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on some pious subject？ If so； I will put down my watering…pot； and listen
to you。〃
Paphnutius told the old man about his journey； his return； the visions
of his days and the dreams of his nights；without omitting the sinful one
and the pack of jackals。
〃Do you not think； father；〃 he added； 〃that I ought to bury myself in
the desert； and perform some extraordinary austerities that would even
astonish the devil？〃
〃I am but a poor sinner；〃 replied Palemon； 〃and I know little about
men； having passed all my life in this garden； with gazelles； little hares
and pigeons。 But it seems to me； brother； that your distemper comes from
your having passed too suddenly from the noisy world to the calm of
solitude。 Such sudden transitions can but do harm to the health of the soul。
You are； brother； like a man who exposes himself； almost at the same time；
to great heat and great cold。 A cough shakes him； and fever torments him。
In your place； brother Paphnutius； instead of retiring at once into some
awful desert； I should take such amusements as are fitting to a monk and a
holy abbot。 I should visit the monasteries in the neighbourhood。 Some of
them are wonderful； it is said。 That of Abbot Serapion contains； I have
been told； a thousand four hundred and thirty…two cells； and the monks are
divided into as many legions as there are letters in the Greek alphabet。 I
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am even informed that a certain analogy is observed between the character
of the monks and the shape of the letter by which they are designated； and
that； for example； those who are placed under Z have a tortuous character；
whilst those under I have an upright mind。 If I were you； brother； I should
go and assure myself of this with my own eyes； and I should know no rest
until I had seen such a wonderful thing。 I should not fail to study the
regulations of the various communities which are scattered along the
banks of the Nile； so as to be able to compare one with another。 Such
study is befitting a religious man like yourself。 You have heard say； no
doubt； that Abbot Ephrem has drawn up for his monastery pious
regulations of great beauty。 With his permission； you might make a copy
of them； as you are a skilful penman。 I could not do so； for my hands；
accustomed to wield the spade； are too awkward to direct the thin reed of
the scribe over the papyrus。 But you have the knowledge of letters； brother；
and should thank God for it； for beautiful writing cannot be too much
admired。 The work of the copyist and the reader is a great safeguard
against evil thoughts。 Brother Paphnutius； why do you not write out the
teachings of our fathers； Paul and Anthony？ Little by little you would
recover； in these pious works； peace of soul and mind； solitude would
again become pleasant to your heart； and soon you would be in a condition
to recommence those ascetic works which your journey has interrupted。
But you must not expect much benefit from excessive penitence。 When he
was amongst us； our Father Anthony used to say； 'Excessive fasting
produces weakness； and weakness begets idleness。 There are some monks
who ruin their body by fasts improperly prolonged。 Of them it may be said
that they plunge a dagger into their own breast； and deliver themselves up
unresistingly into the power of the devil。' So said the holy man； Anthony。 I
am but a foolish old man； but； by the grace of God； I have remembered
what our father told us。〃
Paphnutius thanked Palemon and promised to think over his advice。
When he had passed the fence of reeds which enclosed the little garden； he
turned round and saw the good old gardener engaged in watering his
salads； whilst the pigeon walked about on his bent back； and at that sight
Paphnutius felt ready to weep。
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On returning to his cell； he found there a strange turmoil； as though it
were filled with grains of sand blown about by a strong wind； and on
looking closer； he saw these moving bodies were myriads of little jackals。
That night he saw in a dream； a high stone column surmounted by a
human face； and he heard a voice which said
〃Ascend this pillar！〃
On awaking； he felt confident that this dream had been sent from
heaven。 He called his disciples； and addressed them in these words
〃My beloved sons； I must leave you； and go where God sends me。
During my absence obey Flavian as you would me； and take care of our
brother Paul。 Bless you。 Farewell。〃
As he strode away； they remained prostrate on the ground； and when
they raised their heads； they saw his tall dark figure on the sandy horizon。
He walked day and night until he reached the ruins of the temple；
formerly built by the idolaters； in which he had slept amongst the
scorpions and sirens on his former strange journey。 The walls； covered
with magic signs； were still standing。 Thirty immense columns； which
terminated in human heads or lotus flowers； still supported a heavy stone
entablature。 But； at one end of the temple； a pillar had shaken off its old
burden； and stood isolated。 It had for its capital the head of a woman
which smiled； with long eyes and rounded cheeks； and on her forehead
cow's horns。
Paphnutius； on seeing it； recognised the column which had been
shown him in his dream； and he calculated that it was thirty…two cubits
high。 He went to the neighbouring village； and ordered a ladder of that
height to be made； and when the ladder was placed against the pillar； he
ascended； knelt down on the top； and said to the Lord
〃Here； then； O God； is the abode Thou hast chosen for me。 May I
remain here； in Thy Grace； until the hour of my death。〃
He had brought no provisions with him； trusting in divine providence；
and expecting that charitable peasants would give him all that he needed。
And； in fact； the next day； about the ninth hour； women came with