There was a certain virgin at Antioch, whose history Ambrose relates in the second book of On Virgins in these words: Lately there was at Antioch a certain virgin who shunned the display of public view. But the more she avoided men's eyes, the more she inflamed unchaste desires. For a beauty heard of but not seen is the more longed for by the twofold goad of the desires of love and of knowing, since nothing presents itself that might please less, and what pleases is reckoned to be greater; for the eye does not, as informer, explore it, but the enamored mind craves it. And so the holy virgin, lest the hope of attaining their lust should be nourished any longer, having professed the integrity of her chastity, so restrained the faces of the wicked that now she was no longer loved, but betrayed. Behold, persecution.
The maiden knew not how to flee, being timid in her tender age. Lest she should fall among the snares laid against her chastity, she prepared her soul for virtue, so devout that she did not fear death, so chaste that she awaited death. For the day of the crown came. It was the greatest expectation of all. The maiden was brought forth, professing a twofold contest: of chastity and of religion. But when they saw the constancy of her profession, her dread for her chastity, that she was ready for torments yet blushed before men's gaze, they began to devise how, through the threat against her chastity, they might overthrow her religion; so that, when they had taken away what was greater, they might also snatch away what she would have left to her. The order was given that the virgin should either sacrifice or be prostituted to a brothel.
How do they worship their gods, who avenge in this way? Or how do they themselves live, who judge thus? This maiden — not because she wavered concerning religion, but because she trembled concerning her chastity — said within herself: 「What shall we do today? Either as a martyr or as a virgin, one or the other crown is begrudged us. But the name of virgin is not acknowledged where the Author of virginity is denied. For how are you a virgin, if you practice harlotry; how a virgin, if you choose adultery; how a virgin, if you seek lust? It is more bearable to have a virgin mind than virgin flesh. Both are good, if it be allowed; and if it be not allowed, let us at least belong not to a man as chaste, but to God. Rahab too was a harlot, but after she believed the Lord she found salvation.」
And Judith too adorned herself in order to please the adulterer. Yet since she did this out of religion, not out of love, no one judged her an adulteress. The example turned out well. For if she who entrusted herself to religion preserved both her chastity and her country, perhaps we too, by preserving our religion, shall preserve our chastity as well. But if Judith had chosen to set her chastity before her religion, having lost the first she would have lost her chastity also.」 And so, formed by such examples and silently holding in her heart the words of the Lord, in which He says: 「Whosoever shall lose his soul for my sake shall find it,」 she wept and held her peace, lest the adulterer should hear her even as she spoke; nor did she choose the injury of her chastity, but refused that of Christ.
Judge whether she could have committed adultery in body, who did not commit adultery even with her voice. For some time now my speech has been ashamed and, as it were, dreads to approach and set forth the criminal sequence of the deeds. Close your ears, O virgins of God: the maiden of God is led to the brothel. But open your ears, O virgins of God: a virgin can be prostituted, but cannot be made an adulteress. Wherever there is a virgin of God, there is the temple of God. Brothels do not defame chastity, but chastity abolishes even the infamy of the place. A huge throng of wanton men rushed to the brothel. Learn the miracles of the martyr, holy virgins; unlearn the names of such places: within is shut a dove, while outside the hawks shriek. Each one strives to be the first to seize the prey.
But she, lifting her hands to heaven as though she had come to a house of prayer and not to a lodging of lust, said: 「O Christ, you tamed fierce lions for a virgin; you can also tame the savage minds of men. Fire dropped down as dew upon the Chaldeans; for the Hebrews the wave held itself up — by your mercy, not by its own nature. Susanna bent her knees to her punishment and triumphed over the adulterers. The right hand withered that violated the gifts of your temple. Now your very temple is being assaulted. Do not permit the incest of sacrilege, you who did not permit theft. Let your name be blessed, that I who came a virgin to adultery may depart a virgin.」 Scarcely had she finished her prayer when behold, a soldier of terrible aspect burst in. How the virgin trembled, before whom the trembling crowd had given way.
But she, not forgetful of her reading, said: 「Daniel too had come to behold the punishment of Susanna, and her whom the people had condemned, one man absolved. A sheep may lie hidden even in this garb of a wolf. Christ too has His soldiers, He who has even legions. Or perhaps an executioner has entered. Do not be afraid, O soul: such men too are wont to make martyrs.」 O virgin, your faith has saved you. To whom the soldier said: 「I beg you, do not be afraid, sister: I have come here to save your soul, not to destroy it. Save me, that you yourself may be saved. I entered as it were an adulterer. If you will, I shall go out a martyr. Let us exchange garments. Mine suit you and yours suit me, but both suit Christ. Your dress will make me a true soldier, and mine will make you a virgin.
You will be well clothed, I shall be the better stripped, that the persecutor may recognize me. Take the garb that may hide the woman. Hand over the one that may consecrate the martyr. Put on the cloak that may conceal the limbs of a virgin and preserve her modesty. Take the cap that may cover your hair and hide your face: those who have entered a brothel are wont to blush. Yet when you have gone out, do not look back: be mindful of Lot's wife, who lost her own nature because she looked upon the unchaste, though with chaste eyes. And do not fear that anything should be lost from the sacrifice. I shall render the victim to my God in your stead.
You, on my behalf, soldiering for Christ, have the good warfare of chastity, which fights for everlasting wages — the breastplate of righteousness, which clothes the body with spiritual defense; the shield of faith, by which you may repel the wound; the helmet of salvation. For there is the safeguard of our salvation, where Christ is. For since the head of the woman is the man, the head of virgins is Christ.」 And amid these words he took off his cloak — yet his garb still gave him the look both of a persecutor and of an adulterer. The virgin offered her neck, the soldier began to offer the cloak. What a procession was that! What grace, when in a brothel they contended over martyrdom! Let the persons be set down: a soldier and a virgin. These were unlike one another by nature, but by God's mercy made alike, that the oracle might be fulfilled:
Then shall the wolves and the lambs feed together.」 Behold, the lamb and the wolf not only feed together, but are even sacrificed together. What more? With her garb changed, the maiden flew forth from the snare, now no longer on her own wings, inasmuch as she was borne on spiritual ones; and — what no ages have ever seen — a virgin of Christ went forth from a brothel. But those who saw with their eyes and saw not with their heart raged like robbers, like wolves at the lamb, for their prey. One, who was more shameless, went in; but when he drank in with his eyes the substance of the matter: 「What is this!」 he said. 「A girl went in, a man is seen. Behold, not that fabled hind in place of a virgin, but what is true: a soldier out of a virgin.
Moreover I had heard but had not believed that Christ turned water into wine; now He has begun to change sex also. Let us withdraw from here while we still are what we were. Have I not myself perhaps been changed, I who perceive something other than I believe? I came to a brothel. I perceive a pledge for appearance in court. And yet, while he is being changed, let me get out. I shall go out chaste, who entered an adulterer.」 By the verdict of the case, since a crown was owed to so great a victor, he who had been seized in the virgin's stead was condemned in the virgin's stead. Thus from the brothel not only virgins, but even martyrs went forth. [...]