第50章 THE EUPHORBIA(12)
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 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.But a shadowy wall is raised in front of my eyes, and moves before me.I have lived in a dream.Without God all is a dream.
When I made my journey to Alexandria, I heard, in a short space of time, many discourses, and I learned that the army of errors was innumerable.It pursues me, and I am compassed about with swords."Zozimus replied--"Venerable father, we must remember that the saints, and especially the solitary saints, undergo terrible trials.If thou wast not carried to heaven by the seraphs, it is certain that the Lord granted that favour to thy image, for Flavian, the monks, and the people were witnesses of thy assumption."Paphnutius resolved to go and receive the blessing of Anthony.
"Brother Zozimus," he said, "give me one of these palm leaves, and let us go and meet our father.""Let us go," replied Zozimus; "military order is most befitting for monks, who are God's soldiers.Thou and I, being abbots, will march in front, and the others shall follow us, singing psalms."They set out on their march, and Paphnutius said--"God is unity, for He is the truth, which is one.The world is many, because it is error.We should turn away from all the sights of nature, even those which appear the most innocent.Their diversity renders them pleasant, which is a sign that they are evil.For that reason, I cannot see a tuft of papyrus by the side of still waters without my soul being imbued with melancholy.All things that the senses perceive are detestable.The least grain of sand brings danger.
Everything tempts us.Woman is but a combination of all the temptations scattered in the thin air, on the flowering earth, in the clear waters.Happy is he whose soul is a sealed vase! Happy is he who knows how to be deaf, dumb, and blind, and who knows nothing of the world, in order that he may know God!"Zozimus, having meditated upon these words, replied as follows--"Venerable father, it is fitting that I should avow my sins to thee, since thou hast shown me thy soul.Thus we shall confess to each other, according to the apostolic custom.Before I was a monk, I led an abominable life.At Madaura, a city celebrated for its courtesans, I sought out all kinds of worldly love.Every night I supped in company with young debauchees and female flute players, and I took home with me the one who pleased me the best.A saint like thee could never imagine to what a pitch the fury of my desires carried me.
Suffice it to say that it spared neither matrons nor nuns, and spread adultery and sacrilege everywhere.I excited my senses with wine, and was justly known as the heaviest drinker in Madaura.Yet I was a Christian, and, in all my follies, kept my faith in Jesus crucified.