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thy pleasures； and thy beauty。 Be accursed； temple of demons！ Lewd
couch of the Gentiles； tainted pulpit of Arian heresy； be thou accursed！
And thou； winged son of heaven who led the holy hermit Anthony； our
father； when he came from the depths of the desert； and entered into the
citadel of idolatry to strengthen the faith of believers and the confidence of
martyrs； beautiful angel of the Lord； invisible child； first breath of God； fly
thou before me； and cleanse； by the beating of thy wings； the corrupted air
I am about to breathe amongst the princes of darkness of this world！〃
Having thus spoken； he resumed his journey。 He entered the city by
the Gate of the Sun。 This gate was a handsome structure of stone。 In the
shadow of its arch； crowded some poor wretches； who offered lemons and
figs for sale； or with many groans and lamentations； begged for an obolus。
An old woman in rags； who was kneeling there； seized the monk's
cassock； kissed it； and said
〃Man of the Lord； bless me； that God may bless me。 I have suffered
many things in this world that I may have joys in the world to come。 You
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come from God； O holy man； and that is why the dust of your feet is more
precious than gold。〃
〃The Lord be praised！〃 said Paphnutius； and with his half…closed hand
he made the sign of redemption on the old woman's head。
But hardly had he gone twenty paces down the street； than a band of
children began to jeer at him； and throw stones； crying
〃Oh； the wicked monk！ He is blacker than an ape； and more bearded
than a goat！ He is a skulker！ Why not hang him in an orchard； like a
wooden Priapus； to frighten the birds？ But no； he would draw down the
hail on the apple…blossom。 He brings bad luck。 To the ravens with the
monk！ to the ravens！〃 and stones mingled with the cries。
〃My God； bless these poor children！〃 murmured Paphnutius。
And he pursued his way； thinking。
〃I was worshipped by the old woman； and hated and despised by these
children。 Thus the same object is appreciated differently by men who are
uncertain in their judgment and liable to error。 It must be owned that； for a
Gentile； old Timocles was not devoid of sense。 Though blind； he knew he
was deprived of light。 His reasoning was much better than that of these
idolaters； who cry from the depths of their thick darkness； 'I see the day！'
Everything in this world is mirage and moving sand。 God alone is
steadfast。〃
He passed through the city with rapid steps。 After ten years of absence
he would still recognise every stone； and every stone was to him a stone of
reproach that recalled a sin。 For that reason he struck his naked feet
roughly against the kerb…stones of the wide street； and rejoiced to see the
bloody marks of his wounded feet。 Leaving on his left the magnificent
portico of the Temple of Serapis； he entered a road lined with splendid
mansions； which seemed to be drowsy with perfumes。 Pines； maples； and
larches raised their heads above the red cornices and golden acroteria。
Through the half…open doors could be seen bronze statues in marble
vestibules； and fountains playing amidst foliage。 No noise troubled the
stillness of these quiet retreats。 Only the distant strains of a flute could be
heard。 The monk stopped before a house； rather small； but of noble
proportions； and supported by columns as graceful as young girls。 It was
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ornamented with bronze busts of the most celebrated Greek philosophers。
He recognised Plato； Socrates； Aristotle； Epicurus； and Zeno； and
having knocked with the hammer against the door； he waited； wrapped in
meditation。
〃It is vanity to glorify in metal these false sages； their lies are
confounded； their souls are lost in hell； and even the famous Plato himself；
who filled the earth with his eloquence； now disputes with the devils。〃
A slave opened the door； and seeing a man with bare feet standing on
the mosaic threshold； said to him roughly
〃Go and beg elsewhere； stupid monk； or I will drive you away with a
stick。〃
〃Brother；〃 replied the Abbott of Antinoe； 〃all that I ask is that you
conduct me to your master； Nicias。〃
The slave replied； more angrily than before
〃My master does not see dogs like you。〃
〃My son；〃 said Paphnutius； 〃will you please do what I ask； and tell
your master that I desire to see him。
〃Get out； vile beggar！〃 cried the porter furiously； and he raised his
stick and struck the holy man； who； with his arms crossed upon his breast；
received unmovedly the blow； which fell full in his face； and then repeated
gently
〃Do as I ask you； my son； I beg。〃
The porter tremblingly murmured
〃Who is this man who is not afraid of suffering？〃
And he ran and told his master。
Nicias had just left the bath。 Two pretty slave girls were scraping him
with strigils。 He was a pleasant…looking man； with a kind smile。 There was
an expression of gentle satire in his face。 On seeing the monk； he rose and
advanced with open arms。
〃It is you！〃 he cried； 〃Paphnutius； my fellow…scholar； my friend my
brother！ Oh； I knew you again； though； to say the truth； you look more like
a wild animal than a man。 Embrace me。 Do you remember the time when
we studied grammar； rhetoric； and philosophy together？ You were； even
then； of a morose and wild character； but I liked you because of your
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complete sincerity。 We used to say that you looked at the universe with the
eyes of a wild horse； and it was not surprising you were dull and moody。
You needed a pinch of Attic salt； but your liberality knew no bounds。 You
cared nothing for either your money or your life。 And you had the
eccentricity of genius； and a strange character which interested me deeply。
You are welcome； my dear Paphnutius； after ten years of absence。 You
have quitted the desert； you have renounced all Christian superstitions；
and now return to your old life。 I will mark this day with a white stone。〃
〃Crobyle and Myrtale；〃 he added； turning towards the girls； 〃perfume
the feet； hands； and beard of my dear guest。〃
They smiled； and had already brought the basin； the phials； and the
metal mirror。 But Paphnutius stopped them with an imperious gesture； and
lowered his eyes that he might not look upon them； for they were naked。
Nicias brought cushions for him； and offered him various meats and drinks；
which Paphnutius scornfully refused。
〃Nicias；〃 he said； 〃I have not renounced what you falsely call the
Christian superstition； which is the truth of truths。 'In the beginning was
the Word； and the Word was with God； and the Word was God。 All things
were made by Him； and without Him was not anything made that was
made。 In Him was the life； and the life was the light of men。' 〃
〃My dear Paphnutius；〃 replied Nicias； who had now put on a perfumed
tunic； 〃do you expect to astonish me by reciting a lot of words jumbled
together without skill； which are no more than a vain murmur？ Have you
forgotten that I am a bit of a philosopher myself？ And do you think to
satisfy me with some rags； torn by ignorant men from the purple garment
of AEmilius； when AEmilius； Porphyry； and Plato； in all their glory； did
not satisfy me！ The systems devised by the sages are but tales imagined to
amuse the eternal childishness of men。 We divert ourselves with them； as
we do with the stories of /The Ass/； /The Tub/； and /The Ephesian Matron/；
or any other Milesian fable。〃
And； taking his guest by the arm； he led him into a room where
thousands of papyri were rolled up and lay in baskets。
〃This is my library；〃 he said。 〃It contains a small part of the various
systems which the philosophers have constructed to explain the world。