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Vita Pauli
17.
Libet in fine opusculi interrogare eos, qui patrimonia sua ignorant, qui domos marmoribus uestiunt, qui uno lino uillarum insuunt pretia: huic seni nudo quid umquam defuit? Vos gemma bibitis, ille concauis manibus naturae satisfecit. Vos in tunicis aurum texitis, ille ne uilissimi quidem mancipii uestri indumentum habuit.
Sed e contrario illi pauperculo paradisus patet, uos auratos gehenna suscipiet. Ille Christi uestem, nudus licet, seruauit; uos uestiti sericis indumentum Christi perdidistis. Paulus uilissimo puluere coopertus iacet resurrecturus in gloriam, uos operosa saxis sepulcra premunt cum uestris opibus arsuros.
Parcite, quaeso, uos, parcite saltem diuitiis quas amatis. Cur et mortuos uestros auratis obuoluitis uestibus? Cur ambitio inter luctus lacrimasque non cessat? An cadauera diuitum nisi in serico putrescere nesciunt?
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The Life of Paulus the First Hermit
17.
I may be permitted at the end of this little treatise to ask those who do not know the extent of their possessions, who adorn their homes with marble, who string house to house and field to field, what did this old man in his nakedness ever lack? Your drinking vessels are of precious stones; he satisfied his thirst with the hollow of his hand. Your tunics are of wrought gold; he had not the raiment of the meanest of your slaves. But on the other hand, poor though he was, Paradise is open to him; you with all your gold will be received into Gehenna. He though naked yet kept the robe of Christ; you, clad P. 303 in your silks, have lost the vesture of Christ. Paul lies covered with worthless dust, but will rise again to glory; over you are raised costly tombs, but both you and your wealth are doomed to the burning. Have a care, I pray you, at least have a care for the riches you love. Why are even the grave-clothes of your dead made of gold? Why does not your vaunting cease even amid mourning and tears? Cannot the carcases of rich men decay except in silk?