Homo Sum -- Volume 05

all its joys and pails, its duties and its delights, on the community and family to which they belonged, and had fled to the d

sensual impulse, to throw off the fetters of the world, and so bring that humanity, which was bou

ng power of suffering to free themselves from the dross of their impure human nature, and by severe penance to contribute their share of atonement for thei

e many who, being already inured to abstinence and penance in the service of the old gods in their own country, now as Christ

led with ascetics of like mind, who gave to their settlements the names of the resting-places of the chosen people, as mentioned in the Scriptures; but as yet there wa

withdrawn to the desert with his wife-she had found a grave there-had remained in his cave, and had declared to Gelasius, who shared his cave and who had urged him to flight, that he

inner room till it was filled to overflowing, and Paulus, who in the presence of danger had fully recovered his equanimity

irst. They had received those who followed them with lamentation and outcries, and it was a pitiable sight to see how the terrified crowd, in the midst of their loud declarations of resignation to God's guidance and their pious

hen the Alexandrian reminded them how zealously each of them only a few weeks since had helped to roll the blocks and stones from the wall, and down the precipice, so as to cru

r on his back and followed by Miriam, and when Paulus exhorted his companions to be edified by this pathe

n his own, carried him towards the tower; but the old warrior refused to enter the place of refuge, and begged his friend to lay

ll it is great enough to send one of them over with a push. If it comes to a battle my old soldier's eyes, dim as they are now, may with the help of yours see ma

"You have served in Caesar's army, and you proved your courag

ound in my breast and my long illness. Not even those who stand nearest to me would understan

had enjoyed the respect of all and on a thousand occasions had given proof of his strength and p

hat was passing

least among us; but in animal strength and indomitable courage he is superior to yo

e of the anchorites, "is ta

office, and when Andreas and Joseph also refused with no less

andrian to command us here so long as the robbers threa

agerness to stake his life and blood for the protection of the weak, and fevered with a soldier's ardor, accepted Step

and blocks of stone down into the abyss in the moment of danger; he requested the weaker brethren to assemble themselves together, to pray for the others and to sing h

y. He knew where the main strength of the Blemmyes lay and communicated this knowledge to the Centurion Phoebicius and the captain of the Pharanites. The Gaul put a few short questions to Hermas, whom he recognized

e tempted thither, a second third of the warriors of the oasis, that could easily be in ambush in a cross-valley, were to fall on their left flank, while Phoebicius and his maniple-hidden behind the rock on which t

e, and there defend themselves till the warriors of the nearest seaports

to him, as proud and as self-possessed as any of Caesar's veterans leading his legion into the fiel

e observed her, and called out, "Go up to the fort, child,

to him all that was going on there, and with the keen insight of a soldier he comprehended the centurion's plan. The troop led by Hermas passed by below the tower, and the youth waved and shouted a greeting up to his father. Stephanus, whose hearing remained sharper than his sight, recognized his son's voice and took leave of him with tender and loving words in as loud a voice as he coul

d soldier, and the others follow him as sheep follow a ram. But hark!-Certainly-the forem

From here we can watch the whole progress of the battle, and if our side are driven back it may easily happen that they will throw themselves into th

t their place of refuge would, become the centre of the combat, the frightened penitents quitted the posts assigned to them by Paulus, ran hither and thither in spite of the Al

nly forty days, they at once fell away from Thee; and we, we without any leader have spent all our life in Thy service, and have given up all that can rejoice the heart, and have taken ever

wall might be guarded at least on the eastern and more accessible side, and that the castle might not fall an easy prey into the hands of an enemy from whom no quarter was to be expected. Some of the

dge of the abyss, and had looked over old Stephanus' shoulder down into the hollow

t his breast, and tore his r

givest us over unto death, and dost not fight for us? If we are overcome by the heathen, ungodliness a

mits, perplexed and beside himself, and

feint, fell with such force upon the foremost division that they and their comrades, who had rushed to their a

y band, like a drove of cattle," cried Paulus in a fury, "leave the

Are we then wholly abandoned? Why does not the thorn-bush light its fires, and destroy the evil-doers wit

the heathen? Why does not the earth open her mou

The Lord must set our piety in a doubtful light, for

wall. "That you are, for instead of resisting His enemies you blaspheme God, and disgrace yourself by your miserable cowardice. Look at this sick old man w

ere interrupted by a powerful voice which

d Stephanus. "Lead me to the

age, and was a vigilant captain of his congregation. When all the youth of Pharan had gone forth to meet the Blemmyes, he had no peace in the oasis, and, after enjoining on the presbyters and deacons th

ht to detain him, he had answered, "Where

Paulus' vehement speech. He now stood opposite the Alexandrian with rolli

the Lord? It would indeed be a joy to you if by your strong arm you could win back the good name that your

nd raised his hands like the other anchorites when Agapitus s

his place by the wall or behind the stones for throwing, and then cried out with a clear ringing vo

himself at his post, he went to the precipice and look

s. The well- trained and well-armed Romans seemed to have an easy task with their naked opponents, who, in a hand to hand fight, could not avail themselves of either their arrows or their spears. But the Blemmyes had learned to use their strength in frequent battles w

he sighed deeply and thankfully and turned to go down to the field o

lready observed on his arrival and she said with much embarrassment, but clearly and quickly, "Old Stephanus there, my lord bisho

ity that he was far from showing to the other penitents. He had long known the former name and the fate of Stephanus, and it was by his advice that Hermas had been obli

to the bystanders to leave them alone, and listened attentively to the

lead to Him, and your son will be-as you were once-a valiant man of war. Your earthl

reat sufferings," answered the sick man. "The world lies far beh

d, but have you striven to forgive those who did you the bitterest wrong, and can you pray, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive the

to my heart of hearts; but the man who basely seduced her, the wretch, who although I

d Agapitus, "as you

eighteen years to bl

I will still con

now called on all sides at once, and Gelasius, who was standing by the declivity with some ot

then turned away from him, saying earnestly on

r the Blemmyes had not indeed fled, but had only dispersed themselves, and then had climbed up

ns?" Agapitus eager

" answered the Saite. "But look! only look at these heathen! The Lord be m

en! the emperor's soldiers are guarding the weakest side of the castle. But look here at the naked figures in the cleft. Bring the blocks here; set your shoulders stoutly to it, Orion! one more pus

" cried Orion. "Come here

ourage of the anchorites so rapidly and wonderfully that the bishop soon found it diffic

s hurled clattering over the steep precipice down upon the

n. "I have much to expiate, and fighting brings enjoyment. How great enjoyment I can und

told you, and bless him a thousand, thousand times in my name and his mother's; but never, never tell him that in an hour of weakness she ran away with that villain-that man, that miserable man I mean-whom I forgive. Give Hermas this ring, and with it the letter that you will find under the dry herbs on the couch in my cave; they will secure him a reception from his uncle, who will also procure him a place in th

us interrupting him. "Here, up here!" he called d

rock, and keep your eye on the castle. If any danger threatens call me with the trumpet.

he Gaul reached the wall and called out to the men inside, "Is there no one there who

the centurion-who had climbed as far as the outer foot of it, looked him in the face with eager attention,

ch a meeting and in such a place, and who, struggling painfully

's features, and the longer he looked at him the hollower grew his cheeks and the paler his l

patience at himself he took the old man's hand in a hasty grasp. But scarcely had Stephanus felt the touch of the Gaul's fingers

e, and cried aloud with fervent unction, "Le

Before the Alexandrian could hinder him, the loose stone over which the enemies were wrestl

murmured while the tears ran down his cheeks, "He too