thais-第23章

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prosperity　of　Syria。　The　custom　appeared　senseless　to　me；　nevertheless
I　did　nothing　to　put　it　down。　For　I　consider　that　a　functionary　ought
not　to　interfere　with　the　manners　and　customs　of　the　people；　but　on
the　contrary；　to　see　that　they　are　preserved。　It　is　not　the　business
of　the　government　to　force　a　religion　on　a　people；　but　to　maintain
that　which　exists；　which；　whether　good　or　bad；　has　been　regulated　by
the　spirit　of　the　time；　the　place；　and　the　race。　If　it　endeavours　to
put　down　a　religion；　it　proclaims　itself　revolutionary　in　its　spirit；
and　tyrannical　in　its　acts；　and　is　justly　detested。　Besides；　how　are
you　to　raise　yourself　above　the　superstitions　of　the　vulgar；　except　by
understanding　them　and　tolerating　them？　Aristaeus；　I　am　of　opinion
that　I　should　leave　this　nephelo…coccygian＇*＇　in　the　air；　exposed　only
to　the　indignities　the　birds　shower　on　him。　I　should　not　gain　anything
by　having　him　pulled　down；　but　I　should　by　taking　note　of　his　thoughts
and　beliefs。〃

＇*＇　Nephelo…coccygia；　the　cloud…city　built　by　the　cuckoos；　in　the
　　　　/Birds/　of　Aristophanes。

He　puffed；　coughed；　and　placed　his　hand　on　the　secretary's　shoulder。

〃My　child；　note　down　that；　amongst　certain　sects　of　Christians；　it　is
considered　praiseworthy　to　carry　off　courtesans　and　live　upon　columns。
You　may　add　that　these　customs　are　evidence　of　the　worship　of　genetic
divinities。　But　on　this　point　we　ought　to　question　him　himself。〃

Then；　raising　his　head；　and　shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand；　to　keep
off　the　sun；　he　shouted

〃Hallo；　Paphnutius！　If　you　remember　that　you　were　once　my　guest；
answer　me。　What　are　you　doing　up　there？　Why　did　you　go　up；　and　why　do
you　stay　there？　Has　this　column　any　phallic　signification　in　your
mind？〃

Paphnutius；　considering　Cotta　as　nothing　but　an　idolater；　did　not
deign　to　reply。　But　his　disciple；　Flavian；　approached；　and　said

〃Illustrious　Sir；　this　holy　man　takes　the　sins　of　the　world　upon　him；
and　cures　diseases。〃

〃By　Jupiter！　Do　you　hear；　Aristaeus？〃　cried　Cotta。　〃This　nephelo…
coccygian　practises　medicine；　like　you。　What　do　you　think　of　so　high　a
rival？〃

Aristaeus　shook　his　head。

〃It　is　very　possible　that　he　may　cure　certain　diseases　better　than　I
can；　such；　for　instance；　as　epilepsy；　vulgarly　called　the　divine
malady；　although　all　maladies　are　equally　divine；　for　they　all　come
from　the　gods。　But　the　cause　of　this　disease　lies；　partly；　in　the
imagination；　and　you　must　confess；　Lucius；　that　this　monk；　perched　up
on　the　head　of　a　goddess；　strikes　the　minds　of　the　sick　people　more
forcibly　than　I；　bending　over　my　mortars　and　phials　in　my　laboratory；
could　ever　do。　There　are　forces；　Lucius；　infinitely　more　powerful　than
reason　and　science。〃

〃What　are　they？〃　asked　Cotta。

〃Ignorance　and　folly；〃　replied　Aristaeus。

〃I　have　rarely　seen　a　more　curious　sight；〃　continued　Cotta；　〃and　I
hope　that　some　day　an　able　writer　will　relate　the　foundation　of
Stylopolis。　But　even　the　most　extraordinary　spectacles　should　not
keep；　longer　than　is　befitting；　a　serious　and　busy　man　from　his　work。
Let　us　go　and　inspect　the　canals。　Farewell；　good　Paphnutius！　or
rather；　till　our　next　meeting！　If　ever　you　should　come　down　to　earth
again；　and　revisit　Alexandria；　do　not　fail　to　come　and　sup　with　me。〃

These　words；　heard　by　all　present；　passed　from　mouth　to　mouth；　and
being　repeated　by　the　believers；　added　greatly　to　the　reputation　of
Paphnutius。　Pious　minds　amplified　and　transformed　them；　and　it　was
stated　that　Paphnutius；　from　the　top　of　his　pillar；　had　converted　the
Prefect　of　the　Fleet　to　the　faith　of　the　apostles　and　the　Nicaean
fathers。　The　believers　found　a　figurative　meaning　in　the　last　words
uttered　by　Aurelius　Cotta；　to　them；　the　supper　to　which　this　important
personage　had　invited　the　ascetic；　was　a　holy　communion；　a　spiritual
repast；　a　celestial　banquet。　The　story　of　this　meeting　was　embroidered
with　wonderful　details；　which　those　who　invented　were　the　first　to
believe。　It　was　said　that　when　Cotta；　after　a　long　argument；　had
embraced　the　truth；　an　angel　had　come　from　heaven　to　wipe　the　sweat
from　his　brow。　The　physician　and　secretary　of　the　Prefect　of　the　Fleet
had　also；　it　was　asserted；　been　converted　at　the　same　time。　And；　the
miracle　being　public　and　notorious；　the　deacons　of　the　principal
churches　of　Libya　recorded　it　amongst　the　authentic　facts。　After　that；
it　could　be　said；　without　any　exaggeration；　that　the　whole　world　was
seized　with　a　desire　to　see　Paphnutius；　and　that；　in　the　West　as　well
as　the　East；　all　Christians　turned　their　astonished　eyes　towards　him。
The　most　celebrated　cities　of　Italy　sent　deputations　to　him；　and　the
Roman　Caesar；　the　divine　Constantine　who　favoured　the　Christian
religion；　wrote　him　a　letter　which　the　legates　brought　to　him　with
great　ceremony。　But　one　night；　whilst　the　budding　city　at　his　feet
slept　in　the　dew；　he　heard　a　voice；　which　said

〃Paphnutius；　thou　art　become　celebrated　by　thy　works　and　powerful　by
thy　word。　God　has　raised　thee　up　for　His　glory。　He　has　chosen　thee　to
work　miracles；　heal　the　sick；　convert　the　Pagans；　enlighten　sinners；
confound　the　Arians；　and　establish　peace　in　the　Church。〃

Paphnutius　replied

〃God's　will　be　done！〃

The　voice　continued

〃Arise；　Paphnutius；　and　go　seek　in　his　palace　the　impious　Constans；
who；　far　from　imitating　the　wisdom　of　his　brother；　Constantine；
inclines　to　the　errors　of　Arius　and　Marcus。　Go！　The　bronze　gates　shall
fly　open　before　thee；　and　thy　sandals　shall　resound　on　the　golden
floor　of　the　basilica　before　the　throne　of　the　Caesars；　and　thy　awe…
inspiring　voice　shall　change　the　heart　of　the　son　of　Constantinus。
Thou　shalt　reign　over　a　peaceful　and　powerful　Church。　And；　even　as　the
soul　directs　the　body；　so　shall　the　Church　govern　the　empire。　Thou
shalt　be　placed　above　senators；　comites；　and　patricians。　Thou　shalt
repress　the　greed　of　the　people；　and　check　the　boldness　of　the
barbarians。　Old　Cotta；　knowing　that　thou　art　the　head　of　the
government；　will　seek　the　honour　of　washing　thy　feet。　At　thy　death　thy
/cilicium/　shall　be　taken　to　the　patriarch　of　Alexandria；　and　the
great　Athanasius；　white　with　glory；　shall　kiss　it　as　the　relic　of　a
saint。　Go！〃

Paphnutius　replied

〃Let　the　will　of　God　be　accomplished！〃

And　making　an　effort　to　stand　up；　he　prepared　to　descend。　But　the
voice；　divining　his　intention；　said

〃Above　all；　descend　not　by　the　ladder。　That　would　be　to　act　like　an
ordinary　man；　and　to　be　unconscious　of　the　gifts　that　are　in　thee。　A
great　saint；　like　thee；　ought　to　fly　through　the　air。　Leap！　the　angels
are　there　to　support　thee。　Leap；　then！〃

Paphnutius　replied

〃The　will　of　God　be　done；　on　earth　as　it　is　in　heaven。〃

Extending　his　long　arms　like　the　ragged　wings　of　a　huge　sick　bird；　he
was　about　to　throw　himself　down；　when；　suddenly；　a　hideous　mocking
laugh　rang　in　his　ears。　Terrified；　he　asked

〃Who　laughs　thus？〃

〃Ah？　ah！〃　screamed　the　voice；　〃we　are　yet　but　at　the　beginning　of　our
friendship；　thou　wilt　some　day　be　better　acquainted　with　me。　My
friend；　it　was　I　who　caused　thee　to　ascend　here；　and　I　ought　to　be
satisfied　at　the　docility　with　which　thou　hast　accomplished　my　wishes。
Paphnutius；　I　am　pleased　with　thee。〃

Paphnutius　murmured；　in　a　voice　stifled　by　fear

〃Avaunt；　avaunt！　I　know　thee　now；　thou　art　he　who　carried　Jesus　to　a
pinnacle　of　the　temple；　and　showed　him　all　the　kingdoms　of　this
world。〃

He　fell；　affrighted；　on　the　stone。

〃Why　did　I　not　know　this　sooner？〃　he　thought。　〃More　wretched　than　the
blind；　deaf；　and　paralysed　who　trust　in　me；　I　have　lost　all　knowledge
of　things　supernatural；　and　am　more　depraved　than　the　maniacs　who　eat
earth　and　approach　dead　bodies。　I　can　no　longer　distinguish　between
the　clamours　of　hell　and　the　voices　of　heaven。　I　have　lost　even　the
intuition　of　the　new…born　child；　who　cries　when　its　nurse's　breast　is
taken　from　it；　of　the　dog　that　scents　out　its　master's　footsteps；　of
the　plant　that　turns　towards　the　sun。　I　am　the　laughing…stock　of　the
devils。　So；　then；　it　is　Satan　who　led　me　here。　When　he　elevated　me　on
this　pedestal；　lust　and　pride　mounted　with　me。　It　is　not　the　magnitude
of　my　temptations　which　terrifies　me。　Anthony；　on　his　mountain；
suffers　the　same。　I　wish　that　all　their　swords　may　pierce　my　flesh；
before　the　eyes　of　the　angels。　I　have　even　learned　to　like　my
sufferings。　But　God　does　not　speak　to　me；　and　His　silence　astonishes
me。　He　has　left　meand　I　had　but　Him　to　look　to。　He　leaves　me　alone
in　the　horror　of　His　absence。　He　flies　from　me。　I　will　follow　after
Him。　This　stone　burns　my　feet。　Let　me　leave　quickly；　and　come　up　with
God。〃

With　that　he　seized　the　ladder　which　stood　against　the　column；　put　his
feet　on　it；　and　having　descended　a　rung；　found　himself　face　to　face
with　the　monster's　head；　she　smiled　strangely。　He　was　certain　then
that　what　he　had　taken　for　the　site　of　his　rest　and　glory；　was　but　the
diabolical　instrument　of　his　trouble　and　damnation。　He　hastily
descended　and　touched　the　soil。　His　feet　had　forgotten　their　use；　and
he　reeled。　But；　feeling　on　him　the　shadow　of　the　cursed　column；　he
forced　himself　to　run。　All　slept。　He　traversed；　without　being　seen；
the　great　square　surrounded　by　wine…shops；　inns；　and　caravanserias；
and　threw　himself　into　a　by…street　which　led　towards　the　Libyan　Hills。
A　dog　pursued　him；　barking；　and　stopped　only　at　the　edge　of　the
desert。　Paphnutius　went　through　a　country　where　there　was　no　road　but
the　trail　of　wild　beasts。　Leaving　behind　him　the　huts　abandoned　by　the
coiners；　he　continued　all　night　and　all　day　his　solitary　flight。

At　last；　almost　ready　to　expire　with　hunger；　thirst；　and　fatigue；　and
not　knowing　if　God　was　still　far　from　him；　he　came　to　a　silent　city
which　extended　from　right　to　left；　and　stretched　away　till　it　was　lost
in　the　blue　horizon。　The　buildings；　which　were　widely　separated　and
like　each　other；　resembled　pyramids　cut　off　at　half　their　height。　They
were　tombs。　The　doors　were　broken；　and　in　the　shadow　of　the　chambers
could　be　seen　the　gleaming　eyes　of　hyaenas　and　wolves　who　brought
forth　their　young　there；　whilst　the　dead　bodies　lay　on　the　threshold；
despoiled　by　robbers；　and　gnawed　by　the　wild　beasts。　Having　passed
through　this　funeral　city；　Paphnutius　fell　exhausted　before　a　tomb
which　stood　near　a　spring　surrounded　by　palm　trees。　This　tomb　was　much
ornamented；　and；　as　there　was　no　door　to　it；　he　saw　inside　it　a
painted　chamber；　in　which　serpents　bred。

〃Here；〃　he　sighed；　〃is　the　abode　I　have　chosen；　the　tabernacle　of　my
repentance　and　penitence。〃

He　dragged　himself　to　it；　drove　out　the　reptiles　with　his　feet；　and
remained　prostrate　on　the　stone　floor　for　eighteen　hours；　at　the　end
of　which　time　he　went　to　the　spring；　and　drank　out　of　his　hand。　Then
he　plucked　some　dates　and　some　stalks　of　lotus；　the　seeds　of　which　he
ate。　Thinking　this　kind　of　life　was　good；　he　made　it　the　rule　of　his
existence。　From　morning　to　night　he　never　lifted　his　forehead　from　the
stone。

One　day；　whilst　he　was　thus　prostrated；　he　heard　a　voice　which　said

〃Look　at　these　images；　that　thou　mayest　learn。〃

Then；　raising　his　head；　he　saw；　on　the　walls　of　the　chamber；　paintings
which　represented　lively　and　domestic　scenes。　They　were　of　very　old
work；