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！
trees of Academe。 Old Timocles alone had withdrawn from the others；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；
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 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 attentive curiosity towards the large； silent stage； with its
tomb and tents。 The women laughed and ate lemons； and the regular
theatre…goers called gaily to one another from their seats。
Paphnutius prayed inwardly； and refrained from uttering any vain
words； but his neighbour began to complain of the decline of the
drama。
〃Formerly；〃 he said； 〃clever actors used to declaim； under a mask； the
verses of Euripides and Menander。 Now they no longer recite dramas；
they act in dumb show； and of the divine spectacles with which Bacchus
was honoured in Athens； we have kept nothing but what a barbariana
Scythian evencould understandattitude and gesture。 The tragic
mask； the mouth of which was provided with metal tongues that
increased the sound of the voice； the cothurnus； which raised the
actors to the height of gods； the tragic majesty and the splendid
verses that used to be sung； have all gone。 Pantomimists； and dancing
girls with bare faces； have replaced Paulus and Roscius。 What would
the Athenians of the days of Pericles have said if they had seen a
woman on the stage？ It is indecent for a woman to appear in public。 We
must be very degenerate to permit it。 It is as certain as that my name
is Dorion； that woman is the natural enemy of man； and a disgrace to
human kind。〃
〃You speak wisely；〃 replied Paphnutius； 〃woman is our worst enemy。 She
gives us pleasure； and is to be feared on that account。〃
〃By the immovable gods；〃 cried Dorion； 〃it is not pleasure that woman
gives to man； but sadness； trouble； and black cares。 Love is the cause
of our most biting evils。 Listen； stranger。 When I was a young man I
visited Troezene； in Argolis； and I saw there a myrtle of a most
prodigious size； the leaves of which were covered with innumerable
pinholes。 And this is what the Troezenians say about that myrtle。
Queen Phaedra； when she was in love with Hippolytos； used to recline
idly all day long under this same tree。 To beguile the tedium of her
weary life she used to draw out the golden pin which held her fair
locks； and pierce with it the leaves of the sweet…scented bush。 All
the leaves were riddled with holes。 After she had ruined the poor
young man whom she pursued with her incestuous love； Phaedra； as you
know； perished miserably。 She locked herself up in her bridal chamber；
and hanged herself by her golden girdle from an ivory peg。 The gods
willed that the myrtle； the witness of her bitter misery； should
continue to bear； in its fresh leaves； the marks of the pin…holes。 I
picked one of these leaves； and placed it at the head of my bed； that
by the sight of it I might take warning against the folly of love； and
conform to the doctrine of the divine Epicurus； my master； who taught
that all lust is to be feared。 But； properly speaking； love is a
disease of the liver； and one is never sure of not catching the
malady。〃
Paphnutius asked
〃Dorion； what are your pleasures？〃
Dorion replied sadly
〃I have only one pleasure； and； it must be confessed； that it is not a
very exciting one； it is meditation。 When a man has a bad digestion；
he must not look for any others。〃
Taking advantage of these words； Paphnutius proceeded to initiate the
Epicurean into those spiritual joys which the contemplation of God
procures。 He began
〃Hear the truth； Dorion； and receive the light。〃
But he saw then that all heads were turned towards him； and everybody
was making signs for him to be quiet。 Dead silence prevailed in the
the