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 Chap, xxxvii] OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE 75 of Thebais, descended the Nile as far as Alexandria; and, in a Christian market, the sanctity of the workmen might enhance the intrinsic value of the work. But the necessity of manual labour was insensibly super- Their seded. The novice was tempted to bestow his fortune on the saints, in whose society he was resolved to spend the remainder of his life ; and the pernicious indulgence of the laws permitted him to receive, for their use, any future accessions of legacy or inheritance. 54 Melania contributed her plate, three hundred pounds weight of silver, and Paula contracted an immense debt, for the relief of their favourite monks ; who kindly imparted the merits of their prayers and penance to a rich and liberal sinner. 55 Time continually increased, and accidents could seldom diminish, the estates of the popular monasteries, which spread over the adjacent country and cities ; and, in the first century of their institution, the infidel Zosimus has maliciously observed that, for the benefit of the poor, the Christian monks had reduced a great part of mankind to a state of beggary. 56 As long as they maintained their original fervour, they approved themselves, however, the faithful and benevolent stewards of the charity which was entrusted to their care. But their discipline was corrupted by prosperity : they gradually assumed the pride of wealth, and at last indulged the luxury of expense. Their public luxury might be excused by the magnificence of religious worship and the decent motive of erecting durable habitations for an immortal society. But every age of the church has ac- cused the licentiousness of the degenerate monks; who no longer remembered the object of their institution, embraced the vain and sensual pleasures of the world which they had 54 Thomassin (Discipline de l'Eglise, torn. iii. p. 18, 145, 146, 171-179) has examined the revolution of the civil, canon, and common, law. Modern France confirms the death which monks have inflicted on themselves, and justly deprives them of all right of inheritance. 55 See Jerom (torn. i. p. 176, 183). The monk Pambo made a sublime answer to Melania, who wished to specify the value of her gift : " Do you offer it to me, or to God ? If to God, he who suspends the mountains in a balance need not be in- formed of the weight of your plate." (Pallad. Hist. Lausiac. c. 10, in the Vit. Patrum, 1. viii. p. 715.) [For the two Melanias see Cardinal Eampolla del Tindaro, Santa Melania giuniore, Senatrice Romana, 1905.] 56 To iroA.il fiepos Trjs yrjs (fKadcravTo, Trpo<pd(rei tov fieraSiSSyat irdvra ittwxo7s, ■rrdvras (ws enre?;/) irrwxovs Karaa-r^aavTes- Zosim. 1. v. p. 325 [c. 23]. Yet the wealth of the Eastern monks was far surpassed by the princely greatness of the Benedictines.