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side of a fountain； Nicias studied； on an armillary sphere； the harmonious
movements of the stars。
Then a veiled woman approached the monk； holding in her hand a
branch of myrtle。 She said to him
〃Look！ Some seek eternal beauty； and place their ephemeral life in the
infinite。 Others live without much thought。 But by that alone they submit
to fair Nature； and they are happy and beautiful in the joy of living only；
and give glory to the supreme artist of all things； for man is a noble hymn
to God。 All think that happiness is innocent； and that pleasure is permitted
to man。 Paphnutius； if they are right； what a dupe you have been！〃
And the vision vanished。
Thus was Paphnutius tempted unceasingly in body and mind。 Satan
never gave him a minute's repose。 The solitude of the tomb was more
peopled than the streets of a great city。 The devils shouted with laughter；
and millions of imps； evil genii； and phantoms imitated all the ordinary
transactions of life。 In the evening； when he went to the spring； satyrs and
nymphs capered round him； and tried to drag him into their lascivious
dances。 The demons no longer feared him。 They loaded him with insults；
obscene jests； and blows。 One day a devil； no longer than his arm； stole the
cord he wore round his waist。
He said to himself
〃Thought； whither hast thou led me？〃
And he resolved to work with his hands； in order to give his mind that
rest of which it had need。 Near the spring； some banana trees； with large
leaves； grew under the shade of the palms。 He cut the stalks； and carried
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them to the tomb。 He crushed them with a stone； and reduced them to
fibres； as he had seen ropemakers do。 For he intended to make a cord； to
replace that which the devil had stolen。 The demons were somewhat
displeased at this； they ceased their clamour； and the girl with the theorbo
no longer continued her magic arts； but remained quietly on the wall。 The
courage and faith of Paphnutius increased whilst he pounded the banana
stems。
〃With Heaven's help；〃 he said to himself； 〃I shall subdue the flesh。 As
to my soul； its confidence is still unshaken。 In vain do the devils； and that
accursed woman； try to instil into my mind doubts as to the nature of God。
I will reply to them； by the mouth of the Apostle John； 'In the beginning
was the Word； and the Word was God。' That I firmly believe； and that
which I believe is absurd； I believe still more firmly。 In fact it should be
absurd。 If it were not so； I should not believe； I should know。 And it is not
that which we know which gives eternal life； it is faith only that saves。〃
He exposed the separated fibres to the sun and the dew； and every
morning he took care to turn them； to prevent them rotting； and he rejoiced
to find that he had become as simple as a child。 When he had twisted his
cord； he cut reeds to make mats and baskets。 The sepulchral chamber
resembled a basket…maker's workshop； and Paphnutius could pass without
difficulty from work to prayer。 Yet still God was not merciful to him； for
one night he was awakened by a voice which froze him with horror； for he
guessed that it was the voice of the dead man。
The voice called quickly； in a light whisper
〃Helen！ Helen！ come and bathe with me！ come quickly！〃
A woman； whose mouth was close to the monk's ear； replied
〃Friend； I cannot rise； a man is lying on me。〃
Paphnutius suddenly perceived that his cheek rested on a woman's
breast。 He recognised the player of the theorbo； who； partly relieved of his
weight； raised her breast。 He clung tightly to the sweet； warm； perfumed
body； and consumed with the desire of damnation； he cried
〃Stay； stay； my heavenly one！〃
But she was already standing on the threshold。 She laughed； and her
smile gleamed in the silver rays of the moon。
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〃Why should I stay？〃 she said。 〃The shadow of a shadow is enough for
a lover endowed with such a lively imagination。 Besides； you have sinned。
What more was needed？〃
Paphnutius wept in the night； and when the dawn came； he murmured
a prayer that was a meek complaint
〃Jesus； my Jesus； why hast Thou forsaken me！ Thou seest the danger
in which I am。 Come； and help me； sweet Saviour。 Since Thy Father no
longer loves me； and does not hear me； remember that I have but Thee。
From Him nothing is to be hoped； I cannot comprehend Him； and He
cannot pity me。 But Thou was born of a woman； and that is why I trust in
Thee。 Remember that Thou wast a man。 I pray to Thee； not because Thou
art God of God； Light of light； very God of very God； but because Thou
hast lived poor and humble on this earth where now I suffer； because Satan
has tempted Thy flesh； because the sweat of agony has bedewed Thy face。
It is to Thy humanity that I pray； Jesus； my brother Jesus！〃
When he had thus prayed； wringing his hands； a terrible peal of
laughter shook the walls of the tomb； and the voice which rang in his ears
on the top of the column； said jeeringly
〃That is a prayer worthy of the breviary of Marcus； the heretic。
Paphnutius is an Arian！ Paphnutius is an Arian！〃
As though thunderstruck； the monk fell senseless。
*****
When he reopened his eyes； he saw around him monks wearing black
hoods； who poured water on his temples； and recited exorcisms。 Many
others were standing outside； carrying palm leaves。
〃As we passed through the desert；〃 said one of them； 〃we heard cries
issuing from this tomb； and； having entered； we found you lying
unconscious on the floor。 Doubtless the devils had thrown you down； and
had fled at our approach。〃
Paphnutius； raising his head； asked in a feeble voice
〃Who are you； my brothers？ And why do you carry palms in your
hands？ Is it for my burial？〃
One of them replied
〃Brother； do you not know that our father； Anthony； now a hundred
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and five years old； having been warned of his approaching end； has come
down from Mount Colzin； to which he had retired； to bless his numerous
spiritual children？ We are going with palm leaves to greet our holy father。
But how is it； brother； that you are ignorant of such a great event？ Can it
be possible that no angel came to this tomb to inform you？〃
〃Alas！〃 replied Paphnutius； 〃I am not worthy of such a favour； and the
only denizens of this abode are demons and vampires。 Pray for me。 I am
Paphnutius； Abbot of Antinoe； the most wretched of the servants of God。〃
At the name of Paphnutius； all waved their palm leaves and murmured
his praises。 The monk who had previously spoken； cried in surprise
〃Can it be that thou art that holy Paphnutius； celebrated for so many
works that it was supposed he would some day equal the great Anthony
himself？ Most venerable； it was thou who convertedst to God the
courtesan； Thais； and who； raised upon a high column； was carried away
by the seraphs。 Those who watched by night； at the foot of the pillar； saw
thy blessed assumption。 The wings of the angels encircled thee in a white
cloud； and with thy right hand extended thou didst bless the dwellings of
man。 The next day； when the people saw thou wert no longer there； a long
groan rose to the summit of the discrowned pillar。 But Flavian； thy disciple；
reported the miracle； and took thy place as the head。 But a foolish man； of
the name of Paul； tried to contradict the general opinion。 He asserted that
he had seen thee； in a dream； carried away by the devils； the people
wanted to stone him； and it was a miracle that he escaped death。 I am
Zozimus； abbot of these solitary monks whom thou seest prostrate at thy
feet。 Like them； I kneel before thee； that thou mayest bless the father with
the children。 Then thou shalt relate to us the marvels which God has
deigned to accomplish by thy means。〃
〃Far from having favoured me as thou believest；〃 replied Paphnutius；
〃the Lord has tried me with terrible temptations。 I was not carried away by
angels。 Bu