thais-第16章

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paradise。〃

HERMODORUS。　This　myth　was　not　unknown　to　me。　I　remembered　having　heard
that；　in　one　of　her　metamorphoses；　the　divine　Helen　lived　with　the
magician；　Simon；　in　the　reign　of　the　Emperor　Tiberius。　I　thought；
however；　that　her　perdition　was　involuntary；　and　that　she　was　dragged
down　by　the　angels　in　their　fall。

ZENOTHEMIS。　It　is　true；　Hermodorus；　that　men　who　were　not　properly
initiated　in　the　mysteries　have　imagined　that　the　sad　Eunoia　was　not　a
party　to　her　own　downfall。　But　if　it　were　as　they　assert　Eunoia　would
not　be　the　expiating　courtesan；　the　victim　covered　with　stains　of　all
sorts；　the　bread　steeped　in　the　wine　of　our　shame；　the　pleasant
offering；　the　meritorious　sacrifice；　the　holocaust；　the　smoke　of　which
rises　to　God。　If　they　were　not　voluntary；　there　would　be　no　merit　in
her　sins。

CALLICRATES。　Does　anyone　know；　Zenothemis　in　what　country；　under　what
name；　in　what　adorable　form；　this　ever…renascent　Helen　is　living　now？

ZENOTHEMIS。　A　man　would　have　to　be　very　wise　indeed　to　discover　such　a
secret。　And　wisdom；　Callicrates；　is　not　given　to　poets；　who　live　in
the　rude　world　of　forms　and　amuse　themselves；　like　children；　with
sounds　and　empty　shows。

CALLICRATES。　Beware　of　offending　the　gods；　impious　Zenothemis；　the
poets　are　dear　to　them。　The　first　laws　were　dictated　in　verse　by　the
immortals　themselves；　and　the　oracles　of　the　gods　are　poems。　Hymns
have　a　pleasant　sound　to　celestial　ears。　Who　does　not　know　that　the
poets　are　prophets；　and　that　nothing　is　hidden　from　them？　Being　a　poet
myself；　and　crowned　with　Apollo's　laurel；　I　will　make　known　to　all　the
last　incarnation　of　Eunoia。　The　eternal　Helen　is　close　to　us；　she　is
looking　at　us；　and　we　are　looking　at　her。　You　see　that　woman　reclining
on　the　cushions　of　her　couchso　beautiful　and　so　contemplativewhose
eyes　shed　tears；　and　whose　lips　abound　with　kisses！　It　is　she！　Lovely
as　in　the　time　of　Priam　and　the　halcyon　days　of　Asia；　Eunoia　is　now
called　Thais。

PHILINA。　What　do　you　say；　Callicrates？　Our　dear　Thais　knew　Paris；
Menelaus；　and　the　Achaians　who　fought　before　Ilion！　Was　the　Trojan
horse　big；　Thais？

ARISTOBULUS。　Who　speaks　of　a　horse？

〃I　have　drunk　like　a　Thracian！〃　cried　Chereas　and　he　rolled　under　the
table。

Callicrates；　raising　his　cup；　cried

〃If　we　drink　like　desperate　men；　we　die　unavenged！〃

Old　Cotta　was　asleep；　and　his　bald　head　nodded　slowly　above　his　broad
shoulders。

For　some　time　past　Dorion　had　seemed　to　be　greatly　excited　under　his
philosophic　cloak。　He　reeled　up　to　the　couch　of　Thais。

〃Thais；　I　love　you；　although　it　is　unseemly　in　me　to　love　a　woman。〃

THAIS。　Why　did　you　not　love　me　before？

DORION。　Because　I　had　not　supped。

THAIS。　But　I；　my　poor　friend；　have　drunk　nothing　but　water；　therefore
you　must　excuse　me　if　I　do　not　love　you。

Dorion　did　not　wait　to　hear　more；　but　made　towards　Drosea；　who　had
made　a　sign　to　him　in　order　to　get　him　away　from　her　friend。
Zenothemis　took　the　place　he　had　left；　and　gave　Thais　a　kiss　on　the
mouth。

THAIS。　I　thought　you　more　virtuous。

ZENOTHEMIS。　I　am　perfect；　and　the　perfect　are　subject　to　no　laws。

THAIS。　But　are　you　not　afraid　of　sullying　your　soul　in　a　woman's　arms？

ZENOTHEMIS。　The　body　may　yield　to　lust　without　the　soul　being
concerned。

THAIS。　Go　away！　I　wish　to　be　loved　with　body　and　soul。　All　these
philosophers　are　old　goats。

The　lamps　died　out　one　by　one。　The　pale　rays　of　dawn；　which　entered
between　the　openings　of　the　hangings；　shone　on　the　livid　faces　and
swollen　eyes　of　the　guests。　Aristobulus　was　sleeping　soundly　by　the
side　of　Chereas；　and；　in　his　dreams；　devoting　all　his　grooms　to　the
ravens。　Zenothemis　pressed　in　his　arms　the　yielding　Philina；　Dorion
poured　on　the　naked　bosom　of　Drosea　drops　of　wine；　which　rolled　like
rubies　on　the　white　breast；　which　was　shaking　with　laughter；　and　the
philosopher　tried　to　catch　these　drops　with　his　lips；　as　they　rolled
on　the　slippery　flesh。　Eucrites　rose；　and　placing　his　arm　on　the
shoulder　of　Nicias；　led　him　to　the　end　of　the　hall。

〃Friend；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃if　you　can　still　think　at　allof　what
are　you　thinking？〃

〃I　think　that　the　love　of　women　is　like　a　garden　of　Adonis。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃Do　you　not　know；　Eucrites；　that　women　make　little　gardens　on　the
terraces；　in　which　they　plant　boughs　in　clay　pots　in　honour　of　the
lover　of　Venus？　These　boughs　flourish　a　little　time；　and　then　fade。〃

〃What　does　that　signify；　Nicias？　That　it　is　foolish　to　attach
importance　to　that　which　fades？〃

〃If　beauty　is　but　a　shadow；　desire　is　but　a　lightning　flash。　What
madness　it　is；　then；　to　desire　beauty！　Is　it　not　rational；　on　the
contrary；　that　that　which　passes　should　go　with　that　which　does　not
endure；　and　that　the　lightning　should　devour　the　gliding　shadow？〃

〃Nicias；　you　seem　to　me　like　a　child　playing　at　knuckle…bones。　Take　my
advicebe　free！　By　liberty　only　can　you　become　a　man。〃

〃How　can　a　man　be　free；　Eucrites；　when　he　has　a　body？〃

〃You　shall　see　presently；　my　son。　Presently　you　will　say；　'Eucrites
was　free。'　〃

The　old　man　spoke；　leaning　against　a　porphyry　pillar；　his　face　lighted
by　the　first　rays　of　dawn。　Hermodorus　and　Marcus　had　approached；　and
stood　before　him　by　the　side　of　Nicias；　and　all　four；　regardless　of
the　laughter　and　cries　of　the　drinkers；　conversed　on　things　divine。
Eucrites　expresses　himself　so　wisely　and　eloquently；　that　Marcus
said

〃You　are　worthy　to　know　the　true　God。〃

Eucrites　replied

〃The　true　God　is　in　the　heart　of　the　wise　man。〃

Then　they　spoke　of　death。

〃I　wish；〃　said　Eucrites；　〃that　it　may　find　me　occupied　in　correcting
my　faults；　and　attentive　to　all　my　duties。　In　the　face　of　death　I　will
raise　my　pure　hands　to　heaven；　and　I　will　say　to　the　gods；　'Your
images；　gods；　that　you　have　placed　in　the　temple　of　my　soul；　I　have
not　profaned；　I　have　hung　there　my　thoughts；　as　well　as　garlands；
fillets；　and　wreaths。　I　have　lived　according　to　your　providence。　I
have　lived　enough。'　〃

Thus　speaking；　he　raised　his　arms　to　heaven；　and　he　remained
thoughtful　a　moment。　Then　he　continued；　with　extreme　joy

〃Separate　thyself　from　life；　Eucrites；　like　the　ripe　olive　which
falls；　returning　thanks　to　the　tree　which　bore　thee；　and　blessing　the
earth；　thy　nurse。〃

At　these　words；　drawing　from　the　folds　of　his　robe　a　naked　dagger；　he
plunged　it　into　his　breast。

Those　who　listened　to　him　sprang　forward　to　seize　his　hand；　but　the
steel　point　had　already　penetrated　the　heart　of　the　sage。　Eucrites　had
already　entered　into　his　rest。　Hermodorus　and　Nicias　bore　the　pale　and
bleeding　body　to　one　of　the　couches；　amidst　the　shrill　shrieks　of　the
women；　the　grunts　of　the　guests　disturbed　in　their　sleep；　and　the
heavy　breathing　of　the　couples　hidden　in　the　shadow　of　the　tapestry。
Cotta；　an　old　soldier；　who　slept　lightly；　woke；　approached　the　corpse；
examined　the　wound；　and　cried

〃Call　Aristaeus；　my　physician！〃

Nicias　shook　his　head。

〃Eucrites　is　no　more；〃　he　said。　〃He　wished　to　die　as　others　wish　to
love。　He　has；　like　all　of　us；　obeyed　his　inexpressible　desire。　And；
lo；　now　he　is　like　unto　the　gods；　who　desire　nothing。〃

Cotta　struck　his　forehead。

〃Die！　To　want　to　die　when　he　might　still　serve　the　State！　What
nonsense！〃

Paphnutius　and　Thais　remained　motionless　and　mute；　side　by　side；　their
souls　overflowing　with　disgust；　horror；　and　hope。

Suddenly　the　monk　seized　the　hand　of　the　actress；　and　stepping　over
the　drunkards；　who　had　fallen　close　to　the　lascivious　couples；　and
treading　in　the　wine　and　blood　spilt　upon　the　floor；　he　led　her　out　of
the　house。



The　sun　had　risen　over　the　city。　Long　colonnades　stretched　on　both
sides　of　the　deserted　street；　and　at　the　end　shone　the　dome　of
Alexander's　tomb。　Here　and　there　on　the　pavement　lay　broken　wreaths
and　extinguished　torches。　Fresh　wafts　of　the　sea　could　be　felt　in　the
air。　Paphnutius；　with　a　look　of　disgust；　tore　off　his　rich　robe　and
trampled　the　fragments　under　his　feet。

〃Thou　hast　heard　them；　my　Thais！〃　he　cried。　〃They　have　spat　forth
every　sort　of　folly　and　abomination。　They　dragged　the　Divine　Creator
of　all　things　down　the　gemonies＇*＇　of　the　devils　of　hell；　impudently
denied　the　existence　of　Good　and　Evil；　blasphemed　Jesus；　and　exalted
Judas。　And　the　most　infamous　of　all；　the　jackal　of　darkness；　the
stinking　beast；　the　Arian　full　of　corruption　and　death；　opened　his
mouth　like　a　yawning　sepulchre。　My　Thais；　thou　hast　seen　these　filthy
snails　crawling　towards　thee　and　defiling　thee　with　their　sticky
sweat；　thou　hast　seen　others；　like　brutes；　sleeping　under　the　heels　of
their　slaves；　thou　hast　seen　them　coupling　like　beasts　on　the　carpet
they　had　fouled　with　their　vomit；　thou　hast　seen　a　foolish　old　man
shed　a　blood　yet　viler　than　the　wine　which　flowed　at　his　debauch；　and
at　the　end　of　the　orgie　throw　himself　in　the　face　of　the　unforeseen
Christ。　Praise　be　to　God！　Thou　hast　seen　error　and　recognised　how
hideous　it　was。　Thais；　Thais；　Thais；　recall　to　mind　the　follies　of
these　philosophers；　and　say　if　thou　wilt　go　mad　with　them！　Remember
the　looks；　the　gestures；　the　laughs　of　their　fitting　companions；　those
two　lascivious　and　malicious　strumpets；　and　say　if　thou　wilt　remain
like　unto　them。〃

＇*＇　Steps　on　the　Aventine　Hill；　leading　to　the　Tiber；　to　which　the
　　　　bodies　of　executed　criminals　were　dragged　to　be　thrown　into　the
　　　　river。　The　word　is　now　obsolete；　but　was　employed　by　Ben　Jonson
　　　　（Sejanus）　and　Massinger　（The　Roman　Actor）。TRANS。

Thais；　her　heart　stirred　with　horror　and　disgust　at　all　she　had　seen
and　heard　that　night；　and　feeling　the　indifference　and　brutality；　the
malicious　jealousy　of　women；　the　heavy　weight　of　useless　hours；
sighed。

〃I　am　weary　to　death；　O　my　father！　Where　shall　I　find　rest？　I　feel
that　my　face　is　burning；　my　head　empty；　and　my　arms　are　so　tired　that
I　should　not　have　the　strength　to　seize　happiness　were　it　within　reach
of　my　hand。〃

Paphnutius　gazed　at　her　with　loving　pity。

〃Courage；　O　my　sister！　The　hour　of　rest　rises　for　thee；　white　and　pure
as　the　vapours　thou　seest　rise　from　the　gardens　and　waters。〃

They　were　near　the　house　of　Thais；　and　could　see；　above　the　wall；　the
tops　of　the　sycamore　and　fir　trees；　which　surrounded　the　Grotto　of
Nymphs；　tremble　in　the　morning　breeze。　In　front　of　them　was　a　public
square；　deserted；　and　surrounded　with　steles　and　votive　statues；　and
having　at　each　end　a　semicircular　marble　seat；　supported　by　figures　of
monsters。　Thais　fell　on　one　of　these　seats。　Then；　looking　anxiously　at
the　monk；　she　asked

〃What　must　I　do？〃

〃Thou　must；〃　replied　the　monk；　〃follow　Him　who　has　come　to　seek　thee。
He　will　separate　thee　from　this　present　life；　as　the　vintager　gathers
the　cluster　that　would　have　rotted　on　the　tree；　and　bears　it　to　the
wine…press　to　change　it　into　perfumed　wine。　Listen！　there　is；　a　dozen
hours　from　Alexandria；　towards　the　west；　not　far　from　the　sea；　a
nunnery；　the　rules　of　which；　a　masterpiece　of　wisdom；　deserve　to　be
put　in　lyric　verse　and　sung　to　the　sound　of　the　theorbo　and
tambourines。　It　may　truly　be　said　that　the　women　who　are　there；
submissive　to　these　rules；　have　their　feet　upon　earth　and　their　faces
in　heaven。　They　desire　to　be　poor；　that　Jesus　may　love　them；　modest；
tha