thais-第35章
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always kept Thy commandments！ How inscrutable is Thy justice； O my
God！ and how impenetrable are Thy ways！〃
Zozimus extended his arms。
〃Look； venerable father！ On both sides of the horizon are long； black
files that look like emigrant ants。 They are our brothers； who； like
us； are going to meet Anthony。〃
When they came to the place of meeting； they saw a magnificent
spectacle。 The army of monks extended； in three ranks； in an immense
semicircle。 In the first rank stood the old hermits of the desert；
cross in hand； and with long beards that almost touched the ground。
The monks； governed by the abbots Ephrem and Serapion； and also all
the cenobites of the Nile； formed the second line。 Behind them
appeared the ascetics； who had come from their distant rocks。 Some
wore； on their blackened and dried…up bodies； shapeless rags； others
had for their only clothes； bundles of reeds held together by withies。
Many of them were naked； but God had covered them with a fell of hair
as thick as a sheep's fleece。 All held branches of palm； they looked
like an emerald rainbow； or they might have been also compared to the
host of the electthe living walls of the city of God。
Such perfect order reigned in the assembly； that Paphnutius found；
without difficulty； the monks he governed。 He placed himself near
them； after having taken care to hide his face under his hood； that he
might remain unknown； and not disturb them in their pious expectation。
Suddenly； an immense shout arose
〃The saint！〃 they all cried。 〃The saint！ Behold the great saint；
against whom hell has not prevailed； the well…beloved of God！ Our
father； Anthony！〃
Then a great silence followed； and every forehead was lowered to the
sand。
From the summit of a dune； in the vast void space； Anthony advanced；
supported by his beloved disciples； Macarius and Amathas。 He walked
slowly； but his figure was still upright； and showed the remains of a
superhuman strength。 His white beard spread over his broad chest； his
polished skull reflected the rays of sunlight like the forehead of
Moses。 The keen gaze of the eagle was in his eyes； the smile of a
child shone on his round cheek。 To bless his people； he raised his
arms； tired by a century of marvellous works； and his voice burst
forth for the last time； with the words of love。
〃How goodly are thy tents； O Jacob； and thy tabernacles； O Israel！〃
Immediately； from one end to the other of the living wall； like a peal
of harmonious thunder； the psalm； 〃Blessed is the man that feareth the
Lord；〃 broke forth。
Accompanied by Macarius and Amathas； Anthony passed along the ranks of
the old hermits； anchorites； and cenobites。 This seer； who had beheld
heaven and hell； this hermit； who from a cave in the rock； governed
the Christian Church； this saint； who had sustained the faith of the
martyrs； this scholar； whose eloquence had paralysed the heretics；
spoke tenderly to each of his sons； and bade them a kindly farewell；
on the eve of the blessed death； which God； who loved him； had at last
promised him。
He said to the abbots Ephrem and Serapion
〃You command large armies； and you are both great generals。 Therefore；
you shall put on in heaven an armour of gold； and the Archangel
Michael shall give you the title of kiliarchs of his hosts。〃
Perceiving the old man Philemon； he embraced him； and said
〃Behold； the kindest and best of all my children。 His soul exhales a
perfume as sweet as the flower of the beans he sows every year。〃
To Abbot Zozimus he addressed these words
〃Thou hast never mistrusted divine goodness； and therefore the peace
of the Lord is in thee。 The lily of thy virtues has flowered upon the
dunghill of thy corruption。〃
To all he spoke words of unerring wisdom。
To the old hermits he said
〃The apostle saw； round the throne of God； eighty old men seated； clad
in white robes； and wearing crowns on their heads。〃
To the young men
〃Be joyful； leave sadness to the happy ones of this world。〃
Thus he passed along the front of his filial army； exhorting and
comforting。 Paphnutius； seeing him approach； fell on his knees； his
heart torn by fear and hope。
〃My father！ my father！〃 he cried in his agony。 〃My father！ come to my
help； for I perish。 I have given to God the soul of Thais； I have
lived upon the top of a column； and in the chamber of a tomb。 My
forehead； unceasingly in the dust； has become horny as a camel's knee。
And yet God has gone from me。 Bless me； my father； and I shall be
saved； shake the hyssop； and I shall be washed； and I shall shine as
the snow。〃
Anthony did not reply。 He turned to the monks of Antinoe those eyes
whose looks no man could sustain。 He gazed for a long time at Paul；
called the Fool； then he made a sign to him to approach。 And； as all
were astonished that the saint should address himself to a man who was
not in his senses； Anthony said
〃God has granted to him more grace than to any of you。 Lift thy eyes；
my son Paul； and tell me what thou seest in heaven。〃
Paul the Fool raised his eyes； his face shone； and his tongue was
unloosed。
〃I see in heaven；〃 he said； 〃a bed adorned with hangings of purple and
gold。 Around it three virgins keep constant watch that no soul may
approach it； except the chosen one for whom the bed is prepared。〃
Believing that this bed was the symbol of his glorification；
Paphnutius had already begun to return thanks to God。 But Anthony made
a sign to him to be silent； and to listen to the Fool； who murmured in
his ecstasy
〃The three virgins speak to me； they say unto me： 'A saint is about to
quit the earth； Thais of Alexandria is dying。 And we have prepared the
bed of her glory； for we are her virtuesFaith； Fear； and Love。' 〃
Anthony asked
〃Sweet child； what else seest thou？〃
Paul gazed vacantly from the zenith to the nadir； and from west to
east； when suddenly his eyes fell on the Abbot of Antinoe。 His face
grew pale with a holy terror； and his eyeballs reflected invisible
flames。
〃I see；〃 he murmured。 〃three demons； who； full of joy； prepare to
seize that man。 One of them is like unto a tower； one to a woman； and
one to a mage。 All three bear their name； marked with redhot iron； the
first on the forehead； the second on the belly； the third on the
breast； and those names arePride； Lust； and Doubt。 I have finished。〃
Having spoken thus； Paul； with haggard eyes and hanging jaw； returned
to his old simple ways。
And； as the monks of Antinoe looked anxiously at Anthony； the saint
pronounced these words
〃God has made known His just judgment。 Let us bow to Him and hold our
peace。〃
He passed。 He bestowed blessings as he went。 The sun； now descended to
the horizon； enveloped him in its glory； and his shadow； immeasurably
elongated by a miracle from heaven； unrolled itself behind him like an
endless carpet； as a sign of the long remembrance this great saint
would leave amongst men。
Upright； but thunderstruck； Paphnutius saw and heard nothing more。 One
word alone rang in his ears； 〃Thais is dying！〃 The thought had never
occurred to him。 Twenty years had he contemplated a mummy's head； and
yet the idea that death would close the eyes of Thais astonished him
hopelessly。
〃Thais is dying！〃 An incomprehensible saying！ 〃Thais is dying！〃 In
those three words what a new and terrible sense！ 〃Thais is dying！〃
Then why the sun； the flowers； the brooks； and all creation？ 〃Thais is
dying！〃 What good was all the universe？ Suddenly he sprang forward。
〃To see her again； to see her once more！〃 He began to run。 He knew not
where he was； or whither he went； but instinct conducted him with
unerring certainty； he went straight to the Nile。 A swarm of sails
covered the upper waters of the river。 He sprang on board a barque
manned by Nubians； and lying in the forepart of the boat； his eyes
devouring space； he cried； in grief and rage
〃Fool； fool； that I was； not to have possessed Thais whilst there was
yet time！ Fool to have believed that there was anything else in the
world but her！ Oh； madness！ I dreamed of God； of the salvation of my
soul； of life eternalas if all that counted for anything when I had
seen Thais！ Why did I not feel th
