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 this question。 I believein spite of our noisy disputes
that it is； on the contrary； impossible for men not to become some day
all at unity buried under the mass of contradictions； a Pelion on
Ossa； which they themselves have raised。
COTTA。 I am very fond of philosophy； and study it in my leisure time。
But I never understand it well； except in Cicero's books。 Slaves； pour
out the honeyed wine！
CALLICRATES。 It is a singular thing； but when I am hungry I think of
the time when the tragic poets sat at the boards of good tyrants； and
my mouth waters。 But when I have tasted the excellent wine that you
give us so abundantly； generous Lucius； I dream of nothing but civil
wars and heroic combats。 I blush to live in such inglorious times； I
invoke the goddess of Liberty； and I pour out my bloodin imagination
with the last Romans on the field of Philippi。
COTTA。 In the days of the decline of the Republic my ancestors died
with Brutusfor liberty。 But there is reason to suspect that what the
Roman people called liberty was only in reality the right to govern
themselves。 I do not deny that liberty is the greatest boon a nation
can have。 But the longer I live the more I am persuaded that only a
strong government can bestow it on the citizens。 For forty years I
have filled high positions in the State； and my long experience has
shown me that when the ruling power is weak the people are oppressed。
Those； therefore； wholike the great majority of rhetoricianstry to
weaken the government； commit an abominable crime。 An autocrat； who
governs by his single will； may sometimes cause most deplorable
results； but if he governs by popular consent there is no remedy
possible。 Before the majesty of the Roman arms had bestowed peace upon
all the world； the only nations which were happy were those which were
ruled over by intelligent despots。
HERMODORUS。 For my part； Lucius； I believe that there is no such thing
as a good form of government； and that we shall never discover one；
because the Greeks； who had so many excellent ideas； were never able
to find one。 In that respect； therefore； all hope of ultimate success
is taken from us。 Unmistakable signs show that the world is about to
fall into ignorance and barbarism。 It has been our lot； Lucius； to
witness terrible events。 Of all the mental satisfactions which
intelligence； learning； and virtue can give； all that remains is the
cruel pleasure of watching ourselves die。
COTTA。 It is true that the rapacity of the people； and the boldness of
the barbarians； are threatening evils。 But with a good fleet； a good
army； and plenty of money
HERMODORUS。 What is the use of deceiving ourselves？ The dying empire
will become an easy prey to the barbarians。 Cities which were built by
Hellenic genius； or Latin patience； will soon be sacked by drunken
savages。 Neither art nor philosophy will exist any longer on the
earth。 The statues of the gods will be overturned in the temples； and
in men's hearts as well。 Darkness will overcome all minds； and the
world will die。 Can we believe that the Sarmatians will ever devote
themselves to intelligent work； that the Germani will cultivate music
and philosophy； and that the Quadi and the Marcomani will adore the
immortal gods？ No！ we are sliding toward the abyss。 Our old Egypt；
which was the cradle of the world； will be its burial vault； Serapis；
the god of Death； will receive the last adoration of mortals； and I
shall have been the last priest of the last god。
At this moment a strange figure raised the tapestry； and the guests
saw before them a little hunchback； whose bald skull rose in a point。
He was clad； in the Asiatic fashion； in a blue tunic； and wore round
his legs； like the barbarians； red breeches； spangled with gold stars。
On seeing him； Paphnutius recognised Marcus the Arian； and fearing
lest a thunderbolt should fall from heaven； he covered his head with
his arms； and grew pale with fright。 At this banquet of the demons；
neither the blasphemies of the pagans； nor the horrible errors of the
philosophers； had had any effect on him； but the mere presence of the
heretic quenched his courage。 He would have fled； but his eyes met
those of Thais； and he felt at once strengthened。 He read in her soul
that she； who was predestined to become a saint； already protected
him。 He seized the skirt of her long； flowing robe； and inwardly
prayed to the Saviour Jesus。
A murmur of acclamation welcomed the arrival of the personage who had
been called the Christian Plato。 Hermodorus was the first to speak。
〃Most illustrious Marcus； we rejoice to see you amongst us； and it may
be said that you come at the right moment。 We know nothing of the
Christian doctrine； beyond what is publicly taught。 Now； it is certain
that a philosopher； like you； cannot think as the vulgar think； and we
are curious to know your opinion of the principal mysteries of the
religion you profess。 Our dear friend； Zenothemis； who； as you know；
is always hunting for symbolic meanings； just now questioned the
illustrious Paphnutius concerning the Jewish books。 But Paphnutius
made no reply； and we should not be surprised at that； as our guest
has made a vow of silence； and God has sealed his tongue in the
desert。 But you Marcus； who have spoken at the Christian synods； and
even at the councils of the divine Constantine； can if you wish；
satisfy our curiosity by revealing to us the philosophic truths which
are wrapped up in the Christian fables。 Is not the first of these
truths the existence of an only Godin whom； for my part； I fervently
believe？〃
MARCUS。 Yes； venerable brethren； I believe in an only God； not
begottenthe only Eternal； the origin of all things。
NICIAS。 We know； Marcus； that your God created the world。 That must
certainly have been a great crisis in His existence。 He had already
existed an eternity before He could make up His mind to it。 But I
must； in justice； confess that His situation was a most difficult one。
He must continue inactive if He would remain perfect； and must act if
He would prove to Himself His own existence。 You assure me that He
decided to act。 I am willing to believe you； although it was an
unpardonable imprudence on the part of a perfect God。 But tell us；
Marcus； how He set about making the world。
MARCUS。 Those who； without being Christians； possess； like Hermodorus
and Zenothemis； the principles of knowledge； are aware that God did
not create the world personally without an intermediary。 He gave birth
to an only Son； by whom all things were made。
HERMODORUS。 That is quite true； Marcus； and this Son is worshipped
under the various names of Hermes； Mithra； Adonis； Apollo； and Jesus。
MARCUS。 I should not be a Christian if I gave Him any other names than
those of Jesus Christ； and Saviour。 He is the true Son of God。 But He
is not eternal； since He had a beginning； as to thinking that He
existed before He was begotten； we must leave that absurdity to the
Nicaean mules； and the obstinate ass who too long governed the Church
of Alexandria under the accursed name of Athanasius。
At these words Paphnutius； white with horror and his face bedewed with
the sweat of agony made the sign of the cross； but maintained a
sublime silence。
Marcus continued
〃It is clear that the foolish Nicene Creed is a treason against the
majesty of the only God； by compelling Him to share His indivisible
attributes with His own emanationthe Mediator by whom all things
were made。 Cease jesting at the true God of the Christians； Nicias；
and learn that； like the lilies of the field； He toils not； neither
does He spin。 It was not He who was the worker； it was His only Son；
Jesus； who； having created the world； came afterwards to repair His
handiwork。 For the creation could not be perfect； and evil was
necessarily mingled with good。
NICIAS。 What is 〃good；〃 and what is 〃evil〃？
There was a moment's silence； during which Hermodorus； his arm
extended on the cloth； pointed to a little ass in Corinthian metal
which bore two basketsthe one containing white olives； the other
black olives。
〃You see these olives；〃 he said。 〃The contrast between the colours is
pleasant to the eye； and we are content that these should be light and
those should be dark。 But； if they were endowed with thought and
knowledge； the white would say； It is good for an olive to be white；
it is bad for it to be black； and the black olives would hate the
white olives。 We judge better； for we are as much above them as the
gods are above us。 For man； who only sees a part of things； evil is an
evil； for God； who understands all things； evil is a good。 Doubtless
ugliness is ugly； and not beautiful； but if all were beautiful； the
whole would not be beautiful。 It is； then； well that there should be
evil； as the second Plato； far greater than the first； has
demonstrated。〃
EUCRITES。 Let us talk more morally。 Evil is an evilnot for the
world； of which it cannot destroy the indestructible harmony but for
the sinner who does it； and cannot help doing it。
COTTA。 By Jupiter？ that is a good argument。
EUCRITES。 The world is a tragedy by an excellent poet。 God； who
composed it； has intended each of us to play a part in it。 If he wills
that you shall be a beggar； a prince； or a cripple； make the best of
the part assigned you。
NICIAS。 Assuredly it would be well that the cripple should limp like
Hephaistos： it would be well that the madman should indulge in all the
fury of Ajax； that the incestuous woman should repeat the crimes of
Phaedra； that the traitor should betray； that the rascal should lie；
and the murderer kill； and when the piece was played； all the actor
kings； just men； bloody tyrants； pious virgins； immodest wives； noble…
minded citizens； and cowardly assassinsshould receive from the poet
an equal share in the felicitations。
EUCRITES。 You distort my thought； Nicias； and change a beautiful young
girl into a hideous Gorgon。 I am sorry for you； if you are so ignorant
of the nature of the gods； of justice； and of the eternal laws。
ZENOTH