We know not what dogs are or what we are。 We know nothing。〃
〃Old man； do you belong； then； to the absurd sect of sceptics？ Are you
one of those miserable fools who alike deny movement and rest； and who
know not how to distinguish between the light of the sun and the
shadows of night？〃
〃Friend； I am truly a sceptic； and of a sect which appears
praiseworthy to me； though it seems ridiculous to you。 For the same
things often assume different appearances。 The pyramids of Memphis
seem at sunrise to be cones of pink light。 At sunset they look like
black triangles against the illuminated sky。 But who shall solve the
problem of their true nature？ You reproach me with denying
appearances； when； in fact； appearances are the only realities I
recognise。 The sun seems to me illuminous； but its nature is unknown
to me。 I feel that fire burnsbut I know not how or why。 My friend；
you understand me badly。 Besides； it is indifferent to me whether I am
understood one way or the other。〃
〃Once more。 Why do you live on dates and onions in the desert？ Why do
you endure great hardships？ I endure hardships equally great； and；
like you； I live in abstinence and solitude。 But then it is to please
God； and to earn eternal happiness。 And that is a reasonable object；
for it is wise to suffer now for a future gain。 It is senseless； on
the contrary； to expose yourself voluntarily to useless fatigue and
vain sufferings。 If I did not believepardon my blasphemy； O
uncreated Light！if I did not believe in the truth of that which God
has taught us by the voice of the prophets； by the example of His Son；
by the acts of the Apostles； by the authority of councils； and by the
testimony of the martyrs；if I did not know that the sufferings of
the body are necessary for the salvation of the soulif I were； like
thee； lost in ignorance of sacred mysteriesI would return at once
amongst the men of this day； I would strive to acquire riches； that I
might live in ease； like those who are happy in this world； and I
would say to the votaries of pleasure； 'Come； my daughters； come； my
servants； come and pour out for me your wines； your philtres； your
perfumes。' But you； foolish old man！ you deprive yourself of all these
advantages； you lose without hope of any gain； you give without hope
of any return； and you imitate foolishly the noble deeds of us
anchorites； as an impudent monkey thinks； by smearing a wall； to copy
the picture of a clever artist。 What； then； are your reasons； O most
besotted of men？〃
Paphnutius spoke with violence and indignation； but the old man
remained unmoved。
〃Friend；〃 he replied； gently； 〃what matter the reasons of a dog
sleeping in the dirt or a mischievous ape？〃
Paphnutius' only aim was the glory of God。 His anger vanished； and he
apologised with noble humility。
〃Pardon me； old man； my brother；〃 he said； 〃if zeal for the truth has
carried me beyond proper bounds。 God is my witness； that it is thy
errors and not thyself that I hate。 I suffer to see thee in darkness；
for I love thee in Jesus Christ； and care for thy salvation fills my
heart。 Speak！ give me your reasons。 I long to know them that I may
refute them。〃
The old man replied quietly
〃It is the same to me whether I speak or remain silent。 I will give my
reasons without asking yours in return； for I have no interest in you
at all。 I care neither for your happiness nor your misfortune； and it
matters not to me whether you think one way or another。 Why should I
love you； or hate you？ Aversion and sympathy are equally unworthy of
the wise man。 But since you question me； know then that I am named
Timocles； and that I was born at Cos； of parents made rich by
commerce。 My father was a shipowner。 In intelligence he much resembled
Alexander； who is surnamed the Great。 But he was not so gross。 In
short； he was a man of no great parts。 I had two brothers； who； like
him； were shipowners。 As for me； I followed wisdom。 My eldest brother
was compelled by my father to marry a Carian woman； named Timaessa；
who displeased him so greatly that he could not live with her without
falling into a deep melancholy。 However； Timaessa inspired our younger
brother with a criminal passion； and this passion soon turned to a
furious madness。 The Carian woman hated them both equally； but she
loved a flute…player； and received him at night in her chamber。 One
morning he left there the wreath which he usually wore at feasts。 My
two brothers； having found this wreath； swore to kill the flute…
player； and the next day they caused him to perish under the lash； in
spite of his tears and prayers。 My sister…in…law felt such grief that
she lost her reason； and these three poor wretches became beasts
rather than human beings； and wandered insane along the shores of Cos；
howling like wolves and foaming at the mouth； and hooted at by the
children； who threw shells and stones at them。 They died； and my
father buried them with his own hands。 A little later his stomach
refused all nourishment； and he died of hunger； though he was rich
enough to have bought all the meats and fruits in the markets of Asia。
He was deeply grieved at having to leave me his fortune。 I used it in
travels。 I visited Italy； Greece； and Africa without meeting a single
person who was either wise or happy。 I studied philosophy at Athens
and Alexandria； and was deafened by noisy arguments。 At last I
wandered as far as India； and I saw on the banks of the Ganges a naked
man； who had sat there motionless with his legs crossed for more than
thirty years。 Climbing plants twined round his dried up body； and the
birds built their nests in his hair。 Yet he lived。 At the sight of him
I called to mind Timaessa； the flute…player； my two brothers； and my
father； and I realised that this Indian was a wise man。 'Men；' I said
to myself； 'suffer because they are deprived of that which they
believe to be good； or because； possessing it they fear to lose it； or
because they endure that which they believe to be an evil。 Put an end
to all beliefs of this kind； and the evils would disappear。' That is
why I resolved henceforth to deem nothing an advantage； to tear myself
entirely from the good things of this world； and to live silent and
motionless； like the Indian。〃
Paphnutius had listened attentively to the old man's story。
〃Timocles of Cos；〃 he replied； 〃I own that your discourse is not
wholly devoid of sense。 It is； in truth； wise to despise the riches of
this world。 But it would be absurd to despise also your eternal
welfare； and render yourself liable to be visited by the wrath of God。
I grieve at your ignorance； Timocles； and I will instruct you in the
truth； in order that knowing that there really exists a God in three
hypostases； you may obey this God as a child obeys its father。〃
Timocles interrupted him。
〃Refrain； stranger； from showing me your doctrines； and do not imagine
that you will persuade me to share your opinions。 All discussions are
useless。 My opinion is to have no opinion。 My life is devoid of
trouble because I have no preferences。 Go thy ways； and strive not to
withdraw me from the beneficent apathy in which I am plunged； as
though in a delicious bath； after the hardships of my past days。〃
Paphnutius was profoundly instructed in all things relating to the
faith。 By his knowledge of the human heart； he was aware that the
grace of God had not fallen on old Timocles； and the day of salvation
for this soul so obstinately resolved to ruin itself had not yet come。
He did not reply； lest the power given for edification should turn to
destruction。 For it sometimes happens； in disputing with infidels；
that the means used for their conversion may steep them still farther
in sin。 Therefore they who possess the truth should take care how they
spread it。
〃Farewell； then； unhappy Timocles；〃 he said； and heaving a deep sigh；
he resumed his pious pilgrimage through the night。
In the morning； he saw the ibises motionless on one leg at the edge of
the water； which reflected their pale pink necks。 The willows
stretched their soft grey foliage to the bank； cranes flew in a
triangle in the clear sky； and the cry of unseen herons was heard from
the sedges。 Far as the eye could reach； the river rolled its broad
green waters o'er which white sails； like the wings of birds； glided；
and here and there on the shores； a white house shone out。 A light
mist floated along the banks； and from out the shadow of the islands；
which were laden with palms； flowers； and fruits； came noisy flocks of
ducks； geese； flamingoes； and teal。 To the left； the grassy valley
extended to the desert its fields and orchards in joyful abundance；
the sun shone on the yellow wheat； and the earth exhaled forth its
fecundity in odorous wafts。 At this sight； Paphnutius fell on his
knees； and cried
〃Blessed be the Lord； who has given a happy issue to my journey。 O
God； who spreadest Thy dew upon the fig trees of the Arsiniote； pour
Thy grace upon Thais； whom Thou hast formed with Thy love； as Thou
hast the flowers and trees of the field。 May she； by Thy loving care；
flourish like a sweet…scented rose in the heavenly Jerusalem。〃
And every time that he saw a tree cov