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ornamented with bronze busts of the most celebrated Greek philosophers。
He recognised Plato； Socrates； Aristotle； Epicurus； and Zeno； and
having knocked with the hammer against the door； he waited； wrapped in
meditation。
〃It is vanity to glorify in metal these false sages； their lies are
confounded； their souls are lost in hell； and even the famous Plato himself；
who filled the earth with his eloquence； now disputes with the devils。〃
A slave opened the door； and seeing a man with bare feet standing on
the mosaic threshold； said to him roughly
〃Go and beg elsewhere； stupid monk； or I will drive you away with a
stick。〃
〃Brother；〃 replied the Abbott of Antinoe； 〃all that I ask is that you
conduct me to your master； Nicias。〃
The slave replied； more angrily than before
〃My master does not see dogs like you。〃
〃My son；〃 said Paphnutius； 〃will you please do what I ask； and tell
your master that I desire to see him。
〃Get out； vile beggar！〃 cried the porter furiously； and he raised his
stick and struck the holy man； who； with his arms crossed upon his breast；
received unmovedly the blow； which fell full in his face； and then repeated
gently
〃Do as I ask you； my son； I beg。〃
The porter tremblingly murmured
〃Who is this man who is not afraid of suffering？〃
And he ran and told his master。
Nicias had just left the bath。 Two pretty slave girls were scraping him
with strigils。 He was a pleasant…looking man； with a kind smile。 There was
an expression of gentle satire in his face。 On seeing the monk； he rose and
advanced with open arms。
〃It is you！〃 he cried； 〃Paphnutius； my fellow…scholar； my friend my
brother！ Oh； I knew you again； though； to say the truth； you look more like
a wild animal than a man。 Embrace me。 Do you remember the time when
we studied grammar； rhetoric； and philosophy together？ You were； even
then； of a morose and wild character； but I liked you because of your
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THAIS
complete sincerity。 We used to say that you looked at the universe with the
eyes of a wild horse； and it was not surprising you were dull and moody。
You needed a pinch of Attic salt； but your liberality knew no bounds。 You
cared nothing for either your money or your life。 And you had the
eccentricity of genius； and a strange character which interested me deeply。
You are welcome； my dear Paphnutius； after ten years of absence。 You
have quitted the desert； you have renounced all Christian superstitions；
and now return to your old life。 I will mark this day with a white stone。〃
〃Crobyle and Myrtale；〃 he added； turning towards the girls； 〃perfume
the feet； hands； and beard of my dear guest。〃
They smiled； and had already brought the basin； the phials； and the
metal mirror。 But Paphnutius stopped them with an imperious gesture； and
lowered his eyes that he might not look upon them； for they were naked。
Nicias brought cushions for him； and offered him various meats and drinks；
which Paphnutius scornfully refused。
〃Nicias；〃 he said； 〃I have not renounced what you falsely call the
Christian superstition； which is the truth of truths。 'In the beginning was
the Word； and the Word was with God； and the Word was God。 All things
were made by Him； and without Him was not anything made that was
made。 In Him was the life； and the life was the light of men。' 〃
〃My dear Paphnutius；〃 replied Nicias； who had now put on a perfumed
tunic； 〃do you expect to astonish me by reciting a lot of words jumbled
together without skill； which are no more than a vain murmur？ Have you
forgotten that I am a bit of a philosopher myself？ And do you think to
satisfy me with some rags； torn by ignorant men from the purple garment
of AEmilius； when AEmilius； Porphyry； and Plato； in all their glory； did
not satisfy me！ The systems devised by the sages are but tales imagined to
amuse the eternal childishness of men。 We divert ourselves with them； as
we do with the stories of /The Ass/； /The Tub/； and /The Ephesian Matron/；
or any other Milesian fable。〃
And； taking his guest by the arm； he led him into a room where
thousands of papyri were rolled up and lay in baskets。
〃This is my library；〃 he said。 〃It contains a small part of the various
systems which the philosophers have constructed to explain the world。
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THAIS
The Serapeium itself； with all its riches； does not contain them all。 Alas！
they are but the dreams of sick men。〃
He compelled his guest to sit down in an ivory chair； and sat down
himself。 Paphnutius scowled gloomily at all the books in the library； and
said
〃They ought all to be burned。〃
〃Oh； my dear guest； that would be a pity！〃 replied Nicias。 〃For the
dreams of sick men are sometimes amusing。 Besides； if we should destroy
all the dreams and visions of men； the earth would lose its form and
colours； and we should all sleep in a dull stupidity。〃
Paphnutius continued in the same strain as before
〃It is certain that the doctrines of the pagans are but vain lies。 But God；
who is the truth； revealed Himself to men by miracles； and He was made
flesh； and lived among us。〃
Nicias replied
〃You speak well； my dear Paphnutius； when you say that he was made
flesh。 A God who thinks； acts； speaks； who wanders through nature； like
Ulysses of old on the glaucous sea； is altogether a man。 How do you
expect that we should believe in this new Jupiter； when the urchins of
Athens； in the time of Pericles； no longer believed in the old one？
〃But let us leave all that。 You did not come here； I suppose； to argue
about the three hypostases。 What can I do for you； my dear fellow…
scholar？〃
〃A good deed；〃 replied the Abbot of Antinoe。 〃Lend me a perfumed
tunic； like the one you have just put on。 Be kind enough to add to the tunic；
gilt sandals； and a vial of oil to anoint my beard and hair。 It is needful also；
that you should give me a purse with a thousand drachmae in it。 That； O
Nici