Aldhelm: The Prose Works

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[*Forgetful of their Sex*](https://isidore.co/calibre/#panel=book_details&book_id=8554) ref:22.68-69:> One of the most prominent saintly dyads of the early eighth century was that of Hildelith, second abbess of Barking Abbey and Aldhelm, bishop of Sherborne (d. 709). Aldhelm appears to have been a frequent guest at the double foundation at Barking, where he shared his scholarly interests with Hildelith and her nuns. He dedicated his prose treatise [*De virginitate*](http://clt.brepolis.net/llta/pages/Toc.aspx?ctx=1470375) [ **PDF pp. 69-142** ] to Hildelith and a number of her nuns (see [plate 21](javascript:void\(0\))). In the opening passages of this work, he thanks the nuns of Barking for the letters which they had sent him and praises their eloquence and intellectual sophistication. He writes: “To the most reverend virgins of Christ, (who are) to be venerated with every affection of devoted brotherhood, and to be celebrated not only for the distinction of (their) corporeal chastity, which is (the achievement) of many, but also to be glorified on account of (their) spiritual purity, which is (the achievement) of few: Hildelith, teacher of the regular discipline and of the monastic way of life; and likewise Justina and Cuthburg; and Osburg too, related (to me) by family bonds of kinship; Aldgith and Scholastica, Hidburg and Berngith, Eulalia and Thecla—(to all these nuns) unitedly ornamenting the Church through the renown of their sanctity, Aldhelm, dilatory worshipper of Christ and humble servant of the Church, (sends his) best wishes for perpetual prosperity.”[9](javascript:void\(0\))5 Aldhelm concludes his tract by asking them to continue to stimulate him with their letters. He also begs these “soldiers of Christ,” as a reward for his *De virginitate* , to intercede for him through their prayers, and at the same time he would pray for them. He then writes: “Farewell, you flowers of the Church, monastic sisters, scholarly pupils, pearls of Christ, jewels of Paradise, and participants in the celestial homeland! Amen.”[9](javascript:void\(0\))6> Furthermore, among Aldhelm’s official correspondence is found a letter written to the nun, Sigegyth, which again captures the churchman’s concern and affection for a friend. He writes “To Sister Sigegyth, most beloved and most loving and venerable to me for the sincere emotion of (her) charity.” Later he says, “I greet you earnestly, O Sigegyth, from the deepest chamber of my heart,” and asks her to continue to occupy herself with meditation on the Scriptures. He concludes his letter, “Farewell, ten times, nay a hundred times and a thousand times beloved, and may God cause you to fare well.”[9](javascript:void\(0\))7St. Aldhelm cited *passim* in Bugge, [*Virginitas*](https://isidore.co/calibre/#panel=book_details&book_id=7932), and in [Vizmanos](https://isidore.co/calibre/#panel=book_details&book_id=6496) p. 36 (DjVu p. 58) = Aldhelm p. 75 (PDF p. 85):> XIX. […] virginity is gold, chastity silver, conjugality bronze; that virginity is riches, chastity an average income, conjugality poverty; that virginity is freedom, chastity ransom, conjugality captivity; that virginity is the sun, chastity a lamp, conjugality darkness; that virginity is day, chastity the dawn, conjugality night; that virginity is a queen, chastity a lady, conjugality a servant; that virginity is the homeland, chastity the harbour, conjugality the sea; that virginity is the living man, chastity a man half-alive, conjugality the (lifeless) body; that virginity is the royal purple, chastity the re-dyed fabric, conjugality the (undyed) wool. All these things are not external to the palace; but the dignity of the prefecture sits one way in a carriage, the baseness of the muleteer sits another way, and he who keeps the mules in check by their feet sits yet another way: and yet all these are known to bear arms for the one commander-in-chief