The Shepherd of Hermas

Hermas

Hermas. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913

So, when she had finished reading, and rose[*](The close of the vision) from the chair, there came four young men, and took up the chair and went away towards the East.

And she called me and touched my breast and said

to me; Did my reading please you? and I said to her: Lady, this last part pleases me, but the first part was hard and difficult. And she said to me: This last part is for the righteous, but the first part was for the heathen and the apostates.

While she was speaking with me two men appeared, and took her by the arm and they went away towards the East, whither the chair had gone. But she went away cheerfully, and as she went said to me, Play the man, Hermas.