The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

44 THE LAUGHABLE STORIES OF BAR-HEBR^US.
and they said to one of the old men, "What do ye
"more than us? For we fast, and pray, and watch, and
"lead lives of self-abnegation." And they replied, "We
"do not only preserve our minds from turning to de-
"bating and reasoning but every aspect of our minds
"is in converse with God."
CLXXXVIII. Abba Macarius the Great arrived at
so great a pitch of humility that when the brethren
spake with him they spoke as unto a saint, and the
great old man answered them never a word. But
when a certain man of the brethren said unto him
insultingly, "Ho father, if only thou hadst been a camel
"thou mightest have stolen natron and they would
"never have beaten thee'',
he gladly made answer unto
them.
CLXXXIX. Abba Kirnen used to say^ "If the man
"who dwelleth with a young man would be mighty in
"the ascetic life, he will not descend [from his cell] even
"for a moment, and he will not stretch himself out in
"his presence even for the sake of comfort. For youno-
"men excite lust by means of their faces, which are
"like those of women, and they stir up tribulation by
"their
audacity."
CXC. When Abba Pachomius was afflicted by the
'
In Palladius:— >ii- iSli^.i r