CHAPTER V

OF THE THINGS WHICH ABBA PACHOMIUS BEARD SAID IN THE AIR BY THE DEVILS AS HE WAS JOURNEYING IN THE DESERT TO HIS MONASTERY

NOW when the holy old man was journeying to his monastery, and was by the side of the desert which is called “Ammon,” certain legions of devils rose up against him, and thronged him, both on his right hand and on his left, and others ran in front of him, saying, “Behold the blessed man of God”; and they acted in this wise because they were plotting to sow the seeds of vainglory in him. Now he knew the evil character of their cunning, and as they cried out these things he cried out to God, and made confession of his sins; then, having brought to naught the evil cunning of these wicked devils, he answered and said unto them, “Ye are not able to persuade me to [indulge in] vainglory. O ye wicked ones, well do I know mine iniquities, and well do I know that it is right for me to weep concerning them continually, and concerning the punishment which is for ever. I have no need of fluent words and cunning error from you, for your work is the destruction of souls. I am not to be carried away therefore by your praisings, for I know well your cunning minds, O evil ones.” And though the holy man Pachomius spake these words unto them, their audacious acts did not cease, for they clung round and about the blessed man until he drew nigh unto his monastery.