按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
this nephelo…coccygian＇*＇ in the air； exposed only to the indignities the
birds shower on him。 I should not gain anything by having him pulled
down； but I should by taking note of his thoughts and beliefs。〃
＇*＇ Nephelo…coccygia； the cloud…city built by the cuckoos； in the
/Birds/ of Aristophanes。
He puffed； coughed； and placed his hand on the secretary's shoulder。
〃My child； note down that； amongst certain sects of Christians； it is
considered praiseworthy to carry off courtesans and live upon columns。
You may add that these customs are evidence of the worship of genetic
divinities。 But on this point we ought to question him himself。〃
Then； raising his head； and shading his eyes with his hand； to keep off
the sun； he shouted
〃Hallo； Paphnutius！ If you remember that you were once my guest；
answer me。 What are you doing up there？ Why did you go up； and why do
you stay there？ Has this column any phallic signification in your mind？〃
Paphnutius； considering Cotta as nothing but an idolater； did not deign
to reply。 But his disciple； Flavian； approached； and said
〃Illustrious Sir； this holy man takes the sins of the world upon him；
113
… Page 114…
THAIS
and cures diseases。〃
〃By Jupiter！ Do you hear； Aristaeus？〃 cried Cotta。 〃This nephelo…
coccygian practises medicine； like you。 What do you think of so high a
rival？〃
Aristaeus shook his head。
〃It is very possible that he may cure certain diseases better than I can；
such； for instance； as epilepsy； vulgarly called the divine malady； although
all maladies are equally divine； for they all come from the gods。 But the
cause of this disease lies； partly； in the imagination； and you must confess；
Lucius； that this monk； perched up on the head of a goddess； strikes the
minds of the sick people more forcibly than I； bending over my mortars
and phials in my laboratory； could ever do。 There are forces； Lucius；
infinitely more powerful than reason and science。〃
〃What are they？〃 asked Cotta。
〃Ignorance and folly；〃 replied Aristaeus。
〃I have rarely seen a more curious sight；〃 continued Cotta； 〃and I hope
that some day an able writer will relate the foundation of Stylopolis。 But
even the most extraordinary spectacles should not keep； longer than is
befitting； a serious and busy man from his work。 Let us go and inspect the
canals。 Farewell； good Paphnutius！ or rather； till our next meeting！ If ever
you should come down to earth again； and revisit Alexandria； do not fail to
come and sup with me。〃
These words； heard by all present； passed from mouth to mouth； and
being repeated by the believers； added greatly to the reputation of
Paphnutius。 Pious minds amplified and transformed them； and it was
stated that Paphnutius； from the top of his pillar； had converted the Prefect
of the Fleet to the faith of the apostles and the Nicaean fathers。 The
believers found a figurative meaning in the last words uttered by Aurelius
Cotta； to them； the supper to which this important personage had invited
the ascetic； was a holy communion； a spiritual repast； a celestial banquet。
The story of this meeting was embroidered with wonderful details； which
those who invented were the first to believe。 It was said that when Cotta；
after a long argument； had embraced the truth； an angel had come from
heaven to wipe the sweat from his brow。 The physician and secretary of
114
… Page 115…
THAIS
the Prefect of the Fleet had also； it was asserted； been converted at the
same time。 And； the miracle being public and notorious； the deacons of the
principal churches of Libya recorded it amongst the authentic facts。 After
that； it could be said； without any exaggeration； that the whole world was
seized with a desire to see Paphnutius； and that； in the West as well as the
East； all Christians turned their astonished eyes towards him。 The most
celebrated cities of Italy sent deputations to him； and the Roman Caesar；
the divine Constantine who favoured the Christian religion； wrote him a
letter which the legates brought to him with great ceremony。 But one night；
whilst the budding city at his feet slept in the dew； he heard a voice； which
said
〃Paphnutius； thou art become celebrated by thy works and powerful by
thy word。 God has raised thee up for His glory。 He has chosen thee to
work miracles； heal the sick； convert the Pagans； enlighten sinners；
confound the Arians； and establish peace in the Church。〃
Paphnutius replied
〃God's will be done！〃
The voice continued
〃Arise； Paphnutius； and go seek in his palace the impious Constans；
who； far from imitating the wisdom of his brother； Constantine； inclines to
the errors of Arius and Marcus。 Go！ The bronze gates shall fly open before
thee； and thy sandals shall resound on the golden floor of the basilica
before the throne of the Caesars； and thy awe… inspiring voice shall change
the heart of the son of Constantinus。 Thou shalt reign over a peaceful and
powerful Church。 And； even as the soul directs the body； so shall the
Church govern the empire。 Thou shalt be placed above senators； comites；
and patricians。 Thou shalt repress the greed of the people； and check the
boldness of the barbarians。 Old Cotta； knowing that thou art the head of
the government； will seek the honour of washing thy feet。 At thy death thy
/cilicium/ shall be taken to the patriarch of Alexandria； and the great
Athanasius； white with glory； shall kiss it as the relic of a saint。 Go！〃
Paphnutius replied
〃Let the will of God be accomplished！〃
And making an effort to stand up； he prepared to descend。 But the
115
… Page 116…
THAIS
voice； divining his intention； said
〃Above all； descend not by the ladder。 That would be to act like an
ordinary man； and to be unconscious of the gifts that are in thee。 A great
saint； like thee； ought to fly through the air。 Leap！ the angels are there to
support thee。 Leap； then！〃
Paphnutius replied
〃The will of