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the dissemination of the word coming from you; and in those, that is, who receive it, as bearing fruit, the performance of their duties.

SOME LETTERS OF MAXIMUS

40. Of the same to the same Thalassius, presbyter and hegumen. Having carefully read the wise and honorable letter of your, master, paternal holiness; and having examined all things, and the entire book of my consciousness in its purity, I found nothing for myself of what was written. . .eso. . olo. . I quickly restrained the tone of my soul, having tightened its slackness, thinking it vain to be added to the praises of others’ good things, and judging it to be the property of a soul alone that has an inclination toward every seductive deceit. For it is truly vain for one who does not have in his deeds the glory of what is said, to rashly try to appropriate praises as though full of virtue. But my master, judging the things of others from the advantages of his own virtue, resolves, through an abundance of godlike perfection, to cover the shame of the one wounded by many . . . passions, as is the custom for those who love the Lord. But I, my blessed master (636) . . of all-radiant perfection in virtue, the command ... most lamentable, being about to perhaps incur every reproach and blame, as if on account of my rashness in this from the . . los . . non, placing your love higher . . . . . . to the lord Abba Thomas, I eagerly ministered in this matter. For we desire, I think, to be able to fulfill such a command from you through the winter, with the Lord's help, providing sufficient material. May you be very well for me, beloved and honored Father, and may you save by your prayers to God . . . your servant and slave; and I will add, your admirer, being rescued from every diabolical device by his mediation.

41. Of the same to the same. Having been taught by the Spirit to take all things captive to Christ, one knows from all things

to reap benefit; just as you do from me, who am utterly estranged from divine grace, and nobly bound by the laws of the flesh. And having nothing, it was my duty to earnestly refuse to come at all, lest I do more harm by carrying out your command. And I will come when the Lord wills, knowing that you have remained immaculate and undefiled even while associating with me, the profane one. For that which is holy by habit, just like that which is so by nature, will not be stained by anything unclean. And concerning the matter of the Vestitor, you do well to sympathize, if the matter entails no harm; and especially if you know that she is able to endure it.

42. Of the same to the same. The blessed David, that great king of the Lord, after the terrible

wars of foreigners, after the great temptations from his own people, after the toilsome exiles and the frequent plots against his many benefactions, after the rebellions of his relatives, after the tr . . . . esin and his kingdom, when he perceived that God from all sides . . . . . . auontos; then he thought to build a house for the Lord God . . . . . and God accepts him as one who had thought well . . . . . . esin but yet

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παρά σοῦ γινομένην τοῦ λόγου διάδοσιν· καί ἐν ἐκείνοις δηλαδή τοῖς λαμβάνουσιν, ὥσπερ καρπόν φέρουσαν τήν τῶν καθηκόντων ἐνέργειαν.

MAXIMI EPISTOLAE ALIQUOT

Μ΄.Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρός τόν αὐτόν Θαλάσσιον πρεσβύτερον καί ἡγούμενον. Τῷ σοφῷ καί τιμίῳ γράμματι τῆς ὑμετέρας, δέσποτα, πατρικῆς ἁγιωσύνης ἐντυχών ἐπιμελῶς· πάντα τε σκοπήσας, καί πᾶσάν μου τῆς συνειδήσεως ἐναγνούς τήν βίβλον, οὐδέν εὗρον ἐμοί τῶν ἐμφερομένων. . .εσω. . ολο. . θᾶττον συνέστειλα τῆς ψυχῆς τόν τόνον, διασφίγξας τήν χαύνωσιν, ἀλλοτρίων καλῶν ἐπαίνοις προστεθῆναι, μάταιον ἡγησάμενος, καί μόνης ἴδιον εἶναι κρίνας ψυχῆς τήν ῥοπήν ἐχομένης πρός πᾶσαν ἀπάτην ἐπαγωγόν. Τῷ ὄντι γάρ μάταιον, ὡς ἀρετῆς μεστόν ἐπαίνους οἰκειοῦσθαι προπετῶς πειρᾶσθαι, τόν ἐν τοῖς πράγμασι τό κλέος τῶν λεγομένων οὐκ ἔχοντα. Ἀλλ᾿ ὁ ἐμός δεσπότης ἐκ τῶν οἰκείων τῆς ἀρετῆς πλεονεκτημάτων τά τῶν ἄλλων κρίνων, ψηφίζεται, διά περιουσίαν θεοεῖδοῦς τελειότητος τό αἶσχος καλύπτων, τόν πολλοῖς . . . παθῶν τετρωμένον, ὡς ἔθος ἐστί τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι ττόν Κύριον. Πλήν ἐγώ, δέσποτά μου (636) εὐλογημένε . . παμφαοῦς ἐπ᾿ ἀρετῇ τελειότητος τήν κέλευσιν ηρῶσ . . . οιμότατος, παντός ὀνείδους καί ψόγου τυχόν ἐμβῆναι μέλλων, ὡς ἐμῆς ἄν ἐπί τοῦτο προπετείας ἕνεκεν παρά τῶν . . λοσ . . νων, τήν ὑμετέραν ἀγάπην ἀνωτέρω τιθε . . . . . . κυρίῳ ἀββᾷ Θωμᾷ τούτῳ προθύμως ὑπουργ . . πράγματι. Ὀρέγοντες δηλαδή, τήν ἀρκοῦσαν ὕλην, ὡς οἶμαι, διά τοῦ χειμῶνος, τήν τοιαύτην ὑμῶν τοῦ Κυρίου συνεργοῦντος πληρῶσαι κέλευσιν δύνασθαι. Σώζοιό μοι λίαν, ἠγαπημένε καί τίμιε Πάτερ, καί σώζοις ταῖς πρός Θεόν εὐχωλῇσιν υμ . . . τόν σόν οἰκέτην καί δοῦλον· προσθήσω δέ καί ἐραστήν, πάσης τῇ ἑαυτοῦ μεσιτείᾳ διαβολικῆς ἐξαιρούμενος μηχανῆς.

ΜΑ´ Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρός τόν αὐτόν. Εἰς Χριστόν πάντα αἰχμαλωτίζειν ὑπό τοῦ Πνεύματος δεδιδαγμένος, ἐκ πάντων οἶδε

καρποῦσθαι ὠφέλειαν· ὥσπερ οὖν καί ὑμεῖς ἐξ ἐμοῦ τοῦ πάμπαν τῆς θείας ἠλλοτριωμένου χάριτος, καί τῶν νόμων τῆς σαρκός γενναίως καταδεδεμένου. Καί μηδέν ἔχοντός εἰμι κάι σπουδαίως, χρεών ἦν με παραιτεῖσθαι καθόλου τοῦ ποτε φοιτᾷν, ἵνα μή βλάπτω μᾶλλον, ποιῶν τήν κέλευσιν ὑμῶν. Καί ἔρχομαι ὅτε ὁ Κύριος θελήσῃ, γινώσκων ἀχράντους καί ἀμολύντους ὑμᾶς διαμεμενηκέναι καί συνουσιάζοντές μοι τῷ βεβήλῳ. Τό γάρ καθ᾿ ἕξιν ἅγιον ὥσπερ τό φύσει, ὑπ᾿ οὐδενός ἀκαθάρτου χρανθήσεται. Περί δέ τῆς τοῦ Βεστίτορος, καλῶς ποιεῖτε συμπάσχοντες, εἰ μή ἔχῃ βλάβην τό πρᾶγμα· καί μάλιστα εἰ γινώσκετε δύνασθαι ἀνέξεσθαι αὐτῆς.

ΜΒ´Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρός τόν αὐτόν. Ὁ μακάριος ∆αβίδ, ὁ μέγας ἐκεῖνος τοῦ Κυρίου βασιλεύς, μετά τούς φοβερούς τῶν

ἀλλοφύλων πολέμους, μετά τούς μεγάλους τῶν ὁμοφύλων πειρασμούς, μετά τάς ἐπιπόνους φυγάς καί τάς ὑπέρ τῶν πολλῶν εὐεργεσιῶν συχνάς ἐπιβουλάς, μετά τάς τῶν συγγενῶν ἐπαναστάσεις, μετά τήν τρ . . . . ησιν τε καί βασιλείαν, ὅταν ᾔσθετο τοῦ Θεοῦ πανταχόθεν αὐτῷ . . . . . . αύοντος· τότε διενοήθη οἰκοδομῆσαι οἶκον τῷ Κυρίῳ Θεῷ . . . . . καί ἀποδέχεται μέν αὐτόν ὁ Θεός ὡς καλῶς διανοηθέντα . . . . . . ησιν δέ καί ὅμως