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delicate skin scratched by the coarse cassock； felt a thrill of horror and
fright。
At that moment a man elegantly dressed； and with a wreath of wild
celery on his head； opened a road for himself through the furious crowd；
and cried
〃Stop！ Stop！ This monk is my brother！〃
It was Nicias； who； having closed the eyes of the philosopher Eucrites；
was passing through the square to return to his house；。 and saw； without
very much surprise （for nothing astonished him）； the smoking pile； Thais
clad an a serge cassock； and Paphnutius being stoned。
He repeated
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〃Stop； I tell you； spare my old fellow…scholar； respect the beloved head
of Paphnutius！〃
But； being only used to subtle disquisitions with philosophers； he did
not possess that imperious energy which commands vulgar minds。 He was
not listened to。 A shower of stones and shells fell on the monk； who；
protecting Thais with his body； praised the Lord whose goodness turned
his wounds into caresses。 Despairing of making himself heard； and feeling
but too sure that he could not save his friend either by force or persuasion；
Nicias resigned himself to the will of the godsin whom he had little
confidencewhen the idea occurred to him to use a stratagem which his
contempt for men had suddenly suggested to him。 He took from his girdle
his purse； which was full of gold and silver； for he was a pleasure…loving
and charitable man； and running up to the men who were throwing the
stones； he chinked the money in their ears。 At first they paid no attention
to him； their fury being too great； but little by little their looks turned
towards the chinking gold； and soon their arms dropped and no longer
menaced their victim。 Seeing that he had attracted their eyes and minds；
Nicias opened his purse and threw some pieces of gold and silver amongst
the crowd。 The more greedy of them stooped to pick it up。 The
philosopher； pleased at his first success； adroitly threw deniers and
drachmas here and there。 At the sound of the pieces of money rattling on
the pavement； the persecutors of Paphnutius threw themselves on the
ground。 Beggars； slaves； and tradespeople scrambled after the money；
whilst； grouped round Cerons； the patricians watched the struggle and
laughed heartily。 Cerons himself quite forgot his wrath。 His friends
encouraged the rivals； chose competitors； and made bets； and urged on the
miserable wretches as they would have done fighting dogs。 A cripple
without legs having succeeded in seizing a drachma； the applause was
frenetic。 The young men themselves began to throw money； and nothing
was to be seen in the square but a multitude of backs； rising and falling
like waves of the sea； under a shower of coins。 Paphnutius was forgotten。
Nicias ran up to him； covered him with his cloak； and dragged him and
Thais into by…streets where they were safe from pursuit。 They ran for some
time in silence； and when they thought they were out of reach of their
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enemies； they ceased running； and Nicias said； in a tone of raillery in
which a little sadness was mingled
〃It is finished then！ Pluto ravishes Proserpine； and Thais will follow
my fierce…looking friend whithersoever he will lead her。〃
〃It is true； Nicias；〃 replied Thais； 〃that I am tired of living with men
like you； smiling； perfumed； kindly egoists。 I am weary of all I know； and
I am； therefore； going to seek the unknown。 I have experienced joy that
was not joy； and here is a man who teaches me that sorrow is true joy。 I
believe him； for he knows the truth。〃
〃And I； sweetheart；〃 replied Nicias； smiling； 〃I know the truths。 He
knows but one； I know them all。 I am superior to him in that respect； but to
tell the truth； it doesn't make me any the prouder nor any the happier。〃
Then； seeing that the monk was glaring fiercely at him
〃My dear Paphnutius； do not imagine that I think you extremely
absurd； or even altogether unreasonable。 And if I were to compare your
life with mine； I could not say which is preferable in itself。 I shall
presently go and take the bath which Crobyle and Myrtale have prepared
for me； I shall eat the wing of a Phasian pheasant； then I shall read for
the hundredth timesome fable by Apuleius or some treatise by Porphyry。
You will return to your cell； where； leaning like a tame camel； you will
ruminate onI know not whatformulas of incarnations you have long
chewed and rechewed； and in the evening you will swallow some radishes
without any oil。 Well； my dear friend； in accomplishing these acts； so
different apparently； we are both obeying the same sentiment； the only
motive for all human actions； we are both seeking our own pleasure； and
striving to attain the same endhappiness； the impossible happiness。 It
would be folly on my part to say you were wrong； dear friend； even
though I think myself in the right。
〃And you； my Thais； go and enjoy yourself； and be more happy still； if
it be possible； in abstinence and austerity than you have been in riches and
pleasure。 On the whole； I should say you were to be envied。 For if in our
whole lives； Paphnutius and I have pursued but one kind of pleasurable
satisfaction； you in your life； dear Thais； have tasted diverse joys such as it
is rarely given to the same person to know。 I should really like to be for
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one hour； a saint like our dear friend Paphnutius。 But that is not possible。
Farewell； then； Thais！ Go where the secret forces of nature and your
destiny conduct you！ Go； and take with you； whithersoever you go； the
good wishes of Nicias！ I know that is mere foolishness； but can I give you
anything more than barren regrets and vain wishes in payment for the
delicious illusions which once enveloped me when I was in your arms； and
of which only the shadow now remains to me？ Farewell； my benefactress！
Farewell； goodness that is ignorant of its own existence； mysterious virtue；
joy of men！ Farewell to the most adorable of the images that nature has
ever thrownfor some unknown reasonson the face of this deceptive
world！〃
Whilst he spoke； deep wrath had been brewing in the monk's heart；
and it now broke forth in imprecations。
〃Avaunt； cursed wretch！ I scorn thee and hate thee。 Go； child of hell； a
thousand times worse than those poor lost ones who just now threw stones
and insults at me！ They knew not what they did； and the grace of God；
which I implored for them； may some day descend into their hearts。 But
thou； detestable Nicias； thou art but a perfidious venom and a bitter poison。
Thy mouth breathes despair and death。 One of thy smiles contains more
blasphemy than issues in a century from the smoking lips of Satan。 Avaunt；
backslider！〃
Nicias looked at him。
〃Farewell； my brother；〃 he said； 〃and may you preserve until your
life's end your store of faith； hate； and love。 Farewell； Thais！ It is in vain
that you will forget me； because I shall ever remember you。〃
On quitting them he walked thoughtfully through the winding streets
in the vicinity of the great cemetery of Alexandria； which are peopled by
the makers of funeral urns。 Their shops were full of clay figures painted in
bright colours and representing gods and goddesses； mimes； women；
winged sprites； &c。； such as were usually buried with the dead。 He fancied
that perhaps some of the little images which he saw there might be the
companions of his eternal sleep； and it seemed to him that a little Eros；
with its tunic tucked up； laughed at him mockingly。 He looked forward to
his death； and the idea was painful to him。 To cure his sadness he tried to