Falling And Rising

Vir enim in nobis sensus rationalis intelligitur. Caro autem quasi in typo mulieris accipitur. Si enim mulieri, id est, carni nostrae, blandiente libidine, vel aliis operibus, consenserimus, gratia spiritus, quae Nazaraei crine significatur, nudati spoliamur atque decipimur. Ita enim superbis et peccatoribus, violata Christi gratia, sicut Samson incisa coma, diabolus illudit. Sed quid est quod Samson ille ab Allophylis captus, postquam oculos perdidit, ad molam deputatus est? Quia nimirum maligni spiritus, postquam tentationum stimulis intus aciem contemplationis offodiunt, foris hominem in circuitum laborum mittunt. Quod si aliquando idem homo agendo poenitentiam redeat, illi velut coma reducitur, id est, gratia reflorescente, reparatur ad viritutem; deinde cupiditatis ac luxurise subversis columnis, victores hostes dejicit, et reparato certamine in finem fortissime de daemonibus triumphabit. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Librum Judicum, Caput X Source: Migne PL 83.390 b-c

The man Samson is understood as the rational sense in us. The flesh, however, is received as the type of woman. For if to a woman, that is, our flesh, to the allure of lust, or some other works, we consent, we are cut off from the grace of the spirit, which the hair of the Nazarite signifies, and stripped naked, For thus by the proud and sinners, violating the grace of Christ, as Samson's hair was shorn, does the devil ensnare. But why is Samson, having been captured by the Philistines, after his eyes have been put out, bound to the mill? Because certainly the wicked spirit, after the sharp point of the goad of temptation has expelled contemplation within, then drives man out to the circuit of exterior labours. But if the same man would return by the making of penance, so his hair grows back, that is, grace is renewed, and he is restored to virtue, and then overturning the columns of luxury and lust, he casts down the victorous enemy, for returned to the struggle, in the end, he shall strongly triumph over demons. Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On Judges, Chap 10 1