Chapter VII.
In reply to Marcellina, who had asked what should be
thought of those who to escape violence killed themselves, St. Ambrose
replies by narrating the history of Pelagia, a virgin, with her mother
and sister, and goes on to speak of the martyrdom of the blessed
Sotheris, one of their own ancestors.
32. I am drawing
near the close of my address, you make a good suggestion, holy sister, that I should touch upon what we ought to think of the merits of those who have cast themselves down from a height, or have drowned themselves in a river, lest they should fall into the hands of persecutors, seeing that holy Scripture forbids a Christian to lay hands on himself. And indeed as regards virgins placed in the necessity of preserving their purity, we have a plain answer, seeing that there exists an instance of martyrdom.
33. Saint Pelagia
lived formerly at Antioch, being about fifteen years old, a sister of
virgins, and a virgin herself. She shut herself up at home at the
first sound of persecution, seeing herself surrounded by those who
would rob her of her faith and purity, in the absence of her mother and
sisters, without any defence, but all the more filled with God. “What are we to do, unless,” says she to herself, “thou, a captive of virginity, takest thought? I both wish and fear to die, for I meet not death but seek it. Let us die if we are allowed, or if they will not allow it, still let us die. God is not offended by a remedy against evil, and faith permits the act. In truth, if we think of the real meaning of the word, how can what is voluntary be violence? It is rather violence to wish to die and not to be able. And we do not fear any difficulty. For who is there who wishes to die and is not able to do so, when there are so many easy ways to death? For I can now rush upon the sacrilegious altars and overthrow them, and quench with my blood the kindled fires. I am not afraid that my right hand may fail to deliver the blow, or that my breast may
shrink from the pain. I shall leave no
sin to my flesh. I fear not that a sword will be wanting. I
can die by my own weapons, I can die without the help of an
executioner, in my mother’s bosom.”
34. She is said to have adorned her head, and to
have put on a bridal dress, so that one would say that she was going to
a bridegroom, not to death. But when the hateful persecutors saw
that they had lost the prey of her chastity, they began to seek her
mother and sisters. But they, by a spiritual flight, already held
the field of chastity, when, as on the one side, persecutors suddenly
threatened them, and on the other, escape was shut off by an impetuous
river, they said, what do we fear? See the water, what hinders us
from being baptized? And this is the baptism whereby sins are
forgiven, and kingdoms are sought. This is a baptism after which
no one sins. Let the water receive us, which is wont to
regenerate. Let the water receive us, which makes virgins. Let the water receive us, which opens heaven, protects the weak, hides death, makes martyrs. We pray Thee, God, Creator of all things, let not the water scatter our bodies, deprived of the breath of life; let not death separate our obsequies, whose lives affection has always conjoined; but let our constancy be one, our death one, and our burial also be one.
35. Having said these words, and having slightly
girded up the bosom of their dress, to veil their modesty without
impeding their steps, joining hands as though to lead a dance, they
went forward to the middle of the river bed, directing their steps to
where the stream was more violent, and the depth more abrupt. No
one drew back, no one ceased to go on, no one tried where to place her
steps, they were anxious only when they felt the ground, grieved when
the water was shallow, and glad when it was deep. One could see
the pious mother tightening her grasp, rejoicing in her pledges, afraid
of a fall lest even the stream should carry off her daughters from
her. “These victims, O Christ,” said she, “do I
offer as leaders of chastity, guides on my journey, and companions of
my sufferings.”