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THE limits of the book compel us to draw to a close; but the virtue of
obedience, which holds the first place among other good qualities, will not
allow us altogether to pass over in silence the deeds of those who have
excelled by it. Wherefore aptly combining these two together, I mean,
consulting brevity as well as the wishes and profit of those who are in
earnest, we will only add one example of humility, which, as it was shown
by no novice but one already perfect and an Abbot, may not only instruct
the younger, but also incite the elders to the perfect virtue of humility,
as they read it. Thus we saw Abbot Pinufius who when he was presbyter of
a huge Coenobium which is in Egypt not far from the city of Panephysis,
was held in honour and respect by all men out of reverence either for his
life or for his age or for his priesthood; and when he saw that for this
reason he could not practise that humility which he longed for with all the
ardour of his disposition, and had no opportunity of exercising the virtue
of subjection which he desired, he fled secretly from the Coenobium and
withdrew alone into the furthest parts of the Thebaid, and there laid aside
the habit of the monks and assumed a secular dress, and thus sought the
Coenobium of Tabenna, which he knew to be the strictest of all, and in
which he fancied that he would not be known owing to the distance of the
spot, or else that he could easily lie hid there in consequence of the size
of the monastery and the number of brethren. There he remained for a long
time at the entrance, and as a suppliant at the knees of the brethren
sought with most earnest prayers to gain admission. And when he was at last
with much scorn admitted as a feeble old man who had lived all his life in
the world, and had asked in his old age to be allowed to enter a Coenobium
when he could no longer gratify his passions,--as they said that he was
seeking this not for the sake of religion but because he was compelled by
hunger and want, they gave him the care and management of the garden, as he
seemed an old man and not specially fitted for any particular work. And
this he performed under another and a younger brother who kept him by him
as intrusted to him, and he was so subordinate to him, and cultivated the
desired virtue of humility so obediently that he daily performed-with the
utmost diligence not only everything that had to do with the care and
management of the garden, but also all those duties which were looked on by
the other as hard and degrading, and disagreeable. Rising also by night he
did many things secretly, without any one looking on or knowing it, when
darkness concealed him so that no one could discover the author of the
deed. And when he had hidden himself there for three years and had been
sought for high and low by the brethren all through Egypt, he was at last
seen by one who had come from the parts of Egypt, but could scarcely be
recognized owing to the meanness of his dress and the humble character of
the duty he was performing. For he was stooping down and hoeing the ground
for vegetables and bringing dung on his shoulders and laying it about their
roots. And seeing this the brother for a long time hesitated about
recognizing him, but at last he came nearer, and taking careful note not
only of his looks but also of the tone of his voice, straightway fell at
his feet: and at first all who saw it were struck with the greatest
astonishment why he should do this to one who was looked up. on by them as
the lowest of all, as being. a novice and one who had but lately forsaken
the world: but afterwards they were struck with still greater wonder when
he forthwith announced his name, which was one that had been well known
amongst them also by repute. And all the brethren asking his pardon for
their former ignorance because they had for so long classed him with the
juniors and children, brought him back to his own Coenobium, against his
will and in tears because by the envy of the devil he had been cheated out
of a worthy mode of life and the humility which he was rejoicing in having
discovered after his long search, and because he had not succeeded in
ending his life in that state of subjection which he had secured. And so
they guarded him with the utmost care lest he should slip away again in the
same sort of way and escape from them also.
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