Lausiac History (recension G)

 having written down the lives of the fathers, Abraham and those who followed, Moses and Elijah and John, they did not relate them in order to glorify

 goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control, is acknowledged. Pref.14 For Paul himself said: For the fruit of the spirit is such and such things.

 being virgins but he entrusted them to Christ, saying: He who created you will provide for your life, as also for me. And there was with his sister

 a judge who orders one to be submitted to debauchery. 3.4 So that one, having gone mad, orders her, having been stripped, to be thrown into the cauld

 but haughty in disposition, exceedingly rich in money, giving † not † to a stranger, not to a virgin, not to the church, not an obol to a poor person.

 So having met and spent three years with the monasteries around Alexandria, with about two thousand most excellent and very zealous men, departing fro

 Lord and what do you command now? I command, he said, that each of us from now on remain by himself. But she did not agree, saying Let us rema

 without a fever, not having been sick, but sewing up the basket, being seventy years old who, having sent for me, and while the last stitch was on it

 at the martyrium called Roufinianais. Whose tomb is said to heal all who suffer from fever.] 12 .tConcerning Benjamin 12.1 In this mountain of Nitria

 were perfected. And some were pleased by this one, others by that one. When a dispute therefore arose among the brotherhood over the praises, they go

 therefore also to banish you from this. 16.3 Therefore, knowing that he had been mocked, he returned again to his first cell. And having completed th

 the tax-collectors are upon you, whose disease you also suffer. And it happened that he disobeyed after the death of Macarius, after another fifteen

 the saint, taking him, prayed over him, beseeching God. And after one or two days, when the affliction subsided, the holy Macarius says to her: 17.13

 ravens before my sight, and saying: What do you want, Macarius? What do you want, monk? Why have you come to our place? You cannot remain here. So I

 he did nothing with his hands. Therefore, when all the ascetics saw this, they rose up against the abbot, saying: From where have you brought us this

 you shall be shaken, I shall not hear you. 18.24 So after falling for a long time, he rose. And when night came, they attacked him again and filling

 fifty miles he went away to where he had his company. This so great man, at long last being pricked with compunction by some circumstance, gave himsel

 so that we should fear these flies more than he feared the demons. This was the way of life of Moses the Ethiopian, who was himself also numbered amon

 of Eulogius and worthily nourished by the disease. But after fifteen years a demon dwelt in him and he rebelled against Eulogius and he began to assa

 Do not turn aside anywhere, depart do not be separated from one another, but go to your cell where you have spent your time. For God is already sendi

 to them a way of life such as never in youth. 22.5 And having moistened palm leaves he says to him: “Take these, weave a rope as I do.” The old man we

 And standing by the rocks on the mountain he prays and says thus: You see, Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, that I will not come

 wisdom no longer approached me. 24 .tConcerning Stephen the Libyan 24.1 A certain Stephen, a Libyan by race, from the region of Marmarica and Mareoti

 to place in the little book for the security of the readers, just as among the holy plants of paradise was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

 he fell into a fall of pride. And opening the window, she received the one serving her and was mixed with him, because she had not maintained her asce

 saying to her, We do not dare to meet them for we know their drunkenness and their recklessness. 31.3 But if you will have mercy both on the whole v

 to the angel that the prayers are few, the angel says to him: I have prescribed these things so that even the lesser ones may be able to complete the

 matter. So when the elder came, the other sisters reported the matter and he ordered that not a single one of their offerings be accepted and as for

 having been enclosed for years and receiving his needs through a window from the one who served him, he was deemed worthy of the gift of prophecy. Amo

 sufficiently, I thanked God when I learned that the pretexts driving me had been accomplished. 35.10 Then again he says to me, joking: Do you want to

 about to give birth, she was having a difficult labor, the spirit crushing her. So while the woman was demon-possessed, her husband came and begged th

 All ran up to him, both those wearing the tribon and those wearing the birrus, saying to him: What is the matter with you? And where are you from? An

 and why should I go out? He says to her: If you have died to the world and the world to you, it is the same to you to go out and not to go out ther

 suggests. 38.6 He says to him: If you listen to your friend, it is not expedient for you to live in this city. Evagrius says to him: If God delive

 he died among them, having partaken of communion on Epiphany in the church. He told us then about death that, It is the third year I have not been tr

 I appoint myself as a host for you. And taking money and partitioning the porticoes and setting up about three hundred beds, he nursed the starving,

 the hill of the ascension from where Jesus was taken up, he continued standing and singing psalms and praying and whether it snowed or it rained or i

 of those boiled by fire. Having persevered in these for eighteen years, he sang the hymn of victory to Christ. This man, having been warred against in

 in Jerusalem for the sake of a vow, bishops and monks and virgins, at their own expense they edified all whom they met, and they healed the schism of

 to many souls, in some there is an excellence of intellect, in others a fitness for discipline. But when neither the action nor the excellence is for

 There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure 47.16 lest ever with the won

 having drawn [their swords], they attacked. And such a thing happened: when he raised the sword and was about to draw it against Gaddana, the hand of

 she led to the solitary life. And having catechized her younger son Publicola, she led him to Sicily and having sold all her remaining property and r

 to her own daughter. 57.2 I knew this woman, who labored through every night, grinding with her hands for the subduing of the body, explaining that,

 of this one, named Taor, who, having been thirty years in the monastery, never wished to receive a new garment or veil or sandal, saying, I have no n

 of her own. And she freed the eight thousand slaves who wished it, for the rest did not wish it but chose to serve her brother to whom she conceded t

 was said to be most learned and most faithful who received Origen the writer, as he was fleeing the insurrection of the Greeks, for two years at her

 they may stir up some of the civil disturbances, falling away from their purpose. 67 .tConcerning Magna 67.1 In this city of Ancyra many other virgins

 to slander a certain lector of the city. And when she was already pregnant, being questioned by her father, she accused the lector. But the presbyter,

 warm loaves in his sheepskin at another time again wine and loaves. At another time again, when he was speaking, I knew that You are in need go the

therefore also to banish you from this." 16.3 Therefore, knowing that he had been mocked, he returned again to his first cell. And having completed thirty-seven years, he did not cross the door, contending with the demon; who showed him so many things to compel him to go out, that it is not possible to describe them. Among which was also this: watching for a visit of seven holy bishops, which happened either by God's providence or by that one's temptation, he almost drove him from his purpose. For when the bishops were leaving after praying, he did not escort them, not even a foot's step. 16.4 The deacons said to him: "You are doing an arrogant thing, Abba, by not escorting the bishops." But he said to them: "I am dead both to my lords the bishops and to the whole world; for I have a hidden purpose, and God knows my heart, which is why I do not escort them." The demon therefore, having failed in this drama, took a form nine months before his death, and became like a child of about ten years, driving a donkey carrying bread in a basket. And having arrived late in the evening near his cell, he made it appear that the donkey had fallen and the child was crying: 16.5 "Abba Nathanael, have mercy on me and give me a hand." And hearing the voice of the supposed child and opening the door a little, he stood inside and spoke to him: "Who are you, and what do you want me to do for you?" He said to him: "I am the servant of so-and-so, and I am bringing bread, because it is an agape of this brother, and at tomorrow's dawn on the Sabbath the offerings are needed; I beg you, do not overlook me, lest I be devoured by hyenas." For there are many hyenas in those places. So the blessed Nathanael, standing speechless, was exceedingly dizzy, his bowels being troubled, and he reasoned within himself, saying: "I must either fall from the commandment, or from my purpose." 16.6 Afterwards, however, considering that it is better not to shake the purpose of so many years to the shame of the devil, he prayed and said to the one speaking to him, the supposed child: "Listen, child; I believe in the God whom I serve, that if you have need, God will send you help, and neither will hyenas harm you, nor anyone else; but if you are a temptation, God will now reveal the drama from this." And closing the door, he went inside. But the demon, shamed by the defeat, dissolved into a whirlwind and into wild asses leaping and fleeing and making noises. This was the contest of the blessed Nathanael, and this was his way of life, and this was his end. 17 .tOn Macarius of Egypt 17.1 The things concerning the two renowned men named Macarius, being many and great and hard to believe, I hesitate to both speak and write, lest I might gain the reputation of a liar. But that "the Lord destroys all those who speak falsehood" the Holy Spirit has declared. Since I am not lying, therefore, most faithful one, do not disbelieve. Of these Macarii, one was an Egyptian by race, and the other an Alexandrian, who sold sweetmeats. 17.2 And first I will relate about the Egyptian, who lived a total of ninety years. Of these he spent sixty years in the desert, having gone up as a young man of thirty; and he was deemed worthy of such discretion that he was called a "youthful elder"; for which reason he also advanced more quickly; for having become forty years old, he received the gift of power over spirits, and of healing and prophecies; and he was also deemed worthy of the priesthood. 17.3 Two disciples were with him in the innermost desert, called Scetis; one of whom was an attendant near him for the sake of those who came to be healed, while the other was at leisure in a very near cell. And when time had passed, foreseeing with a discerning eye, he said to his attendant, named John, who later became a presbyter in Macarius' own place: "Listen to me, brother John, and bear my counsel; for you are being tempted, and the spirit of avarice is tempting you. 17.4 For thus I have seen; and I know that if you bear with me, you will be perfected in this place and glorified, "and no plague will come near your tent"; but if you disobey me, of Gehazi will come

οὖν καὶ ἐκ ταύτης φυγαδεῦσαί σε". 16.3 Γνοὺς οὖν ὅτι ἐνεπαίχθη, ὑποστρέφει αὖθις εἰς τὴν πρώτην κέλλαν. Καὶ πληρώσας τριάκοντα καὶ ἑπτὰ ἔτη, οὐχ ὑπερέβη τὴν θύραν, φιλονεικήσας τῷ δαίμονι· ὃς τοσαῦτα αὐτῷ ἐνεδείξατο καταναγκάζων αὐτὸν ἐξελθεῖν, ὅσα διηγήσασθαι οὐκ ἔστιν. Ἐν οἷς καὶ τοῦτο· ἐπιτηρήσας ἑπτὰ ἐπισκόπων ἁγίων ἐπίσκεψιν, ἢ ἐκ θεοῦ προνοίας γενομένην ἢ ἐκ πειρασμοῦ ἐκείνου, παρ' ὀλίγον αὐτὸν ἐξώκειλε τῆς προθέσεως. Τῶν γὰρ ἐπισκόπων μετὰ τὸ εὔξασθαι ἐξερχομένων, οὐ προέ πεμψεν αὐτοὺς οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός. 16.4 Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ διάκονοι· "Ὑπερήφανον πρᾶγμα ποιεῖς, ἀββᾶ, μὴ προπέμπων τοὺς ἐπισκόπους". Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτοῖς· "Ἐγὼ καὶ τοῖς κυρίοις μου τοῖς ἐπισκόποις καὶ τῷ κόσμῳ ὅλῳ ἀπέθανον· ἔχω γὰρ κεκρυμμένον σκοπόν, καὶ οἶδεν ὁ θεὸς τὴν καρδίαν μου, διὸ οὐ προπέμπω αὐτούς". Ἀστοχήσας οὖν ὁ δαίμων τοῦ δράματος τούτου σχηματίζεται πρὸ ἐννέα μηνῶν τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ, καὶ γίνεται παιδίον ὡσεὶ δέκα ἐτῶν, ἐλαῦνον ὄνον βαστάζοντα ἄρτους ἐν σαργάνῃ. Καὶ γενόμενος ἑσπέραν βαθείαν πλησίον τῆς τούτου κέλλης ἐσχηματίσατο πεπτω κέναι τὸν ὄνον καὶ κρᾶζον τὸ παιδίον· 16.5 "Ἀββᾶ Ναθα ναήλ, ἐλέησόν με καὶ δός μοι χεῖρα". Ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ δῆθεν παιδίου καὶ παρανοίξας τὴν θύραν, ἑστὼς ἔνδοθεν ἐλάλει αὐτῷ· "Τίς εἶ, καὶ τί θέλεις ἵνα ποιήσω σοι;" Λέγει αὐτῷ· "Εἰμὶ τοῦδε τὸ μελλάκιον, καὶ ἄρτους ἀποφέρω, ἐπειδὴ ἀγάπη ἐστὶ τοῦδε τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ, καὶ αὔριον σαββάτου διαφαίνοντος χρεία τῶν προσφορῶν· δέομαί σου, μὴ παρίδῃς με, μή ποτε καὶ ὑπὸ ὑαινῶν βρωθῶ". Πολλαὶ γὰρ ὕαιναι γίνονται εἰς τοὺς τόπους ἐκείνους. Στὰς οὖν ἐνεὸς ὁ μακάριος Ναθαναὴλ σφόδρα ἰλιγγίασε τὰ σπλάγχνα ταραττόμενος, καὶ ἐλογίζετο καθ' ἑαυτὸν λέγων· "Ἢ τῆς ἐντολῆς ἔχω ἐκπεσεῖν, ἢ τῆς προθέσεως". 16.6 Ὕστερον μέντοι ἐπιλογισάμενος ὅτι ἄμεινόν ἐστι μὴ σαλεῦσαι τῶν τοσούτων ἐτῶν τὴν πρόθεσιν εἰς αἰσχύνην τοῦ διαβόλου, προσευξά μενος λέγει τῷ προσλαλοῦντι δῆθεν παιδίῳ· "Ἄκουσον, παιδίον· πιστεύω εἰς τὸν θεὸν ᾧ λατρεύω, ὅτι, εἰ χρεία σοι ἐστί, πέμπει σοι ὁ θεὸς βοήθειαν, καὶ οὔτε ὕαιναί σε ἀδικήσουσιν οὔτε ἄλλος τις· εἰ δὲ πειρασμὸς εἶ, τὸ δρᾶμα ἐντεῦθεν ἤδη ἀποκαλύψει ὁ θεός". Καὶ κλείσας τὴν θύραν εἰσῆλθεν. Αἰσχυνθεὶς δὲ ὁ δαίμων ἐπὶ τῇ ἥττῃ εἰς λαίλαπα ἀνελύθη καὶ εἰς ὀνάγρους σκιρτῶντας καὶ φεύγοντας καὶ ψόφους ἀπολύοντας. Τοῦτο τὸ ἆθλον τοῦ μακαρίου Ναθα ναήλ, καὶ αὕτη ἡ διαγωγή, καὶ τοῦτο τὸ τέλος. 17 .tΠερὶ Μακαρίου τοῦ Αἰγυπτίου 17.1 Τὰ κατὰ τοὺς δύο Μακαρίους τοὺς ἀοιδίμους ἄνδρας, πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα καὶ δύσπιστα ὄντα, ὀκνῶ καὶ λέγειν καὶ γράφειν, μήποτε καὶ ψεύστου ὑπόληψιν ἀπε νέγκωμαι. Ὅτι δὲ "ἀπολλύει Κύριος πάντας τοὺς λα λοῦντας τὸ ψεῦδος" ἀπεφήνατο τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον. Ἐμοῦ τοίνυν μὴ ψευδομένου, πιστότατε, μὴ ἀπιστήσῃς. Τούτων τῶν Μακαρίων ὁ μὲν εἷς ἦν Αἰγύπτιος τὸ γένος, ὁ δ' ἄλλος Ἀλεξανδρεύς, τραγήματα πιπράσκων. 17.2 Καὶ πρῶτον διηγήσομαι περὶ τοῦ Αἰγυπτίου, ὃς ἔζησε τὰ σύμπαντα ἔτη ἐννενήκοντα. Ἐκ τούτων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ πεποίηκεν ἑξήκοντα ἔτη, τριακονταετὴς ἀνελθὼν νέος· καὶ τοσαύτης ἠξιώθη διακρίσεως ὡς λέγεσθαι αὐτὸν παιδα ριογέροντα· διὸ καὶ θᾶττον προέκοψε· τεσσαρακονταετὴς γὰρ γενόμενος κατὰ πνευμάτων ἔλαβε χάριν ἰαμάτων τε καὶ προρρήσεων· κατηξιώθη δὲ καὶ ἱερωσύνης. 17.3 Τούτῳ συνῆσαν δύο μαθηταὶ εἰς τὴν ἔρημον τὴν ἐνδοτάτω, τὴν καλουμένην Σκῆτιν· ὧν ὁ μὲν εἷς ὑπη ρέτης ἦν πλησίον αὐτοῦ διὰ τοὺς ἐρχομένους θεραπεύε σθαι, ὁ δ' ἄλλος ἐσχόλαζεν ἐν κελλίῳ ἐγγυτάτῳ. Χρόνου δὲ προκόψαντος διορατικῷ ὄμματι προβλέψας λέγει τῷ ὑπη ρετοῦντι αὐτῷ, καλουμένῳ Ἰωάννῃ, ἐς ὕστερον γενομένῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ τοῦ Μακαρίου· "Ἄκουσόν μου, ἄδελφε Ἰωάννη, καὶ ἀνάσχου μου τῆς νουθεσίας· πειράζῃ γάρ, καὶ πειράζει σε τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς φιλαργυρίας. 17.4 Οὕτω γὰρ ἑώρακα· καὶ οἶδα ὅτι ἐάν μου ἀνάσχῃ τελειωθήσῃ ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ καὶ δοξασθήσῃ, "καὶ μάστιξ οὐκ ἐγγιεῖ ἐν τῷ σκηνώματί σου"· ἐὰν δέ μου παρακούσῃς, τοῦ Γιεζῆ ἥξει