按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
extraordinary conduct of the stylite； and the heads of the Libyan Church
followed； in the absence of Athanasius； the opinion of the Patriarch。
Having learned which； Abbots Ephrem and Serapion came to the feet of
Paphnutius to apologise for their former mistrust。 Paphnutius replied
〃Know； my brothers； that the penance I endure is barely equal to the
temptations which are sent me； the number and force of which astound me。
A man； viewed externally； is but small； and； from the height of the pillar to
which God has called me； I see human beings moving about like ants。 But；
considered internally； man is immense； he is as large as the world； for he
contains it。 All that is spread before methese monasteries； these inns； the
boats on the river； the villages； and what I see in the distance of fields；
canals； sand； and mountainsis nothing in respect to what is in me。 I carry
in my heart countless cities and illimitable deserts。 And evilevil and
deathspread over this immensity； cover them all； as night covers the
earth。 I am； in myself alone； a universe of evil thoughts。〃
He spoke thus because the desire for woman was in him。
The seventh month； there came from Alexandria； Bubastis and Sais；
women who had long been barren； hoping to obtain children by the
intercession of the holy man and the virtues of his pillar。 They rubbed their
sterile bodies against the stone。 There followed a procession； as far as the
eye could reach； of chariots； palanquins； and litters； which stopped and
pushed and jostled below the man of God。 From them came sick people
terrible to see。 Mothers brought to Paphnutius young boys whose limbs
were twisted； their eyes starting； their mouth foaming； their voices hoarse。
He laid his hands upon them。 Blind men approached； groping with their
hands； and raising towards him a face pierced with two bleeding holes。
Paralytics displayed before him the heavy immobility； the deadly
emaciation； and the hideous contractions of their limbs； lame men showed
him their club feet； women with cancer； holding their bosoms with both
hands； uncovered before him their breasts devoured by the invisible
108
… Page 109…
THAIS
vulture。 Dropsical women； swollen like wine skins were placed on the
ground before him。 He blessed them。 Nubians； afflicted with elephantiasis；
advanced with heavy steps and looked at him with streaming eyes and
expressionless countenances。 He made the sign of the cross over them。 A
young girl of Aphroditopolis was brought to him on a litter； after having
vomited blood； she had slept for three days。 She looked like a waxen
image； and her parents； who thought she was dead； had placed a palm leaf
on her breast。 Paphnutius having prayed to God； the young girl raised her
head and opened her eyes。
As the people reported everywhere the miracles which the saint had
performed； unfortunate persons afflicted with that disease which the
Greeks call 〃the divine malady；〃 came from all parts of Egypt in
incalculable legions。 As soon as they saw the pillar； they were seized with
convulsions； rolled on the ground； writhed； and twisted themselves into a
ball。 Andthough it is hardly to be believedthe persons present were in
their turn seized with a violent delirium； and imitated the contortions of
the epileptics。 Monks and pilgrims； men and women； wallowed and
struggled pell…mell； their limbs twisted； foaming at the mouth； eating
handfuls of earth and prophesying。 And Paphnutius at the top of his pillar
felt a thrill of horror pass through him； and cried to God
〃I am the scapegoat； and I take upon me all the impurities of these
people； and that is why； Lord； my body is filled with evil spirits。〃
Every time that a sick person went away healed； the people applauded；
carried him in triumph； and ceased not to repeat
〃We behold another well of Siloam！〃
Hundreds of crutches already hung round the wonderful column；
grateful women suspended wreaths and votive images there。 Some of the
Greeks inscribed distiches； and as every pilgrim carved his name； the
stone was soon covered as high as a man could reach with an infinity of
Latin； Greek； Coptic； Punic； Hebrew； Syrian； and magic characters。
When the feast of Easter came there was such an affluence of people
to this city of miracles that old men thought that the days of the ancient
mysteries had returned。 All sorts of people； in all sorts of costumes； were
to be seen there； the striped robes of the Egyptians； the burnoose of the
109
… Page 110…
THAIS
Arabs； the white drawers of the Nubians； the short cloak of the Greeks； the
long toga of the Romans； the scarlet breeches of the barbarians； the gold…
spangled robes of the courtesans。 A veiled woman would pass on an ass；
preceded by black eunuchs； who cleared a passage for her by the free use
of their sticks。 Acrobats； having spread a carpet on the ground； juggled and
performed skilful tricks before a circle of silent spectators。 Snake…
charmers unrolled their living girdles。 A glittering； dusty； noisy； chattering
crowd！ The curses of the camel…drivers beating the animals； the cries of
the hawkers who sold amulets against leprosy and the evil eye； the
psalmody of the monks reciting verses of the Bible； the shrieking of the
women who were prophesying； the shouting of the beggars singing old
songs of the harem； the bleating of sheep； the braying of asses； the sailors
calling tardy passengers； all these confused noises caused a deafening
uproar； over which dominated the strident voices of the little naked negro
boys； running about everywhere selling fresh dates。
And all these human beings stifled under the white sky； in a heavy
atmosphere laden with the perfumes of women； the odour of negroes； the
fumes of cooking and the smoke of gums； which the devotees bought of
the shepherds to burn before the saint。
When night came； fires； torches； and lanterns were lighted everywhere；
and nothing was to be seen but red shadows and black shapes。 Standing
amidst a circle of squatting listeners； an old man； his face lighted by a
smoky lamp； related how； formerly； Bitiou had enchanted his heart； torn it
from his breast； placed it in an acacia； and then transformed himself into a
tree。 He made gestures； which his shadow repeated with absurd
exaggerations； and the audience uttered cries of admiration。 In the taverns；
the drinkers； lying on couches； called for beer and wine。 Dancing girls；
with painted eyes and bare stomachs； performed before them religious or
lascivious scenes。 In retired corners； young men played dice or other
games； and old men followed prostitutes。 Above all these rose the solitary；
unchanging column； the head with the cow's horns gazed into the shadow；
and above it Paphnutius watched between heaven and earth。 All at once
the moon rose over the Nile； like the bare shoulder of a goddess。 The hills
gleamed with blue light； and Paphnutius thought he saw the body of Thais
110
… Page 111…
THAIS
shinning in the glimmer of the waters amidst the sapphire night。
The days passed； and the saint still lived on his pillar。 When the rainy
season came； the waters of heaven； filtering through the cracks in the roof；
wetted his body； his stiff limbs were incapable of movement。 Scorched by
the sun； and reddened by the dew； his skin broke； large ulcers devoured his
arms and legs。 But the desire of Thais still consumed him inwardly； and he
cried
〃It is not enough； great God！ More temptations！ More unclean
thoughts！ More horrible desires！ Lord； lay upon me all the lusts of men；
that I may expiate them all！ Though it is false that the Greek bitch took
upon herself all the sins of the world； as I heard an impostor once declare；
yet there is a hidden meaning in the fable； the truth