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beard！ One day Nicias； who loved me then； brought it to me and said； 'It
will remind you of me。' But the roguish boy did not remind me of Nicias；
but of a young man I knew at Antioch。 Enough riches have been destroyed
upon this pile； my father！ Preserve this Eros； and place it in some
monastery。 Those who see it will turn their hearts towards God； for love
leads naturally to heavenly thoughts。〃
The gardener； already believing that the little Eros was saved； smiled
on it as though it had been a child； when Paphnutius； snatching the god
from the arms which held it； threw it into the flames； crying
〃It is enough that Nicias has touched it to make it replete with every
sort of poison！〃
Then； seizing by armfuls the sparkling robes； the purple mantles； the
golden sandals； the combs； strigils； mirrors； lamps； theorbos； and lyres； he
threw them into this furnace； more costly than the funeral pile of
Sardanapalus； whilst； drunken with the rage of destruction； the slaves
danced round； uttering wild yells amid a shower of sparks and ashes。
One by one； the neighbours； awakened by the noise； opened the
windows； and rubbing their eyes； looked out to see whence the smoke
came。 Then they came down； half dressed； and drew near the fire。
〃What does it mean？〃 they wondered。
Amongst them were merchants from whom Thais had often bought
perfumes and stuffs； and they looked on anxiously with long； yellow faces；
unable to comprehend what was going on。 Some young debauchees； who；
returning from a supper； passed by there； preceded by their slaves； stopped；
their heads crowned with flowers； their tunics floating； and uttered loud
cries。 Attracted by curiosity； the crowd increased unceasingly； and soon it
was known that Thais had been persuaded by the Abbot of Antinoe to burn
her riches and retire to a nunnery。
The shopkeepers thought to themselves
〃Thais is going to leave the city； we shall sell no more to her； it is
dreadful to think of。 What will become of us without her？ This monk has
driven her mad。 He is ruining us。 Why let him do it？ What is the use of the
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laws？ Are there no magistrates in Alexandria？ Thais does not think about
us and our wives and our poor children。 It is a public scandal。 She ought to
be compelled to stay in the city。〃
The young men； on their part； also thought
〃If Thais is going to renounce acting and love； our chief amusements
will be taken from us。 She was the glory； delight； and honour of the stage。
She was the joy even of those who had never possessed her。 The women
we loved； we loved in her。 There were no kisses given in which she was
altogether absent； for she was the joy of all voluptuaries； and the mere
thought that she breathed amongst us excited us to pleasure。〃
Thus thought the young men； and one of them； named Cerons； who
had held her in his arms； cried out upon the abduction； and blasphemed
against Christ。 In every group the conduct of Thais was severely criticised。
〃It is a shameful flight！〃
〃A cowardly desertion！〃
〃She is taking the bread out of our mouths。〃
〃She is robbing our children。〃
〃She ought at least to pay for the wreaths I have sold to her。〃
〃And the sixty robes she has ordered of me。〃
〃She owes money to everybody。〃
〃Who will represent Iphigenia； Electra； and Polyxena when she is gone？
The handsome Polybia herself will not make such a success as she has
done。〃
〃Life will be dull when her door is closed。〃
〃She was the bright star； the soft moon of the Alexandrian sky。〃
All the most notorious mendicants of the citycripples； blind men； and
paralyticshad by this time assembled in the place； and crawling through
the remnants of the riches； they groaned
〃How shall we live when Thais is no longer here to feed us？ Every day
the fragments from her table fed two hundred poor wretches； and her
lovers； when they quitted her； threw us as they passed handfuls of silver
pieces。〃
Some thieves； too； also mingled with the crowd； and created a
deafening clamour； and pushed their neighbours； to increase disorder； and
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take advantage of the tumult to filch some valuable object。
Old Taddeus； who sold Miletan wool and Tarentan linen； and to whom
Thais owed a large sum of money； alone remained calm and silent in the
midst of the uproar。 He listened and watched； and gently stroking his goat…
beard； seemed thoughtful。 At last he approached young Cerons； and
pulling him by the sleeve； whispered
〃You are the favoured lover of Thais； handsome youth； show yourself；
and do not allow this monk to carry her off。〃
〃By Pollux and his sister； he shall not！〃 cried Cerons。 〃I will speak to
Thais； and without flattering myself； I think she will listen to me rather
than to that sooty…faced Lapithan。 Place！ Place； dogs！〃
And striking with his fist the men； upsetting the old women and
treading on the young children； he reached Thais； and taking her aside
〃Dearest girl；〃 he said； 〃look at me； remember； and tell me truly if you
renounce love。〃
But Paphnutius threw himself between Thais and Cerons。
〃Impious wretch！〃 he cried； 〃beware and touch her not； she is sacred
she belongs to God。〃
〃Get away； baboon！〃 replied the young man furiously。 〃Let me speak
to my sweetheart； or if not I will drag your obscene carcase by the beard to
the fire； and roast you like a sausage。〃
And he put his hand on Thais。 But； pushed away by the monk with
unexpected force； he staggered back four paces and fell at the foot of the
pile amongst the scattered ashes。
Old Taddeus； meanwhile； had been going from one to the other；
pulling the ears of the slaves and kissing the hands of the masters； inciting
each and all against Paphnutius； and had already formed a little band
resolutely determined to oppose the monk who would steal Thais from
them。
Cerons rose； his face black； his hair singed； and choking with smoke
and rage。 He blasphemed against the gods； and threw himself amongst the
assailants； behind whom the beggars crawled； shaking their crutches。
Paphnutius was soon enclosed in a circle of menacing fists； raised sticks；
and cries of death。
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〃To the ravens with the monk！ to the ravens！〃
〃No； throw him in the fire！ Burn him alive！〃
Seizing his fair prey； he pressed her to his heart。
〃Impious men；〃 he cried in a voice of thunder； 〃strive not to tear the
dove from the eagle of the Lord。 But rather copy this woman； and like she
turn your filth into gold。 Imitate her example； and renounce the false
wealth which you think you hold and which holds you。 Hasten！ the day is
at hand； and divine patience begins to grow weary。 Repent； confess your
sins； weep and pray。 Walk in the footsteps of Thais。 Hate your offenses；
which are as great as hers。 Which of you； poor or rich； merchants； soldiers；
slaves or eminent citizens； would dare to say； before God； that he was
better than a prostitute？ You are all nothing but living filth； and it is by a
miracle of divine goodness that you do not suddenly turn into streams of
mire。〃
Whilst he spoke flames shot from his eyes； an it seemed as though live
coals came from his lips and those who surrounded him were obliged to
hear him in spite of themselves。
But old Taddeus did not remain idle。 He picked up stones and oyster
shells； which he hid in the skirt of his tunic； and not daring to throw them
himself slipped them into the hands of the beggars。 Soon the stones began
to fly； and a well…directed shell cut Paphnutius' face。 The blood； which
flowed down the dark face of the martyr； dropped in a new baptism on the
head of the penitent； and Thais； half stifled in the monk's embrace and her
delicate skin scratched by the coarse cassock； felt a thrill of horror and
fright。
At that moment a man elegantl