thais-第17章

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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；
that　He　may　gaze　upon　them；　chaste　that　He　may　wed　them。　He　visits
them　every　day　in　the　guise　of　a　gardener；　His　feet　bare；　His
beautiful　hands　openeven　as　He　showed　Himself　to　Mary　at　the
entrance　of　the　tomb。　I　will　conduct　thee　this　very　day　to　this
nunnery；　my　Thais；　and　soon；　commingling　with　these　holy　women；　thou
wilt　share　in　their　heavenly　conversation。　They　await　thee　as　a
sister。　On　the　threshold　of　the　convent；　their　mother；　the　pious
Albina；　will　give　thee　the　kiss　of　peace　and　will　say；　'My　daughter；
thou　art　welcome！'　〃

The　courtesan　uttered　a　cry　of　amazement。

〃Albina！　a　daughter　of　the　Caesars！　The　great　niece　of　the　Emperor
Carus！〃

〃She　herself！　Albina；　who；　born　in　the　purple；　has　donned　the　serge；
and　a　daughter　of　the　masters　of　this　world；　has　risen　to　the　rank　of
servant　of　Jesus　Christ。　She　will　be　thy　mother。〃

Thais　rose　and　said

〃Take　me　to　the　house　of　Albina。〃

And　Paphnutius；　completing　his　victory

〃Surely　I　will　conduct　thee　thither；　and　there　I　will　place　thee　in　a
cell；　where　thou　shalt　weep　for　thy　sins。　For　it　is　not　fitting　that
thou　shouldst　mingle　with　the　daughters　of　Albina　until　thou　art
cleansed　from　thy　sins。　I　will　seal　the　door；　and　there；　a　happy
prisoner；　thou　wilt　wait　in　tears　till　Jesus　Himself　come；　as　a　sign
of　pardon；　to　break　the　seal　that　I　have　placed。　And　doubt　not　that　He
will　come；　Thais；　and　how　the　flesh　of　thy　soul　will　tremble　when　thou
shalt　feel　the　fingers　of　Light　placed　upon　thy　eyes　to　dry　thy
tears！〃

Thais　said　a　second　time

〃Take　me；　my　father；　to　the　house　of　Albina。〃

His　heart　filled　with　joy；　Paphnutius　gazed　around　him；　and　tasted；
almost　without　fear；　the　pleasure　of　contemplating　the　works　of
creation；　his　eyes　drank　in　with　joy　God's　light；　and　unknown　breezes
fanned　his　cheeks。　Suddenly；　seeing　at　one　of　the　corners　of　the
public　square　the　little　door　which　led　to　Thais'　house；　and
remembering　that　the　trees；　whose　foliage　he　had　been　admiring；　shaded
the　courtesan's　garden；　he　thought　of　all　the　impurities　which　there
sullied　the　air；　to…day　so　light　and　pure；　and　his　soul　was　so　grieved
that　bitter　tears　sprang　to　his　eyes。

〃Thais；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　fly　without　looking　back。　But　we　must　not
leave　behind　us　the　instruments；　the　witnesses；　the　accomplices　of　thy
past　crimes；　those　heavy　hangings；　those　beds；　carpets；　perfume
censers　and　lamps；　which　would　proclaim　thy　infamy！　Dost　thou　wish
that；　animated　by　the　demons；　and　carried　by　the　evil　spirit　that　is
in　them；　those　accursed　belongings　should　pursue　thee　even　to　the
desert？　It　is　but　too　true　that　there　are　tables　which　bring　ruin；
seats　which　serve　as　the　instruments　of　devils；　which　act；　speak；
strike　the　ground；　and　pass　through　the　air。　Let　all　perish　which　has
seen　thy　shame！　Hasten；　Thais；　and；　whilst　the　city　is　yet　asleep；
order　thy　slaves　to　make；　in　the　centre　of　this　place；　a　pile；　upon
which　we　will　burn　all　the　abominable　riches　thy　dwelling　contains。〃

Thais　consented。

〃Do　as　you　will；　my　father；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　that　spirits　often
dwell　in　inanimate　objects。　At　night　some　articles　of　furniture　talk；
either　by　giving　knocks　at　regular　intervals　or　by　emitting　little
flashes　of　light　as　signals。　And　even　more。　Have　you　remarked；　my
father；　at　the　entrance　to　the　Grotto　of　Nymphs；　on　the　right；　a
statue　of　a　naked　woman　about　to　bathe？　One　day　I　saw；　with　my　own
eyes；　that　statue　turn　its　head　like　a　living　person；　and　then　return
to　its　ordinary　attitude。　I　was　terrified。　Nicias；　to　whom　I　related
this　prodigy；　laughed　at　me；　yet　there　must　be　some　magic　in　that
statue；　for　it　inspired　with　violent　desires　a　certain　Dalmatian；　who
was　insensible　to　my　beauty。　It　is　certain　that　I　have　lived　amongst
enchanted　things；　and　that　I　was　exposed　to　the　greatest　perils；　for
men　have　been　strangled　by　the　embraces　of　a　bronze　statue。　Yet　it
would　be　a　pity　to　destroy　valuable　works　made　with　rare　skill；　and　to
burn　my　carpets　and　tapestry　would　be　a　great　loss。　The　beautiful
colours　of　some　of　them　are　truly　wonderful；　and　they　cost　much　money
to　those　who　gave　them　to　me。　I　also　possess　cups；　statues；　and
pictures　of　great　price。　I　do　not　think　they　ought　to　perish。　But　you
know　what　is　necessary。　Do　as　you　will；　my　father。〃

Thus　saying；　she　followed　the　monk　to　the　little　door　at　which　so　many
garlands　and　wreaths　had　been　hung；　and；　when　it　was　opened；　she　told
the　porter　to　call　together　all　the　slaves　in　the　house。　Four　Indians；
who　were　employed　in　the　kitchen；　were　the　first　to　appear。　They　were
all　four　yellow　men；　and　each　had　but　one　eye。　It　had　cost　Thais　much
trouble；　and　given　her　amusement；　to　get　together　these　four　slaves　of
the　same　race；　and　all　afflicted　with　the　same　infirmity。　When　they
attended　at　table　they　excited　the　curiosity　of　the　guests；　and　Thais
made　them　relate　the　story　of　their　lives。　These　four　waited　in
silence。　Their　assistants　followed　them。　Then　came　the　stablemen；　the
huntsmen；　the　litter…bearers；　and　the　running　footmen　with　muscles
like　iron；　two　gardeners　hirsute　as　Priapus；　six　ferocious　looking
negroes；　three　Greek　slavesone　a　grammarian；　another　a　poet；　and　the
third　a　singer。　They　all　stood；　ranged　in　order；　on　the　public　square；
and　were　presently　joined　by　the　negressescurious；　suspicious；
rolling　big　round　eyes；　and　each　with　a　huge　mouth　slit　to　her
earrings。　Lastly；　adjusting　their　veils　and　languidly　dragging　their
feet；　which　were　shackled　with　light　gold　chains；　appeared　six　sulky…
looking；　beautiful　white　slave…girls。　When　they　were　all　assembled；
Thais；　pointing　to　Paphnutius；　said

〃Do　whatever　this　man　commands　you；　for　the　spirit　of　God　is　in　him；
and　if　you　disobey　him　you　will　fall　dead。〃

For　she　had　heard；　and　really　believed；　that　the　earth　would　open　and
swallow　up　in　flames　and　smoke　any　impious　wretch　whom　a　saint　of　the
desert　struck　with　his　staff。

Paphnutius　sent　away　the　women　and　the　Greek　men…slaves；　and　said　to
the　others

〃Bring　wood　to　the　middle　of　this　place；　make　a　huge　fire；　and　throw
into　it　pell…mell　all　that　there　is　in　the　house　and　grotto。〃

They　were　astonished；　and　stood　motionless；　looking　at　their　mistress。
And　they　still　stood　inactive　and　silent；　and　pressed　against　each
other；　elbow　to　elbow；　suspecting　that　the　order　was　a　joke。

〃Obey！〃　said　the　monk。

Several　of　them　were　Christians。　They　understood　the　command；　and　went
to　the　house　to　fetch　wood　and　torches。　The　others　were　not　indisposed
to　imitate　them；　for；　being　poor；　they　hated　riches　and　had　a　natural
instinct　for　destruction。　Whilst　they　were　building　the　pile；
Paphnutius　said　to　Thais

〃I　thought　at　one　time　of　fetching　the　treasurer　of　one　of　the
churches　of　Alexandria　（if　there　still　remain　one　worthy　of　the　name
of　church；　and　that　is　not　defiled　by　the　Arian　beasts）　and　giving　him
thy　goods；　woman；　that　he　might　distribute　them　to　widows；　and　change
the　proceeds　of　crime　into　the　treasure　of　justice。　But　such　a　thought
did　not　come　from　God；　and　I　cast　it　from　me；　for　assuredly　it　would
be　a　great　offence　to　the　well…beloved　of　Jesus　Christ　to　offer　them
the　spoils　of　thy　lust。　Thais；　all　that　thou　hast　touched　must　be
devoured　by　the　fire；　even　to　its　very　soul。　Thanks　be　to　Heaven；
these　tunics　and　veils；　which　have　seen　kisses　more　innumerable　than
the　waves　of　the　sea；　will　only　feel　now　the　lips　and　tongues　of　the
flames。　Hasten；　slaves！　More　wood！　More　links　and　torches！　And　thou；
woman；　return　to　thy　house；　strip　thyself　of　thy　shameful　robes；　and
ask　of　the　most　humble　of　thy　slaves；　as　an　undeserving　favour；　the
tunic　that　she　puts　on　when　she　scrubs　the　floors。〃

Thais　obeyed。　Whilst　the　Indians　knelt　down　and　blew　the　embers；　the
negroes　threw　on　the　pile　coffers　of　ivory；　ebony；　or　cedar；　which
broke　open　and　let　out　wreaths；　garlands；　and　necklaces。　The　smoke
rose　in　a　dark　column；　as　in　the　holocausts　of　the　old　religion。　Then
the　fire；　which　had　been　smouldering；　burst　out　suddenly　with　a　roar
as　of　some　monstrous　animal；　and　the　almost　invisible　flames　began　to
devour　their　valuable　prey。　The　slaves　worked　more　eagerly；　they
joyfully　dragged　out　rich　carpets；　veils　embroidered　with　silver；　and
flowered　tapestry。　They　staggered　under　the　weight　of　tables；　couches；
thick　cushions；　and　beds　with　gold　nails。　Three　strong　Ethiopians　came
hugging　the　coloured　statues　of　the　nymphs；　one　of　which　had　been
loved　as　though　it　were　a　mortal；　and　they　looked　like　huge　apes
carrying　off　women。　And　when　the　beautiful　naked　forms　fell　from　the
arms　of　these　monsters；　and　were　broken　on　the　stones；　a　deep　groan
was　heard。

At　that　moment　Thais　appeared；　her　hair　unloosed　and　streaming　over
her　shoulders；　barefooted；　and　clad　in　a　clumsy　coarse　garment　which
seemed　redolent　with　divine　voluptuousness　merely　from　having　touched
her　body。　Behind　her　came　a　gardener；　carrying；　half　hidden　in　his
long　beard；　an　ivory　Eros。

She　made　a　sign　to　the　man　to　stop；　and　approaching　Paphnutius；　showed
him　the　little　god。

〃My　father；〃　she　asked；　〃should　this　also　be　thrown　into　the　flames？
It　is　of　marvellous　antique　work；　and　is　worth　a　hundred　times　its
weight　in　gold。　Its　loss　would　be　irreparable；　for　there　is　not　a
sculptor　in　the　world　capable　of　making　such　a　beautiful　Eros。
Remember　also；　my　father；　that　this　child　is　Love；　and　he　should　not
be　harshly　treated。　Believe　me；　Love　is　a　virtue；　and　if　I　have
sinned；　it　is　not　through　him；　my　father；　but　against　him。　Never　shall
I　regret　aught　that　he　has　caused　me　to　do；　and　I　deplore　only　those
things　I　have　done　contrary　to　his　commands。　He　does　not　allow　women
to　give　themselves　to　those　who　do　not　come　in　his　name。　For　that
reason　he　ought　to　be　honoured。　Look；　Paphnutius；　how　pretty　this
little　Eros　is！　With　what　grace　he　hides　himself　in　the　gardener's
beard！　One　day　Nicias；　who　loved　me　then；　brought　it　to　me　and　said；
'It　will　remind　you　of　me。'　But　the　roguish　boy　did　not　remind　me　of
Nicias；　but　of　a　young　man　I　knew　at　Antioch。　Enough　riches　have　been
destroyed　upon　this　pile；　my　father！　Preserve　this　Eros；　and　place　it
in　some　monastery。　Those　who　see　it　will　turn　their　hearts　towards
God；　for　love　leads　naturally　to　heavenly　thoughts。〃

The　gardener；　already　believing　that　the　little　Eros　was　saved；　smiled
on　it　as　though　it　had　been　a　child；　when　Paphnutius；　snatching　the
god　from　the　arms　which　held　it；　threw　it　into　the　flames；　crying

〃It　is　enough　that　Nicias　has　touched　it　to　make　it　replete　with
every　sort　of　poison！〃

Then；　seizing　by　armfuls　the　sparkling　robes；　the　purple　mantles；　the
golden　sandals；　the　combs；　strigils；　mirrors；　lamps；　theorbos；　and
lyres；　he　threw　them　into　this　furnace；　more　costly　than　the　funeral
pile　of　Sardanapalus；　whilst；　drunken　with　the　rage　of　destruction；
the　slaves　danced　round；　uttering　wild　yells　amid　a　shower　of　sparks
and　ashes。

One　by　one；　the　neighbours；　awakened　by　the　noise；　opened　the　windows；
and　rubbing　their　eyes；　looked　out　to　see　whence　the　smoke　came。　Then
they　came　down；　half　dresse