aired beauty is sometimes emphasized. Its
chief charm is represented as lying in its own joy and freedom
and the security it involves from all the troubles,
inconveniences and bondages of matrimony. This early Christian
movement of romantic chastity was clearly, in large measure, a
revolt of women against men and marriage. This is well brought
out in the instructive story, supposed to be of third century
origin, of the eunuchs Achilleus and Nereus, as narrated in the
_Acta Sanctorum_, May 12th. Achilleus and Nereus were Christian
eunuchs of the bedchamber to Domitia, a virgin of noble birth,
related to the Emperor Domitian and betrothed to Aurelian, son
of a Consul. One day, as their mistress was putting on her jewels
and her purple garments embroidered with gold, they began in turn
to talk to her about all the joys and advantages of virginity, as
compared to marriage with a mere man. The conversation is
developed at great length and with much eloquence. Domitia was
finally persuaded. She suffered much from Aurelian in
consequence, and when he obtained her banishment to an island she
went thither with Achilleus and Nereus, who were put to death.
Incidentally, the death of Felicula, another heroine of chastity,
is described. When elevated on the rack because she would not
marry, she constantly refused to deny Jesus, whom she called her
lover. "Ego non nego amatorem meum!"

A special department of this literature is concerned with stories
of the conversions or the penitence of courtesans. St.
Martinianus, for instance (Feb. 13), was tempted by the courtesan
Zoe, but converted her. The story of St. Margaret of Cortona
(Feb. 22), a penitent courtesan, is late, for she belongs to the
thirteenth century. The most delightful document in this
literature is probably the latest, the fourteenth century Italian
devotional romance called _The Life of Saint Mary Magdalen_,
commonly associated with the name of Frate Domenico Cavalca. (It
has been translated into English). It is the delicately and
deliciously told romance of the chaste and passionate love of the
sweet sinner, Mary Magdalene, for her beloved Master.

As time went on the insistence on the joys of chastity in this
life became less marked, and chastity is more and more regarded
as a state only to be fully rewarded in a future