39. Magnum sacramentum.
90 On Genesis: A Refutation of the Manichees
So why then is it stated like this, if not to show clearly that the only way we can be tempted by the devil is through that animal or "soulish" part which the author has shown to exist in every single human being, represented by the like ness or model of a woman, about which we have already had much to say? As for enmity, though, being set between the seed of the devil and the seed of the woman, the seed of the devil stands for his perverted suggestions, while the seed of the woman means the fruit of good works that resist these perverted sugges tions. And that is why he looks out for the woman's heel, in order to catch her if unlawful pleasure creeps in; and she looks out for his head, in order to cut him off at the very beginning of his evil persuasive suggestions.
The penalty paid by the woman
19. 29. We come now to the woman's punishment, and find it raises no problem. The pains she has, after all, are manifestly multiplied, not to mention her sighs and tears over the disasters of this life. And while her bringing forth children in pain is something also undergone by the woman we can see, it still draws our attention back to that other one hidden inside each one of us. After all, female animals too bring forth their offspring in pain, and in them this is simply a consequence of their being mortal rather than a punishment for sin; so it can also be the case that in female human beings this is just a consequence of their bodies being mortal. But the severity of the punishment lies in this, that they come to this mortal condition of their bodies from that earlier state of immortality.
There is, all the same, a symbolic significance of great importance39 in this sentence, and that is that restraining the will from any desire of the flesh is always painful to begin with, until it has been drilled into a better habit. When this has occurred, it is as if a child has been born, when, that is, the good habit has disposed one to good works. For this good habit to be born, the bad habit has to be fought against with pain. And then there is what is said after childbirth: and your turning round shall be toward your man, and he shall lord it overyou (Gn
3:16). Do not most, if not almost all women give birth without their husbands being present, and so in fact they do not turn around toward them after delivery? As for those proud women who in fact lord it over their husbands, do they give up this vice after giving birth and allow their husbands to lord it over them? On the contrary, they assume that becoming mothers has given them a kind of added dignity and frequently become prouder than ever.
So then, what can be the meaning of its adding, after in pain shall you bring forth children, the words andyour turning round shall be towardyourman, and he will lord it over you? What else, but that when that part of the soul, which is
39. Magnum sacramentum.