第29章 THE BANQUET(5)

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 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 Ishall 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 of the religion you profess.Our dear friend, Zenothemis, who, as you know, is always hunting for symbolic meanings, just now questioned the illustrious Paphnutius concerning the Jewish books.But Paphnutius made no reply, and we should not be surprised at that, as our guest has made a vow of silence, and God has sealed his tongue in the desert.But you Marcus, who have spoken at the Christian synods, and even at the councils of the divine Constantine, can if you wish, satisfy our curiosity by revealing to us the philosophic truths which are wrapped up in the Christian fables.Is not the first of these truths the existence of an only God--in whom, for my part, I fervently believe?"MARCUS.Yes, venerable brethren, I believe in an only God, not begotten--the only Eternal, the origin of all things.

NICIAS.We know, Marcus, that your God created the world.That must certainly have been a great crisis in His existence.He had already existed an eternity before He could make up His mind to it.But Imust, in justice, confess that His situation was a most difficult one.

He must continue inactive if He would remain perfect, and must act if He would prove to Himself His own existence.You assure me that He decided to act.I am willing to believe you, although it was an unpardonable imprudence on the part of a perfect God.But tell us, Marcus, how He set about making the world.

MARCUS.Those who, without being Christians, possess, like Hermodorus and Zenothemis, the principles of knowledge, are aware that God did not create the world personally without an intermediary.He gave birth to an only Son, by whom all things were made.

HERMODORUS.That is quite true, Marcus; and this Son is worshipped under the various names of Hermes, Mithra, Adonis, Apollo, and Jesus.

MARCUS.I should not be a Christian if I gave Him any other names than those of Jesus Christ, and Saviour.He is the true Son of God.But He is not eternal, since He had a beginning; as to thinking that He existed before He was begotten, we must leave that absurdity to the Nicaean mules, and the obstinate ass who too long governed the Church of Alexandria under the accursed name of Athanasius.

At these words Paphnutius, white with horror and his face bedewed with the sweat of agony made the sign of the cross, but maintained a sublime silence.

Marcus continued--

"It is clear that the foolish Nicene Creed is a treason against the majesty of the only God, by compelling Him to share His indivisible attributes with His own emanation--the Mediator by whom all things were made.Cease jesting at the true God of the Christians, Nicias, and learn that, like the lilies of the field, He toils not, neither does He spin.It was not He who was the worker, it was His only Son, Jesus, who, having created the world, came afterwards to repair His handiwork.For the creation could not be perfect, and evil was necessarily mingled with good.

NICIAS.What is "good," and what is "evil"?

There was a moment's silence, during which Hermodorus, his arm extended on the cloth, pointed to a little ass in Corinthian metal which bore two baskets--the one containing white olives, the other black olives.