Silvanus

“ This having been done, Silvanus resided at Constantinople, where he practiced so great austerities that, despising the luxurious refinements of the age, he often appeared in the crowded streets of that populous city shod with sandals made of hay. Some time having elapsed, the bishop of Troas died ”

“ In the mean time, while the arrival of Silvanus was looked for, and while Apodemius was throwing everything, though quiet before, into commotion, Dynamius, that he might by still more convincing proofs establish belief in his wicked plots, had sent other forged letters (agreeing with the previous ones which he had brought under the emperor's notice by the agency of the prefect) to the tribune of the factory at Cremona: these were written in the names of Silvanus and Malarichus, in which the tribune, as one privy to their secrets, was warned to lose no time in having everything in readiness. ”

“ We others, being carnal, must eat, and therefore we work. Thou hast in truth chosen the better part, and art able to study all day requiring nothing. On hearing this, the brother saw that he was at fault, and said, Father, forgive me. Silvanus replied, Surely Martha is necessary to Mary, it was due to her that Mary was able to pray. Silvanus himself worked with his hands, chiefly at basket-making, so as to earn his living and not depend on alms.”
The baskets, we gather from other remarks, were used to pack dates for export. Like other hermits, Silvanus had visions. ”

“ Silvānus, a rural deity, son of an Italian shepherd by a goat. From this circumstance he is generally represented as half a man and half a goat. According to Virgil, he was son of Picus, or, as others report, of Mars, or, according to Plutarch, of Valeria Tusculanaria, a young woman, who introduced herself into her father’s bed, and became pregnant by him. The worship of Silvanus was established only in Italy, where, as some authors have imagined, he reigned in the age of Evander. ”

“ For a vast multitude of people, assembled from all quarters, were, with a mixture of haste and alarm, strengthening the foundations of Silvanus's enterprise, and a numerous military force was collected; so that it seemed more advisable, on the existing emergency, for our unfortunate general to await the intentions and pleasure of the new emperor, who was assuring himself by ridiculous omens and signs that he was gaining accessions of strength. ”

“ Vinzi fought back the tears, though his eyes filled in spite of him as he answered, "No, I believe not."
"Keep up your courage, my boy!" advised Father Silvanus, patting him kindly on the shoulder. "Keep up your courage! It is always lovely to go home, and if the Lord thinks music is good for you, it is an easy thing for Him to send someone across your path who will help you further. Perhaps you will return to us and we will go on with your music together." ”

“ A certain brother once came to Sinai where he found the brethren hard at work and he said to them, Labour not for the meat that perishes. Silvanus, who overheard the remark, directed his disciple Zacharias to give him a book and lead him to an empty cell. When the ninth hour came, the brother looked towards the entrance expecting to be called to a meal, but no one came, so he went to Silvanus and said, Father, do not the brethren eat to-day? Silvanus replied, Oh yes, they have eaten. Then why was I not called? Because, said Silvanus, thou art a spiritual man who needs no such food. ”

“ Silvanus, the commander of the infantry, being a man well suited to correct these evils, went thither at the command of the emperor, Arbetio at the same time urging with all his power that this task should be undertaken without delay, with the object of imposing the dangerous burden of this duty on his absent rival, whom he was vexed to see still in prosperity. . . .
3. There was a certain man named Dynamius, the superintendent of the emperor's beasts of burden, who had begged of Silvanus recommendatory letters to his friends as of one who was admitted to his most intimate friendship. ”

“ Another hermit who was drawn to Sinai was Silvanus, a native of Palestine, “to whom on account of his great [97] virtue, an angel was wont to minister. He lived in Sinai and afterwards founded, at Gerari (? Gerra) , in the wadi, a very extensive and noted cœnobium for many good men, over which the excellent Zacharias, afterwards presided.” [147] Like other hermits, Silvanus shared his cell with a youthful disciple, and cultivated a garden that was surrounded by a wall and served by a water conduit. ”

“ A Roman cavalry officer in Britain has left a memorial of his gratitude to Silvanus for the capture of a wild boar of surpassing size and strength,2770 which had long defied the hunter. In one of the forest cantons of the Alps a procurator of the imperial estates inscribed his gratitude in a pretty set of verses to the god of the wilds, whose image was enshrined in the fork of a sacred ash.2771 It is the record of many a day passed in lonely forest tracks, coupled with a prayer to be restored safely to Italian fields and the gardens of Rome. The nymphs and river gods had all their old honours. ”

“ The goblet and hammer sometimes accompany dedications to Silvanus by name; but the variations are too numerous to be enumerated. One of the most remarkable is an altar at Lyons, which brings the hammer and the billhook together: it shows the god using a billhook with his right hand and supporting himself with the other on a hammer with a long handle, while the goblet stands at his feet.
The reasoning of M. Mowat leaves one in no doubt that the Gauls identified Esus with the Roman god Silvanus, who presided over woodlands, clearings and gardens, together with the shepherds' interests. ”

“ Silvanus led a campaign in person, conquered the Breucans, and won the allegiance of some of the rest without a struggle. Bato seeing this gave up all hope of Pannonia, but stationed garrisons at the passes leading to Dalmatia and ravaged the country. Then the remainder of the Pannonians, especially as their country was suffering harm from Silvanus, made terms. Only certain nests of brigands, who in so great a disturbance could naturally do damage for a long time, held out. Tins practically always happens in the case of all enemies, and is especially characteristic of the tribes in question. ”

“ Silas, also called Silvanus, together with Judas, surnamed Barsabas, was added to the Apostles Paul and Barnabas. These men were leaders among the brethren, and were to bear testimony to those matters which had been considered and decided upon by the apostles at Jerusalem, for the welfare of the church of God. ”

“ On the other hand was the full realization that all his marvellous life on the mountain with these kind people had come to an end. Yes, and the music, all the music, too. There was no one who would be able to help him at home, no one. Should the whole thing really be over for good and all? His heart contracted painfully at this thought, but the next moment he found joy again in the happy anticipation of going home and seeing his loved ones.
Even if the music must stop when he got home, he would not entirely lose his good teacher, Pater Silvanus. ”

“ Its object was, as Varro explains it, to avert the entrance of the half-wild Silvanus by giving three unmistakeable signs of human civilisation; we shall probably not be wrong in seeing in it rather an actual hacking, beating, and sweeping away of evil spirits. ”

“ For, after pouring forth a violent invective against traditors, and quoting loudly many passages against them from the holy books themselves, he yet said nothing which could prove his opponents to be traditors. But I quoted the case of Silvanus of Cirta, who held his own see some little time before himself, who was expressly declared in the Municipal Chronicles to have been a traditor while he was yet a sub-deacon. ”

“ And when the emperor learnt this, at first by report, but subsequently by certain intelligence, and while all were in suspense from dread of the impending danger, the dependents of the court, hammering on the same anvil day and night (as the saying is) , at the prompting of the eunuchs, held up Ursicinus as a Gorgon's head before the suspicious and timid emperor, continually repeating that, because on the death of Silvanus, in a dearth of better men, he had been sent to defend the eastern districts, he had become ambitions of still greater power. ”

“ And thus the transaction was brought to an end, and all those who had been accused in the original information were acquitted; and Dynamius, as a man of exceeding accomplishments and prudence, was appointed to govern Etruria with the rank of corrector.
15. While these affairs were proceeding, Silvanus was living at Agrippina, [42] and having learnt by continual [Pg 59] information sent to him by his friends what Apodemius was doing with the hope of effecting his ruin; and knowing also how impressible the mind of the feeble emperor was ”

“ Our heads are high, and our hearts. By Our Lady, we have a right to go proud. All is won that we marched to win. We have given our king a new realm and wide dominion. Our Lord Charles is anointed King of Naples and Emperor of the East and King of Jerusalem. He has put on the robe and crown of Byzant.”
“And sovereignty of dreams,” Silvain said. “And now you turn back to France. How many men have you left behind, Bayard?”
“There are twelve thousand holding Naples,” said Bayard.
Silvain turned in the saddle and looked back down the column of march and crossed himself and murmured a prayer. ”

“ Silvain smiled sadly.
“What should I answer you, my lord? I think your heart knows that.”
“What has he brought upon Italy? Rapine and death and outrage for men and women who had done him no wrong. We gather and march to defend our right. God is for us. He can not stand against us, this robber’s king. But the fight will go hard and we need every knight’s aid. Come Silvain, here is honor to win.” ”

“ Silvain cried. “I am Silvain de St. Lo, a knight of France.”
“I am the captain of the guard of my lord of Mantua. Do you come from the King of France?”
Silvain saw the wrinkled scarred face of an old soldier of fortune look at him cunningly.
“I come from myself. My news is that you are in danger.”
The Mantuan looked round at his men at arms and laughed, and Silvain went on:
“Sir, you know what you have with you that is worth taking. I know that three miles away there is an ambush laid to take it. There are forty men against you. If you can break through, go your way and God be with you. ”

“ Silvain,' I said reproachfully, 'this is not as we used to meet. I come to you with open arms, and you receive me with doubt and suspicion. Are we not, as we always were and always shall be, friends staunch and true? You are the same Silvain; I am the same Louis; unchanged, as you will find me if you care to prove me.'
"Avicia had risen and crept close to my side. ”

“ Silvain said gently.
“And I have done nothing? Is that it? Why, child, the world will talk of Beatrice of Milan when you are dead and dust. I have had power over men. But let me be what you say. I have done nothing, I am nothing! Then in God’s name why do you come to serve me?”
“I serve those who need, lady. For the joy of the venture and the honor.”
She flung out her white arms and pointed at him:
“He saves others! himself he will not save!” And she laughed. “A saint you are, not a knight nor a man.”
It was there or thereabouts that Lodovico came in. ”

“ And I have not failed in a fight yet.”
“You are the most gallant knight of us all,” Silvain said. “But see, brother: It will save many a life to know what they intend against us. Let me go.”
“You try to see too far. You always seek to be wiser than any man. How often has that sent you on a lonely venture, Silvain? And little honor it has brought. Ride on with us and do your part when the hour comes.”
“And so I will. O Bayard, my brother, it is not my honor I think of but the honor of France. Here is her army marching blind and we can save many a man for her. ”

“ He was for going off alone to some humbler place and when Silvain swore they should lodge together he had many shy excuses and apologies. And Thibaut, though he made a sour face at the little remote tavern to which they came, could not much blame the lad who would plainly have been well content to part from them. And Louis, like a good youth, fell to grooming his horse and cleaning his armor while Silvain went out to see the town.
None so busy, none so rich he had found in all his travels. ”

“ Silvain asked him if he had news of the king and the army of France. “—— a word have I heard,” said Gilbert and drank to French swords and King Charles.
“And God send him a horse with a good wind,” said Philibert.
“What sir? Is the army in retreat? I did not know that.”
“Nor did I. But I can guess. If a man goes rabbiting where wasps nest, he will soon be running.”
“Drink again, cousin,” Gilbert laughed and passed the wine along. “See your luck through the wine, it is none so black.”
“Nor is the king’s,” said Silvain. “He has won many a victory and none stand against him.” ”

“ Bonivard grasped his hand.
“I should thank God for you. This is a hard venture. But tell me how did you know I came for her? If any man suspects me, there is no hope for me or her.”
Silvain laughed.
“I think no man knows you but me, Louis. You are the wariest youth in the world. But you puzzled me. You were so eager to hear of knightly ventures, yet when one came you would not take it. I thought then it was for your own sake you were careful. But still you puzzled me. When I found you here in Pavia I saw light. You were not your own man. You have saved yourself for a nobler venture. ”

“ His suffering would be his own, and would not bring misery upon others. And in the light of the inevitable, his honourable feelings and the promptings of conscience--to which I believed both Silvain and Kristel to be amenable--would assist him to bear it in silence, however bitter and poignant it might be. I decided that Silvain was the better able, upon moral grounds, to bear the suffering, although, had it devolved upon me to deliberately contribute to the happiness of only one of the brothers, my choice would have fallen upon Silvain. ”