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NOW let us give the other instance of Abbot Paphnutius, who always
remained so zealously in the recesses of that renowned and far-famed desert
of Scete, in which he is now Presbyter, so that the rest of the anchorites
gave him the name of Bubalis, because he always delighted in dwelling in
the desert as if with a sort of innate liking. And so as even in boyhood he
was so good and full of grace that even the renowned and great men of that
time admired his gravity and steadfast constancy, and although he was
younger in age, yet put him on a level with the Elders out of regard for
his virtues, and thought fit to admit him to their order, the same envy,
which formerly excited the minds of his brethren against the patriarch
Joseph, inflamed one out of the number of his brethren with a burning and
consuming jealousy. And this man wanting to mar his beauty by some blemish
or spot, hit on this kind of devilry, so as to seize an opportunity when
Paphnutius had left his cell to go to Church on Sunday: and secretly
entering his cell he slyly hid his own book among the boughs which he used
to weave of palm branches, and, secure of his well-planned trick, himself
went off as if with a pure and clean conscience to Church. And when the
whole service was ended as usual, in the presence of all the brethren he
brought his complaint to S. Isidore who was Presbyter of this desert
before this same Paphnutius, and declared that his book had been stolen
from his cell. And when his complaint had so disturbed the minds of all the
brethren, and more especially of the Presbyter, so that they knew not what
first to suspect or think, as all were overcome with the utmost
astonishment at so new and unheard of a crime, such as no one remembered
ever to have been committed in that desert before that time, and which has
never happened since, he who had brought forward the matter as the accuser
urged that they should all be kept in Church and certain selected men be
sent to search the cells of the brethren one by one. And when this had been
entrusted to three of the Elders by the Presbyter, they turned over the
bed-chambers of them all, and at last found the book hidden in the cell of
Paphnutius among the boughs of the palms which they call seira', just as
the plotter had hidden it. And when the inquisitors at once brought it back
to the Church and produced it before all, Paphnutius, although he was
perfectly clear in the sincerity of his conscience, yet like one who
acknowledged the guilt of thieving, gave himself up entirely to make amends
and humbly asked for a plan of repentance, as he was so careful of his
shame and modesty (and feared) lest if he tried to remove the stain of the
theft by words, he might further be branded as a liar, as no one would
believe anything but what had been found out. And when he had immediately
left the Church not cast down in mind but rather trusting to the judgment
of God, he continually shed tears at his prayers, and fasted thrice as
often as before, and prostrated himself in the sight of men with all
humility of mind. But when he had thus submitted himself with all
contrition of flesh and spirit for almost a fortnight, so that he came
early on the morning of Saturday and Sunday not to receive the Holy
Communion but to prostrate himself on the threshold of the Church and
humbly ask for pardon, He, Who is the witness of all secret things and
knows them, suffered him to be no longer tried by Himself or defamed by
others. For what the author of the crime, the wicked thief of his own
property, the cunning defamer of another's credit, had done with no man
there as a witness, that He made known by means of the devil who was
himself the instigator of the sin. For possessed by a most fierce demon, he
made known all the craft of his secret plot, and the same man who had
conceived the accusation and the cheat betrayed it. But he was so long and
grievously vexed by that unclean spirit that he could not even be restored
by the prayers of the saints living there, who by means of divine gifts can
command the devils, nor could the special grace of the Presbyter Isidore
himself east out from him his cruel tormentor, though by the Lord's bounty
such power was given him that no one who was possessed was ever brought to
his doors without being at once healed; for Christ was reserving this glory
for the young Paphnutius, that the man should be cleansed only by the
prayers of him against whom he had plotted, and that the jealous enemy
should receive pardon for his offence and an end of his present punishment,
only by proclaiming his name, from whose credit he had thought that he
could detract. He then in his early youth already gave these signs of his
future character, and even in his boyish years sketched the lines of that
perfection which was to grow up in mature age. If then we want to attain to
his height of virtue, we must lay the same foundation to begin with.
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