wiftly. Once we saw some of the gods at
daybreak. They were walking across a plain.

MYRRHINA. Once as I was passing through the market place I heard a
sophist from Cilicia say that there is only one God. He said it before
many people.

FIRST MAN. That cannot be true. We have ourselves seen many, though we
are but common men and of no account. When I saw them I hid myself in a
bush. They did me no harm.

MYRRHINA. Tell me more about the beautiful young hermit. Talk to me
about the beautiful young hermit who will not look on the face of woman.
What is the story of his days? What mode of life has he?

FIRST MAN. We do not understand you.

MYRRHINA. What does he do, the beautiful young hermit? Does he sow or
reap? Does he plant a garden or catch fish in a net? Does he weave
linen on a loom? Does he set his hand to the wooden plough and walk
behind the oxen?

SECOND MAN. He being a very holy man does nothing. We are common men
and of no account. We toil all day long in the sun. Sometimes the
ground is very hard.

MYRRHINA. Do the birds of the air feed him? Do the jackals share their
booty with him?

FIRST MAN. Every evening we bring him food. We do not think that the
birds of the air feed him.

MYRRHINA. Why do ye feed him? What profit have ye in so doing?

SECOND MAN. He is a very holy man. One of the gods whom he has offended
has made him mad. We think he has offended the moon.

MYRRHINA. Go and tell him that one who has come from Alexandria desires
to speak with him.

FIRST MAN. We dare not tell him. This hour he is praying to his God. We
pray thee to pardon us for not doing thy bidding.

MYRRHINA. Are ye afraid of him?

FIRST MAN. We are afraid of him.

MYRRHINA. Why are ye afraid of him?

FIRST MAN. We do not know.

MYRRHINA. What is his name?

FIRST MAN. The voice that speaks to him at night time in the cavern
calls to him by the name of Honorius. It was also by the name of
Honorius that the three lepers who passed by once called to him. We
think that his name is Honorius.

MYRRHINA. Why did the three lepers call to him?

FIRST MAN. That he might heal them.

MYRRHINA. Did he heal them?

SECOND MAN. No. They had committed some sin: it was for that reason
they were lepers. Their hands and faces were like salt. One of them
wore a mask of linen. He was a king's son.

MYRRHINA. What is the voice that speaks to him at night time in his
cave?