The Shepherd of Hermas

The maidens said to me: To-day the shepherd is not coming here. What then, said I, shall I[*](Hermas stays with the Maidens) do? Wait for him, said they, until the evening, and if he come he will speak with you; and if he come not you shall remain here with us until he come.

I said to them: I will wait for him till evening, but if he come not I will go away home and return in the morning. But they answered and said to me: You were given to our charge; you cannot go away from us.

Where shall I stay then? said I. You shall sleep with us, said they, as a brother and not as a husband, for you are our brother and for the future we are going to live with you, for we love you greatly. But I was ashamed to stay with them.

And she who seemed to be the first of them began to kiss and embrace me, and the others seeing her embracing me began to kiss me themselves, and to lead me round the tower, and to play with me.

I, too, had, as it were, become young again, and began to play with them myself, for some were dancing, others were gavotting, others were singing, and I walked in silence with them round the tower, and was merry with them.

But when evening came I wished to go home but they did not let me go, but kept me, and I stayed the night with them and slept by the tower.

For the maidens spread their linen tunics on the ground, and they made me lie down in the midst of them, and they did nothing else but pray, and I also prayed with

Then the shepherd came and said to the maidens: Have you done him any despite? Ask him, said they. I said to him: Sir, I rejoiced at remaining with them. On what, said he, did you sup? I supped, Sir, said I, on the words of the Lord the whole night. Did they receive you well? said he, Yes, Sir, said I.

Now-, said he, what do you wish to hear first? Even as, Sir, said I, you showed me from the beginning; I ask you, Sir, to declare things to me even as I ask them of you. Even as you desire, said he, so I will interpret to you, and hide from you nothing at all.