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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
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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
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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。
ZENOTHEMIS。 For my part； friends； I believe in the reality of good
and evil。 But I am convinced that there is not a single human actionwere
it even the kiss of Judaswhich does not bear within itself the germ of
redemption。 Evil contributes to the ultimate salvation of men； and； in that
respect issues from Good； and shares the merits belonging to Good。 This
has been admirably expressed by the Christians； in the myth concerning
the man with red hair； who； in order to betray his master； gave him the kiss
of peace； and by such act assured the salvation of men。 Therefore； nothing
is； in my opinion； more unjust and absurd than the hate with which certain
disciples of Paul； the tentmaker； pursue the most unfortunate of the
apostles of Jesus without realising that the kiss of Iscariotprophesied by
Jesus Himselfwas necessary； according to their own doctrine； for the
redemption of men； and that if Judas had not received the thirty pieces； the
divine wisdom would have been impugned； Providence frustrated； its
designs upset； and the world given over to evil； ignorance； and death。
MARCUS。 Divine wisdom foresaw that Judas； though he was not
obliged to give the traitor's kiss； would give it； notwithstanding。 It thus
employed the sin of Iscariot as a stone in the marvellous edifice of the
redemption。
ZENOTHEMIS。 I spoke just now； Marcus； as though I believed that
the redemption of men had been accomplished by Jesus crucified； because
I know that such is the belief of the Christians； and I borrowed their
opinion that I might the better show the mistake of those who believe in
the eternal damnation of Judas。 But； in reality； Jesus was； in my eyes； but
the precursor of Basilides and Valentinus。 As to the mystery of the
redemption； I will tell you； my dear friendsif you are at all curious to
hear ithow it was really accomplished on earth。
The guests made a sign of assent。 Like the Athenian virgins with the
baskets sacred to Ceres； twelve young girls； bearing on their heads baskets
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filled with pomegranates and apples； entered the room with a light step； in
time to the music of an invisible flute。 They placed the baskets on the table；
the flute ceased； and Zenothemis spoke as follows
〃When Eunoia； 'the thought of God；' had created the world； she
confided the government of the earth to the angels。 But they did not
preserve the dispassion befitting masters。 Seeing that the daughters of men
were fair； they surprised them in the evening by the wellside； and united
themselves to them。 From these unions sprang a turbulent race； who
covered the earth with injustice and cruelty； and the dust of the roads
drank up the blood of the innocent。 The sight of this caused Eunoia infinite
grief。
〃 'See what I have done！' she sighed； leaning towards the world。 'My
poor children are plunged in misery； and by my fault。 Their suffering is my
crime； and I will expiate it。 God Himself； who only thinks through me；
would be powerless to restore them to their pristine purity。 That which is
done is done； and the creation will remain for ever imperfect。 But； at least；
I will not forsake my creatures。 If I cannot make them happy； like me； I
can make myself unhappy； like them。 Since I committed the mistake of
giving them bodies which dishonour them； I will myself assume a body
like unto theirs； and will go and live amongst them。'
〃Having thus spoken； Eunoia descended to the earth； and was
incarnate in the breast of a woman of Argos。 She was born small and
feeble； and received the name of Helen。 She submitted to all the labours of
this life； but soon grew in grace and beauty； and became the most desired
of women； as she had determined； in order that her mortal body might be
tri