第6章 THE HERMITS.(1)

There was once a hermit，who served God on a certain mountain，whither resorted a pair of pigeons；and he was wont to make two parts of his daily bread，eating one half himself and giving the other to the pigeons. He prayed also for them，that they might be blest with increase；so they increased and multiplied greatly.

Now they resorted only to that mountain，and the reason of their foregathering with the holy man was their assiduity in celebrating the praises of God；for it is said that the pigeons formula of praise is，Glory be to the Creator of all things，Who appointeth to every one his daily bread，Who builded the heavens and spread out the earth like a carpet！'They dwelt thus together，in the happiest of life，they and their brood，till the holy man died，when the company of the pigeons was broken up，and they all dispersed among the towns and villages and mountains.

Now in a certain other mountain there dwelt a shepherd，a man of piety and chastity and understanding；and he had flocks of sheep，which he tended，and made his living by their milk and wool. The mountain aforesaid abounded in trees and pasturage and wild beasts，but the latter had no power over the peasant nor over his flocks；so he continued to dwell therein，in security，taking no thought to the things of the world，by reason of his happiness and assiduity in prayer and devotion，till God ordained that he should fall exceeding sick. So he betook himself to a cavern in the mountain，and his sheep used to go out in the morning to the pasturage and take refuge at night in the cave. Now God was minded to try him and prove his obedience and constancy；so He sent him one of His angels，who came in to him in the semblance of a fair woman and sat down before him. When the shepherd saw the woman seated before him，his flesh shuddered with horror of her and he said to her，O woman，what brings thee hither？I have no need of thee，nor is there aught betwixt thee and me that calls for thy coming in to me.'O man，'answered she，dost thou not note my beauty and grace and the fragrance of my breath and knowest thou not the need women have of men and men of women？

Behold，I have chosen to be near thee and desire to enjoy thy company；so who shall forbid thee from me？Indeed，I come to thee willingly and do not withhold myself from thee： there is none with us whom we need fear；and I wish to abide with thee as long as thou sojournest in this mountain and be thy companion. I offer myself to thee，for thou needest the service of women；and if thou know me，thy sickness will leave thee and health return to thee and thou wilt repent thee of having forsworn the company of women during thy past life. Indeed，I give thee good advice： so give ear to my counsel and draw near unto me.'Quoth he，Go out from me，O deceitful and perfidious woman！I will not incline to thee nor approach thee. I want not thy company；he who coveteth thee renounceth the future life，and he who coveteth the future life renounceth thee，for thou seduces the first and the last.