thais-第13章

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Dorion；　Nicias；　and　Zenothemis；　the　poet　Callicrates；　young　Chereas
and　young　Aristobulus；　both　sons　of　dear　old　comrades；　and　near　them
Philina　and　Drosea；　who　deserve　to　be　praised　for　their　beauty。〃

Nicias　embraced　Paphnutius；　and　whispered　in　his　ear

〃I　warned　you；　brother；　that　Venus　was　powerful。　It　is　her　gentle
force　that　has　brought　you　here　in　spite　of　yourself。　Listen：　you　are
a　man　full　of　piety；　but　if　you　do　not　confess　that　she　is　the　mother
of　the　gods；　your　ruin　is　certain。　Do　you　know　that　the　old
mathematician；　Melanthes；　used　to　say；　'I　cannot　demonstrate　the
properties　of　a　triangle　without　the　aid　of　Venus'？〃

Dorion；　who　had　for　some　seconds　been　looking　at　the　new…comer；
suddenly　clapped　his　hands　and　uttered　a　cry　of　surprise。

〃It　is　he；　friends！　His　look；　his　beard；　his　tunicit　is　he　himself！
I　met　him　at　the　theatre　whilst　our　Thais　was　acting。　He　was　furiously
excited；　and　spoke　with　violence；　as　I　can　testify。　He　is　an　honest
man；　but　he　will　abuse　us　all；　his　eloquence　is　terrible。　If　Marcus　is
the　Plato　of　the　Christians；　Paphnutius　is　the　Demosthenes。　Epicurus；
in　his　little　garden；　never　heard　the　like。〃

Philina　and　Drosea；　however；　devoured　Thais　with　their　eyes。　She　wore
on　her　fair　hair　a　wreath　of　pale　violets；　each　flower　of　which
recalled；　in　a　paler　hue；　the　colour　of　her　eyes；　so　that　the　flowers
looked　like　softened　glances；　and　the　eyes　like　sparkling　flowers。　It
was　the　peculiar　gift　of　this　woman；　on　her　everything　lived；　and　was
soul　and　harmony。　Her　robe；　which　was　of　mauve　spangled　with　silver；
trailed　in　long　folds　with　a　grace　that　was　almost　melancholy　and　was
not　relieved　by　either　bracelets　or　necklaces。　The　chief　charm　of　her
appearance　was　her　beautiful　bare　arms。　The　two　friends　were　obliged
to　admire；　in　spite　of　themselves　the　robe　and　head…dress　of　Thais；
though　they　said　nothing　to　her　on　the　subject。

〃How　beautiful　you　are！〃　said　Philina。　〃You　could　not　have　been　more
so　when　you　came　to　Alexandria。　Yet　my　mother；　who　remembers　seeing
you　then；　says　there　were　few　women　who　were　worthy　to　be　compared
with　you。〃

〃Who　is　the　new　lover　you　have　brought？〃　asked　Drosea。　〃He　has　a
strange；　wild　appearance。　If　there　are　shepherds　of　elephants；
assuredly　he　must　resemble　one。　Where　did　you　find　such　a　wild…looking
friend；　Thais？　Was　it　amongst　the　troglodytes　who　live　under　the
earth；　and　are　grimy　with　the　smoke　of　Hades？〃

But　Philina　put　her　finger　on　Drosea's　lips。

〃Hush！　the　mysteries　of　love　must　remain　secret；　and　it　is　forbidden
to　know　them。　For　my　own　part；　certainly；　I　would　rather　be　kissed　by
the　mouth　of　smoking　Etna　than　by　the　lips　of　that　man。　But　our　dear
Thais；　who　is　beautiful　and　adorable　as　the　goddesses；　should；　like
the　goddesses；　grant　all　requests；　and　not；　like　us；　only　those　of
nice　young　men。〃

〃Take　care；　both　of　you！〃　replied　Thais。　〃He　is　a　mage　and　an
enchanter。　He　hears　words　that　are　whispered；　and　even　thoughts。　He
will　tear　out　your　heart　while　you　are　asleep；　and　put　a　sponge　in　its
place；　and　the　next　day；　when　you　drink　water；　you　will　be　choked　to
death。〃

She　watched　them　grow　pale；　then　she　turned　away　from　them；　and　sat　on
a　couch　by　the　side　of　Paphnutius。　The　voice　of　Cotta；　kind　but
imperious；　was　suddenly　heard　above　the　murmur　of　conversation。

〃Friends；　let　each　take　his　place！　Slaves；　pour　out　the　honeyed　wine！〃

Then；　the　host　raising　his　cup

〃Let　us　first　drink　to　the　divine　Constantine　and　the　genius　of　the
empire。　The　country　should　be　put　first　of　all；　even　above　the　gods；
for　it　contains　them　all。〃

All　the　guests　raised　their　full　cups　to　their　lips。　Paphnutius　alone
did　not　drink；　because　Constantine　had　persecuted　the　Nicaean　faith；
and　because　the　country　of　the　Christian　is　not　of　this　world。

Dorion；　having　drunk；　murmured

〃What　is　one's　country？　A　flowing　river。　The　shores　change；　and　the
waves　are　incessantly　renewed。〃

〃I　know；　Dorion；〃　replied　the　Prefect　of　the　Fleet；　〃that　you　care
little　for　the　civic　virtues；　and　you　think　that　the　sage　ought　to
hold　himself　aloof　from　all　affairs。　I　think；　on　the　contrary；　that　an
honest　man　should　desire　nothing　better　than　to　fill　a　responsible
post　in　the　State。　The　State　is　a　noble　thing。〃

Hermodorus；　the　High　Priest　of　Serapis；　spoke　next

〃Dorion　has　asked；　'What　is　one's　country？'　I　will　reply　that　the
altars　of　the　gods　and　the　tombs　of　ancestors　make　one's　country。　A
man　is　a　fellow…citizen　by　association　of　memories　and　hopes。〃

Young　Aristobulus　interrupted　Hermodorus。

〃By　Castor！　I　saw　a　splendid　horse　to…day。　It　belonged　to　Demophoon。
It　has　a　fine　head；　small　jaw；　and　strong　forelegs。　It　carries　its
neck　high　and　proud；　like　a　cock。〃

But　young　Chereas　shook　his　head。

〃It　is　not　such　a　good　horse　as　you　say；　Aristobulus。　Its　hoofs　are
thin；　and　the　pasterns　are　too　low；　the　animal　will　soon　go　lame。〃

They　were　continuing　their　dispute；　when　Drosea　uttered　a　piercing
shriek。

〃Oh！　I　nearly　swallowed　a　fish…bone；　as　long　and　much　sharper　than　a
style。　Luckily；　I　was　able　to　get　it　out　of　my　throat　in　time！　The
gods　love　me！〃

〃Did　you　say；　Drosea；　that　the　gods　loved　you？〃　asked　Nicias；　smiling。
〃Then　they　must　share　the　same　infirmities　as　men。　Love　presupposes
unhappiness　on　the　part　of　whoever　suffers　from　it；　and　is　a　proof　of
weakness。　The　affection　they　feel　for　Drosea　is　a　great　proof　of　the
imperfection　of　the　gods。〃

At　these　words　Drosea　flew　into　a　great　rage。

〃Nicias；　your　remarks　are　foolish　and　not　to　the　point。　But　that　is
your　characteryou　never　understand　what　is　said；　and　reply　in　words
devoid　of　sense。〃

Nicias　smiled　again。

〃Talk　away；　talk　away；　Drosea。　Whatever　you　say；　we　are　glad　every
time　you　open　your　mouth。　Your　teeth　are　so　pretty！〃

At　that　moment；　a　grave…looking　old　man；　negligently　dressed；　walking
slowly；　with　his　head　high；　entered　the　room；　and　gazed　at　the　guests
quietly。　Cotta　made　a　sign　to　him　to　take　a　place　by　his　side；　on　the
same　couch。

〃Eucrites；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　welcome。　Have　you　composed　a　new
treatise　on　philosophy　this　month？　That　would　make；　if　I　calculate
correctly；　the　ninety…second　that　has　proceeded　from　the　Nile　reed　you
direct　with　an　Attic　hand。〃

Eucrites　replied；　stroking　his　silver　beard

〃The　nightingale　was　created　to　sing；　and　I　was　created　to　praise　the
immortal　gods。〃

DORION。　Let　us　respectfully　salute；　in　Eucrites；　the　last　of　the
stoics。　Grave　and　white；　he　stands　in　the　midst　of　us　like　the　image
of　an　ancestor。　He　is　solitary　amidst　a　crowd　of　men；　and　the　words　he
utters　are　not　heard。

EUCRITES。　You　deceive　yourself；　Dorion。　The　philosophy　of　virtue　is
not　dead。　I　have　numerous　disciples　in　Alexandria；　Rome；　and
Constantinople。　Many　of　the　slaves；　and　some　of　the　nephews　of　Caesar；
now　know　how　to　govern　themselves；　to　live　independently；　and　being
unconcerned　with　all　affairs；　they　enjoy　boundless　happiness。　Many　of
them　have　revived；　in　their　own　person；　Epictetus　and　Marcus　Aurelius。
But　if　it　were　true　that　virtue　were　for　ever　extinguished　upon　the
earth；　in　what　way　would　the　loss　of　it　affect　my　happiness；　since　it
did　not　depend　on　me　whether　it　existed　or　perished？　Only　fools；
Dorion；　place　their　happiness　out　of　their　own　power。　I　desire　nothing
that　the　gods　do　not　wish；　and　I　desire　all　that　they　do　wish。　By　that
means　I　render　myself　like　unto　them；　and　share　their　infallible
content。　If　virtue　perishes；　I　consent　that　it　should　perish；　and　that
consent　fills　me　with　joy；　as　the　supreme　effort　of　my　reason　or　my
courage。　In　all　things　my　wisdom　will　copy　the　divine　wisdom；　and　the
copy　will　be　more　valuable　than　the　model；　it　will　have　cost　greater
care　and　more　work。

NICIAS。　I　understand。　You　put　yourself　on　the　same　level　as　divine
providence。　But　if　virtue　consists　only　in　effort；　Eucrites；　and　in
that　intense　application　by　which　the　disciples　of　Zeno　pretend　to
render　themselves　equal　to　the　gods；　the　frog；　which　swelled　itself
out　to　try　and　become　as　big　as　the　ox；　accomplished　a　masterpiece　of
stoicism。

EUCRITES。　You　jest；　Nicias；　and；　as　usual；　you　excel　in　ridicule。　But
if　the　ox　of　which　you　speak　is　really　a　god；　like　Apis；　or　like　that
subterranean　ox　whose　high　priest　I　see　here；　and　if　the　frog；　being
wisely　inspired；　succeed　in　equalling　it；　would　it　not　be；　in　fact；
more　virtuous　than　the　ox；　and　could　you　refrain　from　admiring　such　a
courageous　little　animal！

Four　servants　placed　on　the　table　a　wild　pig；　still　covered　with　its
bristles。　Little　pigs；　made　of　pastry；　surrounded　the　animal；　as
though　they　would　suckle；　to　show　that　it　was　a　sow。

Zenothemis；　turning　towards　the　monk；　said

〃Friends；　a　guest　has　come　hither　to　join　us。　The　illustrious
Paphnutius；　who　leads　such　an　extraordinary　life　of　solitude；　is　our
unexpected　guest。〃

COTTA。　You　may　even　add；　Zenothemis；　that　the　place　of　honour　is　due
to　him；　because　he　came　without　being　invited。

ZENOTHEMIS。　Therefore；　we　ought；　my　dear　Lucius；　to　make　him　the　more
welcome；　and　strive　to　do　that　which　would　be　most　agreeable　to　him。
Now　it　is　certain　that　such　a　man　cares　less　for　the　perfumes　of　meat
than　for　the　perfumes　of　fine　thoughts。　We　shall；　doubtless；　please
him　by　discussing　the　doctrine　he　professes；　which　is　that　of　Jesus
crucified。　For　my　own　part；　I　shall　the　more　willingly　discuss　this
doctrine；　because　it　keenly　interests　me；　on　account　of　the　number　and
the　diversity　of　the　allegories　it　contains。　If　one　may　guess　at　the
spirit　by　the　letter；　it　is　filled　with　truths；　and　I　consider　that
the　Christian　books　abound　in　divine　revelations。　But　I　should　not；
Paphnutius；　grant　equal　merit　to　the　Jewish　books。　They　were　inspired
not；　as　it　was　said；　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　but　by　an　evil　genius。
Iaveh；　who　dictated　them；　was　one　of　those　spirits　who　people　the
lower　air；　and　cause　the　greater　part　of　the　evils；　from　which　we
suffer；　but　he　surpassed　all　the　others　in　ignorance　and　ferocity。　On
the　contrary；　the　serpent　with　golden　wings；　which　twined　its　azure
coils　round　the　tree　of　knowledge；　was　made　up　of　light　and　love。　A
combat　between　these　two　powersthe　one　of　light　and　the　other　of
darknesswas；　therefore；　inevitable。　It　occurred　soon　after　the
creation　of　the　world。　God　had　hardly　begun　to　rest　after　His　labors；
Adam　and　Eve；　the　first　man　and　the　first　woman；　lived　happy　and　naked
in　the　Garden　of　Eden；　when　Iaveh　conceivedto　their　misfortunethe
design　of　governing　them　and　all　the　generations　which　Eve　already
bore　in　her　splendid　loins。　As　he　possessed　neither　the　compass　nor
the　lyre；　and　was　equally　ignorant　of　the　science　which　commands　and
the　art　which　persuades；　he　frightened　these　two　poor　children　by
hideous　apparitions；　capricious　threats；　and　thunder…bolts。　Adam　and
Eve；　feeling　his　shadow　upon　them；　pressed　closer　to　one　another；　and
their　love　waxed　stronger　in　fear。　The　serpent　took　pity　on　them；　and
determined　to　instruct　them；　in　order　that；　possessing　knowledge；　they
might　no　longer　be　misled　by　lies。　Such　an　undertaking　required
extreme　prudence；　and　the　frailty　of　the　first　human　couple　rendered
it　almost　hopeless。　The　well…intentioned　demon　e