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！
pillar； he ascended； knelt down on the top； and said to the Lord
〃Here； then； O God； is the abode Thou hast chosen for me。 May I remain
here； in Thy Grace； until the hour of my death。〃
He had brought no provisions with him； trusting in divine providence；
and expecting that charitable peasants would give him all that he
needed。 And； in fact； the next day； about the ninth hour； women came
with their children； bringing bread； dates； and fresh water； which the
boys carried to the top of the column。
The top of the pillar was not large enough to allow the monk to lie at
full length； so that he slept with his legs crossed and his head on
his breast； and sleep was a more cruel torture to him than his wakeful
hours。 At dawn the ospreys brushed him with their wings； and he awoke
filled with pain and terror。
It happened that the carpenter who had made the ladder feared God。
Disturbed at the thought that the saint was exposed to the sun and
rain； and fearing that he might fall in his sleep； this pious man
constructed a roof and a railing on the top of the column。
Soon the report of this extraordinary existence spread from village to
village； and the labourers of the valley came on Sundays； with their
wives and children； to look at the stylite。 The disciples of
Paphnutius； having learned with surprise the place of this wonderful
retreat； came to him； and obtained from him permission to build their
huts at the foot of the column。 Every morning they came and stood in a
circle round the master； and received from him the words of
instruction。
〃My sons；〃 he said to them； 〃continue like those little children whom
Jesus loved。 That is the way of salvation。 The sin of the flesh is the
source and origin of all sins； they spring from it as from a parent。
Pride； avarice； idleness； anger； and envy are its dearly beloved
progeny。 I have seen this in Alexandria； I have seen rich men carried
away by the vice of lust； which； like a river with a turbid flood；
swept them into the gulf of bitterness。〃
The abbots Ephrem and Serapion； being informed of his strange
proceeding； wished to behold him with their own eyes。 Seeing from
afar； on the river； the triangular sail which was bringing them to
him； Paphnutius could not prevent himself from thinking that God had
made him an example to all solitary monks。 The two abbots； when they
saw him； did not conceal their surprise； and； having consulted
together； they agreed in condemning such an extraordinary penance； and
exhorted Paphnutius to come down。
〃Such a mode of life is contrary to all usage；〃 they said； 〃it is
peculiar； and against all rules。〃
But Paphnutius replied
〃What is the monastic life if not peculiar？ And ought not the deeds of
a monk to be as eccentric as he is himself？ It was a sign from God
that caused me to ascend here； it is a sign from God that will make me
descend。〃
Every day religious men came to join the disciples of Paphnutius； and
they built for themselves shelters round the aerial hermitage。 Several
of them； to imitate the saint； mounted the ruins of the temple； but；
being reproved by their brethren； and conquered by fatigue； they soon
gave up these attempts。
Pilgrims flocked from all parts。 There were some who had come long
distances； and were hungry and thirsty。 The idea occurred to a poor
widow of selling fresh water and melons。 Against the foot of the
column； behind her bottles of red clay； her cups and her fruit under
an awning of blue…and…white striped canvas； she cried； 〃Who wants to
drink？〃 Following the example of this widow； a baker brought some
bricks and made an oven close by； in the hope of selling loaves and
cakes to visitors。 As the crowd of visitors increased unceasingly； and
the inhabitants of the large cities of Egypt began to come； some man；
greedy of gain； built a caravanserai to lodge the guests and their
servants； camels； and mules。 Soon there was； in front of the column； a
market to which the fishermen of the Nile brought their fish； and the
gardeners their vegetables。 A barber； who shaved people in the open
air； amused the crowd with his jokes。 The old temple； so long given
over to silence and solitude was filled with countless sights and
sounds of life。 The innkeepers turned the subterranean vaults into
cellars and nailed on the old pillars signs surmounted by the figure
of the holy Paphnutius； and bearing this inscription in Greek and
Egyptian〃/Pomegranate wine； fig wine； and genuine Cilician beer sold
here/。〃 On the walls； sculptured with pure and graceful carvings； the
shop…keepers hung ropes of onions； and smoked fish； dead hares； and
the carcases of sheep。 In the evening； the old occupants of the ruins；
the rats； scuttled in a long row to the river； whilst the ibises；
suspiciously craning their necks； perched on the high cornices； to
which rose the smoke of the kitchens； the shouts of the drinkers； and
the cries of the tapsters。 All around； builders laid out streets； and
masons constructed convents； chapels； and churches。 By the end of six
months a city was established with a guardhouse； a tribunal； a prison；
and a school； kept by an old blind scribe。
The pilgrims were innumerable。 Bishops and other Church dignitaries；
came； full of admiration。 The Patriarch of Antioch； who chanced to be
in Egypt at that time； came with all his clergy。 He highly approved of
the 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 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 al