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During his sleep； he had a vision。 He seemed to hear the sound of a
clanging trumpet； and the sky became blood red； and he knew that the day
of judgment had come。 Whilst he was fervently praying to God； he saw an
enormous monster coming towards him； bearing on its forehead a cross of
light； and he recognised the sphinx of Silsile。 The monster seized him
between its teeth； without hurting him； and carried him in its mouth； as a
cat carries a kitten。 Paphnutius was thus conveyed across many countries；
crossing rivers and traversing mountains； and came at last to a desert place；
covered with scowling rocks and hot cinders。 The ground was rent in
many places； and through these openings came a hot air。 The monster
gently put Paphnutius down on the ground； and said
〃Look！〃
And Paphnutius； leaning over the edge of the abyss； saw a river of fire
which flowed in the interior of the earth； between two cliffs of black rocks。
There； in a livid light； the demons tormented the souls of the damned。 The
souls preserved the appearance of the bodies which had held them； and
even wore some rags of clothing。 These souls seemed peaceful in the
midst of their torments。 One of them； tall and white； his eyes closed； a
white fillet across his forehead； and a sceptre in his hand； sang； his voice
filled the desert shores with harmony； he sang of gods and heroes。 Little
green devils pierced his lips and throat with red…hot irons。 And the shade
of Homer still sang。 Near by； old Anaxagoras； bald and hoary； traced
figures in the dust with a compass。 A demon poured boiling oil into his ear；
yet failed； however； to disturb the sage's meditations。 And the monk saw
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many other persons； who； on the dark shore by the side of the burning
river； read； or quietly meditated； or conversed with other spirits while
walking；like the sages and pupils under the shadow of the sycamore trees
of Academe。 Old Timocles alone had withdrawn from the others； and
shook his head like a man who denies。 One of the demons of the abyss
shook a torch before his eyes； but Timocles would see neither the demon
nor the torch。
Mute with surprise at this spectacle； Paphnutius turned to the monster。
It had disappeared； and； in place of the sphinx； the monk saw a veiled
woman； who said
〃Look and understand。 Such is the obstinacy of these infidels； that；
even in hell； they remain victims of the illusions which deluded them
when on earth。 Death has not undeceived them； for it is very plain that it
does not suffice merely to die in order to see God。 Those who are ignorant
of the truth whilst living； will be ignorant of it always。 The demons which
are busy torturing these souls； what are they but agents of divine justice？
That is why these souls neither see them nor feel them。 They were
ignorant of the truth； and therefore unaware of their own condemnation；
and God Himself cannot compel them to suffer。
〃God can do all things；〃 said the Abbot of Antinoe。
〃He cannot do that which is absurd；〃 replied the veiled woman。 〃To
punish them； they must first be enlightened； and if they possessed the truth；
they would be like unto the elect。〃
Vexed and horrified； Paphnutius again bent over the edge of the abyss。
He saw the shade of Nicias smiling； with a wreath of flowers on his head；
sitting under a burnt myrtle tree。 By his side was Aspasia of Miletus；
gracefully draped in a woollen cloak； and they seemed to talk together of
love and philosophy； the expression of her face was sweet and noble。 The
rain of fire which fell on them was as a refreshing dew； and their feet
pressed the burning soil as though it had been tender grass。 At this sight
Paphnutius was filled with fury。
〃Strike him； O God！ strike him！〃 he cried。 〃It is Nicias！ Let him weep！
let him groan！ let him grind his teeth！ He sinned with Thais！〃
And Paphnutius woke in the arms of a sailor； as strong as Hercules；
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who cried
〃Quietly！ quietly！ my friend！ By Proteus； the old shepherd of the seals；
you slumber uneasily。 If I had not caught hold of you； you would have
tumbled into the Eunostos。 It is as true as that my mother sold salt fish；
that I saved your life。〃
〃I thank God；〃 replied Paphnutius。
And； rising to his feet； he walked straight before him； meditating on
the vision which had come to him whilst he was asleep。
〃This vision；〃 he said to himself； 〃is plainly an evil one； it is an insult
to divine goodness to imagine hell is unreal。 The dream certainly came
from the devil。〃
He reasoned thus because he knew how to distinguish between the
dreams sent by God and those produced by evil angels。 Such discernment
is useful to the hermit； who lives surrounded by apparitions； and who； in
avoiding men； is sure to meet with spirits。 The deserts are full of phantoms。
When the pilgrims drew near the ruined castle； to which the holy hermit；
Anthony； had retired； they heard a noise like that which goes up from the
public square of a large city at a great festival。 The noise was made by the
devils； who were tempting the holy man。
Paphnutius remembered this memorable example。 He also called to
mind St。 John the Egyptian； who for sixty years was tempted by the devil。
But John saw through all the tricks of the demon。 One day； however； the
devil； having assumed the appearance of a man； entered the grotto of the
venerable John； and said to him； 〃John； you must continue to fast until to…
morrow evening。〃 And John； believing that it was an angel who spoke；
obeyed the voice of the demon； and fasted the next day until the vesper
hour。 That was the only victory that the Prince of Darkness ever gained
over St。 John the Egyptian； and that was but a trifling one。 It was therefore
not astonishing that Paphnutius knew at once that the vision which had
visited him in his sleep was an evil one。
Whilst he was gently remonstrating with God for having given him
into the power of the demons； he felt himself pushed and dragged amidst a
crowd of people who were all hurrying in the same direction。 As he was
unaccustomed to walk in the streets of a city； he was shoved and knocked
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from one passer to another like an inert mass； and being embarrassed by
the folds of his tunic； he was more than once on the point of falling。
Desirous of knowing where all these people could be going； he asked one
of them the cause of this hurry。
〃Do you not know； stranger；〃 replied he； 〃that the games are about to
begin； and that Thais will appear on the stage？ All the citizens are going to
the theatre； and I also am going。 Would you like to accompany me？〃
It occurred to him at once that it would further his design to see Thais
in the games； and Paphnutius followed the stranger。 In front of them stood
the theatre； its portico ornamented with shining masks； and its huge
circular wall covered with innumerable statues。 Following the crowd； they
entered a narrow passage； at the end of which lay the amphitheatre；
glittering with light。 They took their places on one of the seats； which
descended in steps to the stage； which was empty but magnificently
decorated。 There was no curtain to hide the view； and on the stage was a
mound； such as used to be erected in old times to the shades of heroes。
This mound stood in the midst of a camp。 Lances were stacked in front of
the tents； and golden shields hung from masts； amidst boughs of laurel and
wreaths of oak。 On the stage all was silence； but a murmur like the
humming of bees in a hive rose from the vast hemicycle filled with
spectators。 All their faces； reddened by the reflection from the purple
awning which waved above them； turned with attentiv