰ δὲ καὶ ἄρα τι συγχωρητέον, ἀπόχρη τῆς ὀδμῆς ἀπολαύειν αὐτοῖς τῶν ἀνθῶν, μὴ καταστεφέτωσαν δέ· πολυωρεῖ γὰρ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὁ πατὴρ καὶ τὴν ἰδίαν αὐτοῦ τέχνην τούτῳ παρέχει μόνῳ. λέγει γοῦν ἡ γραφή· »ὕδωρ καὶ πῦρ καὶ σίδηρος καὶ γάλα, σεμίδαλις πυροῦ καὶ μέλι, αἷμα σταφυλῆς καὶ ἔλαιον καὶ ἱμάτιον, ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς εὐσεβέσιν εἰς ἀγαθά.«
English · Claude translation
But I have strayed from the pattern of instruction into the teaching kind; so I return to our subject. We have shown that the delight of flowers and the benefit of perfumes and incense are not to be rejected as medicine for healing, and sometimes for temperate cheer. If some ask what benefit there is in flowers for those who do not use them, let them know that perfumes are made from them and are very beneficial: susinum, from lilies and irises, is warming, opening, drawing, moistening, cleansing, fine, stirring bile, softening; narcissus perfume, from the narcissus, is equally beneficial with susinum; myrtle perfume, from myrtles and myrtle berries, is astringent, checking the discharges of the body; and rose perfume is cooling. In general these too were made for our use. “Listen to me,” it says, “and bud like a rose planted by streams of water; give off a sweet smell like frankincense, and bless the Lord for his works.” Much could be said about these, since we say that flowers and aromatics were made for necessary benefits, not for the outrages of luxury. And if anything is to be allowed, it is enough for them to enjoy the scent of the flowers, but let them not wear garlands. For the Father takes great care of the human being and gives his own art to him alone. Scripture says: “Water and fire and iron and milk, fine wheat flour and honey, the blood of the grape and oil and clothing, all these are for good to the godly.”
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotations are Sir 39:13–14 and Sir 39:26–27.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.8.76 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/8/76/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.8.76 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/8/76/).
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