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temptations； he would not be half so much to be feared。 Alas！ he excels in
making us sad。 Did he not show to our father Anthony a black child of
such surpassing beauty that the very sight of it drew tears？ With God's
help； our father Anthony avoided the snares of the demon。 I knew him
when he lived amongst us； he was cheerful with his disciples； and never
gave way to melancholy。 But did you not come； my brother； to talk to me
of a design you had formed in your mind？ Let me know what it isif； at
least； this design has for its object the glory of God。〃
〃Brother Palemon； what I propose is really to the glory of God。
Strengthen me with your counsel； for you know many things； and sin has
never darkened the clearness of your mind。〃
〃Brother Paphnutius； I am not worthy to unloose the latchet of thy
sandals； and my sins are as countless as the sands of the desert。 But I am
old； and I will never refuse the help of my experience。〃
〃I will confide in you； then； brother Palemon； that I am stricken with
grief at the thought that there is； in Alexandria； a courtesan named Thais；
who lives in sin； and is a subject of reproach unto the people。〃
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〃Brother Paphnutius； that is； in truth； an abomination which we do
well to deplore。 There are many women amongst the Gentiles who lead
lives of that kind。 Have you thought of any remedy for this great evil？〃
〃Brother Palemon； I will go to Alexandria and find this woman； and；
with God's help； I will convert her； that is my intention； do you approve of
it； brother？〃
〃Brother Paphnutius； I am but a miserable sinner； but our father
Anthony used to say； 'In whatsoever place thou art； hasten not to leave it to
go elsewhere。' 〃
〃Brother Palemon； do you disapprove of my project？〃
〃Dear Paphnutius； God forbid that I should suspect my brother of bad
intentions。 But our father Anthony also said； 'Fishes die on dry land； and
so is it with those monks who leave their cells and mingle with the men of
this world； amongst whom no good thing is to be found。' 〃
Having thus spoken； the old man pressed his foot on the spade； and
began to dig energetically round a fig tree laden with fruit。 As he was thus
engaged； there was a rustling in the bushes； and an antelope leaped over
the hedge which surrounded the garden； it stopped； surprised and
frightened； its delicate legs trembling； then ran up to the old man； and laid
its pretty head on the breast of its friend。
〃God be praised in the gazelle of the desert；〃 said Palemon。
He went to his hut； the light…footed little animal trotting after him； and
brought out some black bread； which the antelope ate out of his hand。
Paphnutius remained thoughtful for some time； his eyes fixed upon the
stones at his feet。 Then he slowly walked back to his cell； pondering on
what he had heard。 A great struggle was going on in his mind。
〃The hermit gives good advice；〃 he said to himself； 〃the spirit of
prudence is in him。 And he doubts the wisdom of my intention。 Yet it
would be cruel to leave Thais any longer in the power of the demon who
possesses her。 May God advise and conduct me。〃
As he was walking along； he saw a plover； caught in the net that a
hunter had laid on the sand； and he knew that it was a hen bird； for he saw
the male fly to the net； and tear the meshes one by one with its beak； until
it had made an opening by which its mate could escape。 The holy man
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watched this incident； and as； by virtue of his holiness； he easily
comprehended the mystic sense of all occurrences； he knew that the
captive bird was no other than Thais； caught in the snares of sin； and that
like the plover that had cut the hempen threads with its beakhe could； by
pronouncing the word of power； break the invisible bonds by which Thais
was held in sin。 Therefore he praised God； and was confirmed in his first
resolution。 But then seeing the plover caught by the feet； and hampered by
the net it had broken； he fell into uncertainty again。
He did not sleep all night； and before dawn he had a vision。 Thais
appeared to him again。 There was no expression of guilty pleasure on her
face； nor was she dressed according to custom in transparent drapery。 She
was enveloped in a shroud； which hid even a part of her face； so that the
Abbot could see nothing but the two eyes； from which flowed white and
heavy tears。
At this sight he began to weep； and believing that this vision came
from God； he no longer hesitated。 He rose； seized a knotted stick； the
symbol of the Christian faith； and left his cell； carefully closing the door；
lest the animals of the desert and the birds of the air should enter； and
befoul the copy of the Holy Scriptures which stood at the head of his bed。
He called Flavian； the deacon； and gave him authority over the other
twenty…three disciples during his absence； and then； clad only in a long
cassock； he bent his steps towards the Nile； intending to follow the Libyan
bank to the city founded by the Macedonian monarch。 He walked from
dawn to eve； indifferent to fatigue； hunger； and thirst； the sun was already
low on the horizon when he saw the dreadful river； the blood…red waters of
which rolled between the rocks of gold and fire。
He kept along the shore； begging his bread at the door of solitary huts
for the love of God； and joyfully receiving insults； refusals； or threats。 He
feared neither robbers nor wild beasts； but he took great care to avoid all
the towns and villages he came near。 He was afraid lest he should see
children playing at knuckle…bones before their father's house； or meet； by
the side of the well； women in blue smocks； who might put down their
pitcher and smile at him。 All things are dangerous for the hermit； it is
sometimes a danger for him to read in the Scriptures that the Divine
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Master journeyed from town to town and supped with His disciples。 The
virtues that the anchorites embroider so carefully on the tissue of faith； are
as fragile as they are beautiful； a breath of ordinary life may tarnish their
pleasant colours。 For that reason； Paphnutius avoided the towns； fearing
lest his heart should soften at the sight of his fellow men。
He journeyed along lonely roads。 When evening came； the murmuring
of the breeze amidst the tamarisk trees made him shiver； and he pulled his
hood over his eyes that he might not see how beautiful all things were。
After walking six days； he came to a place called Silsile。 There the river
runs in a narrow valley； bordered by a double chain of granite mountains。
It was there that the Egyptians； in the days when they worshipped demons；
carved their idols。 Paphnutius saw an enormous sphinx carved in the solid
rock。 Fearing that it might still possess some diabolical properties； he
made the sign of the cross； and pronounced the name of Jesus； he
immediately saw a bat fly out of one of the monster's ears； and Paphnutius
knew that he had driven out the evil spirits which had been for centuries in
the figure。 His zeal increased； and picking up a large stone； he threw it in
the idol's face。 Then the mysterious face of the sphinx expressed such
profound sadness that Paphnutius was moved。 In fact； the expression of
superhuman grief on the stone visage would have touched even the most
unfeeling man。 Therefore Paphnutius said to the sphinx
〃O monster； be like the satyrs and centaurs our father Anthony saw in
the desert； and confess the divinity of Jesus Christ； and I will bless thee in
the name of the Father； the Son； and the Holy Ghost。〃
When he had spoken a rosy light gleamed in the eyes of the sphinx；
the heavy eyelids of the monster quivered and the granite lips painfully