Chapter XVI.—The Tenets of the Esseni Continued.

And they continue in an orderly manner, and with perseverance pray from early dawn, and they do not speak a word unless they have praised God in a hymn. And in this way they each go forth and engage in whatever employment they please; and after having worked up to the fifth hour they leave off. Then again they come together into one place, and encircle themselves with linen girdles, for the purpose of concealing their private parts. And in this manner they perform ablutions in cold water; and after being thus cleansed, they repair together into one apartment,—now no one who entertains a different opinion from themselves assembles in the house,—and they proceed to partake of breakfast. And when they have taken their seats in silence, they set down loaves in order, and next some one sort of food to eat along with the bread, and each receives from these a sufficient portion. No one, however, tastes these before the priest utters a blessing,1008    [The Essenes practised many pious and edifying rites; and this became Christian usage, after our Lord’s example. Matt. xiv. 19; 1 Tim. iv. 3–5.] and prays over the food. And after breakfast, when he has a second time offered up supplication, as at the beginning, so at the conclusion of their meal they praise God in hymns. Next, after they have laid aside as sacred the garments in which they have been clothed while together taking their repast within the house—(now these garments are linen)—and having resumed the clothes which they had left in the vestibule, they hasten to agreeable occupations until evening. And they partake of supper, doing all things in like manner to those already mentioned. And no one will at any time cry aloud, nor will any other tumultuous voice be heard. But they each converse quietly, and with decorum one concedes the conversation to the other, so that the stillness of those within the house appears a sort of mystery to those outside. And they are invariably sober, eating and drinking all things by measure.

[21] Παραμένουσι δὲ εὐτάκτως καὶ ἐπιμόνως εὐχόμενοι ἕωθεν, μηδὲν πρότερον φθεγξ(ά)μενοι εἰ μὴ τὸν θεὸν ὑμνήσωσι: καὶ οὕτω, προ[σ]ελθόντες ἕκ(α)στοι ἐφ' ὃ βούλονται, πράττουσι, καὶ ἕως ὥρας πέμπτης πράξαντες ἐπανίασιν. ἔπειτα πάλιν συνελθόντες εἰς ἕνα τόπον, περιζώμασί τε λινοῖς περιζωσάμενοι_πρὸς τὸ καλύψασθαι τὴν αἰσχύνην_, οὕτως ὕδατι ψυχρῷ ἀπολούονται. καὶ μετὰ τὸ οὕτως ἁγνίσασθαι εἰς ἓν οἴκημα συνίασιν_οὐδεὶς δὲ [τῶν] ἑτερ(ο)δόξων σύνεισιν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ_ καὶ περὶ ἀριστοποιΐαν χωροῦσι. καθισάντων δὲ κατὰ τάξιν μεθ' ἡσυχίας προσφέρονται ἄρτοι, ἔπειτα ἕν τι προσφάγιον, ἐξ οὗ ἑκάστῳ τὸ αὔταρκες μέρος. οὐ πρότερον δὲ γεύ(σετ)αί (τις) (α)ὐτῶν, εἰ μὴ ἐπ(εύ)ξεται εὐλογῶν ὁ ἱερεύς. μετὰ (δὲ) τὸ ἄριστον ἐπεύχεται πάλιν: ἀρχόμενοί τε καὶ [πάλιν] παυόμενοι ὑμνοῦσι τὸν θεόν. ἔπειτα τὰς ἐσθῆτας, (ἃ)ς (ἔν)δ(ον) συνεστιώμενοι ἀμφιέν[ν]υνται, ἀποθέμεν(οι) ὡ(ς) (ἱ)εράς_εἰσὶ δὲ λιναῖ_[καὶ] τὰς ἐν τῇ προόδῳ πάλιν ἀναλαμβάνοντες ἐπὶ τὰ φίλα ἔργα ὁρμῶσιν ἕως δείλης. δειπνοῦσι δὲ ὁμοίως τοῖς προειρημένοις πάντα ποιήσαντες. οὐδεὶς δὲ πώποτε κραυγάσει ἤ τις ἑτέρα θορυβώδης ἀκουσθήσεται φωνή, ἠρέμα δὲ ἕκαστοι λαλοῦντες εὐσχημόνως ἕτερος τῷ ἑτέρῳ τὴν ὁμιλίαν συγχωρεῖ, ὡς τοῖς ἔξωθεν μυστήριόν τι καταφαίνεσθαι τὴν τῶν ἔνδον σιωπήν. νήφουσι δὲ πάντοτε, πάντα μέτρῳ καὶ ἐσθίοντες καὶ πίνοντες.