thais-第6部分

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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　the
abyss　shook　a　torch　before　his　eyes；　but　Timocles　would　see　neither
the　demon　nor　the　torch。

Mute　with　surprise　at　this　spectacle；　Paphnutius　turned　to　the
monster。　It　had　disappeared；　and；　in　place　of　the　sphinx；　the　monk　saw
a　veiled　woman；　who　said

〃Look　and　understand。　Such　is　the　obstinacy　of　these　infidels；　that；
even　in　hell；　they　remain　victims　of　the　illusions　which　deluded　them
when　on　earth。　Death　has　not　undeceived　them；　for　it　is　very　plain
that　it　does　not　suffice　merely　to　die　in　order　to　see　God。　Those　who
are　ignorant　of　the　truth　whilst　living；　will　be　ignorant　of　it
always。　The　demons　which　are　busy　torturing　these　souls；　what　are　they
but　agents　of　divine　justice？　That　is　why　these　souls　neither　see　them
nor　feel　them。　They　were　ignorant　of　the　truth；　and　therefore　unaware
of　their　own　condemnation；　and　God　Himself　cannot　compel　them　to
suffer。

〃God　can　do　all　things；〃　said　the　Abbot　of　Antinoe。

〃He　cannot　do　that　which　is　absurd；〃　replied　the　veiled　woman。　〃To
punish　them；　they　must　first　be　enlightened；　and　if　they　possessed　the
truth；　they　would　be　like　unto　the　elect。〃

Vexed　and　horrified；　Paphnutius　again　bent　over　the　edge　of　the　abyss。
He　saw　the　shade　of　Nicias　smiling；　with　a　wreath　of　flowers　on　his
head；　sitting　under　a　burnt　myrtle　tree。　By　his　side　was　Aspasia　of
Miletus；　gracefully　draped　in　a　woollen　cloak；　and　they　seemed　to　talk
together　of　love　and　philosophy；　the　expression　of　her　face　was　sweet
and　noble。　The　rain　of　fire　which　fell　on　them　was　as　a　refreshing
dew；　and　their　feet　pressed　the　burning　soil　as　though　it　had　been
tender　grass。　At　this　sight　Paphnutius　was　filled　with　fury。

〃Strike　him；　O　God！　strike　him！〃　he　cried。　〃It　is　Nicias！　Let　him
weep！　let　him　groan！　let　him　grind　his　teeth！　He　sinned　with　Thais！〃

And　Paphnutius　woke　in　the　arms　of　a　sailor；　as　strong　as　Hercules；
who　cried

〃Quietly！　quietly！　my　friend！　By　Proteus；　the　old　shepherd　of　the
seals；　you　slumber　uneasily。　If　I　had　not　caught　hold　of　you；　you
would　have　tumbled　into　the　Eunostos。　It　is　as　true　as　that　my　mother
sold　salt　fish；　that　I　saved　your　life。〃

〃I　thank　God；〃　replied　Paphnutius。

And；　rising　to　his　feet；　he　walked　straight　before　him；　meditating　on
the　vision　which　had　come　to　him　whilst　he　was　asleep。

〃This　vision；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃is　plainly　an　evil　one；　it　is　an
insult　to　divine　goodness　to　imagine　hell　is　unreal。　The　dream
certainly　came　from　the　devil。〃

He　reasoned　thus　because　he　knew　how　to　distinguish　between　the　dreams
sent　by　God　and　those　produced　by　evil　angels。　Such　discernment　is
useful　to　the　hermit；　who　lives　surrounded　by　apparitions；　and　who；　in
avoiding　men；　is　sure　to　meet　with　spirits。　The　deserts　are　full　of
phantoms。　When　the　pilgrims　drew　near　the　ruined　castle；　to　which　the
holy　hermit；　Anthony；　had　retired；　they　heard　a　noise　like　that　which
goes　up　from　the　public　square　of　a　large　city　at　a　great　festival。
The　noise　was　made　by　the　devils；　who　were　tempting　the　holy　man。

Paphnutius　remembered　this　memorable　example。　He　also　called　to　mind
St。　John　the　Egyptian；　who　for　sixty　years　was　tempted　by　the　devil。
But　John　saw　through　all　the　tricks　of　the　demon。　One　day；　however；
the　devil；　having　assumed　the　appearance　of　a　man；　entered　the　grotto
of　the　venerable　John；　and　said　to　him；　〃John；　you　must　continue　to
fast　until　to…morrow　evening。〃　And　John；　believing　that　it　was　an
angel　who　spoke；　obeyed　the　voice　of　the　demon；　and　fasted　the　next
day　until　the　vesper　hour。　That　was　the　only　victory　that　the　Prince
of　Darkness　ever　gained　over　St。　John　the　Egyptian；　and　that　was　but　a
trifling　one。　It　was　therefore　not　astonishing　that　Paphnutius　knew　at
once　that　the　vision　which　had　visited　him　in　his　sleep　was　an　evil
one。

Whilst　he　was　gently　remonstrating　with　God　for　having　given　him　into
the　power　of　the　demons；　he　felt　himself　pushed　and　dragged　amidst　a
crowd　of　people　who　were　all　hurrying　in　the　same　direction。　As　he　was
unaccustomed　to　walk　in　the　streets　of　a　city；　he　was　shoved　and
knocked　from　one　passer　to　another　like　an　inert　mass；　and　being
embarrassed　by　the　folds　of　his　tunic；　he　was　more　than　once　on　the
point　of　falling。　Desirous　of　knowing　where　all　these　people　could　be
going；　he　asked　one　of　them　the　cause　of　this　hurry。

〃Do　you　not　know；　stranger；〃　replied　he；　〃that　the　games　are　about　to
begin；　and　that　Thais　will　appear　on　the　stage？　All　the　citizens　are
going　to　the　theatre；　and　I　also　am　going。　Would　you　like　to　accompany
me？〃

It　occurred　to　him　at　once　that　it　would　further　his　design　to　see
Thais　in　the　games；　and　Paphnutius　followed　the　stranger。　In　front　of
them　stood　the　theatre；　its　portico　ornamented　with　shining　masks；　and
its　huge　circular　wall　covered　with　innumerable　statues。　Following　the
crowd；　they　entered　a　narrow　passage；　at　the　end　of　which　lay　the
amphitheatre；　glittering　with　light。　They　took　their　places　on　one　of
the　seats；　which　descended　in　steps　to　the　stage；　which　was　empty　but
magnificently　decorated。　There　was　no　curtain　to　hide　the　view；　and　on
the　stage　was　a　mound；　such　as　used　to　be　erected　in　old　times　to　the
shades　of　heroes。　This　mound　stood　in　the　midst　of　a　camp。　Lances　were
stacked　in　front　of　the　tents；　and　golden　shields　hung　from　masts；
amidst　boughs　of　laurel　and　wreaths　of　oak。　On　the　stage　all　was
silence；　but　a　murmur　like　the　humming　of　bees　in　a　hive　rose　from　the
vast　hemicycle　filled　with　spectators。　All　their　faces；　reddened　by
the　reflection　from　the　purple　awning　which　waved　above　them；　turned
with　attentive　curiosity　towards　the　large；　silent　stage；　with　its
tomb　and　tents。　The　women　laughed　and　ate　lemons；　and　the　regular
theatre…goers　called　gaily　to　one　another　from　their　seats。

Paphnutius　prayed　inwardly；　and　refrained　from　uttering　any　vain
words；　but　his　neighbour　began　to　complain　of　the　decline　of　the
drama。

〃Formerly；〃　he　said；　〃clever　actors　used　to　declaim；　under　a　mask；　the
verses　of　Euripides　and　Menander。　Now　they　no　lo