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am but a foolish old man； but； by the grace of God； I have remembered
what our father told us。〃
Paphnutius thanked Palemon and promised to think over his advice。
When he had passed the fence of reeds which enclosed the little garden； he
turned round and saw the good old gardener engaged in watering his
salads； whilst the pigeon walked about on his bent back； and at that sight
Paphnutius felt ready to weep。
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On returning to his cell； he found there a strange turmoil； as though it
were filled with grains of sand blown about by a strong wind； and on
looking closer； he saw these moving bodies were myriads of little jackals。
That night he saw in a dream； a high stone column surmounted by a
human face； and he heard a voice which said
〃Ascend this pillar！〃
On awaking； he felt confident that this dream had been sent from
heaven。 He called his disciples； and addressed them in these words
〃My beloved sons； I must leave you； and go where God sends me。
During my absence obey Flavian as you would me； and take care of our
brother Paul。 Bless you。 Farewell。〃
As he strode away； they remained prostrate on the ground； and when
they raised their heads； they saw his tall dark figure on the sandy horizon。
He walked day and night until he reached the ruins of the temple；
formerly built by the idolaters； in which he had slept amongst the
scorpions and sirens on his former strange journey。 The walls； covered
with magic signs； were still standing。 Thirty immense columns； which
terminated in human heads or lotus flowers； still supported a heavy stone
entablature。 But； at one end of the temple； a pillar had shaken off its old
burden； and stood isolated。 It had for its capital the head of a woman
which smiled； with long eyes and rounded cheeks； and on her forehead
cow's horns。
Paphnutius； on seeing it； recognised the column which had been
shown him in his dream； and he calculated that it was thirty…two cubits
high。 He went to the neighbouring village； and ordered a ladder of that
height to be made； and when the ladder was placed against the pillar； he
ascended； knelt down on the top； and said to the Lord
〃Here； then； O God； is the abode Thou hast chosen for me。 May I
remain here； in Thy Grace； until the hour of my death。〃
He had brought no provisions with him； trusting in divine providence；
and expecting that charitable peasants would give him all that he needed。
And； in fact； the next day； about the ninth hour； women came with their
children； bringing bread； dates； and fresh water； which the boys carried to
the top of the column。
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The top of the pillar was not large enough to allow the monk to lie at
full length； so that he slept with his legs crossed and his head on his breast；
and sleep was a more cruel torture to him than his wakeful hours。 At dawn
the ospreys brushed him with their wings； and he awoke filled with pain
and terror。
It happened that the carpenter who had made the ladder feared God。
Disturbed at the thought that the saint was exposed to the sun and rain； and
fearing that he might fall in his sleep； this pious man constructed a roof
and a railing on the top of the column。
Soon the report of this extraordinary existence spread from village to
village； and the labourers of the valley came on Sundays； with their wives
and children； to look at the stylite。 The disciples of Paphnutius； having
learned with surprise the place of this wonderful retreat； came to him； and
obtained from him permission to build their huts at the foot of the column。
Every morning they came and stood in a circle round the master； and
received from him the words of instruction。
〃My sons；〃 he said to them； 〃continue like those little children whom
Jesus loved。 That is the way of salvation。 The sin of the flesh is the source
and origin of all sins； they spring from it as from a parent。 Pride； avarice；
idleness； anger； and envy are its dearly beloved progeny。 I have seen this
in Alexandria； I have seen rich men carried away by the vice of lust； which；
like a river with a turbid flood； swept them into the gulf of bitterness。〃
The abbots Ephrem and Serapion； being informed of his strange
proceeding； wished to behold him with their own eyes。 Seeing from afar；
on the river； the triangular sail which was bringing them to him；
Paphnutius could not prevent himself from thinking that God had made
him an example to all solitary monks。 The two abbots； when they saw him；
did not conceal their surprise； and； having consulted together； they agreed
in condemning such an extraordinary penance； and exhorted Paphnutius to
come down。
〃Such a mode of life is contrary to all usage；〃 they said； 〃it is peculiar；
and against all rules。〃
But Paphnutius replied
〃What is the monastic life if not peculiar？ And ought not the deeds of a
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monk to be as eccentric as he is himself？ It was a sign from God that
caused me to ascend here； it is a sign from God that will make me
descend。〃
Every day religious men came to join the disciples of Paphnutius； and
they built for themselves shelters round the aerial hermitage。 Several of
them； to imitate the saint； mounted the ruins of the temple； but； being
reproved by their brethren； and conquered by fatigue； they soon gave up
these attempts。
Pilgrims flocked from all parts。 There were some who had come long
distances； and were hungry and thirsty。 The idea occurred to a poor widow
of selling fresh water and melons。 Against the foot of the column； behind
her bottles of red clay； her cups and her fruit under an awning of blue…and…
white striped canvas； she cried； 〃Who wants to drink？〃 Following the
example of this widow； a baker brought some bricks and made an oven
close by； in the hope of selling loaves and cakes to visitors。 As the crowd
of visitors increased unceasingly； and the inhabitants of the large cities of
Egypt began to come； some man； greedy of gain； built a caravanserai to
lodge the guests and their servants； camels； and mules。 Soon there was； in
front of the column； a market to which the fishermen of the Nile brought
their fish； and the gardeners their vegetables。 A barber； who shaved people
in the open air； amused the crowd with his jokes。 The old temple； so long
given over to silence and solitude was filled with countless sights and
sounds of life。 The innkeepers turned the subterranean vaults into cellars
and nailed on the old pillars signs surmounted by the figure of the holy
Paphnutius； and bearing this inscription in Greek and Egyptian
〃/Pomegranate wine； fig wine； and genuine Cilician beer sold here/。〃 On
the walls； sculptured with pure and graceful carvings； the shop…keepers
hung ropes of onions； and smoked fish； dead hares； and the carcases of
sheep。 In the evening； the old occupants of the ruins； the rats； scuttled in a
long row to the river； whilst the ibises； suspiciously craning their necks；
perched on the high cornices； to which rose the smoke of the kitchens； the
shouts of the drinkers； and the cries of the tapsters。 All around； builders
laid out streets； and masons constructed convents； chapels； and churches。
By the end of six months a city was established with a guardhouse； a
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tribunal； a prison； and a school； kept by an old blind scribe。
The pilgrims were innumerable。 Bishops and other Church dignitaries；
came； full of admiration。 The Patriarch of Antioch； who chanced to be in
Egypt at that time； came with all his clergy。 He highly approved of the
extraordinary conduct of the stylite； and the