himself。 Paphnutius scowled gloomily at all the books in the library；
and said
〃They ought all to be burned。〃
〃Oh； my dear guest； that would be a pity！〃 replied Nicias。 〃For the
dreams of sick men are sometimes amusing。 Besides； if we should
destroy all the dreams and visions of men； the earth would lose its
form and colours； and we should all sleep in a dull stupidity。〃
Paphnutius continued in the same strain as before
〃It is certain that the doctrines of the pagans are but vain lies。 But
God； who is the truth； revealed Himself to men by miracles； and He was
made flesh； and lived among us。〃
Nicias replied
〃You speak well； my dear Paphnutius； when you say that he was made
flesh。 A God who thinks； acts； speaks； who wanders through nature；
like Ulysses of old on the glaucous sea； is altogether a man。 How do
you expect that we should believe in this new Jupiter； when the
urchins of Athens； in the time of Pericles； no longer believed in the
old one？
〃But let us leave all that。 You did not come here； I suppose； to argue
about the three hypostases。 What can I do for you； my dear fellow…
scholar？〃
〃A good deed；〃 replied the Abbot of Antinoe。 〃Lend me a perfumed
tunic； like the one you have just put on。 Be kind enough to add to the
tunic； gilt sandals； and a vial of oil to anoint my beard and hair。 It
is needful also； that you should give me a purse with a thousand
drachmae in it。 That； O Nicias； is what I came to ask of you； for the
love of God； and in remembrance of our old friendship。〃
Nicias made Crobyle and Myrtale bring his richest tunic； it was
embroidered； after the Asiatic fashion； with flowers and animals。 The
two girls held it open； and skilfully showed its bright colours；
waiting till Paphnutius should have taken off the cassock which
covered him down to his feet。 But the monk having declared that they
should rather tear off his flesh than this garment； they put on the
tunic over it。 As the two girls were pretty； they were not afraid of
men； although they were slaves。 They laughed at the strange appearance
of the monk thus clad。 Crobyle called him her dear satrap； as she
presented him with the mirror； and Myrtale pulled his beard。 But
Paphnutius prayed to the Lord； and did not look at them。 Having tied
on the gilt sandals； and fastened the purse to his belt； he said to
Nicias； who was looking at him with an amused expression
〃O Nicias； let not these things be an offence in your eyes。 For know
that I shall make pious use of this tunic； this purse； and these
sandals。〃
〃My dear friend；〃 replied Nicias； 〃I suspect no evil； for I believe
that men are equally incapable of doing evil or doing good。 Good and
evil exist only in the opinion。 The wise man has only custom and usage
to guide him in his acts。 I conform with all the prejudices which
prevail at Alexandria。 That is why I pass for an honest man。 Go；
friend； and enjoy yourself。〃
But Paphnutius thought that it was needful to inform his host of his
intention。
〃Do you know Thais；〃 he said； 〃who acts in the games at the theatre？〃
〃She is beautiful；〃 replied Nicias； 〃and there was a time when she was
dear to me。 For her sake； I sold a mill and two fields of corn； and I
composed in her honour three books full of detestably bad verses。
Surely beauty is the most powerful force in the world； and were we so
made that we could possess it always； we should care as little as may
be for the demiurgos； the logos； the aeons； and all the other reveries
of the philosophers。 But I am surprised； my good Paphnutius； that you
should have come from the depths of the Thebaid to talk about Thais。〃
Having said this； he sighed gently。 And Paphnutius gazed at him with
horror； not conceiving it possible that a man should so calmly avow
such a sin。 He expected to see the earth open； and Nicias swallowed up
in flames。 But the earth remained solid； and the Alexandrian silent；
his forehead resting on his hand； and he smiling sadly at the memories
of his past youth。 The monk rose； and continued in solemn tones
〃Know then； O Nicias； that； with the aid of God； I will snatch this
woman Thais from the unclean affections of the world； and give her as
a spouse to Jesus Christ。 If the Holy Spirit does not forsake me；
Thais will leave this city and enter a nunnery。〃
〃Beware of offending Venus；〃 replied Nicias。 〃She is a powerful
goddess； she will be angry with you if you take away her chief
minister。〃
〃God will protect me；〃 said Paphnutius。 〃May He also illumine thy
heart； O Nicias； and draw thee out of the abyss in which thou art
plunged。〃
And he stalked out of the room。 But Nicias followed him； and overtook
him on the threshold； and placing his hand on his shoulder whispered
into his ear the same words
〃Beware of offending Venus； her vengeance is terrible。〃
Paphnutius； disdainful of these trivial words； left without turning
his head。 He felt only contempt for Nicias； but what he could not bear
was the idea that his former friend had received the caresses of
Thais。 It seemed to him that to sin with that woman was more
detestable than to sin with any other。 To him this appeared the height
of iniquity； and he henceforth looked upon Nicias as an object of
execration。 He had always hated impurity； but never before had this
vice appeared so heinous to him； never before had it so seemed to
merit the anger of Jesus Christ and the sorrow of the angels。
He felt only a more ardent desire to save Thais from the Gentiles； and
that he must hasten to see the actress in order to save her。
Nevertheless； before he could enter her house； he must wait till the
heat of the day was over； and now the morning had hardly finished。
Paphnutius wandered through the most frequented streets。 He had
resolved to take no food that day； in order to be the less unworthy of
the favours he had asked of the Lord。 To the great grief of his soul；
he dared not enter any of the churches in the city； because he knew
they were profaned by the Arians； who had overturned the Lord's table。
For； in fact； these heretics； supported by the Emperor of the East；
had driven the patriarch Athanasius from his episcopate； and sown
trouble and confusion among the Christians of Alexandria。
He therefore wandered about aimlessly； sometimes with his eyes fixed
on the ground in humility； and sometimes raised to heaven in ecstasy。
After some time； he found himself on the quay。 Before him lay the
harbour； in which were sheltered innumerable ships and galleys； and
beyond them； smiling in blue and silver； lay the perfidious sea。 A
galley； which bore a Nereid at its prow； had just weighed anchor。 The
rowers sang as the oars struck the water； and already the white
daughter of the waters； covered with humid pearls； showed no more than
a flying profile to the monk。 Steered by her pilot； she cleared the
passage leading from the basin of the Eunostos； and gained the high
seas； leaving a glittering trail behind her。
〃I also；〃 thought Paphnutius； 〃once desired to embark singing on the
ocean of the world。 But I soon saw my folly； and the Nereid did not
carry me away。〃
Lost in his thoughts； he sat down upon a coil of rope； and went to
sleep。 During his sleep； he had a vision。 He seemed to hear the sound
of a clanging trumpet； and the sky became blood red； and he knew that
the day of judgment had come。 Whilst he was fervently praying to God；
he saw an enormous monster coming towards him； bearing on its forehead
a cross of light； and he recognised the sphinx of Silsile。 The monster
seized him between its teeth； without hurting him； and carried him in
its mouth； as a cat carries a kitten。 Paphnutius was thus conveyed
across many countries； crossing rivers and traversing mountains； and
came at last to a desert place； covered with scowling rocks and hot
cinders。 The ground was rent in many places； and through these
openings came a hot air。 The monster gently put Paphnutius down on the
ground； and said
〃Look！〃
And Paphnutius； leaning over the edge of the abyss； saw a river of
fire which flowed in the interior of the earth； between two cliffs of
black rocks。 There； in a livid light； the demons tormented the souls
of the damned。 The souls preserved the appearance of the bodies which
had held them； and even wore some rags of clothing。 These souls seemed
peaceful in the midst of their torments。 One of them； tall and white；
his eyes closed； a white fillet across his forehead； and a sceptre in
his hand； sang； his voice filled the desert shores with harmony； he
sang of gods and heroes。 Little green devils pierced his lips and
throat with red…hot irons。 And the shade of Homer still sang。 Near by；
old Anaxagoras； bald and hoary； traced figures in the dust with a
compass。 A demon poured boiling oil into his ear； yet failed； however；
to disturb the sage's meditations。 And the monk saw many other
persons； who； on the dark shore by the side of the burning river；
read； or quietly meditated； or conversed with other spirits while
walking；like the sages and pupils under the shadow of the sycamore
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 th