Does it not seem to thee to be an ill thing for a righteous man to have an evil desire rise up in his heart?ġ0 It is indeed a sin, and that a very great one, to such a one for a righteous man thinketh that which is righteous. God who dwelleth in heaven, and hath made all things out of nothing, and hath multiplied them for his holy church's sake, is angry with theeħ And I answering said unto her, Lady, if I have sinned against thee, tell me where, or in what place, or when did I ever speak an unseemly or dishonest word unto thee?Ĩ Have I not always esteemed thee as a lady? Have I not always reverenced thee as a sister? Why then dost thou imagine these wicked things against me?ĩ Then she, smiling upon me, said: the desire of naughtiness has risen up in thy heart. It was a place among rocks, very steep, and unpassable for water.Ĥ When I was past this place, I came into a plain and there falling down upon my knees, I began to pray unto the Lord, and to confess my sins.ĥ And as I was praying, the heaven was opened, and I saw the woman which I had coveted, saluting me from heaven, and saying, Hermas, hail! and I looking upon her, answered, Lady, what dost thou do here? She answered me, 1 I am taken up hither to accuse thee of sin before the Lord.Ħ Lady, said I, wilt thou 2 convince me? No, said she: but hear the words which I am about to speak unto thee.

And the spirit caught me away, and carried me through a certain place toward the right-hand, through which no man could pass. But not long after, as I was walking and musing on these thoughts, I began to honour this creature of God, thinking with myself how noble and beautiful she was.ģ And when I had walked a little, I fell asleep. This I thought with myself nor did I think any more. It happened some time afterwards, that I saw her washing in the river Tyber and I reached out my hand unto her, and brought her out of the river.Ģ And when I saw her I thought with myself, saying, How happy should I be if I had such a wife, both for beauty and manners. HE who had bred me up sold a certain young maid at Rome whom when I saw many years after, I remembered her, and began to love her as a sister.

VISION I.ġ Against filthy and proud thoughts, 20 also the neglect of Hermas in chastising his children. The First Book of HERMAS, which is called his VISIONS.

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