thais(塞斯)-第17章
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languages of future races of men； and their united voices formed a perfect
harmony。 Its abundant fruit gave to the initiated who tasted it the
knowledge of metals； stones； and plants； and also of physical and moral
laws； but this fruit was like fire； and those who feared suffering and death
did not dare to put it to their lips。 Now； as she had listened attentively to
the lessons of the serpent； Eve despised these empty terrors； and wished to
taste the fruit which gave the knowledge of God。 But； as she loved Adam；
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and did not wish him to be inferior to her； she took him by the hand and
led him to the wonderful tree。 Then she picked one of the burning apples；
bit it； and proffered it to her companion。 Unfortunately； Iaveh； who was by
chance walking in the garden； surprised them； and seeing that they had
become wise； he fell into a most ungovernable rage。 It is in his jealous fits
that he is most to be feared。 Assembling all his forces； he created such a
turmoil in the lower air that these two weak beings were terrified。 The fruit
fell from the man's hand； and the woman； clinging to the neck of her
luckless husband； said； 〃I too will be ignorant and suffer with him。〃 The
triumphant Iaveh kept Adam and Eve and all their seed in a condition of
hebetude and terror。 His art； which consisted only in being able to make
huge meteors； triumphed over the science of the serpent； who was a
musician and geometrician。 He made men unjust； ignorant； and cruel； and
caused evil to reign in the earth。 He persecuted Cain and his sons because
they were skilful workmen； he exterminated the Philistines because they
composed Orphic poems； and fables like those of AEsop。 He was the
implacable enemy of science and beauty； and for long ages the human race
expiated； in blood and tears； the defeat of the winged serpent。 Fortunately；
there arose among the Greeks learned men； such as Pythagoras； and Plato；
who recovered by the force of genius； the figures and the ideas which the
enemy of Iaveh had vainly tried to teach the first woman。 The soul of the
serpent was in them； and that is why the serpent； as Dorion has said； is
honoured by the Athenians。 Finally； in these latter days； there appeared；
under human form； three celestial spiritsJesus of Galilee； Basilides； and
Valentinusto whom it was given to pluck the finest fruits of that tree of
knowledge； whose roots pass through all the earth； and whose top reaches
to the highest heaven。 I have said all this in vindication of the Christians；
to whom the errors of the Jews are too often imputed。
DORION。 If I understood you aright； Zenothemis； you said that three
wonderful menJesus； Basilides； and Valentinushad discovered secrets
which had remained hidden from Pythagoras and Plato； and all the
philosophers of Greece； and even from the divine Epicurus； who； however；
has freed men from the dread of empty terrors。 You would greatly oblige
me by telling me by what means these three mortals acquired knowledge
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which had eluded the most contemplative sages。
ZENOTHEMIS。 Must I repeat to you； Dorion； that science and
cogitation are but the first steps to knowledge； and that ecstasy alone leads
to eternal truth？
HERMODORUS。 It is true； Zenothemis； that the soul is nourished on
ecstasy； as the cicada is nourished on dew。 But we may even say more： the
mind alone is capable of perfect rapture。 For man is of a threefold nature；
composed of material body； of a soul which is more subtle； but also
material； and of an incorruptible mind。 When； emerging from the body as
from a palace suddenly given over to silence and solitude and flying
through the gardens of the soul； the mind diffuses itself in God； it tastes
the delights of an anticipated death； or rather of a future life； for to die is to
live； and in that condition； partaking of divine purity； it possesses both
infinite joy and complete knowledge。 It enters into the unity which is All。
It is perfected。
NICIAS。 That is very fine； but； to say the truth； Hermodorus； I do not
see much difference between All and Nothing。 Words even seem to fail to
make the distinction。 Infinity is terribly like nothingnessthey are both
inconceivable to the mind。 In my opinion perfection costs too dear； we pay
for it with all our being； and to possess it must cease to exist。 That is a
calamity from which God Himself is not free； for the philosophers are
doing their best to perfect Him。 After all； if we do not know what it is /not/
to be； we are equally ignorant what it is to /be/。 We know nothing。 It is
said that it is impossible for men to agree on this question。 I believein
spite of our noisy disputes that it is； on the contrary； impossible for men
not to become some day all at unity buried under the mass of
contradictions； a Pelion on Ossa； which they themselves have raised。
COTTA。 I am very fond of philosophy； and study it in my leisure time。
But I never understand it well； except in Cicero's books。 Slaves； pour out
the honeyed wine！
CALLICRATES。 It is a singular thing； but when I am hungry I think of
the time when the tragic poets sat at the boards of good tyrants； and my
mouth waters。 But when I have tasted the excellent wine that you give us
so abundantly； generous Lucius； I dream of nothing but civil wars and
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heroic combats。 I blush to live in such inglorious times； I invoke the
goddess of Liberty； and I pour out my bloodin imagination with the last
Romans on the field of Philippi。
COTTA。 In the days of the decline of the Republic my ancestors died
with Brutusfor liberty。 But there is reason to suspect that what the
Roman people called liberty was only in reality the right to govern
themselves。 I do not deny that liberty is the greatest boon a nation can
have。 But the longer I live the more I am persuaded that only a strong
government can bestow it on the citizens。 For forty years I have filled high
positions in the State； and my long experience has shown me that when the
ruling power is weak the people are oppressed。 Those； therefore； wholike
the great majority of rhetoricianstry to weaken the government； commit
an abominable crime。 An autocrat； who governs by his single will； may
sometimes cause most deplorable results； but if he governs by popular
consent there is no remedy possible。 Before the majesty of the Roman
arms had bestowed peace upon all the world； the only nations which were
happy were those which were ruled over by intelligent despots。
HERMODORUS。 For my part； Lucius； I believe that there is no such
thing as a good form of government； and that we shall never discover one；
because the Greeks； who had so many excellent ideas； were never able to
find one。 In that respect； therefore； all hope of ultimate success is taken
from us。 Unmistakable signs show that the world is about to fall into
ignorance and barbarism。 It has been our lot； Lucius； to witness terrible
events。 Of all the mental satisfactions which intelligence； learning； and
virtue can give； all that remains is the cruel pleasure of watching ourselves
die。
COTTA。 It is true that the rapacity of the people； and the boldness of
the barbarians； are threatening evils。 But with a good fleet； a good army；
and plenty of money
HERMODORUS。 What is the use of deceiving ourselves？ The dying
empire will become an easy prey to the barbarians。 Cities which were built
by Hellenic genius； or Latin patience； will soon be sacked by drunken
savages。 Neither art nor philosophy will exist any longer on the earth。 The
statues of the gods will be overturned in the temples； and in men's hearts
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as well。 Darkness will overcome all minds； and the world will die。 Can we
believe that the Sarmatians will ever devote themselves to intelligent work；
that the Germani will cultivate music and philosophy； and that the Quadi
and the Marcomani will adore the immortal gods？ No！ we are sliding
toward the abyss。 Our old Egypt； which was the cradle of the world； will
be its burial vault； Serapis； the god of Death； will receive the last adoration
of mortals； and I shall have been the last priest of the last god。
At this moment a strange figure raised the tapestry； and the guests saw
before them a little hunchback； whose bald skull rose in a point。 He was
clad； in the Asiatic fashion； in a blue tunic； and wore round his legs； like
the barbarians； red breeches； spangled with gold stars。 On seeing him；
Paphnutius recognised Marcus the Arian； and fearing lest a thunderbolt
should fall from heaven； he covered his head with his arms； and grew pale
with fright。 At this banquet of the demons； neither the blasphemies of the
pagans； nor the horrible errors of the philosophers； had had any effect on
him； but the mere presence of the heretic quenched his courage。 He would
have fled； but his eyes met those of Thais； and he felt at once strengthened。
He read in her soul that she； who was predestined to become a saint；
already protected him。 He seized the skirt of her long； flowing robe； and
inwardly prayed to the Saviour Jesus。
A murmur of acclamation welcomed the arrival of the personage who
had been called the Christian Plato。 Hermodorus was the first to speak。
〃Most illustrious Marcus； we rejoice to see you amongst us； and it may
be said that you come at the right moment。 We know nothing of the
Christian doctrine； beyond what is publicly taught。 Now； it is certain that a
philosopher； like you； cannot think as the vulgar think； and we are curious
to know your opinion of the principal mysteries o
