thais(塞斯)-第16章
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and the pasterns are too low； the animal will soon go lame。〃
They were continuing their dispute； when Drosea uttered a piercing
shriek。
〃Oh！ I nearly swallowed a fish…bone； as long and much sharper than a
style。 Luckily； I was able to get it out of my throat in time！ The gods love
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me！〃
〃Did you say； Drosea； that the gods loved you？〃 asked Nicias； smiling。
〃Then they must share the same infirmities as men。 Love presupposes
unhappiness on the part of whoever suffers from it； and is a proof of
weakness。 The affection they feel for Drosea is a great proof of the
imperfection of the gods。〃
At these words Drosea flew into a great rage。
〃Nicias； your remarks are foolish and not to the point。 But that is your
characteryou never understand what is said； and reply in words devoid of
sense。〃
Nicias smiled again。
〃Talk away； talk away； Drosea。 Whatever you say； we are glad every
time you open your mouth。 Your teeth are so pretty！〃
At that moment； a grave…looking old man； negligently dressed；
walking slowly； with his head high； entered the room； and gazed at the
guests quietly。 Cotta made a sign to him to take a place by his side； on the
same couch。
〃Eucrites；〃 he said； 〃you are welcome。 Have you composed a new
treatise on philosophy this month？ That would make； if I calculate
correctly； the ninety…second that has proceeded from the Nile reed you
direct with an Attic hand。〃
Eucrites replied； stroking his silver beard
〃The nightingale was created to sing； and I was created to praise the
immortal gods。〃
DORION。 Let us respectfully salute； in Eucrites； the last of the stoics。
Grave and white； he stands in the midst of us like the image of an ancestor。
He is solitary amidst a crowd of men； and the words he utters are not
heard。
EUCRITES。 You deceive yourself； Dorion。 The philosophy of virtue is
not dead。 I have numerous disciples in Alexandria； Rome； and
Constantinople。 Many of the slaves； and some of the nephews of Caesar；
now know how to govern themselves； to live independently； and being
unconcerned with all affairs； they enjoy boundless happiness。 Many of
them have revived； in their own person； Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius。
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But if it were true that virtue were for ever extinguished upon the earth； in
what way would the loss of it affect my happiness； since it did not depend
on me whether it existed or perished？ Only fools； Dorion； place their
happiness out of their own power。 I desire nothing that the gods do not
wish； and I desire all that they do wish。 By that means I render myself like
unto them； and share their infallible content。 If virtue perishes； I consent
that it should perish； and that consent fills me with joy； as the supreme
effort of my reason or my courage。 In all things my wisdom will copy the
divine wisdom； and the copy will be more valuable than the model； it will
have cost greater care and more work。
NICIAS。 I understand。 You put yourself on the same level as divine
providence。 But if virtue consists only in effort； Eucrites； and in that
intense application by which the disciples of Zeno pretend to render
themselves equal to the gods； the frog； which swelled itself out to try and
become as big as the ox； accomplished a masterpiece of stoicism。
EUCRITES。 You jest； Nicias； and； as usual； you excel in ridicule。 But
if the ox of which you speak is really a god； like Apis； or like that
subterranean ox whose high priest I see here； and if the frog； being wisely
inspired； succeed in equalling it； would it not be； in fact； more virtuous
than the ox； and could you refrain from admiring such a courageous little
animal！
Four servants placed on the table a wild pig； still covered with its
bristles。 Little pigs； made of pastry； surrounded the animal； as though they
would suckle； to show that it was a sow。
Zenothemis； turning towards the monk； said
〃Friends； a guest has come hither to join us。 The illustrious Paphnutius；
who leads such an extraordinary life of solitude； is our unexpected guest。〃
COTTA。 You may even add； Zenothemis； that the place of honour is
due to him； because he came without being invited。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Therefore； we ought； my dear Lucius； to make him
the more welcome； and strive to do that which would be most agreeable to
him。 Now it is certain that such a man cares less for the perfumes of meat
than for the perfumes of fine thoughts。 We shall； doubtless； please him by
discussing the doctrine he professes； which is that of Jesus crucified。 For
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my own part； I shall the more willingly discuss this doctrine； because it
keenly interests me； on account of the number and the diversity of the
allegories it contains。 If one may guess at the spirit by the letter； it is filled
with truths； and I consider that the Christian books abound in divine
revelations。 But I should not； Paphnutius； grant equal merit to the Jewish
books。 They were inspired not； as it was said； by the Spirit of God； but by
an evil genius。 Iaveh； who dictated them； was one of those spirits who
people the lower air； and cause the greater part of the evils； from which we
suffer； but he surpassed all the others in ignorance and ferocity。 On the
contrary； the serpent with golden wings； which twined its azure coils
round the tree of knowledge； was made up of light and love。 A combat
between these two powersthe one of light and the other of darknesswas；
therefore； inevitable。 It occurred soon after the creation of the world。 God
had hardly begun to rest after His labors； Adam and Eve； the first man and
the first woman； lived happy and naked in the Garden of Eden； when
Iaveh conceivedto their misfortunethe design of governing them and all
the generations which Eve already bore in her splendid loins。 As he
possessed neither the compass nor the lyre； and was equally ignorant of
the science which commands and the art which persuades； he frightened
these two poor children by hideous apparitions； capricious threats； and
thunder…bolts。 Adam and Eve； feeling his shadow upon them； pressed
closer to one another； and their love waxed stronger in fear。 The serpent
took pity on them； and determined to instruct them； in order that；
possessing knowledge； they might no longer be misled by lies。 Such an
undertaking required extreme prudence； and the frailty of the first human
couple rendered it almost hopeless。 The well…intentioned demon essayed it；
however。 Without the knowledge of Iavehwho pretended to see
everything； but； in reality； was not very sharp…sightedhe approached
these two beings； and charmed their eyes by the splendour of his coat and
the brilliancy of his wings。 Then he interested their minds by forming
before them； with his body； definite figures； such as the circle； the ellipse；
and the spiral； the wonderful properties of which have since been
recognised by the Greeks。 Adam meditated on these figures more than Eve
did。 But when the serpent began to speak； and taught the most sublime
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truthsthose which cannot be demonstratedhe found that Adam being
made of red earth； was of too dull a nature to understand these subtle
distinctions； but that Eve； on the contrary； being more tender and more
sensitive； was easily impressed。 Therefore he conversed with her alone； in
the absence of her husband； in order to initiate her first
DORION。 Permit me； Zenothemis； to interrupt you。 I speedily
recognised in the myth you have explained to us an episode in the war of
Pallas Athene against the giants。 Iaveh much resembles Typhoon； and
Pallas is represented by the Athenians with a serpent at her side。 But what
you have said causes me considerable doubt as to the intelligence or good
faith of the serpent of whom you have spoken。 If he had really possessed
knowledge； would he have entrusted it to a woman's little head； which was
incapable of containing it？ I should rather consider that he was like Iaveh；
ignorant and a liar； and that he chose Eve because she was easily seduced；
and he imagined that Adam would have more intelligence and perception。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Learn； Dorion； that it is not by perception and
intelligence； but by sensibility； that the highest and purest truths are
reached。 That is why women； who； generally； are less reflective but more
sensitive than men； rise more easily to the knowledge of things divine。 In
them is the gift of prophecy； and it is not without reason that Apollo
Citharedes； and Jesus of Nazareth； are sometimes represented clad； like
women； in flowing robes。 The initiator was therefore wisewhatever you
may say to the contrary； Dorionin bestowing light； not on the duller
Adam； but on Eve； who was whiter than milk or the stars。 She freely
listened to him； and allowed herself to be led to the tree of knowledge； the
branches of which rose to heaven； and which was bathed with the divine
spirit as with a dew。 This tree was covered with leaves which spoke all the
languages of future races of men； and their united voices formed a perfect
harmony。 Its abundant fruit gave to
