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monasteries； these inns； the boats on the river； the villages； and
what I see in the distance of fields； canals； sand； and mountainsis
nothing in respect to what is in me。 I carry in my heart countless
cities and illimitable deserts。 And evilevil and deathspread over
this immensity； cover them all； as night covers the earth。 I am； in
myself alone； a universe of evil thoughts。〃
He spoke thus because the desire for woman was in him。
The seventh month； there came from Alexandria； Bubastis and Sais；
women who had long been barren； hoping to obtain children by the
intercession of the holy man and the virtues of his pillar。 They
rubbed their sterile bodies against the stone。 There followed a
procession； as far as the eye could reach； of chariots； palanquins；
and litters； which stopped and pushed and jostled below the man of
God。 From them came sick people terrible to see。 Mothers brought to
Paphnutius young boys whose limbs were twisted； their eyes starting；
their mouth foaming； their voices hoarse。 He laid his hands upon them。
Blind men approached； groping with their hands； and raising towards
him a face pierced with two bleeding holes。 Paralytics displayed
before him the heavy immobility； the deadly emaciation； and the
hideous contractions of their limbs； lame men showed him their club
feet； women with cancer； holding their bosoms with both hands；
uncovered before him their breasts devoured by the invisible vulture。
Dropsical women； swollen like wine skins were placed on the ground
before him。 He blessed them。 Nubians； afflicted with elephantiasis；
advanced with heavy steps and looked at him with streaming eyes and
expressionless countenances。 He made the sign of the cross over them。
A young girl of Aphroditopolis was brought to him on a litter； after
having vomited blood； she had slept for three days。 She looked like a
waxen image； and her parents； who thought she was dead； had placed a
palm leaf on her breast。 Paphnutius having prayed to God； the young
girl raised her head and opened her eyes。
As the people reported everywhere the miracles which the saint had
performed； unfortunate persons afflicted with that disease which the
Greeks call 〃the divine malady；〃 came from all parts of Egypt in
incalculable legions。 As soon as they saw the pillar； they were seized
with convulsions； rolled on the ground； writhed； and twisted
themselves into a ball。 Andthough it is hardly to be believedthe
persons present were in their turn seized with a violent delirium； and
imitated the contortions of the epileptics。 Monks and pilgrims； men
and women； wallowed and struggled pell…mell； their limbs twisted；
foaming at the mouth； eating handfuls of earth and prophesying。 And
Paphnutius at the top of his pillar felt a thrill of horror pass
through him； and cried to God
〃I am the scapegoat； and I take upon me all the impurities of these
people； and that is why； Lord； my body is filled with evil spirits。〃
Every time that a sick person went away healed； the people applauded；
carried him in triumph； and ceased not to repeat
〃We behold another well of Siloam！〃
Hundreds of crutches already hung round the wonderful column； grateful
women suspended wreaths and votive images there。 Some of the Greeks
inscribed distiches； and as every pilgrim carved his name； the stone
was soon covered as high as a man could reach with an infinity of
Latin； Greek； Coptic； Punic； Hebrew； Syrian； and magic characters。
When the feast of Easter came there was such an affluence of people to
this city of miracles that old men thought that the days of the
ancient mysteries had returned。 All sorts of people； in all sorts of
costumes； were to be seen there； the striped robes of the Egyptians；
the burnoose of the Arabs； the white drawers of the Nubians； the short
cloak of the Greeks； the long toga of the Romans； the scarlet breeches
of the barbarians； the gold…spangled robes of the courtesans。 A veiled
woman would pass on an ass； preceded by black eunuchs； who cleared a
passage for her by the free use of their sticks。 Acrobats； having
spread a carpet on the ground； juggled and performed skilful tricks
before a circle of silent spectators。 Snake…charmers unrolled their
living girdles。 A glittering； dusty； noisy； chattering crowd！ The
curses of the camel…drivers beating the animals； the cries of the
hawkers who sold amulets against leprosy and the evil eye； the
psalmody of the monks reciting verses of the Bible； the shrieking of
the women who were prophesying； the shouting of the beggars singing
old songs of the harem； the bleating of sheep； the braying of asses；
the sailors calling tardy passengers； all these confused noises caused
a deafening uproar； over which dominated the strident voices of the
little naked negro boys； running about everywhere selling fresh dates。
And all these human beings stifled under the white sky； in a heavy
atmosphere laden with the perfumes of women； the odour of negroes； the
fumes of cooking and the smoke of gums； which the devotees bought of
the shepherds to burn before the saint。
When night came； fires； torches； and lanterns were lighted everywhere；
and nothing was to be seen but red shadows and black shapes。 Standing
amidst a circle of squatting listeners； an old man； his face lighted
by a smoky lamp； related how； formerly； Bitiou had enchanted his
heart； torn it from his breast； placed it in an acacia； and then
transformed himself into a tree。 He made gestures； which his shadow
repeated with absurd exaggerations； and the audience uttered cries of
admiration。 In the taverns； the drinkers； lying on couches； called for
beer and wine。 Dancing girls； with painted eyes and bare stomachs；
performed before them religious or lascivious scenes。 In retired
corners； young men played dice or other games； and old men followed
prostitutes。 Above all these rose the solitary； unchanging column； the
head with the cow's horns gazed into the shadow； and above it
Paphnutius watched between heaven and earth。 All at once 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
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 th