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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