Now when monasteries began to be formed in Egypt, and numbers of
monks banded themselves together, and when the fame of their
virtues and Angelic conversation "was gone out into all the ends
of the world" and came to the Indians, it stirred them up also to
the like zeal, insomuch that many of them forsook everything and
withdrew to the deserts; and, though but men in mortal bodies,
adopted the spiritual life of Angels. While matters were thus
prospering and many were soaring upward to heaven on wings of
gold, as the saying is, there arose in that country a king named
Abenner, mighty in riches and power, and in victory over his
enemies, brave in warfare, vain of his splendid stature and
comeliness of face, and boastful of all worldly honours, that
pass so soon away. But his soul was utterly crushed by poverty,
and choked with many vices, for he was of the Greek way, and sore
distraught by the superstitious error of his idol-worship. But,
although he lived in luxury, and in the enjoyment of the sweet
and pleasant things of life, and was never baulked of any of his
wishes and desires, yet one thing there was that marred his
happiness, and pierced his soul with care, the curse of
childlessness. For being without issue, he took ceaseless
thought how he might be rid of this hobble, and be called the
father of children, a name greatly coveted by most people. Such
was the king, and such his mind.

Meanwhile the glorious band of Christians and the companies of
monks, paying no regard to the king's majesty, and in no wise
terrified by his threats, advanced in the grace of Christ, and
grew in number beyond measure, making short account of the king's
words, but cleaving closely to everything that led to the service