Section 259
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228 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. other matters worthy of note respecting the life of this man. Among these, such as the following. Certain fellows not being able to endure the firm and constant character of his life, fearing also lest they should be taken and punished for the numerous crimes of which they were conscious, endeavoured to anticipate him, by plotting an artifice against him.* They gave currency therefore to a foul slander against him. Then, in order to make the hearers believe, they confirmed their accusations with oaths ; and one of them swore that he might perish with fire ; another that his body might be wasted with a miserable and foul disease ; a third that he should be deprived of his eyes ; but notwithstanding their oaths, none of the faithful heeded them, on acconnt of the well known continent and virtuous life which Narcissus had al ways led. Unable, however, to endure the wickedness of these men, and having besides already long before embraced a life of con templation, he ran away from the body of the church, and con tinued many years concealed in deserts and trackless wilds. But the omnipotent eye of justice did not remain inactive in the midst of these things ; but soon descended with his judgments upon the impious wretches, and bound them with the curses they had invoked. The first indeed, in consequence of a light spark fall ing upon his habitation without any apparent cause, was burnt with his whole family. The next was forthwith covered with the disease which he had imprecated upon himself, from the ex tremity of his feet to the top of his head. But the third, per ceiving the events of the former two, and dreading the inevitable judgment of the all-seeing God, confessed indeed to all the slander which had been concocted in common among them. But he was so wasted with excessive grieving, and so incessantly dif fused with tears, that at last both his eyes were destroyed. And these suffered the punishment due to their calumnies. * The meaning is, that Narcissus was so rigid in his discipline, that these slan derers could not bear his uniform and exemplary life, whilst they were also afraid of detection and punishment for their own crimes.