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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。
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 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 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 should be
restored to her。
〃She is my daughter；〃 she said； 〃my daughter； who has been torn from
me。 My perfumed flowermy own bowels！〃
Lollius gave her a large sum of money； and sent her away。 But； as she
came back to demand some more gold staters； the young man had her put
in prison； and the magistrates having discovered that she was guilty
of many crimes； she was condemned to death； and thrown to the wild
beasts。
Thais loved Lollius with all the passion of her mind； and the
bewilderment of innocence。 She told him； and told him truly from the
bottom of her heart
〃I have never loved any one but you。〃
Lollius replied
〃You are not like any other woman。〃
The spell lasted six months； but it broke at last。 Thais suddenly felt
that her heart was empty and lonely。 Lollius no longer seemed the same
to her。 She thought
〃What can have thus changed me in an instant？ How is it that he is now
like any other man； and no longer like himself？〃
She left him； not without a secret desire to find Lollius again in
another； as she no longer found him in himself。 She thought it would
be less dull to live with someone she had never loved； than with one
she had ceased to love。 She appeared； in the company of rich
debauchees； at those sacred feasts at which naked virgins danced in
the temples； and troops of courtesans swam across the Orontes。 She
took part in all the pleasures of the fashionable and depraved city；
and she assiduously frequented the theatres； at which clever mimes
from all countries performed amidst the applause of a crowd greedy for
excitement。
She carefully observed the mimes； dancers； comedians； and especially
the women； who in tragedies represented goddesses in love with young
men； or mortals loved by the gods。 Having discovered the secrets by
which they pleased the audience； she thought to herself that she was
more beautiful and could act better。 She went to the manager； and
asked to be admitted into the troupe。 Thanks to her beauty； and to the
lessons she had received from old Moeroe； she was received； a