The Seven Years of Seeking 105

swings the grass; and if they hang head
downward they know not of it; but rather,
seeing over them the sun and the clouds,
they might well pity our evil case, deeming it
was we who were hanging heads nethermost.”

Now this and suchlike converse with the
Bishop so moved Serapion that he lost the
quietude of soul and the deep gladness of
heart which are the portion of the cloister.
Day and night his thought was flying under
sail across the sea towards the Earthly Para-
dise, and others there were who were of one
longing with him. Wherefore at last they
prayed leave of the Abbot to build a ship
and to try the venture.

The Abbot consented, but when they
besought him to go with them and to lead
them, he shook his head smiling, and an-
swered: “ Nay, children, I am an aged man,
little fitted for such a labour. Wiser is it
for me to lean my staff against my fig-tree,
and have in mind the eternal years. More-
over, as you know, many are the sons in this
house who look to me for fatherly care.
But if it be your wish one shall go with you.
to be the twelfth of your company. In
hours of peril and perplexity and need, if