Therefore weary me no more, a humble
man and poor."
But after a few years (says Antony) it befell one day that he bowed
himself in prayer, and remained so three days--that is, the Friday,
the Sabbath, and the Lord's day. Then I was terrified, and went up
to him, and stood before his face, and said to him, "Master, arise:
bless us; for the people have been waiting three days and three
nights for a blessing from thee." And he answered me not; and I
said again to him: "Wherefore dost thou grieve me, lord? or in what
have I offended? I beseech thee, put out thy hand to me; or,
perchance, thou hast already departed from us?"
And seeing that he did not answer, I thought to tell no one; for I
feared to touch him: and, standing about half an hour, I bent down,
and put my ear to listen; and there was no breathing: but a
fragrance as of many scents rose from his body. And so I understood
that he rested in the Lord; and, turning faint, I wept most
bitterly; and, bending down, I kissed his eyes, and clasped his
beard and hair, and reproaching him, I said: "To whom dost thou
leave me, lord? or where shall I seek thy angelic doctrine? What
answer shall I make for thee? or whose soul will look at this
column, without thee, and not grieve? What answer shall I make to
the sick, when they come here to seek thee, and find thee not? What
shall I say, poor creature that I am? To-day I see thee; to-morrow
I shall look right and left, and not find thee.
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