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＇*＇ Nephelo…coccygia； the cloud…city built by the cuckoos； in the
/Birds/ of Aristophanes。
He puffed； coughed； and placed his hand on the secretary's shoulder。
〃My child； note down that； amongst certain sects of Christians； it is
considered praiseworthy to carry off courtesans and live upon columns。
You may add that these customs are evidence of the worship of genetic
divinities。 But on this point we ought to question him himself。〃
Then； raising his head； and shading his eyes with his hand； to keep
off the sun； he shouted
〃Hallo； Paphnutius！ If you remember that you were once my guest；
answer me。 What are you doing up there？ Why did you go up； and why do
you stay there？ Has this column any phallic signification in your
mind？〃
Paphnutius； considering Cotta as nothing but an idolater； did not
deign to reply。 But his disciple； Flavian； approached； and said
〃Illustrious Sir； this holy man takes the sins of the world upon him；
and cures diseases。〃
〃By Jupiter！ Do you hear； Aristaeus？〃 cried Cotta。 〃This nephelo…
coccygian practises medicine； like you。 What do you think of so high a
rival？〃
Aristaeus shook his head。
〃It is very possible that he may cure certain diseases better than I
can； such； for instance； as epilepsy； vulgarly called the divine
malady； although all maladies are equally divine； for they all come
from the gods。 But the cause of this disease lies； partly； in the
imagination； and you must confess； Lucius； that this monk； perched up
on the head of a goddess； strikes the minds of the sick people more
forcibly than I； bending over my mortars and phials in my laboratory；
could ever do。 There are forces； Lucius； infinitely more powerful than
reason and science。〃
〃What are they？〃 asked Cotta。
〃Ignorance and folly；〃 replied Aristaeus。
〃I have rarely seen a more curious sight；〃 continued Cotta； 〃and I
hope that some day an able writer will relate the foundation of
Stylopolis。 But even the most extraordinary spectacles should not
keep； longer than is befitting； a serious and busy man from his work。
Let us go and inspect the canals。 Farewell； good Paphnutius！ or
rather； till our next meeting！ If ever you should come down to earth
again； and revisit Alexandria； do not fail to come and sup with me。〃
These words； heard by all present； passed from mouth to mouth； and
being repeated by the believers； added greatly to the reputation of
Paphnutius。 Pious minds amplified and transformed them； and it was
stated that Paphnutius； from the top of his pillar； had converted the
Prefect of the Fleet to the faith of the apostles and the Nicaean
fathers。 The believers found a figurative meaning in the last words
uttered by Aurelius Cotta； to them； the supper to which this important
personage had invited the ascetic； was a holy communion； a spiritual
repast； a celestial banquet。 The story of this meeting was embroidered
with wonderful details； which those who invented were the first to
believe。 It was said that when Cotta； after a long argument； had
embraced the truth； an angel had come from heaven to wipe the sweat
from his brow。 The physician and secretary of the Prefect of the Fleet
had also； it was asserted； been converted at the same time。 And； the
miracle being public and notorious； the deacons of the principal
churches of Libya recorded it amongst the authentic facts。 After that；
it could be said； without any exaggeration； that the whole world was
seized with a desire to see Paphnutius； and that； in the West as well
as the East； all Christians turned their astonished eyes towards him。
The most celebrated cities of Italy sent deputations to him； and the
Roman Caesar； the divine Constantine who favoured the Christian
religion； wrote him a letter which the legates brought to him with
great ceremony。 But one night； whilst the budding city at his feet
slept in the dew； he heard a voice； which said
〃Paphnutius； thou art become celebrated by thy works and powerful by
thy word。 God has raised thee up for His glory。 He has chosen thee to
work miracles； heal the sick； convert the Pagans； enlighten sinners；
confound the Arians； and establish peace in the Church。〃
Paphnutius replied
〃God's will be done！〃
The voice continued
〃Arise； Paphnutius； and go seek in his palace the impious Constans；
who； far from imitating the wisdom of his brother； Constantine；
inclines to the errors of Arius and Marcus。 Go！ The bronze gates shall
fly open before thee； and thy sandals shall resound on the golden
floor of the basilica before the throne of the Caesars； and thy awe…
inspiring voice shall change the heart of the son of Constantinus。
Thou shalt reign over a peaceful and powerful Church。 And； even as the
soul directs the body； so shall the Church govern the empire。 Thou
shalt be placed above senators； comites； and patricians。 Thou shalt
repress the greed of the people； and check the boldness of the
barbarians。 Old Cotta； knowing that thou art the head of the
government； will seek the honour of washing thy feet。 At thy death thy
/cilicium/ shall be taken to the patriarch of Alexandria； and the
great Athanasius； white with glory； shall kiss it as the relic of a
saint。 Go！〃
Paphnutius replied
〃Let the will of God be accomplished！〃
And making an effort to stand up； he prepared to descend。 But the
voice； divining his intention； said
〃Above all； descend not by the ladder。 That would be to act like an
ordinary man； and to be unconscious of the gifts that are in thee。 A
great saint； like thee； ought to fly through the air。 Leap！ the angels
are there to support thee。 Leap； then！〃
Paphnutius replied
〃The will of God be done； on earth as it is in heaven。〃
Extending his long arms like the ragged wings of a huge sick bird； he
was about to throw himself down； when； suddenly； a hideous mocking
laugh rang in his ears。 Terrified； he asked
〃Who laughs thus？〃
〃Ah？ ah！〃 screamed the voice； 〃we are yet but at the beginning of our
friendship； thou wilt some day be better acquainted with me。 My
friend； it was I who caused thee to ascend here； and I ought to be
satisfied at the docility with which thou hast accomplished my wishes。
Paphnutius； I am pleased with thee。〃
Paphnutius murmured； in a voice stifled by fear
〃Avaunt； avaunt！ I know thee now； thou art he who carried Jesus to a
pinnacle of the temple； and showed him all the kingdoms of this
world。〃
He fell； affrighted； on the stone。
〃Why did I not know this sooner？〃 he thought。 〃More wretched than the
blind； deaf； and paralysed who trust in me； I have lost all knowledge
of things supernatural； and am more depraved than the maniacs who eat
earth and approach dead bodies。 I can no longer distinguish between
the clamours of hell and the voices of heaven。 I have lost even the
intuition of the new…born child； who cries when its nurse's breast is
taken from it； of the dog that scents out its master's footsteps； of
the plant that turns towards the sun。 I am the laughing…stock of the
devils。 So； then； it is Satan who led me here。 When he elevated me on
this pedestal； lust and pride mounted with me。 It is not the magnitude
of my temptations which terrifies me。 Anthony； on his mountain；
suffers the same。 I wish that all their swords may pierce my flesh；
before the eyes of the angels。 I have even learned to like my
sufferings。 But God does not speak to me； and His silence astonishes
me。 He has left meand I had but Him to look to。 He leaves me alone
in the horror of His absence。 He flies from me。 I will follow after
Him。 This stone burns my feet。 Let me leave quickly； and come up with
God。〃
With that he seized the ladder which stood against the column； put his
feet on it； and having descended a rung； found himself face to face
with the monster's head； she smiled strangely。 He was certain then
that what he had taken for the site of his rest and glory； was but the
diabolical instrument of his trouble and damnation。 He hastily
descended and touched the soil。 His feet had forgotten their use； and
he reeled。 But； feeling on him the shadow of the cursed column； he
forced himself to run。 All slept。 He traversed； without being seen；
the great square surrounded by wine…shops； inns； and caravanserias；
and threw himself into a by…street which led towards the Libyan Hills。
A dog pursued him； barking； and stopped only at the edge of the
desert。 Paphnutius went through a country where there was no road but
the trail of wild beasts。 Leaving behind him the huts abandoned by the
coiners； he continued all night and all day his solitary flight。
At last； almost ready to expire with hunger； thirst； and fatigue； and
not knowing if God was still far from him； he came to a silent city
which extended from right to left； and stretched away till it was lost
in the blue horizon。 The buildings； which were widely separated and
like each other； resembled pyramids cut off at half their height。 They
were tombs。 The doors were broken； and in the shadow of the chambers
could be seen the gleaming eyes of hyaenas and wolves who brought
forth their young there； whilst the dead bodies lay on the threshold；
despoiled by robbers； and gnawed by the wild beasts。 Having passed
throug