Miscellanies 2.18.82
Summary: The law exempts from war the man with a new house, vineyard, or bride, both so soldiers are undistracted and out of humanity, lest another enjoy his labors.
Greek text · Stählin 2:156
πάλιν εἴ τις, φησί, νεωστὶ δειμάμενος οἰκίαν οὐκ ἔφθη εἰσοικίσασθαι, ἢ ἀμπελῶνα νεόφυτον ἐργασάμενος μηδέπω τοῦ καρποῦ μετείληφεν, ἢ παρθένον ἐγγυησάμενος οὐδέπω ἔγημεν, τούτους ἀφεῖσθαι τῆς στρατείας ὁ φιλάνθρωπος κελεύει νόμος, στρατηγικῶς μέν, ὡς μὴ περισπώμενοι πρὸς τὰς ἐπιθυμίας ἀπρόθυμοι τῷ πολέμῳ ἐξυπηρετῶμεν (ἐλεύθεροι γὰρ τὰς ὁρμὰς οἱ ἀπροφασίστως τοῖς δεινοῖς ἐπαποδυόμενοι), φιλανθρώπως δέ, ἐπειδὴ τὰ κατὰ τοὺς πολέμους ἄδηλα, ἄδικον εἶναι λογισάμενος τὸν μὲν μὴ ὄνασθαι τῶν αὑτοῦ πόνων, ἕτερον δὲ τὰ τῶν καμόντων ἀταλαιπώρως λαβεῖν.
English · Claude translation
Again, it says, if anyone has recently built a house and has not yet moved into it, or has planted a new vineyard and has not yet shared in its fruit, or has become engaged to a virgin and has not yet married her, the humane law commands that these be released from military service: strategically, so that we may not serve half-heartedly in war, distracted by our desires (for those who strip for danger without excuses are free in their impulses); and humanely, since the outcomes of war are uncertain, considering it unjust that one should not enjoy his own labors, while another should take without toil what belongs to those who have toiled.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The allusion is Deut 20:5–7.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 2.18.82 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/2/18/82/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 2.18.82 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/2/18/82/).
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