an 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 me--these
monasteries, these inns, the boats on the river, the villages, and what
I see in the distance of fields, canals, sand, and mountains--is nothing
in respect to what is in me. I carry in my heart countless cities
and illimitable deserts. And evil--evil and death--spread over this
immensity, cover them all, as night covers the earth. I am, in myself
alone, a universe of evil thoughts."

He spoke thus because the desire for woman was in him.

The seventh month, there came from Alexandria, Bubastis and Sais, women
who had long been barren, hoping to obtain children by the intercession
of the holy man and the virtues of his pillar. They rubbed their sterile
bodies against the stone. There followed a procession, as far as the
eye could reach, of chariots, palanquins, and litters, which stopped
and pushed and jostled below the man of God. From them came sick people
terrible to see. Mothers brought to Paphnutius young boys whose limbs
were twisted, their eyes starting, their mouth foaming, their voices
hoarse. He laid his hands upon them. Blind men approached, groping with
their hands, and raising towards him a face pierced with two bleeding
holes. Paralytics displayed before him the heavy immobility, the deadly
emaciation, and the hideous contractions of their limbs; lame men showed
him their club feet; women with cancer, holding their bosoms with both
hands, uncovered before him their breasts devoured by the invisible
vulture. Dropsical women, swollen like wine skins were placed on
the ground before him. He blessed them. Nubians, afflicted with
elephantiasis, advanced with heavy steps and looked at him with
streaming eyes and expressionless countenances. He made the sign of the
cross over them. A young girl of Aphroditopolis was brought to him on
a litter; after having vomited blood, she had slept for three days. She
looked like a waxen image, and her parents, who thought she was dead,
had placed a palm leaf on her breast. Paphnutius having prayed to God,
the young girl raised her head and opened her eyes.

As the people reported everywhere the miracles which the saint had
performed, unfortunate persons afflicted with that disease which
the Greeks call "the divine malady," came from all parts of Egypt in
incalculable legions. As soon as they saw the pillar, they we