baskets sacred to Ceres； twelve young girls； bearing on their heads
baskets filled with pomegranates and apples； entered the room with a
light step； in time to the music of an invisible flute。 They placed
the baskets on the table； the flute ceased； and Zenothemis spoke as
follows
〃When Eunoia； 'the thought of God；' had created the world； she
confided the government of the earth to the angels。 But they did not
preserve the dispassion befitting masters。 Seeing that the daughters
of men were fair； they surprised them in the evening by the wellside；
and united themselves to them。 From these unions sprang a turbulent
race； who covered the earth with injustice and cruelty； and the dust
of the roads drank up the blood of the innocent。 The sight of this
caused Eunoia infinite grief。
〃 'See what I have done！' she sighed； leaning towards the world。 'My
poor children are plunged in misery； and by my fault。 Their suffering
is my crime； and I will expiate it。 God Himself； who only thinks
through me； would be powerless to restore them to their pristine
purity。 That which is done is done； and the creation will remain for
ever imperfect。 But； at least； I will not forsake my creatures。 If I
cannot make them happy； like me； I can make myself unhappy； like them。
Since I committed the mistake of giving them bodies which dishonour
them； I will myself assume a body like unto theirs； and will go and
live amongst them。'
〃Having thus spoken； Eunoia descended to the earth； and was incarnate
in the breast of a woman of Argos。 She was born small and feeble； and
received the name of Helen。 She submitted to all the labours of this
life； but soon grew in grace and beauty； and became the most desired
of women； as she had determined； in order that her mortal body might
be tried by the most supreme defilements。 An inert prey to lascivious
and violent men； she suffered rape and adultery； in expiation of all
the adulteries； all the violences； all the iniquities； and caused； by
her beauty； the ruin of nations； that God might pardon the sins of the
universe。 And never was the celestial thought； never was Eunoia； so
adorable as in those days when； as a woman； she prostituted herself to
heroes and shepherds。 The poets surmised her divinity when they
painted her so peaceful； superb； and fatal； and when they addressed
that invocation to her； 'A soul as serene as a calm upon the waters。'
〃Thus was Eunoia led by pity into evil and suffering。 She died； and
the Argives still show her tombfor it was necessary that she should
know death after lust； and taste the bitter fruit she had sown。 But；
emerging from the decomposed flesh of Helen； she became incarnate
again as a woman； and again suffered every form of insult and outrage。
Thus； passing from body to body； throughout all the evil ages； she
takes upon her the sins of the world。 Her sacrifice will not be in
vain。 Joined to us by the bonds of the flesh； loving us； and weeping
with us； she will effect her redemption and ours； and will carry us；
clinging to her white breast； into the peace of the regained
paradise。〃
HERMODORUS。 This myth was not unknown to me。 I remembered having heard
that； in one of her metamorphoses； the divine Helen lived with the
magician； Simon； in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius。 I thought；
however； that her perdition was involuntary； and that she was dragged
down by the angels in their fall。
ZENOTHEMIS。 It is true； Hermodorus； that men who were not properly
initiated in the mysteries have imagined that the sad Eunoia was not a
party to her own downfall。 But if it were as they assert Eunoia would
not be the expiating courtesan； the victim covered with stains of all
sorts； the bread steeped in the wine of our shame； the pleasant
offering； the meritorious sacrifice； the holocaust； the smoke of which
rises to God。 If they were not voluntary； there would be no merit in
her sins。
CALLICRATES。 Does anyone know； Zenothemis in what country； under what
name； in what adorable form； this ever…renascent Helen is living now？
ZENOTHEMIS。 A man would have to be very wise indeed to discover such a
secret。 And wisdom； Callicrates； is not given to poets； who live in
the rude world of forms and amuse themselves； like children； with
sounds and empty shows。
CALLICRATES。 Beware of offending the gods； impious Zenothemis； the
poets are dear to them。 The first laws were dictated in verse by the
immortals themselves； and the oracles of the gods are poems。 Hymns
have a pleasant sound to celestial ears。 Who does not know that the
poets are prophets； and that nothing is hidden from them？ Being a poet
myself； and crowned with Apollo's laurel； I will make known to all the
last incarnation of Eunoia。 The eternal Helen is close to us； she is
looking at us； and we are looking at her。 You see that woman reclining
on the cushions of her couchso beautiful and so contemplativewhose
eyes shed tears； and whose lips abound with kisses！ It is she！ Lovely
as in the time of Priam and the halcyon days of Asia； Eunoia is now
called Thais。
PHILINA。 What do you say； Callicrates？ Our dear Thais knew Paris；
Menelaus； and the Achaians who fought before Ilion！ Was the Trojan
horse big； Thais？
ARISTOBULUS。 Who speaks of a horse？
〃I have drunk like a Thracian！〃 cried Chereas and he rolled under the
table。
Callicrates； raising his cup； cried
〃If we drink like desperate men； we die unavenged！〃
Old Cotta was asleep； and his bald head nodded slowly above his broad
shoulders。
For some time past Dorion had seemed to be greatly excited under his
philosophic cloak。 He reeled up to the couch of Thais。
〃Thais； I love you； although it is unseemly in me to love a woman。〃
THAIS。 Why did you not love me before？
DORION。 Because I had not supped。
THAIS。 But I； my poor friend； have drunk nothing but water； therefore
you must excuse me if I do not love you。
Dorion did not wait to hear more； but made towards Drosea； who had
made a sign to him in order to get him away from her friend。
Zenothemis took the place he had left； and gave Thais a kiss on the
mouth。
THAIS。 I thought you more virtuous。
ZENOTHEMIS。 I am perfect； and the perfect are subject to no laws。
THAIS。 But are you not afraid of sullying your soul in a woman's arms？
ZENOTHEMIS。 The body may yield to lust without the soul being
concerned。
THAIS。 Go away！ I wish to be loved with body and soul。 All these
philosophers are old goats。
The lamps died out one by one。 The pale rays of dawn； which entered
between the openings of the hangings； shone on the livid faces and
swollen eyes of the guests。 Aristobulus was sleeping soundly by the
side of Chereas； and； in his dreams； devoting all his grooms to the
ravens。 Zenothemis pressed in his arms the yielding Philina； Dorion
poured on the naked bosom of Drosea drops of wine； which rolled like
rubies on the white breast； which was shaking with laughter； and the
philosopher tried to catch these drops with his lips； as they rolled
on the slippery flesh。 Eucrites rose； and placing his arm on the
shoulder of Nicias； led him to the end of the hall。
〃Friend；〃 he said； smiling； 〃if you can still think at allof what
are you thinking？〃
〃I think that the love of women is like a garden of Adonis。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃Do you not know； Eucrites； that women make little gardens on the
terraces； in which they plant boughs in clay pots in honour of the
lover of Venus？ These boughs flourish a little time； and then fade。〃
〃What does that signify； Nicias？ That it is foolish to attach
importance to that which fades？〃
〃If beauty is but a shadow； desire is but a lightning flash。 What
madness it is； then； to desire beauty！ Is it not rational； on the
contrary； that that which passes should go with that which does not
endure； and that the lightning should devour the gliding shadow？〃
〃Nicias； you seem to me like a child playing at knuckle…bones。 Take my
advicebe free！ By liberty only can you become a man。〃
〃How can a man be free； Eucrites； when he has a body？〃
〃You shall see presently； my son。 Presently you will say； 'Eucrites
was free。' 〃
The old man spoke； leaning against a porphyry pillar； his face lighted
by the first rays of dawn。 Hermodorus and Marcus had approached； and
stood before him by the side of Nicias； and all four； regardless of
the laughter and cries of the drinkers； conversed on things divine。
Eucrites expresses himself so wisely and eloquently； that Marcus
said
〃You are worthy to know the true God。〃
Eucrites replied
〃The true God is in the heart of the wise man。〃
Then they spoke of death。
〃I wish；〃 said Eucrites； 〃that it may find me occupied in correcting
my faults； and attentive to all my duties。 In the face of death I will
raise my pure hands to heaven； and I will say to the gods； 'Your
images； gods； that you have placed in the temple of my soul； I have
not profaned； I have hung there my thoughts； as well as garlands；
fillets； and wreaths。 I have lived according to your providence。 I
have lived enough。' 〃
Thus speaking； he raised his arms to heaven； and he remained
thoughtful a moment。 Then he continued； with extreme joy
〃Separate thyself from li