He did not fear the robbers of the desert, for he was stronger than they because he had nothing.
Now and again the desire came to him to behold a human face, so that he might read therein whether the souls of men looked upwards or sank downwards.

The old man went up to the woman who had denied her own son and betrayed the fugitives.

And he said: "Daughter of Uriah! twice have you given your son life: once through pleasure, once through a lie.

So his life will be a lie.

He will breathe without living, and yet he will not be able to die!" "Mercy!" she cried.
"He will see Jerusalem fall!" "Woe is me!" "He will see Rome burn!" "Mercy!" she groaned.
"He will see the old world perish.