On a balcony overhanging an abyss some hundred feet in depth, through which a brook sings a monotonous song, men may dream a long while on the problem of destiny, and on awaking from their different meditations it was natural that they should speak about the difficulties the brethren by the lake would experience when they set themselves to discover women who would accept the rule of life of the Essenes and for no enjoyment for themselves, but that the order might not perish, and with it holiness pass out of the world.

Of what women will they possess themselves? a brother often asked.  Not Jewish women, who would prefer to join themselves with Pharisees or Sadducees rather than with Essenes, and the converts, the brother continued, that might be made among the Gentile women from Mesopotamia and Arabia could not be counted upon to produce pious children, though the fathers that begot the children might be themselves of great piety.  These words put the thought into another brother’s mind, that a woman is never faithful to one man, an abiding doctrine among the Essenes:  and the group of three, Caleb, Eleazar and Benjamin, began to speak of the stirs and quarrels that these converts would provoke in the cenoby.  For even amongst those who have renounced women, there are always a few that retain a longing for women in their heart, and the smouldering embers will burst into flame at the sight of woman.  Is not that so, Benjamin?  There is much truth in thy words, Caleb, Benjamin answered, and I would know if they partition off the women into an enclosure by themselves, and only take them out at a time judged to be the fruitfullest, for it is not lawful for us to experience pleasure, and as soon as the women are with child, the brethren we have left behind, I trust, withdraw from the company of their wives.  Unless, said Eleazar, all the rules of our order be abolished.  We did well to leave them, Caleb answered.  And then, posing his small fat hands on the parapet, he said:  women have ever been looked upon as man’s pleasure, and our pleasures are as wolves, and our virtues are as sheep, and as soon as pleasure breaks into the fold the sheep are torn and mangled.  We’re better here with our virtues than they by the lake with their pleasures.

Trouble has begun amongst them already, Eleazar said, and Benjamin turned to ask him if he had gotten news of the brethren by the lake; and he answered that yesterday a shepherd told him that many brothers had left the settlement.  We did well, Caleb said, to cherish our celibacy, and the price of living on this rock was not too high a price for it.  But tell us what thou hast heard, Eleazar.  Eleazar had heard that troubles were begun, but he hoped children would bring peace to all.  But all women aren’t fruitful, Caleb said, and Benjamin was vexed with Eleazar because he hadn’t asked how many women were already quick.  And they fell to talking scandal, putting forward reasons why some of the brethren should separate themselves from their wives.