Ioannes Xiphilinos and Michael Psellos had agreed both to become monks once one of them had accepted tonsure. Xiphilinos received a blow (from Ophrydas), then suffered several other blows, direct and indirect, which made him think again of departing from the world, and remind Psellos of their plan. They delayed, out of repect for Konstantinos IX. Eventually, afraid of Konstantinos' unpredictable behaviour, Xiphilinos decided to depart and took an oath on it. Having decided, he claimed physical infirmity as a pretext: with much panting, he gradually revealed his illness to Konstantinos IX and asked to retire. The emperor was thunderstruck; mistrusting his own ability to change the man's mind, he asked Psellos for aid, only to suffer another shock when he declined, citing his own similar plans. The emperor spoke of treachery and conspiracy, but, bearing no grudge, begged Psellos to stay and try to replace Xiphilinos, to whom he reluctantly granted permission to retire. Claiming that as he donned the monastic habit he would obtain a cure from God, Xiphilinos immediately departed to the holy mountain of Olympos. Psellos saw him as he left and poured out streams of tears, hoping to follow him at once. He was deeply troubled about the right moment for his own retirement