Edition Masquer
Vita S. Hilarionis

18.

Orion vir primarius. – Sed nec illud tacendum est, quod Orion [al. Orionus] vir primarius et ditissimus urbis Ailae, quae mari Rubro imminet, a legione possessus daemonum, ad eum adductus est. [0036A] Manus, cervix, latera, pedes ferro onerati erant, furorisque saevitiam torvi oculi minabantur. Cumque deambularet sanctus cum fratribus, et de Scripturis nescio quid interpretaretur, erupit ille de manibus se tenentium: et amplexus [al. amplexans et amplexatus] eum post tergum, in sublime levavit. Clamor ortus ab omnibus: timebant enim ne confecta ieiuniis membra collideret. Sanctus arridens: Silete [al. sinite], inquit, et mihi meum palaestritam dimittite. Ac sic reflexa super humeros manu, caput eius tetigit: apprehensoque crine, ante pedes adduxit: stringens e regione ambas manus eius, et plantas utroque calcans pede, simulque ingeminans, torquere [al. torquere, ait], daemonum turba, torquere. Cumque ille eiularet, et reflexa cervice [0036B] terram vertice tangeret: Domine, inquit, Iesu, solve miserum, solve captivum. Ut unum, ita et plures vincere tuum est. Rem loquor inauditam, ex uno hominis ore diversae voces, et quasi confusus populi clamor audiebatur. Curatus itaque et hic, non post multum temporis cum uxore et liberis venit ad monasterium, plurima, quasi gratiam redditurus, dona afferens. Cui sanctus: Non legisti, inquit, quid Giezi (IV Reg. V), quid Simon (Act. VIII) passi sint: quorum alter accepit pretium, alter obtulit: ut ille venderet gratiam Spiritus sancti, hic mercaretur? Cumque Orion flens diceret: Accipe, et da pauperibus; respondit: Tu melius potes tua distribuere, qui per urbes ambulas, et nosti pauperes. EGO QUI MEA reliqui, cur aliena appetam? Multis nomen [0036C] pauperum, occasio avaritiae est: misericordia vero artem non habet. NEMO MELIUS erogat, quam qui sibi nihil reservat. Tristi autem et in terra iacenti: Noli, inquit, contristari fili; quod facio pro me, et pro te facio. Si enim haec accepero, et ego offendam Deum et ad te legio revertetur.

Traduction Masquer
The Life of S. Hilarion

18.

Nor must we omit to tell that Orion, a leading man and wealthy citizen of Aira, on the coast of the Red Sea, being possessed by a legion of demons was brought to him. Hands, neck, sides, feet were laden with iron, and his glaring eyes portended an access of raging madness. As the saint was walking with the brethren and expounding some passage of Scripture the man broke from the hands of his keepers, clasped him from behind and raised him aloft. There was a shout from all, for they feared lest he might crush his limbs wasted as they were with fasting. The saint smiled and said, “Be quiet, and let me have my rival in the wrestling match to myself.” Then he bent back his hand over his shoulder till he touched the man’s head, seized his hair and drew him round so as to be foot to foot with him; he then stretched both his hands in a straight line, and trod on his two feet with both his own, while he cried out again and again, “To torment with you! ye crowd of demons, to torment!” The sufferer shouted aloud P. 307 and bent back his neck till his head touched the ground, while the saint said, “Lord Jesus, release this wretched man, release this captive. Thine it is to conquer many, no less than one.” What I now relate is unparalleled: from one man’s lips were heard different voices and as it were the confused shouts of a multitude. Well, he too was cured, and not long after came with his wife and children to the monastery bringing many gifts expressive of his gratitude. The saint thus addressed him—“Have you not read what befell Gehazi and Simon, one of whom took a reward, the other offered it, the former in order to sell grace, the latter to buy it?” And when Orion said with tears, “Take it and give it to the poor,” he replied, “You can best distribute your own gifts, for you tread the streets of the cities and know the poor. Why should I who have forsaken my own seek another man’s? To many the name of the poor is a pretext for their avarice; but compassion knows no artifices. No one better spends than he who keeps nothing for himself.” The man was sad and lay upon the ground. “Be not sad, my son,” he said; “what I do for my own good I do also for yours. If I were to take these gifts I should myself offend God, and, moreover, the legion would return to you.”