Vipera, serps, jaculus, basiliscus, emorrois, aspis,
   Faucibus horrificis sibila torsit iners (III.195-6)

“Viper, serpent, javelin-snake, basilisk, cobra ([i]haemorrhois[/i]), asp;
   (each one) uselessly brandished hisses from (its) frightful jaws.”

Incidentally, both Fortunatus and St. Aldheim penned lengthy Latin poems titled De Virginitate (Aldheim actually wrote a prose work first; the poem was a paraphrase). Add to that earlier prose works on the topic by Sts. Gregory of Nyssa, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine–and one can be forgiven for wondering if the Church has inherited an unhealthy obsession regarding female (and male) sexuality. But perhaps that’s changing ever so gradually…