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must resemble one。 Where did you find such a wild…looking friend； Thais？
Was it amongst the troglodytes who live under the earth； and are grimy
with the smoke of Hades？〃
But Philina put her finger on Drosea's lips。
〃Hush！ the mysteries of love must remain secret； and it is forbidden to
know them。 For my own part； certainly； I would rather be kissed by the
mouth of smoking Etna than by the lips of that man。 But our dear Thais；
who is beautiful and adorable as the goddesses； should； like the goddesses；
grant all requests； and not； like us； only those of nice young men。〃
〃Take care； both of you！〃 replied Thais。 〃He is a mage and an
enchanter。 He hears words that are whispered； and even thoughts。 He will
tear out your heart while you are asleep； and put a sponge in its place； and
the next day； when you drink water； you will be choked to death。〃
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She watched them grow pale； then she turned away from them； and sat
on a couch by the side of Paphnutius。 The voice of Cotta； kind but
imperious； was suddenly heard above the murmur of conversation。
〃Friends； let each take his place！ Slaves； pour out the honeyed wine！〃
Then； the host raising his cup
〃Let us first drink to the divine Constantine and the genius of the
empire。 The country should be put first of all； even above the gods； for it
contains them all。〃
All the guests raised their full cups to their lips。 Paphnutius alone did
not drink； because Constantine had persecuted the Nicaean faith； and
because the country of the Christian is not of this world。
Dorion； having drunk； murmured
〃What is one's country？ A flowing river。 The shores change； and the
waves are incessantly renewed。〃
〃I know； Dorion；〃 replied the Prefect of the Fleet； 〃that you care little
for the civic virtues； and you think that the sage ought to hold himself
aloof from all affairs。 I think； on the contrary； that an honest man should
desire nothing better than to fill a responsible post in the State。 The State is
a noble thing。〃
Hermodorus； the High Priest of Serapis； spoke next
〃Dorion has asked； 'What is one's country？' I will reply that the altars
of the gods and the tombs of ancestors make one's country。 A man is a
fellow…citizen by association of memories and hopes。〃
Young Aristobulus interrupted Hermodorus。
〃By Castor！ I saw a splendid horse to…day。 It belonged to Demophoon。
It has a fine head； small jaw； and strong forelegs。 It carries its neck high
and proud； like a cock。〃
But young Chereas shook his head。
〃It is not such a good horse as you say； Aristobulus。 Its hoofs are thin；
and the pasterns are too low； the animal will soon go lame。〃
They were continuing their dispute； when Drosea uttered a piercing
shriek。
〃Oh！ I nearly swallowed a fish…bone； as long and much sharper than a
style。 Luckily； I was able to get it out of my throat in time！ The gods love
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me！〃
〃Did you say； Drosea； that the gods loved you？〃 asked Nicias； smiling。
〃Then they must share the same infirmities as men。 Love presupposes
unhappiness on the part of whoever suffers from it； and is a proof of
weakness。 The affection they feel for Drosea is a great proof of the
imperfection of the gods。〃
At these words Drosea flew into a great rage。
〃Nicias； your remarks are foolish and not to the point。 But that is your
characteryou never understand what is said； and reply in words devoid of
sense。〃
Nicias smiled again。
〃Talk away； talk away； Drosea。 Whatever you say； we are glad every
time you open your mouth。 Your teeth are so pretty！〃
At that moment； a grave…looking old man； negligently dressed；
walking slowly； with his head high； entered the room； and gazed at the
guests quietly。 Cotta made a sign to him to take a place by his side； on the
same couch。
〃Eucrites；〃 he said； 〃you are welcome。 Have you composed a new
treatise on philosophy this month？ That would make； if I calculate
correctly； the ninety…second that has proceeded from the Nile reed you
direct with an Attic hand。〃
Eucrites replied； stroking his silver beard
〃The nightingale was created to sing； and I was created to praise the
immortal gods。〃
DORION。 Let us respectfully salute； in Eucrites； the last of the stoics。
Grave and white； he stands in the midst of us like the image of an ancestor。
He is solitary amidst a crowd of men； and the words he utters are not
heard。
EUCRITES。 You deceive yourself； Dorion。 The philosophy of virtue is
not dead。 I have numerous disciples in Alexandria； Rome； and
Constantinople。 Many of the slaves； and some of the nephews of Caesar；
now know how to govern themselves； to live independently； and being
unconcerned with all affairs； they enjoy boundless happiness。 Many of
them have revived； in their own person； Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius。
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But if it were true that virtue were for ever extinguished upon the earth； in
what way would the loss of it affect my happiness； since it did not depend
on me whether it existed or perished？ Only fools； Dorion； place their
happiness out of their own power。 I desire nothing that the gods do not
wish； and I desire all that they do wish。 By that means I render myself like
unto them； and share their infallible content。 If virtue perishes； I consent
that it should perish； and that consent fills me with joy； as the supreme
effort of my reason or my courage。 In all things my wisdom will copy the
divine wisdom； and the copy will be more valuable than the model； it will
have cost greater care and more work。
NICIAS。 I understand。 You put yourself on the same level as divine
providence。 But if virtue consists only in effort； Eucrites； and in that
intense application by which the disciples of Zeno pretend to render
themselves equal to the gods； the frog； which swelled itself out to try and
become as big as the ox； accomplished a masterpiece of 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
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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 Jewi