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systems which the philosophers have constructed to explain the world。
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The Serapeium itself； with all its riches； does not contain them all。 Alas！
they are but the dreams of sick men。〃
He compelled his guest to sit down in an ivory chair； and sat down
himself。 Paphnutius scowled gloomily at all the books in the library； and
said
〃They ought all to be burned。〃
〃Oh； my dear guest； that would be a pity！〃 replied Nicias。 〃For the
dreams of sick men are sometimes amusing。 Besides； if we should destroy
all the dreams and visions of men； the earth would lose its form and
colours； and we should all sleep in a dull stupidity。〃
Paphnutius continued in the same strain as before
〃It is certain that the doctrines of the pagans are but vain lies。 But God；
who is the truth； revealed Himself to men by miracles； and He was made
flesh； and lived among us。〃
Nicias replied
〃You speak well； my dear Paphnutius； when you say that he was made
flesh。 A God who thinks； acts； speaks； who wanders through nature； like
Ulysses of old on the glaucous sea； is altogether a man。 How do you
expect that we should believe in this new Jupiter； when the urchins of
Athens； in the time of Pericles； no longer believed in the old one？
〃But let us leave all that。 You did not come here； I suppose； to argue
about the three hypostases。 What can I do for you； my dear fellow…
scholar？〃
〃A good deed；〃 replied the Abbot of Antinoe。 〃Lend me a perfumed
tunic； like the one you have just put on。 Be kind enough to add to the tunic；
gilt sandals； and a vial of oil to anoint my beard and hair。 It is needful also；
that you should give me a purse with a thousand drachmae in it。 That； O
Nicias； is what I came to ask of you； for the love of God； and in
remembrance of our old friendship。〃
Nicias made Crobyle and Myrtale bring his richest tunic； it was
embroidered； after the Asiatic fashion； with flowers and animals。 The two
girls held it open； and skilfully showed its bright colours； waiting till
Paphnutius should have taken off the cassock which covered him down to
his feet。 But the monk having declared that they should rather tear off his
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flesh than this garment； they put on the tunic over it。 As the two girls were
pretty； they were not afraid of men； although they were slaves。 They
laughed at the strange appearance of the monk thus clad。 Crobyle called
him her dear satrap； as she presented him with the mirror； and Myrtale
pulled his beard。 But Paphnutius prayed to the Lord； and did not look at
them。 Having tied on the gilt sandals； and fastened the purse to his belt； he
said to Nicias； who was looking at him with an amused expression
〃O Nicias； let not these things be an offence in your eyes。 For know
that I shall make pious use of this tunic； this purse； and these sandals。〃
〃My dear friend；〃 replied Nicias； 〃I suspect no evil； for I believe that
men are equally incapable of doing evil or doing good。 Good and evil exist
only in the opinion。 The wise man has only custom and usage to guide him
in his acts。 I conform with all the prejudices which prevail at Alexandria。
That is why I pass for an honest man。 Go； friend； and enjoy yourself。〃
But Paphnutius thought that it was needful to inform his host of his
intention。
〃Do you know Thais；〃 he said； 〃who acts in the games at the theatre？〃
〃She is beautiful；〃 replied Nicias； 〃and there was a time when she was
dear to me。 For her sake； I sold a mill and two fields of corn； and I
composed in her honour three books full of detestably bad verses。 Surely
beauty is the most powerful force in the world； and were we so made that
we could possess it always； we should care as little as may be for the
demiurgos； the logos； the aeons； and all the other reveries of the
philosophers。 But I am surprised； my good Paphnutius； that you should
have come from the depths of the Thebaid to talk about Thais。〃
Having said this； he sighed gently。 And Paphnutius gazed at him with
horror； not conceiving it possible that a man should so calmly avow such a
sin。 He expected to see the earth open； and Nicias swallowed up in flames。
But the earth remained solid； and the Alexandrian silent； his forehead
resting on his hand； and he smiling sadly at the memories of his past youth。
The monk rose； and continued in solemn tones
〃Know then； O Nicias； that； with the aid of God； I will snatch this
woman Thais from the unclean affections of the world； and give her as a
spouse to Jesus Christ。 If the Holy Spirit does not forsake me； Thais will
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leave this city and enter a nunnery。〃
〃Beware of offending Venus；〃 replied Nicias。 〃She is a powerful
goddess； she will be angry with you if you take away her chief minister。〃
〃God will protect me；〃 said Paphnutius。 〃May He also illumine thy
heart； O Nicias； and draw thee out of the abyss in which thou art plunged。〃
And he stalked out of the room。 But Nicias followed him； and
overtook him on the threshold； and placing his hand on his shoulder
whispered into his ear the same words
〃Beware of offending Venus； her vengeance is terrible。〃
Paphnutius； disdainful of these trivial words； left without turning his
head。 He felt only contempt for Nicias； but what he could not bear was the
idea that his former friend had received the caresses of Thais。 It seemed to
him that to sin with that woman was more detestable than to sin with any
other。 To him this appeared the height of iniquity； and he henceforth
looked upon Nicias as an object of execration。 He had always hated
impurity； but never before had this vice appeared so heinous to him； never
before had it so seemed to merit the anger of Jesus Christ and the sorrow
of the angels。
He felt only a more ardent desire to save Thais from the Gentiles； and
that he must hasten to see the actress in order to save her。 Nevertheless；
before he could enter her house； he must wait till the heat of the day was
over； and now the morning had hardly finished。 Paphnutius wandered
through the most frequented streets。 He had resolved to take no food that
day； in order to be the less unworthy of the favours he had asked of the
Lord。 To the great grief of his soul； he dared not enter any of the churches
in the city； because he knew they were profaned by the Arians； who had
overturned the Lord's table。 For； in fact； these heretics； supported by the
Emperor of the East； had driven the patriarch Athanasius from his
episcopate； and sown trouble and confusion among the Christians of
Alexandria。
He therefore wandered about aimlessly； sometimes with his eyes fixed
on the ground in humility； and sometimes raised to heaven in ecstasy。
After some time； he found himself on the quay。 Before him lay the harbour；
in which were sheltered innumerable ships and galleys； and beyond them；
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smiling in blue and silver； lay the perfidious sea。 A galley； which bore a
Nereid at its prow； had just weighed anchor。 The rowers sang as the oars
struck the water； and already the white daughter of the waters； covered
with humid pearls； showed no more than a flying profile to the monk。
Steered by her pilot； she cleared the passage leading from the basin of the
Eunostos； and gained the high seas； leaving a glittering trail behind her。
〃I also；〃 thought Paphnutius； 〃once desired to embark singing on the
ocean of the world。 But I soon saw my folly； and the Nereid did not carry
me away。〃
Lost in his thoughts； he sat down upon a coil of rope； and went to sleep。
During his sleep； he had a vision。 He seemed to hear the s