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five years old； having been warned of his approaching end； has come
down from Mount Colzin； to which he had retired； to bless his numerous
spiritual children？ We are going with palm leaves to greet our holy
father。 But how is it； brother； that you are ignorant of such a great
event？ Can it be possible that no angel came to this tomb to inform
you？〃
〃Alas！〃 replied Paphnutius； 〃I am not worthy of such a favour； and the
only denizens of this abode are demons and vampires。 Pray for me。 I am
Paphnutius； Abbot of Antinoe； the most wretched of the servants of
God。〃
At the name of Paphnutius； all waved their palm leaves and murmured
his praises。 The monk who had previously spoken； cried in surprise
〃Can it be that thou art that holy Paphnutius； celebrated for so many
works that it was supposed he would some day equal the great Anthony
himself？ Most venerable； it was thou who convertedst to God the
courtesan； Thais； and who； raised upon a high column； was carried away
by the seraphs。 Those who watched by night； at the foot of the pillar；
saw thy blessed assumption。 The wings of the angels encircled thee in
a white cloud； and with thy right hand extended thou didst bless the
dwellings of man。 The next day； when the people saw thou wert no
longer there； a long groan rose to the summit of the discrowned
pillar。 But Flavian； thy disciple； reported the miracle； and took thy
place as the head。 But a foolish man； of the name of Paul； tried to
contradict the general opinion。 He asserted that he had seen thee； in
a dream； carried away by the devils； the people wanted to stone him；
and it was a miracle that he escaped death。 I am Zozimus； abbot of
these solitary monks whom thou seest prostrate at thy feet。 Like them；
I kneel before thee； that thou mayest bless the father with the
children。 Then thou shalt relate to us the marvels which God has
deigned to accomplish by thy means。〃
〃Far from having favoured me as thou believest；〃 replied Paphnutius；
〃the Lord has tried me with terrible temptations。 I was not carried
away by angels。 But a shadowy wall is raised in front of my eyes； and
moves before me。 I have lived in a dream。 Without God all is a dream。
When I made my journey to Alexandria； I heard； in a short space of
time； many discourses； and I learned that the army of errors was
innumerable。 It pursues me； and I am compassed about with swords。〃
Zozimus replied
〃Venerable father； we must remember that the saints； and especially
the solitary saints； undergo terrible trials。 If thou wast not carried
to heaven by the seraphs； it is certain that the Lord granted that
favour to thy image； for Flavian； the monks； and the people were
witnesses of thy assumption。〃
Paphnutius resolved to go and receive the blessing of Anthony。
〃Brother Zozimus；〃 he said； 〃give me one of these palm leaves； and let
us go and meet our father。〃
〃Let us go；〃 replied Zozimus； 〃military order is most befitting for
monks； who are God's soldiers。 Thou and I； being abbots； will march in
front； and the others shall follow us； singing psalms。〃
They set out on their march； and Paphnutius said
〃God is unity； for He is the truth； which is one。 The world is many；
because it is error。 We should turn away from all the sights of
nature； even those which appear the most innocent。 Their diversity
renders them pleasant； which is a sign that they are evil。 For that
reason； I cannot see a tuft of papyrus by the side of still waters
without my soul being imbued with melancholy。 All things that the
senses perceive are detestable。 The least grain of sand brings danger。
Everything tempts us。 Woman is but a combination of all the
temptations scattered in the thin air； on the flowering earth； in the
clear waters。 Happy is he whose soul is a sealed vase！ Happy is he who
knows how to be deaf； dumb； and blind； and who knows nothing of the
world； in order that he may know God！〃
Zozimus； having meditated upon these words； replied as follows
〃Venerable father； it is fitting that I should avow my sins to thee；
since thou hast shown me thy soul。 Thus we shall confess to each
other； according to the apostolic custom。 Before I was a monk； I led
an abominable life。 At Madaura； a city celebrated for its courtesans；
I sought out all kinds of worldly love。 Every night I supped in
company with young debauchees and female flute players； and I took
home with me the one who pleased me the best。 A saint like thee could
never imagine to what a pitch the fury of my desires carried me。
Suffice it to say that it spared neither matrons nor nuns； and spread
adultery and sacrilege everywhere。 I excited my senses with wine； and
was justly known as the heaviest drinker in Madaura。 Yet I was a
Christian； and； in all my follies； kept my faith in Jesus crucified。
Having devoured my substance in riotous living； I was beginning to
feel the first attacks of poverty； when I saw one of my companions in
pleasure suddenly struck with a terrible disease。 His knees could not
sustain him； his twitching hands refused to obey him； his glazed eyes
closed。 Only horrible groans came from his breast。 His mind； heavier
than his body； slumbered。 To punish him for having lived like a beast；
God had changed him into a beast。 The loss of my property had already
inspired me with salutary reflections； but the example of my friend
was of yet greater efficacy； it made such an impression on my heart
that I quitted the world and retired into the desert。 There I have
enjoyed for twenty years a peace that nothing has troubled。 I work
with my monks as weaver； architect； carpenter； and even as scribe；
though； to say the truth； I have little taste for writing； having
always preferred action to thought。 My days are full of joy； and my
nights without dreams； and I believe that the grace of the Lord is in
me； because； even in the midst of the most frightful sins； I have
never lost hope。〃
On hearing these words； Paphnutius lifted his eyes to heaven and
murmured
〃Lord； Thou lookest with kindness upon this man polluted by adultery；
sacrilege； and so many crimes； and Thou turnest away from me； who have
always kept Thy commandments！ How inscrutable is Thy justice； O my
God！ and how impenetrable are Thy ways！〃
Zozimus extended his arms。
〃Look； venerable father！ On both sides of the horizon are long； black
files that look like emigrant ants。 They are our brothers； who； like
us； are going to meet Anthony。〃
When they came to the place of meeting； they saw a magnificent
spectacle。 The army of monks extended； in three ranks； in an immense
semicircle。 In the first rank stood the old hermits of the desert；
cross in hand； and with long beards that almost touched the ground。
The monks； governed by the abbots Ephrem and Serapion； and also all
the cenobites of the Nile； formed the second line。 Behind them
appeared the ascetics； who had come from their distant rocks。 Some
wore； on their blackened and dried…up bodies； shapeless rags； others
had for their only clothes； bundles of reeds held together by withies。
Many of them were naked； but God had covered them with a fell of hair
as thick as a sheep's fleece。 All held branches of palm； they