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upon herself all the sins of the world； as I heard an impostor once declare；
yet there is a hidden meaning in the fable； the truth of which I now
recognise。 For it is true that the sins of the people enter the soul of the
saints； and are lost there as in a well。 Thus it is that the souls of the just are
polluted with more filth than is ever found in the soul of the sinner。 And；
for that reason； I praise Thee； O my God； for having made me the cesspool
of the world。〃
One day； a rumour ran through the holy city； and even reached the ears
of the hermit： a very great personage； a man occupying a high position； the
Prefect of the Alexandrian fleet； Lucius Aurelius Cotta； was about to visit
the citywas； indeed； now on his way。
The news was true。 Old Cotta； who was inspecting the canals and the
navigation of the Nile； had many times expressed a desire to see the stylite
and the new city； to which the name of Stylopolis had been given。 The
Stylopolitans saw the river covered with sails one morning。 Cotta
appeared on board a golden galley hung with purple； and followed by all
his fleet。 He landed； and advanced； accompanied by a secretary carrying
his tablets； and Aristaeus； his physician； with whom he liked to converse。
A numerous suite walked behind him； and the shore was covered with
/laticlaves/＇*＇ and military uniforms。 He stopped； some paces from the
column； and began to examine the stylite； wiping his face meanwhile with
the skirt of his toga。 Being of a naturally curious disposition； he had
observed many things in the course of his long voyages。 He liked to
remember them； and intended to write； after he had finished his Punic
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history； a book on the remarkable things he had witnessed。 He seemed
much interested by the spectacle before him。
＇*＇ The /laticlave/ was a toga； with a broad purple band； worn by
Roman senators as the distinguishing mark of their high office。
〃This is very curious！〃 he said； puffing and blowing。 〃Andwhich is a
circumstance worthy of being recordedthis man was my guest。 Yes； this
monk supped with me last year； after which he carried off an actress。〃
Turning to his secretary
〃Note that； my son； on my tablets； also the dimensions of the column；
not omitting the shape of the top of it。〃
Then； wiping his face again
〃Persons deserving of belief have assured me that this monk has not
left his column for a single moment since he mounted it a year ago。 Is that
possible； Aristaeus？〃
〃That which is possible to a lunatic or a sick man；〃 replied Aristaeus；
〃would be impossible to a man sound in body and mind。 Do you know；
Lucius； that sometimes diseases of the mind or body give to those afflicted
by them a strength which healthy men do not possess？ For； as a matter of
fact； there is no such thing as good health or bad health。 There are only
different conditions of the organs。 Having studied what are called maladies；
I have come to consider them as necessary forms of life。 I take pleasure in
studying them in order to be able to conquer them。 Some of them are
worthy of admiration； and conceal； under apparent disorder； profound
harmonies； for instance； a quartan fever is certainly a very pretty thing！
Sometimes certain affections of the body cause a rapid augmentation of
the faculties of the mind。 You know Creon？ When he was a child； he
stuttered and was stupid。 But； having cracked his skull by tumbling off a
ladder； he became an able lawyer； as you are aware。 This monk must be
affected in some hidden organ。 Moreover； this kind of existence is not so
extraordinary as it appears to you； Lucius。 I may remind you that the
gymnosophists of India can remain motionless； not merely for a year； but
during twenty； thirty； or forty years。〃
〃By Jupiter！〃 cried Cotta； 〃that is a strange madness。 For man was
born to move and act； and idleness is an unpardonable crime； because it is
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an injury to the State。 I do not know of any religion in which such an
objectionable practice is permitted； though it possibly may be in some of
the Asiatic creeds。 When I was Governor of Syria； I found /phalli/ erected
in the porches at the city of Hera。 A man ascended； twice a year； and
remained there for a week。 The people believed that this man talked with
the gods； and interceded with them for the prosperity of Syria。 The custom
appeared senseless to me； nevertheless I did nothing to put it down。 For I
consider that a functionary ought not to interfere with the manners and
customs of the people； but on the contrary； to see that they are preserved。
It is not the business of the government to force a religion on a people； but
to maintain that which exists； which； whether good or bad； has been
regulated by the spirit of the time； the place； and the race。 If it endeavours
to put down a religion； it proclaims itself revolutionary in its spirit； and
tyrannical in its acts； and is justly detested。 Besides； how are you to raise
yourself above the superstitions of the vulgar； except by understanding
them and tolerating them？ Aristaeus； I am of opinion that I should leave
this nephelo…coccygian＇*＇ in the air； exposed only to the indignities the
birds shower on him。 I should not gain anything by having him pulled
down； but I should by taking note of his thoughts and beliefs。〃
＇*＇ Nephelo…coccygia； the cloud…city built by the cuckoos； in the
/Birds/ of Aristophanes。
He puffed； coughed； and placed his hand on the secretary's shoulder。
〃My child； note down that； amongst certain sects of Christians； it is
considered praiseworthy to carry off courtesans and live upon columns。
You may add that these customs are evidence of the worship of genetic
divinities。 But on this point we ought to question him himself。〃
Then； raising his head； and shading his eyes with his hand； to keep off
the sun； he shouted
〃Hallo； Paphnutius！ If you remember that you were once my guest；
answer me。 What are you doing up there？ Why did you go up； and why do
you stay there？ Has this column any phallic signification in your mind？〃
Paphnutius； considering Cotta as nothing but an idolater； did not deign
to reply。 But his disciple； Flavian； approached； and said
〃Illustrious Sir； this holy man takes the sins of the world upon him；
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and cures diseases。〃
〃By Jupiter！ Do you hear； Aristaeus？〃 cried Cotta。 〃This nephelo…
coccygian practises medicine； like you。 What do you think of so high a
rival？〃
Aristaeus shook his head。
〃It is very possible that he may cure certain diseases better than I can；
such； for instance； as epilepsy； vulgarly called the divine malady； although
all maladies are equally divine； for they all come from the gods。 But the
cause of this disease lies； partly； in the imagination； and you must confess；
Lucius； that this monk； perched up on the head of a goddess； strikes the
minds of the sick people more forcibly than I； bending over my mortars
and phials in my laboratory； could ever do。 There are forces； Lucius；
infinitely more powerful than reason and science。〃
〃What are they？〃 asked Cotta。
〃Ignorance and folly；〃 replied Aristaeus。
〃I have rarely seen a more curious sight；〃 continued Cotta； 〃and I hope
that some day an able writer will relate the foundation of Stylopolis。 But
even the most extraordinary spectacles should not keep； longer than is
befitting； a serious and busy man from his work。 Let us go and inspect the
canals。 Farewell； good Paphnutius！ or rather； till our next meeting！ If ever
you should come down to earth again； and revisit Alexandria； do not fail to
come and sup with me。〃
These words； heard by all present； passed from mout