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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 essayed it；
however。 Without the knowledge of Iavehwho pretended to see
everything； but； in reality； was not very sharp…sightedhe approached
these two beings； and charmed their eyes by the splendour of his coat and
the brilliancy of his wings。 Then he interested their minds by forming
before them； with his body； definite figures； such as the circle； the ellipse；
and the spiral； the wonderful properties of which have since been
recognised by the Greeks。 Adam meditated on these figures more than Eve
did。 But when the serpent began to speak； and taught the most sublime
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truthsthose which cannot be demonstratedhe found that Adam being
made of red earth； was of too dull a nature to understand these subtle
distinctions； but that Eve； on the contrary； being more tender and more
sensitive； was easily impressed。 Therefore he conversed with her alone； in
the absence of her husband； in order to initiate her first
DORION。 Permit me； Zenothemis； to interrupt you。 I speedily
recognised in the myth you have explained to us an episode in the war of
Pallas Athene against the giants。 Iaveh much resembles Typhoon； and
Pallas is represented by the Athenians with a serpent at her side。 But what
you have said causes me considerable doubt as to the intelligence or good
faith of the serpent of whom you have spoken。 If he had really possessed
knowledge； would he have entrusted it to a woman's little head； which was
incapable of containing it？ I should rather consider that he was like Iaveh；
ignorant and a liar； and that he chose Eve because she was easily seduced；
and he imagined that Adam would have more intelligence and perception。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Learn； Dorion； that it is not by perception and
intelligence； but by sensibility； that the highest and purest truths are
reached。 That is why women； who； generally； are less reflective but more
sensitive than men； rise more easily to the knowledge of things divine。 In
them is the gift of prophecy； and it is not without reason that Apollo
Citharedes； and Jesus of Nazareth； are sometimes represented clad； like
women； in flowing robes。 The initiator was therefore wisewhatever you
may say to the contrary； Dorionin bestowing light； not on the duller
Adam； but on Eve； who was whiter than milk or the stars。 She freely
listened to him； and allowed herself to be led to the tree of knowledge； the
branches of which rose to heaven； and which was bathed with the divine
spirit as with a dew。 This tree was covered with leaves which spoke all the
languages of future races of men； and their united voices formed a perfect
harmony。 Its abundant fruit gave to the initiated who tasted it the
knowledge of metals； stones； and plants； and also of physical and moral
laws； but this fruit was like fire； and those who feared suffering and death
did not dare to put it to their lips。 Now； as she had listened attentively to
the lessons of the serpent； Eve despised these empty terrors； and wished to
taste the fruit which gave the knowledge of God。 But； as she loved Adam；
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and did not wish him to be inferior to her； she took him by the hand and
led him to the wonderful tree。 Then she picked one of the burning apples；
bit it； and proffered it to her companion。 Unfortunately； Iaveh； who was by
chance walking in the garden； surprised them； and seeing that they had
become wise； he fell into a most ungovernable rage。 It is in his jealous fits
that he is most to be feared。 Assembling all his forces； he created such a
turmoil in the lower air that these two weak beings were terrified。 The fruit
fell from the man's hand； and the woman； clinging to the neck of her
luckless husband； said； 〃I too will be ignorant and suffer with him。〃 The
triumphant Iaveh kept Adam and Eve and all their seed in a condition of
hebetude and terror。 His art； which consisted only in being able to make
huge meteors； triumphed over the science of the serpent； who was a
musician and geometrician。 He made men unjust； ignorant； and cruel； and
caused evil to reign in the earth。 He persecuted Cain and his sons because
they were skilful workmen； he exterminated the Philistines because they
composed Orphic poems； and fables like those of AEsop。 He was the
implacable enemy of science and beauty； and for long ages the human race
expiated； in blood and tears； the defeat of the winged serpent。 Fortunately；
there arose among the Greeks learned men； such as Pythagoras； and Plato；
who recovered by the force of genius； the figures and the ideas which the
enemy of Iaveh had vainly tried to teach the first woman。 The soul of the
serpent was in them； and that is why the serpent； as Dorion has said； is
honoured by the Athenians。 Finally； in these latter days； there appeared；
under human form； three celestial spiritsJesus of Galilee； Basilides； and
Valentinusto whom it was given to pluck the finest fruits of that tree of
knowledge； whose roots pass through all the earth； and whose top reaches
to the highest heaven。 I have said all this in vindication of the Christians；
to whom the errors of the Jews are too often imputed。
DORION。 If I understood you aright； Zenothemis； you said that three
wonderful menJesus； Basilides； and Valentinushad discovered secrets
which had remained hidden from Pythagoras and Plato； and all the
philosophers of Greece； and even from the divine Epicurus； who； however；
has freed men from the dread of empty terrors。 You would greatly oblige
me by telling me by what means these three mortals acquired knowledge
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which had eluded the most contemplative sages。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Must I repeat to you； Dorion； that science and
cogitation are but the first steps to knowledge； and that ecstasy alone leads
to eternal truth？
HERMODORUS。 It is true； Zenothemis； that the soul is nourished on
ecstasy； as the cicada is nourished on dew。 But we may even say more： the
mind alone is capable of perfect rapture。 For man is of a threefold nature；
composed of material body； of a soul which is more subtle； but also
material； and of an incorruptible mi