The holy man watched this incident； and as； by virtue of his holiness；
he easily comprehended the mystic sense of all occurrences； he knew
that the captive bird was no other than Thais； caught in the snares of
sin； and thatlike the plover that had cut the hempen threads with
its beakhe could； by pronouncing the word of power； break the
invisible bonds by which Thais was held in sin。 Therefore he praised
God； and was confirmed in his first resolution。 But then seeing the
plover caught by the feet； and hampered by the net it had broken； he
fell into uncertainty again。
He did not sleep all night； and before dawn he had a vision。 Thais
appeared to him again。 There was no expression of guilty pleasure on
her face； nor was she dressed according to custom in transparent
drapery。 She was enveloped in a shroud； which hid even a part of her
face； so that the Abbot could see nothing but the two eyes； from which
flowed white and heavy tears。
At this sight he began to weep； and believing that this vision came
from God； he no longer hesitated。 He rose； seized a knotted stick； the
symbol of the Christian faith； and left his cell； carefully closing
the door； lest the animals of the desert and the birds of the air
should enter； and befoul the copy of the Holy Scriptures which stood
at the head of his bed。 He called Flavian； the deacon； and gave him
authority over the other twenty…three disciples during his absence；
and then； clad only in a long cassock； he bent his steps towards the
Nile； intending to follow the Libyan bank to the city founded by the
Macedonian monarch。 He walked from dawn to eve； indifferent to
fatigue； hunger； and thirst； the sun was already low on the horizon
when he saw the dreadful river； the blood…red waters of which rolled
between the rocks of gold and fire。
He kept along the shore； begging his bread at the door of solitary
huts for the love of God； and joyfully receiving insults； refusals； or
threats。 He feared neither robbers nor wild beasts； but he took great
care to avoid all the towns and villages he came near。 He was afraid
lest he should see children playing at knuckle…bones before their
father's house； or meet； by the side of the well； women in blue
smocks； who might put down their pitcher and smile at him。 All things
are dangerous for the hermit； it is sometimes a danger for him to read
in the Scriptures that the Divine Master journeyed from town to town
and supped with His disciples。 The virtues that the anchorites
embroider so carefully on the tissue of faith； are as fragile as they
are beautiful； a breath of ordinary life may tarnish their pleasant
colours。 For that reason； Paphnutius avoided the towns； fearing lest
his heart should soften at the sight of his fellow men。
He journeyed along lonely roads。 When evening came； the murmuring of
the breeze amidst the tamarisk trees made him shiver； and he pulled
his hood over his eyes that he might not see how beautiful all things
were。 After walking six days； he came to a place called Silsile。 There
the river runs in a narrow valley； bordered by a double chain of
granite mountains。 It was there that the Egyptians； in the days when
they worshipped demons； carved their idols。 Paphnutius saw an enormous
sphinx carved in the solid rock。 Fearing that it might still possess
some diabolical properties； he made the sign of the cross； and
pronounced the name of Jesus； he immediately saw a bat fly out of one
of the monster's ears； and Paphnutius knew that he had driven out the
evil spirits which had been for centuries in the figure。 His zeal
increased； and picking up a large stone； he threw it in the idol's
face。 Then the mysterious face of the sphinx expressed such profound
sadness that Paphnutius was moved。 In fact； the expression of
superhuman grief on the stone visage would have touched even the most
unfeeling man。 Therefore Paphnutius said to the sphinx
〃O monster； be like the satyrs and centaurs our father Anthony saw in
the desert； and confess the divinity of Jesus Christ； and I will bless
thee in the name of the Father； the Son； and the Holy Ghost。〃
When he had spoken a rosy light gleamed in the eyes of the sphinx； the
heavy eyelids of the monster quivered and the granite lips painfully
murmured； as though in echo to the man's voice； the holy name of Jesus
Christ； therefore Paphnutius stretched out his right hand； and blessed
the sphinx of Silsile。
That being done； he resumed his journey； and the valley having grown
wider； he saw the ruins of an immense city。 The temples； which still
remained standing； were supported by idols which served as columns；
andby the permission of Godthese figures with women's heads and
cow's horns； threw on Paphnutius a long look which made him turn pale。
He walked thus seventeen days； his only food a few raw herbs； and he
slept at night in some ruined palace； amongst the wild cats and
Pharaoh's rats； with which mingled sometimes； women whose bodies ended
in a scaly tail。 But Paphnutius knew that these women came from hell；
and he drove them away by making the sign of the cross。
On the eighteenth day； he found； far from any village； a wretched hut
made of palm leaves； and half buried under the sand which had been
driven by the desert wind。 He approached it； hoping that the hut was
inhabited by some pious anchorite。 He saw inside the hovelfor there
was no doora pitcher； a bunch of onions； and a bed of dried leaves。
〃This must be the habitation of a hermit；〃 he said to himself。
〃Hermits are generally to be found near their hut； and I shall not
fail to meet this one。 I will give him the kiss of peace； even as the
holy Anthony did when he came to the hermit Paul； and kissed him three
times。 We will discourse of things eternal； and perhaps our Lord will
send us； by one of His ravens； a crust of bread； which my host will
willingly invite me to share with him。〃
Whilst he was thus speaking to himself； he walked round the hut to see
if he could find any one。 He had not walked a hundred paces when he
saw a man seated； with his legs crossed； by the side of the river。 The
man was naked； his hair and beard were quite white； and his body
redder than brick。 Paphnutius felt sure this must be the hermit。 He
saluted him with the words the monks are accustomed to use when they
meet each other。
〃Peace be with you； brother！ May you some day taste the sweet joys of
paradise。〃
The man did not reply。 He remained motionless； and appeared not to
have heard。 Paphnutius supposed this was due to one of those
rhapsodies to which the saints are accustomed。 He knelt down； with his
hands joined； by the side of the unknown； and remained thus in prayer
till sunset。 Then； seeing that his companion had not moved； he said to
him
〃Father； if you are now out of the ecstasy in which you were lost；
give me your blessing in our Lord Jesus Christ。〃
The other replied without turning his head
〃Stranger； I understand you not； and I know not the Lord Jesus
Christ。〃
〃What！〃 cried Paphnutius。 〃The prophets have announced Him； legions of
martyrs have confessed His name； Caesar himself has worshipped Him；
and； but just now； I made the sphinx of Silsile proclaim His glory。 Is
it possible that you do not know Him？〃
〃Friend；〃 replied the other； 〃it is possible。 It would even be
certain； if anything in this world were certain。〃
Paphnutius was surprised and saddened by the incredible ignorance of
the man。
〃If you know not Jesus Christ；〃 he said； 〃all your works serve no
purpose； and you will never rise to life immortal。〃
The old man replied
〃It is useless to act； or to abstain from acting。 It matters not
whether we live or die。〃
〃Eh； what？〃 asked Paphnutius。 〃Do you not desire to live through all
eternity？ But； tell me； do you not live in a hut in the desert as the
hermits do？〃
〃It seems so。〃
〃Do I not see you naked； and lacking all things？〃
〃It seems so。〃
〃Do you not feed on roots； and live in chastity？〃
〃It seems so。〃
〃Have you not renounced all the vanities of this world？〃
〃I have truly renounced all those vain things for which men commonly
care。〃
〃Then you are like me； poor； chaste； and solitary。 And you are not so
as I amfor the love of God； and with a hope of celestial
happiness！ That I cannot understand。 Why are you virtuous if you do
not believe in Jesus Christ？ Why deprive yourself of the good things
of this world if you do not hope to gain eternal riches in heaven？〃
〃Stranger； I deprive myself of nothing which is good； and I flatter
myself that I have found a life which is satisfactory enough； though
to speak more preciselythere is no such thing as a good or evil
life。 Nothing is itself； either virtuous or shameful； just or unjust；
pleasant or painful； good or bad。 It is our opinion which gives those
qualities to things； as salt gives savour to meats。〃
〃So then； according to you there is no certainty。 You deny the truth
which the idolaters themselves have sought。 You lie in ignorancelike
a tired dog sleeping in the mud。〃
〃Stranger； it is equally useless to abuse either dogs or philosophers。
We know not what dogs are or what we are。 We know nothing。〃
〃Old man； do you belong； then； to