Volume II Part 40 (2/2)

_Dial._ ii. 2.)

265 She lived also for some time in a convent at Jerusalem, which she had founded. Melania (who was one of St. Jerome's friends) was a lady of rank and fortune, who devoted her property to the monks. See her journey in Rosweyde, lib. ii.

266 See his _Life_ in Tillemont.

267 Ibid. x. p. 14. A certain Didymus lived entirely alone till his death, which took place when he was ninety. (Socrates, _H. E._ iv.

23.)

268 Rufinus, _Hist. Monachorum_, cap. i.

_ 269 Verba Seniorum_, -- 65.

270 Pelagia was very pretty, and, according to her own account, ”her sins were heavier than the sand.” The people of Antioch, who were very fond of her, called her Margarita, or the pearl. ”Il arriva un jour que divers evesques, appelez par celui d'Antioche pour quelques affaires, estant ensemble a la porte de l'eglise de S.-Julien, Pelagie pa.s.sa devant eux dans tout l'eclat des pompes du diable, n'ayant pas seulement une coeffe sur sa teste ni un mouchoir sur ses epaules, ce qu'on remarqua comme le comble de son impudence. Tous les evesques baisserent les yeux en gemissant pour ne pas voir ce dangereux objet de peche, hors Nonne, tres-saint evesque d'Heliople, qui la regarda avec une attention qui fit peine aux autres.”

However, this bishop immediately began crying a great deal, and rea.s.sured his brethren, and a sermon which he preached led to the conversion of the actress. (Tillemont, _Mem. d'Hist. eccles._ tome xii. pp. 378-380. See, too, on women, ”under pretence of religion, attiring themselves as men,” Sozomen, iii. 14.)

271 Tillemont, tome x. pp. 376, 377. Apart from family affections, there are some curious instances recorded of the anxiety of the saints to avoid distractions. One monk used to cover his face when he went into his garden, lest the sight of the trees should disturb his mind. (_Verb. Seniorum._) St. a.r.s.enius could not bear the rustling of the reeds (ibid.); and a saint named Boniface struck dead a man who went about with an ape and a cymbal, because he had (apparently quite unintentionally) disturbed him at his prayers. (St. Greg.

_Dial._ i. 9.)

272 ”Quemadmodum se jam divitem non esse sciebat, ita etiam patrem se esse nesciret.”-Ca.s.sian, _De Cn.o.biorum Inst.i.tutis_, iv. 27.

273 ”c.u.mque taliter infans sub oculis ejus per dies singulos ageretur, pro amore nihilominus Christi et obedientiae virtute, rigida semper atque immobilia patris viscera permanserunt ... parum cogitans de lacrymis ejus, sed de propria humilitate ac perfectione sollicitus.”-Ibid.

274 Ibid.

275 Bollandists, July 6; _Verba Seniorum_, xiv.

_ 276 Verba Seniorum_, xiv.

277 TARTUFFE (_tirant un mouchoir_ _ de sa poche_).

”Ah, mon Dieu, je vous prie, Avant que de parler, prenez-moi ce mouchoir.

DORINE.

Comment!

TARTUFFE.

Couvrez ce sein que je ne saurois voir; Par de pareils objets des ames sont blessees, Et cela fait venir de coupables pensees.”

_Tartuffe_, Acte iii. scene 2.

278 Bollandists, July 6.

_ 279 Verba Seniorum_, iv. The poor woman, being startled and perplexed at the proceedings of her son, said, ”Quid sic operuisti ma.n.u.s tuas, fili? Ille autem dixit: Quia corpus mulieris ignis est, et ex eo ipso quo te contingebam veniebat mihi commemoratio aliarum feminarum in animo.”

280 Tillemont, _Mem. de l'Hist. eccles._ tome x. pp. 444, 445.

_ 281 Vit. S. Pachomius_, ch. x.x.xi.; _Verba Seniorum_.

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