The Lausiac History

PAMMACHIUS

A KINSMAN of theirs, Pammachius by name, an exconsul, renounced the world in like manner and lived the perfect life. As for all his wealth, part of it he distributed while still alive and the rest he left to the poor at his death. Similarly also there was a certain Macarius, an ex-vicar,^ and Constantius, who became assessor of the prefects in Italy, distinguished and very learned men, who reached the highest degree of the love of God. I believe that they are still in the flesh after practising the perfect life.

' CHAPTER LXni

THE VIRGIN AND ATHANASIUS ^

[i] I KNEW a virgin in Alexandria whom I met when she was about seventy years old. Now all the clergy bore her witness that when she was young, some twenty

' 405-

^ "At the head of each Dioecesis was placed an officer who bore the name vicarius, except in the Eastern prefecture" (Reid). » Cf. Soz. V. 6.

I70 THE LAUSIAC HISTORY

years old, and exceptionally lovely, she was to be shunned because of her beauty, lest she should make any one an object of blame through suspicion. So when it happened that the Arians conspired against the blessed Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, by means of Eusebius the prefect, when Constantius was Emperor, and they were calumniously accusing him of unlawful deeds, he avoided being judged by a corrupt tribunal and trusted no one, neither relation nor friend, nor cleric nor any one. [2] But when the prefect's men entered suddenly into the episcopal residence and sought him, he fled at midnight to this virgin, wearing only his tunic and cloak.^ But she was disconcerted at the affair and frightened. So he said to her : " Since I am sought by the Arians and am unjustly accused, I resolved to flee, lest I should bear a false reputation and involve in sin those who wish to punish me. [3] But God revealed to me to-night : ' With no one canst thou be saved except with this lady.' " So with great joy she cast aside all hesitation and gave herself wholly to the Lord ; and she hid that most holy man for six year's.^ as long as Constantius lived, both washing his feet herself and ministering to his bodily requirements and arranging for all his needs, borrowing books and bringing them to him, and no man in all Alexandria during the six years knew where the blessed Athanasius was living. [4] Now when the death of Constantius was announced and came to his ears, he dressed himself fittingly and was found once more by night in the church ; and all were astonished and looked on him as a dead man come to life. Now his defence to his near friends was as follows : " This is why I did not take refuge with you, that you might the better

1 /8i^(i/ (= /SippoV). See note on XXXVII. 6.

2 See D.C.B., art. "Athanasius," for the histoiy of the time. Athanasius may have hid for a little while in a virgin's house, but the story as it stands is unhistorical.

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swear (ignorance of my whereabouts), and also because of the search. But I fled to one whom no one could suspect, because she was beautiful and young, bearing two things in mind, her salvation — for I did help her — and my reputation."