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Life of St Porphyry, Bishop of Gaza
Mark the Deacon, tr. Hill, 1913
Chapter 3
But because it is not possible to tell fully all things concerning that famous man, since they are many, and to the many seem to be incredible, I will set forth a few things which I remember, having lived with him for a long time, and enjoyed converse with that blessed and awful soul1 that now dwelleth with the angels. Who then would not justly praise this man, who possessed in himself all manner of virtue? I know indeed that no words could attain unto the virtue of such a man; nevertheless I must endeavour, being of good courage through his holy prayers. But I will write his praises not in high-sounding words; for elegant words are not wont to adorn the life of such men, but rather doth the virtue of their works magnify the speech itself wherein they are told. Wherefore I also, being encouraged by the holy prayers of the said saintly man, do approach this writing, asking through them for grace and help from the Lord Jesus Christ, that I may be able, whatsoever be the occasion,2 to set forth the virtue of the holy man. But I pray them, who do chance to read this writing, not to disbelieve the things that are said therein; for I was an eye-witness of the virtue of the man, living with him and faring with him by sea, and being evil entreated with him until the last day of his life in this world. But here let me make a beginning of the telling of my story.
Notes
- awful soul. φοβερᾶς: the sense of this adjective, like that of the English awful, has weakened down to that of θαυμαστός. See Nuth, p. 37.
- whatsoever be the occasion. οἵᾳ δήποτε προφάσει: possibly ‘by whatsoever means’. The two senses come very close together, as in c. 31.