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intelligence； but by sensibility； that the highest and purest truths are
reached。 That is why women； who； generally； are less reflective but more
sensitive than men； rise more easily to the knowledge of things divine。 In
them is the gift of prophecy； and it is not without reason that Apollo
Citharedes； and Jesus of Nazareth； are sometimes represented clad； like
women； in flowing robes。 The initiator was therefore wisewhatever you
may say to the contrary； Dorionin bestowing light； not on the duller
Adam； but on Eve； who was whiter than milk or the stars。 She freely
listened to him； and allowed herself to be led to the tree of knowledge； the
branches of which rose to heaven； and which was bathed with the divine
spirit as with a dew。 This tree was covered with leaves which spoke all the
languages of future races of men； and their united voices formed a perfect
harmony。 Its abundant fruit gave to the initiated who tasted it the
knowledge of metals； stones； and plants； and also of physical and moral
laws； but this fruit was like fire； and those who feared suffering and death
did not dare to put it to their lips。 Now； as she had listened attentively to
the lessons of the serpent； Eve despised these empty terrors； and wished to
taste the fruit which gave the knowledge of God。 But； as she loved Adam；
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and did not wish him to be inferior to her； she took him by the hand and
led him to the wonderful tree。 Then she picked one of the burning apples；
bit it； and proffered it to her companion。 Unfortunately； Iaveh； who was by
chance walking in the garden； surprised them； and seeing that they had
become wise； he fell into a most ungovernable rage。 It is in his jealous fits
that he is most to be feared。 Assembling all his forces； he created such a
turmoil in the lower air that these two weak beings were terrified。 The fruit
fell from the man's hand； and the woman； clinging to the neck of her
luckless husband； said； 〃I too will be ignorant and suffer with him。〃 The
triumphant Iaveh kept Adam and Eve and all their seed in a condition of
hebetude and terror。 His art； which consisted only in being able to make
huge meteors； triumphed over the science of the serpent； who was a
musician and geometrician。 He made men unjust； ignorant； and cruel； and
caused evil to reign in the earth。 He persecuted Cain and his sons because
they were skilful workmen； he exterminated the Philistines because they
composed Orphic poems； and fables like those of AEsop。 He was the
implacable enemy of science and beauty； and for long ages the human race
expiated； in blood and tears； the defeat of the winged serpent。 Fortunately；
there arose among the Greeks learned men； such as Pythagoras； and Plato；
who recovered by the force of genius； the figures and the ideas which the
enemy of Iaveh had vainly tried to teach the first woman。 The soul of the
serpent was in them； and that is why the serpent； as Dorion has said； is
honoured by the Athenians。 Finally； in these latter days； there appeared；
under human form； three celestial spiritsJesus of Galilee； Basilides； and
Valentinusto whom it was given to pluck the finest fruits of that tree of
knowledge； whose roots pass through all the earth； and whose top reaches
to the highest heaven。 I have said all this in vindication of the Christians；
to whom the errors of the Jews are too often imputed。
DORION。 If I understood you aright； Zenothemis； you said that three
wonderful menJesus； Basilides； and Valentinushad discovered secrets
which had remained hidden from Pythagoras and Plato； and all the
philosophers of Greece； and even from the divine Epicurus； who； however；
has freed men from the dread of empty terrors。 You would greatly oblige
me by telling me by what means these three mortals acquired knowledge
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which had eluded the most contemplative sages。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Must I repeat to you； Dorion； that science and
cogitation are but the first steps to knowledge； and that ecstasy alone leads
to eternal truth？
HERMODORUS。 It is true； Zenothemis； that the soul is nourished on
ecstasy； as the cicada is nourished on dew。 But we may even say more： the
mind alone is capable of perfect rapture。 For man is of a threefold nature；
composed of material body； of a soul which is more subtle； but also
material； and of an incorruptible mind。 When； emerging from the body as
from a palace suddenly given over to silence and solitude and flying
through the gardens of the soul； the mind diffuses itself in God； it tastes
the delights of an anticipated death； or rather of a future life； for to die is to
live； and in that condition； partaking of divine purity； it possesses both
infinite joy and complete knowledge。 It enters into the unity which is All。
It is perfected。
NICIAS。 That is very fine； but； to say the truth； Hermodorus； I do not
see much difference between All and Nothing。 Words even seem to fail to
make the distinction。 Infinity is terribly like nothingnessthey are both
inconceivable to the mind。 In my opinion perfection costs too dear； we pay
for it with all our being； and to possess it must cease to exist。 That is a
calamity from which God Himself is not free； for the philosophers are
doing their best to perfect Him。 After all； if we do not know what it is /not/
to be； we are equally ignorant what it is to /be/。 We know nothing。 It is
said that it is impossible for men to agree on this question。 I believein
spite of our noisy disputes that it is； on the contrary； impossible for men
not to become some day all at unity buried under the mass of
contradictions； a Pelion on Ossa； which they themselves have raised。
COTTA。 I am very fond of philosophy； and study it in my leisure time。
But I never understand it well； except in Cicero's books。 Slaves； pour out
the honeyed wine！
CALLICRATES。 It is a singular thing； but when I am hungry I think of
the time when the tragic poets sat at the boards of good tyrants； and my
mouth waters。 But when I have tasted the excellent wine that you give us
so abundantly； generous Lucius； I dream of nothing but civil wars and
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