279. A certain brother made a second key and opened the cell of one of the old men and took his money out of the cupboard, and the old man wrote on a piece of paper, saying, " Do me an aft of love and leave me one half of my money, " for I have need of it for my necessities"; and he divided the money (or oboli) into two parts, and laid the paper upon them. And the brother who stole the money came as usual, and he tore up the paper and took all the money. Now two years later that brother was forced to die, but his soul was not permitted to go forth from him, and then he called the old man, and made entreaty unto him, saying, "Father, pray on my "behalf; it was I who took thy money." Then the old man said unto him, "Why didst thou not confess this before the " light became black to thee?" And the old man prayed and set free the spirit of that brother, and he sold his Book of the Gospel and made a memorial for him.
280. A certain man used to relate that an old man from Scete went up to the Thebai'd to dwell there, and according to the custom with those who are from Scete he made bread sufficient for his wants for several days. And behold, the men of the Thebaid came to him, saying, "How is it that thou
"dost not keep the word of the Gospel which commanded " men not to care for the morrow?" The old man said unto them, " What is your custom?" And they said unto him, " We " work day by day with our hands, and we sell [what we " makej, and buy food for ourselves in the market." The old man said unto them, "My market is my cell, and whensoever " I have need I lay down the work of my hands, and take up "food for myself."
281. An old man used to say, "Discretion is the most expedient thing of all."
282. They used to say that certain men came to plead a case for judgement before Abba Ammonius, and the old man paid no attention to them, but behaved as if he did not hear them; and behold, a woman said unto her companion, "This old " man hath no stability." And the old man heard her speaking thus to her companion, and he called her, and said unto her, " How many labours have I performed in the desert so that "I might acquire this instability! Yet, through thee, I have "destroyed this day."
283. An old man used to say, "Do not eat before thou art "hungry, and do not lie down before thou art sleepy, and do "not speak before thou art questioned."
284. A brother asked an old man, saying, "Do I eat too many "garden herbs?" The old man said unto him, "It will not " benefit thee [to do so], but eat bread and a few vegetables, " and thou shalt not go to thy kinsfolk for the sake of things "[to eat]."
285. An old man used to say, "It is meet that a monk should "be like the Cherub — all eyes."
286. An old man used to say, "For a man to attempt to " teach his neighbour, when he hath not been required [so to " do], is the same as offering him a rebuke."
287. Abba Poemen used to say, "Why doth a man distress " himself to build the house of others, andtooverthrowhis own?"
288. He also used to say, "Why is it necessary for a man to " enter by cunning, and not to learn [how to do so] properly?"
289. He also used to say, "Everything which is immoderate " is from the devils."
290. The old men used to say, "God demandeth nothing "from Christians except that they shall hearken untp the Di- "vine Scriptures, and shall carry into effect the things which " are said in them, and shall be obedient unto their governors " and the orthodox fathers."
291. An old man used to say, "Whensoever I have been " able to overtake my soul when I have transgressed, I never " stumbled a second time."
292. An old man used to say, " The man who setteth death " before his eyes at all times easily overcometh dejection and " littleness of soul."
293. An old man used to say, "Take heed, with all thy " might, not to do anything which deserveth blame, and do "not take pleasure in making thyself acceptable."
294. Abba Theodore used to say, "There is no spiritual excellence so sublime [as that which consisteth in] not despis- " ing a man and treating him with contempt."
295. An old man was asked, "How, and by what means can "the soul acquire humility?" And he made answer, saying, " By examining and enquiring into its own wickednesses only. "
296. Abba Poemen used to say, "All the spiritual excellences "have entered into this monastery, with the exception of the "one without which in labour [no] man standeth"; and they asked him, saying, "Which spiritual excellence is that?" and he said, "That which maketh a man blame and despise him- "self."
297. The disciple of a certain old man and Rabbd was attacked by the lust for fornication, and he went into the world, and betrothed to himself a wife; and the old man, being greatly grieved, prayed to God, and said, "O Lord Jesus " Christ, do not Thou permit Thy servant to be defiled." And it came to pass that when he was shut up with the bride in the bedchamber he yielded up his spirit, and he was not polluted with the union of marriage.
298. An old man used to say: — "If temptation come upon a "man, and attack him on all sides to such a degree that his " mind falleth into despair, and he murmureth, all his friends "will turn away their faces from him as if by reason of the "temptation"; and he related the following story (in illustration of this statement) and said: " There was a monk in a cell, "and temptation came upon him, and all his friends and be- " loved ones who met him refused even to salute him, and not "one of them would allow him to enter into his cell. If he " lacked provisions, and wanted a man to lend him some, none "would lend him, and he was compelled by reason of his tri- "bulation to go and work in the harvest field; and when he " came back he did not find any bread in his cell. Now it was " the custom among the holy men that every man who went " to work in the harvest field should on his return eat in the " church, but when that brother came on the Sabbath no man " took him and gave him refreshment in the usual way, and "he went to his cell, and he gave thanks unto God without "complaining. Now when God saw his patient endurance, He
* abated the temptation in him, and straightway a man came
" and knocked at his door; and he had with him a camel car- 44 rying bread which had been sent to him from Egypt; then he " began to smite himself and to weep, saying, 4 I am not " 'worthy [of this].' And the temptation having departed, all " the fathers took him, and gave him refreshment, and they * 4 persuaded him to let them take him to their cells, and through "his patient endurance he found great benefit."
299. On one occasion certain Greeks came to give gifts of grace in the city of 'EstarkmA, and they took with them the stewards of the city that they might show them what it was necessary for them to give them, and they took them to a certain brother who had elephantiasis, but he refused to accept anything, saying, 44 Behold, I have these few palm leaves, I " will work at them, and weave ropes, and will eat bread." Then they carried them to a certain widow, and they knocked at the door, and her daughter answered from inside, for she was naked, now her mother had gone out to work, for she was washing clothes and lived by her labour. And when they saw that the maiden was naked, they gave her clothes and money, but she refused to accept them, saying, 44 My mother will come, 44 and say unto me, 4 My daughter, God hath willed [it], and I 44 'have found some work to-day, and again we have sufficient 4 4 4 food for this day. ' " Then when the mother came, she refused [to accept the apparel and money], and said unto them, "Oye 44 men, I have One Whoprovideth forme, that is, God, and ye 44 seek to take away from me this day Him that hath provided 44 for me all my days"; and when they saw her faith they glorified God.
300. A certain man offered gold to one of the aged fathers, saying, 44 Take [it] and let it be to thee for expenses, because 44 thou hast grown old"; now the old man was an Arian, and he answered and said unto him that had given [the gold] to him, 4 4 Hast thou come to take away from me Him that hath reared 44 me for sixty years? For it is sixty years since I have been 44 in this sickness, and I have wanted for nothing because God 44 fed me and provided for me"; and he would not consent to accept anything.
301. One ofthefathers told the following story, saying, 44 I was 4 4 in the room for receiving strangers, and some poor folk came 44 to receive charity at eventide on the Sabbath, and there was 4 4 among them only one man who had a mat to lie upon 44 when they lay down; and he threw it down under him, and 4 4 then reclined upon it. Now it was exceedingly cold, and 4 4 he took a half of the mat from under him and covered him- 44 self over therewith, and he reclined on the other half. And 4 4 I went out during the night and heard him complaining about
CHuestfons an& answers on tbe Hscettc iRuIe
" the cold, and then the man turned to himself and said, c I " 'give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, because how many are the " 'rich men, and the owners of possessions who are at this " 'present moment lying in irons, and in afflictions, and in " 'prisons, and there are, moreover, others whose feet have " ' been put in the stocks, who are unable to turn round to any " ' side, whilst I, like a king, can spread out my feet and lie " 'down, and besides this, I can go whithersoever I please.' " And when he had said these things, now I was standing up " listening to him, I went in and told them to the brethren, " and they benefited by the words of that poor man."
302. An old man used to say, " Let me think first, and pray " next, and then let us begin the work, and afterwards let us " boast ourselves in God."
303. A certain brother asked an old man, saying, " Why is " it that I feel disgusted when sitting in my cell, and why am " 1 sluggish in respect of works of spiritual excellence?" And the old man answered and said unto him, " Because thou dost "not keep in mind the rest which those who labour expedt, "and the torments which are laid up for the lazy. For if, in " very truth, thou wert seeing these things, thou wouldst be " watchful and strenuous in thy labour."
304. An old man used to say, " The man who maketh a boast "of the Name of God, and who doeth not the works which " are suitable to that Name, is like unto a poor man who, " when a feast cometh, borroweth some clothes and putteth "them on, and who, when the feast hath passed, strippeth "them off himself because they are not his own, and giveth " them to their owners."
305. Abba Ammon used to say concerning Abba Paphnutius the Simple, who was from Scete, " When I went down "there I was a young man, and he would not allow me to " dwell there, saying, ' In my days I will not permit the faces " ' of young men, which resemble those of women, to dwell in " ' Scete, because of the war of the Enemy against the holy
men.
306. Abba Poemen {or Ammon) used to say, " If Nuzarddn " (Nebuzaradan), the chief of the warriors, had never come to " the land of Judea, he would never have burnt down the tem- " pie of God which was in Jerusalem with fire"; [now the meaning] of these words is, that if the pleasures of the lust of the belly had never entered in on the soul the mind would never have been vanquished in the war of the Adversary.
307. A certain man asked Abba Sisoes, saying, " Hast thou "not even yet arrived at the measure of Abba Anthony, our " father?" And the old man answered and said, " If I had even
" one thought like unto Abba Anthony, the whole of me would " become like unto fire; but I know one man who, even with " great labour, is able to bear his thoughts."
308. Abba Abraham asked Abba Agathon, saying, " How "is it that the devils make war upon me?" And Abba Agathon said unto him, "Do the devils make war upon thee? But " they do not make war against us so fiercely as we ourselves " do with our own wishes, though they do make war against " us in proportion as our wishes do. Our desires become devils, " and they force us to fulfil them. Now if thou wishest to see " against whom they have made war, [it is] against Moses and "those who resemble him."
309. A brother asked an old man, saying, "In what condi- " tion is it meet for a monk to be?" And he said, " Even as I " myself am, if one may [compare] one man with another."
310. And an old man was also asked, " Why am I afraid " when I go about in the desert?" The old man said unto him, " Because thou art still alive."
311. A brother asked an old man, saying, " Why doth my " spirit go round and round violently?" And he said unto him, " Because thou hast not yet seen the storehouse of life."
312. And he was also asked, "What is it meet for a monk "to do?" And he said, "Let him perform all kinds of good "works in very deed, and let him acquire remoteness from " every evil thing."
313. And he was also asked, "What is a monk's work?" " And he said, "He must possess discretion."
314. An old man said, "Unto every thought that riseth up "in thee say, "Art thou of us, or of our enemies?" And the thought will always make confession unto thee.
315. Abba Agathon used to say, "The crown of the monk is "humility."
316. Abba Isidore said, ' * When I was a youth and was living "in a cell, I possessed not the capacity for the service [of " prayer and praise], for by night and by day there was service "to me."
317. He also said, "For forty years, I neither leaned upon " anything nor lay down."
318. He also said, "I was standing forty nights, and did "not lie down."
319. He also said, "For twenty years I continued to fight " against one thought — that I might see all men of one mind."
320. An old man was asked, "Why is it that whilst I am "sitting in my cell my heart wandereth about?" The old man said to his questioner, "Because thine external lusts feel the " motions which are in hearing, and in breathing, and in
Questions an& answers on tbe Hscettc IRuIe
" taste, for from these, if it be possible for a man, there is "pure labour, and he should make them to be healthy and " satisfied within."
321. An old man was asked, "How is it possible for a man "to live so that he may be seemly in God's sight?" and he said to him, "[It is possible if a man have an] equable "[mind]."
322. An old man also said, "Our labour is wood which "burneth away."
323. Abba Benjamin said unto his disciples, "Do these things "and ye shall be able to live. Rejoice at all times, and pray "without ceasing, and give thanks for everything.
324. He also said, "Abstinence in respedl of the soul con- "sisteth in making straight its ways and habits, and courses " of aftion, and in cutting off the passions of the soul."
325. He also said, "Travel in the path of the kingdom, and "count the miles, and thy spirit shall not be sad in thee.
326. An old man said, * i Thou must be in the same state of fear " as a man who is going to endure tortures."
327. An old man used to say, "A man shall not trouble, but "let him like a life of silent contemplation, and hide himself, " for these meditations (?) are the begetters of purity."
328. An old man used to say also, "Thou shalt desire to be- " come a eunuch, for this will help thee."
329. He also said, "The giving of thanks maketh entreaty " on behalf of the feeble before God."
330. An old man used to say, "I do not as yet carry all my " body so that I may fulfil all my desire."
331. Abba Sisoes said, "Exile consisteth in a man living a "silent and solitary life."
332. One of the fathers said, "I once asked Abba Sisoes and " besought him to speak a word of life to me, and the old man "answered and said, He who taketh care to guard himself " against esteeming himself, and against comparing himself " [with other men] in every work of understanding (<?rdiscretion), " is he who fulfilleth the Book."
333. And I asked him also, "In what doth the power of exile " consist?" And he said unto me, " Wheresoever thou dwellest " hold thy peace; and about whatsoever thou seest, be it good " or be it evil, say nothing; and if thou hearest anything from " a man which befitteth not the upright conduct of the ascetic " life, say, 'This concerneth me not; I have to do with myself, " 'and myself only.' This is [the power of] exile."
334. One of the old men said, " The love of the work of the "hands is the ruin of the soul; but the stablishment thereof is " rest and peace in God."
335. Abba Theodore said, " If I did not cut off my soul from 4 1 the friends of this world they would not let me be a monk."
336. He also said, 4 4 If we seek God He will reveal Himself " unto us, and if we lay hold upon Him He will protect us."
337. On one occasion certain of the old men were sitting and talking about the thoughts, and one of them said, "They " would not appear to be a great matter if a man were to see i 4 his thoughts from a distance. "
338. Another [old man] said, " I have never allowed error to " have dominion over me even for an hour."
339. Abba" Poemen said, " As long as the food which is being " boiled is on the fire the flies will not approach it, but as soon 11 as it is taken off they cluster round it"; the meaning of this is that as long as our hearts are fervent in the spirit impure thoughts will not approach us, but that if we are negligent and make ourselves to be remote from the converse (or occupation) of the spirit they will then gain dominion over us.
340. An old man used to say, " It is necessary to make en- ' i quiries concerning spiritual works, for through them we ad- " vance in excellence; for it is great labour for us to go forth " from the body in such wise that we do not perform the works "of the body."
341. An old man used to say also, " Affliction and poverty " are the instruments wherewith a monk cultivateth his handiwork."
342. Certain of the old men used to say, " Whosoever hath " not the instruments of the craft of labour cannot remain long "in his cell, whether they be the instruments of the craft of the " labour of spiritual beings, wherewith he findeth comfort from " God in his inner man in the spirit, or the instruments of " the craft of human labour. He who possesseth not the one " or the other class of instruments cannot remain very long in "his cell."
343. The spirit of God rested upon Abba John because of the fear in which he held God; for it is the fear of God which teacheth a man all good works.
344. Abba Poemen used to say, " Abba Paphnutius was ex- " ceedingly great and mighty, and he ran at all times to minister " unto shortcoming."
345. An old man was asked by a brother, " How should a " monk dwell in his cell?" The old man said unto him, " Let " him dwell by himself, so that his thoughts may be with God."
346. And a brother also asked him, saying, " What shall I " do, for when I am by myself I am greatly afflicted by the " multitude of evil thoughts of all kinds which crowd upon me, " and by the weight of the disgust which troubleth me?" The
old man said unto him, " Give thy soul work, that is to say, " have a care to pray and have love towards God, and straight- " way the spirit of Satan will flee from thee."
347. An old man used to say also, 4 'If thou doest something " which is good, and thou art praised for it, destroy it; guard " thyself against the thoughts which praise thee, and which " hold thy neighbour in contempt."
348. Abba Isidore's thoughts praised him, saying, 4 'There " is none like unto thee among the fathers"; and he said, unto them, " Am I like Anthony or Abba Agathon?" And the devils said unto him, "After all the labours which thou hast performed thou wilt go to torment"; and he said unto them, " And ye also will be below me. For a thief through one word 44 inherited the kingdom." And Judas also, who wrought mighty deeds with the Apostles, in one night lost all his labour, and he went down from heaven to Sheol; therefore let not him that conducteth himself uprightly boast himself. For all those who have been over confident about themselves have fallen among the devils of greed. Retard thou then [thy desire], saying, "Thou hast had enough; wait a little," and eat thou temperately and slowly. For he who hasteth in his eating is like unto him that seeketh to eat much.
349. An old man saw sitting among the brethren a brother who pretended not to be of them, and he said unto him, "How "canst thou walk in a country which is not thine?"
350. They used to say that Abba Poemen never wished to magnify his word over that of any old man, but in everything he praised his and belittled his own.
351. There was a certain monk who led a life which was full of severe ascetic labours, and the Devil laid many plans and schemes to make him abate them, and to make him to desist therefrom; but the monk would not give him a hearing in any way whatsoever, but, on the contrary, he played the man more strenuously than ever, and resisted his wiles and crafts. Now when the Devil had spent much time in this strife against him, another devil came to help him; and having enquired of his companion what manner of war and battle he should set in array against him, and how it was that the holy man was abating and making an end of all the things which he was making [against him], the accursed devil who had come last, answered and said by the counsel of the Evil One, "Do not " lift up thyself below him, but raise up thyself above him, and " in this way thou shalt be able to be stronger than he."
352. An old man asked Abba Poemen, saying, "What shall " I do, father, with my son Isaac, who hearkeneth unto me " with pleasure?" Abba Poemen said unto him, "If thou wish-
" est to be of benefit to him, shew him [an example] by deeds "and not by words, lest through observing words only he "be found useless; for if thou wilt shew him by deeds, the " deeds themselves will abide with him, and he will profit."
353. Certain of the fathers said to Abba Macarius the Egyptian, "Whether thou eatest or whether thou fastest, thy body "hath already dried up"; and the old man said unto them, "A piece of wood which hath been burned and consumed by " the fire burneth wholly, and thus also the heart of a man, if " he be purified by the fear of God, consumeth the lusts from " his flesh, and drieth up his bones."
354. Abba Theodore used to say, "If God imputeth to us 4 ' carelessness in prayer, and the snare in [His] service wherein " we have been captured, we shall not be able to stand."
355. They used to say of one of the old men that he had passed twenty years in the church, and had never lifted his eyes and seen the roof thereof.
356. There was a certain monk whose name was Paul, and his rule of life and condudt was such that he did not approach the excessive labour of the work of the hands, nor any trafficking whatsoever, except such as was sufficient to provide for his small amount of daily food; but he performed one sort of work of excellence, that is, he prayed continually and ceased not, and he laid down the rule for himself that he should pray three hundred prayers each day, and he placed sand in his bosom, and at every prayer which he prayed, he would lay one grain of sand in his hand. Now this man asked Saint Macarius, saying, "Father, I am greatly afflicted"; and the old man pressed him to tell him the cause of his affliction. Then he answered and said, "I have heard about a certain virgin who " hath led an ascetic life for thirty years, and FatherPt6r related "concerning her that every week she went forth and recited "five hundred prayers in the day. Now when I heard these "things I despised myself greatly, for I am not able to recite "more than three hundred prayers." Then the holy man Macarius answered and said unto him, "I have led an ascetic " life for sixty years, and I make fifty prayers a day, and I " work sufficiently to provide myself with food, and I receive " the brethren who come to me, and I say unto them what it " is seemly to say, and I pay my debts, and my mind doth not " condemn me as one who hath treated [God] lightly; but thou " who makest three hundred prayers in the day, art thou condemned by thy thoughts? Perchance thou dost not offer " them with purity [of heart], or thou art able to do more, and "dost not do it!"
357. I used to know a certain holy man whose name was
Aurelius, and he laboured so hard that he might have been thought to be a shadow because of his disposition to work; during the Forty Days' Fast he used to pass whole weeks [without eating], and in respedl of the other days he would eat only once every two or three days.
358. An old man was asked [by a brother], "If I see the sin " of my brother am I to despise him?" And the old man said, "If we hide [the fault] of our brother God will also hide our " [faults]; and if we expose our brother's [faults], God will also "expose ours."
359. An old man was wont to say, * ' There was a brother whose "name was Timothy, and he used to lead a life of silent contemplation in a religious house; and a temptation came " upon one of the brethren of that house, and the head of the "house asked Timothy, saying, 'What shall I do to this " 'brother?' Timothy said unto him, 'Expel him'; and when " he had expelled him, the temptation of that brother was sent "upon Timothy, and he cried out to God, saying, 'I have " 'sinned, O my Lord, have mercy upon me.' And he passed " the whole night in a grave of dead men, crying out and say- " ing, 'I have sinned, O my Lord, forgive me,' and the temp- " tation was upon him until he was greatly exhausted. And a " voice came to him, saying, 'Timothy, do not imagine that " 'these things have happened unto thee for any other reason " 'than because thou didst offend thy neighbour in the time of " 'his trial.'"
360. A brother asked an old man, saying, "How shall I be " able to avoid despising my brother?" The old man said unto him, "We and our neighbour are two faces. Now if we pro- " vide the mirror of prayer we shall see the beam in our own "eye, and we shall also see in the mirror the face of our "brother polished and pure."
361. A brother asked an old man and said, "What shall I "do? For there is no feeling in my soul, and I have no fear of " God." The old man said unto him, "Seek thou out a man " whofeareth God, and then cling closely to him, and from " him thou shalt learn to fear God."
362. Abba Poemen said that Abba Athanasius used to say, " Unless a man possess good works before God giveth him a "gift because of himself, it is well known that no one can be " made perfect through the weariness which cometh to him ' through himself; but if he reveal [it] to his neighbour, he will ' then receive the gift because of his neighbour, and be gratified."
363. A brother asked an old man, saying, "Shew me a word 'whereby I may live." The old man said unto him, "Work ' with thy hands with all thy power, and give alms."
364. They used to say that Abba Copres attained to such a measure [of perfection] that even when he was sick and wanted something, he would cut off his desire from that which his soul asked him [to give it]; and he would give thanks unto God and endure his sickness with joy and without complaint.
365. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ' ' What is the meaning " of these words which the Prophet spake, 'My heart shall re- " 'joice in those that fear Thy name?" (Psalm xxxiii, 21.) And the old man answered and said, "The Holy Spirit spake this " word to man even unto death, and [unto] to-day also."
366. An old man also said, " If a man were to make new " heavens and new earth he would not be able to be free from ' ' care, because the wickedness of the devil is hidden behind " them; but for a man to have no care either for his raiment or "his food is possible."
367. A [brother] also asked an old man, "What shall I do " in respect of that which I love, but which is not profitable to "me?" The old man said unto him, "Approach it not, and "touch it not, and it will of its own accord become an alien " thing unto thee. For David the Prophet wrote unto Joab the " captain of the host, and said unto him, 1 Hold fast on the war, " 'and fight mightily against the city until thou dost subdue it* " (2 Samuel xi, 25). Now in this case the city is enmity."
368. Anthony said, " The greatest might of a man is to bring " upon his soul his transgression at all times before God, and " he must expect temptation until the end."
369. An old man used to say, "This is the rule of conduct " which God gave to Israel, that he should remove himself from " that which is outside nature, that is to say, anger, and wrath* "and envy, and hatred, and evil-speaking, and a man must "not judge his neighbour, together with all the other com- " mandments of the olden time."
370. On one occasion certain of the brethren came to Abba Sisoes in order that they might hear some profitable words, and when theyhadspoken much with him, he said nothing unto them about whatsoever they had said, but only, ' ' Forgive me. " Then they saw that he was plaiting palm leaves, and they said unto Abraham his disciple, "What are ye doing with these " palm-leaf ropes and mats?" And he said unto them, "We send " them out here and there. " Now when the old man heard this he said, "Sisoes eateth here and there." And when they had heard [these things] they were greatly profited, and they departed in great joy because they had seen his humility.
371. Abba Copres said, "Whosoever loveth the gratifying " of his own will more than the gratification of the will of God "hath no fear of God."
372. A brother asked Abba Amdnis, saying, " How ought a " man to act when he wisheth to begin some [kind of] work, " or when he wisheth to go or to come, or to go from one " place to another, so that action may be according to the will " of God, and may be free from the error of devils?" The old man said unto him, "He must first consider in his mind and " see the motive of that which he wisheth to do, and whence " it cometh, and if it be from God or Satan, or from the man " himself, and then let him do the work [which he contem- " plateth], but let him flee from going and coming, and from " going from one place to another. If he [acteth] not [thus] he " will finally become a laughing-stock for the devils. But after- " wards let him pray and beseech God that that work which " is His he may do, and then let him begin the work, and after- " wards he may boast in God."
373. He also said, "Bear with every man in such a way that " God may also bear with thee."
374. The disciple of Abba Ammon told the following story: — One night the old man came out and found me lying down in the courtyard of the cell, and he stood up above me, and with lamentation and tears said, " Where is the mind of this brother " who can thus lie down (or sleep) without care?"
375. There was a certain priest in Thebais whose name was Dioscurus, and he was the spiritual father of many monks, and at the time when they were about to receive the Holy Mysteries he used to say to the brethren, "Take thought and • ' see lest any man among you have been snared by the phantom " of a woman during the night, and he be so bold as to receive " the Holy Mysteries. Now the emissions which occur as the " result of a phantom are not caused by the desire of a man, " but take place independently thereof, for they happen natur- " ally, and are due to the excess of matter [in the body], and "they do not, therefore, lead [a man] into subjection to sin. "But the phantoms which arise from the desire are the sign "of an evil wish. For it is meet that the monk should be " superior to the law of nature, and that he should not be found " with the smallest impurity of body, but that he should waste
4 the body and humble it, and should not permit any super-
* fluity of matter to be found therein. Work out plans, then, 1 that thou mayest cut off [the superfluity of] matter by means
* of a long period of fasting, for if we do not thus it will in- ' cite the other lusts to come upon us; and it is not meet that ' a monk should be occupied with the lusts which rise up in i him daily. And if we do not thus, in what way are we different 4 from those who live in the world? For we have observed that 1 men of this kind often make themselves to be remote from
" the desires of their lust, either for purposes of bodily health, " or for other reasons which are not worth mentioning; how 1 ' very much more, then, should it thus be especially a care to " the monk for the sake of the health of his spirit, and of his " soul, and of his body! "
376. They used to say that Abba Macarius the Alexandrian at one time dwelt in a cave in the desert, and that beyond his cave was another wherein dwelt a panther; one day when he opened the door of his cave the panther came in and did homage to the blessed man, and she drew nigh and took hold of the corner of his garment, and dragged him along gently and went outside. And the old man answered and said, " What can this " animal want?" And he went with her until she arrived at her cave, and she left him outside, and went in and brought out her young, which were blind, and dropped them at his feet; and when he saw them, he prayed, and spat in their eyes, which were opened straightway, and the panther gave them suck, and took them and went inside. And on the day following the panther came bringing a sheepskin, and she approached and placed it before him; then the old man smiled to himself at the discernment and knowledge which the animal had shewn, and he took the skin and slept upon it, until it was quite worn out.
377. Now on another occasion, when the door of his cell was shut, and the old man was sitting in his courtyard, that panther leaped down into the courtyard from the wall and came to him carrying one of her young in her mouth; and when the old man saw that the little panther was blind, he spat in its eyes, and they were opened, and its mother took it and departed. And one day later she brought to the blessed man a sheepskin, and the blessed woman Melania told me, saying, "I received this same skin from the hands of the old " man as a gift."
378. A brother asked an old man, saying, " What shall I do " if when I have given to my brother a little bread or money, " the devils pollute it, as if [it were given to gain] theapproba- " tion of men?" The old man said unto him, " Even though the " adulation of men may come, we must give to our neighbour " that which is necessary," and the old man adduced a proof of this statement, and said, " Two men dwelt in a certain city, " and one sowed [a field] and produced a crop of somewhat "dirty grain, but the other sowed [no field] at all, and pro- "duced no crop of any kind, neither clean nor dirty; in the " time of tribulation which of these two men would live [and " not die] of hunger?" And the brother said unto him, "He " who produced the crop of dirty grain"; and the old man said unto him, "Let us then produce a few [good actions], even
flUuesttons an& answers on tbe ascetic IRule
44 though they be defiled, so that we may not die in the time 44 of famine. "
379. An old man used to say, 44 Dainty meats remove [a "man] from heavenly honours. For satiety, and luxurious living in this world, and the multitudes of lustful habits shut 44 the door in our face and prevent us from entering into the 4 happiness of God. Consider now the history of the rich man 'and Lazarus; what was it that carried Lazarus into the 'bosom of Abraham? Was it not the immeasurable troubles 4 among which he had been brought up? And what brought 4 the rich man to Gehenna? Was it not the pleasures and 4 lusts which were flaming within his body? Each one of us,
* then, according to his measure, by the nod of the fire of his 4 person which is found with him, shall receive his deserts in
* the world which is to come; and each one of us, unless he be
* watchful, shall be shaken up with the wood, and the straw, 4 and the stubble. And since it is necessary for us to extin-
* guish carefully the lusts which bestir themselves in us, we 4 have need [to drink] water, and not wine."
380. An old man used to say, 44 True obedience is like unto a 4 chaste woman who is betrothed, and who is not drawn aside 4 after strange voices; and the ear which turneth away, ever 4 so little, from the truth, is like an adulterous woman who 4 turneth away from her husband; and the mind which is led 4 by every doctrine of error is like unto a harlot, who obey- 4 eth every one who calleth her. Let us then rebuke the 4 wandering mind which is corrupted by strange voices, and
which loveth the voice of its seducer instead of that of the true bridegroom; for it hath accepted to be called by the name of a stranger, and not by that of Christ."
381. An old man used to say, 44 If thou hast prayed for thy companion thou hast also prayed for thyself, but if thou hast prayed for thyself only thou hast impoverished thy petition; and if thou hast shown that thy brother hath offended thee, thou hast also shown that thou hast offended thyself. Those prayers, which have not taken their mind with them when they have ascended and gone up, stand outside the door, and it is love which openeth the door before them. The prayer which possesseth not the wings of the spirit to [mount up] on high standeth before the mouth of him that prayeth it, and thinking that it hath flown away he doth not perceive that it remaineth [near him]. Offer with thine offering salt, as it is written (Leviticus ii, 13). Let the love of thy Lord be salt for thy sacrifice, for the sacrifice which hath not salt through His love is despised and rejedled before Him."
382. One of the holy men used to say thus: — 44 I have passed
* 1 the whole period of twenty years in striving so that a strange "thought might not enter into my heart, and I have seen " Satan, until the ninth hour, with his bow stretched ready to " shoot an arrow into my heart; and when he could not find "an opportunity, he was filled with disgust, and he would " depart each day, having been put to shame."
383. An old man said, "If thou art a [true] penitent thou "hast nothing whatsoever to do with these who are in the "world."
384. There was a certain holy man in Egypt who dwelt in the desert, and a little way beyond him was an elder (or priest), who was a Manichean; and this Manichean was obliged to make a journey and to go to one who was of the same faith as himself, and as he was going along the road, he arrived at eventide at the place where the holy man lived, and the Manichean was in great distress, for he had no place near at hand wherein to enter. Now he was afraid to go to the holy man, for he thought that he would recognize him, and would not allow him to enter [his cell]; nevertheless, being sore pressed, and not knowing where [else] to go, he knocked at the door of that holy man; and he opened the door, and the Manichean went in, and the holy man received him with gladness, and he knew who he was, and he urged him to pray, and he relieved all his wants, and the Manichean slept, and was refreshed. And it came to pass during the night that the Manichean came to himself, and said, "How is it that there is nothing which "it was seemly to do which this blessed man hath not done " for me? Verily this is a man of God." Then he rose up and fell down at his feet, and said, "From this day onwards I shall "believe as thou believest"; and he turned to the truth, and he became a friend of the holy man and lived with him always.
385. I have heard that Abba Isaac said concerning Abba Muthues his Rabbd, now they both arrived at the dignity of the episcopacy, that first of all Abba Muthues built his monastery in the country of the Harbfcl&y6 (Herakleans), but that being much troubled by the multitudes who came to him, he left that place, and departed, and went to another spot in order that he might find quietness, and he built a monastery for himself there. And by the operation of Satan as it were, he found there a certain brother with whom he was at enmity, and he afflidled him greatly; and the old man saw [this], and he rose up and departed to his village, so that the man might not be vexed through him, and there he built a monastery, and shut himself in it. Now after a time, the fathers of that place wherefrom Abba Muthues had departed gathered together, and they took that brother who was aggrieved, and they went to him in order
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to entreat him and to bring him to his monastery; and when they had arrived at the place where Abba Soridn used to dwell, they left their cloaks there, and the aggrieved brother was with them. And when the fathers had knocked, the old man brought forward a ladder, and he recognized them, and said unto them, "Where are your cloaks?" And they said, "They are here " with us, with such and such a brother." Now when the old man heard the name of that brother, in sheer joy he took an axe and opened the door, and he ran to the place where that brother was, and the holy man fell at the feet of the saint, and he made entreaty to him, and he kissed him, and saluted him, and he brought him and the fathers to his cell, and he refreshed both him and them for three days; and he made ready a meal, which he was not in the habit of doing, and he rose up and went with them with great joy. Now afterwards he was called to the office of Bishop, and he became a worker of signs and miracles, and he also made his disciple Abba Isaac a Bishop, and he continued to lead a life of spiritual excellence until the end of his life.
386. They used to say of Abba Serapion, the Bishop, that whensoever a man came to him to receive the monastic garb, he said these words to him, "When thou prayest say, 'Lord, 4 4 4 teach me to do Thy will. ' "
387* On one occasion Abba Paphnutius was living in a remote desert, and it happened that a certain brother came to him and found him sick, and the brother took him, and washed him, and of the food which he had with him he boiled a little, and brought it to him to eat. And when he saw [this] he answered and said, " In very truth it had passed from my mind " that this gratification for the children of men existed"; and he brought him a cup of cream. Now when the old man saw him, he wept, and said, "I never expected that, even to the " day of my death, I should drink wine."
388. One of the fathers told a story, saying: "On one occa- " sion two brethren according to the body came to the desert " to a certain monk, and they conducted themselves in an ex- " cellent manner, and they were praised by the whole brother- " hood. And it came to pass that one of them fell into a sick- " ness which lasted not a few years, and his brother ministered "unto him, and certain fathers came to visit him, and they " began to praise him that ministered unto him, saying, 'Thy " 4 willingness and thy abstinence profit the whole brotherhood. ' "And he answered and said unto them with great humility, " 4 Forgive me, O my fathers, for I have not as yet begun to " 1 lead a life of rule, but it is my brother who doeth the works " 4 of excellence, and that ye may indeed learn that such is the
44 4 case, come after me and see.'" Then he took them in to his brother in the cell wherein he lay, and he said unto him, 41 Father, where is the axe which I gave thee yesterday?" And he began to seek for it. Then he said unto him, 4 4 See, O my 44 brother, do an act of grace and seek for it with me," and the sick brother took it upon himself to be asked for that which he had not taken. And having profited [by his example] the fathers departed from that place.
389. An old man used to say, 4 4 Flee from that love which 44 subsisteth by means of the things which are corrupt, for 44 with them a man also passeth away and is destroyed."
390. Abba Elijah used to say, 4 4 The love which a man pos- 44 sesseth for his neighbour, and which is caused by some 44 temporal matter is, in the process of time, turned into fierce 44 enmity."
391. And he also said, 44 Whatsoever hath its being for God's 44 sake endureth and abideth for ever with those who are true."
392. On one occasion the priest of Pilisidn heard that certain of the brethren were idle and lazy, and that they were constantly in the city, and that they swam in the baths, and neglected the works of excellence which belong to the life of the monk, and when they came to the congregation he took their monkish dress from them; and having done [this] he was sad at heart, and repented, and he went to Abba Poemen and informed him about them. And the old man said unto him, 44 Hast thou nothing of the old man about thee?" [And he said 44 Yea." And the old man said unto him], 4 4 Therefore thou thy- 4 4 self art like unto them, and thou art nigh unto sin." Then the priest went and expressed his sorrow to them, and he put on them the dress of monks [once more]. Now they were twelve in all.
393. On one occasion tribulation came upon the monks in a certain place where they were living, and they wished to forsake it and come to Abba Ammon; and behold, he was travelling in a boat, and he saw them going along by the side of the river, and he ordered the boatmen to bring [the boat] close to land. Then he called these brethren and said unto them, 44 I am 4 4 Ammon to whom ye wish to go and he entreated them to go back to their place, and he comforted them, and told them to endure patiently, for there was in the matter no loss to the soul, but only human vexation.
394. On one occasion an old man went up from Scete to the brethren in the mountain, and when they saw that he was a man of great ascetic labours, and that he practised stern self- denial, they entreated him to let them make a meal for him, and they brought him a little wine to drink. Now the people
of the country heard about him, and they brought him a man who was afflicted with a devil that he might heal him; and when the devil saw him, he began to revile him, saying, 11 Hast " thou brought this winebibber to me?" And the old man did not wish to cast him out because of the praise of men, but, because the devil had reviled him, he said unto him, " I believe in "Christ, and I shall not have drunk [this] cup of wine until " thou hast gone forth"; and as he began to drink that devil cried out, and said, "Thou art consuming me": and before the old man could drink that cup [of wine] the devil went forth by the grace of Christ.
395. They used to say that a certain father who was a recluse had a brother, according to the body, who lived in another cell, and that this brother fell ill, and sent to him a message to come and see him before he died; and his brother said, "I am unable to go out for the sake of my brother in the "flesh." And his brother sent him another message, saying, "Come, if it be only in the night, that I may see thee"; and the recluse said, " I cannot do so, for if I did my heart would "not be pure before God." So the brother died, and they did not see each other.
396. They once wanted to make Abba Isaac priest in Scete, and when he heard [this] he fled to Egypt, and he went into a field and hid himself among the crop because the fathers were pursuing him, and when they came to that field they began to weary a little; and they turned the ass which they had with them out to feed, but he left the whole field, and went and stood up in that place where Abba Isaac was hidden. And in the morning they went out to look for the ass, and they found the ass and the old man [together] and they marvelled; and when they wished to make Abba Isaac take an oath [not to run away] he would not allow them [to do so], and he said unto them, "I shall not flee again, for it is the will of God, and "whithersoever I flee I shall come to this thing, for this is a "consecration by God."
397. Abba Macarius asked Abba Arsenius, saying, "Is it "good for a man not to have any pleasure at all in his cell? " I know a brother who used to have a few garden herbs in " his cell, and to prevent himself from having any gratification "therefrom, he pulled them up by the roots"; and Abba Arsenius said unto him, "This is good, but every man [must " do] as he is able, and if he hath not strength to persist in " this perhaps he should plant others."
398. The old men who were in Egypt told Abba Elijah that Abba Agathon was a great man. And the old man said unto them, "Considering his youth he was a great man in his
"generation, but he was very far removed from the men of old. " I saw in Scete an old man who was able to hold back the sun " in his course in the heavens like Joshua, the son of Nun"; and when they heard [this] they marvelled and praised God.
399. A certain brother asked Abba Poemen about fornication, and he answered and said, "[It cometh upon a man] because "our eyes will not allow us to see the help of God which " surroundeth a man, for a man is constrained to humility and " to the fear of God at all times, even as he is constrained [to " draw] the breath which goeth forth from his mouth."
400. An old man used to say, "If thou wishest to learn to "know [thy] neighbour praise him more than thou rebukest "him."
401. They used to say that whensoever one of the fathers wished to sleep a little, he would sit down in his cell at some distance from the wall, so that whenever he nodded his head he became wide awake.
402. And whensoever another of the old men lay down he used to hold up a book above him, and when he dropped off to sleep the book would fall down and wake him.
403. Abba Besarion said, (' 1 stood up for forty nights and did "not sleep."
Abba Anthony said, "I do not fear God, on the contrary I "love Him."
404. One of the old men whilst exhorting the brethren to work of spiritual excellence used to say, "Troubles are hard " unto those who are not accustomed to them. Troubles are like " unto dogs; for as dogs bite those who are not familiar with "them and wag their tails at those who are, so also are " labours, because they give pain to those who have no ex- " perience of them, and they are pleasing unto those who are " trained in bearing them. This exception must, however, be " made: lusts are wont to produce troubles and adversities, " but troubles are the cause of pleasure and delights."
405. On one occasion Abba Ammon came to cross the river, and he found that they were making ready a boat to take [some] men over, and he sat down in it; and behold, there was another boat which was going to take over some women, and they cried out to him, "Come thou, father, and cross over " with us." And he answered and said unto them, "If I had "not been going to cross over in the public boat I could "not cross [with you]." Now he had with him a bundle of palm leaves, and he sat down and plaited mats until that boat was ready, and then he crossed over the river [in it]. And the brethren expressed their regrets, saying, "Why hast thou " done thus?" Then the old man said unto them, " Because I
"do not at all times travel in great haste, and because my " thoughts are not always in a turmoil." Now this is a proof that a man should travel on the path of God with a well ordered mind.
406. One of the old men came to one of the fathers [and asked him] to go and visit Abba Joseph, and he said to him, " Tell thy disciple to go with us"; and the father said, " Call " him, and whatsoever thou commandest him, he will do." The old man said unto him, " What is his name?" and the Rabba of the disciple said, " I know not." The old man said unto him, " And how long hath he been with thee? Dost thou not "know his name?" And the father said, "Behold, he hath "been with me for two years"; then the old man answered and said, " If he hath been with thee for two years, and thou " hast not learnt his name, how can I learn it in one day?"
407. A brother asked Abba Poemen, and said, "On one occasion I was distressed, and I begged one of the holy men " to lend me a certain thing, and he gave it to me as a free "gift; now if God prospereth me shall I give it to another " man, or shall I return it to him that gave it to me in the " time of my tribulation?" The old man saith, "The gift was "most certainly from God, and it is meet for thee to return it " to Him, for it belongeth to Him." And that brother said unto him, "Supposing that I carry it to Him, and He refuse to take " it, and say unto me, ' Get thee gone, and give it as a free " 'gift to anyone at thy pleasure,' what am I to do?" The old man said, "The thing still belongeth to Him. For if " a man bringeth thee something of his own accord and thou "hast no knowledge about it, in this manner the thing is "his; but if thou hast borrowed something, either from a monk " or from a man in the world, and he refuseth to take it back, " it belongeth to thee and thou mayest do what thou pleasest "with it."
408. Abba Joseph related that Abba Isaac said, " I was on " one occasion sitting with Abba Poemen, and I saw that he " was in a state of great stupefadlion, and because I possessed " some influence over him, I offered entreaty to him, saying, " 'Father, where is thy mind?' And after I had pressed him " greatly, he answered and said, ' My mind was in the place " 'of the Crucifixion, where the holy woman Mary, the God- " 'bearer, was standing and weeping by the Cross of our " 'Redeemer, and I was wishing that I might at all times " 'feel thus.'"
409. They used to say that Abba Sisoes the Theban was wont to dwell among the reeds of Ars£nt&, where there was, at some distance from him, an old man who was sick; and
when he heard [of it] he was distressed, for he fasted two days at a time, and that day was the day on which he ought not to eat. And he said in his mind, " What shall I do? For " perhaps the brethren will compel me to eat, and if I wait [to " go to the old man] until to-morrow perhaps he will be dead. " I can only do this. I will go, but will not break the law and "eat"; so he went, and he ate not, and he did not break the rule of life which [he observed] for God's sake.
410. They used to say that Abba Netir£, who was the disciple of Abba Sylvanus, and who dwelt in his cell in Mount Sinai, trained his body, and exercised it in ascetic labours with moderation; but when he was called by force to the episcopacy, he afflicted himself with stern and laborious works. And his disciple said unto him, " Abba, when we lived in the " desert thou didst not lead such a life of abstinence and self- " denial as thou now doest"; and the old man said unto him, " There I had the desert, and silence, and poverty, and I only "had to direct my body in moderation so that it might not "become ill; but here I have the world, and I must vex my " body so that it may not be caught by any lust whatsoever, " and that I may not lose my labours."
411. They used to relate that Abba Poemen and the brethren at one time worked with their hands, but he could not sell their work; and they were distressed because they had no one to buy their work; and one of the brethren, who was a friend of theirs, went to a certain believing merchant and informed him of the matter. Now Abba Poemen [always] refused to accept anything from any man, so that he might not be entreated
[for alms] by the multitude. And when the merchant heard about their need], because he wished to do something for the old man, he made the excuse that he was in need of [the kind] of work [which they did], and he bought a camel and carried away the work as if he had been in need of the same; and the brother who had told the merchant came to Abba Poemen, and hearing that the merchant had come and carried away what they had to sell, he said before Abba Poemen, "Verily, " O father, the merchant hath taken [the work] away, although "he did not want it." Then Abba Poemen said to Abba Job, his brother, "Arise, stop the camel, and bring him back, for " if thou dost not do so Poemen will not dwell here with you. " For I do not wish to wrong any man by making him unnecessarily to suffer loss on my account, and to take my "profit." And the brother departed and brought the camel back with great difficulty, and then Abba Poemen was persuaded to stay with them, and when he saw [the camel] he rejoiced as one who had found a great treasure.
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412. A certain stranger came to Scete, and brought there much gold, and he entreated the priest that it might be given to the brethren, and the priest said unto him, "It is useless to " them"; and having entreated him many times, and the priest not consenting [to this], the man laid the gold down openly at the door of the church. And the priest said, "My brethren, " if any man hath need let him take [some]," but they refused to touch it, and some of them would not even look at it. Then the priest said unto him, "God hath accepted thy gift, go, and give " it to the poor"; and having been greatly helped he departed.
413. On one occasion the steward of Scete went up to Constantinople, and the Emperor seeing him asked him how the fathers in Egypt were; and the steward did homage, and answered and said to the Emperor, "Behold, they eat each other, " and live." Now when the Emperor heard this, he marvelled, and asked him, "What is the meaning of 'They eat each " 'other?*" And the steward said, "The meaning of 'They eat " 'each other' is this: — When it happeneth that one of them " is going to die, he commandeth that whatsoever he hath shall " be given to various men according to their needs; and simi- "larly when a man worketh he bringeth [the results of] his "labour, and refresheth all the brethren therewith, and in "this way they live." The Emperor said unto him, "Verily " blessed are ye, for ye are saved and freed from the cares of " the world, and also from the judgement of Gehenna. We, on " the other hand, are troubled by the cares of the world, and " Gehenna is prepared for us because of our sins."
414. They used to say of Abba Betimius that, when [the brethren] were coming down from the harvest to Scete, they brought down as a gift for the brethren who were there a jar of oil, which contained the measure of a kestd, and was sealed with plaster. And at the return of the period the year following when they were going to the harvest, they brought everything which was of benefit to the church; and Abba Betimius made a small hole with a needle in the vessel of oil, and poured out a little for himself, and thought that he had done some great thing in not having consumed the whole of the oil which was in the vessel. And when the brethren brought their vessels with the plaster coverings intact and the vessels themselves unopened, whilst his vessel had been perforated, he stood there full of shame, just like a man who thinketh that he hath been found [committing] fornication.
415. There was a great and holy man who used to dwell in the inner desert, in a state of glorious ascetic excellence, and the gifts of casting out devils and of healing the sick had been given to him by God, and he used to work great miracles in
the Name of Christ, and the beasts also made themselves subject to him at his command. For it chanced on one occasion when he was journeying in the desert that he saw a herd of wild asses feeding, and he said unto them, "In the Name of ' i our Lord Jesus Christ, let one of you come hither "; and one of them came, and crouched before him very gently, and the blessed man mounted him and sat upon him, and the animal carried him whither he wished to go.
416. One day when the blessed Anthony was sitting in the desert with the brethren about him, suddenly there fell upon him a state of stupor, and be became exceedingly sad and sorry, and he bent his knees and prayed; and when, after a long time, he stood up, he wept and groaned, and the old man began to pluck out his hair, and to throw it away. Now when the brethren saw him weeping they entreated him to tell them what he had seen; and he answered and said unto them, "A "great pillar hath fallen this day from the church." Now he spake concerning that holy man who had fallen from his rule of life. And he sent to him straightway two brethren to see what had happened and to comfort him, and when the holy man saw them, he wailed and cried, and took dust and cast it upon his head, and he fell down before them, saying, "Go ye and say to " Abba Anthony, 1 Pray for me that ten days may be given me " ' to live, and I believe that I shall repent'"; but he died before five days had passed, and did not remain long enough to offer up repentance for his sin.
417. There was a certain man of noble rank who sold everything which he had, and divided [the money] among the poor and the strangers, and he shaved his head and went and dwelt in a monastery; now there remained to him a remnant of his possessions sufficient for his wants. And after a little time, when he had obtained freedom of speech, he began to be proud and to exalt himself above the other brethren, saying, "They "lack education, and the knowledge of learning"; and the blessed M&r Basil, the Bishop, sent him a message in a letter, saying, "Thou hast lost the great name which thou hadst in " the world, for thou wast called 'nobleman', and thou hast " not become a monk."
418. Abba Gregory made an answer against the thoughts and said to the brethren, "My brethren, inasmuch as we have " passed the measure of children, let us cease from the mind " of children, that is to say, let us free ourselves from the care- "less habits of filthy lusts; for it would be a shameful thing "for us if, since childhood hath passed from us, and old age " hath come upon us, the things of shame had not also passed " away from us."
flfcuesttons an& Hnswers on tbe ascetic IRule
419. They used to say that when Abba Macarius was walking in the desert, he went and found a beautiful spot which was like unto the Paradise of God; and there were in it fountains of water, and numerous palm trees, and trees of various kinds which bore fruit, and when he had come and told the brethren about it, they begged and entreated him to go and settle them there. Then the old men, the aged members of the congregation, who led lives of stern labour, entreated them not to leave their place, and they said, "If pleasure and delight be found in that "spot, and if a man may live therein without vexation and "labour, what pleasure and delight do ye expedfc to receive "from God? Nay, it is right for us to endure the hardness " of this place wherein we dwell, and to suffer tribulations so " that we may enjoy pleasure in the world to come." And when he had said these things the brethren were restrained and departed not.
420. There was a certain holy man who used to see visions, and he told the following story, saying, "Once when I was "standing up in prayer, I heard a devil complaining in the "presence of his companion, saying, 'I am [suffering] great " 'labour and trouble.' And when the other devil asked him so "that he might learn from him the cause of his trouble, he " said to him, 'This is the work which hath been handed over " 'to me. When I have carried these monks, who are in Jeru- " 'salem and its neighbourhood, to Mount Sinai I have to " 'bring those who are in Mount Sinai to Jerusalem, and I " 'have no rest whatsoever.'"
421. There was a monk who lived in a cell, far away in the desert, and this monk had a brother who lived in the world, and whose end was nigh, for he had to die; and he sent a message to the monk, saying, "For God's sake do an a<St of " grace, and come that I may see thee before I die." And when the monk heard [this], he shut the door of his cell, and set out to go to him, and as he was travelling through the desert, he saw an old man sitting on the wayside mending nets; now this old man was the Calumniator, who was making ready his snares to catch in them those who were journeying on the road of spiritual excellence. And he was exceedingly anxious to overthrow that brother, and to trip him up by his snares, for he had not only never allowed his foot to become entangled in the meshes of his nets, but he had also slit in pieces and destroyed his pitfalls through the remembrance of God. Now the monk did not know that the man who was sitting by the roadside mending his nets was Satan, and he said unto him, " Why art thou sitting here in this parched desert? And what "art thou doing here?" The Calumniator said unto him, "I