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thais(塞斯)-第1部分

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                             THAIS 



                 THAIS 



  by ANATOLE FRANCE 



Translated By Robert B。 Douglas 



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                                           THAIS 



                          PART THE FIRST 



                                       THE LOTUS 



     In   those days   there  were  many   hermits   living  in   the desert。  On   both 

banks     of  the  Nile   numerous      huts;   built  by   these  solitary   dwellers;    of 

branches held together by clay; were scattered at a little distance from each 

other; so that the inhabitants could live alone; and yet help one another in 

case of need。 Churches; each surmounted by a cross; stood here and there 

amongst   the      huts;  and   the  monks     flocked   to   them   at   each   festival   to 

celebrate the services or to partake of the Communion。 There were also; 

here and there on the banks of the river; monasteries; where the cenobites 

lived   in   separate   cells;   and   only   met   together   that   they   might   the   better 

enjoy their solitude。 

     Both   hermits   and   cenobites   led   abstemious   lives;   taking   no   food   till 

after   sunset;   and   eating   nothing   but   bread   with   a   little   salt   and   hyssop。 

Some retired into the desert; and led a still more strange life in some cave 

or tomb。 

     All lived in temperance and chastity; they wore a hair shirt and a hood; 

slept on the bare ground after long watching; prayed; sang psalms; and; in 

short; spent their days in works of penitence。 As an atonement for original 

sin;   they   refused   their   body   not   only   all   pleasures   and   satisfactions;   but 

even that care and attention which in this age are deemed indispensable。 

They believed that the diseases of our members purify our souls; and the 

flesh could put on no adornment more glorious than wounds and ulcers。 

Thus;   they   thought   they   fulfilled   the   words   of   the   prophet;   〃The   desert 

shall rejoice and blossom as the rose。〃 

     Amongst   the   inhabitants   of   the   holy   Thebaid;   there   were   some   who 

passed   their   days   in   asceticism   and   contemplation;   others   gained   their 

livelihood   by   plaiting   palm   fibre;   or   by   working   at   harvest…time   for   the 

neighbouring   farmers。 The   Gentiles   wrongly  suspected   some   of   them   of 

living   by  brigandage;  and   allying themselves   to   the   nomadic Arabs   who 

robbed the caravans。 But; as a matter of fact; the monks despised riches; 

and the odour of their sanctity rose to heaven。 



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                                            THAIS 



     Angels in the likeness of young men; came; staff in hand; as travellers; 

to   visit  the   hermitages;      whilst   demonshaving        assumed      the  form    of 

Ethiopians or of animalswandered round the habitations of the hermits in 

order to lead them into temptation。 When the monks went in the morning 

to   fill   their   pitcher   at   the   spring;   they   saw   the   footprints   of   Satyrs   and 

Aigipans in the sand。 The Thebaid was; really and spiritually; a battlefield; 

where;     at  all  times;   and   more    especially    at  night;   there   were    terrible 

conflicts between heaven and hell。 

     The   ascetics;   furiously   assailed   by   legions   of   the   damned;   defended 

themselveswith the help of God and the angelsby fasting; prayer; and 

penance。 Sometimes carnal desires pricked them so cruelly that they cried 

aloud with pain; and their lamentations rose to the starlit heavens mingled 

with    the   howls    of  the  hungry     hyaenas。    Then    it  was   that   the  demons 

appeared      in  delightful    forms。    For   though     the  demons      are;  in  reality; 

hideous; they sometimes assume an appearance of beauty which prevents 

their real nature from being recognised。 The ascetics of the Thebaid were 

amazed   to   see  in   their  cells   phantasms   of   delights   unknown   even   to   the 

voluptuaries of the age。 But; as they were under the sign of the Cross; they 

did   not   succumb   to   these   temptations;   and   the   unclean   spirits;   assuming 

again their true character; fled at daybreak; filled with rage and shame。 It 

was   not   unusual   to   meet   at   dawn   one   of   these   beings;   flying   away   and 

weeping;   and   replying   to   those   who   questioned   it;   〃I   weep   and   groan 

because one of the Christians who live here has beaten me with rods; and 

driven me away in ignominy。〃 

     The power of the old saints of the desert extended over all sinners and 

unbelievers。   Their   goodness   was   sometimes   terrible。   They   derived   from 

the Apostles authority to punish all offences against the true and only God; 

and no earthly power could save those they condemned。 Strange tales were 

told in the cities; and even as far as Alexandria; how the earth had opened 

and swallowed up certain wicked persons whom one of these saints struck 

with     his   staff。  Therefore      they    were    feared    by   all   evil…doers;    and 

particularly by mimes; mountebanks; married priests; and prostitutes。 

     Such was the sanctity of these holy men that even wild beasts felt their 

power。 When a hermit was about to die; a lion came and dug a grave with 



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                                            THAIS 



its claws。 The saint knew by this that God had called him; and he went and 

kissed all his brethren on the cheek。 Then he lay down joyfully; and slept 

in the Lord。 

     Now   that   Anthony;   who   was   more   than   a   hundred   years   old;   had 

retired   to   Mount   Colzin   with   his   well…beloved   disciples;   Macarius   and 

Amathas;   there   was   no   monk   in   the   Thebaid   more   renowned   for   good 

works than Paphnutius; the Abbot of Antinoe。 Ephrem and Serapion had a 

greater     number       of   followers;     and    in   the    spiritual    and    temporal 

management of their monasteries surpassed him。 But Paphnutius observed 

the most rigorous fasts; and often went for three entire days without taking 

food。   He    wore    a  very   rough    hair   shirt;  he  flogged    himself    night   and 

morning; and lay for hours with his face to the earth。 

     His twenty…four disciples had built their huts near his; and imitated his 

austerities。   He   loved   them   all    dearly   in   Jesus   Christ;   and   unceasingly 

exhorted   them   to   good   works。 Amongst   his   spiritual   children   were   men 

who   had   been   robbers   for   many   years;   and   had   been   persuaded   by   the 

exhortations of the holy abbot to embrace the monastic life; and who now 

edified their companions by the purity of their lives。 One; who had been 

cook   to   the   Queen   of   Abyssinia;   and   was   converted   by   the   Abbot   of 

Antinoe; never ceased to weep。 There was also Flavian; the deacon; who 

knew the Scriptures; and spoke well; but the disciple of Paphnutius who 

surpassed all the others in holiness was a young peasant named Paul; and 

surnamed the Fool; because of his extreme simplicity。 Men laughed at his 

childishness; but God favoured him with visions; and by bestowing upon 

him the gift of prophecy。 

     Paphnutius   passed   his   life   in   teaching   his   disciples;   and   in   ascetic 

practices。 Often did he meditate upon the Holy Scriptures in order to find 

allegories   in   them。   Therefore   he   abounded   in   good   works;   though   still 

young。 The devils; who so rudely assailed the good hermits; did not dare 

to approach him。 At night; seven little jackals sat in the moonlight in front 

of   his   cell;   silent   and   motionless;   and   with   their   ears   pricked   up。   It   was 

believed that they were seven devils; who; owing to his sanctity; could not 

cross his threshold。 

     Paphnutius       was    born    at  Alexandria      of   noble    parents;    who    had 



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                                            THAIS 



instructed   him   in   all   profane   learning。   He   had   even   been   allured   by   the 

falsehoods of the poets; and in his early youth had been misguided enough 

to believe that   the human race   had   all   been   drowned by  a   deluge   in   the 

days of Deucalion; and had argued with his fellow…scholars concerning the 

nature; the attributes; and even the existence of God。 He then led a life of 

dissipation; after the manner of the Gentiles; and he recalled the memory 

of those days with shame and horror。 

     〃At    that   time;〃   he   used   to   say  to   the  brethren;    〃I  seethed     in  the 
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