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APPENDIX II GREEK AND LATIN VERSIONS OF THE HISTORIA MONACHORUM AND THE LIFE OF ANTONY Comparison of Greek and Latin versions brings to light intriguing dif­ ferences. The state of the Greek texts in the fourth century cannot be discovered with complete confidence; ! but it is worth presenting a few examples (from among many) of the variations found, and useful to speculate with care about what the differences might signify. l. THE HISTORIA MONACHORUM (a) HM i, 395BC = (Gk) i. 20. John emphasizes the value of reading the prophets; and the Latin con­ tinues, 'Qui utique ob hoc in omnibus Dei ecclesiis recitantur, ut exampla vitae hominibus, non de longinquis et peregrinis locis quaeran­ tur, sed domi unusquisque et apud se habeat quod debeat imitari': in the Greek, 1TalJTaxOU 6e eiaw oi a�Wt BaupaTO<: Kat' €1TatVOV oi TOU Beou 1TPOIPiiTat Kat' CL1TOaTOAOt oi €V nlt<: €KKAT}atfu.<: ava-yw,':'JaKOVrat' oik 6e( plJ1eia8at. The Latin states that the Bible is read in private: the Greek suggests that it is heard in a liturgical context. Might this reflect a contrast between the domesticated ascetics of the western aristocracy and the monastic communities of Egypt (now-c. 400more closely involved in the worship of the church)? (b) HM i, 404BD = i. 62 f. John admits that men 'in the world' may achieve a degree of goodness. He refers to 'opera bona', 'actus religiosi et sancti', and in particular to 'hospitalitas', 'caritatis ministeria', and 'misericordiae ac visitationes'. Then, by contrast, he refers to ascetics, 'qui vero in exercitio mentis desudat, et spiritales intra semetipsum excolit sensus, longe illis superior iudicandus est'. He gives a general exhortation: 'quietem silentiumque diligite, et scientiae operam date, atque exercete vosmetipsos, ut fre­ quenti collatione mentem vestram puram exhibeatis Deo'. This last is represented thus in the Greek: Trw llaVXtCl/J pera8tW�aTe 1TPO<: T17V 8ewpt'av aet' "fVpva�opevot, i'va Ka8apov Kn1aT}a8e vouv TCcJ 8ectJ 1Tpoaevxopevot; and, of the good man 'in the world', the text says, 1TPaKTU

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