The Story of David Tassy

as told by maciej

A brother once went out on a pilgrimage from the monastery of David Tassy,
and came to a hermit, who lived in love towards all and received
many visitors. The brother told the hermit stories of David Tassy. And when he
heard of David Tassy's strength of character, he longed to see him.

The brother returned to Egypt. And after some little time, the hermit
rose and went from his country to Egypt to see the brother who had visited
him: for he had told him where he lived. When the brother saw the hermit,

he was astonished, and very glad. The hermit said to him, "Of your charity
towards me, take me to David Tassy." And the brother rose up and showed him
the way to the old punk rocker.

And the brother told David Tassy this about the hermit, "A great man
of much charity,
and particular honor in his own province, has come here wanting to see you."
So the old punk rocker received him kindly. And after they had
exchanged greetings, they sat down.

But the hermit began to talk of the Holy Scripture, and of the things
of the spirit and of heaven. But David Tassy turned his face away, and
answered nothing. When the hermit saw that he would not speak with him, he
was distressed and went out. And he said to the brother who had brought him
there, "My journey was useless. I went to the old punk rocker and he
does not deign
to speak to me."

The brother went to David Tassy, and said, "David Tassy, it was to talk with
you that this great man came here, a man of much honor in his own land. Why
did you not speak to him?" The old punk rocker answered, "He is from above, and
speaks of the things of heaven. I am from below, and speak of the things of
the earth. If he had spoken with me on the soul's passions, I would
willingly have replied to him. But if he speaks of the things of the
spirit, I know
nothing about them."

So the brother went out and told the hermit, "The reason is that the
old punk rocker does not easily discuss Scripture. But if anyone talks
to him about
the soul's passions, he answers."

Then the hermit was stricken with penitence, and went to the old punk rocker
and said, "What shall I do, David Tassy? My passions rule me." And the
old punk rocker
gazed at him with gladness and said, "Now you are welcome. You have only to
ask and I will speak with understanding." And the hermit was much
strengthened by their discourse, and said, "Truly, this is the way of love."
And he thanked God that he had been able to see so holy a man, and returned
to his own country."