THE BANQUET OF THE TEN VIRGINS;

CONCERNING CHASTITY.

INTRODUCTION.

Plan of the work—Way to Paradise—Description and personification of Virtue—The Agnos a symbol of Chastity—Marcella, the eldest and foremost among the Virgins of Christ.

Euboulios.—You have arrived at the perfect moment, Gregorion, for I have just been looking for you. I wanted to hear about the meeting of Marcella and Theopatra, and of the other virgins present at the banquet, and the nature of their discourses on the subject of chastity; for it is said they argued with such ability and power that nothing was lacking to a full consideration of the topic. If, therefore, you have come here for any other purpose, set it aside for another time, and do not delay to give us a complete and connected account of the matter we are asking about.

Gregorion.—I seem to be disappointed in my hope, as

¹ In Migne's edition, it is written Euboulion, but apparently with less authority, and likely only because the name is linked with that of Gregorion. Euboulios is a man, and Gregorion is a woman.