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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 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。 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 Nicias； is what I came to ask of you； for the
love of God； and in remembrance of our old friendship。〃
Nicias made Crobyle and Myrtale bring his richest tunic； it was
embroidered； after the Asiatic fashion； with flowers and animals。 The
two girls held it open； and skilfully showed its bright colours；
waiting till Paphnutius should have taken off the cassock which
covered him down to his feet。 But the monk having declared that they
should rather tear off his flesh than this garment； they put on the
tunic over it。 As the two girls were pretty； they were not afraid of
men； although they were slaves。 They laughed at the strange appearance
of the monk thus clad。 Crobyle called him her dear satrap； as she
presented him with the mirror； and Myrtale pulled his beard。 But
Paphnutius prayed to the Lord； and did not look at them。 Having tied
on the gilt sandals； and fastened the purse to his belt； he said to
Nicias； who was looking at him with an amused expression
〃O Nicias； let not these things be an offence in your eyes。 For know
that I shall make pious use of this tunic； this purse； and these
sandals。〃
〃My dear friend；〃 replied Nicias； 〃I suspect no evil； for I believe
that men are equally incapable of doing evil or doing good。 Good and
evil exist only in the opinion。 The wise man has only custom and usage
to guide him in his acts。 I conform with all the prejudices which
prevail at Alexandria。 That is why I pass for an honest man。 Go；
friend； and enjoy yourself。〃
But Paphnutius thought that it was needful to inform his host of his
intention。
〃Do you know Thais；〃 he said； 〃who acts in the games at the theatre？〃
〃She is beautiful；〃 replied Nicias； 〃and there was a time when she was
dear to me。 For her sake； I sold a mill and two fields of corn； and I
composed in her honour three books full of detestably bad verses。
Surely beauty is the most powerful force in the world； and were we so
made that we could possess it always； we should care as little as may
be for the demiurgos； the logos； the aeons； and all the other reveries
of the philosophers。 But I am surprised； my good Paphnutius； that you
should have come from the depths of the Thebaid to talk about Thais。〃
Having said this； he sighed gently。 And Paphnutius gazed at him with
horror； not conceiving it possible that a man should so calmly avow
such a sin。 He expected to see the earth open； and Nicias swallowed up
in flames。 But the earth remained solid； and the Alexandrian silent；
his forehead resting on his hand； and he smiling sadly at the memories
of his past youth。 The monk rose； and continued in solemn tones
〃Know then； O Nicias； that； with the aid of God； I will snatch this
woman Thais from