thais-第30章

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Blind　men　approached；　groping　with　their　hands；　and　raising　towards
him　a　face　pierced　with　two　bleeding　holes。　Paralytics　displayed
before　him　the　heavy　immobility；　the　deadly　emaciation；　and　the
hideous　contractions　of　their　limbs；　lame　men　showed　him　their　club
feet；　women　with　cancer；　holding　their　bosoms　with　both　hands；
uncovered　before　him　their　breasts　devoured　by　the　invisible　vulture。
Dropsical　women；　swollen　like　wine　skins　were　placed　on　the　ground
before　him。　He　blessed　them。　Nubians；　afflicted　with　elephantiasis；
advanced　with　heavy　steps　and　looked　at　him　with　streaming　eyes　and
expressionless　countenances。　He　made　the　sign　of　the　cross　over　them。
A　young　girl　of　Aphroditopolis　was　brought　to　him　on　a　litter；　after
having　vomited　blood；　she　had　slept　for　three　days。　She　looked　like　a
waxen　image；　and　her　parents；　who　thought　she　was　dead；　had　placed　a
palm　leaf　on　her　breast。　Paphnutius　having　prayed　to　God；　the　young
girl　raised　her　head　and　opened　her　eyes。

As　the　people　reported　everywhere　the　miracles　which　the　saint　had
performed；　unfortunate　persons　afflicted　with　that　disease　which　the
Greeks　call　〃the　divine　malady；〃　came　from　all　parts　of　Egypt　in
incalculable　legions。　As　soon　as　they　saw　the　pillar；　they　were　seized
with　convulsions；　rolled　on　the　ground；　writhed；　and　twisted
themselves　into　a　ball。　Andthough　it　is　hardly　to　be　believedthe
persons　present　were　in　their　turn　seized　with　a　violent　delirium；　and
imitated　the　contortions　of　the　epileptics。　Monks　and　pilgrims；　men
and　women；　wallowed　and　struggled　pell…mell；　their　limbs　twisted；
foaming　at　the　mouth；　eating　handfuls　of　earth　and　prophesying。　And
Paphnutius　at　the　top　of　his　pillar　felt　a　thrill　of　horror　pass
through　him；　and　cried　to　God

〃I　am　the　scapegoat；　and　I　take　upon　me　all　the　impurities　of　these
people；　and　that　is　why；　Lord；　my　body　is　filled　with　evil　spirits。〃

Every　time　that　a　sick　person　went　away　healed；　the　people　applauded；
carried　him　in　triumph；　and　ceased　not　to　repeat

〃We　behold　another　well　of　Siloam！〃

Hundreds　of　crutches　already　hung　round　the　wonderful　column；　grateful
women　suspended　wreaths　and　votive　images　there。　Some　of　the　Greeks
inscribed　distiches；　and　as　every　pilgrim　carved　his　name；　the　stone
was　soon　covered　as　high　as　a　man　could　reach　with　an　infinity　of
Latin；　Greek；　Coptic；　Punic；　Hebrew；　Syrian；　and　magic　characters。

When　the　feast　of　Easter　came　there　was　such　an　affluence　of　people　to
this　city　of　miracles　that　old　men　thought　that　the　days　of　the
ancient　mysteries　had　returned。　All　sorts　of　people；　in　all　sorts　of
costumes；　were　to　be　seen　there；　the　striped　robes　of　the　Egyptians；
the　burnoose　of　the　Arabs；　the　white　drawers　of　the　Nubians；　the　short
cloak　of　the　Greeks；　the　long　toga　of　the　Romans；　the　scarlet　breeches
of　the　barbarians；　the　gold…spangled　robes　of　the　courtesans。　A　veiled
woman　would　pass　on　an　ass；　preceded　by　black　eunuchs；　who　cleared　a
passage　for　her　by　the　free　use　of　their　sticks。　Acrobats；　having
spread　a　carpet　on　the　ground；　juggled　and　performed　skilful　tricks
before　a　circle　of　silent　spectators。　Snake…charmers　unrolled　their
living　girdles。　A　glittering；　dusty；　noisy；　chattering　crowd！　The
curses　of　the　camel…drivers　beating　the　animals；　the　cries　of　the
hawkers　who　sold　amulets　against　leprosy　and　the　evil　eye；　the
psalmody　of　the　monks　reciting　verses　of　the　Bible；　the　shrieking　of
the　women　who　were　prophesying；　the　shouting　of　the　beggars　singing
old　songs　of　the　harem；　the　bleating　of　sheep；　the　braying　of　asses；
the　sailors　calling　tardy　passengers；　all　these　confused　noises　caused
a　deafening　uproar；　over　which　dominated　the　strident　voices　of　the
little　naked　negro　boys；　running　about　everywhere　selling　fresh　dates。

And　all　these　human　beings　stifled　under　the　white　sky；　in　a　heavy
atmosphere　laden　with　the　perfumes　of　women；　the　odour　of　negroes；　the
fumes　of　cooking　and　the　smoke　of　gums；　which　the　devotees　bought　of
the　shepherds　to　burn　before　the　saint。

When　night　came；　fires；　torches；　and　lanterns　were　lighted　everywhere；
and　nothing　was　to　be　seen　but　red　shadows　and　black　shapes。　Standing
amidst　a　circle　of　squatting　listeners；　an　old　man；　his　face　lighted
by　a　smoky　lamp；　related　how；　formerly；　Bitiou　had　enchanted　his
heart；　torn　it　from　his　breast；　placed　it　in　an　acacia；　and　then
transformed　himself　into　a　tree。　He　made　gestures；　which　his　shadow
repeated　with　absurd　exaggerations；　and　the　audience　uttered　cries　of
admiration。　In　the　taverns；　the　drinkers；　lying　on　couches；　called　for
beer　and　wine。　Dancing　girls；　with　painted　eyes　and　bare　stomachs；
performed　before　them　religious　or　lascivious　scenes。　In　retired
corners；　young　men　played　dice　or　other　games；　and　old　men　followed
prostitutes。　Above　all　these　rose　the　solitary；　unchanging　column；　the
head　with　the　cow's　horns　gazed　into　the　shadow；　and　above　it
Paphnutius　watched　between　heaven　and　earth。　All　at　once　the　moon　rose
over　the　Nile；　like　the　bare　shoulder　of　a　goddess。　The　hills　gleamed
with　blue　light；　and　Paphnutius　thought　he　saw　the　body　of　Thais
shinning　in　the　glimmer　of　the　waters　amidst　the　sapphire　night。

The　days　passed；　and　the　saint　still　lived　on　his　pillar。　When　the
rainy　season　came；　the　waters　of　heaven；　filtering　through　the　cracks
in　the　roof；　wetted　his　body；　his　stiff　limbs　were　incapable　of
movement。　Scorched　by　the　sun；　and　reddened　by　the　dew；　his　skin
broke；　large　ulcers　devoured　his　arms　and　legs。　But　the　desire　of
Thais　still　consumed　him　inwardly；　and　he　cried

〃It　is　not　enough；　great　God！　More　temptations！　More　unclean　thoughts！
More　horrible　desires！　Lord；　lay　upon　me　all　the　lusts　of　men；　that　I
may　expiate　them　all！　Though　it　is　false　that　the　Greek　bitch　took
upon　herself　all　the　sins　of　the　world；　as　I　heard　an　impostor　once
declare；　yet　there　is　a　hidden　meaning　in　the　fable；　the　truth　of
which　I　now　recognise。　For　it　is　true　that　the　sins　of　the　people
enter　the　soul　of　the　saints；　and　are　lost　there　as　in　a　well。　Thus　it
is　that　the　souls　of　the　just　are　polluted　with　more　filth　than　is
ever　found　in　the　soul　of　the　sinner。　And；　for　that　reason；　I　praise
Thee；　O　my　God；　for　having　made　me　the　cesspool　of　the　world。〃

One　day；　a　rumour　ran　through　the　holy　city；　and　even　reached　the　ears
of　the　hermit：　a　very　great　personage；　a　man　occupying　a　high
position；　the　Prefect　of　the　Alexandrian　fleet；　Lucius　Aurelius　Cotta；
was　about　to　visit　the　citywas；　indeed；　now　on　his　way。

The　news　was　true。　Old　Cotta；　who　was　inspecting　the　canals　and　the
navigation　of　the　Nile；　had　many　times　expressed　a　desire　to　see　the
stylite　and　the　new　city；　to　which　the　name　of　Stylopolis　had　been
given。　The　Stylopolitans　saw　the　river　covered　with　sails　one　morning。
Cotta　appeared　on　board　a　golden　galley　hung　with　purple；　and　followed
by　all　his　fleet。　He　landed；　and　advanced；　accompanied　by　a　secretary
carrying　his　tablets；　and　Aristaeus；　his　physician；　with　whom　he　liked
to　converse。

A　numerous　suite　walked　behind　him；　and　the　shore　was　covered　with
/laticlaves/＇*＇　and　military　uniforms。　He　stopped；　some　paces　from　the
column；　and　began　to　examine　the　stylite；　wiping　his　face　meanwhile
with　the　skirt　of　his　toga。　Being　of　a　naturally　curious　disposition；
he　had　observed　many　things　in　the　course　of　his　long　voyages。　He
liked　to　remember　them；　and　intended　to　write；　after　he　had　finished
his　Punic　history；　a　book　on　the　remarkable　things　he　had　witnessed。
He　seemed　much　interested　by　the　spectacle　before　him。

＇*＇　The　/laticlave/　was　a　toga；　with　a　broad　purple　band；　worn　by
　　　　Roman　senators　as　the　distinguishing　mark　of　their　high　office。

〃This　is　very　curious！〃　he　said；　puffing　and　blowing。　〃Andwhich　is　a
circumstance　worthy　of　being　recordedthis　man　was　my　guest。　Yes；
this　monk　supped　with　me　last　year；　after　which　he　carried　off　an
actress。〃

Turning　to　his　secretary

〃Note　that；　my　son；　on　my　tablets；　also　the　dimensions　of　the　column；
not　omitting　the　shape　of　the　top　of　it。〃

Then；　wiping　his　face　again

〃Persons　deserving　of　belief　have　assured　me　that　this　monk　has　not
left　his　column　for　a　single　moment　since　h