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is that the souls of the just are polluted with more filth than is
ever found in the soul of the sinner。 And； for that reason； I praise
Thee； O my God； for having made me the cesspool of the world。〃
One day； a rumour ran through the holy city； and even reached the ears
of the hermit： a very great personage； a man occupying a high
position； the Prefect of the Alexandrian fleet； Lucius Aurelius Cotta；
was about to visit the citywas； indeed； now on his way。
The news was true。 Old Cotta； who was inspecting the canals and the
navigation of the Nile； had many times expressed a desire to see the
stylite and the new city； to which the name of Stylopolis had been
given。 The Stylopolitans saw the river covered with sails one morning。
Cotta appeared on board a golden galley hung with purple； and followed
by all his fleet。 He landed； and advanced； accompanied by a secretary
carrying his tablets； and Aristaeus； his physician； with whom he liked
to converse。
A numerous suite walked behind him； and the shore was covered with
/laticlaves/＇*＇ and military uniforms。 He stopped； some paces from the
column； and began to examine the stylite； wiping his face meanwhile
with the skirt of his toga。 Being of a naturally curious disposition；
he had observed many things in the course of his long voyages。 He
liked to remember them； and intended to write； after he had finished
his Punic history； a book on the remarkable things he had witnessed。
He seemed much interested by the spectacle before him。
＇*＇ The /laticlave/ was a toga； with a broad purple band； worn by
Roman senators as the distinguishing mark of their high office。
〃This is very curious！〃 he said； puffing and blowing。 〃Andwhich is a
circumstance worthy of being recordedthis man was my guest。 Yes；
this monk supped with me last year； after which he carried off an
actress。〃
Turning to his secretary
〃Note that； my son； on my tablets； also the dimensions of the column；
not omitting the shape of the top of it。〃
Then； wiping his face again
〃Persons deserving of belief have assured me that this monk has not
left his column for a single moment since he mounted it a year ago。 Is
that possible； Aristaeus？〃
〃That which is possible to a lunatic or a sick man；〃 replied
Aristaeus； 〃would be impossible to a man sound in body and mind。 Do
you know； Lucius； that sometimes diseases of the mind or body give to
those afflicted by them a strength which healthy men do not possess？
For； as a matter of fact； there is no such thing as good health or bad
health。 There are only different conditions of the organs。 Having
studied what are called maladies； I have come to consider them as
necessary forms of life。 I take pleasure in studying them in order to
be able to conquer them。 Some of them are worthy of admiration； and
conceal； under apparent disorder； profound harmonies； for instance； a
quartan fever is certainly a very pretty thing！ Sometimes certain
affections of the body cause a rapid augmentation of the faculties of
the mind。 You know Creon？ When he was a child； he stuttered and was
stupid。 But； having cracked his skull by tumbling off a ladder； he
became an able lawyer； as you are aware。 This monk must be affected in
some hidden organ。 Moreover； this kind of existence is not so
extraordinary as it appears to you； Lucius。 I may remind you that the
gymnosophists of India can remain motionless； not merely for a year；
but during twenty； thirty； or forty years。〃
〃By Jupiter！〃 cried Cotta； 〃that is a strange madness。 For man was
born to move and act； and idleness is an unpardonable crime； because
it is an injury to the State。 I do not know of any religion in which
such an objectionable practice is permitted； though it possibly may be
in some of the Asiatic creeds。 When I was Governor of Syria； I found
/phalli/ erected in the porches at the city of Hera。 A man ascended；
twice a year； and remained there for a week。 The people believed that
this man talked with the gods； and interceded with them for the
prosperity of Syria。 The custom appeared senseless to me； nevertheless
I did nothing to put it down。 For I consider that a functionary ought
not to interfere with the manners and customs of the people； but on
the contrary； to see that they are preserved。 It is not the business
of the government to force a religion on a people； but to maintain
that which exists； which； whether good or bad； has been regulated by
the spirit of the time； the place； and the race。 If it endeavours to
put down a religion； it proclaims itself revolutionary in its spirit；
and tyrannical in its acts； and is justly detested。 Besides； how are
you to raise yourself above the superstitions of the vulgar； except by
understanding them and tolerating them？ Aristaeus； I am of opinion
that I should leave 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；
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！ I