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THAIS
by ANATOLE FRANCE
Translated by Robert B。 Douglas
CONTENTS
PART I。 THE LOTUS
PART II。 THE PAPYRUS
THE BANQUET
THE PAPYRUS （resumed）
PART III。 THE EUPHORBIA
THAIS
PART THE FIRST
THE LOTUS
In those days there were many hermits living in the desert。 On both
banks of the Nile numerous huts； built by these solitary dwellers； of
branches held together by clay； were scattered at a little distance
from each other； so that the inhabitants could live alone； and yet
help one another in case of need。 Churches； each surmounted by a
cross； stood here and there amongst the huts； and the monks flocked to
them at each festival to celebrate the services or to partake of the
Communion。 There were also； here and there on the banks of the river；
monasteries； where the cenobites lived in separate cells； and only met
together that they might the better enjoy their solitude。
Both hermits and cenobites led abstemious lives； taking no food till
after sunset； and eating nothing but bread with a little salt and
hyssop。 Some retired into the desert； and led a still more strange
life in some cave or tomb。
All lived in temperance and chastity； they wore a hair shirt and a
hood； slept on the bare ground after long watching； prayed； sang
psalms； and； in short； spent their days in works of penitence。 As an
atonement for original sin； they refused their body not only all
pleasures and satisfactions； but even that care and attention which in
this age are deemed indispensable。 They believed that the diseases of
our members purify our souls； and the flesh could put on no adornment
more glorious than wounds and ulcers。 Thus； they thought they
fulfilled the words of the prophet； 〃The desert shall rejoice and
blossom as the rose。〃
Amongst the inhabitants of the holy Thebaid； there were some who
passed their days in asceticism and contemplation； others gained their
livelihood by plaiting palm fibre； or by working at harvest…time for
the neighbouring farmers。 The Gentiles wrongly suspected some of them
of living by brigandage； and allying themselves to the nomadic Arabs
who robbed the caravans。 But； as a matter of fact； the monks despised
riches； and the odour of their sanctity rose to heaven。
Angels in the likeness of young men； came； staff in hand； as
travellers； to visit the hermitages； whilst demonshaving assumed the
form of Ethiopians or of animalswandered round the habitations of
the hermits in order to lead them into temptation。 When the monks went
in the morning to fill their pitcher at the spring； they saw the
footprints of Satyrs and Aigipans in the sand。 The Thebaid was； really
and spiritually； a battlefield； where； at all times； and more
especially at night； there were terrible conflicts between heaven and
hell。
The ascetics； furiously assailed by legions of the damned； defended
themselveswith the help of God and the angelsby fasting； prayer；
and penance。 Sometimes carnal desires pricked them so cruelly that
they cried aloud with pain； and their lamentations rose to the starlit
heavens mingled with the howls of the hungry hyaenas。 Then it was that
the demons appeared in delightful forms。 For though the demons are； in
reality； hideous； they sometimes assume an appearance of beauty which
prevents their real nature from being recognised。 The ascetics of the
Thebaid were amazed to see in their cells phantasms of delights
unknown even to the voluptuaries of the age。 But； as they were under
the sign of the Cross； they did not succumb to these temptations； and
the unclean spirits； assuming again their true character； fled at
daybreak； filled with rage and shame。 It was not unusual to meet at
dawn one of these beings； flying away and weeping； and replying to
those who questioned it； 〃I weep and groan because one of the
Christians who live here has beaten me with rods； and driven me away
in ignominy。〃
The power of the old saints of the desert extended over all sinners
and unbelievers。 Their goodness was sometimes terrible。 They derived
from the Apostles authority to punish all offences against the true
and only God； and no earthly power could save those they condemned。
Strange tales were told in the cities； and even as far as Alexandria；
how the earth had opened and swallowed up certain wicked persons whom
one of these saints struck with his staff。 Therefore they were feared
by all evil…doers； and particularly by mimes； mountebanks； married
priests； and prostitutes。
Such was the sanctity of these holy men that even wild beasts felt
their power。 When a hermit was about to die； a lion came and dug a
grave with its claws。 The saint knew by this that God had called him；
and he went and kissed all his brethren on the cheek。 Then he lay down
joyfully； and slept in the Lord。
Now that Anthony； who was more than a hundred years old； had retired
to Mount Colzin with his well…beloved disciples； Macarius and Amathas；
there was no monk in the Thebaid more renowned for good works than
Paphnutius； the Abbot of Antinoe。 Ephrem and Serapion had a greater
number of followers； and in the spiritual and temporal management of
their monasteries surpassed him。 But Paphnutius observed the most
rigorous fasts； and often went for three entire days without taking
food。 He wore a very rough hair shirt； he flogged himself night and
morning； and lay for hours with his face to the earth。
His twenty…four disciples had built their huts near his； and imitated
his austerities。 He loved them all dearly in Jesus Christ； and
unceasingly exhorted them to good works。 Amongst his spiritual
children were men who had been robbers for many years； and had been
persuaded by the exhortations of the holy abbot to embrace the
monastic life； and who now edified their companions by the purity of
their lives。 One； who had been cook to the Queen of Abyssinia； and was
converted by the Abbot of Antinoe； never ceased to weep。 There was
also Flavian； the deacon； who knew the Scriptures； and spoke well； but
the disciple of Paphnutius who surpassed all the others in holiness
was a young peasant named Paul； and surnamed the Fool； because of his
extreme simplicity。 Men laughed at his childishness； but God favoured
him with visions； and by bestowing upon him the gift of prophecy。
Paphnutius passed his life in teaching his disciples； and in ascetic
practices。 Often did he meditate upon the Holy Scriptures in order to
find allegories in them。 Therefore he abounded in good works； though
still young。 The devils； who so rudely assailed the good hermits； did
not dare to approach him。 At night； seven little jackals sat in the
moonlight in front of his cell； silent and motionless； and with their
ears pricked up。 It was believed that they were seven devils； who；
owing to his sanctity； could not cross his threshold。
Paphnutius was born at Alexandria of noble parents； who had instructed
him in all profane learning。 He had even been allured by the
falsehoods of the poets； and in his early youth had been misguided
enough to believe that the human race had all been drowned by a deluge
in the days of Deucalion； and had argued with his fellow…scholars
concerning the nature； the attributes； and even the existence of God。
He then led a life of dissipation； after the manner of the Gentiles；
and he recalled the memory of those days with shame and horror。
〃At that time；〃 he used to say to the brethren； 〃I seethed in the
cauldron of false delights。〃
He meant by that that he had eaten food properly dressed； and
frequented the public baths。 In fact； until his twentieth year he had
continued to lead the ordinary existence of those times； which now
seemed to him rather death than life； but； owing to the lessons of the
priest Macrinus； he then became a new man。
The truth penetrated him through and through； andas he used to say
entered his soul like a sword。 He embraced the faith of Calvary； and
worshipped Christ crucified。 After his baptism he remained yet a year
amongst the Gentiles； unable to cast off the bonds of old habits。 But
one day he entered a church； and heard a deacon read from the Bible；
the verse； 〃If thou wilt be perfect； go and sell that thou hast； and
give to the poor。〃 Thereupon he sold all that he had； gave away the
money in alms； and embraced the monastic life。
During the ten years that he had lived remote from men； he no longer
seethed in the cauldron of false delights； but more profitably
macerated his flesh in the balms of penitence。
One day when； according to his pious custom； he was recalling to mind
the hours he had lived apart from God； and examining his sins one by
one； that he might the better ponder on their enormity； he remembered
that he had seen at the theatre at Alexandria a very beautiful actress
named Thais。 This woman showed herself in the public games； and did
not scruple to perform dances； the movements of which； arranged only
too cleverly； brought to mind the most horrible passions。 Sometimes
she imitated the horrible deeds which the Pagan fables ascribe to
Venus； Leda； or Pasiphae。 Thus she fired all the spectators with lust；
and when handsome young men； or rich old ones； came； ins