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the moon rose over the Nile； like the bare shoulder of a goddess。 The hills
gleamed with blue light； and Paphnutius thought he saw the body of Thais
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shinning in the glimmer of the waters amidst the sapphire night。
The days passed； and the saint still lived on his pillar。 When the rainy
season came； the waters of heaven； filtering through the cracks in the roof；
wetted his body； his stiff limbs were incapable of movement。 Scorched by
the sun； and reddened by the dew； his skin broke； large ulcers devoured his
arms and legs。 But the desire of Thais still consumed him inwardly； and he
cried
〃It is not enough； great God！ More temptations！ More unclean
thoughts！ More horrible desires！ Lord； lay upon me all the lusts of men；
that I may expiate them all！ Though it is false that the Greek bitch took
upon herself all the sins of the world； as I heard an impostor once declare；
yet there is a hidden meaning in the fable； the truth of which I now
recognise。 For it is true that the sins of the people enter the soul of the
saints； and are lost there as in a well。 Thus it is that the souls of the just are
polluted with more filth than is ever found in the soul of the sinner。 And；
for that reason； I praise Thee； O my God； for having made me the cesspool
of the world。〃
One day； a rumour ran through the holy city； and even reached the ears
of the hermit： a very great personage； a man occupying a high position； the
Prefect of the Alexandrian fleet； Lucius Aurelius Cotta； was about to visit
the citywas； indeed； now on his way。
The news was true。 Old Cotta； who was inspecting the canals and the
navigation of the Nile； had many times expressed a desire to see the stylite
and the new city； to which the name of Stylopolis had been given。 The
Stylopolitans saw the river covered with sails one morning。 Cotta
appeared on board a golden galley hung with purple； and followed by all
his fleet。 He landed； and advanced； accompanied by a secretary carrying
his tablets； and Aristaeus； his physician； with whom he liked to converse。
A numerous suite walked behind him； and the shore was covered with
/laticlaves/＇*＇ and military uniforms。 He stopped； some paces from the
column； and began to examine the stylite； wiping his face meanwhile with
the skirt of his toga。 Being of a naturally curious disposition； he had
observed many things in the course of his long voyages。 He liked to
remember them； and intended to write； after he had finished his Punic
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history； a book on the remarkable things he had witnessed。 He seemed
much interested by the spectacle before him。
＇*＇ The /laticlave/ was a toga； with a broad purple band； worn by
Roman senators as the distinguishing mark of their high office。
〃This is very curious！〃 he said； puffing and blowing。 〃Andwhich is a
circumstance worthy of being recordedthis man was my guest。 Yes； this
monk supped with me last year； after which he carried off an actress。〃
Turning to his secretary
〃Note that； my son； on my tablets； also the dimensions of the column；
not omitting the shape of the top of it。〃
Then； wiping his face again
〃Persons deserving of belief have assured me that this monk has not
left his column for a single moment since he mounted it a year ago。 Is that
possible； Aristaeus？〃
〃That which is possible to a lunatic or a sick man；〃 replied Aristaeus；
〃would be impossible to a man sound in body and mind。 Do you know；
Lucius； that sometimes diseases of the mind or body give to those afflicted
by them a strength which healthy men do not possess？ For； as a matter of
fact； there is no such thing as good health or bad health。 There are only
different conditions of the organs。 Having studied what are called maladies；
I have come to consider them as necessary forms of life。 I take pleasure in
studying them in order to be able to conquer them。 Some of them are
worthy of admiration； and conceal； under apparent disorder； profound
harmonies； for instance； a quartan fever is certainly a very pretty thing！
Sometimes certain affections of the body cause a rapid augmentation of
the faculties of the mind。 You know Creon？ When he was a child； he
stuttered and was stupid。 But； having cracked his skull by tumbling off a
ladder； he became an able lawyer； as you are aware。 This monk must be
affected in some hidden organ。 Moreover； this kind of existence is not so
extraordinary as it appears to you； Lucius。 I may remind you that the
gymnosophists of India can remain motionless； not merely for a year； but
during twenty； thirty； or forty years。〃
〃By Jupiter！〃 cried Cotta； 〃that is a strange madness。 For man was
born to move and act； and idleness is an unpardonable crime； because it is
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an injury to the State。 I do not know of any religion in which such an
objectionable practice is permitted； though it possibly may be in some of
the Asiatic creeds。 When I was Governor of Syria； I found /phalli/ erected
in the porches at the city of Hera。 A man ascended； twice a year； and
remained there for a week。 The people believed that this man talked with
the gods； and interceded with them for the prosperity of Syria。 The custom
appeared senseless to me； nevertheless I did nothing to put it down。 For I
consider that a functionary ought not to interfere with the manners and
customs of the people； but on the contrary； to see that they are preserved。
It is not the business of the government to force a religion on a people； but
to maintain that which exists； which； whether good or bad； has been
regulated by the spirit of the time； the place； and the race。 If it endeavours
to put down a religion； it proclaims itself revolutionary in its spirit； and
tyrannical in its acts； and is justly detested。 Besides； how are you to raise
yourself above the superstitions of the vulgar； except by understanding
them and tolerating them？ Aristaeus； I am of opinion that I should leave
this nephelo…coccygian＇*＇ in the air； e