The hermit then crossed himself. _Faustus_. Do you call eating and drinking crimes? _Hermit_. They may tempt us to commit crimes. _Devil_. Your virtue must be very weak if it cannot resist temptation; for temptation and resistance should be the glory of a saint. _Hermit_. You are right so far; but every one is not a saint. _Faustus_. Are you happy, brother? _Hermit_. Solitude makes me happy; a good conscience makes me blessed. _Devil_. How do you obtain your food? _Hermit_. The peasants bring me wherewithal to support my existence. _Faustus_. And what do you give them in return? _Hermit_. I pray for them. _Faustus_. Are they bettered by your prayers? _Hermit_. They think so, and I hope so. _Devil_. Brother, you are a rogue. _Hermit_. The reproaches of the sinful world are what the just man ought to expect. _Devil_. Why do you not look upwards, and why do you blush? But know, that I have the art of reading in a man's face what is passing in his heart. _Hermit_. So much the worse for yourself. You will have little enjoyment in company. _Devil_. Ho, ho! you know that? (_Looking at Faustus_.) _Hermit_. It is a vile world in which we live, and woe for you if thousands did not hasten into solitude to avert by their prayers the anger of incensed Heaven from the heads of sinners. _Faustus_. Reverend brother, you own yourself that you are paid for your prayers; and, believe me, it is much easier to pray than work. _Devil_. Listen once more. You have a twist of the mouth which tells me you are a hypocrite; and your eyes, which revolve in so narrow a circle, and which are generally cast downward, tell me that you are convinced they would betray the feelings of your heart, were you to raise them. The hermit lifted his eyes towards the heavens, prayed with clasped hands, and said, "Thus does the righteous man reply to the scoffer." _Faustus_. Enough. Come, brother, and bear us company in our repast. But the hermit remained inflexible. Faustus looked scornfully on the Devil, who merely smiled and shook his head. Suddenly the door opened, and a young female pilgrim rushed in almost breathless. When she had recovered from her fear, she related how she had been pursued by a knight, from whom she had the good fortune to escape by reaching the cell of the pious hermit. She was received in a friendly manner; and, unclasping her long mantle, she exhibited such beauty as would have made the victory over the flesh no easy matter for the holy Anthony himself. She placed herself by the side of Leviathan, ate sparingly of the meal, and the Devil began to-- * * * * * The hermit was at first shocked, and at last confused; and he had scarcely power to struggle with the temptation. The pilgrim tore herself, ashamed and angry, from the arms of Leviathan, to seek protection by the side of the hermit, which he could not refuse her.