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.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41