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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 the unclean affections of the world； and give her as
a spouse to Jesus Christ。 If the Holy Spirit does not forsake me；
Thais will leave this city and enter a nunnery。〃
〃Beware of offending Venus；〃 replied Nicias。 〃She is a powerful
goddess； she will be angry with you if you take away her chief
minister。〃
〃God will protect me；〃 said Paphnutius。 〃May He also illumine thy
heart； O Nicias； and draw thee out of the abyss in which thou art
plunged。〃
And he stalked out of the room。 But Nicias followed him； and overtook
him on the threshold； and placing his hand on his shoulder whispered
into his ear the same words
〃Beware of offending Venus； her vengeance is terrible。〃
Paphnutius； disdainful of these trivial words； left without turning
his head。 He felt only contempt for Nicias； but what he could not bear
was the idea that his former friend had received the caresses of
Thais。 It seemed to him that to sin with that woman was more
detestable than to sin with any other。 To him this appeared the height
of iniquity； and he henceforth looked upon Nicias as an object of
execration。 He had always hated impurity； but never before had this
vice appeared so heinous to him； never before had it so seemed to
merit the anger of Jesus Christ and the sorrow of the angels。
He felt only a more ardent desire to save Thais from the Gentiles； and
that he must hasten to see the actress in order to save her。
Nevertheless； before he could enter her house； he must wait till the
heat of the day was over； and now the morning had hardly finished。
Paphnutius wandered through the most frequented streets。 He had
resolved to take no food that day； in order to be the less unworthy of
the favours he had asked of the Lord。 To the great grief of his soul；
he dared not enter any of the churches in the city； because he knew
they were profaned by the Arians； who had overturned the Lord's table。
For； in fact； these heretics； supported by the Emperor of the East；
had driven the patriarch Athanasius from his episcopate； and sown
trouble and confusion among the Christians of Alexandria。
He therefore wandered about aimlessly； sometimes with his eyes fixed
on the ground in humility； and sometimes raised to heaven in ecstasy。
After some time； he found himself on the quay。 Before him lay the
harbour； in which were sheltered innumerable ships and galleys； and
beyond them； smiling in blue and silver； lay the perfidious sea。 A
galley； which bore a Nereid at its prow； had just weighed anchor。 The
rowers sang as the oars struck the water； and already the white
daughter of the waters； covered with humid pearls； showed no more than
a flying profile to the monk。 Steered by her pilot； she cleared the
passage leading from the basin of the Eunostos； and gained the high
seas； leaving a glittering trail behind her。
〃I also；〃 thought Paphnutius； 〃once desired to embark singing on the
ocean of the world。 But I soon saw my folly； and the Nereid did not
carry me away。〃
Lost in his thoughts； he sat down upon a coil of rope； and went to
sleep。 During his sleep； he had a vision。 He seemed to hear the sound
of a clanging trumpet； and the sky became blood red； and he knew that
the day of judgment had come。 Whilst he was fervently praying to God；
he saw an enormous monster coming towards him； bearing on its forehead
a cross of light； and he recognised the sphinx of Silsile。 The monster
seized him between its teeth； without hurting him； and carried him in
its mouth； as a cat carries a kitten。 Paphnutius was thus conveyed
across many countries； crossing rivers and traversing mountains； and
came at last to a desert place； covered with scowling rocks and hot
cinders。 The ground was rent in many places； and through these
openings came a hot air。 The monster gently put Paphnutius down on the
ground； and said
〃Look！〃
And Paphnutius； leaning over the edge of the abyss； saw a river of
fire which flowed in the interior of the earth； between two cliffs of
black rocks。 There； in a livid light； the demons tormented the souls
of the damned。 The souls preserved the appearance of the bodies which
had held them； and even wore some rags of clothing。 These souls seemed
peaceful in the midst of their torments。 One of them； tall and white；
his eyes closed； a white fillet across his forehead； and a sceptre in
his hand； sang； his voice filled the desert shores with harmony； he
sang of gods and heroes。 Little green devils pierced his lips and
throat with red…hot irons。 And the shade of Homer still sang。 Near by；
old Anaxagoras； bald and hoary； traced figures in the dust with a
compass。 A demon poured boiling oil into his ear； yet failed； however；
to disturb the sage's meditations。 And the monk saw many other
persons； who； on the dark shore by the side of the burning river；
read； or quietly meditated； or conversed with other spirits while
walking；like the sages and pupils under the shadow of the sycamore
trees of Academe。 Old Timocles alone had withdrawn from the others；
and shook his head like a man who denies。 One of the demons of the
abyss shook a torch before his eyes； but Timocles would see neither
the demon nor the torch。
Mute with surprise at this spectacle； Paphnutius turned to the
monster。 It had disappeared； and； in place of the sphinx； the monk saw
a veiled woman； who said
〃Look and understand。 Such is the obstinacy of these infidels； that；
even in hell； they remain victims of the illusions which deluded them
when on earth。 Death has not undeceived them； for it is very plain
that it does not suffice merely to die in order to see God。 Those who
are ignorant of the truth whilst living； will be ignorant of it
always。 The demons which are busy torturing these souls； what are they
but agents of divine justice？ That is why these souls neither see them
nor feel them。 They were ignorant of the truth； and therefore unaware
of their own condemnation； and God Himself cannot compel them to
suffer。
〃God can do all things；〃 said the Abbot of Antinoe。
〃He cannot do that which is absurd；〃 replied the veiled woman。 〃To
punish them； they must first be enlightened； and if they possessed the
truth； they would be like unto the elect。〃
Vexed and horrified； Paphnutius again bent over the edge of the abyss。
He saw the shade of Nicias smiling； with a wreath of flowers on his
head； sitting under a burnt myrtle tree。 By his side was Aspasia of
Miletus； gracefully draped in a woollen cloak； and they seemed to talk
together of love and philosophy； the expression of her face was sweet
and noble。 The rain of fire which fell on them was as a refreshing
dew； and their feet pressed the burning soil as though it had been
tender grass。 At this sight Paphnutius was filled with fury。
〃Strike him； O God！ strike him！〃 he cried。 〃It is Nicias！ Let him
weep！ let him groan！ let him grind his teeth！ He sinned with Thais！〃
And Paphnutius woke in the arms of a sailor； as strong as Hercules；
who cried
〃Quietly！ quietly！ my friend！ By Proteus； the old shepherd of the
sea