488. 8. Adulteries of the second degree are adulteries of lust, which are committed by people who are indeed able to consult the intellect, but for reasons of circumstance at the moment cannot. In a person who, from being natural, is becoming spiritual, there are two elements which in the beginning fight against each other. These are commonly called the spirit and the flesh. Moreover, because a love for marriage is one of the spirit, and a love for adultery is one of the flesh, a combat then arises between them as well. If the love for marriage wins, it subdues and overcomes the love for adultery, which is accomplished by its removal. But if it happens that the lust of the flesh is roused to a heat beyond what the spirit is able in accord with reason to restrain, it follows that the person's state is inverted and the heat of the lust overwhelms the spirit with temptation, until he is no longer possessed of his reason and so able to control himself. This is what we mean by adulteries of the second degree, which are committed by those who are indeed able to consult the intellect, but for reasons of circumstance at the moment cannot.

[2] But let examples serve to illustrate; as for instance: If a wanton wife employs her wiles to captivate a man's heart, enticing him into her bedroom and setting him on fire until he loses his judgment; and the more so if she also then threatens him with disgrace if he does not comply. So, too, if some wanton wife is skilled in sorcery and witchcraft, or uses potions to kindle a man, so that the heat of the flesh deprives his intellect of its freedom of reason. Likewise if a man uses sweet enticements to seduce another's wife, until her will is so on fire that she is unable any longer to resist. To which may be added other, similar examples.

Reason assents and concedes that these and like circumstances lessen the gravity of adultery and incline in a milder direction attributions of blame for it on the part of the seduced man or woman.

The imputing of adultery of this degree is considered in the discussion that follows next.