5. Now, however, the rumour of what had happened went through the city, and it was universally stirred by this new and unexpected event. All were amazed, and wondered at his virtue, all the more because it was unusual in a rude people. You would see that then _thoughts were being revealed out of the hearts of many_.[192] The majority, considering the act from a human standpoint, were lamenting and grieving that a youth who was an object of love and delight to all had given himself up to such severe labours. Others, suspecting lightness on account of his age, doubted whether he would persevere, and feared a fall. Some, accusing him of rashness, were in fact highly indignant with him because he had undertaken a difficult task, beyond his age and strength, without consulting them. But without counsel he did nothing; for he had counsel from the prophet who says, _It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth_, and adds, _He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath borne it upon him._[193] The youth sat at the feet of Imar (for that was the man's name) and either _learned obedience_[194] or showed that he had learnt it. He sat as one that was at rest, as meek, as humble. _He sat and kept silence_,[195] knowing, as the prophet says, that _silence is the ornament of righteousness_.[196] _He sat_ as one that perseveres, _he was silent_ as one that is modest, except that by that silence of his he was speaking, with holy David, in the ears of God: _I am a youth and despised, yet do not I forget thy precepts._[197] And for a time _he sat alone_, because he had neither companion nor example; for who before Malachy even thought of attempting the most severe discipline inculcated by the man? It was held by all indeed to be wonderful, but not imitable. Malachy showed that it was imitable by the mere act of sitting and keeping silence. In a few days he had imitators not a few, stirred by his example. So he who at first _sat alone_[198] and the only son of his father, became now one of many, from being _the only-begotten_[199] became _the firstborn among many brethren_.[200] And as he was before them in conversion,[201] so was he more sublime than they in conversation; and he who came before all, in the judgement of all was eminent above all in virtue. And he seemed both to his bishop[202] and to his teacher,[203] worthy to be promoted to the degree of deacon. _And they constrained him._[204] [Sidenote: 1119(?)] [Sidenote: 1120.]