Mary

ON BLESSED MARY

VIRGIN OF ANTIOCH IN SYRIA.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

The Acts, long after the matter done at Antioch written from tradition, whence and how here they are given.

Mary, Virgin of Antioch (S.)

D. P.

Antioch the Metropolis of Syria very many to heaven gave, and, as long as there the Christian affair stood, religiously venerated Saints, whose elsewhere unknown or uncertain the cult; therefore because, The Acts from a Florentine Ms. those which now are extant Synaxaria, although origin nearly they had from of the divine Offices books, by the Saints Sophronius and Damascene in Palestine restored, for the use of the churches and monasteries of the Holy Land; in the Patriarchate yet of Constantinople otherwise, otherwise in the Antiochene transcribed and augmented were; to the Constantinopolitan indeed pertained those nearly all, which we have seen hitherto either by hand written or in types printed. The single Ms. this month ending more often alleged, of the Medicean at S. Laurence Library, placed Plut. IX num. XIV, to the Antiochenes more proper to have been seems: but, what is to be grieved, it contains only May, and this only half. That meanwhile that which is at hand we may enjoy, is offered from it Βίος καὶ πολιτεία τῆς μακαρίας Μαρίας τῆς Παρθένου, The Life and conversation of Blessed Mary the Virgin, in the city Antioch born. (and as much as from the said Ms. could be gathered) venerated Μηνὶ Μαίῳ κ θ᾽, the Month of May XXIX, for so has the title, although in the following then Life no is made mention of her death, much less of the day. This moreover Life, if it is at Antioch written, which nowhere is indicated, was written a long after the matter done time, without any of the chronotactic marks vestige, without any note of time. on which a prudent conjecture could be built about the age of the very Saint. The first indeed in this scene a person plays a certain Anthemius, τῶν ἐπισήμων τῆς πόλεως, of the more illustrious of the city: but rash it would be to assert, this to be that one, who in the Acts of S. Aphraates, VII April under the Emperor Arcadius was Prefect and Consul for the East, Colleague of Stilicho, in the West the Consulate bearing in the year CCCV. By no means easier is it to divine, to which city's Bishop he betook himself for penance and absolution's cause, after Christ and his baptism by a written chirograph he had abjured. Is said that city to have been distant from Antioch by an interval of XVIII Miles, but in which part? Distant by this nearly interval, if after the Syrian manner the miles we take as horary, from the North, Alexandria of Syria, and thence going round, Cyrus, Chalcis, Apamea, Epiphania, Antaradus. But that neither the city nor the Bishop is named, a just affords cause of suspecting, that nothing of these was known to the Writer; and so the matter, by no writing older handed down, and by a style more recent adorned, in that to be held place, in which many things in the Lives of the holy Fathers, useful indeed instruction containing for forming morals, but to historical certainty little or nothing. Therefore that also as such here we give, free to the reader leaving, that it in whatever he will degree of credibility he place, since nothing from elsewhere is brought, by which either confirmed it can be or weakened.

ACTA

From a Ms. of the Medicean Library at S. Laurence of Florence.

By the Interpreter R.P. Antony Francis Destieu S.J.

Mary, Virgin of Antioch (S.)

FROM THE MS. OF FLORENCE

CHAPTER I.

Mary's chaste education, her modesty in vain tempted by Anthemius, a magician called to aid.

Τὸ γεγονὸς πρᾶγμα, κατὰ τὴν μεγάλην Ἀντιοχείαν τῆς Συρίας, δίκαιον ἡγησάμην γραφῇ παραδοῦναι, εἰς δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ὠφέλειαν καὶ σωτηρίαν τῶν τε ἀναγινοσκόντων καὶ τῶν ἀκουόντων· ἔχει δὲ ταύτης διηγήσεως ὦδε. Ἐν Ἀντιοχεία τῇ πόλει γυνή τις κατῴκει, σεμνὴ τὸν βίον, χρηστὴ τὸν τρόπον, μέτριος δὲ τῇ τοῦ παρόντος βίου περιουσίᾳ. Αὐτὴ χηρευθεῖσα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς, εἶχεν θυγάτριον καλούμενον Μαρίαν, ἥνπερ ἀνέτρεφεν κατὰ μίμησιν τοῦ θεοφιλοῦς αυτῆς βίου. Τῆς δὲ παιδὸς προκοψάσης χρόνοις καὶ ἡλικίας ὑπετίθετο αὐτῇ ἡ μήτηρ, συμφέρειν αὐτῇ τὴν παρθενίαν ἑλέσθαι, εἴπερ τῷ γάμῳ προσομιλίσαι διότι ἡ παρθενία ἐν τούτῳ τῷ βίῳ ἀμεριμνίαν ἔχει, καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι αἰῶνι πολλῆς χαρᾶς καὶ τιμῆς ἀξιωθήσεται. Ἡ δὲ, ὡς ἐκ τοιαύτης μητρὸς ὑπάρχουσα καὶ τοιούτων διδασκαλιῶν ὁπακούουσα, ἀπέιπατο μὲν τῷ γάμῳ, τῇ δὲ ἀγνῇ παρθενίᾳ ἑαυτὴν συνήρμοσεν. Ἦν οὖν σὺν τῇ μητρὶ νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας, τᾶῖς ἐκκλησίαις καὶ ψαλμῳδίαις ἀπαύστως προστρέχουσα· καὶ τοσούτῳ πόθῳ ἐκρατήθη πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, ὥστε ἐκ τούτου κατορθῶσαι αὐτὴν καὶ τὸ ἱερὸν ψαλτήριον. Τούτων οὕτως εὐαρέστως τῷ Θεῷ βιούντων, διαπονηθεὶς ὁ τῶν καλῶν ἐμποδιστὴς διάβολος, ἑπιφέρει αὐταῖς τινα τῶν ἐπισήμων τῆς πόλεως, ὀνόματι Ἀνθέμιον· ὅστις κατοπτεύσας διαφόρως τὴν σεμνὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς, ἅμα τῇ θυγατρὶ συχνάζουσαν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, προσετέθη τῇ κόρῃ σφοδρῶς. Καὶ ἐν τειλάμενος ἑνὶ τῶν παίδων αὐτοῦ καταμαθεῖν ἔνθα τὴν οἴκησιν ποιοῦνται, ἤρξατο διὰ τῶν παίδων τῇ κόρη ὑποσχέσεις καὶ ἐπαγγελίας διαβολικὰς ὑποτίθεσθαι. Ἡ δὲ παντελῶς οὐδεμιᾶς ἀποκρίσεως αὐτοὺς ἠξίου, ὡς λοιπὸν αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου συνωθούμενον, δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἐμφανίσαι αὐταῖς κολακείαις καὶ ὑποσχέσεσι παρασχὼν, ἐκλύειν αὐτῶν πειρώμενος πρὸς τὴν σπουδὴν καὶ τὸν πόθον. Τῆς δὲ μητρὸς προσπεσούσης αὐτῷ, καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δὶς, ἐπὶ τὸ ἐνδοῦναι αὐταῖς, καὶ μὴ παρενοχλεῖν πρός τε αὐτοῦ ὕβριν, πρὸς τε αὐτῶν θλίψιν, διὰ τὸ μὴ ἐ͂ιναι δυνατὸν αὐτάς τι τοιοῦτον διαπράξασθαι· αὐτὸς οὐδ᾽ ὁλως τῆς διαβολικῆς ἐπιθυμίας ἐπαύετο· ἀλλὰ λοιπὸν καὶ διὰ γυναικῶν, αἷς ἦν πρέπον ταῖς τοιαύταις ἀποκρίσεσιν ὑπουργεῖν, ἐμήνυσεν, καὶ διαφόρως ἕξειν αὐτὴν νομίμην γυναῖκα, καὶ δωρεαῖς καὶ θεραπείαις ἀμείψασθαι τὴν τε παῖδα καὶ τὴν μητέρα. Τῶν δὲ μεθ᾽ ὅρκων ἀπομοσαμένων μὴ πρᾶξαί τι τοιοῦτόν ποτε, αὐτὸς τοῦτο μαθὼν ἀνθωμό σατο, ὡσεὶ δέοι αὐτῷ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ δαπανῆσαι, πάντως κατακυριεύσει τῆς κόρης. Ὡς δὲ δύω ἔτη παρῆλθον μυρίαις χρωμένῳ τέχναις διαβολικαῖς;, καὶ ἀνορητὸς ἡ σπουδὴ αὐτοῦ ἐγίνετο, ἦν λοιπὸν συνεχόμενος τῇ διαβολικῇ θλίψει, καὶ ἀπορῶν ὃ πράξει. Ἐν μιᾷ οὖν τῶν ἡμερῶν, καθεζωμένου αὐτοῦ μετά τινων τῶς τῆς πόλεως, ἦλθέν τις ἄνθρωπος, αὐτῷ μὲν ἄγνωστος ὑπάρχων, τοῖς δὲ σὺν αὐτῷ καθεζομένοις γνωστός. Τοῦτον ἰδόντες οἱ ἐκεῖσε σὺν αὐτῷ καθεζόμενοι, ὑπανέστησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ πάλιν ἐκάθισαν σὺν αὐτῷ. Μετὰ οὖν μίαν ὥραν ἀνέστη ὁ ἐλθὼν, καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν. Ὁ οὺν Ἀνθέμιος ἤρξατο ἐρωτᾷν σὺν αὐτοῖς· Τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ ἐλθὼν, ὅτι ὑπανέστητε αὐτῷ; Εἷς δέ τις ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἔφη αὐτῷ. Οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος, τὸ μὲν ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Μέγας καλεῖται, σὺν τῷ ὀνόματι δὲ καὶ μέγας ὑπάρχει· γοὴς γάρ ἐστι δοκιμώτατος, δυνάμενος ποιεῖν πάντα ὅσα θέλει. Ἀκούσας δὲ τοῦτο ὁ Ἀνθέμιος ἐξάρη, τὴν διαβολικὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπιθυμίαν βουλόμενος δι᾽ αὐτοῦ πληρῶσαι. Ἀλλ᾽ ὁ μόνος παντοδύναμος Θεὸς, ὁ δυνάμενος σώζειν τὰς προσφευγούσας αὐτῷ ψυχὰς κᾄν τε ἀνδρῶν κᾄν τε γυναικῶν, ὁ θέλων πάντα ἄνθρωπον σώζεσθαι, ὁ μὴ βουλόμενος τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἐπιστροφὴν καὶ τὴν ζωὴν, ὁ κατὰ γενεὰν καὶ γενεὰν ποιῶν θαυμάσια μεγάλα μόνος, αὐτὸς καὶ νῦν τῇ σοφία αὐτοῦ ἔσωσεν καὶ τὴν πιστὴν μητέρα ἅμα τῷ ἐναρέτῳ αὐτῆς θυγατρίῳ· οὐ μόνον δὲ αὐτὰς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν ἐν ἀπολείᾳ αὐτῶν τε καὶ ἑαυτοῦ σπεύδοντα ἄνθρωπον ἔσωσεν. Τὸν δὲ τρόπον τῆς σωτηρίας διηγήσομαι ὅπως ἑστὶν, ἵνα ἕκαστος τῶν ἀκουὀντων δοξάσῃ τὸν σώζοντα τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν. Οὗτος οὖν ὁ Ἀνθέμιος συχνάσας τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνᾳ, καὶ περιτυχὼν τῷ προειρημένῳ φαρμάκῳ, προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ διηγούμενος τὴν διαβολικὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπιθυμίαν, εἰπών· Ὅτε κόρης τινὸς ἐρῶ, ἥτις ἔστιν ὀρφανὴ, πενηχρὰν μητέρα μόνον ἔχουσα· ἥντινα πλείσταις παρακλήσεσι καὶ ὑποσχέσεσι, διά τε ἑαυτοῦ διάτε ἄλλων πλειόνων παρακαλέσας, πεῖσαι οὐ δεδύνημαι, τοῦτον ἤδη δεύτερον ἔτος. Ὁ δὲ φαρμακὸς ἔφη αὐτῷ · Δεῖξόν μοι τὸν οἶκον, ἔνθα καταμένουσι τὰ γυναικάρια ἐκεῖνα, καὶ ἀμέριμνος ἔσο· σήμερον γὰρ τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ ποιῶ τὴν κόρην ἐλθεῖν καὶ παραστῆναι τῇ κλίνῃ, ἐφ᾽ ᾖ σὺ καθεύδεις. Ὁ δὲ Ἀνθἐμιος προσκυνήσας καὶ ἀσπασάμενος; καὶ ὑποσχόμενος αὐτῷ θεραπείαν ἀνεχώρησεν, δοὺς αὐτῷ ἕνα παῖδα, ὀφείλοντα ὑποδεῖξαι ἔνθα κατῴκουν τὰ γύναια. Τῆς δὲ νυκτὸς ἐπελθούσης, ἔμενεν ὁ Ἀνθέμιος προσδοκῶν τοῦ φαρμακοῦ τὴν ὑπόσχεσιν. Ὡς δὲ πᾶσαν τὴν νύκτα ἀγρυπνήσας ἐματαιώθη, προῆλθεν πρωῒ ἐγκαλέσαι τῷ μάγῳ. Καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν καὶ προσκυνήσας ἔφη· Οὐδὲν, κύριέ μου, ὃ ὑπέσχού μοι χθὲς, γεγένηται πρός με. Ὁ δὲ ἔφη αὐτῷ· Ἐπελήθην σου ἐν τῇ ἑσπέρᾳ, ἀλλὰ πάντως τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτη ἔρχεται πρός σε. Ὡς δὲ πάλιν ἡ νὺξ ἔφθασεν, ἦν αὐτὸς ἀγρυπνῶν, καὶ περιμένων τὴν διαβολικὴν ὑπόσχεσιν. Ὡς δὲ οὐδὲ τότε τῆς τοῦ μάγου συντάξεως κατέτυχεν, ἀποδυσπετῶν καὶ θλιβόμενος, ἅματε καὶ τῷ κόπῳ τῆς ἀγρυπνίας συνεχόμενος, προῆλθεν σπουδαιοτέρως ἐγκαλέσαι τῷ μάγῳ· καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν ἔφη· Εἰ δυσχερὲς ὑμῖν ὑπάρχει τὸ παραστῆναί μοι τὴν κόρην ἐν τῷ οἵκῳ μου; κᾂν τὸ προσομιλεῖν αὐτὰς μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ ποίησον, καὶ δέχεσθαί με εἰς ὁμιλίαν αὐτῶν. Ὁ δὲ φάρμακος λέγει αὐτῷ. Ἡσύχασον σὺ νεκρόψυχε, ἐπειδὴ ἄλλο ἀναγκαιότερόν μοι πρᾶγμα ἀνέκυψεν, ἐκεῖ ἠσχολούμην· ἐπεὶ ἂν καὶ τὸ σὸν πρᾶγμα ἐγεγόνει. Πλὴν ὕπαγε, ἀμερίμνει, ταύτην τὴν νύκτα ἔρχεται ἡ κόρη πρός σε κᾂν μὴ θέλῃ. Ὁ δὲ Ἀρθέμιος καὶ πάλιν πιστεύσας ἀνεχώρησεν. Ὅτι οὖν ἡ ἑσπέρα κατέλαβεν, συγκοπτόμενος τῷ ἀθέσμῳ ἐκείνῳ λογισμῷ, ἠν πάλιν ὁ αὐτὸς ἀγρυπνῶν καὶ ἀδολεσχῶν.

[1] The matter at Antioch the city of Syria greatest done, At Antioch a poor little mother to writing to hand down, just to be I judged, both for the divine glory, and from of those, who whether about to read it are, or about to hear, the utility. In this moreover manner it is related. In the city Antioch lived a woman, by the honesty of life, and by the example of morals commendable, of riches indeed of a moderate abundance. To this one of a husband bereaved a girl there was, Mary by name, whom to the imitation of her life and in the divine love she educated. Furthermore the daughter in age advanced suggested the mother, more conducive to her would be the institute of a celibate life, than of the conjugal; therefore because virginity in the present life is free of solicitudes, to Mary her daughter she persuades celibacy in the future indeed of much joy and glory partaker. The girl moreover, as one who from such a mother born to such would obey documents, renounced marriage, and herself to virginity chastely to be cultivated composed. Therefore by night and day the churches and psalmodies with her mother frequenting, with so great of God love she was held, that from that time the sacred itself Psalter happily she learned thoroughly.

[2] Both a life to God pleasing in this tenor leading, ill it bearing, by her love captivated of the chief men Anthemius who to piety is wont to be an obstacle the devil, casts on them Anthemius a certain of the Chief men of the city: who otherwise that upright one

mother, otherwise the daughter esteeming, while more curiously he observes them frequently the temple together going, with the girl's love vehement was captured; and ordered their dwelling to seek out a servant, he began with diabolic through his servants promises the virgin to assail. But these she with no at all answer dignified, when this one through himself at last both with those blandishments and with promises enough manifestly showed, himself by a demon to be impelled, while thus he tempts to dissolve their toward God piety and the desire of obtaining it. But when the mother once and again had besought, since nothing he profited; him that he would let go, nor disturb, to his own ignominy and their calamity, by soliciting them to that, which unlawful it was for them to do; nothing he of his most wicked cupidity remitting, thenceforth through little women, for that kind of dealings fit, signified also more often, that her a wife he would have legitimate, the girl meanwhile with the mother by gifts and obsequies enticing. Both indeed even with an oath denying, such anything they ever would admit; he that understood swore on the contrary, that himself, although his faculties all to consume it should behoove, the girl altogether would obtain.

[3] But when two years he spent, having used a thousand frauds diabolic, and in vain to him fell every attempt; with satanic he was wasting away grief, not knowing, what he should do. By chance moreover, at length the magician indicated to him to approach he resolved: he himself with certain of the citizens sitting, came upon a man some, to him indeed unknown, but known to those who together sat. These indeed him beholding rose, and again with the same sat down; and he one hour after, than he had come, departed. Therefore Anthemius forthwith to ask began; What kind of man is this, that to him coming you rose? Answered one of the number: This man is called Magnus, and, what the name indicates, great indeed he is: for most skilled in magic since he is, anything he can. Which heard, rejoiced Anthemius, as one who by the magician's work his criminal cupidity to fulfill wished. But the omnipotent God, who of men and women to him recurring the souls to save can, who every man desires to be saved, nor the death of a sinner wills, but his conversion and life, who through generation and generation does miracles great alone, now also by his wisdom saved that mother faithful with the beloved of the same daughter; nor them only, but the man also, into his own and their destruction rushing. What moreover was the manner of salvation, I shall narrate; that of the hearers each one may praise him, who saves those hoping in him.

[4] this one promised he himself would set him before her bed Anthemius therefore again and again to that place returning, and on the mentioned magician falling, his diabolic concupiscence to him expounds, much beseeching and saying: A girl a certain I love, of a father bereaved, with a mother only surviving, but poor. Her with many both prayers and promises I myself through me, and through others several having approached, nothing to persuade I could, for a whole now two years. To whom the magician: The house of those little women to me show, for the rest be not solicitous: tomorrow for in the night itself, to thee I will set the girl at the bed, in which thou sleepest. Anthemius the man having besought with an embrace, and promised of his work a reward, withdrew, given a servant, who should indicate; where the women dwelt. Followed therefore the night Anthemius awaited the magician's promises; but the whole night to have watched in vain to him was. twice Anthemius he deceives In the morning therefore he went to expostulate with the magician: whom finding, he says with reverence: Nothing, Lord mine, of those things, which yesterday thou promisedst, to me has come about. Answered he: Forgetful of thee I was yesterday evening, but this altogether night to thee about to come she is. When again the night came, sleepless he the diabolic of the magician promises awaited: but after that neither even then the thing by the magician agreed he obtained, with indignation and grief full, and at the same time of vigils the trouble cast down, he hastened more earnestly with the magician to expostulate. Whom when he found, If to thee, he says, too is difficult the girl in my house to me to set, do at least either them to come, or by them me to be admitted to a colloquy. To whom the magician, Be silent thou, says he, man senseless: because to me has befallen a business more urgent, to it I attended: yet also thy matter perfected is. For the rest go, without care I bid thee to be: this certainly night will come to thee the girl, will she nill she. That moreover again believing Anthemius betook himself away: the night indeed returning, disturbed by that nefarious cogitation, again he watched, and much speculated he with himself.

CHAPTER II.

Mary led by magic to Anthemius, prudently herself from him frees.

Ὁ Δὲ μάγος ἀπελθὼν εἰς τὸν οἶκον, ἔνθα κατέμενον τὰ τίμια ἐκεῖνα γύναια, παρεκατέστησεν ἐκεῖ δύο δαίμονας, ἐν τειλάμενος αὐτοῖς, ὅτιπερ ὥδε καταμένουσιν μήτηρ καὶ θυγάτηρ, τῆς δὲ θυγατρὸς ἐρᾷ Ἀρθέμιος ὁ λαμπρότατος, ὁ εἰς τόνδε τὸν τόπον οἰκῶν· θελήσατε οὖν παντὶ τρόπῳ παραμεῖναι, καὶ ἀπγαγεῖν τὴν κόρην ἔνθα αὐτὸς καθεύδει, ἐπεὶ οὐ φείσομαι ὑμῶν. Καὶ καταλιπὼν ἐκεῖ τοὺς δύο δαίμονας ἀνεχώρησεν. Ἐπεισελθόντες δὲ αὐταῖς κοιμωμέναις οἱ δαίμονες, διαφόροις αὐτὰς φαντασίαις ἐτάραξεν. Ἡ δὲ μήτηρ διυπνισθεῖσα καὶ κατασφραγεσαμένη ἔφη τῇ θυγατρί· Δεῦρο τέκνον, ἀναστῶμεν καὶ ἀπέλθωμεν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ὅτι ὅλη ἡ νὺξ αὕτη φαντασία μοι γέγονεν· ἐδόκουν γὰρ ὅτι ὁ κακὸς ἐκεῖνος ἄνθρωπος ἐκράτησέν σε, καὶ ἤθελεν ἀποσπᾶσαι ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ· κᾀγῶ ἀντείχουν κᾀντεμαχόμην αὐτῷ, κρατοῦσά σε καὶ ὁρκίζουσα αὐτῷ, κατὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τῶν Ἁγίων, ἁναχωρῆσαι ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν. Ὡς δὲ οὐκ ἐνεδίδου, ἀλλὰ ἀπομύετό μοι, μὴ συγχωρῆσαι, εἰ μὴ ἐπάρω αὐτὴν ἀπό σου. Εὐθέως φησὶν ἰδέσθημε ὅτι ἐφάνησαν κληρικοὶ καὶ ὄχλοι πολλοὶ, ὡς ὅτι ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος ἔρχεται· κᾀκεῖνος εὐθὺς ἀπολύσας σε ἄφαντος ἐγένετο, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰσήλθομεν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ εὐχαριστήσαμεν τῷ Κυρίῳ, τῷ σώσαντι ἡμᾶς. Δεῦρο οὖν, τέκνον, καὶ αὐτῇ τῇ ἀληθείᾳ ἀπελθοῦσαι, ἱκετεύσωμεν τὸν Θεὸν, ὅπως σώσῃ ἡμᾶς, καὶ πρόνοιαν τῆς πτωχείας ἡμῶν ποιήσηται. Ἡ δὲ θυγάτηρ ἀποκριθεῖσα λέγει αὐτῇ· Δεῦρο, Κυρία μου μῆτερ, ἄγωμεν, κᾀγὼ μὲν ἐν μεγάλῳ ἀγῶνι ἐγενόμην· ἐδόκουν γὰρ σύν σοι ἀπιέναι ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, καὶ εὑρέθην, οὐκ οἶδα πῶς, ἐν οἴκῳ τινὶ μεγάλῳ, καὶ ὁ μιαρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἄνθρωπος εὑρέθη ἐκεῖ, κρατῶν με καὶ δεικνύων μοι ἀργύριον πολύν, κόσμια διάφαρα, ἱμάτια χρυσόκλαβα, στρομνὰς μεγάλας, δούλους καὶ δουλίδας πολλὰς, λέγων μοι· Τούτων πάντων κυρία ἔσῃ, ἐὰν μέλλῃς ἐ͂ιναι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἔκλαιον λέγουσα· Οὐ θέλω ταῦτα, πρὸς τὴν κυρίαν μου θέλω· καὶ οὕτως κλέουσα διύπνισα. Ἀλλὰ ἄγωμεν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. Καὶ ἐνδυσάμεναι ἐξῆλθον ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτῶν, ἀπιέναι εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν. Ἦνδὲ τάχειον πολύ· αὗται δὲ ἐκ τοῦ πόνου τῆς φαντασίας αὐτῶν διυπνισθεῖσαι, ἐνόμισαν τὸν κατὰ συνήθειαν αὐταῖς ὕπνον πεπληρωκέναι. Καὶ ὡς διῆλθον μίαν ῥύμην καὶ εἰς ἄλλην ἔμελλον εἰσιέναι, ἐνέβαλον ἑαυτοὺς οἱ δύο δαίμονες μέσον τῆς μητρὸς καὶ τῆς θυγατρός· καὶ ὁ μὲν ἑις ἀφωμοίωσεν ἑαυτὸν τῇ μητρὶ, καὶ ἐπὶ ἑτέραν πλατείαν προάξας τῇ κόρῃ, λέγει αὐτῇ· Ἔνθεν ἔρχου, τέκνον μου, ἀκολούθει μοι. Ἡ δὲ κόρη, νομίζουσα τῇ μητρὶ ἀκολουθεῖν, ἠκολούθει τῷ δαίμονι· καὶ ὁ δαίμων ἀπήγαγεν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἀνθεμίου· καὶ ἀνοίξας τὰς θύρας, παρίστησιν αὐτὴν τῇ κλίνῃ ἔνθα ἐκάθευδεν, καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν. Ὁ δὲ ἄλλος δαίμων ἠκολουθεῖ τῇ μητρὶ, καὶ συνελάλει αὐτῇ ἐν σχήματι τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτῆς ἄχρι τῆς ἐκκλησίας καὶ τοῦ νάρθηκος, καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν. Ὁ οὖν Ἀνθέμιος θεασάμενος τὴν κόρην, ἢν πολλοῖς χρόνοις ἔσπευδεν κᾂν εἰς ὁμιλίαν αὐτῆς γενέσθαι, τότε δὲ παρεστῶσαν αὐτοῦ τῇ κλίνῃ, ἔκθαμβος ἐγένετο, καὶ ἀναπηδήσας τῆς κλίνης ἐκράτησεν αὐτὴν τῆς χειρὸς, καὶ λέγει αὐτῇ· Τί ἐ͂ι, κυρία μου Μαρία; ποσάκις παρεκάλεσα ὑμᾶς, καὶ δι᾽ ἄλλων καὶ δἰ ἑαυτοῦ, κᾂν εἰς ὁμιλίαν μου στῆναι, καὶ οὐκ ἐβουλήθητε· ἰδοὺ σὺ ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῆς ἦλθες εἰς τὸν οἶκόν μου, καὶ εἰς τὸν κοιτῶν ά μου,καὶ εἰς τὰς χεῖράς μου ἐ͂ι. Ἡ δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ δούλη Μαρία, θεωρήσασα ἑαυτὴν ἐν τοιούτῳ τόπῳ καὶ τοιούτῳ σχήματι συνεχομένην, σύντρομος γεγενομένη ἀνέκραξεν, μετὰ δακρύων εἰποῦσα· Οὐαί μοι τῇ ἀθλίᾳ! τί ἔπαθον; Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς, πρὸς ὃν ἔσπευδον ἀπιέναι, σὺ βοήθησόν μοι ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ταύτῃ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν βοηθῶν μοι. Ὁ δὲ Ἀνθέμιος ἔφη αὐτῇ· Μὴ δειλιάσῃς, κυρία μου Μαρία, μηδὲ ἐκστῇς ἑαυτῆς. Δεῦρο ἴδε τὸν ἄργυρόν μου, πόσος ἔστιν. Δεῦρο θέασαι κόσμον γυναικεῖον, πόσος μοι ὑπάρχει· πόσαι καὶ διάφοροι ἑσθῆτές τε καὶ στρῶμναι, πόσοι δοῦλοι καὶ δουλίδες μέλλουσιν ὑπηραιτεῖν σοι καὶ τῇ μητρί σου· καὶ εἰ μὴ θελήσης οἰκείᾳ σου προαιρέσει συζευχθῆναί μοι, ὡς παλλακῇ σοι χρήσομαι, καὶ οὐ συγχωρίσῳ σοι τὸ φῶς τοῦ ἡλίου ἰδέσθαι, ἐν ᾧ ὅλως εἰς τὰς χεῖράς μου ἦλθες. Καὶ κρατῶν αὐτὴν τῆς χειρὸς ἐπεδείκνυεν αὐτῇ τὸν ἄργυρον, τὸν κόσμον, τὴν ἑσθῆτα. Τῆς δὲ δούλης τοῦ Θεοῦ Μαρίας μὴ δὲ ὁλῶς μεταβλησκομένης τῇ θεωρίᾳ τοῦ ἀργύρου ἢ τῶν ἄλλων εἰδῶν, ἀλλὰ συχνῶς ἐκ βάθους τῆς καρδίας στεναγμοὺς ἀφιούσης μετὰ δακρύων, ὁ τὰ βάθη τῶν καρδιῶν ἐρευνῶν Θεὸς, ὁ μόνος ἐκ πάσης βίας καὶ ἀνάγκης ῥύεσθαι δυνάμενος τοὺς ἐλπίζοντας ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν, ἐξαπέστειλεν τὴν τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος βοήθειαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτήν. Καὶ δὴ ἀναλαβοῦσα ἑαυτὴν, προσπίπτει τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Κόριέ μου, ἐν ᾧ εἰς τὰς χεῖράς σου ἐνέπεσα, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι μοι ἐκφυγεῖν, ἐρῶ σοι πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Ἡμεῖς πενιχρὰ γυναικάρια ἐγενόμεθα ἐξ ἀρχῆς, καὶ ἐσμέν· ἡ δὲ μήτηρ μου πάντοτε ταῦτά με ἐδίδαξεν, λέγουσα· Ὅτι τέκνον μου οὐκ ἔνι ἄλλως παρὰ Θεῷ σωθῆναι, εἰ μήπου τις ἐντολὰς καὶ εὐποιΐας ἐργάσηται· ἐπεὶ οὖν ἡμεῖς ἐν πενίᾳ ὑπάρχομεν, μὴ δυνάμεναι ἐλεημοσύνην ποιῆσάς τινι, κᾂν τὴν παρθενίαν καὶ ἀγρυπνίαν τῷ Θεῷ προσοίσωμεν, ἵνα ἑύρωμεν ἔλεος ἐν ἡμέρα κρίσεως· ἐὰν δὲ λάβῃς ἄνδρα, ἐμὲ ἐγκαταλεῖψαι ἔχεις, κᾀγὼ ἐν ἀνάγκῃ γενομένη μέλλω στενάξειν κατά σου, καὶ σὺ μέλλεις περιπίπτειν θλίψεσι καὶ ἁμαρτίαις, καὶ οὕτως κατάκριτος γενομένη τῇ κρίσει τοῦ Θεοῦ παραδοθήσῃ· Ἐὰν δὲ ἀκούσῃς μου καὶ τὴν παρθενίαν φυλάξῃς, ἀπερισπάστως τῷ Θεῷ δουλεύσομεν, καὶ τὴν αἰωνίαν χάραν κληρονομήσομεν. Τούτου οὖν χάριν οὐκ ἠνεσχόμεθά σου στῆναι εἰς ὁμιλίαν· ἐν ᾧ δὲ συντίθῃ μοι ἔχειν μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα μου, ἕτιμός εἰμι προαιρέσει δούλη σου γενέσθαι, μόνον δυσωπῶ μηδὲν πραχθῆναι ἐν τῷ τέως ἐν έμοὶ κακόν· ἐγὼ γὰρ πείσω τὴν μητέρα μου συνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ πράγματι· εἰ δὲ καὶ μὴ πεισθῇ, ἐγὼ ἑαυτήν σοι ἐπιδίδωμι. Τοῦ δὲ Ἀνθεμίου θεραπευθέντος ἐπὶ τῇ ὑποσχέσει

τῆς κόρης, πιστωθεὶς παρ᾽ αὐτῆς ὅρκῳ, ὡπίσω ιε᾽ ἡμερῶν τοῦτο πράξειε, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτήν. Ἡ δὲ δούλη τοῦ Θεοῦ Μαρία ἀπολυθεῖσα, ἀπῆλθεν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, καὶ εὗρεν τὴν μητέρα κλαίουσαν καὶ δεομένην τῷ Θεῷ, ὑπὲρ τοῦ φανερωθῆναι αὐτῇ τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῆς ὅτι καὶ εἰς τὸν οἶκον ἀπῆλθεν ζητοῦσα, καὶ οὐχ εὗρεν αὐτήν. Ἰδοῦσα δὲ αὐτήν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτῆς ἐπηρώτα αὐτὴν λέγουσα· Ποῦ ἀπῆλθες, τέκνον, ὅτι μέχρι τοῦ νάρθηκος τῆς ἐκκλησίας σὺν ἐμοὶ ᾖς, καὶ ποῦ ἀνεχώρισας. Ἡ δὲ λέγει αὐτῇ. Μὴ φοβοῦ, κυρία μου· οὑδὲν γὰρ κακόν μοι γέγονεν, ταῖς εὐχαῖς σου· ἀλλὰ τὴν εὐχὴν ἡμῶν πληρώσασαι, καὶ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ γενόμεναι, ἐρῶ σοι ποῦ ἀπῆλθον. Ὡς δὲ ἐγένοντο ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτῶν, ἠρώτα ἡ μήτηρ τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῆς εἰπεῖν ποῦ ἀπῆλθεν· ἡ δὲ διηγήσατο αὐτῇ πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Ἡ δὲ μήτηρ ἀκούσασα, ῥίψασα ἑαυτὴν χαμαὶ ἐθρήνει δεινῶς· ἡ; δὲ θυγάτηρ παρεκάλει ἐνδοῦναι τοῦ κλαίειν, διὰ τὸ μηδὲν κακὸν αὐτὴν ὑπομεῖναι, διὰ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ προνοίας, Ἀλλὰ δεηθῶμέν, φησιν, τῷ Θεῷ, ὅπως τὸν κενηθέντα ἡμῖν τοῦτον πειρασμὸν διασκεδάσῃ ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν· καὶ ὁ ἕως τοῦ νῦν σώσας ἡμᾶς, αὐτὸς καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀντιλήψεται ἡμῶν. Καὶ πολλὰ κλαυσάντων αὐτῶν καὶ δεηθέντων, ἔμενον ἐν λύπῃ, παρακαλοῦσαι τὸν Θεὸν πρόφασιν σωτηρίας καταπεμφθῆναι αὐταῖς ἄχρι τῆς ὁρισθείσης προθεσμίας τῶν ιε᾽ ἡμερῶν, ὧν ἦν μεθ᾽ ὅρκων συνθεμένη τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ· ὅπερ καὶ γέγονεν ὑπὸ μόνου τοῦ τὰ πάντα καλῶς διοικεῖν δυναμένου Θεοῦ. Ὁ γὰρ Ἀνθέμιος, μετὰ τὸ ἀπολύσαι τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ δούλην καὶ παρθένον ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, ἦν θαυμάζων λίαν καθ᾽ ἑαυτὸν τὸ γεγονὸς, ὅτι πῶς ἐδυνήθη πεῖσαι θὴν μητέρα ἀπολύσαι τὴν θυγατέρα αὐτῆς ὁ μάγος, ἢ πῶς ἐπείσθη ἡ θυγάτηρ ἐλθεῖν πρός με ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ μου· καὶ ἔλεγεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ὅτι ὁ ὢν τοιοῦτος ἄνθρωπος καὶ τοιαῦτα ποιεῖν δυνάμενος, πάντων ἀνθρώπων κρείττων ἐστίν· διὰ τί οὖν μὴ προσαγάγω αὐτῷ σχεδὸν πάντα τὰ πράγματά μου, ὥπως κἀμὲ ποιῆσαι οὕτως γενέσθαι ὥς ἐστιν αὐτός; Καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς τοιαύτης λοιπὸν ἐπιθυμίας πυρούμενος, τῇ ἄλλῃ ἐπιθυμίᾳ ἐχλιαίνετο, λογιζόμενος καθ᾽ ἑαυτὸν, ὅτι εἰ οὗτος γένομαι πάντα τὰ καταθύμιά μου ἔχω ἕτοιμα. Καὶ οὗτος ὁ λογισμὸς, ὡς ἐκ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ διοκήσεως, αὐτῷ ἐπῆλθεν, ὄπως καὶ τῆς παρθένου ἐξ οἰκείας προαιρέσεως ἀποστῇ, κᾀκείνῃ τῇ ἐπιορκίᾳ μὴ ὑποπέσῃ, καὶ ὁ πορνείας διδάσκαλος διάβολος ἀσχυνῇ ἐπί τε τῇ παρθένῳ καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ταύτης πολεμίῳ.

But the magician to the abode of those honorable women having departed, two demons there places, thus commanding the same: Dwell here a mother and a daughter, the daughter is pining for Anthemius that most illustrious, who that house inhabits: Strive therefore altogether that here you stay, and the girl thither lead away, where he lies, Of the imminent peril through sleep being warned the mother otherwise by no means I will spare you. And the two demons there left, he departs. But the demons, to those women sleeping having entered, with various visions disturbed them. The mother meanwhile having awoke, and herself with the sign of the Cross fortifying, says to the girl. Come, daughter, let us rise, and let us go to the temple: for the night whole through bad dreams to me was passed; and seemed that wicked man to have apprehended thee, and from me to wish to drag away: but I held resisting against, thee embracing, and him adjuring through God and the Saints, that from us he would withdraw. But when nothing he remitted, I will not withdraw, he said, unless this one from thee I shall have taken. Forthwith moreover seemed to me to see appearing Clerics, and of the people a crowd, as is wont the Archbishop coming. And this one straightway thee freeing ceased to be seen, we indeed into the temple having entered to God our liberator thanks gave. Come therefore, my daughter, and the temple in reality let us go to, God to pray, that safe us he may wish, and to our poverty by his providence may come.

[6] and the daughter, To this answered the daughter, and said: Let us go, lady my mother, let us go: and I in a great contest have been: for I, together with thee to the temple to go away, in an ample certain house, I know not how, found me, and there that filthy man this one; who me apprehending, of silver very much showed, of garments likewise splendid and with gold interwoven, beds magnificent, servants and maidservants many, these to me saying: Of all these about to be art thou the mistress, if with me together to be thou wilt. I indeed weeping said: These I will not, to my lady to go I will: while to pray they go out, they are separated by diabolic art, and so weeping was I awakened. But to the temple let us betake ourselves. Then the garments themselves putting on from their house to the temple they proceeded. The utmost it was morning; they indeed of the dreams roused by the care, esteemed themselves the sleep's time according to custom to have completed. When therefore now through one street they had proceeded into another about to enter, the two demons the mother between and the daughter placed themselves in the middle; and the one indeed, the mother's form taken, into another street preceding, says to the girl: Come this way, my daughter: follow me. And the girl, and Mary to Anthemius is set: the mother her companion to go thinking, followed the demon: and the demon into the abode of Anthemius was leading: and the doors opened, to the bed, where he lay, the girl sets, and thence goes out. The other indeed demon the mother accompanied, the daughter's form assumed, to the temple even and the narthex, and there from the woman withdrew itself.

[7] who by no promises bent. Anthemius therefore, beheld, at the bed the girl, whom for a long time he had courted even once to be able to address; for admiration stupefied, leaped up from the bed; and by the hand her seizing, thus addresses: What is this, my lady Mary? As often as I thee, either through myself, or through others, to my at least meeting to come invited, nor didst thou ever assent: behold moreover of thy own accord now into my house, into my chamber, nay even into my hands thou hast come. But here God's handmaid Mary, in such a place and state herself apprehended seeing, trembled, and cried out, with tears saying: Alas wretched me! whither have I come? O Lord God, to whom to go I was hastening, help me now of the time, for neither is there another who may aid me. Anthemius moreover: Fear not, he says, my Lady Mary, nor in mind faint: come, see how much here is of my silver, behold the woman's ornament how manifold it is, how many and how various the garments and beds, how many servants and maidservants for thee and thy mother to serve about to come are. But if to me of thy own accord to be joined thou refusest, that as a concubine thee I use, nor thee will I allow this light of the sun to behold, from which wholly into my hands thou hast come. And thus by the hand the girl holding, he shows the treasure, and the beautiful of garments furniture.

[8] But God's handmaid Mary, by the silver's splendor by no means amid beholding struck, a respite she asks of 15 days, and again and again into deep sighs with tears breaking out; he who the inmost of hearts searches God, and who those hoping in him from all violence and necessity defended to free can alone, of the holy Spirit aid sent to the girl: who herself collecting, fell down to Anthemius at the knees, and says: Lord mine, since into thy hands I have fallen, nor escape I can, I will tell thee all the truth. Poor little women we always were, and are: my mother moreover thus me continually taught, saying: It can be done not, my Daughter, that one otherwise salvation from God may obtain, than if his mandates he execute with beneficence, we indeed, within which the mother's consent she may obtain, since with poverty we struggle, nor have the faculty of bestowing alms, to God let us give virginity and vigils ours, that in the judgment's day mercy we may find. But if thou to a man shouldst marry, it will be necessary me to be deserted; and then I sometime against thee tearfully shall groan; thou indeed into straits shalt be borne and sins, and so to judgment divine shalt be delivered condemned. But if me thou hearest, and virginity thou keepest, to God we will serve, never from each other to be torn, and of eternal joy we will enter the inheritance. For this cause we did not endure with thee to convene: since moreover to me thou promisest the mother with me to be had, of my own accord prepared I am to thee to be as a handmaid: only vehemently I beg, lest anything now in me wickedly be done: for the mother I will induce, that to me she may assent; which if to be induced she cannot, myself me to thee I deliver.

[9] to whom returned, Anthemius furthermore, both by the girl's promises softened, and by the oath persuaded, that the thing in days fifteen space perfected would be, the girl dismissed. So therefore dismissed God's handmaid Mary, made for the church; where the mother with tears praying God, that to her the daughter she might show, she found: for also home she had returned her about to seek, but had not found her. Her moreover beholding the mother, at once asks: Whither hadst thou gone daughter? for together with me to the temple's even Narthex thou wast, and whither didst thou withdraw? She moreover to the mother, Fear not, says she, my lady; for indeed of evil nothing to me has happened, on account of thy prayers: but our prayer performed, our home returned, whither I went away, I will relate to thee. As soon as therefore home they were returned, the mother the daughter bade to say whither she had gone away. She moreover the whole matter, as it was, expounded: which heard onto the ground herself casting the mother, what to her had happened she narrates. greatly lamented. But the daughter the mother exhorted that she temper her tears, that, by what of God had been the providence, of evil nothing she had suffered: but Let us pray, she said, God, that this to us raised temptation he may scatter; and who us hitherto saved, the same henceforth may protect. Much therefore weeping and praying they continued their grief, God having besought, that for them of salvation an opportunity some he would offer, within the agreed time of days fifteen, which the girl also with an oath had agreed with Anthemius: and so it came about, this matter, who alone all others rightly can, and both pray God that to them he succor, directing God. For Anthemius, dismissed from his abodes God's handmaid and virgin, much with himself, what had been done, marveled; how the mother could have been by the magician induced, that her daughter from herself she would send away; or how the daughter, that into his abodes to him she would come; and these with his mind he said: Surely that man, who such things to effect could, all men surpasses: why then should I not my faculties nearly all to him offer, that me his like he may render? By such again cupidity inflamed, even by another he was inflamed, with himself saying: which also they obtain. If such I become, whatsoever I shall have desired, that whole at hand I have. And of this kind a cogitation, as if from the divine providence to him befell, that of his own accord he the virgin would dismiss, nor she by that nefarious oath would be held; and that of the meretricious affair the master the devil, both on account of the virgin

that one, and on account of the virgin's enemy might be confounded.

CHAPTER III.

Anthemius, that a Magician he may become, Christ abjures and soon penance does.

Καὶ πρωΐας γενομένης προσῆλθεν σπουδαίως ὀ Ἀνθέμιος εἰς τὸ συντυχεῖν τῷ φαρμακῷ καὶ εὐχαριστῆσαι αὐτῶ. Εὑρὼν οὖν αὐτὸν καὶ προσκυνήσας δίδωσιν αὐτὸ τὸ συνταχθὲν χρυσίον μετὰ πάσης εὐχαριστίας· καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο προσπεσῶν αὐτοῦ τοῖς ποσὶ, παρεκάλει, πολλὰ ἐπισχνούμενος, δώσειν αὐτῷ ὄσα ἐὰν ἀιτήσηται αὐτῷ χρήματα, ἐὰν μόνον ποιήσῃ αὐτὸν ὡς αὐτός ἐστιν. Ὁ δὲ φαρμακὸς λέγει αὐτῷ μὴ δύνασθαι αὐτὸν γενέσθαι μάγον, διὰ τὸ ἐ͂ιναι αὐτὸν Χριστιανὸν, καὶ ἔχειν τὸ βάπτισμα. Ὁ δὲ Ἀνθέμιος λέγει τῷ μάγῳ· Ἐγὼ ἀπαρνοῦμαι καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστίανισμοῦ, καὶ μόνον γένωμαι μάγος. Ὁ δὲ φαρμακὸς λέγει αὐτῷ· Οὐκ ἔχεις δυνηθῆναι γενὲσθαι μάγος, καὶ φυλάττειν τὰ φυλάγματα τῶν μάγων· καὶ ἐὰν μὴ φυλάξῃς, ἐκπεσεῖν ἔχεις, καὶ οὐκ ἔχεις παραλαβεῖν. Ὁ δὲ πάλιν τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ ἁπτόμενος, ἐπισχνεῖτο φυλάξαι πάντα τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ παραδίδοσθαι δίδοσθαι ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ. Ὁ δὲ θεωρήσας τὴν ὑπομονὴν αὐτοῦ, λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἔνδος ἐγὼ· ποιω καὶ αἰτήσας χαρτἰον, ἔγραψεν εἰς αὐτὸ ἃ ἠθέλησεν, καὶ δίδωσι τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Δέξαι τοῦτο τὸ χαρτίον, καὶ ἀπόδειπνος νυκτὶ βαθεῖᾳ ἔξελθε ἔξω τῆς πόλεως, καὶ στῆθι εἰς τὸ γεφύριον ἐκεῖνο, καὶ περὶ τὸ μεσονύκτιον ἔχουσι παραίρεσθαι ἐκεῖθεν ὅχλος καὶ θορυβὸς πολὺς, καὶ ὁ ἄρχων εἰς ὄχημα καθεζόμενος. Ἀλλὰ βλέπε, μὴ δειλιάσῃς· οἰδὲν γὰρ κακὸν δύνῃ ὑποστῆναι, ἔχων τοῦτο τὸτο τὸ ἔγγραφόν μου· κράτει δὲ αὐτὸ εἰς ὕψος ἐν τῷ φανερῶ, καὶ ἐὰν ἐρωτηθῇς, τί ποιεῖς ὥδε τὴν ὥραν ταύτην; ἢ τίς ἐ͂ι σύ; εἰπέ· Ὅτι ὁ κύρις ὁ Μέγας ἔπεμψέν με πρὸς τὸν δεσπότην μου τὸν ἄρχοντα, ἀγαγεῖν τοῦτο τὸ Χαρτίον, πρὸς αὐτόν. Βλέπε δὲ μὴ δειλιάσῃς ἢ κατασφραγίσῃ ὡς Χριστιανὸς, ἣ ἐπικαλέσῃς τὸν χριστὸν, ἐπεὶ ἀποτυχεῖν ἔχεις τοῦ σκοποῦ σου. Ὁ δὲ λαβὼν τὸ χαρτίον ἐπορεύθη, καὶ βραδείας ὥρας ἐξελθὼν τῆς πόλεως, ἔστη εἰς τὸ γεφύριον, κρατῶν εἰς ὕψος τὸ χαρτίον. Ὡς δὲ κατὰ τὸ μεσονύκτιον ἔρχονται οἱ ὅχλοι καὶ καβαλλάριοι πολλοὶ, καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ ἅρχων εἰς ὄχημα καθεζόμενος, φθάσαντες οἱ προλαβόντες λέγουσιν, Τίς ἐ͂ι ὁ ἐστὼς ὧδε; Ὁ δὲ Ἀνθέμιος ἔφη· Ὁ κύρος ὁ Μέγας ἔπεμψέν με, ἀγαγεῖν τῷ δεσπότῃ μου τῷ Ἄρχοντι τὸ χαρτίον τοῦτο. Καὶ λαβόντες ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ τὸ χαρτίον δεδώκασι τῷ Ἄρχοντι καθεζωμένῳ εἰς τὸ ὄχημα. Καὶ λαβὼν καὶ ἀναγνοὺς, ἔγραψέν τινα ἐν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐδώκεν τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ φέρειν τῷ μάγῳ. Ἐλθὼν δὲ πρωίας ὁ Ἀνθέμιος ἐπιδίδωσι τῷ μάγῳ τὸ χαρτίον, καὶ ἀναγνοὺς ὁ φαρμακὸς, γέγει τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ, Θέλεις μαθεῖν τί μοι ἔγραψεν; καθὼς εἶπόν σοι τὰ αὐτά μοι ἔγραψεν. Οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι Χριστιανός ἐστιν; καὶ ἐγὼ τοῦτον οὐ δέχομαι, ἐὰν μὴ τὰ κατὰ συνήθειαν πάντα ποιήσῃ καὶ ἀπαρνήσηται καὶ ἀναθεματίση. Ὁ δὲ Ἀνθέμιος τοῦτο ἀκούσας ἔφη· Ἐγὼ, κύρι, καὶ τότε καὶ ἄρτι ἀρνοῦμαι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστιανοῦ, καὶ τὴν πίστιν, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτῶν. Τότε πάλιν γράψας ὁ μάγος τινὰ, δίδωσι τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ λέγων Πορεύου πάλιν, καὶ στῆθι ἐκεῖ τὴν νύκτα, καὶ ὡς ἐλθῃ δὸς αὐτῷ, καὶ βλέπε τί σοι λέγει Ὡς δὲ ἀπελθὼν ἔστη ἐκεῖ, ἦλθον πάλιν τῇ αὐτῇ ὥρᾳ οἱ αὐτοὶ, καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Τί ἦλθες πάλιν ὧδε; Ὁ δὲ Ἀνθέμιος ἔφη· Ὁ κύρις ὁ Μέγας ἔπεμψέν με δέσποτα, ἀγαγεῖν τοῦτο τὸ χαρτίον. Καὶ ὁ ἄρχων λαβὼν καὶ ἀναγνοὺς πάλιν ἔγραψέν τινα ἐν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔδωκεν τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ φέρειν τῷ μάγῳ. Ἐλθὼν δὲ πρωΐας ὁ Ἀνθέμιος, ἐπίδιδωσι τῷ μάγῳ τὸ χαρτίον, καὶ ἀναγνοὺς ὁ φαρμακὸς λέγει αὐτῷ· Οἶδας, ἄνθρωπε, τί μοι πάλιν ἔγραψεν. Ἐγὼ ἔγραψα αὐτῷ, ὅτι ἀναθεμάτισεν, δέσποτα, πάντὰ ἐπὶ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἐὰν κελεύῃς δέξαι αὐτόν· καὶ ἀντέγραψέν μοι, ὅτι εἰ μὴ ἐγγράφως καὶ ἰδιοχείρως ἀναθεματίσῃ πάντα, οὐ δέχομαι αὐτόν· λοιπὸν βλέπε, τί θέλεις ποιῇ σοι. Ὅ δὲ ἄθλιος Ἀνθέμιος ἔφη· Ἔτοιμός εἰμι δέσποτα, καὶ τοῦτο πρᾶξαι· καὶ καθίσας ἔγραψεν οὔτως. Ἐγὼ Ἀνθέμιος ἀπαρνοῦμαι τὸν Χριστὸν, καὶ τὴν εἰς αὐτὸν πίστν, ἀπαρνοῦμαι δὲ καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῶν Χριστιανῶν, καὶ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ συντίθημι μὴ δέποτε αὐτοῖς χρήσασθαι ἢ ὀνομάσαι αὐτά. Καὶ ἐν τῷ ταῦτα αὐτὸν γράφειν, ἐξῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἱδρὼς πολὺς, ἀπὸ κορυφῆς ἕως ὀνύχων, ὥστε διάβροχον γενέσθαι ὅλον ὃ ἐφόρει ἔσωθεν ἱμάτιον, καθὼς αὐτὸς ὕστερον πολλοῖς δάκρυσι συνεχόμενος ὡμολόγισεν. Ὅμως γράψας καὶ πληρώσας ὁ Ἀνθέμιος δίδωσι τῷ φαρμακῷ ἐπισκέψασθαι, καὶ ἀναγνοὺς, ἔφη· Καλῶς ἔχει· ἀπάγαγε αὖθις καὶ δέχετάι σε πάντως, καὶ ἐπ᾽ ἆν δέξηται σε προσκυνήσας ἐ͂ιπε αὐτῷ· Δέομαί σου, δέσποτα, χάρισάι μοι τοὺς ὀφείλοντάς με ὑπουργεῖν, καὶ παρέχει σοι ὅσους ἕαν θέλῃς· τοῦτο δέ σοι προλέγω, Μὴ πλείω ἑνὸς ἣ δευτέρου λάβῃς ὑπουργοῦς, ἐπεὶ κόπους σοι παρέχειν ἔχουσι, καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτα ὁχλοῦντές σοι, ἐπὶ τὸ παρέχειν αὐτοῖς προφάσεις ἐργῶν. Ὡς δὲ ἀπελθὼν ὁ Ἀνθέμιος ἔστη ἐκεῖ, ἦλθον οἱ αὐτὸς, καὶ εὐθέως ὁ προάγων ἐπιγνοὺς τὸν Ἀνθέμιον, ἔκραξεν λέγων· ὁ Μέγας, δέσποτα, πάλιν ἔπεμψεν ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ ὑπομνηστικοῦ· καὶ ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ἐλθεῖν πρὸς αὐτόν. Καὶ ἀπελθὼν ὁ Ἀνθέμιος ἐπέδωκεν αὐτῷ τὴν παντὸς θρήνους καὶ ἀπειλῆς γέμουσαν αὐτοῦ ὁμολογίαν τῆς ἀρνήσεως. Ὁ δὲ λαβὼν αὐτὴν καὶ ἀναγνοὺς, ἀνατείνας αὐτὴν εἰς ὕψος, ἤρξατο κραύγῃ λέγειν· Χριστὲ Ἰησοῦ, ἰδοὺ Ἀνθέμιος, ὁ ποτὲ σὸς, έγγράφως σε ἀπηρνήσατο· ἐγὼ αἴτιος οὔκ εἰμι. Αὐτὸς πολλὰ παρακαλέσας, καὶ προαιρέσει τὴν ὁμολογίαν τῆς ἀρνήσεως ποιήσας, ἐπιδέδωκέν μοι· μὴ δὲ σὺ ἔτι φροντίδα αὐτοῦ ποιήσῃς· καὶ πάλιν δὶς καὶ τρὶς τὴν αὐτὴν φωνὴν ἔκραξεν. Ὁ͂ δὲ Ἀνθέμιος, ἀκούσας τῆς φρικτῆς ἐκείνης φωνῆς καὶ τρομήσας ὅλω τῷ σώματι, ἤρξατο καὶ αὐτὸς κράζειν καὶ λέγειν· Δός μοι τὸ ἐγγραφόν μου, Χριστιανός εἰμι· δέομαι, παρακαλῶ, Χριστιανὸς θέλω ἐ͂ιναι· δός μοι ἢν κακῶς ἐποίησα ὁμολογίαν. Ὡς δὲ ταῦτα ὁ ταλαίπωρος ἐπέμενεν κράζων, λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ἄρχων· Ταύτην τὴν ὁμολογίαν σὺ ἔτι λαβεῖν οὐ δύνασαι, ἀλλὰ τὴν ὁμολογίαν σου ταύτην προκομίσαι ἔχω ἐν τῇ φοβερᾷ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως· σὺ γὰρ ἀπάρτι ἐμὸς ἐ͂ι, κᾀγώ σου ἐξουσίαν ἔχω ὡς βούλομαι, εἰ μή που βίαν τινὰ ὑπομένει τὸ δίκαιον. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν παρῆλθεν, ἐάσας αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνῳ. Ὁ δὲ μέχρις ὄρθρου ἔμεινεν κείμενος ἐπὶ πρώσωπον ἐν τῇ γεφύρᾳ, κλαίων καὶ θρηνῶν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πτῶσιν. Ὡς δὲ ὄρθρος ἐγένετο, ἀναστὰς ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἦν διηνεκῶς θρηνῶν καὶ κοπτόμενος, ἀπορῶν ὅτι πράξοι. Ἦν δὲ ὡς ἀπὸ δέκα ὀκτὼ μιλίων ἑτέρα πόλις, ἥτίς ἠκούετο ἔχειν Ἐπίσκοπον πάνυ θεοφιλῆ καὶ δοῦλον τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ἐβουλεύσατο οὖν ἀπελθεῖν πρὸς αὐτὸν, ὥπος παρακαλέσῃ αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐξομολογήσηται αὐτὸν τὸ ὅλον τοῦ πράγματος, καὶ ἵνα βαπτίσῃ αὐτόν· ὅτι εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ ᾐσχύνετο ὁμολογῆσαι τοῦτο τὸ συμβὰν αὐτῷ πρᾶγμα. Ἐκείρατο δὲ τὰς τρίχας αὐτοῦ πάσας, καὶ βαλὼν στοιχάριον τραχὺ, καὶ σάκκον περιειλισάμενος, ἀπῆλθεν πρὸς τὸν Ἐπίσκοπον ἐκεῖνον, καὶ μηνύσας ἐδέχθη, καὶ εἰσελθὼν, ῥίπτει ἑαυτὸν εἰς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ παρεκάλει λέγων· Δέομαί σου βάπτισόν με. Ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτῷ· Καὶ πιστεύω ἐγὼ, ὅτι μέχρι τοῦ νῦν οὐκ ἐβαπτίσθης; Ὁ δὲ λαβὼν τὸν Ἐπίσκοπον κατ᾽ ἰδίαν, ὡμολόγησεν αὐτῷ τὸ ὅλον τοῦ πράγματος, εἰπὼν, Ὅτι ἔλαβον μὲν αὐτὸ παῖς ὢν, ἐγγράφως δέ μου αὐτὸ ἀπαρνουμένου ἐξῆλθεν ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ. Γέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος· Καὶ πῶς πεῖσαί με ἔχεις, ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἀπό σου τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἔλαβες; Γέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἀνθέμιος· Ἐν τῇ κακῇ ὥρᾳ, ὅτε ἐκαθέστην γραφῶν τὴν ἀπάρνησιν τοῦ δεσπότου μου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ τοῦ βαπτίσματος αὐτοῦ, ἐπῆλθέν μοι εὐθέως ἱδρὸς πολὺς ἀπὸ κορυφῆς ἕως ὀνύχων, ὥστε γενέσθαι δίαβροχα τὰ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου περικείμενα ἱμάτια· καὶ ἐκ τούτου πέπεισμαι, ὅτι ὥσπερ ἐγὼ ἐκεῖνον ἀπηρνησάμην, οὕτως κᾀκεῖνος ἐγκατέλιπέν με. Ἀλλ᾽ εἴ τι δύνῃ, βοἠθσόν μοι, τίμιε πάτερ, σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐπὶ τῇ αὐτῇ προαιρέτῳ μου ἀπωλείᾳ· καὶ ταῦτα ἔλεγεν κείμενος χαμαὶ πολλοῖς δάκρυσι συνεχόμενος. Ὁ δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλος Ἐπίσκοπος ταῦτα ἀκούσας, ῥίψας καὶ αὐτὸς ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἔκειτο σὺν τῷ Ἀνθεμίῳ καὶ αὐτὸς, κλαίων καὶ δεόμενος τοῦ Θεοῦ. Πολλῆς δὲ διαγενομένης ὥρας ἀναστὰς ὁ Ἐπίσκοπος, ἤγειρεν τὸν Ἀνθέμιον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· Ὄντως, τέκνον, ἐγὼ οὐ τολμῶ ἄνθρωπον βαπτισθέντα πάλιν βαπτίσαι, οὐδὲ γάρ ἐστι παρὰ Χριστιανοῖς δεύτερον βάπτισμα, εἰ μὴ τὸ τῶν δακρύων. Μὴ ἀπελπίσῃς οὖν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ σωτηρίας, μηδὲ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθανθρωπίας ἀποστῇς· ἀλλὰ δὸς ἑαυτὸν τῷ Θεῷ, δεόμενος καὶ ἱκετεύων αὐτὸν τὰς ὑπολοίπους ἡμὲρας τῆς ζωῆς σου· καὶ ὁ Θεὸς, ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος ὑπάρχων, δυνατός ἐστι, προκομιζομένης τῆς ἐγγράφου σου ἀπαρνητικῆς ὁμολογίας, συγχωρῆσαί σοι τὸ τοιοῦτον ἀσέβημα, ὥσπερ τῷ τὰ μυρία τάλαντα ὑποφείλοντι· ἄλλην ὁδὸν ταύτης κρείττω μοὶ προσδοκήσῃς οὐκ ἐστὶν εὑρεῖν. Ὁ δὲ πεισθεὶς καὶ λαβὼν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ εὐχὴν, ἐξῆλθεν ἐκεῖθεν, θρηνῶν καὶ ὁδυρόμενος τὸ ἐν αὐτῷ γενόμενον ἀτόπημα. Καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τῶν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, διεπώλησεν πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς παιδίσκας ἀπέλυσεν, ἐλευθερώσας καὶ παρασχῶν ἑκάστῳ ἃ ἠθέλησεν, τὰ λοιπὰ δὲ ἐκκλησίαις καὶ πένησιν ἀγνώστως δι᾽ ἑνὸς πιστοῦ αὐτοῦ παιδὸς διένειμεν πάντα· τὴν δὲ μητέρα τῆς κόρης ἐκείνης, εἰς ἢν ἐξεκαύθη ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ἐπὶ τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ἀπολείᾳ, μεταστειλάμενος ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἐκεῖσε ἐκκλησιῶν, δέδωκεν αὐτῇ τρεῖς λίτρας χρυσίου εἰπών· Δέομαι ὑμῶν, ἐύχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ· ἐμὲ γὰρ οὑκ ἔτι ἔξετε παρενοχλοῦντα ὑμῖν ἢ ἄλλῳ τινί· ἀλλὰ ἁπέρχομαι, ὅπου οὑκ οἶδα, κλαίειν τὰς κακάς μου πράξεις. Καὶ οὕτως διαπραξάμενος ἐκ τότε ἀφανὴς ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος, ῥίψας ἑαυτὸν πάντως εἰς τοὺς οἰκτηρμοὺς τοῦ Θεοῦ, εἰς οὓς οὑδεὶς προσφυγὼν ἀπώλετο. Ἡμεῖς δὲ οἱ ἁκούοντες τῆς φρικτῆς ταύτης διηγήσεως, δοξάσωμεν τῶν παντοδύναμον Θεὸν ἡμῶν· θαυμάσωμεν δὲ καὶ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ, ὅτι καὶ τὴν ἀγαθὴν πρόθεσιν τῆς παρθενίας τῆς κόρης Μαρίας διεφύλαξεν, καὶ τὴν μητέρα ἄθλιπτον διετήρησεν, καὶ τὰ πρὸς τὴν

χρείαν αὐταῖς καὶ τροφὴν δαψιλῶς ἐχορήγησεν, καὶ τοῦ φόβου καὶ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐῤῥύσατο, καὶ τῆς παραβάσεως τοῦ γενομένου ὅρκου μεταξὺ τῆς παρθένου Μαρίας καὶ τοῦ ταύτης ἐχθροῦ Ἀνθεμίου ἀναμαρτήτως διέλυσεν. Πρὸ γὰρ τοῦ πληρωθῆναι τὴν σὺν ὅρκω τεθεῖσαν προθεσμίαν τῶν δεκαπέντε ἡμερῶν, ταῦτα ὁ Κύριος ἐργάσετο, ὡς λέγειν καὶ ἡμᾶς κατὰ τὴν τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου φωνήν· Καλῶς πάντα πεποίηκεν ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν· κακεῖνον δὲ οὐ μὴ ἀπόλωλεν, προσπίπτοντα αὐτῷ καὶ μετανοοῦντα, διότι ἐλεήμων ὑπάρχει ἐπὶ τοῖς μετανοοῦσιν, καθὼς αὐτὸς ἔφη· Οὐκ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους, ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλοὺς εἰς μετάνοιαν. Ἡμεῖς δὲ διαμένωμεν αἰτούμενοι αὐτὸν, διὰ παντὸς σκέπεσθαι ὑπὸ τῆς παντοδυνάμου δεξιὰς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ῥυσθήναι ἀπὸ πάσης διαβολικῆς ἐπηρείας· ὅπως καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀξιωθῶμεν καταντῆσαι εἰς τὴν ἐπουράνιον αὐτοῦ βασιλείαν καὶ ταῖς τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ ἱκεσίαις. Ὅτι αὐτῷ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν πρέπει πάσα δόξα, τιμὴ καὶ προσκύνησις, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

[10] A Magician wishing to become Anthemius At day breaking therefore, went out early Anthemius to the magician to meet, and to give him thanks: whom finding and saluting, with ample thanksgiving the agreed gold he hands over; and to him after at the feet falling earnestly he besought, at once promising, that he would give, as much money as he should ask, only that he would make him, such as himself was. But to him the magician answered; that to be made he could by no means a magician, because moreover to the magician says: Both baptism I renounce, and the Christian name, only a magician that I may become. The magician indeed: Neither to be made a magician canst thou, nor the magicians' institutes to keep, which yet unless thou shalt have kept, from thy place thou shalt fall never to be recovered. But he the feet again embracing, promised himself the commanded by him all things to perform. He moreover perceiving that perseverance says: Here within I dwell: and a paper small asking, what he pleased, he inscribed: and it handing to Anthemius, says: Receive this little paper, and in deep night unsupped, the city go out from, and stand on that little bridge. Thereby a great crowd with an immense tumult about midnight will pass through, sitting in a chariot the Prince: but see thou, that thou fear not, for neither of trouble anything shalt thou sustain, that writing of mine having: it moreover hold on high lifted, that it may be able to be beheld. But if thou shalt be asked; What here dost thou this hour? or who art thou? say: The Lord Magnus me to my Lord the Prince sent, with this paper to him to be delivered. But beware thou to fear, or thyself as a Christian to sign, or to invoke Christ; otherwise of thy wish thou shalt be frustrated.

[11] The little paper therefore received he went, and late the city having gone out he stood on the little bridge, the demon he resists once and again, raising with his hand the little sheet. But when about midnight came the crowd, and horsemen in great number and the Prince himself the chariot sitting on, those who went before, running up say, Who is that, who here stands? To which Anthemius: The Lord Magnus me sent, to be delivered to my Lord the Prince this little sheet; which from his hand received they hand to the Prince, in the chariot sitting. He moreover having received it and read it through, something also himself in the same wrote, and returned it to Anthemius, that to the magician he should deliver. In the morning indeed returned Anthemius the little sheet returns to the magician; who the same read through, says to Anthemius; Wilt thou know, what to me he has written? those very things namely, which to thee I foretold: Christ and baptism renouncing: Or knowest thou not unless after our custom he shall have performed all things, abjure and detest. This hearing Anthemius; I Lord, says he, both before and now abjure of the Christians the name and faith and their baptism. And again something inscribing the magician, and giving to Anthemius adds: Go again, and stand there by night; and when he shall have come, give it, and what he shall say, attend to. Departed he, and there stood. And behold the same hour the same return, and say: Wherefore hither hast thou returned? To whom Anthemius: Lord, says he, the Lord Magnus me sent back with this little sheet. The Prince indeed receiving and reading, again inscribed to him something, to be carried back to the magician. To whom again in the morning approaching Anthemius, he, the paper received and read, Knowest thou, says he, man, what to me again he has written? To him I wrote: All things, Lord, before me this one has abjured; if so it pleases, the same admit. He rescribed moreover to me, Unless in writing, and with his own hand he shall have abjured all things, him I admit not. For the rest see, what thou wishest, that I do to thee.

[12] To these the wretched Anthemius: Prepared I am, he says, Lord, which when even in writing he had done, also this very thing to do: and sitting down in this manner he wrote. I Anthemius abjure Christ, and his faith: I abjure also his baptism, and the cross with the Christian name; and I promise never these things me to use, never them to name. But while thus he wrote, flowed to him copious sweat, from the top of the head to the lowest feet, so that the whole garment inner, which he bore, was wetted through, as afterward continuous he with tears confessed. Nonetheless he proceeded in writing, and completed, to the magician to be read through handed over. Who, after he had read; Well, says he, it is: go off again; because altogether thee he will admit. But after he shall have admitted thee, say with reverence: I pray thee, Lord, give me those who for service ought to be; and so many is he about to give, as thou shalt wish. This moreover thee I forewarn, and the writing to the demon he had handed over, lest more than one or another servants thou admit: since business to thee will create more, by night and day thee assiduously about to disturb, that of things to be done matter to them thou give. Returned moreover Anthemius there stood: returned also are also others, of whom he, who went before, recognizing immediately Anthemius, to cry began: This man, Lord, again Magnus to come bade with mandates: and the Prince to approach him bids. Approaching therefore Anthemius gives him of abjuration the profession, full of mourning and calamity. He indeed received read through raising with his hand, his against himself protestation heard to vociferate began: Christ Jesus, behold thine once Anthemius in writing thee has execrated: I of the deed the author am not: but he himself with many prayers it requesting, the profession of abjuration of his own accord wrote, and to me handed over: lest therefore of him care thou take henceforth: and again twice and thrice the same vociferated.

[13] the pact he retracts, But Anthemius, that horrible voice heard, in his whole trembling body, began likewise to cry, and to say: Render to me my writing: a Christian I am: I pray; I beseech: a Christian to be I will; render to me, which nefariously I wrote, the confession. But when the same unhappy one to cry continued, says to him the Prince: Thy this profession any more to receive by no means canst thou, but it itself I in the formidable judgment's day will produce: for then from this moment mine thou art: I thee, as I will, have in power, unless some force to justice be brought. And these said he passed by, Anthemius there left. And he indeed prone on his face even to the light lay in the very bridge, weeping, and bewailing his fall. But as soon as it dawned, rising he returns home, where perpetually in mourning and lamentation, what he should do, he doubted. There was distant moreover thence a city other to eighteen miles, which a Bishop to have was said loving of God a servant. Of him therefore to approach the counsel he took, and of another city the Bishop he approaches, that him as intercessor he might use, by him be baptized, the whole matter, as it had happened, confessed: for he was ashamed in his own city to confess that which had happened to him. Shorn therefore of his hairs, and with a rough tunic clothed and sackcloth, he departed to that Bishop; and himself making known received was, and entering to him at his feet cast himself with prayers, saying: Thee I beseech, baptize me. Answered moreover the Bishop; Should I believe thee hitherto baptized not to have been? But he the Bishop called aside the whole matter narrated, adding: Baptism indeed I received a boy, but it through a writing by me abjured, the mark of the same out of me has gone. To which answered the Bishop: But, how to me wilt thou persuade, that the baptism thou receivedst, from thee has departed? Replies Anthemius: That hour unhappy, in which I wrote the abjuration of my Lord Jesus Christ, and of his baptism, forthwith sweat copious to me burst out, by whom to be rebaptized he asks. from the top crown to the nails even of the feet, so that the garments to the body put on entirely were moistened: and from that time I believed, that, just as him I had abjured, so me he had deserted. Now, if anything thou canst, help me, venerable Father, of my voluntary ruin having pitied. And these things he said lying on the ground, and with many tears continually suffused.

[14] Such things when had heard the servant of God the Bishop, himself he cast onto the ground, and with Anthemius weeping lay, and God praying. After much indeed time rising he raises Anthemius, to whom he says: Truly, son, I should not dare a man baptized to expiate again with baptism, for neither a second is among Christians a baptism, and by him with good hope of pardon dismissed, except of tears: but despair not of thy salvation, nor of the divine mercy; nay rather deliver thyself to God, praying and beseeching him suppliantly with all, which to thee remains, of life the time: and God, good since he is and merciful, can, the written by thee of abjuration sheet returned, besides to thee forgive that impiety, as to the debtor Evangelical talents ten thousand he forgave: a way other than this better hope not, for it is not to be found. He moreover persuaded and good imparted prayer departed thence, mourning and wailing for the perpetrated by him crime; and home returned his things all sold, of either sex slaves with liberty endowed, nay even with things which they wished other, the rest indeed all to temples and to the poor secretly distributed by a faithful servant's hand. all to the poor distributed he withdraws, Furthermore to the mother of that girl, for whose love to his perdition his own by the demon's work he had burned; in some there temple placed, of gold pounds three also he gave, saying: I pray you, for me a sinner God pray: neither any more me either to you, or to another whomsoever troublesome shall you have; but I withdraw, I know not whither, to bewail of my actions the malice. And this doing afterward to be seen ceased that man, wholly himself into God's mercy casting, to which none of those who fled, perished.

[15] But we, who of the horrible matter the narration have heard, the omnipotent God ours will praise, and of his works will admire the great deeds, whence is praised God that both the holy of the girl Mary about virginity to be cultivated guarded purpose, and the mother he led out of affliction, to both, what for use and for nourishment was, liberally affording, and from the fear also of sin them he freed, nay rather the transgression of the oath, which between Mary the virgin and her adversary Anthemius had intervened, harmlessly he prevented, all things best disposing. it dissolving. For before that days fifteen, of which it was agreed, should elapse, these things did

God, so that to us it may be allowed to use these of the Gospel words: All things well has done our Lord: nor him to himself with repentance suppliant did he lose, since of the penitent he has mercy, just as he says: I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance. Mark 7:27 & 2:17. But we to demand let us persist, that by the omnipotent right hand of his we be protected, and from all be freed diabolic machination; that we also may be worthy, who into the heavenly kingdom may attain, by the Saints aided prayers: since to our God is due glory all, and honor and adoration, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.