And the damsel [was] very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
Ver. 16. And the damsel was very fair.] Kαλη και σοφη, Fair and wise, as it was said of Aspasia Milesia. a Here beauty was not ill-bestowed, as a gold ring in a swine's snout, but (as the history b reports of the Lady Jane Gray) adorned with all variety of moral virtues, as a clear sky with stars, as a princely diadem with jewels. Beauty is of itself very attractive, as the poet hath it. c For which cause, Heraclonas, the young emperor of Constantinople, being sent into banishment, together with Martina his mother, had his nose cut off, lest his beauty should move the people to pity. And Angli tanquam Angeli, said Gregory the Great, of the English boys presented to him. How much more when accompanied and accomplished with chastity, as in this damsel. d
A virgin, neither had any man known her.] This latter clause is added, because many pass for virgins that are not so; if that of the poet be true, especially
“Quae, quia non licuit, non facit, illa facit.” - Ovid.
And that of the orator, e Incesta est, et sine stupro, quae stuprum cupit. The Romans cashiered a vestal virgin for uttering this verse -
“Foelices nuptae! moriar, nisi nubere dulce est.”
The strumpet when she eats stolen bread, hath such dexterity in wiping her lips, that not the least crumb shall be seen to her shame. So that Solomon shows it to be as hard to find it out, "As the way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a maid," Pro 30:18-20 that is a close and chaste virgin; one that should be chaste at least, as being kept close from the access of strangers.
Filled her pitcher, and came up.] Here was no tarrying, gazing, gossiping. Not slothful in business. Rom 12:11 She had not been delicately or wantonly bred, but inured to hard labour, and she followed it closely. Thucydides scribit Lacedaemoniis πατριος γεγονεναι εκ στων τονων τας αρετας κταθαι. f
a Aelian, Var. Hist., lib. xii., cap. 1.
b Life of Edward VI., p. 176.
c Oττι καλον φιλον εστι. - Bucholcer.
d Aγνεια ab αγνος, quod ab ανος veneratio. Sic castus quasi καστος, ornatus.
e Senec., in Declama.
f Thucyd., lib. ii.