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The Life of Paulus the First Hermit

13.

At last wearied and panting for breath he completed his journey and reached his little dwelling. Here he was met by two disciples who had begun to wait upon him in his advanced age. Said they, “Where have you stayed so long, father?” He replied, “Woe to me a sinner! I do not deserve the name of monk. I have seen Elias, I have seen John in the desert, and I have really seen Paul in Paradise.” He then closed his lips, beat upon his breast, and brought out the cloak from his cell. When his disciples asked him to explain the matter somewhat more fully he said, “There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” ¹

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Vie de Saint Paul ermite

13.

Enfin après avoir achevé ce long chemin, il arriva tout fatigué et tout hors d'haleine à son monastère.

Deux de ses disciples qui le servaient depuis plusieurs années ayant couru au-devant de lui et lui disant : « Mon père, où avez-vous demeuré si longtemps?» il leur répondit : «Malheur à moi, misérable pécheur, qui porte si indignement le nom de solitaire! J'ai vu Hélie, j'ai vu Jean dans le désert, et, pour parler selon la vérité, j'ai vu Paul dans un paradis. »Sans en dire davantage et en se frappant la poitrine il tira le manteau de sa cellule; et ses disciples le suppliant de les informer plus particulièrement de ce que c'était, il leur répondit : « Il y a temps de parler et temps de se taire ; »