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〃Paphnutius； there are on earth more people than you imagine； and if I
were to show you what I have seen； you would die of astonishment。
There are men with a single eye in the middle of their forehead。 There
are men who have but one leg； and advance by jumps。 There are men who
change their sex； and the females become males。 There are men…trees；
who shoot out roots in the ground。 And there are men with no head；
with two eyes； a nose； and a mouth in their breast。 Can you honestly
believe that Jesus Christ died for the salvation of these men？〃
Another time he had a vision。 He saw； in a strong light； a broad road；
rivulets； and gardens。 On the road； Aristobulus and Chereas passed at
a gallop on their Syrian horses； and the joyous ardour of the race
reddened the cheeks of the two young men。 Beneath a portico；
Callicrates recited his verses； satisfied pride trembled in his voice
and shone in his eyes。 In the garden； Zenothemis picked apples of
gold； and caressed a serpent with azure wings。 Clad in white； and
wearing a shining mitre； Hermodorus meditated beneath a sacred persea；
which bore； instead of flowers； small heads of pure profile； wearing；
like the Egyptian goddesses； vultures； hawks； or the shining disk of
the moon； whilst in the background； by the side of a fountain； Nicias
studied； on an armillary sphere； the harmonious movements of the
stars。
Then a veiled woman approached the monk； holding in her hand a branch
of myrtle。 She said to him
〃Look！ Some seek eternal beauty； and place their ephemeral life in the
infinite。 Others live without much thought。 But by that alone they
submit to fair Nature； and they are happy and beautiful in the joy of
living only； and give glory to the supreme artist of all things； for
man is a noble hymn to God。 All think that happiness is innocent； and
that pleasure is permitted to man。 Paphnutius； if they are right； what
a dupe you have been！〃
And the vision vanished。
Thus was Paphnutius tempted unceasingly in body and mind。 Satan never
gave him a minute's repose。 The solitude of the tomb was more peopled
than the streets of a great city。 The devils shouted with laughter；
and millions of imps； evil genii； and phantoms imitated all the
ordinary transactions of life。 In the evening； when he went to the
spring； satyrs and nymphs capered round him； and tried to drag him
into their lascivious dances。 The demons no longer feared him。 They
loaded him with insults； obscene jests； and blows。 One day a devil； no
longer than his arm； stole the cord he wore round his waist。
He said to himself
〃Thought； whither hast thou led me？〃
And he resolved to work with his hands； in order to give his mind that
rest of which it had need。 Near the spring； some banana trees； with
large leaves； grew under the shade of the palms。 He cut the stalks；
and carried them to the tomb。 He crushed them with a stone； and
reduced them to fibres； as he had seen ropemakers do。 For he intended
to make a cord； to replace that which the devil had stolen。 The demons
were somewhat displeased at this； they ceased their clamour； and the
girl with the theorbo no longer continued her magic arts； but remained
quietly on the wall。 The courage and faith of Paphnutius increased
whilst he pounded the banana stems。
〃With Heaven's help；〃 he said to himself； 〃I shall subdue the flesh。
As to my soul； its confidence is still unshaken。 In vain do the
devils； and that accursed woman； try to instil into my mind doubts as
to the nature of God。 I will reply to them； by the mouth of the
Apostle John； 'In the beginning was the Word； and the Word was God。'
That I firmly believe； and that which I believe is absurd； I believe
still more firmly。 In fact it should be absurd。 If it were not so； I
should not believe； I should know。 And it is not that which we know
which gives eternal life； it is faith only that saves。〃
He exposed the separated fibres to the sun and the dew； and every
morning he took care to turn them； to prevent them rotting； and he
rejoiced to find that he had become as simple as a child。 When he had
twisted his cord； he cut reeds to make mats and baskets。 The
sepulchral chamber resembled a basket…maker's workshop； and Paphnutius
could pass without difficulty from work to prayer。 Yet still God was
not merciful to him； for one night he was awakened by a voice which
froze him with horror； for he guessed that it was the voice of the
dead man。
The voice called quickly； in a light whisper
〃Helen！ Helen！ come and bathe with me！ come quickly！〃
A woman； whose mouth was close to the monk's ear； replied
〃Friend； I cannot rise； a man is lying on me。〃
Paphnutius suddenly perceived that his cheek rested on a woman's
breast。 He recognised the player of the theorbo； who； partly relieved
of his weight； raised her breast。 He clung tightly to the sweet； warm；
perfumed body； and consumed with the desire of damnation； he cried
〃Stay； stay； my heavenly one！〃
But she was already standing on the threshold。 She laughed； and her
smile gleamed in the silver rays of the moon。
〃Why should I stay？〃 she said。 〃The shadow of a shadow is enough for a
lover endowed with such a lively imagination。 Besides； you have
sinned。 What more was needed？〃
Paphnutius wept in the night； and when the dawn came； he murmured a
prayer that was a meek complaint
〃Jesus； my Jesus； why hast Thou forsaken me！ Thou seest the danger in
which I am。 Come； and help me； sweet Saviour。 Since Thy Father no
longer loves me； and does not hear me； remember that I have but Thee。
From Him nothing is to be hoped； I cannot comprehend Him； and He
cannot pity me。 But Thou was born of a woman； and that is why I trust
in Thee。 Remember that Thou wast a man。 I pray to Thee； not because
Thou art God of God； Light of light； very God of very God； but because
Thou hast lived poor and humble on this earth where now I suffer；
because Satan has tempted Thy flesh； because the sweat of agony has
bedewed Thy face。 It is to Thy humanity that I pray； Jesus； my brother
Jesus！〃
When he had thus prayed； wringing his hands； a terrible peal of
laughter shook the walls of the tomb； and the voice which rang in his
ears on the top of the column； said jeeringly
〃That is a prayer worthy of the breviary of Marcus； the heretic。
Paphnutius is an Arian！ Paphnutius is an Arian！〃
As though thunderstruck； the monk fell senseless。
*****
When he reopened his eyes； he saw around him monks wearing black
hoods； who poured water on his temples； and recited exorcisms。 Many
others were standing outside； carrying palm leaves。
〃As we passed through the desert；〃 said one of them； 〃we heard cries
issuing from this tomb； and； having entered； we found you lying
unconscious on the floor。 Doubtless the devils had thrown you down；
and had fled at our approach。〃
Paphnutius； raising his head； asked in a feeble voice
〃Who are you； my brothers？ And why do you carry palms in your hands？
Is it for my burial？〃
One of them replied
〃Brother； do you not know that our father； Anthony； now a hundred and
five years old； having been warned of his approaching end； has come
down from Mount Colzin； to which he had