IN THE ACCENTS OF GIBBON

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 27

IN THE ACCENTS OF GIBBON

Prizes were offered recently by the "Manchester Guardian" for .the comment which Gibbon would have made on hearing that the monks of an Egyptian monastery ■ had started a "stay-in" strike. ' ,

The revolt now being made by a community of Coptic monks in Upper Egypt against, the reforming zeal of a new abbot would undoubtedly have affected him as amusing, said the judge. The incongruities in the situation are just of the sort he would have enjoyed. As' a protest against the proposed curtailment of their wanderings abroad they have chosen to barricade themselves in their monastery; in an age of aeroplanes and tanks they have effected this barricade by raising the drawbridge. . ■

These are the aspects of this sad affair that struck the competitors. From Edinburgh and Oldham come the following:—

That thft means employed to express protest should consist in the fulfilment of duty must arouse a sentiment either of surprise or of mirth. To remain in his monastery is incumbent upon a monk by his vows, and doubtless delightful to him in virtue of his vocation. Whatever difference of opinion may subsist contlon of activity, no controversy .is possible regarding the practical acumen shown in simultaneously asserting a right, fulfilling a vow, and satisfying the innate Indolence of mankind.

Often does the partisan trust that the weapon which he turns against himself' will be the first to pierce the armour of .his adversary. But that such a policy may triumph he must choose an injury which is neither habitual to him nor ridiculous in the eyes of others. When Gandhi fasted men opined that this was no strange or unusual thing for him, and were moved rather to laughter than to indignation. So it Is with the anchorite who

immures himself In protest, yet has chosen confinement as his way of life.

Both these entries, it will be noticed, caught, the general rhythm of Gibbon's periods. . It is a difficult style to copy or to parody^ it is too easy to-allow a superficial acquaintance with, the author to lure one into mere wordiness, a sin of which Gibbon was incapable. Each word must carry weight, and malice or satire should occur in the sentence as it were accidentally, not thrust themselves forward, begging to be heard. . ■ . -

The first prize^went to: —•

The promptings of religion. or self-Interest provoked the monks to exchange their compulsory seclusion for a voluntary Isolation, none Ihe less plenary In originating rather from their choice than from their tows. Familiar with the precepts of prayer, and fasting, they now had occasion to practise the second of theso mortifications;. A Tecognlsed accompaniment of such exercises Is the Klft of vision and prophecy; nor was the present emergency wanting In manifestations of a kinrt which the stories of the saints have rendered.. unimpeachable. Wtlh unaccustomed unanimity angels revealed to the monks the justice of tlielr cause. ...

The second prize went to;(although it attributes to the monks higher motives than reports from Egypt warranted):

Even while their pages are filled with the nominations of dictators, the annalists of the age find time to record with amazement that a colony of Egyptian monks had taken forcible possession of their monastery. It was, indeed, no novelty, that the disciples of i the Prince of Peace should resort to violence:; nor, In that age, could so trivial an1 act of lawlessness elicit even a passing murmur.of reproach; but that the monks should prefer'the gloomy discomfort of their monastery to the dissipations of the city excited the admiration of all and the contempt of many. . .

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