thoughtful a moment。 Then he continued； with extreme joy
〃Separate thyself from life； Eucrites； like the ripe olive which
falls； returning thanks to the tree which bore thee； and blessing the
earth； thy nurse。〃
At these words； drawing from the folds of his robe a naked dagger； he
plunged it into his breast。
Those who listened to him sprang forward to seize his hand； but the
steel point had already penetrated the heart of the sage。 Eucrites had
already entered into his rest。 Hermodorus and Nicias bore the pale and
bleeding body to one of the couches； amidst the shrill shrieks of the
women； the grunts of the guests disturbed in their sleep； and the
heavy breathing of the couples hidden in the shadow of the tapestry。
Cotta； an old soldier； who slept lightly； woke； approached the corpse；
examined the wound； and cried
〃Call Aristaeus； my physician！〃
Nicias shook his head。
〃Eucrites is no more；〃 he said。 〃He wished to die as others wish to
love。 He has； like all of us； obeyed his inexpressible desire。 And；
lo； now he is like unto the gods； who desire nothing。〃
Cotta struck his forehead。
〃Die！ To want to die when he might still serve the State！ What
nonsense！〃
Paphnutius and Thais remained motionless and mute； side by side； their
souls overflowing with disgust； horror； and hope。
Suddenly the monk seized the hand of the actress； and stepping over
the drunkards； who had fallen close to the lascivious couples； and
treading in the wine and blood spilt upon the floor； he led her out of
the house。
The sun had risen over the city。 Long colonnades stretched on both
sides of the deserted street； and at the end shone the dome of
Alexander's tomb。 Here and there on the pavement lay broken wreaths
and extinguished torches。 Fresh wafts of the sea could be felt in the
air。 Paphnutius； with a look of disgust； tore off his rich robe and
trampled the fragments under his feet。
〃Thou hast heard them； my Thais！〃 he cried。 〃They have spat forth
every sort of folly and abomination。 They dragged the Divine Creator
of all things down the gemonies＇*＇ of the devils of hell； impudently
denied the existence of Good and Evil； blasphemed Jesus； and exalted
Judas。 And the most infamous of all； the jackal of darkness； the
stinking beast； the Arian full of corruption and death； opened his
mouth like a yawning sepulchre。 My Thais； thou hast seen these filthy
snails crawling towards thee and defiling thee with their sticky
sweat； thou hast seen others； like brutes； sleeping under the heels of
their slaves； thou hast seen them coupling like beasts on the carpet
they had fouled with their vomit； thou hast seen a foolish old man
shed a blood yet viler than the wine which flowed at his debauch； and
at the end of the orgie throw himself in the face of the unforeseen
Christ。 Praise be to God！ Thou hast seen error and recognised how
hideous it was。 Thais； Thais； Thais； recall to mind the follies of
these philosophers； and say if thou wilt go mad with them！ Remember
the looks； the gestures； the laughs of their fitting companions； those
two lascivious and malicious strumpets； and say if thou wilt remain
like unto them。〃
＇*＇ Steps on the Aventine Hill； leading to the Tiber； to which the
bodies of executed criminals were dragged to be thrown into the
river。 The word is now obsolete； but was employed by Ben Jonson
（Sejanus） and Massinger （The Roman Actor）。TRANS。
Thais； her heart stirred with horror and disgust at all she had seen
and heard that night； and feeling the indifference and brutality； the
malicious jealousy of women； the heavy weight of useless hours；
sighed。
〃I am weary to death； O my father！ Where shall I find rest？ I feel
that my face is burning； my head empty； and my arms are so tired that
I should not have the strength to seize happiness were it within reach
of my hand。〃
Paphnutius gazed at her with loving pity。
〃Courage； O my sister！ The hour of rest rises for thee； white and pure
as the vapours thou seest rise from the gardens and waters。〃
They were near the house of Thais； and could see； above the wall； the
tops of the sycamore and fir trees； which surrounded the Grotto of
Nymphs； tremble in the morning breeze。 In front of them was a public
square； deserted； and surrounded with steles and votive statues； and
having at each end a semicircular marble seat； supported by figures of
monsters。 Thais fell on one of these seats。 Then； looking anxiously at
the monk； she asked
〃What must I do？〃
〃Thou must；〃 replied the monk； 〃follow Him who has come to seek thee。
He will separate thee from this present life； as the vintager gathers
the cluster that would have rotted on the tree； and bears it to the
wine…press to change it into perfumed wine。 Listen！ there is； a dozen
hours from Alexandria； towards the west； not far from the sea； a
nunnery； the rules of which； a masterpiece of wisdom； deserve to be
put in lyric verse and sung to the sound of the theorbo and
tambourines。 It may truly be said that the women who are there；
submissive to these rules； have their feet upon earth and their faces
in heaven。 They desire to be poor； that Jesus may love them； modest；
that He may gaze upon them； chaste that He may wed them。 He visits
them every day in the guise of a gardener； His feet bare； His
beautiful hands openeven as He showed Himself to Mary at the
entrance of the tomb。 I will conduct thee this very day to this
nunnery； my Thais； and soon； commingling with these holy women； thou
wilt share in their heavenly conversation。 They await thee as a
sister。 On the threshold of the convent； their mother； the pious
Albina； will give thee the kiss of peace and will say； 'My daughter；
thou art welcome！' 〃
The courtesan uttered a cry of amazement。
〃Albina！ a daughter of the Caesars！ The great niece of the Emperor
Carus！〃
〃She herself！ Albina； who； born in the purple； has donned the serge；
and a daughter of the masters of this world； has risen to the rank of
servant of Jesus Christ。 She will be thy mother。〃
Thais rose and said
〃Take me to the house of Albina。〃
And Paphnutius； completing his victory
〃Surely I will conduct thee thither； and there I will place thee in a
cell； where thou shalt weep for thy sins。 For it is not fitting that
thou shouldst mingle with the daughters of Albina until thou art
cleansed from thy sins。 I will seal the door； and there； a happy
prisoner； thou wilt wait in tears till Jesus Himself come； as a sign
of pardon； to break the seal that I have placed。 And doubt not that He
will come； Thais； and how the flesh of thy soul will tremble when thou
shalt feel the fingers of Light placed upon thy eyes to dry thy
tears！〃
Thais said a second time
〃Take me； my father； to the house of Albina。〃
His heart filled with joy； Paphnutius gazed around him； and tasted；
almost without fear； the pleasure of contemplating the works of
creation； his eyes drank in with joy God's light； and unknown breezes
fanned his cheeks。 Suddenly； seeing at one of the corners of the
public square the little door which led to Thais' house； and
remembering that the trees； whose foliage he had been admiring； shaded
the courtesan's garden； he thought of all the impurities which there
sullied the air； to…day so light and pure； and his soul was so grieved
that bitter tears sprang to his eyes。
〃Thais；〃 he said； 〃we must fly without looking back。 But we must not
leave behind us the instruments； the witnesses； the accomplices of thy
past crimes； those heavy hangings； those beds； carpets； perfume
censers and lamps； which would proclaim thy infamy！ Dost thou wish
that； animated by the demons； and carried by the evil spirit that is
in them； those accursed belongings should pursue thee even to the
desert？ It is but too true that there are tables which bring ruin；
seats which serve as the instruments of devils； which act； speak；
strike the ground； and pass through the air。 Let all perish which has
seen thy shame！ Hasten； Thais； and； whilst the city is yet asleep；
order thy slaves to make； in the centre of this place； a pile； upon
which we will burn all the abominable riches thy dwelling contains。〃
Thais consented。
〃Do as you will； my father；〃 she said。 〃I know that spirits often
dwell in inanimate objects。 At night some articles of furniture talk；
either by giving knocks at regular intervals or by emitting little
flashes of light as signals。 And even more。 Have you remarked； my
father； at the entrance to the Grotto of Nymphs； on the right； a
statue of a naked woman about to bathe？ One day I saw； with my own
eyes； that statue turn its head like a living person； and then return
to its ordinary attitude。 I was terrified。 Nicias； to whom I related
this prodigy； laughed at me； yet there must be some magic in that
statue； for it inspired with violent desires a certain Dalmatian； who
was insensible to my beauty。 It is certain that I have lived amongst
enchanted things； and that I was exposed to the greatest perils； for
men have been strangled by the embraces of a bronze statue。 Yet it
would be a pity to destroy valuable works made with rare skill； and to
burn my carpets and tapestry would be a great loss。 Th