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the heavy eyelids of the monster quivered and the granite lips painfully
murmured； as though in echo to the man's voice； the holy name of Jesus
Christ； therefore Paphnutius stretched out his right hand； and blessed the
sphinx of Silsile。
That being done； he resumed his journey； and the valley having grown
wider； he saw the ruins of an immense city。 The temples； which still
remained standing； were supported by idols which served as columns； and…
…by the permission of Godthese figures with women's heads and cow's
horns； threw on Paphnutius a long look which made him turn pale。 He
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walked thus seventeen days； his only food a few raw herbs； and he slept at
night in some ruined palace； amongst the wild cats and Pharaoh's rats；
with which mingled sometimes； women whose bodies ended in a scaly tail。
But Paphnutius knew that these women came from hell； and he drove
them away by making the sign of the cross。
On the eighteenth day； he found； far from any village； a wretched hut
made of palm leaves； and half buried under the sand which had been
driven by the desert wind。 He approached it； hoping that the hut was
inhabited by some pious anchorite。 He saw inside the hovelfor there was
no doora pitcher； a bunch of onions； and a bed of dried leaves。
〃This must be the habitation of a hermit；〃 he said to himself。 〃Hermits
are generally to be found near their hut； and I shall not fail to meet this one。
I will give him the kiss of peace； even as the holy Anthony did when he
came to the hermit Paul； and kissed him three times。 We will discourse of
things eternal； and perhaps our Lord will send us； by one of His ravens； a
crust of bread； which my host will willingly invite me to share with him。〃
Whilst he was thus speaking to himself； he walked round the hut to see
if he could find any one。 He had not walked a hundred paces when he saw
a man seated； with his legs crossed； by the side of the river。 The man was
naked； his hair and beard were quite white； and his body redder than brick。
Paphnutius felt sure this must be the hermit。 He saluted him with the
words the monks are accustomed to use when they meet each other。
〃Peace be with you； brother！ May you some day taste the sweet joys of
paradise。〃
The man did not reply。 He remained motionless； and appeared not to
have heard。 Paphnutius supposed this was due to one of those rhapsodies
to which the saints are accustomed。 He knelt down； with his hands joined；
by the side of the unknown； and remained thus in prayer till sunset。 Then；
seeing that his companion had not moved； he said to him
〃Father； if you are now out of the ecstasy in which you were lost； give
me your blessing in our Lord Jesus Christ。〃
The other replied without turning his head
〃Stranger； I understand you not； and I know not the Lord Jesus Christ。〃
〃What！〃 cried Paphnutius。 〃The prophets have announced Him；
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legions of martyrs have confessed His name； Caesar himself has
worshipped Him； and； but just now； I made the sphinx of Silsile proclaim
His glory。 Is it possible that you do not know Him？〃
〃Friend；〃 replied the other； 〃it is possible。 It would even be certain； if
anything in this world were certain。〃
Paphnutius was surprised and saddened by the incredible ignorance of
the man。
〃If you know not Jesus Christ；〃 he said； 〃all your works serve no
purpose； and you will never rise to life immortal。〃
The old man replied
〃It is useless to act； or to abstain from acting。 It matters not whether
we live or die。〃
〃Eh； what？〃 asked Paphnutius。 〃Do you not desire to live through all
eternity？ But； tell me； do you not live in a hut in the desert as the hermits
do？〃
〃It seems so。〃
〃Do I not see you naked； and lacking all things？〃
〃It seems so。〃
〃Do you not feed on roots； and live in chastity？〃
〃It seems so。〃
〃Have you not renounced all the vanities of this world？〃
〃I have truly renounced all those vain things for which men commonly
care。〃
〃Then you are like me； poor； chaste； and solitary。 And you are not so
as I amfor the love of God； and with a hope of celestial happiness！ That I
cannot understand。 Why are you virtuous if you do not believe in Jesus
Christ？ Why deprive yourself of the good things of this world if you do
not hope to gain eternal riches in heaven？〃
〃Stranger； I deprive myself of nothing which is good； and I flatter
myself that I have found a life which is satisfactory enough； though to
speak more preciselythere is no such thing as a good or evil life。 Nothing
is itself； either virtuous or shameful； just or unjust； pleasant or painful；
good or bad。 It is our opinion which gives those qualities to things； as salt
gives savour to meats。〃
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〃So then； according to you there is no certainty。 You deny the truth
which the idolaters themselves have sought。 You lie in ignorancelike a
tired dog sleeping in the mud。〃
〃Stranger； it is equally useless to abuse either dogs or philosophers。 We
know not what dogs are or what we are。 We know nothing。〃
〃Old man； do you belong； then； to the absurd sect of sceptics？ Are you
one of those miserable fools who alike deny movement and rest； and who
know not how to distinguish between the light of the sun and the shadows
of night？〃
〃Friend； I am truly a sceptic； and of a sect which appears praiseworthy
to me； though it seems ridiculous to you。 For the same things often assume
different appearances。 The pyramids of Memphis seem at sunrise to be
cones of pink light。 At sunset they look like black triangles against the
illuminated sky。 But who shall solve the problem of their true nature？ You
reproach me with denying appearances； when； in fact； appearances are the
only realities I recognise。 The sun seems to me illuminous； but its nature is
unknown to me。 I feel that fire burnsbut I know not how or why。 My
friend； you understand me badly。 Besides； it is indifferent to me whether I
am understood one way or the other。〃
〃Once more。 Why do you live on dates and onions in the desert？ Why
do you endure great hardships？ I endure hardships equally great； and； like
you； I live in abstinence and solitude。 But then it is to please God； and to
earn eternal happiness。 And that is a reasonable object； for it is wise to
suffer now for a future gain。 It is senseless； on the contrary； to expose
yourself voluntarily to useless fatigue and vain sufferings。 If I did not
believepardon my blasphemy； O uncreated Light！if I did not believe in
the truth of that which God has taught us by the voice of the prophets； by
the example of His Son； by the acts of the Apostles； by the authority of
councils； and by the testimony of the martyrs；if I did not know that the
sufferings of the body are necessary for the salvation of the soulif I were；
like thee； lost in ignorance of sacred mysteriesI would return at once
amongst the men of this day； I would strive to acquire riches； that I might
live in ease； like those who are happy in this world； and I would say to the
votaries of pleasure； 'Come； my daughters； come； my servants； come and
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pour out for me your wines； your philtres； your perfumes。' But you； foolish
old man！ you deprive yourself of all these advantages； you lose without
hope of any gain； you give without hope of any return； and you imitate
foolishly the noble deeds of us anchorites； as an impudent monkey thinks；
by smearing a wall； to copy the picture of a clever artist。 What； then； are
your reasons； O most besotted of men？〃
Paphnutius spoke with violence and indignation； but the old man
remained unmoved。
〃Friend；〃 he replied； gently； 〃what matter the reasons of a dog sleeping
in the dirt or a mischievous ape？〃
Paphnutius' only aim