"For," says he, "as the Egyptians had not only idols to be detested by Israelites, but also precious ornaments of gold and silver, to be carried off by them in flight, so the science of the Gentiles is not only composed of superstitions to be abhorred, but of liberal arts to be used in the service of truth."' They walked a short distance without further speech, then the prior stopped.
'Many there are,' he said, with a gesture indicating the world below, 'who think that we flee the common life only for our souls' salvation.
So, indeed, it has been in former times, and God forbid that we should speak otherwise than with reverence of those who abandoned all and betook themselves to the desert that they might live in purity and holiness.

But to us, by the grace bestowed upon our holy father, has another guidance been shown.

Know, my son, that, in an evil time, we seek humbly to keep clear, not for ourselves only, but for all men, the paths of righteousness and of understanding.

With heaven's blessing we strive to preserve what else might utterly perish, to become not only guardians of God's law but of man's learning.' Therewith did the prior take his leave, and Basil pondered much on what he had heard.

It was a new light to him, for, as his instructor suspected, he shared the common view of coenobite aims, and still but imperfectly understood the law of Benedict.