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good as He is powerful； and His name is the Saviour。 He was promised
to the world； by David and the prophets； worshipped in His cradle by
the shepherds and the magi； crucified by the Pharisees； buried by the
holy women； revealed to the world by the apostles； testified to by the
martyrs。 And now； having learned that thou fearest death； O woman； He
has come to thy house to prevent thee from dying。 Art Thou not here
present with me； Jesus； at this moment； as Thou didst appear to the
men of Galilee； in those wonderful days when the stars； which came
down with thee from heaven； were so near the earth that the holy
innocents could take them in their hands； when they played in their
mothers' arms on the terraces of Bethlehem？ Is it not true； Jesus；
that Thou art here present； and that Thou showest me in reality Thy
precious body？ Is not Thy face here； and that tear which flows down
Thy cheek a real tear？ Yes； the angel of eternal justice shall receive
it； and it shall be the ransom of the soul of Thais。 Art Thou not
here； Jesus？ Jesus； Thy loving lips open。 Thou canst speak； speak； I
hear Thee！ And thee； Thais； happy Thais！ listen to what the Saviour
Himself says to thee； it is He who speaks； not I。 He says； 'I have
sought thee long； O My lost sheep！ I have found thee at last！ Fly from
Me no more。 Let Me take thee by the hands； poor little one； and I will
bear thee on My shoulders to the heavenly fold。 Come； My Thais！ come；
My chosen one！ come； and weep with Me！' 〃
And Paphnutius fell on his knees； his eyes filled with ecstasy。 And
then Thais saw in his face the likeness of the living Christ。
〃O vanished days of my childhood！〃 she sobbed。 〃O sweet father Ahmes！
good Saint Theodore； why did I not die in thy white mantle whilst thou
didst bear me； in the first dawn of day； yet fresh from the waters of
baptism！〃
Paphnutius advanced towards her； crying
〃Thou art baptised！ O divine wisdom！ O Providence！ O great God！ I know
now the power which drew me to thee。 I know what rendered thee so dear
and so beautiful in my eyes。 It was the virtue of the baptismal water；
which made me leave the shadow of God； where I lived； to seek thee in
the poisoned air where men dwell。 A dropa drop； no doubt； of the
water which washed thy bodyhas been sprinkled in my face。 Come； O my
sister； and receive from thy brother the kiss of peace。〃
And the monk touched with his lips the forehead of the courtesan。
Then he was silent； letting God speak； and nothing was heard in the
Grotto of Nymphs but the sobs of Thais； mingled with the rippling of
the running water。
She wept without trying to stop her tears； when two black slaves
appeared； loaded with stuffs； perfumes； and garlands。
〃It was hardly the right time to weep；〃 she said； trying to smile。
〃Tears redden the eyes and spoil the complexion； and I must sup
tonight with some friends； and want to be beautiful； for there will be
women there quick to spy out marks of care on my face。 These slaves
come to dress me。 Withdraw； my father； and allow them to do their
work。 They are clever and experienced； and I pay them well for their
services。 You see that one who wears thick rings of gold； and shows
such white teeth。 I took her from the wife of the pro…consul。〃
Paphnutius had at first a thought of dissuading Thais； as earnestly as
he could； from going to this supper。 But he determined to act
prudently； and asked what persons she would meet there。
She replied that there would be the host； old Cotta； the Prefect of
the Fleet； Nicias； and several other philosophers who loved an
argument； the poet Callicrates； the high priest of Serapis； some young
men whose chief amusement was training horses； and lastly some women；
of whom there was little to be said except that they were young。 Then；
by a supernatural inspiration
〃Go amongst them； Thais；〃 said the monk。 〃Go！ But I will not leave
thee。 I will go with thee to this banquet； and will remain by thy side
without saying a word。〃
She burst out laughing。 And whilst her two black slaves were busy
dressing her； she cried
〃What will they say when they see that I have a monk of the Thebaid
for my lover？〃
THE BANQUET
When； followed by Paphnutius； Thais entered the banqueting…room； the
guests were already； for the most part； assembled； and reclining on
their couches before the horseshoe table； which was covered with
glittering vessels。 In the centre of the table stood a silver basin；
surmounted by four figures of satyrs； who poured out from wine…skins
on the boiled fish a kind of pickle in which they floated。 When Thais
appeared； acclamations arose from all sides。
Greetings to the sister of the Graces！
To the silent Melpomene； who can express all things with her looks！
Salutation to the well…beloved of gods and men！
To the much desired！
To her who gives suffering and its cure！
To the pearl of Racotis！
To the rose of Alexandria！
She waited impatiently till this torrent of praise had passed； and
then said to Cotta； the host
〃Lucius； I have brought you a monk of the desert； Paphnutius； the
Abbot of Antinoe。 He is a great saint； whose words burn like fire。〃
Lucius Aurelius Cotta； the Prefect of the Fleet； rose； and replied
〃You are welcome； Paphnutius； you who profess the Christian faith。 I
myself have some respect of a religion that has now become imperial。
The divine Constantine has placed your co…religionists in the front
rank of the friends of the empire。 Latin wisdom ought； in fact； to
admit your Christ into our pantheon。 It was a maxim of our forefathers
that there was something divine in every god。 But no more of that。 Let
us drink and enjoy ourselves while there is yet time。〃
Old Cotta spoke tranquilly。 He had just studied a new model for a
galley； and had finished the sixth book of his history of the
Carthaginians。 He felt sure he had not lost his day； and was satisfied
with himself and the gods。
〃Paphnutius；〃 he added； 〃you see here several men who are worthy to be
lovedHermodorus； the High Priest of Serapis； the philosophers
Dorion； Nicias； and Zenothemis； the poet Callicrates； young Chereas
and young Aristobulus； both sons of dear old comrades； and near them
Philina and Drosea； who deserve to be praised for their beauty。〃
Nicias embraced Paphnutius； and whispered in his ear
〃I warned you； brother； that Venus was powerful。 It is her gentle
force that has brought you here in spite of yourself。 Listen： you are
a man full of piety； but if you do not confess that she is the mother
of the gods； your ruin is certain。 Do you know that the old
mathematician； Melanthes； used to say； 'I cannot demonstrate the
properties of a triangle without the aid of Venus'？〃
Dorion； who had for some seconds been looking at the new…comer；
suddenly clapped his hands and uttered a cry of surprise。
〃It is he； friends！ His look； his beard； his tunicit is he himself！
I met him at the theatre whilst our Thais was acting。 He was furiously
excited； and spoke with violence； as I can testify。 He is an honest
man； but he will abuse us all； his eloquence is terrible。 If Marcus is
the Plato of the Christians； Paphnutius is the Demosthenes。 Epicurus；
in his little garden； never heard the like。〃
Philina and Drosea； however； devoured Thais with their eyes。 She wore
on her fair hair a wreath of pale violets； each flower of which
recalled； in a paler hue； the colour of her eyes； so that the flowers
looked like softened glances； and the eyes like sparkling flowers。 It
was the peculiar gift of this woman； on her everything lived； and was
soul and harmony。 Her robe； which was of mauve spangled with silver；
trailed in long folds with a grace that was almost melancholy and was
not relieved by either bracelets or necklaces。 The chief charm of her
appearance was her beautiful bare arms。 The two friends were obliged
to admire； in spite of themselves the robe and head…dress of Thais；
though they said nothing to her on the subject。
〃How beautiful you are！〃 said Philina。 〃You could not have been more
so when you came to Alexandria。 Yet my mother； who remembers seeing
you then； says there were few women who were worthy to be compared
with you。〃
〃Who is the new lover you have brought？〃 asked Drosea。 〃He has a
strange； wild appearance。 If there are shepherds of elephants；
assuredly he must resemble one。 Where did you find such a wild…looking
friend； Thais？ Was it amongst the troglodytes who live under the
earth； and are grimy with the smoke of Hades？〃
But Philina put her finger on Drosea's lips。
〃Hush！ the mysteries of love must remain secret； and it is forbidden
to know them。 For my own part； certainly； I would rather be kissed by
the mouth of smoking Etna than by the lips of that man。 But our dear
Thais； who is beautiful and adorable as the goddesses； should； like
the goddesses； grant all requests； and not； like us； only those of
nice young men。〃
〃Take care； both of you！〃 replied Thais。 〃He is a mage and an
enchanter。 He hears words that are whispered； and even thoughts。 He
will tear out your heart while you are asleep； and put a sponge in its
place； and the next day； when you drink water； you will be choked to
death。〃