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 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。
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 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