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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 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
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 of
which I now recognise。 For it is true that the sins of the people
enter the soul of the saints； and are lost there as in a well。 Thus it
is that the souls of the just are polluted with more filth than is
ever found in the soul of the sinner。 And； for that reason； I praise
Thee； O my God； for having made me the cesspool of the world。〃
One day； a rumour ran through the holy city； and even reached the ears
of the hermit： a very great personage； a man occupying a high
position； the Prefect of the Alexandrian fleet； Lucius Aurelius Cotta；
was about to visit the citywas； indeed； now on his way。
The news was true。 Old Cotta； who was inspecting the canals and the
navigation of the Nile； had many times expressed a desire to see the
stylite and the new city； to which the name of Stylopolis had been
given。 The Stylopolitans saw the river covered with sails one morning。
Cotta appeared on board a golden galley hung with purple； and followed
by all his fleet。 He landed； and advanced； accompanied by a secretary
carrying his tablets； and Aristaeus； his physician； with whom he liked
to converse。
A numerous suite walked behind him； and the shore was covered with
/laticlaves/＇*＇ and military uniforms。 He stopped； some paces from the
column； and began to examine the stylite； wiping his face meanwhile
with the skirt of his toga。 Being of a naturally curious disposition；
he had observed many things in the course of his long voyages。 He
liked to remember them； and intended to write； after he had finished
his Punic history； a book on the remarkable things he had witnessed。
He seemed much interested by the spectacle before him。
＇*＇ The /laticlave/ was a toga； with a broad purple band； worn by
Roman senators as the distinguishing mark of their high office。
〃This is very curious！〃 he said； puffing and blowing。 〃Andwhich is a
circumstance worthy of being recordedthis man was my guest。 Yes；
this monk supped with me last year； after which he carried off an
actress。〃
Turning to his secretary
〃Note that； my son； on my tablets； also the dimensions of the column；
not omitting the shape of the top of it。〃
Then； wiping his face again
〃Persons deserving of belief have assured me that this monk has not
left his column for a single moment since he mounted it a year ago。 Is
that possible； Aristaeus？〃
〃That which is possible to a lunatic or a sick man；〃 replied
Aristaeus； 〃would be impossible to a man sound in body and mind。 Do
you know； Lucius； that sometimes diseases of the mind or body give to
those afflicted by them a strength which healthy men do not possess？
For； as a matter of fact； there is no such thing as good health or bad
health。 There are only different conditions of the organs。 Having
studied what are called maladies； I have come to consider them as
necessary forms of life。 I take pleasure in studying them in order to
be able to conquer them。 Some of them are worthy of admiration； and
conceal； under apparent disorder； profound harmonies； for instance； a
quartan fever is certainly a very pretty thing！ Sometimes certain
affections of the body cause a rapid augmentation of the faculties of
the mind。 You know Creon？ When he was a child； he stuttered and was
stupid。 But； having cracked his skull by tumbling off a ladder； he
became an able lawyer； as you are aware。 This monk must be affected in
some hidden organ。 Moreover； this kind of existence is not so
extraordinary as it appears to you； Lucius。 I may remind you that the
gymnosophists of India can remain motionless； not merely for a year；
but during twenty； thirty； or forty years。〃
〃By Jupiter！〃 cried Cotta； 〃that is a strange madness。 For man was
born to move and act； and idleness is an unpardonable crime； because
it is an injury to the State。 I do not know of any religion in which
such an objectionable practice is permitted； though it possibly may be
in some of the Asiatic creeds。 When I was Governor of Syria； I found
/phalli/ erected in the porches at the city of Hera。 A man ascended；
twice a year； and remained there for a week。 The people believed that
this man talked with the gods； and interceded with them for the
prosperity of Syria。 The custom appeared senseless to me； nevertheless
I did nothing to put it down。 For I consider that a functionary ought
not to interfere with the manners and customs of the people； but on
the contrary； to see that they are preserved。 It is not the business
of the government to force a religion on a people； but to maintain
that which exists； which； whether good or bad； has been regulated by
the spirit of the time； the place； and the race。 If it endeavours to
put down a religion； it proclaims itself revolutionary in its spirit；
and tyrannical in its acts； and is justly detested。 Besides； how are
you to raise yourself above the superstitions of the vulgar； except by
understanding them and tolerating them？ Aristaeus； I am of opinion
that I should leave this nephelo…coccygian＇*＇ in the air； exposed only
to the indignities the birds shower on him。 I should not gain anything
by having him pulled down； but I should by taking note of his thoughts
and beliefs。〃
＇*＇ Nephelo…coccygia； the cloud…city built by the cuckoos； in the
/Birds/ of Aristophanes。
He puffed； coughe