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The Life of Malchus, the Captive Monk

10.

At last we got rid of our fright; and when that day was spent, we sallied forth towards evening, and saw the camels, on account of their great speed called dromedaries, quietly chewing the cud. We mounted, and with the strength gained from the new supply of grain, after ten days travelling through the desert arrived at the Roman camp. After being presented to the tribune we told all, and from thence were sent to Sabianus, who commanded in Mesopotamia, where we sold our camels. My dear old abbot was now sleeping in the Lord; I betook myself therefore to this place, and returned to the monastic life, while I entrusted my companion here to the care of the virgins; for though I loved her as a sister, I did not commit myself to her as if she were my sister.

Malchus was an old man, I a youth, when he told me these things. I who have related them to you am now old, and I have set them forth as a history of chastity for the chaste. Virgins, I exhort you, guard your chastity. Tell the story to them that come after, that they may realize that in the midst of swords, and wild beasts of the desert, virtue is never a captive, and that he who is devoted to the service of Christ may die, but cannot be conquered.

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Vita Malchi monachi captivi

X

[Periculo liberatus ad monachos redit.]

Sublato ergo terrore et illa transacta die eximus ad vesperam. Invenimusque camelos, quos ob nimiam velocitatem dromedarios vocant, praeteritos cibos in ore volvere et in alvum missos iterum retrahere. Quibus ascensis et nova sitarchia refocilati decima tandem die ad Romana per desertum castra pervenimus, oblatique tribuno rei ordinem pandimus. Inde transmissi ad Sabinianum, Mesopotamiae ducem, camelorum accepimus pretium. Et quia iam abbas ille meus dormierat in domino, ad haec delatus loca me monachis reddo. Hanc trado virginibus, diligens eam ut sororem, non tamen me ei credens ut sorori.»

Haec mihi senex Malchus adulescentulo rettulit. Haec ego vobis narravi senex. Castis historiam castitatis expono. Virgines virginitatem custodire exhortor. Vos narrate posteris, ut sciant inter gladios, inter deserta et bestias pudicitiam numquam esse captivam et hominem Christo deditum posse mori, non posse superari.