On the Twelve Abuses of the World, with extracts from On the Soul and its Origin and On the Divination of Demons against the Pagans

A large decorative red initial 'Q' marks the beginning of the text.
The fifth degree of abuse: A woman without modesty.
Just as prudence guards and preserves all good character in men, so too does modesty nurture, foster, and guard all honest actions in women. For modesty guards chastity. It restrains avarice. It avoids quarrels. It mitigates anger. It occupies the mind, so it is not consumed by lust. It tempers greed. It chastises lewdness. It avoids drunkenness. It does not multiply words. It combats the desires of the throat, and it completely condemns theft. Why say more? It restricts all vices and nurtures all virtues, and whatever is laudable before God and good men. For an immodest life expects neither praise from men in this holy age nor remuneration from God in the future. But a modest life possesses a good reputation among men and rejoices in the hope of future beatitude; it makes itself imitable to the pious, leaves a lovable memory to posterity, delights in good morals, and serves others, and fixes the mind on the meditations and eloquence of the Scriptures; it guards the examples of good men who have preceded it and binds itself inseparably to the submissive perfections. The arousal of modesty stands in two ways: the state of the body in its outward appearance and the inner affection of the soul. Through the outward manner, it provides examples before men; through the inner manner, indeed, before God, it offers good works. Modesty of the body is not to desire another’s things, to avoid all impurity, not to wish to taste at an inappropriate hour, not to incite laughter, not to speak vain and foolish words, to have a well-ordered outward appearance, and appropriate clothing, both in hair and dress, as is fitting; not to enter into intimacy with the unworthy, not to look at anyone with a view of pride, not to permit eyes to wander, not to walk with a pompous and alluring gait. To appear to no inferior in a good work begun, to inflict insult or shame upon no one, to blaspheme no one, not to envy the good, not to mock the old, not to struggle against one’s betters. Concerning those things you do not know, do not discourse, and of those things you do know, do not put them all forward. This makes a person lovable to the first and acceptable to God. But modesty of the soul is to do good things more for the eyes of God than of men. To curb the appetites of base thoughts. To consider everyone better than oneself. To envy no one. To presume nothing of oneself. To commit all things to God. To place oneself before the eyes of God. Not to stain the mind with heretical depravity. To consent to Catholics in all things. To adhere to God alone.