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come and sup with me。〃
These words； heard by all present； passed from mouth to mouth； and
being repeated by the believers； added greatly to the reputation of
Paphnutius。 Pious minds amplified and transformed them； and it was
stated that Paphnutius； from the top of his pillar； had converted the Prefect
of the Fleet to the faith of the apostles and the Nicaean fathers。 The
believers found a figurative meaning in the last words uttered by Aurelius
Cotta； to them； the supper to which this important personage had invited
the ascetic； was a holy communion； a spiritual repast； a celestial banquet。
The story of this meeting was embroidered with wonderful details； which
those who invented were the first to believe。 It was said that when Cotta；
after a long argument； had embraced the truth； an angel had come from
heaven to wipe the sweat from his brow。 The physician and secretary of
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the Prefect of the Fleet had also； it was asserted； been converted at the
same time。 And； the miracle being public and notorious； the deacons of the
principal churches of Libya recorded it amongst the authentic facts。 After
that； it could be said； without any exaggeration； that the whole world was
seized with a desire to see Paphnutius； and that； in the West as well as the
East； all Christians turned their astonished eyes towards him。 The most
celebrated cities of Italy sent deputations to him； and the Roman Caesar；
the divine Constantine who favoured the Christian religion； wrote him a
letter which the legates brought to him with great ceremony。 But one night；
whilst the budding city at his feet slept in the dew； he heard a voice； which
said
〃Paphnutius； thou art become celebrated by thy works and powerful by
thy word。 God has raised thee up for His glory。 He has chosen thee to
work miracles； heal the sick； convert the Pagans； enlighten sinners；
confound the Arians； and establish peace in the Church。〃
Paphnutius replied
〃God's will be done！〃
The voice continued
〃Arise； Paphnutius； and go seek in his palace the impious Constans；
who； far from imitating the wisdom of his brother； Constantine； inclines to
the errors of Arius and Marcus。 Go！ The bronze gates shall fly open before
thee； and thy sandals shall resound on the golden floor of the basilica
before the throne of the Caesars； and thy awe… inspiring voice shall change
the heart of the son of Constantinus。 Thou shalt reign over a peaceful and
powerful Church。 And； even as the soul directs the body； so shall the
Church govern the empire。 Thou shalt be placed above senators； comites；
and patricians。 Thou shalt repress the greed of the people； and check the
boldness of the barbarians。 Old Cotta； knowing that thou art the head of
the government； will seek the honour of washing thy feet。 At thy death thy
/cilicium/ shall be taken to the patriarch of Alexandria； and the great
Athanasius； white with glory； shall kiss it as the relic of a saint。 Go！〃
Paphnutius replied
〃Let the will of God be accomplished！〃
And making an effort to stand up； he prepared to descend。 But the
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voice； divining his intention； said
〃Above all； descend not by the ladder。 That would be to act like an
ordinary man； and to be unconscious of the gifts that are in thee。 A great
saint； like thee； ought to fly through the air。 Leap！ the angels are there to
support thee。 Leap； then！〃
Paphnutius replied
〃The will of God be done； on earth as it is in heaven。〃
Extending his long arms like the ragged wings of a huge sick bird； he
was about to throw himself down； when； suddenly； a hideous mocking
laugh rang in his ears。 Terrified； he asked
〃Who laughs thus？〃
〃Ah？ ah！〃 screamed the voice； 〃we are yet but at the beginning of our
friendship； thou wilt some day be better acquainted with me。 My friend； it
was I who caused thee to ascend here； and I ought to be satisfied at the
docility with which thou hast accomplished my wishes。 Paphnutius； I am
pleased with thee。〃
Paphnutius murmured； in a voice stifled by fear
〃Avaunt； avaunt！ I know thee now； thou art he who carried Jesus to a
pinnacle of the temple； and showed him all the kingdoms of this world。〃
He fell； affrighted； on the stone。
〃Why did I not know this sooner？〃 he thought。 〃More wretched than
the blind； deaf； and paralysed who trust in me； I have lost all knowledge of
things supernatural； and am more depraved than the maniacs who eat earth
and approach dead bodies。 I can no longer distinguish between the
clamours of hell and the voices of heaven。 I have lost even the intuition of
the new…born child； who cries when its nurse's breast is taken from it； of
the dog that scents out its master's footsteps； of the plant that turns towards
the sun。 I am the laughing…stock of the devils。 So； then； it is Satan who led
me here。 When he elevated me on this pedestal； lust and pride mounted
with me。 It is not the magnitude of my temptations which terrifies me。
Anthony； on his mountain； suffers the same。 I wish that all their swords
may pierce my flesh； before the eyes of the angels。 I have even learned to
like my sufferings。 But God does not speak to me； and His silence
astonishes me。 He has left meand I had but Him to look to。 He leaves me
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alone in the horror of His absence。 He flies from me。 I will follow after
Him。 This stone burns my feet。 Let me leave quickly； and come up with
God。〃
With that he seized the ladder which stood against the column； put his
feet on it； and having descended a rung； found himself face to face with
the monster's head； she smiled strangely。 He was certain then that what he
had taken for the site of his rest and glory； was but the diabolical
instrument of his trouble and damnation。 He hastily descended and
touched the soil。 His feet had forgotten their use； and he reeled。 But；
feeling on him the shadow of the cursed column； he forced himself to run。
All slept。 He traversed； without being seen； the great square surrounded by
wine…shops； inns； and caravanserias； and threw himself into a by…street
which led towards the Libyan Hills。 A dog pursued him； barking； and
stopped only at the edge of the desert。 Paphnutius went through a country
where there was no road but the trail of wild beasts。 Leaving behind him
the huts abandoned by the coiners； he continued all night and all day his
solitary flight。
At last； almost ready to expire with hunger； thirst； and fatigue； and not
knowing if God was still far from him； he came to a silent city which
extended from right to left； and stretched away till it was lost in the blue
horizon。 The buildings； which were widely separated and like each other；
resembled pyramids cut off at half their height。 They were tombs。 The
doors were broken； and in the shadow of the chambers could be seen the
gleaming eyes of hyaenas and wolves who brought forth their young there；
whilst the dead bodies lay on the threshold； despoiled by robbers； and
gnawed by the wild beasts。 Having passed through this funeral city；
Paphnutius fell exhausted before a tomb which stood near a spring
surrounded by palm trees。 This tomb was much ornamented； and； as there
was no door to it； he saw inside it a painted chamber； in which serpents
bred。
〃Here；〃 he sighed； 〃is the abode I have chosen； the tabernacle of my
repentance and penitence。〃
He dragged himself to it； drove out the reptiles with his feet； and
remained prostrate on the stone floor for eighteen hours； at the end of
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which time he went to the spring； and drank out of his hand。 Then he
pluck