stoicism。
EUCRITES。 You jest； Nicias； and； as usual； you excel in ridicule。 But
if the ox of which you speak is really a god； like Apis； or like that
subterranean ox whose high priest I see here； and if the frog； being
wisely inspired； succeed in equalling it； would it not be； in fact；
more virtuous than the ox； and could you refrain from admiring such a
courageous little animal！
Four servants placed on the table a wild pig； still covered with its
bristles。 Little pigs； made of pastry； surrounded the animal； as
though they would suckle； to show that it was a sow。
Zenothemis； turning towards the monk； said
〃Friends； a guest has come hither to join us。 The illustrious
Paphnutius； who leads such an extraordinary life of solitude； is our
unexpected guest。〃
COTTA。 You may even add； Zenothemis； that the place of honour is due
to him； because he came without being invited。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Therefore； we ought； my dear Lucius； to make him the more
welcome； and strive to do that which would be most agreeable to him。
Now it is certain that such a man cares less for the perfumes of meat
than for the perfumes of fine thoughts。 We shall； doubtless； please
him by discussing the doctrine he professes； which is that of Jesus
crucified。 For my own part； I shall the more willingly discuss this
doctrine； because it keenly interests me； on account of the number and
the diversity of the allegories it contains。 If one may guess at the
spirit by the letter； it is filled with truths； and I consider that
the Christian books abound in divine revelations。 But I should not；
Paphnutius； grant equal merit to the Jewish books。 They were inspired
not； as it was said； by the Spirit of God； but by an evil genius。
Iaveh； who dictated them； was one of those spirits who people the
lower air； and cause the greater part of the evils； from which we
suffer； but he surpassed all the others in ignorance and ferocity。 On
the contrary； the serpent with golden wings； which twined its azure
coils round the tree of knowledge； was made up of light and love。 A
combat between these two powersthe one of light and the other of
darknesswas； therefore； inevitable。 It occurred soon after the
creation of the world。 God had hardly begun to rest after His labors；
Adam and Eve； the first man and the first woman； lived happy and naked
in the Garden of Eden； when Iaveh conceivedto their misfortunethe
design of governing them and all the generations which Eve already
bore in her splendid loins。 As he possessed neither the compass nor
the lyre； and was equally ignorant of the science which commands and
the art which persuades； he frightened these two poor children by
hideous apparitions； capricious threats； and thunder…bolts。 Adam and
Eve； feeling his shadow upon them； pressed closer to one another； and
their love waxed stronger in fear。 The serpent took pity on them； and
determined to instruct them； in order that； possessing knowledge； they
might no longer be misled by lies。 Such an undertaking required
extreme prudence； and the frailty of the first human couple rendered
it almost hopeless。 The well…intentioned demon essayed it； however。
Without the knowledge of Iavehwho pretended to see everything； but；
in reality； was not very sharp…sightedhe approached these two
beings； and charmed their eyes by the splendour of his coat and the
brilliancy of his wings。 Then he interested their minds by forming
before them； with his body； definite figures； such as the circle； the
ellipse； and the spiral； the wonderful properties of which have since
been recognised by the Greeks。 Adam meditated on these figures more
than Eve did。 But when the serpent began to speak； and taught the most
sublime truthsthose which cannot be demonstratedhe found that Adam
being made of red earth； was of too dull a nature to understand these
subtle distinctions； but that Eve； on the contrary； being more tender
and more sensitive； was easily impressed。 Therefore he conversed with
her alone； in the absence of her husband； in order to initiate her
first
DORION。 Permit me； Zenothemis； to interrupt you。 I speedily recognised
in the myth you have explained to us an episode in the war of Pallas
Athene against the giants。 Iaveh much resembles Typhoon； and Pallas is
represented by the Athenians with a serpent at her side。 But what you
have said causes me considerable doubt as to the intelligence or good
faith of the serpent of whom you have spoken。 If he had really
possessed knowledge； would he have entrusted it to a woman's little
head； which was incapable of containing it？ I should rather consider
that he was like Iaveh； ignorant and a liar； and that he chose Eve
because she was easily seduced； and he imagined that Adam would have
more intelligence and perception。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Learn； Dorion； that it is not by perception and
intelligence； but by sensibility； that the highest and purest truths
are reached。 That is why women； who； generally； are less reflective
but more sensitive than men； rise more easily to the knowledge of
things divine。 In them is the gift of prophecy； and it is not without
reason that Apollo Citharedes； and Jesus of Nazareth； are sometimes
represented clad； like women； in flowing robes。 The initiator was
therefore wisewhatever you may say to the contrary； Dorionin
bestowing light； not on the duller Adam； but on Eve； who was whiter
than milk or the stars。 She freely listened to him； and allowed
herself to be led to the tree of knowledge； the branches of which rose
to heaven； and which was bathed with the divine spirit as with a dew。
This tree was covered with leaves which spoke all the languages of
future races of men； and their united voices formed a perfect harmony。
Its abundant fruit gave to the initiated who tasted it the knowledge
of metals； stones； and plants； and also of physical and moral laws；
but this fruit was like fire； and those who feared suffering and death
did not dare to put it to their lips。 Now； as she had listened
attentively to the lessons of the serpent； Eve despised these empty
terrors； and wished to taste the fruit which gave the knowledge of
God。 But； as she loved Adam； and did not wish him to be inferior to
her； she took him by the hand and led him to the wonderful tree。 Then
she picked one of the burning apples； bit it； and proffered it to her
companion。 Unfortunately； Iaveh； who was by chance walking in the
garden； surprised them； and seeing that they had become wise； he fell
into a most ungovernable rage。 It is in his jealous fits that he is
most to be feared。 Assembling all his forces； he created such a
turmoil in the lower air that these two weak beings were terrified。
The fruit fell from the man's hand； and the woman； clinging to the
neck of her luckless husband； said； 〃I too will be ignorant and suffer
with him。〃 The triumphant Iaveh kept Adam and Eve and all their seed
in a condition of hebetude and terror。 His art； which consisted only
in being able to make huge meteors； triumphed over the science of the
serpent； who was a musician and geometrician。 He made men unjust；
ignorant； and cruel； and caused evil to reign in the earth。 He
persecuted Cain and his sons because they were skilful workmen； he
exterminated the Philistines because they composed Orphic poems； and
fables like those of AEsop。 He was the implacable enemy of science and
beauty； and for long ages the human race expiated； in blood and tears；
the defeat of the winged serpent。 Fortunately； there arose among the
Greeks learned men； such as Pythagoras； and Plato； who recovered by
the force of genius； the figures and the ideas which the enemy of
Iaveh had vainly tried to teach the first woman。 The soul of the
serpent was in them； and that is why the serpent； as Dorion has said；
is honoured by the Athenians。 Finally； in these latter days； there
appeared； under human form； three celestial spiritsJesus of Galilee；
Basilides； and Valentinusto whom it was given to pluck the finest
fruits of that tree of knowledge； whose roots pass through all the
earth； and whose top reaches to the highest heaven。 I have said all
this in vindication of the Christians； to whom the errors of the Jews
are too often imputed。
DORION。 If I understood you aright； Zenothemis； you said that three
wonderful menJesus； Basilides； and Valentinushad discovered
secrets which had remained hidden from Pythagoras and Plato； and all
the philosophers of Greece； and even from the divine Epicurus； who；
however； has freed men from the dread of empty terrors。 You would
greatly oblige me by telling me by what means these three mortals
acquired knowledge which had eluded the most contemplative sages。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Must I repeat to you； Dorion； that science and cogitation
are but the first steps to knowledge； and that ecstasy alone leads to
eternal truth？
HERMODORUS。 It is true； Zenothemis； that the soul is nourished on
ecstasy； as the cicada is nourished on dew。 But we may even say more：
the mind alone is capable of perfect rapture。 For man is of a
threefold nature； composed of material body； of a soul which is more
subtle； but also material； and of an incorruptible mind。 When；
emerging from the body as from a palace suddenly given over to silence
and solitude and flying through the gardens of the soul； the mind
diffuses itself in God； it tastes the delights of an anticipated
death； or rather of a future life； for to die is to live； and in that
condition； partaking of divine purity； it possesses both infinite joy
and complete knowledge。 It enters into the unity which is All。 It is
perfected。
NICIAS。 That is very fine； but； to say the truth； Hermodorus； I do not
see much difference between All and Nothing。 Words even seem to fail
to make the distinction。 Infinity is terribly like nothingnessthey
are both inconceivable to the mind。 In my opinion perfection costs too
dear； we pay for it with all our being； and to possess it must cease
to exist。 That is a calamity from which God Himself is not free； for
the philosophers are doing their best to perfect Him。 After all； if we
do not know what it is /not/ to be； we are equally ignorant what it is
to /be/。 We know nothing。 It is said that it is impossible for men to
agree on