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
seals； you slumber uneasily。 If I had not caught hold of you； you
would have tumbled into the Eunostos。 It is as true as that my mother
sold salt fish； that I saved your life。〃
〃I thank God；〃 replied Paphnutius。
And； rising to his feet； he walked straight before him； meditating on
the vision which had come to him whilst he was asleep。
〃This vision；〃 he said to himself； 〃is plainly an evil one； it is an
insult to divine goodness to imagine hell is unreal。 The dream
certainly came from the devil。〃
He reasoned thus because he knew how to distinguish between the dreams
sent by God and those produced by evil angels。 Such discernment is
useful to the hermit； who lives surrounded by apparitions； and who； in
avoiding men； is sure to meet with spirits。 The deserts are full of
phantoms。 When the pilgrims drew near the ruined castle； to which the
holy hermit； Anthony； had retired； they heard a noise like that which
goes up from the public square of a large city at a great festival。
The noise was made by the devils； who were tempting the holy man。
Paphnutius remembered this memorable example。 He also called to mind
St。 John the Egyptian； who for sixty years was tempted by the devil。
But John saw through all the tricks of the demon。 One day； however；
the devil； having assumed the appearance of a man； entered the grotto
of the venerable John； and said to him； 〃John； you must continue to
fast until to…morrow evening。〃 And John； believing that it was an
angel who spoke； obeyed the voice of the demon； and fasted the next
day until the vesper hour。 That was the only victory that the Prince
of Darkness ever gained over St。 John the Egyptian； and that was but a
trifling one。 It was therefore not astonishing that Paphnutius knew at
once that the vision which had visited him in his sleep was an evil
one。
Whilst he was gently remonstrating with God for having given him into
the power of the demons； he felt himself pushed and dragged amidst a
crowd of people who were all hurrying in the same direction。 As he was
unaccustomed to walk in the streets of a city； he was shoved and
knocked from one passer to another like an inert mass； and being
embarrassed by the folds of his tunic； he was more than once on the
point of falling。 Desirous of knowing where all these people could be
going； he asked one of them the cause of this hurry。
〃Do you not know； stranger；〃 replied he； 〃that the games are about to
begin； and that Thais will appear on the stage？ All the citizens are
going to the theatre； and I also am going。 Would you like to accompany
me？〃
It occurred to him at once that it would further his design to see
Thais in the games； and Paphnutius followed the stranger。 In front of
them stood the theatre； its portico ornamented with shining masks； and
its huge circular wall covered with innumerable statues。 Following the
crowd； they entered a narrow passage； at the end of which lay the
amphitheatre； glittering with light。 They took their places on one of
the seats； which descended in steps to the stage； which was empty but
magnificently decorated。 There was no curtain to hide the view； and on
the stage was a mound； such as used to be erected in old times to the
shades of heroes。 This mound stood in the midst of a camp。 Lances were
stacked in front of the tents； and golden shields hung from masts；
amidst boughs of laurel and wreaths of oak。 On the stage all was
silence； but a murmur like the humming of bees in a hive rose from the
vast hemicycle filled with spectators。 All their faces； reddened by
the reflection from the purple awning which waved above them； turned
with attentive curiosity towards the large； silent stage； with its
tomb and tents。 The women laughed and ate lemons； and the regular
theatre…goers called gaily to one another from their seats。
Paphnutius prayed inwardly； and refrained from uttering any vain
words； but his neighbour began to complain of the decline of the
drama。
〃Formerly；〃 he said； 〃clever actors used to declaim； under a mask； the
verses of Euripides and Menander。 Now they no lo