thais(Èû˹)-µÚ34ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
couch£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡his¡¡cell¡¡being¡¡profaned£»¡¡the¡¡demons¡¡might¡¡freely¡¡
enter¡¡at¡¡any¡¡hour¡£¡¡His¡¡fears¡¡did¡¡not¡¡deceive¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡seven¡¡little¡¡jackals£»¡¡
which¡¡had¡¡never¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡threshold£»¡¡entered¡¡in¡¡a¡¡file£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡and¡¡hid¡¡
under¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡vesper¡¡¡¡¡¡hour£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡eighth£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡stench¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
which¡¡was¡¡horrible¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡day£»¡¡a¡¡ninth¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡there¡¡
were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡thirty£»¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sixty£»¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡eighty¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡smaller¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡they¡¡
multiplied£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡no¡¡bigger¡¡than¡¡rats£»¡¡they¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡the¡¡couch£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡stool¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them¡¡jumped¡¡on¡¡the¡¡little¡¡table¡¡by¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡
and¡¡standing¡¡with¡¡its¡¡four¡¡feet¡¡together¡¡on¡¡the¡¡death's¡¡head£»¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡
monk¡¡with¡¡burning¡¡eyes¡£¡¡And¡¡every¡¡day¡¡fresh¡¡jackals¡¡came¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡¡¡¡¡expiate¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡abominable¡¡¡¡¡¡sin¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡dream£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡flee¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡impure¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡102¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡103¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THAIS¡¡
thoughts£»¡¡Paphnutius¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡his¡¡cell£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡now¡¡become¡¡
polluted£»¡¡go¡¡far¡¡into¡¡the¡¡desert£»¡¡and¡¡practise¡¡unheard¡of¡¡austerities£»¡¡strange¡¡
labours£»¡¡and¡¡fresh¡¡works¡¡of¡¡grace¡£¡¡But¡¡before¡¡putting¡¡his¡¡design¡¡into¡¡action£»¡¡
he¡¡went¡¡to¡¡see¡¡old¡¡Palemon¡¡and¡¡ask¡¡his¡¡advice¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡found¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡garden¡¡watering¡¡his¡¡lettuces¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡evening¡£¡¡
The¡¡¡¡¡¡blue¡¡¡¡¡¡Nile¡¡¡¡¡¡flowed¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡foot¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡violet¡¡¡¡¡¡hills¡£¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
walking¡¡slowly£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡not¡¡to¡¡frighten¡¡a¡¡pigeon¡¡that¡¡had¡¡perched¡¡on¡¡his¡¡
shoulder¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡¡¡¡¡Lord¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡thee£»¡¡¡¡¡¡brother¡¡¡¡¡¡Paphnutius£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Admire¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
goodness£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sends¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡animals¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡created¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡may¡¡
converse¡¡with¡¡them¡¡of¡¡His¡¡works£»¡¡and¡¡praise¡¡Him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡birds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡air¡£¡¡
Look¡¡at¡¡this¡¡pigeon£»¡¡note¡¡the¡¡changing¡¡hues¡¡of¡¡its¡¡neck£»¡¡and¡¡say£»¡¡is¡¡it¡¡not¡¡a¡¡
beautiful¡¡work¡¡of¡¡God£¿¡¡But¡¡have¡¡you¡¡not¡¡come¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡brother£»¡¡
on¡¡some¡¡pious¡¡subject£¿¡¡If¡¡so£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡put¡¡down¡¡my¡¡watering¡pot£»¡¡and¡¡listen¡¡
to¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Paphnutius¡¡told¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡about¡¡his¡¡journey£»¡¡his¡¡return£»¡¡the¡¡visions¡¡
of¡¡his¡¡days¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dreams¡¡of¡¡his¡¡nights£»without¡¡omitting¡¡the¡¡sinful¡¡one¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡pack¡¡of¡¡jackals¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡not¡¡think£»¡¡father£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡bury¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡desert£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡perform¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡extraordinary¡¡¡¡¡¡austerities¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡
astonish¡¡the¡¡devil£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡poor¡¡¡¡¡¡sinner£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡replied¡¡¡¡¡¡Palemon£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨and¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡
men£»¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡garden£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡gazelles£»¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡hares¡¡
and¡¡pigeons¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡brother£»¡¡that¡¡your¡¡distemper¡¡comes¡¡from¡¡
your¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡noisy¡¡¡¡¡¡world¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡calm¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
solitude¡£¡¡Such¡¡sudden¡¡transitions¡¡can¡¡but¡¡do¡¡harm¡¡to¡¡the¡¡health¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soul¡£¡¡
You¡¡are£»¡¡brother£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡exposes¡¡himself£»¡¡almost¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡
to¡¡great¡¡heat¡¡and¡¡great¡¡cold¡£¡¡A¡¡cough¡¡shakes¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡fever¡¡torments¡¡him¡£¡¡
In¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡place£»¡¡¡¡¡¡brother¡¡¡¡¡¡Paphnutius£»¡¡¡¡¡¡instead¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡retiring¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡
awful¡¡desert£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡take¡¡such¡¡amusements¡¡as¡¡are¡¡fitting¡¡to¡¡a¡¡monk¡¡and¡¡a¡¡
holy¡¡abbot¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡visit¡¡the¡¡monasteries¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡
them¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡wonderful£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡Abbot¡¡¡¡¡¡Serapion¡¡¡¡¡¡contains£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡
been¡¡told£»¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡four¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡thirty¡two¡¡cells£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡monks¡¡are¡¡
divided¡¡into¡¡as¡¡many¡¡legions¡¡as¡¡there¡¡are¡¡letters¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Greek¡¡alphabet¡£¡¡I¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡103¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡104¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THAIS¡¡
am¡¡even¡¡informed¡¡that¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡analogy¡¡is¡¡observed¡¡between¡¡the¡¡character¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡monks¡¡and¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡by¡¡which¡¡they¡¡are¡¡designated£»¡¡and¡¡
that£»¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡placed¡¡under¡¡Z¡¡have¡¡a¡¡tortuous¡¡character£»¡¡
whilst¡¡those¡¡under¡¡I¡¡have¡¡an¡¡upright¡¡mind¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡were¡¡you£»¡¡brother£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡
go¡¡and¡¡assure¡¡myself¡¡of¡¡this¡¡with¡¡my¡¡own¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡should¡¡know¡¡no¡¡rest¡¡
until¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡seen¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡wonderful¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡fail¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡study¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
regulations¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡various¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡communities¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡scattered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡along¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
banks¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Nile£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡able¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡compare¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Such¡¡
study¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡befitting¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡religious¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡yourself¡£¡¡You¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡say£»¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡
doubt£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Abbot¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Ephrem¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡drawn¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡monastery¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pious¡¡
regulations¡¡of¡¡great¡¡beauty¡£¡¡With¡¡his¡¡permission£»¡¡you¡¡might¡¡make¡¡a¡¡copy¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡skilful¡¡¡¡¡¡penman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡so£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡hands£»¡¡
accustomed¡¡to¡¡wield¡¡the¡¡spade£»¡¡are¡¡too¡¡awkward¡¡to¡¡direct¡¡the¡¡thin¡¡reed¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡scribe¡¡over¡¡the¡¡papyrus¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡letters£»¡¡brother£»¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡thank¡¡¡¡¡¡God¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡beautiful¡¡¡¡¡¡writing¡¡¡¡¡¡cannot¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡
admired¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡work¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡copyist¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡reader¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡safeguard¡¡
against¡¡evil¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡¡¡Brother¡¡¡¡Paphnutius£»¡¡¡¡why¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡write¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
teachings¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡fathers£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Paul¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Anthony£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Little¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡
recover£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡pious¡¡¡¡¡¡works£»¡¡¡¡¡¡peace¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡soul¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡mind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡solitude¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡
again¡¡become¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡your¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡you¡¡would¡¡be¡¡in¡¡a¡¡condition¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡recommence¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡ascetic¡¡¡¡¡¡works¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡journey¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡interrupted¡£¡¡
But¡¡you¡¡must¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡much¡¡benefit¡¡from¡¡excessive¡¡penitence¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡amongst¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡us£»¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡Father¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Anthony¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡used¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡say£»¡¡¡¡¡¡'Excessive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fasting¡¡
produces¡¡weakness£»¡¡and¡¡weakness¡¡begets¡¡idleness¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡some¡¡monks¡¡
who¡¡ruin¡¡their¡¡body¡¡by¡¡fasts¡¡improperly¡¡prolonged¡£¡¡Of¡¡them¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡said¡¡
that¡¡they¡¡plunge¡¡a¡¡dagger¡¡into¡¡their¡¡own¡¡breast£»¡¡and¡¡deliver¡¡themselves¡¡up¡¡
unresistingly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡devil¡£'¡¡So¡¡said¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡man£»¡¡Anthony¡£¡¡I¡¡
am¡¡but¡¡a¡¡foolish¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡but£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡grace¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡remembered¡¡
what¡¡our¡¡father¡¡told¡¡us¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Paphnutius¡¡¡¡¡¡thanked¡¡¡¡¡¡Palemon¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡promised¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡advice¡£¡¡
When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡of¡¡reeds¡¡which¡¡enclosed¡¡the¡¡little¡¡garden£»¡¡he¡¡
turned¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡gardener¡¡¡¡¡¡engaged¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡watering¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
salads£»¡¡whilst¡¡the¡¡pigeon¡¡walked¡¡about¡¡on¡¡his¡¡bent¡¡back£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡that¡¡sight¡¡
Paphnutius¡¡felt¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡weep¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡104¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡105¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THAIS¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡his¡¡cell£»¡¡he¡¡found¡¡there¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡turmoil£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡it¡¡
were¡¡¡¡¡¡filled¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡grains¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡sand¡¡¡¡¡¡blown¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡wind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡
looking¡¡closer£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡these¡¡moving¡¡bodies¡¡were¡¡myriads¡¡of¡¡little¡¡jackals¡£¡¡
That¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡dream£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡high¡¡¡¡¡¡stone¡¡¡¡¡¡column¡¡¡¡¡¡surmounted¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
human¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡which¡¡said¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ascend¡¡this¡¡pillar£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡awaking£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡confident¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡dream¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡sent¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡
heaven¡£¡¡He¡¡called¡¡his¡¡disciples£»¡¡and¡¡addressed¡¡them¡¡in¡¡these¡¡words¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡¡¡¡¡beloved¡¡¡¡¡¡sons£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡you£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡go¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡God¡¡¡¡¡¡sends¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡
During¡¡my¡¡absence¡¡obey¡¡Flavian¡¡as¡¡you¡¡would¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡our¡¡
brother¡¡Paul¡£¡¡Bless¡¡you¡£¡¡Farewell¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡strode¡¡away£»¡¡they¡¡remained¡¡prostrate¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡
they¡¡raised¡¡their¡¡heads£»¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡tall¡¡dark¡¡figure¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sandy¡¡horizon¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡walked¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡reached¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ruins¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡temple£»¡¡
formerly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡built¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡idolaters£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡slept¡¡¡¡¡¡amongst¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
scorpions¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡sirens¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡former¡¡¡¡¡¡strange¡¡¡¡¡¡journey¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡walls£»¡¡¡¡¡¡covered¡¡
with¡¡¡¡¡¡magic¡¡¡¡¡¡signs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡standing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Thirty¡¡¡¡¡¡immense¡¡¡¡¡¡columns£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡
terminated¡¡in¡¡human¡¡heads¡¡or¡¡lotus¡¡flowers£»¡¡still¡¡supported¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡stone¡¡
entablature¡£¡¡But£»¡¡at¡¡one¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡temple£»¡¡a¡¡pillar¡¡had¡¡shaken¡¡off¡¡its¡¡old¡¡
burden£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a