thais-第3部分

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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　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。