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！
despoiled by robbers； and gnawed by the wild beasts。 Having passed
through this funeral city； Paphnutius fell exhausted before a tomb
which stood near a spring surrounded by palm trees。 This tomb was much
ornamented； and； as there was no door to it； he saw inside it a
painted chamber； in which serpents bred。
〃Here；〃 he sighed； 〃is the abode I have chosen； the tabernacle of my
repentance and penitence。〃
He dragged himself to it； drove out the reptiles with his feet； and
remained prostrate on the stone floor for eighteen hours； at the end
of which time he went to the spring； and drank out of his hand。 Then
he plucked some dates and some stalks of lotus； the seeds of which he
ate。 Thinking this kind of life was good； he made it the rule of his
existence。 From morning to night he never lifted his forehead from the
stone。
One day； whilst he was thus prostrated； he heard a voice which said
〃Look at these images； that thou mayest learn。〃
Then； raising his head； he saw； on the walls of the chamber； paintings
which represented lively and domestic scenes。 They were of very old
work； and marvellously lifelike。 There were cooks who blew the fire；
with their cheeks all puffed out； others plucked geese； or cooked
quarters of sheep in stew…pans。 A little farther； a hunter carried on
his shoulders a gazelle pierced with arrows。 In one place； peasants
were sowing； reaping； or gathering。 In another； women danced to the
sounds of viols； flutes； and harp。 A young girl played the theorbo。
The lotus flower shone in her hair； which was neatly braided。 Her
transparent dress let the pure forms of her body be seen。 Her bosom
and mouth were perfect。 The face was turned in profile； and the
beautiful eye looked straight before her。 The whole figure was
exquisite。 Paphnutius having examined it； lowered his eyes； and
replied to the voice
〃Why dost thou command me to look at these images？ No doubt they
represent the terrestrial life of the idolater whose body rests here；
under my feet； at the bottom of a well； in a coffin of black basalt。
They recall the life of a dead man； and are； despite their bright
colours； the shadows of a shadow。 The life of a dead man！ O vanity！〃
〃He is dead； but he lived；〃 replied the voice； 〃and thou wilt die； and
wilt not have lived。〃
From that day； Paphnutius had not a moment's rest。 The voice spoke to
him incessantly。 The girl with the theorbo looked fixedly at him from
underneath the long lashes of her eye。 At last she also spoke
〃Look。 I am mysterious and beautiful。 Love me。 Exhaust in my arms the
love which torments you。 What use is it to fear me？ You cannot escape
me； I am the beauty of woman。 Whither do you think to fly from me；
senseless fool？ You will find my likeness in the radiancy of flowers；
and in the grace of the palm trees； in the flight of pigeons； in the
bounds of the gazelle； in the rippling of brooks； in the soft light of
the moon； and if you close your eyes； you will find me within
yourself。 It is a thousand years since the man who sleeps here；
swathed in linen； in a bed of black stone； pressed me to his heart。 It
is a thousand years since he received the last kiss from my mouth； and
his sleep is yet redolent with it。 You know me well； Paphnutius。 How
is it you have not recognised me？ I am one of the innumerable
incarnations of Thais。 You are a learned monk； and well skilled in the
knowledge of things。 You have travelled； and it is by travel a man
learns the most。 Often a day passed abroad will show more novelties
than ten years passed at home。 You have heard that Thais lived
formerly in Argos； under the name of Helen。 She had another existence
in Thebes Hecatompyle。 And I was Thais of Thebes。 How is it you have
not guessed it？ I took； when I was alive； a large share in the sins of
this world； and now reduced here to the condition of a shadow； I am
still quite capable of taking your sins upon me； beloved monk。 Whence
comes your surprise？ It was certain that； wherever you went； you would
find Thais again。〃
He struck his forehead against the pavement； and uttered a cry of
terror。 And every night the player of the theorbo left the wall；
approached him； and spoke in a clear voice mingled with soft
breathing。 And as the holy man resisted the temptations she gave him；
she said to him
〃Love me； yield； friend。 As long as you resist me I shall torment you。
You do not know what the patience of a dead woman is。 I shall wait； if
necessary； till you are dead。 Being a sorceress； I shall put into your
lifeless body a spirit who will reanimate it； and who will not refuse
me what I have asked in vain of you。 And think； Paphnutius； what a
strange situation when your blessed soul sees； from the height of
heaven； its own body given up to sin。 God； who has promised to return
you this body after the day of judgment and the end of time； will
Himself be much puzzled。 How can He place in celestial glory a human
form inhabited by a devil； and guarded by a sorceress？ You have not
thought of that difficulty。 Nor God either； perhaps。 Between
ourselves； He is not very knowing。 Any ordinary magician can easily
deceive Him； and if He had not His thunder； and the cataracts of
heaven； the village urchins would pull His beard。 He has certainly not
as much sense as the old serpent； His adversary。 He； indeed； is a
wonderful artist。 If I am so beautiful； it is because he adorned me
with all my attractions。 It was he who taught me how to braid my hair；
and to make for myself rosy fingers with agate nails。 You have
misunderstood him。 When you came to live in this tomb； you drove out
with your feet the serpents which were here； without troubling
yourself to know whether they were of his family； and you crushed
their eggs。 I am afraid； my poor friend； you will have a troublesome
business on your hands。 You were warned； however； that he was a
musician and a lover。 What have you done？ You have quarrelled with
science and beauty。 You are altogether miserable； and Iaveh does not
come to your help。 It is not probable that he will come。 Being as
great as all things； he cannot move for want of space； and if； by an
impossibility； he made the least movement； all creation would be
pushed out of place。 My handsome hermit； give me a kiss。〃
Paphnutius was aware that great prodigies are performed by magic arts。
He thoughtnot without much uneasiness
〃Perhaps the dead man buried at my feet knows the words written in
that mysterious book which exists hidden； not far from here； at the
bottom of a royal tomb。 By virtue of these words； the dead； taking the
form which they had upon earth； see the light of the sun and the
smiles of women。〃
His chief fear was that the girl with the theorbo and the dead man
might come together； as they did in their lifetime； and that he should
see them unite。 Sometimes he thought he heard the sound of kissing。
He was troubled in his mind； and now； in the absence of God he feared
to think as much as to feel。 One evening； when he was kneeling
prostrate according to his custom； an unknown voice said to him
〃Paphnutius； there are on earth more people than you imagine； and if I
were to show you what I have seen； you would die of astonishment。
There are men with a single eye in the middle of their forehead。 There
are men who have but one leg； and advance by jumps。 There are men who
change their sex； and the females become males。 There are men…trees；
who shoot out roots in the ground。 And there are men with no head；
with two eyes； a nose； and a mouth in their breast。 Can you honestly
believe that Jesus Christ died for the salvation of these men？〃
Another time he had a vision。 He saw； in a strong light； a broad road；
rivulets； and gardens。 On the road； Aristobulus and Chereas passed at
a gallop on their Syrian horses； and the joyous ardour of the race
reddened the cheeks of the two young men。 Beneath a portico；
Callicrates recited his verses； satisfied pride trembled in his voice
and shone in his eyes。 In the garden； Zenothemis picked apples of
gold； and caressed a serpent with azure wings。 Clad in white； and
wearing a shining mitre； Hermodorus meditated beneath a sacred persea；
which bore； instead of flowers； small heads of pure profile； wearing；
like the Egyptian goddesses； vultures； hawks； or the shining disk of
the moon； whilst in the background； by the side of a fountain； Nicias
studied； on an armillary sphere； the harmonious movements of the
stars。
Then a veiled woman approached the monk； holding in her hand a branch
of myrtle。 She said to him
〃Look！ Some seek eternal beauty； and place their ephemeral life in the
infinite。 Others live without much thought。 But by that alone they
submit to fair Nature； and they are happy and beautiful in the joy of
living only； and give glory to the supreme artist of all things； for
man is a noble hymn to God。 All think that happiness is innocent； and
that pleasure is permitted to man。 Paphnutius； if they are right； what
a dupe you have been！〃
And the vision vanished。
Thus was Paphnutius tempted unceasingly in body and mind。 Satan never
gave him a minute's repose。 The solitude of the tomb was more peopled
than the streets of a great city。 Th