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〃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。
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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
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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
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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 ce