Genesi 34:2

And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

Ver. 2. Saw her, he look her, and lay with her.] Ut vidit, periit. By those windows of the eyes and ears, sin and death often enter: through them the devil throws balls of wild fire into the soul, and sets all into a combustion. Visus, colloquium, contactus, osculum, concubitus, do too oft one succeed another. a See to the five senses, if ye would keep out the enemy. Shut up the five windows, if ye would have the house, the heart, full of light, saith the Arabian proverb.

Joseph's mistress cast her eyes upon him; but when she laid hands on him, she was the more inflamed, and set agog, as it were. The viewing, touching, or familiar talking with a woman, either without necessary occasion, or then, without prayer for holy affection, is dangerous, saith a grave divine. b Thou mayest not look intently upon what thou mayest not love. Democritus the philosopher pulled out his eyes, that he might not look upon forbidden beauties.

This was no part of his wisdom: but it shall be ours, by mortification, to pluck the wanton eye out of old Adam, and to set it sober into the new man: to get that occulum irretortum, that well-ordered eye, that Job had; Job 31:1 that Joseph had; that Gregory Nazianzen had, who could σοφρονιζειν τους οφθαλμους, tutor his eyes; that Charles V, Emperor of Germany, had, who would shut the casements, when at any time he saw fair women afar off, or heard that such were to pass by his window c It is not safe to pry into the beauty of a fair woman.

Circe d veniva spesso usato in modo allusivo. possa incantarci, la cockatrice ci uccida con la sua vista. «Non ti prenda con le palpebre», dice Salomone; Pro 6:25 come le allodole, mentre guardano in uno specchio, vengono catturate nella rete di un cacciatore. Vedi Trapp su " Gen 6:2 " Vedi Trapp su " Gen 26:7 "

a Marte vede questo, desidera vederlo e possiede i suoi desideri. - Ovidio.

b Tempo ben speso, di Ezek. Culverwel, pag. 53.

c Spesso chiude la finestra per non vedere donne più belle, ecc. - Par., Hist. Profan., p. 908

d Nella mitologia greca e latina il nome di un'incantatrice che abitava nell'isola di Aea e trasformava in porci tutti coloro che bevevano dalla sua coppa.