gave him a minute's repose。 The solitude of the tomb was more peopled
than the streets of a great city。 The devils shouted with laughter；
and millions of imps； evil genii； and phantoms imitated all the
ordinary transactions of life。 In the evening； when he went to the
spring； satyrs and nymphs capered round him； and tried to drag him
into their lascivious dances。 The demons no longer feared him。 They
loaded him with insults； obscene jests； and blows。 One day a devil； no
longer than his arm； stole the cord he wore round his waist。
He said to himself
〃Thought； whither hast thou led me？〃
And he resolved to work with his hands； in order to give his mind that
rest of which it had need。 Near the spring； some banana trees； with
large leaves； grew under the shade of the palms。 He cut the stalks；
and carried them to the tomb。 He crushed them with a stone； and
reduced them to fibres； as he had seen ropemakers do。 For he intended
to make a cord； to replace that which the devil had stolen。 The demons
were somewhat displeased at this； they ceased their clamour； and the
girl with the theorbo no longer continued her magic arts； but remained
quietly on the wall。 The courage and faith of Paphnutius increased
whilst he pounded the banana stems。
〃With Heaven's help；〃 he said to himself； 〃I shall subdue the flesh。
As to my soul； its confidence is still unshaken。 In vain do the
devils； and that accursed woman； try to instil into my mind doubts as
to the nature of God。 I will reply to them； by the mouth of the
Apostle John； 'In the beginning was the Word； and the Word was God。'
That I firmly believe； and that which I believe is absurd； I believe
still more firmly。 In fact it should be absurd。 If it were not so； I
should not believe； I should know。 And it is not that which we know
which gives eternal life； it is faith only that saves。〃
He exposed the separated fibres to the sun and the dew； and every
morning he took care to turn them； to prevent them rotting； and he
rejoiced to find that he had become as simple as a child。 When he had
twisted his cord； he cut reeds to make mats and baskets。 The
sepulchral chamber resembled a basket…maker's workshop； and Paphnutius
could pass without difficulty from work to prayer。 Yet still God was
not merciful to him； for one night he was awakened by a voice which
froze him with horror； for he guessed that it was the voice of the
dead man。
The voice called quickly； in a light whisper
〃Helen！ Helen！ come and bathe with me！ come quickly！〃
A woman； whose mouth was close to the monk's ear； replied
〃Friend； I cannot rise； a man is lying on me。〃
Paphnutius suddenly perceived that his cheek rested on a woman's
breast。 He recognised the player of the theorbo； who； partly relieved
of his weight； raised her breast。 He clung tightly to the sweet； warm；
perfumed body； and consumed with the desire of damnation； he cried
〃Stay； stay； my heavenly one！〃
But she was already standing on the threshold。 She laughed； and her
smile gleamed in the silver rays of the moon。
〃Why should I stay？〃 she said。 〃The shadow of a shadow is enough for a
lover endowed with such a lively imagination。 Besides； you have
sinned。 What more was needed？〃
Paphnutius wept in the night； and when the dawn came； he murmured a
prayer that was a meek complaint
〃Jesus； my Jesus； why hast Thou forsaken me！ Thou seest the danger in
which I am。 Come； and help me； sweet Saviour。 Since Thy Father no
longer loves me； and does not hear me； remember that I have but Thee。
From Him nothing is to be hoped； I cannot comprehend Him； and He
cannot pity me。 But Thou was born of a woman； and that is why I trust
in Thee。 Remember that Thou wast a man。 I pray to Thee； not because
Thou art God of God； Light of light； very God of very God； but because
Thou hast lived poor and humble on this earth where now I suffer；
because Satan has tempted Thy flesh； because the sweat of agony has
bedewed Thy face。 It is to Thy humanity that I pray； Jesus； my brother
Jesus！〃
When he had thus prayed； wringing his hands； a terrible peal of
laughter shook the walls of the tomb； and the voice which rang in his
ears on the top of the column； said jeeringly
〃That is a prayer worthy of the breviary of Marcus； the heretic。
Paphnutius is an Arian！ Paphnutius is an Arian！〃
As though thunderstruck； the monk fell senseless。
*****
When he reopened his eyes； he saw around him monks wearing black
hoods； who poured water on his temples； and recited exorcisms。 Many
others were standing outside； carrying palm leaves。
〃As we passed through the desert；〃 said one of them； 〃we heard cries
issuing from this tomb； and； having entered； we found you lying
unconscious on the floor。 Doubtless the devils had thrown you down；
and had fled at our approach。〃
Paphnutius； raising his head； asked in a feeble voice
〃Who are you； my brothers？ And why do you carry palms in your hands？
Is it for my burial？〃
One of them replied
〃Brother； do you not know that our father； Anthony； now a hundred and
five years old； having been warned of his approaching end； has come
down from Mount Colzin； to which he had retired； to bless his numerous
spiritual children？ We are going with palm leaves to greet our holy
father。 But how is it； brother； that you are ignorant of such a great
event？ Can it be possible that no angel came to this tomb to inform
you？〃
〃Alas！〃 replied Paphnutius； 〃I am not worthy of such a favour； and the
only denizens of this abode are demons and vampires。 Pray for me。 I am
Paphnutius； Abbot of Antinoe； the most wretched of the servants of
God。〃
At the name of Paphnutius； all waved their palm leaves and murmured
his praises。 The monk who had previously spoken； cried in surprise
〃Can it be that thou art that holy Paphnutius； celebrated for so many
works that it was supposed he would some day equal the great Anthony
himself？ Most venerable； it was thou who convertedst to God the
courtesan； Thais； and who； raised upon a high column； was carried away
by the seraphs。 Those who watched by night； at the foot of the pillar；
saw thy blessed assumption。 The wings of the angels encircled thee in
a white cloud； and with thy right hand extended thou didst bless the
dwellings of man。 The next day； when the people saw thou wert no
longer there； a long groan rose to the summit of the discrowned
pillar。 But Flavian； thy disciple； reported the miracle； and took thy
place as the head。 But a foolish man； of the name of Paul； tried to
contradict the general opinion。 He asserted that he had seen thee； in
a dream； carried away by the devils； the people wanted to stone him；
and it was a miracle that he escaped death。 I am Zozimus； abbot of
these solitary monks whom thou seest prostrate at thy feet。 Like them；
I kneel before thee； that thou mayest bless the father with the
children。 Then thou shalt relate to us the marvels which God has
deigned to accomplish by thy means。〃
〃Far from having favoured me as thou believest；〃 replied Paphnutius；
〃the Lord has tried me with terrible temptations。 I was not carried
away by angels。 But a shadowy wall is raised in front of my eyes； and
moves before me。 I have lived in a dream。 Without God all is a dream。
When I made my journey to Alexandria； I heard； in a short space of
time； many discourses； and I learned that the army of errors was
innumerable。 It pursues me； and I am compassed about with swords。〃
Zozimus replied
〃Venerable father； we must remember that the saints； and especially
the solitary saints； undergo terrible trials。 If thou wast not carried
to heaven by the seraphs； it is certain that the Lord granted that
favour to thy image； for Flavian； the monks； and the people were
witnesses of thy assumption。〃
Paphnutius resolved to go and receive the blessing of Anthony。
〃Brother Zozimus；〃 he said； 〃give me one of these palm leaves； and let
us go and meet our father。〃
〃Let us go；〃 replied Zozimus； 〃military order is most befitting for
monks； who are God's soldiers。 Thou and I； being abbots； will march in
front； and the others shall follow us； singing psalms。〃
They set out on their march； and Paphnutius said
〃God is unity； for He is the truth； which is one。 The world is many；
because it is error。 We should turn away from all the sights of
nature； even those which appear the most innocent。 Their diversity
renders them pleasant； which is a sign that they are evil。 For that
reason； I cannot see a tuft of papyrus by the side of still waters
without my soul being imbued with melancholy。 All things that the
senses perceive are detestable。 The least grain of sand brings danger。
Everything tempts us。 Woman is but a combination of all the
temptations scattered in the thin air； on the flowering earth； in the
clear waters。 Happy is he whose soul is a sealed vase！ Happy is he who
knows how to be deaf； dumb； and blind； and who knows nothing of the
world； in order that he may know God！〃
Zozimus； having meditated upon these words； replied as follows
〃Venerable father； it is fitting that I should avow my sins to thee；
since thou hast shown me thy soul。 Thus we shall confess to each
other； according to the apostolic custom。