h, between two cliffs of black
rocks. There, in a livid light, the demons tormented the souls of the
damned. The souls preserved the appearance of the bodies which had held
them, and even wore some rags of clothing. These souls seemed peaceful
in the midst of their torments. One of them, tall and white, his eyes
closed, a white fillet across his forehead, and a sceptre in his hand,
sang; his voice filled the desert shores with harmony; he sang of gods
and heroes. Little green devils pierced his lips and throat with red-hot
irons. And the shade of Homer still sang. Near by, old Anaxagoras, bald
and hoary, traced figures in the dust with a compass. A demon poured
boiling oil into his ear, yet failed, however, to disturb the sage's
meditations. And the monk saw many other persons, who, on the dark
shore by the side of the burning river, read, or quietly meditated, or
conversed with other spirits while walking,--like the sages and pupils
under the shadow of the sycamore trees of Academe. Old Timocles alone
had withdrawn from the others, and shook his head like a man who denies.
One of the demons of the abyss shook a torch before his eyes, but
Timocles would see neither the demon nor the torch.

Mute with surprise at this spectacle, Paphnutius turned to the monster.
It had disappeared, and, in place of the sphinx, the monk saw a veiled
woman, who said--

"Look and understand. Such is the obstinacy of these infidels, that,
even in hell, they remain victims of the illusions which deluded them
when on earth. Death has not undeceived them; for it is very plain that
it does not suffice merely to die in order to see God. Those who are
ignorant of the truth whilst living, will be ignorant of it always. The
demons which are busy torturing these souls, what are they but agents of
divine justice? That is why these souls neither see them nor feel them.
They were ignorant of the truth, and therefore unaware of their own
condemnation, and God Himself cannot compel them to suffer.

"God can do all things," said the Abbot of Antinoe.

"He cannot do that which is absurd," replied the veiled woman. "To
punish them, they must first be enlightened, and if they possessed the
truth, they would be like unto the elect."

Vexed and horrified, Paphnutius again bent over the edge of the abyss.
He saw the shade of Nicias smiling, with a wreath of flowers on his
head, sitting under a burnt myrtle tree. By his side was Aspasia of
Miletus, gracefull