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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 their children； bringing bread； dates； and fresh water； which the
boys carried to the top of the column。
The top of the pillar was not large enough to allow the monk to lie at
full length； so that he slept with his legs crossed and his head on
his breast； and sleep was a more cruel torture to him than his wakeful
hours。 At dawn the ospreys brushed him with their wings； and he awoke
filled with pain and terror。
It happened that the carpenter who had made the ladder feared God。
Disturbed at the thought that the saint was exposed to the sun and
rain； and fearing that he might fall in his sleep； this pious man
constructed a roof and a railing on the top of the column。
Soon the report of this extraordinary existence spread from village to
village； and the labourers of the valley came on Sundays； with their
wives and children； to look at the stylite。 The disciples of
Paphnutius； having learned with surprise the place of this wonderful
retreat； came to him； and obtained from him permission to build their
huts at the foot of the column。 Every morning they came and stood in a
circle round the master； and received from him the words of
instruction。
〃My sons；〃 he said to them； 〃continue like those little children whom
Jesus loved。 That is the way of salvation。 The sin of the flesh is the
source and origin of all sins； they spring from it as from a parent。
Pride； avarice； idleness； anger； and envy are its dearly beloved
progeny。 I have seen this in Alexandria； I have seen rich men carried
away by the vice of lust； which； like a river with a turbid flood；
swept them into the gulf of bitterness。〃
The abbots Ephrem and Serapion； being informed of his strange
proceeding； wished to behold him with their own eyes。 Seeing from
afar； on the river； the triangular sail which was bringing them to
him； Paphnutius could not prevent himself from thinking that God had
made him an example to all solitary monks。 The two abbots； when they
saw him； did not conceal their surprise； and； having consulted
together； they agreed in condemning such an extraordinary penance； and
exhorted Paphnutius to come down。
〃Such a mode of life is contrary to all usage；〃 they said； 〃it is
peculiar； and against all rules。〃
But Paphnutius replied
〃What is the monastic life if not peculiar？ And ought not the deeds of
a monk to be as eccentric as he is himself？ It was a sign from God
that caused me to ascend here； it is a sign from God that will make me
descend。〃
Every day religious men came to join the disciples of Paphnutius； and
they built for themselves shelters round the aerial hermitage。 Several
of them； to imitate the saint； mounted the ruins of the temple； but；
being reproved by their brethren； and conquered by fatigue； they soon
gave up these attempts。
Pilgrims flocked from all parts。 There were some who had come long
distances； and were hungry and thirsty。 The idea occurred to a poor
widow of selling fresh water and melons。 Against the foot of the
column； behind her bottles of red clay； her cups and her fruit under
an awning of blue…and…white striped canvas； she cried； 〃Who wants to
drink？〃 Following the example of this widow； a baker brought some
bricks and made an oven close by； in the hope of selling loaves and
cakes to visitors。 As the crowd of visitors increased unceasingly； and
the inhabitants of the large cities of Egypt began to come； some man；
greedy of gain； built a caravanserai to lodge the guests and their
servants； camels； and mules。 Soon there was； in front of the column； a
market to which the fishermen of the Nile brought their fish； and the
gardeners their vegetables。 A barber； who shaved people in the open
air； amused the crowd with his jokes。 The old temple； so long given
over to silence and solitude was filled with countless sights and
sounds of life。 The innkeepers turned the subterranean vaults into
cellars and nailed on the old pillars signs surmounted by the figure
of the holy Paphnutius； and bearing this inscription in Greek and
Egyptian〃/Pomegranate wine； fig wine； and genuine Cilician beer sold
here/。〃 On the walls； sculptured with pure and graceful carvings； the
shop…keepers hung ropes of onions； and smoked fish； dead hares； and
the carcases of sheep。 In the evening； the old occupants of the ruins；
the rats； scuttled in a long row to the river； whilst the ibises；
suspiciously craning their necks； perched on the high cornices； to
which rose the smoke of the kitchens； the shouts of the drinkers； and
the cries of the tapsters。 All around； builders laid out streets； and
masons constructed convents； chapels； and churches。 By the end of six
months a city was established with a guardhouse； a tribunal； a prison；
and a school； kept by an old blind scribe。
The pilgrims were innumerable。 Bishops and other Church dignitaries；
came； full of admiration。 The Patriarch of Antioch； who chanced to be
in Egypt at that time； came with all his clergy。 He highly approved of
the extraordinary conduct of the stylite； and the heads of the Libyan
Church followed； in the absence of Athanasius； the opinion of the
Patriarch。 Having learned which； Abbots Ephrem and Serapion came to
the feet of Paphnutius to apologise for their former mistrust。
Paphnutius replied
〃Know； my brothers； that the penance I endure is barely equal to the
temptations which are sent me； the number and force of which astound
me。 A man； viewed externally； is but small； and； from the height of
the pillar to which God has called me； I see human beings moving about
like ants。 But； considered internally； man is immense； he is as large
as the world； for he contains it。 All that is spread before methese
monasteries； these inns； the boats on the river； the villages； and
what I see in