Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/170

152 THE CLASSICAL HERITAGE [chap. On the other hand, in the fifth century, quite oppo- site causes also operated to make monks. From the time of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Empire had been weakening in numbers and in spirit ; its strength could be restored only from the causes of its destruction, the barbarians. A great ruler like Diocletian could but arrest the downfall ; and not for long was to be real- ized the promise of renewed imperial prosperity which Constantine^s reign seemed to offer. It was vain for men to shut their eyes against the approaching catas- trophe. Alaric sacked Eome in 410, and the Roman dream of eternal empire was broken. So Augustine began the composition of the " City of God " ; it was hardly finished when he lay dying in his episcopal city of Hippo in Africa, with the Vandals battering down the walls. At no period has the civilized world felt barbarian destruction so closing in around it. Momanus orhis ruitj writes Jerome.^ The troubled condition of the world and the disastrous outlook fed monasticism. The athlete of Christ went forth from the community as from a bed of luxury. Now cowards fled for fear ; and many gentle souls sought the quiet of hermitage or monastery. This also shows the elasticity and adaptability of monasticism, that it Faith fears not hunger. Do you dread the naked ground for limbs consumed with fasts ? The Lord lies with you. Does the infinite vastness of the desert fright you ? In the mind walk abroad in Paradise. Does your skin roughen without baths? Who is once washed in Christ needs not to wash again. And in a word, hear the apostle answering : The sufferings of the present time are not to be compared with the glory to come which shall be revealed in us! You are too pleasure-loving, brother, if you wish to rejoice in this world and hereafter to reign with Christ." 1 Ep. LX, Ad H^liodorum.