CHAPTER II 



THE GARDEN IN SOME EARLY CHRISTIAN AND LATE 

 PAGAN WRITERS 



TN those days, through the vast and horrible solitude, Hilarion ST JEROME 

 -'• at length came to a very high mountain, having found there ^^•^' 345-420). 

 two monks, Isaac and Pelusianus, of whom Isaac had been the 

 interpreter of Anthony. And because the occasion presents 

 itself and we have reached that place, it appears worthy of our 

 subject to describe in a short account the dwelling of so great a man. 

 A rocky and high mountain presses forth its waters at its foot 

 for about a mile, of which waters the sands absorb some, and 

 others flowing to the lower regions make a river, over which on 

 both banks innumerable palm trees give much both of beauty 

 and convenience to the place. Here you might see the old man 

 going up and down with the disciples of the blessed Anthony. 

 Here, they said, he (Anthony) was accustomed to sing psalms ; 

 here to pray ; here to work ; here, when tired, to sit down. He 

 himself planted those vines, those shrubs. He settled this little 

 garden-bed. He it was who made with much labour this pond 

 for watering the little garden. He had for many years this little 

 rake for digging the earth. — T/ie Life of St Hilarion : his visit to 

 the cell of St Anthony. 



HOMEWARDS I bend my steps. My fields, my gardens, are T'AO 

 choked with weeds : should I not go ? My soul has led a ]^^^q1_ 

 bondsman's life : why should I remain to pine ? But I will waste Chinese 

 no grief upon the past: I will devote my energies to the future. Writer {\.^. 

 I have not wandered far astray. I feel that I am on the right ^ 



track once again. 



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