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composed of material body； of a soul which is more subtle； but also
material； and of an incorruptible mind。 When； emerging from the body as
from a palace suddenly given over to silence and solitude and flying
through the gardens of the soul； the mind diffuses itself in God； it tastes
the delights of an anticipated death； or rather of a future life； for to die is to
live； and in that condition； partaking of divine purity； it possesses both
infinite joy and complete knowledge。 It enters into the unity which is All。
It is perfected。
NICIAS。 That is very fine； but； to say the truth； Hermodorus； I do not
see much difference between All and Nothing。 Words even seem to fail to
make the distinction。 Infinity is terribly like nothingnessthey are both
inconceivable to the mind。 In my opinion perfection costs too dear； we pay
for it with all our being； and to possess it must cease to exist。 That is a
calamity from which God Himself is not free； for the philosophers are
doing their best to perfect Him。 After all； if we do not know what it is /not/
to be； we are equally ignorant what it is to /be/。 We know nothing。 It is
said that it is impossible for men to agree on this question。 I believein
spite of our noisy disputes that it is； on the contrary； impossible for men
not to become some day all at unity buried under the mass of
contradictions； a Pelion on Ossa； which they themselves have raised。
COTTA。 I am very fond of philosophy； and study it in my leisure time。
But I never understand it well； except in Cicero's books。 Slaves； pour out
the honeyed wine！
CALLICRATES。 It is a singular thing； but when I am hungry I think of
the time when the tragic poets sat at the boards of good tyrants； and my
mouth waters。 But when I have tasted the excellent wine that you give us
so abundantly； generous Lucius； I dream of nothing but civil wars and
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heroic combats。 I blush to live in such inglorious times； I invoke the
goddess of Liberty； and I pour out my bloodin imagination with the last
Romans on the field of Philippi。
COTTA。 In the days of the decline of the Republic my ancestors died
with Brutusfor liberty。 But there is reason to suspect that what the
Roman people called liberty was only in reality the right to govern
themselves。 I do not deny that liberty is the greatest boon a nation can
have。 But the longer I live the more I am persuaded that only a strong
government can bestow it on the citizens。 For forty years I have filled high
positions in the State； and my long experience has shown me that when the
ruling power is weak the people are oppressed。 Those； therefore； wholike
the great majority of rhetoricianstry to weaken the government； commit
an abominable crime。 An autocrat； who governs by his single will； may
sometimes cause most deplorable results； but if he governs by popular
consent there is no remedy possible。 Before the majesty of the Roman
arms had bestowed peace upon all the world； the only nations which were
happy were those which were ruled over by intelligent despots。
HERMODORUS。 For my part； Lucius； I believe that there is no such
thing as a good form of government； and that we shall never discover one；
because the Greeks； who had so many excellent ideas； were never able to
find one。 In that respect； therefore； all hope of ultimate success is taken
from us。 Unmistakable signs show that the world is about to fall into
ignorance and barbarism。 It has been our lot； Lucius； to witness terrible
events。 Of all the mental satisfactions which intelligence； learning； and
virtue can give； all that remains is the cruel pleasure of watching ourselves
die。
COTTA。 It is true that the rapacity of the people； and the boldness of
the barbarians； are threatening evils。 But with a good fleet； a good army；
and plenty of money
HERMODORUS。 What is the use of deceiving ourselves？ The dying
empire will become an easy prey to the barbarians。 Cities which were built
by Hellenic genius； or Latin patience； will soon be sacked by drunken
savages。 Neither art nor philosophy will exist any longer on the earth。 The
statues of the gods will be overturned in the temples； and in men's hearts
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as well。 Darkness will overcome all minds； and the world will die。 Can we
believe that the Sarmatians will ever devote themselves to intelligent work；
that the Germani will cultivate music and philosophy； and that the Quadi
and the Marcomani will adore the immortal gods？ No！ we are sliding
toward the abyss。 Our old Egypt； which was the cradle of the world； will
be its burial vault； Serapis； the god of Death； will receive the last adoration
of mortals； and I shall have been the last priest of the last god。
At this moment a strange figure raised the tapestry； and the guests saw
before them a little hunchback； whose bald skull rose in a point。 He was
clad； in the Asiatic fashion； in a blue tunic； and wore round his legs； like
the barbarians； red breeches； spangled with gold stars。 On seeing him；
Paphnutius recognised Marcus the Arian； and fearing lest a thunderbolt
should fall from heaven； he covered his head with his arms； and grew pale
with fright。 At this banquet of the demons； neither the blasphemies of the
pagans； nor the horrible errors of the philosophers； had had any effect on
him； but the mere presence of the heretic quenched his courage。 He would
have fled； but his eyes met those of Thais； and he felt at once strengthened。
He read in her soul that she； who was predestined to become a saint；
already protected him。 He seized the skirt of her long； flowing robe； and
inwardly prayed to the Saviour Jesus。
A murmur of acclamation welcomed the arrival of the personage who
had been called the Christian Plato。 Hermodorus was the first to speak。
〃Most illustrious Marcus； we rejoice to see you amongst us； and it may
be said that you come at the right moment。 We know nothing of the
Christian doctrine； beyond what is publicly taught。 Now； it is certain that a
philosopher； like you； cannot think as the vulgar think； and we are curious
to know your opinion of the principal mysteries of the religion you profess。
Our dear friend； Zenothemis； who； as you know； is always hunting for
symbolic meanings； just now questioned the illustrious Paphnutius
concerning the Jewish books。 But Paphnutius made no reply； and we
should not be surprised at that； as our guest has made a vow of silence；
and God has sealed his tongue in the desert。 But you Marcus； who have
spoken at the Christian synods； and even at the councils of the divine
Constantine； can if you wish； satisfy our curiosity by revealing to us the
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philosophic truths which are wrapped up in the Christian fables。 Is not the
first of these truths the existence of an only Godin whom； for my part； I
fervently believe？〃
MARCUS。 Yes； venerable brethren； I believe in an only God； not
begottenthe only Eternal； the origin of all things。
NICIAS。 We know； Marcus； that your God created the world。 That
must certainly have been a great crisis in His existence。 He had already
existed an eternity before He could make up His mind to it。 But I must； in
justice； confess that His situation was a most difficult one。 He must
continue inactive if He would remain perfect； and must act if He would
prove to Himself His own existence。 You assure me that He decided to act。
I am willing to believe you； although it was an unpardonable imprudence
on the part of a perfect God。 But tell us； Marcus； how He set about making
the world。
MARCUS。 Those who； without being Christians； possess； like
Hermodorus and Zenothemis； the principles of knowledge； are aware that
God did not create the world personally without an intermediary。 He