which he became the abbat on the removal of the former abbat Maximianus to the see of Syracuse; but was still employed by the pope as his secretary; and here he remained till, in the year 590, when he was about 50 years of age, circumstances again disturbed his peace, and forced the popedom upon him. It has been said above that he threw himself with great zeal into monastic life. It appears from many passages in his writings to have been his ideal, not only of saintly perfection, but also of peaceful