The Shepherd of Hermas

And I also walked with him and was glad when I saw such good things. And the shepherd[*](The clearing of the neighbourhood of the tower) said to me: Go and bring lime and a light clay, that I may fill up the marks of the stones[*](Apparently the meaning is that the holes left in the ground where stones had been taken out were to be filled up and levelled.) which have

And I did as he commanded and brought them to him. Serve me, said he, and the work will soon be completed. So he filled up the marks of the stones which had gone into the building, and commanded all round the tower to be swept, and be made clean.

And the maidens took brooms and swept, and they took away all the dirt from the tower and sprinkled water, and the place of the tower became joyful and very beautiful.

The shepherd said to me: Everything, said he, has been made clean. If the lord come to visit the tower, he has nothing with which to blame us. When he had said this he wished to go away.

But I took him by his wallet, and began to adjure him by the Lord to explain to me what he had shown me. He said to me: I am busy for a little and then I will explain everything to you. Wait for me here till I come.

I said to him: Sir, what shall I do here alone? You are not alone, he said, for these maidens are here with you. Give me then, said I, into their charge. The shepherd called them and said to them: I entrust him to you till I come, and he went away.

And I was alone with the maidens, and they were merry and gracious towards me, especially the four more glorious of them.