John has gone into the monastery of Mar Saba near Jerusalem, where one of the old men has accepted him as a disciple.
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26. He is sent to Damascus to sell baskets.
After this, as the elder was training the athlete in the greater contests of obedience, what did he devise? He gathered together many baskets, which they had woven with their own hands, and presented them to John with the following pretext: “My son, I have heard that baskets are sold in Damascus for much more than in Palestine, and, as you know, we are in need of many things. So take them all, go there as quickly as you can, and do not sell them for less, even by a little, than the exact amount that I tell you.” Then he set the price at more than double their worth. But he [John] did not object, nor did he question the command of the one who gave him orders, being obedient even to death. As if with wings of obedience, he took the load on his shoulders, and set off to Damascus, he who was once held in high regard there, now in rags, parched and filthy. And he wandered around the marketplace, trying to make a sale of the baskets. But since he was asking for too high a price, he provoked laughter, and became to all the object of reproach and insults. Then one of those who had served him when he was a well-known man in the city, standing close to him and studying his appearance, realised who this wretched and ragged man was, and what he had become. His heart was crushed, and though he knew him, he approached as if he did not, and bought the baskets, giving him the exact price that had been demanded. Having received this, he retraced his path to the one who had sent him, and returned like a victor who had boldly struck down his opponent to the ground, the father of empty glory and pride.
27. He is asked to compose a funeral hymn.
Now, among the neighbours of John’s superior, there was a certain monk who left his dwelling on earth and departed to the heavenly abode, and journeyed to God. He [this monk] had a brother according to the flesh, who, overcome by the calamity, was utterly unable to bear the death of his brother. So John tried to comfort the grieving brother and, as best he could, tried to alleviate his grief with words. But the mourning man implored him and earnestly begged him to compose a hymn that would offer consolation to his grief and soothe his soul. Yet John feared the commandment of the elder, and did not consent to the request. On the other hand the man did not cease his entreaties. “For why,” he said, “do you not have mercy on the soul of one who is suffering, and apply just a little painless medicine to it? If you were a physician of the body, and bodily pain was afflicting me, would you not provide me to the best of your ability with the medicine? And if I were suffering terribly, perhaps even to the point of death, would you not be accountable before God for this neglect? And now, ignoring me suffering in even greater affliction, will you not be liable for even greater judgement?[1] But if you are afraid of the command of the elder, know that I will keep this matter absolutely secret, and no-one shall hear of it.” With these words John was persuaded and composed for him a melodious funeral hymn[2], which even today is sung by everyone: ‘All human things are pointless.’
28. John is cast out by his master.
One day, when John’s superior[3] was away from the cell, John was inside the cell and singing the aforementioned hymn softly, when the elder returned and heard that musical sound; and in great anger he said to John, “Have you forgotten your initial vows? Instead of mourning and being downcast, you sit at ease, indulging yourself with melodies!” But he [John] explained the reason to the elder, and spoke of the grief of the one who had made him do it, and fell prostrate and begged forgiveness. But the elder stood firm, like a stone or an anvil, not yielding at all to the one who was begging, and immediately cast him out of the cell.
29.
That remarkable man immediately called to mind the ancestral disobedience [of our first parents][4] and the expulsion from Paradise because of it. He did not know what to do or where to turn, and he grieved even more than the one who had lost his brother, and he said as follows to himself, “That man indeed lost his brother, but I have destroyed my own soul through disobedience.” Finally he approached other elders whom he knew to be of outstanding virtue, and put them forward as mediators, to speak to the elder and intercede, so that he might be persuaded and forgive John for his offence. So those men went and interceded, but he did not yield, unmoved like a statue, nor did he permit the disciple to enter the cell.
* * * *
Serious stuff, given that John was now penniless.