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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 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 heroic combats。 I blush to live in such inglorious times； I
invoke the goddess of Liberty； and I pour out my bloodin imagination
with the last Romans on the field of Philippi。
COTTA。 In the days of the decline of the Republic my ancestors died
with Brutusfor liberty。 But there is reason to suspect that what the
Roman people called liberty was only in reality the right to govern
themselves。 I do not deny that liberty is the greatest boon a nation
can have。 But the longer I live the more I am persuaded that only a
strong government can bestow it on the citizens。 For forty years I
have filled high positions in the State； and my long experience has
shown me that when the ruling power is weak the people are oppressed。
Those； therefore； wholike the great majority of rhetoricianstry to
weaken the government； commit an abominable crime。 An autocrat； who
governs by his single will； may sometimes cause most deplorable
results； but if he governs by popular consent there is no remedy
possible。 Before the majesty of the Roman arms had bestowed peace upon
all the world； the only nations which were happy were those which were
ruled over by intelligent despots。
HERMODORUS。 For my part； Lucius； I believe that there is no such thing
as a good form of government； and that we shall never discover one；
because the Greeks； who had so many excellent ideas； were never able
to find one。 In that respect； therefore； all hope of ultimate success
is taken from us。 Unmistakable signs show that the world is about to
fall into ignorance and barbarism。 It has been our lot； Lucius； to
witness terrible events。 Of all the mental satisfactions which
intelligence； learning； and virtue can give； all that remains is the
cruel pleasure of watching ourselves die。
COTTA。 It is true that the rapacity of the people； and the boldness of
the barbarians； are threatening evils。 But with a good fleet； a good
army； and plenty of money
HERMODORUS。 What is the use of deceiving ourselves？ The dying empire
will become an easy prey to the barbarians。 Cities which were built by
Hellenic genius； or Latin patience； will soon be sacked by drunken
savages。 Neither art nor philosophy will exist any longer on the
earth。 The statues of the gods will be overturned in the temples； and
in men's hearts as well。 Darkness will overcome all minds； and the
world will die。 Can we believe that the Sarmatians will ever devote
themselves to intelligent work； that the Germani will cultivate music
and philosophy； and that the Quadi and the Marcomani will adore the
immortal gods？ No！ we are sliding toward the abyss。 Our old Egypt；
which was the cradle of the world； will be its burial vault； Serapis；
the god of Death； will receive the last adoration of mortals； and I
shall have been the last priest of the last god。
At this moment a strange figure raised the tapestry； and the guests
saw before them a little hunchback； whose bald skull rose in a point。
He was clad； in the Asiatic fashion； in a blue tunic； and wore round
his legs； like the barbarians； red breeches； spangled with gold stars。
On seeing him； Paphnutius recognised Marcus the Arian； and fearing
lest a thunderbolt should fall from heaven； he covered his head with
his arms； and grew pale with fright。 At this banquet of the demons；
neither the blasphemies of the pagans； nor the horrible errors of the