than towards their children.”39 He was galled by the excessive extent to which women, especially the wealthy, devoted themselves to these things, convinced as he was that such practice was very deleterious spiritually, reflecting an over-attachment to earthly things as well as a disdain for the poor: This makes you and those living with you indolent (argas) in almsgiving. For not one of you would readily consent to break up one of these ornaments to feed a poor man. For when you would even choose