chap, xxxvii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 71 the most heinous sins. 37 A blind submission to the commands of the abbot, however absurd, or even criminal, they might seem, was the ruling principle, the first virtue of the Egyptian monks ; and their patience was frequently exercised by the most extra- vagant trials. They were directed to remove an enormous rock ; assiduously to water a barren staff, that was planted in the ground, till, at the end of three years, it should vegetate and blossom like a tree ; to walk into a fiery furnace ; or to cast their infant into a deep pond : and several saints, or mad- men, have been immortalized in monastic story by their thoughtless and fearless obedience. 38 The freedom of the mind, the source of every generous and rational sentiment, was destroyed by the habits of credulity and submission ; and the monk, contracting the vices of a slave, devoutly followed the faith and passions of his ecclesiastical tyrant. The peace of the Eastern church was invaded by a swarm of fanatics, incapable of fear, or reason, or humanity ; and the Imperial troops acknow- ledged, without shame, that they were much less apprehensive of an encounter with the fiercest Barbarians. 39 Superstition has often framed and consecrated the fantastic Their dress garments of the monks ; 4 " but their apparent singularity some- tkms times proceeds from their uniform, attachment to a simple and primitive model, which the revolutions of fashion have made ridiculous in the eyes of mankind. The father of the Benedic- tines expressly disclaims all idea of choice or merit, and soberly exhorts his disciples to adopt the coarse and convenient dress of 37 The rule of Columbanus, so prevalent in the West, inflicts one hundred lashes for very slight offences (Cod. Reg. part ii. p. 174). Before the time of Charlemagne, the abbots indulged themselves in mutilating their monks, or putting out their eyes : a punishment much less cruel than the tremendous vade in pace (the subterraneous dungeon, or sepulchre) which was afterwards invented. See an admirable discourse of the learned Mabillon (Oeuvres Posthumes, torn. ii. p. 321-336), who, on this occasion, seems to be inspired by the genius of humanity. For such an effort, I can forgive his defence of the holy tear of Vendome (p. 361- 399). 3S Sulp. Sever. Dialog, i. 12, 13, p. 532, &c. Cassian. Institut. 1. iv. c. 26, 27. " Prsecipua ibi virtus et prima est obedientia." Among the Verba seniorum (in Vit. Patrum, 1. v. p. 617) the fourteenth libel or discourse is on the subject of obedience ; and the Jesuit Rosweyde, who published that huge volume for the use of convents, has collected all the scattered passages in his two copious indexes. 39 Dr. Jortin (Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, vol. iv. p. 161) has observed the scandalous valour of the Cappadocian monks, which was exemplified in the banishment of Chrysostom. 40 Cassian has simply, though copiously, described the monastic habit of Egypt (Institut. 1. i.), to which Sozomen (1. iii. c. 14) attributes such allegorical meaning and virtue.
