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Sayings of Poemen the Great

Apophthegmata

Date written: collected about 450 to 500; the place is not known. The date is the usual view of scholars; some doubt it.

Poemen the Great did not write this text. Another person wrote it about Poemen the Great, or wrote down what Poemen the Great said.

Sayings and short stories of Poemen the Great, taken from the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.

Sayings · first written in Greek

Some scholars think several monks named Poemen stand behind these sayings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poemen Poemen did not write this. The sayings are spoken words and stories that the unknown collectors of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers wrote down. The corpus files it under Poemen.

Translated by E. A. Wallis Budge (1907). The Paradise or Garden of the Holy Fathers, vol. 2 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1907); sayings picked out of it Public domain. Source and rights

This text is read by a machine from a scan of the printed book. It has reading errors, and some headings can be wrong or missing.

This text is not yet cut into sections. It is one long page with one address.

About this text (1 note)

Some scholars think several monks named Poemen stand behind these sayings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poemen Poemen did not write this. The sayings are spoken words and stories that the unknown collectors of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers wrote down. The corpus files it under Poemen.

How we know the date and place
Date written probable
Sayings were gathered and written in Greek in the later 5th century (W. Bousset, Apophthegmata, 1923; J.-C. Guy, Sources Chretiennes 387, 1993)
The man spoke in his own lifetime; this date is for the written collection. The English is from Budge, Paradise of the Fathers (1907), made from the 7th-century Syriac of Anan-Isho.
Place written not known
Guy (SC 387) and L. Regnault think the Greek collection was made in Palestine; no town is known

20,070 words. 1 section.

Sayings of Poemen the Great

§ 1

17. A certain brother went to Abbd Poemen on the second Sunday in the Fast of Forty Days and repeated unto him his thoughts, and sighing over what the old man had told him, he said unto him, "I had almost kept myself from coming here "to-day"; and the old man said, " Why?" Then the brother said, "I said in my mind, Perad venture during the fast the "door will be closed against thee"; and Abbd Poemen said unto him, "We do not learn to shut a door made of wood, "but to close the door of the tongue."

22. A certain brother asked Abbd Poemen a question, saying, "If 1 see something done, dost thou wish me to tell it "abroad?" The old man said unto him, "It is written, 'Who- " 'soever shall declare a matter incorrectly, it is a disgrace to "'him and [a subjedl for] mockery.' And if thou art asked, "speak; and if thou art not asked, hold thy peace."

26. AbbA Poemen said: A certain brother asked Abb£ Smi&n, and said, "If I go out from my cell, and I find a brother absorbed and immersed in matters unnecessary for salvation, "shall I associate myself also with him? And supposing also " that I should find him laughing, and that I also should laugh, " when I have gone into my cell again shall I not be forgiven " my relaxation?" And the old man said unto him, "What " dost thou wish? Dost thou mean that having gone out of thy " cell and having found a man who was laughing, and laughed "with him, and having found a man who was talking, and " talked with him, thou canst go back to thy cell and find thy- " self as thou wast before thou didst go out?" And the brother said unto him, "If not, how then?" Then the old man answered and said unto him, " It is right for thee to keep a care- " ful watch both within and without."

31. Abbd Poemen said: — Abb£ Moses asked Abbi Zechariah a question when he was about to die, and said unto him, "Father, is it good that we should hold our peace?" And Zechariah said unto him, "Yea, my son, hold thy peace." And at the time of his death, whilst Abb& Isidore was sitting with him, Abbk Moses looked up to heaven, and said, "Re- " joice and be glad, O my son Zechariah, for the gates of heaven "have been opened."

41. Abba Poemen said, "The rule of the monk is this — to bear at all times his own blame."

42. AbbA Poemen said, " If thou boldest thyself in thine "own sight to be of no account, thou mayest dwell where "thou pleasest, and find rest."

45. Abbd Poemen said, " If thou wishest to acquire the "power to keep silence, think not and say not within thyself " that thou art doing the works of spiritual excellence, but say, "' I am not even worthy to speak.'"

50. Abba Poemen said, "In all the labour which cometh " upon a man, his victory is only assured when he holdeth his "peace."

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80. It was reported to Abbd Poemen about a certain brother that he would not drink wine, and the old man Poemen said, "The nature of wine is not such as to make it useful to the " dwellers in monasteries."

83. Abb£ Poemen used to say, "The Spirit of God never "entereth into the house wherein there are delights and "pleasures."

93. Abbd Poemen said, "The soul can be humbled by no- " thing except thou enfeeble it by the eating of [little] bread. ,,

95. Abb£ Poemen used to say, "As smoke driveth away bees, "and men take the sweetness of their labour, even so also "doth ease of the body drive away the fear of God from the " heart, and it carrieth away all the good [effedl] of its labour."

97. Abbd Poemen said, "Every corporeal pleasure is con- "temptible before the Lord."

102. AbbA Joseph asked AbbA Poemen what was the proper way in which to fast, and Abbd Poemen said unto him, " I "prefer the man who eateth every day a very small quantity "of food, and who doth not satisfy his cravings for food." And Abbi Joseph said unto him, " When thou wast a young " man didst thou not fast two days at a time, O father? " Then the old man said unto him, " Yea, I did, and three days at a "time, and four days at a time, and even a week at a time; "and the old men, like men of might, have tried all these by " experience, but they have found that it is beneficial for a man "to eat an exceedingly small quantity of food each day, and " because of this they have delivered unto us an easy way to "the kingdom."

114. A brother asked Abbi Poemen, saying, " How, and in "what manner is it right for a man to walk in the path of "righteousness?" Abbi Poemen said unto him, " We have "seen Daniel, and also that his enemies were unable to bring "any accusation whatsoever against him except in respect " of his service of God."

II5 # On one occasion Abbd Sisoes was sitting in his cell, and when his disciple knocked at the door [meaning to] go in, the old man cried out, saying, "Flee, Abraham, and do not come * ' in now, for this place is not empty. "

129. A brother asked Abb£ Poemen concerning the thoughts which invaded his mind, and he said unto him, " This matter " is like unto that of a man who hath a fire on his left hand, "and a tank of water on his right hand ; if he wisheth to ex- " tinguish the fire, he taketh the water from the tank and doeth "it, and it is right for a man to a<Sl thus every hour. Now the "fire is the evil thought, which cometh from enemies, and the "water is the pouring out of the soul before the Lord which a "man should do."

IJO. There was a certain monk who did not do any work whatsoever with his hands, but he prayed without ceasing ; and at eventide he would go into his cell and find his bread laid there [for him], and he would eat it. Now another monk came

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to him, who had upon him [materials] for the labour of his hands, and wheresoever he entered in he worked, and he made the old man, into whose cell he had entered, to work with him. And when the evening 1 had come, he wished according to his custom, to eat, but he found nothing, and he therefore lay down in sorrow ; and it was revealed unto him, saying, 44 Whilst 44 thou wast occupied in converse with Me, I fed thee, but now 44 thou hast begun to work, thou must demand thy food from 4 'the labour of thy hands."

137. Abbi Poemen was once passing through Egypt, and he saw a woman sitting in the cemetery and weeping, and he said, "If every kind of instrument of sweet music in the world "were to come [here] they would not be able to change the "grief of this woman's soul [into gladness]; even thus it is "meet for a monk to have pain (or grief) within himself."

149. A brother asked Abbd Poemen a question and said unto him, "What shall I do? for my thoughts disturb me, and they "say unto me, 'Thy sins have been forgiven thee/ and they "make me to pry into the shortcomings of the brethren." Then AbbA Poemen spake to him about Abb& Isidore, who dwelt in a cell and wept over his soul, and his disciple used to dwell in another cell; and the disciple came to the old man, and finding him weeping, said unto him, "My father, why "weepest thou?" And the old man said unto him, "I am "weeping for my sins." Then the disciple said unto him, "And hast thou any sins, father?" And the old man said unto "him, "Indeed I have, my son, and if I were permitted to "see my sins, not three or even four men would suffice to "weep with me for them." Then Abbd Poemen said, " Thus "it is with the man who knoweth himself."

152. And when Abbi Poemen heard that he was dead, that is to say, that Abbi Arsenius had gone to his rest, he said, "Blessed art thou, O Abbi Arsenius, for thou didst weep ' ' over thyself in this world. For he who weepeth not for him- " self in this world must weep for ever in the next. He may " weep here voluntarily, or there because of the punishments " [which he will receive], but it is impossible for a man to " escape weeping either here or there."

153. A brother asked Abb& Poemen and said unto him, "What shall I do in the matter of my sins?" And the old man said unto him, "When Abraham went into the Land of Pro- " mise he bought himself a grave, and through the grave he " inherited the land." And the brother said unto him, "What "is a grave?" Then the old man said unto him, "Weeping " and mourning are a grave and a place [of burial]."

154. One of the brethren asked Abbd Poemen, saying, " Father, what shall I do in the matter of my sins?" The old man said unto him, " Whosoever wisheth to blot out his offences " can do so by weeping, and he who wisheth to acquire good " works can do so by means of weeping; for weeping is the " path which the Scriptures have taught us, and the fathers " have also wept continually, and there is no other path except "that of tears."

155. And the same old man (i.e., Poemen) said, "There are "two things [to remember]: We must fear our Lord, and do " good unto our neighbour."

175. Abba* Poemen used to say, " He who laboureth and " keepeth [the result of] his work for himself is a twofold " grief."

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179. A brother asked Abb£ Poemen the question, saying, "An inheritance hath been bequeathed to me; what shall I do "with it?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, " Go, and after three " days come unto me, and I will give theecounsel. " And the brother came, and Abb& Poemen said unto him, " What counsel " shall I give thee, O brother? If I tell thee to give it to the " church, they will make feasts with it; and again, if I tell thee "to give it to thy kinsmen, thou wilt have no reward; but if I " tell thee to give it to the poor, thou wilt have no [further] " care. Therefore go and do with thine inheritance what thou "pleasest, for I am not able to advise thee rightly."

196. An old man used to say, "If it should happen that a "sickness of the body overtake thee, let it not be grievous " unto thee, for if thy Lord wisheth thee to be sick in the body, " who art thou that thou shouldst be in despair? Doth He not "take care for thee in everything? Couldst thou live without " Him? Be patient, and entreat thou Him to give thee such " things as are helpful, and which are according to His will; " and besides this eat thou His food of grace with long-sufFer- "ing."

I97« Abb£ Poemen used to say, "The certain sign that " a monk is a monk is made known by trials (or temptations)."

212. A brother asked AbbH Poemen, saying, " What shall I " do to my heart which flaggeth and is frightened if a little " toil, and tribulation overtake me, or if temptation come upon "me?" The old man said unto him, "Therefore we should "wonder and admire the righteous man Joseph who, being "only a very young man — that is to say, seventeen years "of age— was sold into slavery into the land of Egypt, the "land of the worshippers of idols, and he endured tempta- " tions, and God made him glorious to the end."

215. Abbi Poemen used to say that John Colob, who made entreaty unto God, and [his] passions were removed from him, and he was set free from anxious care, went and said unto a famous old man, " I perceive that my soul is at rest, and that " it hath neither war nor strife [to trouble it]." Then the old man said unto him, " Go and entreat God to let war and strife "come unto thee again, for it is through war and strife that "the soul advanceth in spiritual excellence." And afterwards, whensoever war stood up before him, he did not pray, * * O Lord, "remove striving from me," but he made supplication unto

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God, saying, " O Lord, give me patience to endure the "strife."

2l6. There was a certain man who had within himself love and affection for the brotherhood, and who never had in his mind any evil thought whatsoever; and a certain brother stole some things and brought [them] and deposited them with him, and the man did not consider or perceive by what means the brother had obtained them. Now some days later the matter was discovered, and it was pointed out to the owner of the things that they had been deposited with the old man, who made excuses to them, saying, " Forgive ye me, for I repent." And after a few days the brother who had stolen the things came to him, and he began to demand [them from] the old man, and said unto him, " Thou thyself didst take the things"; and the old man made excuses to him, saying, "Forgive me"; and the old man brought out all the work of his hands, and gave it to him, and the brother took it and departed. Now the disposition of the old man was such that, if one of the brethren committed a fault, and denied it, he would make excuses for him, saying, " It was I who did this thing"; thus meek and humble was the holy man, and he never wronged any man even by the least word.

217- A certain brother lived by himself, and he was disturbed in his mind, and went and revealed the matter to Abbd Theodore of Parm£. And the old man said unto him, "Go and " humble thy mind, and submit thyself to live with the breth- " ren"; and he went and did as the old man had told him, and took up his abode with other men. And he went back to the the old man, and said unto him, " Father, I am not content to "dwell with other men"; then the old man said unto him, "If " thou art not content to live either by thyself or with others, " why didst thou come out to be a monk? Is it not necessary " for thee to endure trials? Tell me, how long hast thou lived " this life?" And the brother said unto him, " Eight years." The old man said unto him, " Verily I have led the life I lead " now for seventy years, and not one pleasure hath come in " my way [the whole time], and yet thou wishest to find plea- " sure (or rest) in eight years !"

233. A certain brother asked AbbA Poemen, saying, "What "mean the words, 'If a man be angry with his brother with- " 'out a cause?'" (St. Matthew v, 22.) The old man said unto him, "If thy brother make use of oppression, and wrong, and "fraud in respedt of thee, and thou art angry with him [because of them], thou art angry with him without a cause. "And if he tear out thy right eye, or cut off thy right hand, "and thou art angry with him, thou art angry with him with- "out a cause; but if a man wisheth to separate thee or to put "thee away from God, then to be angry and wroth with him "is a good thing."

235. Abbd Poemen said, "Abbd Isidore, the priest of the "church, on one occasion spake to the people, saying, My

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"brethren, when ye are working in a certain place it is not "strength to depart therefrom because of the labour; and as 44 for myself, I wrap myself up in my cloak and I go to the "place where labour is, and labour becometh unto me a 44 pleasure."

236. Paesius, the brother of Abbd Poemen, had an afFeftion for the people who were outside his monastery, and Abbd Poemen did not wish this to be, and he rose up and fled to AbbA Ammon, and said unto him, 4 4 My brother Paesius hath 4 4 made a promise of love to certain folk, and I am not pleased 44 thereat." Abb£ Ammon said unto him, 44 Poemen, thou art 4 4 still alive. Go, and sit in thy cell, and meditate in thy 44 mind, saying, 4 Behold, there is a year for thee in the 4 4 4 grave.'"

247. On one occasion four brethren came to Abbd Pambd from Scete, and they were wearing skins, and each one of them, whilst his neighbour was absent, recounted [to him] his works, [saying], die first one fasteth very often, and the second leadeth a life of poverty, and the third possesseth great

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love, and concerning the fourth the other three said, " He hath "been in subjection to the old men for twenty-two years. " Then AbbA Pamb6 said unto them, "I say unto you that the "spiritual excellence of this man is great. Each of you hath "chosen the ascetic virtue which he possesseth according to " his own wish, but this man hath cut off his own desire, and " hath performed the will of others; and those who are thus " will, if they keep these things to the end, become confessors."

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ABBA POEMEN used to say, "Satan hath three kinds * 1 of power which precede all sin. The first is error, and " the second is negledl (or laxity), and the third is lust.

255. Abb£ Ammon asked Abb£ Poemen about the unclean thoughts which a man begetteth, and about vain lusts; Abbd Poemen said unto him, 44 Peradventure shall an axe boast itself 44 without him that heweth therewith? (Isaiah x, 15.) Do not 44 henceforward aid these thoughts and they will come to an 44 end."

261. A brother asked Abb& Poemen, saying, "Is it possible "for a man to keep hold upon all thoughts, and not to give "any of them to the Enemy?" The old man said unto him, "There are some of them who give ten and keep one, and "there are some who give one and keep ten." And the brother told this saying to Abba* Sisoes, who said, "There are some "who do not give even one [thought] to the Enemy."

265. On one occasion a certain judge of the district wished to see Abbd Poemen, but the old man refused [to see him]. And, like a crafty man, the judge made an excuse, and seized Abb&'s nephew, and threw him into prison, saying, "Unless Abbi * i cometh and maketh entreaty on his behalf he shall not go " out." Then Abbd's sister came and stood by the door of his cell and wept for her son, but although she importuned him greatly, he did not give her an answer; now when the woman saw this she began to revile him, saying, "O thou who pos- " sessest mercy of brass, have mercy upon me, for my son is "the only [child] I have." And Abbd Poemen sent her a message, saying, "Poemen hath no sons," and thus she departed. And when the judge heard [these things] he answered and said, " If Abb£ will only give the order I will release him"; and after this the old man sent him a message, saying, "Examine and "consider his case according to the Law, and if he be worthy " of death, let him die; and if he be not do whatsoever thou " pleases t with him."

273. They say that on one occasion, when it was time for Abbi Poemen to go to the congregation for the service, he sat down for about one hour examining and passing judgement upon his thoughts, and that at the end of this time he went forth.

274. They say that a certain old man dwelt by himself in silence, and that a son of the world used to minister unto him continually ; and it happened that the son of that son of the world fell sick, and his father entreated the old man to go with him to his house and to pray over him, and, when he had entreated him to do so often, the old man went forth and departed with him. And the man went before him and entered the village, and he said unto the people thereof, ' 6 Come forth i 4 to meet the monk"; now when the old man saw the people from afar off, and perceived that they had come forth to meet him carrying lanterns, straightway he stripped off his garments, and dipped them in the river, and he began to wash them, being naked. And when the man who ministered unto him saw [this], he was ashamed, and he entreated the people of the village, saying, " Get ye back, for the old man hath cer- " tainly gone mad"; then he approached the old man, and said unto him, " Father, what is this which thou hast done? For "all the people are saying that the old man hath a devil." And the old man said, " This is what I wished to hear."

275- Paesius on one occasion had strife with the brother who

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was with him whilst Abb& Poemen was sitting by, and they fought with each other until the blood ran down from both their heads; and although the old man saw [them] he uttered no word whatsoever. Then Abbk Job came and found them fighting, and he said to Poemen, " Why hast thou let these " brethren fight, and hast said nothing to them whilst they "have been fighting?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, "They are " brethren, and will become reconciled again. " Abba Job said, " What is this that thou hast said? Thou seest that they con- " tinue to fight, and yet thou say est that they will be reconciled "again." Abbd Poemen said unto him, " Thou must think in " thy heart that I am not here."

277. The old man Poemen used to say, " Thou shalt have no " dealings whatsoever with a child of the world, and thou shalt "hold no converse with women"; and he also said, "Thou "shalt possess no knowledge of the judge (or governor), lest, "when thou hearest his words, thou perform his work."

284. Certain heretics came on one occasion to Abbi Poemen, and they began to calumniate the Archbishop of Alexandria, and to speak evil things concerning him, and they sought to prove that as they had received consecration from the priests, they were consecrated like [other] priests; and the old man held his peace. Then he called his brother, and said unto him, 44 Make ready a table and make them eat," and he dismissed them that they might depart in peace.

285. Some of the old men asked Abba Poemen, saying, "If "we see one of the brethren committing sin, wouldst thou "have us rebuke him?" And the old man said unto them, " If I had some business which made me pass by him, and in " passing by him I saw him committing sin, I should pass him " by and not see him."

289. A certain brother dwelt in a cell outside his village, and he had passed many years without going into the village; and he said unto the brethren who were with him, "Behold, how many years have I lived here without going into "the village, whilst ye are always going therein." Now Abbi Poemen was told about this man, and that he used to say words of this kind to the brethren, and he said, " If I were "[that man] I would go up and walk round about in the vil- "lage during the night, so that my thoughts might not be "able to boast themselves that I had not gone into it."

292. Abba Poemen used to say, "If a man dwelleth with a "youth, however much he may guard his thoughts he maketh "a means for sin."

294. Abb£ Poemen used to say, "Do not dwell in a place "wherein thou seest that there are those who have envy "against thee, for if thou dost thou wilt never advance."

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297. Abb& Poemen used to say, " Teach thy heart to keep " that which thy tongue teacheth."

298. AbbA Poemen used to say, "One man is thought to be "silent, yet his heart condemneth others, and he who is thus 4 4 speaketh everything ; and another speaketh from morn until " evening, and yet keepeth silence, but such a man speaketh " not without profit."

306. Abbd Poemen used to say often, "We need nothing "except a watchful and strenuous heart."

307. A brother asked Abba* Poemen, saying, "How is it "right for me to live in the place wherein I am?" The old man saith unto him, "Acquire the thought of sojourning in "the place where thou livest, and desire not to cast thy word "among the multitude, or to be the first to speak, and thou "wilt find rest"

310. Abbd Poemen used to say, "The mighty ones have " been many, and those who never felt envy have been many, "and they have neither been jealous in an evil way, nor have "they stirred up their own passions."

326. On one occasion a certain brother committed an offence in the coenobium, and in the places which were therein a certain old man had his abode; now he had not gone out of his cell for many years. And when the Abb& of the coenobium came to the old man he told concerning the folly (or offence) of that brother, and about his transgression. Then the old man answered and said, "Drive him out from you"; and when that brother was driven out, he departed and went into a reedy jungle, and as some brethren happened to pass by to go to Abbd Poemen they heard the voice of the brother weeping; and they went in and found him in great labour, and they entreated him to let them take him w T ith them to Abba Poemen, but he would not be persuaded [to go], and said, "I will die here." And when they came to Abb& Poemen they told him about him, and he entreated them, saying, "Go to that brother, and say "ye unto him, Abbd Poemen calleth thee"; now when the brother learned that Abba Poemen had sent the brethren to him, he rose up and went. And when Abb£ Poemen saw that he was sorrow-stricken, he rose up and gave him the salutation of peace, and smiling with him, gave him [food] to eat. Then he sent his brother to the old man, saying, "For many years past " I have greatly longed to see thee, because I have heard ' c about thee, but through negligence both of us have been pre- " vented from seeing each other. Now therefore that God " wisheth it, and the opportunity calleth, I beg thee to trouble " thyself [to come] hither, and we will each welcome the other."

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Now, as I have already said, the old man had up to that timt never gone out of his cell. And when the old man heard the message, he said, "If God had not worked in him he would "not have sent for me"; and he rose up and came to him; and having saluted each other, they sat down with gladness. And AbbA Poemen said unto him, "There were two men living" in " one place, and both of them had dead, and one of them left " weeping for his own dead and went and wept over that of his "neighbour"; and when the old man heard these words he repented, and he remembered what he had done, and said, "AbbA "Poemen is above in heaven, but I am down, down, on the "earth."

329. On one occasion Abbi Poemen entreated Abb&Macarius with frequent supplication, saying, "Tell me a word [whereby

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. u I may live]"; and the old man anwered and said unto him, "The matter which thou seekest hath this day passed from "the monks."

364. A brother asked Abbi Poemen, saying, 4 4 For what 44 purpose were spoken the words, 4 Take no thought for the 4 4 4 morrow ?' " The old man said unto him, 4 4 For the man who 44 is under temptation, and is in affliction; for it is not meet 44 that such a man should take thought for the morrow, or 44 should say, 4 How long shall I have to endure this tempta- 4 4 4 tion ?' but he should think upon patient endurance, saying, 4 4 4 It is to-day, and the temptation will not remain thus for a 4 4 4 long time.' " And the old man said, 4 4 It is good that a man ' 4 should be remote from temptation of the body, for he who 44 is nigh unto the temptation of the body is like unto him 44 that standeth upon the mouth of a deep pit, and whom, when- 44 soever his enemy wisheth, he can easily cast therein. But if 44 he be remote from the temptation of the body, he is like unto u a man who is far away from the pit, and even though his 44 enemy may wish to cast him into it, he is not able to do so 44 because the pit is far away from him, and whilst he is either

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" urging him or dragging him thereto, God, the Merciful One, " sendeth him a helper. "

365. And a brother said unto Abbi Poemen, "My body is " weak, and I am not able to perform ascetic labours; speak "to me a word whereby I may live"; and the old man said unto him, "Art thou able to rule thy thought and not to per- "mit it to go to thy neighbour in guile?"

368. AbbA Poemen said, "A brother asked Abbi Moses, "saying, 'In what manner is a man to keep himself from his " 'neighbour?' The old man said unto him, 'Except a man " 'layeth it up in his heart that he hath been already three " 'years in the grave, he will not be sufficiently strong [to " 'keep] this saying.' "

369. Abbk Poemen said, "If thou seest visions and hearest "rumours, repeat them not to thy neighbour, for this is vic- "tory of the war."

371. Abbd Poemen said, " If a man perform the desire, and "pleasure, and custom of these, they will cast him down."

372. A brother asked Abbd Poemen, saying, " If a brother "owe me a few oboli, shall I remind him of it?" The old man saith, "Remind him once." And the brother said unto him, " And if I have reminded him and he hath given me nothing, "[what am I to do then?]" The old man saith unto him, "Let "the thought perish, only do not harass the man."

381. Abbd Daniel used to say, " On one occasion we went "to Abbd Poemen, and having eaten together, he said unto "us subsequently, 'Go ye and rest yourselves a little, O my " 'brethren'; and when the brethren had gone to rest them- " selves I remained that 1 might be able to talk to the old man "privately. And I rose up and came to his cell, and I saw that " he was sitting outside on a mat, and seeing me he lay down; "now he did not know that I had seen him seated, and he "pretended to be asleep. And this was the custom of the old " man, for everything which he did was done by him in secret. "

388. A brother asked Abba* Pbemen, saying, 4 4 Since I suffer 44 loss in spirit when I am with my Abb£, dost thou wish me " to continue to live with him any longer?" Now that old man knew that the brother was suffering loss through living with his Abb£, and the old man marvelled how the brother could ask him the question, 4 4 Dost thou wish me to dwell with 4 'him any longer." And the old man said unto him, 4 4 If thou 44 wishest, dwell [with him]," and the brother went and did so, but he came again to the old man and said, 44 1 am suffering

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' ' loss in spirit"; and the old man said unto him nothing. And, when for the third time the brother came and said unto him, " Indeed, I cannot henceforth dwell with him," Abb& Poemen said unto him, 4 4 Now thou knowest how to live; depart, "and dwell with him no longer."

411. They used to say concerning Abbd Poemen that when he was pressed by any man to go with him to eat at an unusual time, he would go, with the tears streaming from his eyes, so that he might not resist the wish of that brother and cause him annoyance; for he would forgo his own will, and he would humble himself and go.

429. A brother asked Abb& Poemen, saying, "If I find a "place wherein there is pleasure for the brethren, dost thou " wish me to dwell there?" The old man said unto him, " Where " thou wilt not do harm to thy brother, there dwell."

430. AbbA Poemen used to say that whenever Isidore, the priest of Scete, used to address the brethren in the church, he spake the following words only: "My brethren, it is written, "Forgive thy brother that thou also mayest be accounted "worthy of forgiveness" (St. Luke vi, 37; St. Matthew vi, 14).

439. On one occasion, a certain excellent man, who feared God in his life and works, and who was living in the world, went to Abbi Poemen, and some of the brethren, who were also with the old man, were asking him questions [wishing] to hear a word from him. Then Abbk Poemen said to the man who was in the world, 4 4 Speak a word to the brethren"; but he entreated him, saying, 4 4 Forgive me, father, but I came to 44 learn." And the old man pressed him [to speak], and, as the force of his urging increased, he said, 44 1 am a man living in 44 the world, and I sell vegetables, and because I do not know 44 how to speak from a book, listen ye to a parable. There was 44 a certain man who had three friends, and he said to the first, 4 4 4 Since I desire to see the Emperor come with me'; and the 44 friend said unto him, 4 1 will come with thee half the way.' 44 And the man said to the second friend, 4 Come, go with me 4 4 4 to the Emperor's presence'; and the friend said unto him, 4 4 4 1 will come with thee as far as his palace, but I cannot go 44 4 with thee inside'; and the man said the same unto his third 44 friend, who answered and said, 4 1 will come with thee, and 44 4 1 will go inside the palace with thee, and I will even stand 44 4 up before the Emperor and speak on thy behalf.'" Then the brethren questioned him, wishing to learn from him the strength of the riddle (or dark saying), and he answered and said unto them, 44 The first friend is abstinence, which leadeth as far as 44 one half of the way; and the second friend is purity and 44 holiness, which lead to heaven; and the third friend is loving- 44 kindness, which stablisheth a man before God, and speaketh 44 on his behalf with great boldness."

443. Certain of the old men went to Abbd Poemen, and said unto him, " Dost thou wish us if we see brethren sleeping " in the congregation, to smite them so that they may wake " up?" And he said unto them, " If I see my brother sleeping, " I place his head upon my knees, and I give him a place to " rest upon" ; then an old man said unto him, 4 4 And what dost 44 thou say unto God?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, 44 I say "unto Him thus: Thou Thyself hast said, * First of all pluck " 'the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou wilt be able 44 *to see to take the mote out of the eye of thy brother ' " (St. Matthew vii, 3).

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ABBA ISAAC, the priest of the Cells, used to say: When I was a young man I used to dwell with Abb& Chronius, and he never at any time told me to do any

456. Abbd Poemen used to say, "No monk should condemn " any man in anything, and no monk should reward a man " with [evil for] evil, and no monk should be a man of anger."

457. An old man asked Abbd Poemen, saying, "Somebreth- " ren dwell with me; dost thou wish me to give them command- " ments?" And he said unto him, "No, but thou thyself must " first do work, and if they wish to live, they will observe [it] " and do [it]." The old man said unto him, "Ought they also " to wish me to govern them?" And Abb& Poemen said unto him, "No, be unto them an example, and not a lawgiver."

458. Abbd Poemen said, "If a brother come unto thee, and " thou be not benefited by his coming in [to thee], enquire in " thine heart, and learn what thought thou hadst [in thy mind] " before the entrance of that brother, and then thou wilt learn " whence cometh the source of injury; if thou wilt do this with "humility and knowledge, behold, thou wilt live without " blame with thy brother, and thou wilt bear thine own shortcomings. If a man maketh his habitation with knowledge "it will not fall, for God is before it, and, as it appeareth to " me, from this habitation a man may acquire the fear of God."

474. They used to say that when any man came to Abba Poemen he used to send him to Abba Job, his brother, saying to him, "He is older than I am"; and Job used to say to those who came, "Go unto my brother Poemen, for he possesseth " the grace of these gifts." Now if Abbd Joseph was sitting with him Abba Poemen would not speak before him.

475. When a certain brother went to the festival he asked Abbd Poemen, "What wouldst thou have me to do?" The old man said unto him, "Be thou a friend unto him that lead- " eth thee away by force, and sell thy work graciously."

504. Abbd Poemen used to say, " If a man will only condemn " himself he will be able to endure and continue wheresoever " he dwelleth."

505. Abbd Poemen used to say, "We live in the troubles and " trials which come upon us because we do not take to our- " selves the humble names which the Scriptures have given us; " and because we do not consider how our Lord Jesus relieved ' 1 the Canaanitish woman (St. Matthew xv, 22) who took to her- " self abominable names, moreover, we do not consider how, " when Abigail said unto David, 'On me be the sin' (1 Samuel " xxv, 24), he was entreated by her and loved her. Abigail must ' ' be taken as [representing] the person of the soul, and David "as the Godhead; if then, the soul will condemn itself before " God, He will love it, and will give it the delight of rest."

525. Abbi Poemen used to say, 4 4 As the earth falleth not, 44 because it is fixed from below, even so he who abaseth him- 44 self shall never fall."

528. A brother asked Abbi Poemen, saying, "What shall I "do with the weight of weariness which holdeth me?" And the old man said unto him, "Both large and small boats are " provided with thick ropes for towing, and if there be blowing "a wind which is not favourable to the course of the ship, " they throw them round their breasts and pull them along " [from] dry land; and quietly and little by little they let the " ship go on her way until God sendeth a wind which is suit- " able for bearing her along whithersoever they wish her to "go. But if they learn that a storm hath begun to rise, they " make haste and drive a stake in the ground, and tie up the " ship lest she should drift away. Now the stake is that a man " should condemn himself."

529. A brother asked Abbd Poemen, "How is it possible for ' * a man to avoid speaking evilly to his neighbour?" The old "man answered and said unto him, "We and our brethren " possess two images. Whensoeverthenaman condemneth him- " self, his brother appeareth unto him beautiful and excellent; " but whensoever a man appeareth beautiful to himself, his " brother will be found to be, in his sight, hateful and "abominable."

537. They used to say that Abb& Poemen never gave his mind to the Lord, and that his knowledge was superior to that of [any] one of the old men.

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538. Abbd Ammon asked Abbd Poemen concerning the impure thoughts that were born of a man, and [concerning] vain lusts; and Abbd Poemen said unto him, "Shall the axe boast " itself against him that wieldeth it?"

539. Abbd Betimius asked Abbd Poemen, saying, "If a man " be angry with me, and I express my contrition, and he will " not accept it, what am I to do ?" the old man said unto him, " Take with thee two of thy friends, and express thy contrition " [in their presence]." And the old man Betimius said unto him, " And if he will not be persuaded [to accept it] then? And Abbi Poemen answered and said, "Take with thee five others"; and Abbd Betimius answered and said, "And if he will not "be persuaded by these?" Abbd Poemen saith, "Then take " with thee a priest"; and Abbd Betimius said, "And if he will "not be persuaded [then]?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, " Without anger and without excitement pray unto God that " He may put into his mind [the desire for peace], and straight- " way thou shalt have no further care."

541. Certain brethren went to visit Abbd Poemen, and whilst they were sitting with him, they praised a certain brother, saying, "He hateth evil things." Abbd Poemen said unto him that spake unto him, "What is the hatred of evil things?" Now the brother was astonished, and he found nothing to say; and he rose up and threw himself before the old man, saying: " Do thou tell me what is the hatred of evil things." And the old man said unto him, "The hatred of evil things is for a man " to hate his own sins, and to justify those of his neighbour."

546. A brother asked Abba* Poemen, saying, "What is the " right manner for me to live in my cell?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, "How a man should live in his cell is known to " men, that is to say, he must work with his hands, and eat " once [daily], and hold his peace always, and meditate on the "Holy Scriptures; but for a man to gain profit inwardly (or " secretly), he must bear the condemnation of himself whither- " soever he goeth, and he must not negle<St the times of ser- " vice and of secret labour. And if it happen that thou hast " made the time unprofitable, when thou goest into the con- "gregation of service complete thy service without troubling " thyself; by the fulfilment of these things, grasp to thyself "an upright congregation, so that thou mayest draw nigh "thereto, but keep thyself remote from the assemblies of evil "things."

550. On one occasion the governor of the country seized one of the inhabitants of his village, and the people entreated the old man to go and bring out him that had been seized; and the old man said unto them, "Leave me for three days, andafter- " wards I will go. " Then Abbd Poemen prayed to the Lord, and said, "Lord, if thou dost not grant me this a<Sl of grace the " people will not allow me to live in this place"; and the old man went to entreat the governor, and the governor said unto him, "Yea, father, thou makest entreaty for a thief." And the old man rejoiced that he did not receive from Him this adl of grace.

555. There was a certain old man in Egypt before those who belonged to the company of Abbi Poemen came there, and he possessed knowledge and great honour; and when those of the following of Abbi Poemen went up from Scete, every man left [that old man] and came to Abb£ Poemen and those who were with him, and the old man was filled with envy, and he cursed the followers of Abb£ Poemen because of this. Now Abbd Poemen heard of it, and he was vexed about it, and he said unto the brethren who were with him, " What shall we "do for this old man? For the men who have forsaken him "have cast us into vexation, and they have left that holy old "man and turned their looks upon us, who are nothing. How " then can we satisfy this old man ?" Then he said unto the brethren who were with him, "Make ye some bread and boil "a little food, and we will go to him, and will take with us " also a vessel of wine, and we will eat with him, and perhaps "by these means we shall be able to pacify him"; and they took the food and went to him. And when they had knocked at the door his disciple looked out and asked them, " Who "are ye?" And they said unto him, "Tell the Abb£ that it is "Poemen, and he wisheth to be blessed by him"; and when his disciple had told him this, the old man said, " Send them "away," and he said, "I have not leisure [to receive them]." Then the disciple told them these things, but they stayed there lovingly, saying, "We will not go away unless we are held to "be worthy of the blessing of the old man." Now, when the old man saw their humility and patient persistence, he repented, and opened the door to them, and when they were eating together, he said unto them, "Verily, the things which " I have heard were in you are not in you, but indeed what I " see in you is a hundredfold [greater than what I expedted]"; and he became unto them a friend from that day.

565. Abbd Poemen used to say, 44 As the sword-bearer stand- 44 eth before the king, being always ready [to smite], so is it 44 meet for the soul which is prepared to stand [ready] to re- 44 sist the devil of fornication."

570. A brother asked an old man, saying, 44 What shall I do? 44 For my thoughts are [fixed] always upon fornication, and they "will not give me peace even for a moment; and thus is my " soul vexed." And the old man answered and said unto him, 44 When these thoughts spring up in thee speak not with them, 44 for it belongeth to them to rise up with continual anxiety, " and not to be sluggish, but they have no power to force thee, 44 for it belongeth to thee either to accept them or not. Hast 44 thou not seen what the Midianites did, how they adorned their "women and set them up, but they forced no man to take 44 them? those who wished to do so fell into them, and those "who did not became wroth, and made a slaughter in their " wrath. Even so is it with the thoughts." Then that brother said unto him, "What then shall I do? For I am weak, and 44 passion overcometh me." The old man said unto him, "Consider thy thoughts well, and when they begin to speak to 44 thee, answer them never a word, but rise up and pray, and 44 meditate upon holy words." And the brother said unto him, 44 Behold, father, I do meditate [on holy words], and the passion 4 4 riseth not in my heart, but I do not know the power of the " words"; then the old man answered and said unto him,

4 4 Thou canst only [continue] to meditate, but I have heard "Abbd Poemen and many fathers say this word: 4 The en- 44 4 chanter knoweth not the power of the words which he " 4 uttereth, but when the animal heareth them, it knoweth 44 4 their power, and he becometh subservient, and submitteth 4 4 4 itself [to him].' Even so is it with us, for although we do not 44 know the power of the words whereon we meditate, the devils 44 know their power as soon as they hear them."

576. A brother asked Abbd Poemen, saying, "The body is " feeble, but my passions are not weak"; the old man said unto him, "The passions make thorns to grow and burst into flower."

577. A brother asked Abbd Poemen concerning the passions of the body, and the old man said unto him, "They are like "unto those who sang praises to the image of Nebuchad- "nezzar, for if those who sang had not burned men [people] " would never have worshipped the image; and in this wise the " Enemy also singeth to the soul by means of the passions, so " that he may perchance be able to make it commit sin through "the passion of the body."

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579. A certain father when he went out to become a monk was a virgin, and he did not even know that a whore existed among the children of men. And when he was dwelling in his cell the devils began to stir up in him the passion of fornication, and lifting up his eyes he saw the devils going round about him in the forms of Ethiopians, and they incited him to yield to the passion; then he rose up straightway and prayed, and said, " O Lord, help me," and when he had said these things immediately a stone fell from the roof, and he heard, as it were, a sweet voice, and he seemed to enjoy a short respite from the thoughts of fornication. And he rose up and came to one of the old men and related the matter to him, and the old man answered and said, " I know not what this meaneth"; and he sent him on to Abbi Poemen, and that brother related the matter unto him also. Then the old man said unto him, "The stone which thou " didst see fall is the Calumniator, and that voice which thou " didst hear is lust. Take heed unto thy soul, and make supplication unto God, and behold, thou shalt be freed from this " war"; and Abbk Poemen taught him how to contend against devils, and having prayed, he dismissed him, and that brother came to his cell. And he made entreaty and supplication unto God, and God granted him to attain to such a gift [of excellence] that, when that brother died, He was pleased that there should be revealed unto him whether it was well with his soul or not.

Now in another manuscript instead of the words, "He " rose up and prayed," it is thus written: — He saw the devils surrounding him in the forms of Ethiopians and they were inciting him to yield to the passion. And he said, "This natural " member which stablisheth man is like unto a spout in a tank "which letteth out water, and it is also like a conduit which " carrieth the water off a roof; similarly this member carrieth " off water from a man." And having said these words straightway the stone fell, &c.

581. On one occasion a brother came to Abba* Poemen, and said unto him, "What shall I do, father, for I am vexed by "fornication? And behold, I came unto Nebation [Anicetus], "and he said unto me, 4 It is not right that those thoughts " 'should stay with thee so long/ " Abba* Poemen saith unto him, " The labour of Abbd Anicetus is high and exalted, and his "thoughts are above with the angels, and he hath forgotten "that I and thou are whoremongers; but if thou wishest, "hearken unto me, and I also will speak to thee: If a monk " can hold fast his belly, and his tongue, and his love for going " about as a stranger, thou mayest be sure that he is able to " become a monk in very truth, and that he will not die."

582, A brother asked an old man, and said unto him, "What " shall I do? For fornication is killing me." The old man said unto him, "When a mother is about to wean her son she " smeareth aloes over her breasts, and when the child cometh " to suck as usual, he shrinketh away and taketh to flight. Do " thou also then put bitter aloes in thy heart, and straightway "the wicked devils will fly therefrom." And the brother said unto him, " What kind of bitter aloes is it right for me to place "therein." The old man saith unto him, " The remembrance "of the death and punishment which are laid up in the world " which is to come."

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603. AbbA Ammon of Rttheadn asked Abb& Poemen about the impure thoughts which are produced in a man, and the vain lusts; and Abb& Poemen said unto him, "It belongeth to " Satan to sow them, but it is our affair not to welcome them."

608. Abbd Poemen said, 4 4 If a man sinneth, and he saith, 4 4 4 1 have not sinned,' and thou chidest him, thou cuttest off 44 his will; but if thou sayest unto him, 4 Be not sorry about this, 44 4 but guard thyself from sinning again/ by these means thou 14 wakest his soul to repentance."

620. The old man Joseph used to say: "I went on one occasion to Abbd Poemen and found many old men with him, and " behold, a certain man had brought a youth who was a kins- " man of Abbd Poemen, and whose face had been turned back- " wards through the operation of the Evil One; and when his " father saw the multitude of the old men who were coming to "Abbd Poemen, he took him and brought him outside the " door of the monastery, and sat down there and wept. Now "when one of the old men had ended his business, and was

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Agoing forth [from the building], he saw him, and said unto "him, 'Why weepest thou, O man?' The father of the youth "said unto him, 'I am of the family of AbbA Poemen. A "'trial hath come upon this youth, but we are afraid to " ' take him to him, for he refuseth to see us, and now, if he " 'learneth that I am here, he will send and drive me away; " ' but when I knew that ye were coming here, I ventured to " ' come also.' And he cast the youth down on the ground at " his feet, and wept, saying, 'If thou wilt, have mercy on me, " 1 and take this youth inside, and pray over him' ; and the old " man took him and carried him in with him to Abbi Poemen. * c Now the old man acted wisely in the matter, and he did not " take the youth at once to Abbd Poemen, but beginning with " the last of the brethren who was there, he brought the youth * ' to each and every one of them, saying, ' Make the sign of the " ' Cross upon this youth'; and having brought him alike to " all the brethren and to all the old men who were there, finally "he brought him to Abbi Poemen, but the blessed man refused " to touch him. Thereupon a contention arose, and they all "entreated him, saying, 'Father, do thou even as we all have " ' done'; then Abbi Poemen sighed, and he rose up and prayed, "and said, 'O God, heal that which Thou hast fashioned so " ' that it may not be destroyed by the Enemy,' and he finished "his prayer, and made the sign of the Cross over him, and "straightway the face of the youth was made straight, "and he was healed. And Abbd Poemen gave him to his "father made whole, so he took him and departed with " rejoicing."

628. Abba* John, who was cast out by the Marcionites, used to say: — On one occasion we went from Syria to Abb4 Poemen, and when we wished him to speak to us about hardness of heart [we found that] the old man did not know Greek, and there was no interpreter with leisure [to interpret there]. And the old man saw that we were troubled at this, and he began to talk to us in the Greek tongue, and at the beginning of his speech he said, "Water is by nature soft, and stone is hard, "nevertheless if thou suspendest a vessel full of water above

' i a stone, and wilt pour it out upon it drop by drop, it will "wear away the stone. In the same way the Word of God is " soft, and our heart is hard, but if it heareth continually the "Word of God, the heart will be opened, and will turn to the "fear of God."

5. They used to tell a story about certain brethren who were members of the household of AbbA Poemen. Now whilst these men were dwelling in Egypt their mother wished to see them, but was unable to do so, and she watched for them as they were going to the church, and went out to meet them, but as soon as they saw her they went back to their cell and shut the door on themselves, and then their mother took up her stand by the door, and spake [unto them], and wept and sighed heavily. And when Abbd Job heard her, he went in to Abbi Poemen and said unto him, "What shall we do in respeft of "this old woman who is weeping by the door?" Then Abbd Poemen rose up and drew nigh to the door and pressed himself against it and, hearing her speaking in the deepest sorrow, he said unto her, "Wilt thou, who art an old woman, cry in " this fashion?" Now as soon as she heard his voice she wept the more, and she cried out, saying, "I want to see my sons. " For what is this that I see in you? Perad venture I did not rear "you? Perad venture I am not your mother? Peradventure ye " did not suck at my breasts? Peradventure ye did not go forth "from my womb? I am prevented by mine old age, but now "that I have heard thy voice my bowels have been moved." The old man said unto her, "Dost thou wish to see us here, " or wouldst thou see us in that country [beyond the grave]?" She said unto him, "My sons, if I do not see you here I shall " see you there." And the old man said unto her, "If thou wilt "compel thyself not to see us here, thou shalt, in very truth, " see us there." Then the old woman departed, saying, "Yea, " my son, if I shall see you there I shall not seek to see you "here."

40. On one occasion when Abba Poemen was a youth, he went to an old man to ask him [concerning] three matters, and having gone into his presence he forgot one of them, and he turned to go to his cell; and as he put the key [in the door] to open [it], he remembered the matter which he had forgotten, and straightway he left the key in the door and returned to the old man, and the old man said unto him, 1 i Thou hast " returned quickly, brother." And Abbd Poemen told him the story thus: — " When I put the key [in the door] to open [it], I " remembered the matter which I wanted to know, and I did "not open the door because I came back hither speedily." Now the rocky ground which [he had traversed] in the interval was of no inconsiderable length. And the old man said unto him, ' ' Thy name shall be spoken about throughout all « Egypt."

4I # A brother said unto an old Abba, " Behold, I have en- " treated the old men, and they talk to me about the redemp- " tion of my soul, but I can lay hold upon nothing in their " words; what is the use, then, of making them toil when I can " do nothing [with what they say], for I am wholly in a state " of uncleanness?" Now there were there two basins, and the old man said unto him, "Go, bring me one of these basins, " and pour some oil into it, and rinse the basin round with it, " and then empty it out"; and he did so twice. Then the old man said unto him, " Bring now the two [basins] together"; and the brother did as he told him. [And the old man said, " Look and see which basin is the cleaner," and the brother said unto him], "That into which the oil hath been poured is " the cleaner." The old man said unto him, "And thus also is " it with the soul, for even if it layeth hold of nothing through "that which it asketh, it is cleaner than if it had never asked "a question at all."

44. Abbd Poemen used to say, "This is what is written, " 'As the hart crieth out for the water-brooks, even so crieth "'out my soul unto Thee, O Lord' (Psalm xlii, 1). For the "harts in the desert swallow many serpents, and when the "poison of these maketh them hot within, they cry out to "come to the water-brooks, but as soon as they have drunk "the burning which cometh from the serpents inside them is " cooled. And thus is it with the monks who are in the desert, "for they are burnt up by the envy of evil devils, and they "wait for the Saturday and Sunday that they may come to "the fountain of water, that is to say to the body of Christ, " and they sweeten and purify themselves from the gall of the "Evil One."

45* On one occasion when the brethren were sitting with AbM Moses, he said unto them, " Behold, this day have the "barbarians come to Scete; rise up and flee." And they said unto him, "Wilt thou not flee, father? He said unto them, "I " have been expecting this day to come for many years past, "so that might be fulfilled the command of our Redeemer,

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14 Who said, 'Those who take the sword shall perish by the " 'sword'" (St. Matthew xxvi, 52). And they said unto him, " We then will not flee, but will die with thee." He said unto them, 4 * This is not my affair, but your own desire; let every man " look after himself in the place where he dwelleth." Now the brethren were seven in number. And after a little he said unto them, "Behold, the barbarians have drawn near the " door"; and the barbarians entered and slew them. Now one of them had been afraid, and he fled behind the palm leaves, and he saw seven crowns come down and place themselves on the heads of those who had been slain.

49. There was a certain old man in the mountain of Athlibi (Athribis), and thieves came to attack him, and he cried out; and when his neighbours heard [his cry] they hunted down the thieves, and they sent them to the governor, who shut them up in prison. And the brethren were sorry, and said, "They " were delivered into our hands"; and they rose up and went to Abbd Poemen, and informed him about the matter. Then he wrote to that old man, and said unto him, " Thou must " understand whence hath come the first betrayal, and then " thou wilt perceive how the second betrayal arose; for if thou " hadst not been betrayed first of all by those that were with-

' ' in thou wouldst never have effected the second betrayal. " Now when the old man heard the letter of Abbd Poemen, who was famous throughout all that country, and who kept himself strictly secluded in his cell, and never went out, straightway he rose up and went into the city, and took the thieves out of prison, and thus the assembly set them free.

59. They used to say that a certain brother had such an attack of blasphemy that he was ashamed to speak, and wherever he heard that there were great old men he used to go to them Wishing to tell them [about it]; but whenever he had come to one of them he was ashamed to speak to him. Now having gone to the fathers several times, on one occasion Abb& Poemen saw him, and he perceived that he was full of thoughts, and he was sorry for him; but when the brother would not reveal the matter to him, and he made as if he would pass him by, as soon as the brother had gone a little way from him, the old man said unto him, " How often hast thou come hither to tell " me the thoughts which thou hast in thy mind ! Yet, when "thou comest here, thou findest it hard to tell me. How long " wilt thou go on in this manner and be vexed by such thoughts "in thy mind? Tell me, my son, what is it that aileth thee?" Then that brother answered, and said unto him, "I am fight- "ing against the devil of blasphemy of God, and though I "have often sought [to tell thee] I have been ashamed to do "so." And when he had told him the matter, the face of Abbd Poemen broke into a smile, and he said unto him, "Be not "vexed, O my son, for when this thought cometh to thee,

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" speak thou to it, saying, *I have nothing to do with this " i thought, and my soul desireth it not; let this blasphemy be " 'upon thee, Satan, for nothing in [my] soul desireth it, for "'the time is short.'" And when that brother heard these things he departed rejoicing.

66. A brother came unto Abbd Poemen and said unto him, " I have very many thoughts, O father, whereby I am vexed"; and the old man took him out into the air, and said unto him, " Spread out thy skirt, and catch the winds," and the brother said unto him, "I cannot do this." The old man said unto him, "Thou canst not do this, neither canst thou prevent thy " thoughts from coming, but it belongeth to thee to stand up "against them."

72. Abba\ Poemen used to say, "Everything which ariseth "through passion is sin"; and he used to say also, "Every " [exercise of] power which is for God's sake, is thanksgiving " (or confession)."

74. On one occasion a brother came to a father, and said unto him, "Abb£, I sow a field, and I reap the harvest there- "from, and I give alms also thereof"; and the old man said unto him, "Be strong, my son, for thou doest well." So the brother went away rejoicing in this desire. And Abba\ Job said

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unto Abba Poemen, 4 4 Since thou hast spoken unto that brother " in this fashion, [I know that] thou dost not fear God. " Then, after two days, Abbi Poemen sent and called that brother, and said unto him whilst Abba Joseph was listening, 44 What didst 4 4 thou say to me when thou earnest to me, for my mind was 4 4 occupied in another place?" The brother said unto him, "I 44 sow afield, and I reap the harvest therefrom, and I give alms 44 also thereof"; and Abbi Poemen said unto him, 44 1 thought 44 in my mind that it was thy brother, who is in the world, of 44 whom thou wast speaking when thou didst tell me that he did 44 these things ; but if it be thou thyself who doest them [I must 44 say] that it is not the work for monks." And when the brother heard these [words] he was grieved, and he said, 44 1 cannot do 44 without sowing, for I know not how to do any other work 44 but this." Now when that brother had departed, Abba Job expressed his contrition to Abb£ Poemen, and said unto him, 44 Forgive me." Then Abba Poemen said unto him, 44 1 also 44 knew that this work was not the works of monks, but, 44 according to the measure of his desire, I gave him that where- 44 with I knew he would be edified, and I knew that he would 44 thus abound in love; but now he hath departed in sorrow."

77. Abba Poemen used to say, 4 4 An evil will is a wall of brass 44 between a man and God; but if a man would set it aside he 44 must also say, 4 By [the help of] my God I will leap over a 4 4 4 walF (Psalm xviii, 29) — God Whose way is without blemish 44 — but if that which is seemly lendeth help to the thought, a 44 man is not easily turned aside."

86. Abb& Poemen used to say, "Hunger and slumber have not allowed me to notice these small matters."

89. Abbd Poemen used to say, * 4 Keep thyself aloof from "every man who is contentious in speech."

94. AbbA Joseph related that Abb& Poemen said, "The "meaning of the words which are written in the Gospel, "'Whosoever hath a garment, let him sell it, and buy a " 'sword' (St. Luke xxii, 36), is, 'Let him that hath a life of " 'ease relinquish it, and lay hold upon [a life of] toil.'"

95. They used to say that [on one occasion] when certain of the old men were sitting with Abb£ Poemen and were discussing some of the fathers, and were [asking each other] if they remembered Abb& Sisoes, Abb£ Poemen said, "Quit talking "about Abb£ Sisoes, for he hath surpassed the measure (or "limit) of all histories."

100. Abb& Joseph used to say, "When we were sitting with " Abbd Poemen he made mention of Abba* Agathon, and we " said to him, ' He was a young man, why dost thou call him " 'Abbd?' Abba* Poemen said unto him, 'His mouth made him "'to be called AbbaV"

ZOI. One of the old men used to say, "Wheresoever the bee "goeth it maketh honey; and thus also it is with the monk, " for wheresoever he goeth he doeth the work of God."

118. A brother said unto AbbA Poemen, " Can a man rely "upon anyone work of spiritual excellence [for salvation]?" The old man said unto him, "John the Less said, 'I should " ' wish that a man should take to himself a little of each kind " * of spiritual excellence. ' "

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II9 # These are the words which Abba Moses said to Abba Poemen, and the first word which was spoken by the old man was :

132. A brother asked Poemen, saying, "I observe my soul, "so that wheresoever I go I may find help"; the old man said unto him, "Even those who bear swords have a God, Who "hath mercy upon them in this life. If then we were to find " ourselves in islands of terror God would deal with us accord- " ing to His mercy."

134. Abb& Poemen used to say that Abbit Ammon said, 4 * One " man spendeth the whole period of his life holding an axe in " his hand [ready] to cut down a tree, and never findeth the "opportunity of wielding it; and another man, who knoweth " well how to fell trees, heweth with three axes, and wieldeth " them [against trees]. Now," he said, " the axe [in this case] "is discretion [or discernment]."

135. Abba* Poemen also said that Abbd Anthony said concerning Abbd Pamb6, "This man feared God so greatly that "he made the Spirit of God to dwell in him."

136. Abba* Poemen used to say, "The fear of God teacheth a "man all spiritual excellences."

137. A brother asked Abbd Poemen, saying, " Why do my

* * thoughts persuade me to esteem myself and compare myself " with one whose rule of condudl is more excellent [than mine], " and to despise that man as much as if he had been my infe- " rior?"The old man answered and said, "The blessed Apos- "tle spake concerning this, saying, 4 In a large house there

* * 4 are not only vessels of gold and vessels of silver, but also " 4 vessels of wood and of earthenware. If now a man will 44 4 cleanse his soul from all these things, he shall become a 4 4 4 vessel which is suitable and convenient for the honour of 4 4 4 his Lord, and he will be ready for every good work'" (2 Timothy ii, 20, 21). That brother said unto him, 44 How are 4 4 these matters to be explained?" And the old man said unto him, 4 4 They are to be explained thus. The house is the world 44 and the vessels are the children of men. The vessels of gold 44 must be taken as representing the perfedl, and those of sil- 44 ver are the men who are inferior to them in the measure of 44 ascetic deeds, and the other vessels of wood and earthen-

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" ware are those who possess a little ascetic excellence. If now " a man will cleanse his soul from all the things which are out- " side what is right, he will become a pure vessel of honour " suitable for the use of his Lord, and be ready for every good ' ' work."

138. A brother also asked Abbd Poemen, "Why is it that "I am not allowed to be free in my thoughts like the other " old men?" The old man said unto him, "John Kolob used to "say, 'The Enemy doth not rejoice in anything so much as in " 'those who do not reveal and lay bare their thoughts to " 'their fathers/"

139. Abb£ Poemen used to say, "Men are wont to speak " great and perfect things, but in their deeds they draw nigh " unto the things which are little and inferior."

151. Abbd Poemen said that Abbd John cultivated all spiritual excellences.

159. On one occasion a certain brother departed into exile from the countries and places wherein dwelt Abbd Poemen, and he went to a monk who used to live in that country whereto he was going; now this man was one who possessed love, and many folk thronged to him — and the brother related unto that monk stories concerning Abb£ Poemen, and when he heard about his spiritual excellences he longed to see him. And the brother came back again to Egypt, and after some time the monk [unto whom he had gone], who lived in that country, came to Egypt to him, for the brother had already told him where he lived, and when the monk saw the brother he rejoiced greatly. Then the monk said unto the brother, 4 4 Do [me an act 44 of] love, and take me so that I may go to Abbd Poemen," and he took him to Abb& Poemen, and the brother told him the story of the monk who was with him, saying, 4 4 He is a great 44 man, and is much beloved, and he hath no small honour in 44 his own country. I related unto him stories concerning thy holi- 44 ness, and he greatly desired to come and see thee "; and Abbd Poemen received him with gladness, and having saluted each other they sat down. Then the stranger began to converse with Abbd Poemen from the Scriptures concerning spiritual and heavenly things, but Abb£ Poemen turned away his face and returned him no answer whatsoever. And when he saw that Abbd Poemen would not speak unto him, he was grieved, and went outside, and said unto the brother who had brought him,

4 4 In my opinion I have toiled in vain in coming all this long 44 journey to see the old man, for behold, he refuseth to speak to 44 me." Now when the brother went in to the old man Poemen, he said unto him, 4 4 Father, this great man, who is so greatly 44 praised in his own country, came on thy account; why didst 44 thou not speak with him?" Poemen said, 4 4 He spake about 44 the things which are above and concerning heavenly matters,

Cfcuesttons anb answers on tbe ascetic IRule

" but I can only talk about things which are below and about "the things of earth; had he spoken to me about the pas- 4 4 sions of the soul I would have given him an answer; but since " he talked about spiritual things, I know nothing about them." Then that brother went forth to the monk and said unto him, " The old man is not one of those who wish a man to talk to " them from the Scriptures, but if thou wilt converse with him 4 4 about the passions of the soul he will return thee answer. " And straightway the monk repented, and he came to the old man, and said unto him, 44 Father, what shall I do so that I "may bring into subjection the passions of the body?" Then the old man looked upon him gladly, and said unto him, 44 Now thou art welcome! Open now thy mouth on such matters as these, and I will fill it with good things." And the monk, having been greatly helped, and having gained benefit, said, "In very truth this is the way of truth"; and he went back to his country, giving thanks to God that he had been held worthy of such converse with the holy man.

160. Abba Poemen said concerning Abbd John that he cultivated spiritual excellences of every kind.

162. Abbd Sisoes asked Abbd Poemen about filthy thoughts, and the old man said unto him, "The matter is like unto a box "of clothes: if a man leaveth the clothes inside it for a long " time without being turned, they will become eaten up in pro- "cess of time and destroyed. And thus also is it with the " thoughts, and if a man doth not drive them out from his body "they will be destroyed and perish."

163. Abbd Joseph asked Abbd Poemen about the wicked and vain thoughts which a man produceth, and the old man said unto him, "It is as if a man were to take a snake and a scor- "pion, and throw them in a vessel {or cloth), and close (or " wrap) them up tightly for a long time, when they would die " owing to the period [which they have been shut up]; even so "do the evil thoughts, which spring up in the mind through " the workings of devils, decay and become destroyed through "patient endurance."

166. On one occasion when he saw him pouring some water over his feet, Abbd Isaac said unto AbbA Poemen, as one who possessed freedom of speech before him, "How is it that, " whilst the fathers exercised themselves in such stern labours "and mighty deeds of asceticism that they oppressed their " bodies, behold, thou art washing [thy feet]?" Abba Poemen said unto him, "We have not learned to be slayers of the body, " but slayers of the passions."

167. This same Abb£ Isaac heard the voice of a cock, and he said to Abba Poemen, "Are there such things as fowls " here, father?" And he answered and said unto him, "Isaac, " why dost thou force me to speak to thee? It is only people "who are like thyself that hear such sounds as these; he "who is strenuous concerneth not himself with matters of "this kind."

r68. An old man used to say, "Wisdom and simplicity form " the perfect order of the Apostles and of those who examine ' closely their rules of life and their conduct, and to this Christ * urged them, saying, * Be ye harmless as doves and subtle ' 'like serpents' (St. Matthew x, 16). And the Apostle [Paul] ' also admonished the Corinthians to the same effect, saying, ' 'My brethren, be not childish in your minds, but he ye as ' 'babes in respect of things which are evil, and be ye perfect ' 'in your minds' (1 Corinthians xiv, 20). Now wisdom without ' simplicity is wicked cunning, and it is the subtlety of the 'philosophers among the pagans of which it is said, 'He ' 'catcheth the wise men in their own cunning' (Job v, 13; ' 1 Corinthians iii, 19), and again, 'The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain* (Psalm xciv, 11 ; 1 ' Corinthians iii, 20). And simplicity without wisdom is the foolishness which is prone to error, and concerning this also the Apostle spake, and he wrote unto those who possessed it, saying, 'I fear lest, even as the serpent led Eve into error by 'his craftiness, so your minds also may be destroyed in re- ' spect of your simplicity which is towards Christ ' (2 Corinthians xi, 3). For they accepted every word without testing dfcuestfons anb answers on tbe Hscetfc IRulc

"it, even as it is said in the (Book of] Proverbs, 'The simple " 'man believeth every word'" (Proverbs xiv, 15).

176. A brother asked Abb£ Poemen, saying, "Who is a "hypocrite?" The old man said unto him, "The hypocrite is " he who teacheth his neighbour to do a certain thing which " he himself hath not performed, and to the doing of which he "hath not attained; for it is written, 'Hypocrite! why dost " 'thou look at the mote which is in the eye of thy brother, and " 'behold there is a beam in thine own eye? And how canst dfcuesttons an& answers on tbc Hscettc IRule

" 'thou say to thy brother, Let me take out the mote from " 'thine eye, seeing that thou hast not first taken the beam " 'out of thine own eye? ,,, (St. Matthew vii, 5.)

181. When Abb£ Poemen heard that Abbd Nastir was dwelling in the coenobium he desired greatly to see him, and he told his Abb& that he ought to send him to go and visit him, but he refused to send him by himself, and he would not let him go. Now a few days afterwards the steward of the coenobium, who had certain thoughts, persuaded Abbd to send him to Abbd Nastir, and he dismissed him, saying, "Take this

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44 brother with thee, and send me an old man because of him; 44 and because I could not trust myself to send him alone I did 44 not send him at all." Now when the steward had come to the old man Nastir, he told him his thoughts, and Abba Nastir healed him. And afterwards the old man asked Abba Poemen, saying, 44 Whence hast thou gotten such humility that when- 44 soever it happeneth that there be trouble in the coenobium 44 thou dost not speak, and dost not interfere to put an end to 44 contention?" And the old man having pressed the brother, AbbA Poemen answered and said unto him, "Forgive me, 44 father ! When I first entered the coenobium I said unto my 44 mind, I and the ass are one. As the ass is beaten andspeak- 44 eth not, and is cursed and maketh nt> answer, so also acT: 44 thou, according to what the blessed David said, 4 1 was a 44 4 beast with Thee ' " (Psalm lxxiii, 22).

193. Abbi Poemen used to say, "The work of the monastic " life is poverty, and trouble, and separation; for it is written, " If there be there these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, as " I live, saith the Lord (Ezekiel xiv, 14). Noah must be taken " [as representing] the personification of self-abnegation, and "Job as representing labours, and Daniel as representing "separation; if then a man possess these three rules of con- " duct the Lord dwelleth in him."

194. A brother asked AbbA Poemen, "Which is the better, "to speak or to keep silence?" The old man said unto him, " He who speaketh for God's sake is a good man, and he "doeth well, and he who holdeth his peace for God's sake "doeth well. ,,

193, A brother asked Abbd Poemen about pollutions and impurities of all sorts and kinds, and he said unto him, "If we " stablish in ourselves a portion [only] of theworkof our soul[s], " a man may seek for impurity or uncleanness and it shall not "be found."

204. AbbA Poemen used to say to Abb£ Job, "Turn away "thine eyes from beholding what is vain, the lust for which "destroyeth souls."

210. Abba* Poemen asked AbbA Joseph, saying, "What am " I to do when passions rise up against me, wishing to make " me quake? Shall I stand up against them, and drive them "away, or shall I allow them to enter?" The old man said unto him, "Let them shake thee, and do thou strive with " them." But to another brother who had come from Thebes, and gone down to Scete, and asked the same old man the same question, he spake differently; and when he returned from Scete to Thebes, he said before all the brethren, "I went to " Abba* Joseph, and I asked him, saying, 'If passions draw " 'nigh unto me, shall I drive them away so that they may " 'not make me shake, or shall I permit them to enter into " 'me?' And he said unto me, 'Thou shalt not let them draw " 'nigh to thee in any way, but cut them off quickly.'" Now when Abbd Poemen, who happened to be there, heard that Abbd Joseph had spoken differently to that Theban, he rose up and went again to Abb^ Joseph, and said unto him, "Abbd,

* ' I have believed in thee as in God, and I have revealed unto "thee my thoughts, and behold, thou hast spoken unto that ' ' Theban in one way, and to me thou hast declared the opposite." The old man said unto him, "Dost thou not know "that I love thee?" And he answered and said unto him, "Yea, I do." The old man said unto him, "Didst thou not " say unto me, Tell me as if thou wast telling thyself? If, then, " thoughts enter into thee, and thou art mingled with them, ' * and thou givest and takest, and art not injured, they prove ' ' thee to be one who is tried and chosen especially. Now I " spake unto thee as I would unto myself. But there are others "whom the passions cannot even approach or touch, never- " theless it helpeth them to cut them off quickly."

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222. Abbd Poemen said, "If a man will throw himself be-

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4 'fore God, and will not esteem himself, and will cast his 44 pleasures behind his back, [he will find that] such things are 44 the instruments of the work of the soul."

237. Abbi Poemen said, 4 4 If there be three [brethren] together, and one leadeth a fair life of silent contemplation, 44 and the other being a weak man giveth thanks, and the 4 4 other singeth and prayeth with a lowly mind, all three are 44 performing work [of equal merit]."

238. A brother asked Abb& Poemen, and said unto him, 4 4 Tell me: what meaneth it that thou dost not reward evil for 44 evil?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, 44 In this perception 44 there are four divisions; the first is of the heart, the second 44 is of the sight, the third is of the tongue, and the fourth is 44 that in adtions a man returneth evil for evil. If now thou art 44 able to overcome the heart, thou wilt not come to the sight, 44 but if thou comest to the sight, take heed that thou dost not 54 speak with the tongue; but if thou speakest cut it off im- 14 mediately, so that thou mayest not actually reward evil for 4 evil; and this is the first of the four which a man may cut 4 off, and the tongue is the second, and the third is the sight,

4 and the fourth is the heart."

251. Abb£ Poemen used to say that Abb£ Isidore used to twist into ropes a great bundle of palm leaves each night, and [on one occasion] the brethren entreated him, saying, "Rest

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" thyself a little, for thou hast worked too much." And he said unto them, "If we were to burn Isidore and to scatter his " ashes to the winds, he would win happiness, for the Son of " God came to the Passion because of us."

252. A brother said to Abbd Poemen, "If I stumble and " commit a few minor sins my mind afflidleth me, and blameth " me, and maketh accusations against me, saying, 'Why didst " ' thou fall? ' " The old man said unto him, "Every time a man "falleth into any shortcoming or folly, if he saith, 'I have "'sinned,' immediately God will receive him."

253. Abb& Poemen used to say, "It is not right for a man "to be persuaded to the thought of fornication, or to utter "calumny against his neighbour; and he should not in any " way whatsoever incline towards these two thoughts, and he " should not utter them, and he should not meditate upon such " things in his heart And if he desireth to think about them " and to turn them over in his heart, he will not benefit thereby, " but will rather suffer damage; but if he will adfc against such " with ferocity, he will subsequently find rest."

254. One of the brethren asked Abbi Poemen, saying, "Father, what shall I do when the thoughts of fornication "bestir themselves in me, or any other of the evil passions "which are injurious to the soul?" Abb£ Poemen said unto him, "The first time they come upon thee, flee; and the second "time they come upon thee, flee also; and the third time they " come, set thyself against them like a sharp sword."

263. On one occasion, whilst Abb£ Zechariah was dwelling in Scete, there appeared unto him a vision from God, and he rose up and came to his father, Abb£ Kiridn, and the old man was perfect, and did not take pains to boast of these things.

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And he rose up [and smote him, and said unto him, "They " are of devils"; and when he had thought about the matter a long time, he rose up] and went by night to Abbd Poemen, and informed him about the matter, and how his thoughts were burning in his heart. Then the old man knew that the matter was of God, and he said unto him, " Get thee to such "and such an old man, and whatsoever he saith unto thee " that do." And having departed to that old man, before he could tell him anything, the old man said unto him, "The " vision is of God; but do thou go and be subject unto thy "father."

287. Abbd Poemen used to say, "Why doth a man distress " himself to build the house of others, andtooverthrowhis own?"

296. Abbd Poemen used to say, "All the spiritual excellences "have entered into this monastery, with the exception of the "one without which in labour [no] man standeth"; and they asked him, saying, "Which spiritual excellence is that?" and he said, "That which maketh a man blame and despise him- "self."

306. AbbA Poemen {or Ammon) used to say, " If Nuzarddn " (Nebuzaradan), the chief of the warriors, had never come to " the land of Judea, he would never have burnt down the tem- " pie of God which was in Jerusalem with fire"; [now the meaning] of these words is, that if the pleasures of the lust of the belly had never entered in on the soul the mind would never have been vanquished in the war of the Adversary.

339. Abba" Poemen said, " As long as the food which is being " boiled is on the fire the flies will not approach it, but as soon 11 as it is taken off they cluster round it"; the meaning of this is that as long as our hearts are fervent in the spirit impure thoughts will not approach us, but that if we are negligent and make ourselves to be remote from the converse (or occupation) of the spirit they will then gain dominion over us.

344. Abb£ Poemen used to say, " Abba* Paphnutius was ex- " ceedingly great and mighty, and he ran at all times to minister " unto shortcoming."

350. They used to say that Abba* Poemen never wished to magnify his word over that of any old man, but in everything he praised his and belittled his own.

352. An old man asked Abb£ Poemen, saying, "What shall " I do, father, with my son Isaac, who hearkeneth unto me " with pleasure?" Abbi Poemen said unto him, "If thou wish-

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" est to be of benefit to him, shew him [an example] by deeds "and not by words, lest through observing words only he "be found useless; for if thou wilt shew him by deeds, the " deeds themselves will abide with him, and he will profit."

362. Abba Poemen said that Abbd Athanasius used to say, " Unless a man possess good works before God giveth him a "gift because of himself, it is well known that no one can be " made perfect through the weariness which cometh to him ' through himself; but if he reveal [it] to his neighbour, he will ' then receive the gift because of his neighbour, and be gratified."

365. A brother asked Abba Poemen, ' ' What is the meaning " of these words which the Prophet spake, 'My heart shall re- " 'joice in those that fear Thy name?" (Psalm xxxiii, 21.) And the old man answered and said, "The Holy Spirit spake this " word to man even unto death, and [unto] to-day also."

392. On one occasion the priest of Pilisidn heard that certain of the brethren were idle and lazy, and that they were constantly in the city, and that they swam in the baths, and neglected the works of excellence which belong to the life of the monk, and when they came to the congregation he took their monkish dress from them; and having done [this] he was sad at heart, and repented, and he went to Abbd Poemen and informed him about them. And the old man said unto him, 44 Hast thou nothing of the old man about thee?" [And he said 44 Yea." And the old man said unto him], 4 4 Therefore thou thy- 4 4 self art like unto them, and thou art nigh unto sin." Then the priest went and expressed his sorrow to them, and he put on them the dress of monks [once more]. Now they were twelve in all.

399. A certain brother asked Abba* Poemen about fornication, and he answered and said, "[It cometh upon a man] because "our eyes will not allow us to see the help of God which " surroundeth a man, for a man is constrained to humility and " to the fear of God at all times, even as he is constrained [to " draw] the breath which goeth forth from his mouth."

407. A brother asked Abba Poemen, and said, "On one occasion I was distressed, and I begged one of the holy men " to lend me a certain thing, and he gave it to me as a free "gift; now if God prospereth me shall I give it to another " man, or shall I return it to him that gave it to me in the " time of my tribulation?" The old man saith, "The gift was "most certainly from God, and it is meet for thee to return it " to Him, for it belongeth to Him." And that brother said unto him, "Supposing that I carry it to Him, and He refuse to take " it, and say unto me, ' Get thee gone, and give it as a free " 'gift to anyone at thy pleasure,' what am I to do?" The old man said, "The thing still belongeth to Him. For if " a man bringeth thee something of his own accord and thou "hast no knowledge about it, in this manner the thing is "his; but if thou hast borrowed something, either from a monk " or from a man in the world, and he refuseth to take it back, " it belongeth to thee and thou mayest do what thou pleasest "with it."

408. Abba Joseph related that Abb& Isaac said, " I was on " one occasion sitting with Abba Poemen, and I saw that he " was in a state of great stupefadlion, and because I possessed " some influence over him, I offered entreaty to him, saying, " 'Father, where is thy mind?' And after I had pressed him " greatly, he answered and said, ' My mind was in the place " 'of the Crucifixion, where the holy woman Mary, the God- " 'bearer, was standing and weeping by the Cross of our " 'Redeemer, and I was wishing that I might at all times " 'feel thus.'"

411. They used to relate that Abbd Poemen and the brethren at one time worked with their hands, but he could not sell their work; and they were distressed because they had no one to buy their work; and one of the brethren, who was a friend of theirs, went to a certain believing merchant and informed him of the matter. Now Abbd Poemen [always] refused to accept anything from any man, so that he might not be entreated

[for alms] by the multitude. And when the merchant heard about their need], because he wished to do something for the old man, he made the excuse that he was in need of [the kind] of work [which they did], and he bought a camel and carried away the work as if he had been in need of the same; and the brother who had told the merchant came to Abb£ Poemen, and hearing that the merchant had come and carried away what they had to sell, he said before Abb£ Poemen, "Verily, " O father, the merchant hath taken [the work] away, although "he did not want it." Then Abb& Poemen said to Abbi Job, his brother, "Arise, stop the camel, and bring him back, for " if thou dost not do so Poemen will not dwell here with you. " For I do not wish to wrong any man by making him unnecessarily to suffer loss on my account, and to take my "profit." And the brother departed and brought the camel back with great difficulty, and then Abb& Poemen was persuaded to stay with them, and when he saw [the camel] he rejoiced as one who had found a great treasure.

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456. A brother asked Abbi Job, the brother of Abb& Poemen, concerning a word which the Apostle spake, saying (Philippians ii, 3), " Esteem every man to be more excellent thanthy- " self." And the old man answered and said, "If a man hath "arrived at this measure, and he seeth the offence of his " brother, he will conceal it as if it had never happened."

475. Abb£ Poemen used to say, "If a man pass a hundred " years in the cell he will not understand his departure from " this world and become a monk, unless he attribute sin to " himself at all times, and make himself to be remote, both in " his mind and in his aftions, from those things which he " knoweth will separate him from God, and make supplication " unto God at all times through suffering and tears."

476. A brother asked Abb& Poemen, saying, "What is the " repentance of sins?" And he said unto him, "The repentance " of sins consisteth in a man not committing the sin again " from the moment wherein he repenteth of it; and on account " of this the righteous were called 'spotless,' and because they " had forsaken [their] sins, and had cleansed themselves from "them."

478. AbbA Poemen used to say, "The passions are four "heads"; and a brother said unto him, "What are they?" The old man said unto him, 44 Worldly grief which cometh 44 about many things, the love of money, vainglory, and forni- 44 cation; and it is meet that we should be on the watch against 44 these before all other passions."

481. A brother asked Abbd Poemen, saying, 44 Tell me, why 44 it is that when I offer repentance to a brother who is wroth 44 with me I do not see him pleased with me?" The old man said unto him, 44 Tell me truly: when thou ofFerest to him re- 44 pentance hast thou not the opinion that thou art not doing 44 it because thou hast sinned against him, but because of the 44 commandment ?" And the brother said unto him, 44 It is even 44 thus." The old man said unto him, 44 Because of this God 4 4 doth not permit him to be pleased with thee, and because 44 thou dost not offer repentance to him in fulfilment of thine 44 own desire, but as if thou hadst not sinned against him, but 44 he had sinned against thee."

499. Abb! Poemen used to say, 44 Temptations are a sure 44 sign whereby a monk may be known."

516. Abb£ Ammon used to say, 44 1 said unto Abb& Poemen, 44 4 If I go to my neighbour's cell, or he cometh to ntine concern- 44 4 ing any matter whatsoever, are we two to be ashamed to 44 4 speak, lest some alien subject of discourse appear between 4 4 4 us?' The old man said unto him, 4 Thou wilt do well, for 44 4 youth hath need of care and watchfulness.' And I said unto 44 him, 4 What do the old men do?' And he said unto me, 4 The

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" ' old men have been skilled, and have had experience, and " 'they have arrived at the measure for speech, for in them " * there is nothing alien which they can speak with the mouth.' " And I said unto him, 'And supposing that I have the neces- " 'sity to talk with a neighbour, wouldst thou that I should " 'speak with the words of the Scriptures, or with the words of " 'the old men?' And he said unto me, ' If thou art not able to " ' hold thy peace it is better for thee to use the speech of the old " 'men rather than that of the Scriptures, for there is danger " 'in a man employing the speech of the Scriptures. ,,,

526. A brother asked Abbi Poemen, "How can it be right " for me to take good heed to my ways when I am sitting in " my cell?" The old man said unto him, "For a season I was " a man who had fallen into the mire up to my shoulders, and " a basketful of gall hung from my neck, and I was crying out " to God, 'Have mercy upon me.' "

606. The brethren said: — Abbd Pambd said, "If there be " three monks in one place, and one of them live in silence [it "is] well, and if another be sick and he give thanks in his " weakness, and if another minister to men and relieve them, " all three of them are in the same service." Reveal to us now the mind of this holy man.

And Abbd Pambd said, " If a man dwell in silence for God's " sake, and not for the sake of vainglory, or any other human "thing; and if another, who is sick, give thanks to God for " his sickness, and he endure him that ministereth unto him "with longsufFering, he becometh like unto him that is in " silence; and if he who ministereth unto men doeth it not for " a reward of this world, but for God's sake, and if he con- " straineth himself in everything, and doeth the will of those " who are ministered unto by him in love and gladness, he " thus becometh like unto him who shutteth himself up in " silence, and like unto him that is sick, and in this way the " work of all three is of equal merit. For Abb& Joseph and *' Abbd Poemen divided the perfedl ascetic life into three "classes, and therefore Abb£ Nastir said to that brother, 'If " 'thou condudl thyself according to any one of the three thou " 'shalt be perfedi.' And this is well known from that which "AbbA Anthony said, 'Many have afflidted themselves with " 'labours and tribulations, and because they had not in them " 'the power of discernment, they did not know the way ot ' ' 'truth.' And again he said, ' One man might live in a cell " 'for a hundred years, and yet not know how to dwell therein " '[rightly] for one day, because he humbleth not himself, and " 'accounteth not himself a sinner, and a feeble man, and igno- " 'rant, but he justifieth himself, and blameth others; never- " 'theless it is right that we should know that, even though " 'some are sick, and others relieve the wants of men and " 'minister unto them with an upright aim, those who lead a " 'life of silence lead a superior life, and follow a line of con- " 'dudl which is more excellent than all the rules of life which " 'are followed among brethren. And this life is superior in " 'the same way that the Spirit of God is more exalted than " 'the holy angels, according to what we have learned from " 'the history of the holy men AbbA Arsenius and Abbd Moses " 'the Ethiopian. For when one of the brethren went to the " 'blessed Arsenius [to enquire of him] concerning the love of " 'a silent life of contemplation, he neither set a table for him

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" ' nor gave him refreshment; then he went to the blessed Abb& ' ' 'Moses and he both welcomed him and gave him refresh- " 'ment. And when one of the great fathers heard [this], he " 'entreated our Lord to reveal to him this matter, saying, " '"How is it that one fleeth for Thy Name's sake, and an- " '"other welcometh and giveth refreshment for Thy Name's " '"sake?" And there appeared unto him on the river two " 'ships, in one of which were Abb& Arsenius, and the Spirit " 'of God Who was travelling along in silence, and in the " ' other was Abbd Moses, who was travelling with holy angels " 'that were feeding him upon honey, with the comb thereof. " 'And by this the fathers understood that the life of silent " 'contemplation was as greatly exalted above alms and mini- " 'strations as was the conduct of Matthew the Evangelist " 'above that of Zacchaeus the tax-gatherer.'"

632. The brethren said, "One of the brethren asked Abbi " Poemen, saying, ' My body is feeble, and I cannot lead an " ' ascetic life. ' Abbd Poemen said unto him, 'Canst thou lead " ' the ascetic life in thy thought, and not permit it to go with " ' deceit to thy neighbour?' Tell us how the feeble man was " able to lead the ascetic life in his thoughts." The old man said, "This question belongeth closely, both in order and " meaning, to that which a certain brother asked AbbA Poe- " men, saying, ' My body is feeble, but my thoughts are not.' " Now in the former case he spake having regard to those " who were afraid that through pains and sickness they would " become negligent of the labours of spiritual excellence, and, " in a different manner, that they might fall into pains and " sickness by way of punishment; in the latter case he spake " having regard to those who had toiled for a very long time " in the labours of self-denial, and who had finally become en- " feebled, either through old age, or through pains and sick- ' ' nesses, and who were ceasing from ascetic labours. Now " this is what Abbd Poemen [meant] when he said, ' If thou art " ' not now able, by reason of thy weakness, to toil in the la- " 4 bours of the body as thou didst formerly, toil in the labours " 'of the soul, that is to say, the ruling of the thoughts, " ' which is the ruling of the mind; if thou art unable to fast " 'from meats, fast from evil thoughts; and if thou art no " ' longer able, through the weakness of the body, to stand up " ' and to recite as many Psalms as formerly, make thy mmd " ' to stand up before our Lord, and pray before Him vigi- " ' lantly with the prayer which is secret and pure, and be " 'tranquil, and humble, and pleasant, and good, and forgivttbe Saunas of tbe Doty jf atbers

" 4 ing, and merciful; and endure thy sickness and weakness 44 4 with praise, and make no man to be sorry by thy tongue; "'and judge not, and blame not, and condemn not thy 44 * brother in thy heart. Now these excellences may be culti- 44 4 vated in the soul with the labours of the mind, and not 44 4 those of the body, and they are not impeded by the weak- 4 4 4 ness of the body.'"

649. The brethren said, 4 4 On one occasion, when the brethren were sitting down and asking questions about the 44 thoughts, one of them said, 4 It is not a great matter if a 4 4 4 man seeth thoughts afar off.' What did he want to say? 44 Explain to us the words of the old men." The old man said, 4 4 When the brethren drew nigh to the Fathers and asked 4 4 them questions [wishing] to learn concerning the mode of 44 action and thought in respect of the wars of the devils, the 44 Fathers did not persuade those among them who appeared 44 to possess subtlety of thought, and intelligence, and under- 44 standing, and to hate the passions, and to be fervent in the

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" spirit, to cast out from themselves straightway the thoughts 44 of the passions whensoever they stirred in them, and to make "them to depart foolishly, but they ordered them to tarry with 44 them, and to examine carefully how they arose, and then to " contend against them; for in proportion as they were trained "in the knowledge of strivings and contendings against the "passions and against devils they would benefit not them- " selves only, but many other people also. And in this wise "a<Sted also Evagrius, that man of understanding, and Abba* "Poemen, and others who were like unto them. Therefore " Abbd Joseph said to AbbA Poemen, * When the passions rise " 4 up in thee, give unto and receive from them, and understand " * carefully their crafty nature, and train thyself to contend " 4 against them.' Now there are certain weak and foolish breth- " ren whom in no way whatsoever doth it benefit to dally with "the rise of the thoughts of the passions which are in the " heart, on the contrary, it is far better for them, immediately " they perceive the motions of the passions, to cast them forth " from them by prayer, and with anger and hatred. Therefore, "when several of the Fathers were gathered together and " were discussing the conflicts of the thoughts, and whether it " was right to dally with them because of knowledge [concern- " ing them], or to suppress them by means of prayer through " fear [of them], one of the Fathers said, * Even to understand " * the thoughts afar off is a great and excellent work, but it " * is a far greater work, and one which maketh a man to ac- " 4 quire practice, for him to understand the thoughts, and to " * wage war against them. When he hath gained experience " 'of their crafty chara6ler, then he will suppress them and " 'make them to disappear by the power of prayer and hu- " * mility. Now the meaning of this question is this. When a " * man hath laboured in conflict and contest against the pas- " 4 sions for a long time in seclusion, by the grace of our Lord " 4 his heart becometh purified, and rest and peace reign in his " 4 soul, and he hath relief from tribulation, and he rejoiceth in " 4 God at all seasons, and the devils have no power henceforth " 'to stir up evil thoughts in his soul, because his heart is " 4 filled with divine thoughts, and the understanding of spiri- 44 4 tual things, and he is never without the mind which is in 4 4 4 God, and the remembrance of His fear and mercy. And 4 4 4 should the demons dare to stir up thoughts in him, they 4 4 4 will not [succeed] in rousing those which cause anguish 4 4 and which bring to naught spiritual excellences, but only 4 4 those which are of an ordinary nature, and which impede 4 4 the vision, even as Evagrius said.' "