t 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 ord