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saint； like thee； ought to fly through the air。 Leap！ the angels are there to
support thee。 Leap； then！〃
Paphnutius replied
〃The will of God be done； on earth as it is in heaven。〃
Extending his long arms like the ragged wings of a huge sick bird； he
was about to throw himself down； when； suddenly； a hideous mocking
laugh rang in his ears。 Terrified； he asked
〃Who laughs thus？〃
〃Ah？ ah！〃 screamed the voice； 〃we are yet but at the beginning of our
friendship； thou wilt some day be better acquainted with me。 My friend； it
was I who caused thee to ascend here； and I ought to be satisfied at the
docility with which thou hast accomplished my wishes。 Paphnutius； I am
pleased with thee。〃
Paphnutius murmured； in a voice stifled by fear
〃Avaunt； avaunt！ I know thee now； thou art he who carried Jesus to a
pinnacle of the temple； and showed him all the kingdoms of this world。〃
He fell； affrighted； on the stone。
〃Why did I not know this sooner？〃 he thought。 〃More wretched than
the blind； deaf； and paralysed who trust in me； I have lost all knowledge of
things supernatural； and am more depraved than the maniacs who eat earth
and approach dead bodies。 I can no longer distinguish between the
clamours of hell and the voices of heaven。 I have lost even the intuition of
the new…born child； who cries when its nurse's breast is taken from it； of
the dog that scents out its master's footsteps； of the plant that turns towards
the sun。 I am the laughing…stock of the devils。 So； then； it is Satan who led
me here。 When he elevated me on this pedestal； lust and pride mounted
with me。 It is not the magnitude of my temptations which terrifies me。
Anthony； on his mountain； suffers the same。 I wish that all their swords
may pierce my flesh； before the eyes of the angels。 I have even learned to
like my sufferings。 But God does not speak to me； and His silence
astonishes me。 He has left meand I had but Him to look to。 He leaves me
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alone in the horror of His absence。 He flies from me。 I will follow after
Him。 This stone burns my feet。 Let me leave quickly； and come up with
God。〃
With that he seized the ladder which stood against the column； put his
feet on it； and having descended a rung； found himself face to face with
the monster's head； she smiled strangely。 He was certain then that what he
had taken for the site of his rest and glory； was but the diabolical
instrument of his trouble and damnation。 He hastily descended and
touched the soil。 His feet had forgotten their use； and he reeled。 But；
feeling on him the shadow of the cursed column； he forced himself to run。
All slept。 He traversed； without being seen； the great square surrounded by
wine…shops； inns； and caravanserias； and threw himself into a by…street
which led towards the Libyan Hills。 A dog pursued him； barking； and
stopped only at the edge of the desert。 Paphnutius went through a country
where there was no road but the trail of wild beasts。 Leaving behind him
the huts abandoned by the coiners； he continued all night and all day his
solitary flight。
At last； almost ready to expire with hunger； thirst； and fatigue； and not
knowing if God was still far from him； he came to a silent city which
extended from right to left； and stretched away till it was lost in the blue
horizon。 The buildings； which were widely separated and like each other；
resembled pyramids cut off at half their height。 They were tombs。 The
doors were broken； and in the shadow of the chambers could be seen the
gleaming eyes of hyaenas and wolves who brought forth their young there；
whilst the dead bodies lay on the threshold； despoiled by robbers； and
gnawed by the wild beasts。 Having passed through this funeral city；
Paphnutius fell exhausted before a tomb which stood near a spring
surrounded by palm trees。 This tomb was much ornamented； and； as there
was no door to it； he saw inside it a painted chamber； in which serpents
bred。
〃Here；〃 he sighed； 〃is the abode I have chosen； the tabernacle of my
repentance and penitence。〃
He dragged himself to it； drove out the reptiles with his feet； and
remained prostrate on the stone floor for eighteen hours； at the end of
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which time he went to the spring； and drank out of his hand。 Then he
plucked some dates and some stalks of lotus； the seeds of which he ate。
Thinking this kind of life was good； he made it the rule of his existence。
From morning to night he never lifted his forehead from the stone。
One day； whilst he was thus prostrated； he heard a voice which said
〃Look at these images； that thou mayest learn。〃
Then； raising his head； he saw； on the walls of the chamber； paintings
which represented lively and domestic scenes。 They were of very old work；
and marvellously lifelike。 There were cooks who blew the fire； with their
cheeks all puffed out； others plucked geese； or cooked quarters of sheep in
stew…pans。 A little farther； a hunter carried on his shoulders a gazelle
pierced with arrows。 In one place； peasants were sowing； reaping； or
gathering。 In another； women danced to the sounds of viols； flutes； and
harp。 A young girl played the theorbo。 The lotus flower shone in her hair；
which was neatly braided。 Her transparent dress let the pure forms of her
body be seen。 Her bosom and mouth were perfect。 The face was turned in
profile； and the beautiful eye looked straight before her。 The whole figure
was exquisite。 Paphnutius having examined it； lowered his eyes； and
replied to the voice
〃Why dost thou command me to look at these images？ No doubt they
represent the terrestrial life of the idolater whose body rests here； under
my feet； at the bottom of a well； in a coffin of black basalt。 They recall the
life of a dead man； and are； despite their bright colours； the shadows of a
shadow。 The life of a dead man！ O vanity！〃
〃He is dead； but he lived；〃 replied the voice； 〃and thou wilt die； and
wilt not have lived。〃
From that day； Paphnutius had not a moment's rest。 The voice spoke to
him incessantly。 The girl with the theorbo looke