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daughter of his soul； his darling flower。 When his hands were nailed to the
cross； he uttered no complaint； but many times he sighed and murmured；
〃I thirst。〃
His agony lasted three days and three nights。 It seemed hardly possible
that human flesh could have endured such prolonged torture。 Many times
it was thought he was dead； the flies clustered on his eyelids； but suddenly
he would reopen his bloodshot eyes。 On the morning of the fourth day； he
sang； in a voice clearer and purer than that of a child
〃Tell us； Mary； what thou hast seen where thou hast been？〃
Then he smiled and said
〃They come； the angels of the good Lord。 They bring me wine and
fruit。 How refreshing is the fanning of their wings！〃
And he expired。
His features preserved in death an expression of ecstatic happiness。
Even the soldiers who guarded the cross were struck with wonder。
Vivantius； accompanied by some of the Christian brethren； claimed the
body； and buried it with the remains of the other martyrs in the crypt of St。
John the Baptist； and the Church venerated the memory of Saint Theodore
the Nubian。
Three years later； Constantine； the conquerer of Maxentius； issued an
edict which granted toleration to the Christians； and the believers were not
henceforth persecuted； except by heretics。
Thais had completed her eleventh year when her friend was tortured to
death； and she felt deeply saddened and shocked。 Her soul was not
sufficiently pure to allow her to understand that the slave Ahmes was
blessed both in his life and his death。 The idea sprang up in her little mind
that no one can be good in this world except at the cost of the most terrible
sufferings。 And she was afraid to be good； for her delicate flesh could not
bear pain。
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At an early age； she had given herself to the lads about the port； and
she followed the old men who wandered about the quarter in the evening；
and with what she received from them she bought cakes and trinkets。
As she did not take home any of the money she gained； her mother
continually ill…treated her。 To get out of reach of her mother's arm； she
often ran； bare…footed； to the city walls； and hid with the lizards。 There she
thought with envy of the ladies she had seen pass her； richly dressed； and
in a litter surrounded by slaves。
One day； when she had been beaten more brutally than usual； she was
crouching down beside the gate； motionless and sulky； when an old
woman stopped in front of her； looked at her for some moments in silence；
and then cried
〃Oh； the pretty flower！ the beautiful child！ Happy is the father who
begot thee； and the mother who brought thee into the world！〃
Thais remained silent； with her eyes fixed on the ground。 Her eyelids
were red； and it was evident she had been weeping。
〃My white violet；〃 continued the old woman； 〃is not your mother
happy to have nourished a little goddess like you； and does not your father；
when he sees you； rejoice from the bottom of his heart？〃
To which the child replied； as though talking to herself
〃My father is a wine…skin swollen with wine； and my mother a greedy
horse…leech。〃
The old woman glanced to right and left； to see if she were observed。
Then； in a fawning voice
〃Sweet flowering hyacinth； beautiful drinker of light； come with me；
and you shall have nothing to do but dance and smile。 I will feed you on
honey cakes； and my sonmy own sonwill love you as his eyes。 My son
is handsome and young； he has but little beard on his chin； his skin is soft；
and he is； as they say； a little Acharnian pig。〃
Thais replied
〃I am quite willing to go with you。〃
And she rose and followed the old woman out of the city。
The old woman； who was named Moeroe； went from city to city with a
troupe of girls and boys； whom she taught to dance； and then hired out to
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rich people to appear at feasts。
Guessing that Thais would soon develop into a most beautiful woman；
she taught herwith the help of a whipmusic and prosody； and she
flogged with leather thongs those beautiful legs； when they did not move
in time to the strains of the cithara。 Her sona decrepit abortion； of no age
and no sexill…treated the child； on whom he vented the hate he had for all
womankind。 Like the dancing…girls whose grace he affected； he knew； and
taught Thais； the art of pantomime； and how to mimic； by expression；
gesture； and attitude； all human passions； and more especially the passions
of love。 He was a clever master； though he disliked his work； but he was
jealous of his pupil； and as soon as he discovered that she was born to give
men pleasure； he scratched her cheeks； pinched her arms； or pricked her
legs； as a spiteful girl would have done。 Thanks； however； to his lessons；
she quickly became an excellent musician； pantomimist； and dancer。 The
brutality of her master did not at all surprise her； it seemed natural to her
to be badly treated。 She even felt some respect for the old woman； who
knew music and drank Greek wine。 Moeroe； when she came to Antioch；
praised her pupil to the rich merchants of the city who gave banquets； both
as a dancer and a flute…player。 Thais danced and pleased。 She accompanied
the rich bankers； when they left the table； into the shady groves on the
banks of the Orontes。 She gave herself to all； for she knew nothing of the
price of love。 But one night that she had danced before the most
fashionable young men of the city； the son of the pro…consul came to her；
radiant with youth and pleasure； and said； in a voice that seemed redolent
of kisses
〃Why am I not； Thais； the wreath which crowns your hair； the tunic
which enfolds your beautiful form； the sandal on your pretty foot？ I wish
you to tread me under foot as a sandal； I wish my caresses to be your tunic
and your wreath。 Come； sweet girl！ come to my house； and let us forget
the world。〃
She looked at him whilst he was speaking； and saw that he was
handsome。 Suddenly she felt a cold sweat on her face。 She turned green as
grass； she reeled； a cloud descended before her eyes。 He again implored
her to come with him； but she refused。 His ardent looks； his burning words
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were vain； and when he took her in his arms to try and drag her away； she
pushed him off rudely。 Then he implored her； and shed tears。 But a new；
unknown； and invincible passion dominated her heart； and she still
resisted。
〃What madness！〃 said the guests。 〃Lollius is noble； handsome； and
rich； and a dancing…girl treats him with scorn！〃
Lollius returned home alone that night； quite love…sick。 He came in the
morning； pale and red…eyed； and hung flowers at the dancing…girl's door。
But Thais was frightened and troubled； she avoided Lollius； and yet he
was continually in her mind。 She suffered； and she did not know the cause
of her complaint。 She wondered why she had thus changed； and why she
was melancholy。 She recoiled from all her lovers； they were hateful to her。
She loathed the light of day； and lay on her bed all day； sobbing； and with
her head buried in the pillows。 Lollius contrived to gain admittance； and
came many times； but neither his pleadings nor his execrations had any
effect on the obdurate girl。 In his presence； she was as timid as a virgin；
and would say nothing but
〃I will not！ I will not！〃
But at the end of a fortnight she gave in； for she knew that she loved
him； she went to his house and lived with him。 They were supremely
happy。 They passed their days shut up together； gazing into each other's
eyes； and babbling a childish jargon。 In the evening； they walked on the
lonely banks of the Orontes； and lost themselves in the laurel woods。
Sometimes they rose at dawn； to go and gather hyacinths on the slopes of
Sulpicus。 They drank from the same cup； and he would take a grape from
between her lips with his mouth。
Moeroe came to Lollius； and cried and shrieked that Thais shou