The Hermits

Transcribed from the 1891 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
BY CHARLES KINGSLEY
ILLUSTRATED
London MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YORK 1891
The Right of Translation is Reserved
Richard Clay and Sons, Limited, LONDON AND BUNGAY.
First printed in parts 1868.
Reprinted in 1 Volume , Crown 8 vo. 1871, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1891.
“And having committed his sister to known and faithful virgins, and given to her wherewith to be educated in a nunnery,” &c.
“For entering the cave he saw, with bended knees, erect neck, and hands spread out on high, a lifeless corpse. And at first, thinking that it still lived,” &c.
St. Paphnutius used to tell a story which may serve as a fit introduction to this book. It contains a miniature sketch, not only of the social state of Egypt, but of the whole Roman Empire, and of the causes which led to the famous monastic movement in the beginning of the fifth century after Christ.
Now Paphnutius was a wise and holy hermit, the Father, Abba, or Abbot of many monks; and after he had trained himself in the desert with all severity for many years, he besought God to show him which of His saints he was like.