thais-第18章

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and　rubbing　their　eyes；　looked　out　to　see　whence　the　smoke　came。　Then
they　came　down；　half　dressed；　and　drew　near　the　fire。

〃What　does　it　mean？〃　they　wondered。

Amongst　them　were　merchants　from　whom　Thais　had　often　bought　perfumes
and　stuffs；　and　they　looked　on　anxiously　with　long；　yellow　faces；
unable　to　comprehend　what　was　going　on。　Some　young　debauchees；　who；
returning　from　a　supper；　passed　by　there；　preceded　by　their　slaves；
stopped；　their　heads　crowned　with　flowers；　their　tunics　floating；　and
uttered　loud　cries。　Attracted　by　curiosity；　the　crowd　increased
unceasingly；　and　soon　it　was　known　that　Thais　had　been　persuaded　by
the　Abbot　of　Antinoe　to　burn　her　riches　and　retire　to　a　nunnery。

The　shopkeepers　thought　to　themselves

〃Thais　is　going　to　leave　the　city；　we　shall　sell　no　more　to　her；　it　is
dreadful　to　think　of。　What　will　become　of　us　without　her？　This　monk
has　driven　her　mad。　He　is　ruining　us。　Why　let　him　do　it？　What　is　the
use　of　the　laws？　Are　there　no　magistrates　in　Alexandria？　Thais　does
not　think　about　us　and　our　wives　and　our　poor　children。　It　is　a　public
scandal。　She　ought　to　be　compelled　to　stay　in　the　city。〃

The　young　men；　on　their　part；　also　thought

〃If　Thais　is　going　to　renounce　acting　and　love；　our　chief　amusements
will　be　taken　from　us。　She　was　the　glory；　delight；　and　honour　of　the
stage。　She　was　the　joy　even　of　those　who　had　never　possessed　her。　The
women　we　loved；　we　loved　in　her。　There　were　no　kisses　given　in　which
she　was　altogether　absent；　for　she　was　the　joy　of　all　voluptuaries；
and　the　mere　thought　that　she　breathed　amongst　us　excited　us　to
pleasure。〃

Thus　thought　the　young　men；　and　one　of　them；　named　Cerons；　who　had
held　her　in　his　arms；　cried　out　upon　the　abduction；　and　blasphemed
against　Christ。　In　every　group　the　conduct　of　Thais　was　severely
criticised。

〃It　is　a　shameful　flight！〃

〃A　cowardly　desertion！〃

〃She　is　taking　the　bread　out　of　our　mouths。〃

〃She　is　robbing　our　children。〃

〃She　ought　at　least　to　pay　for　the　wreaths　I　have　sold　to　her。〃

〃And　the　sixty　robes　she　has　ordered　of　me。〃

〃She　owes　money　to　everybody。〃

〃Who　will　represent　Iphigenia；　Electra；　and　Polyxena　when　she　is　gone？
The　handsome　Polybia　herself　will　not　make　such　a　success　as　she　has
done。〃

〃Life　will　be　dull　when　her　door　is　closed。〃

〃She　was　the　bright　star；　the　soft　moon　of　the　Alexandrian　sky。〃

All　the　most　notorious　mendicants　of　the　citycripples；　blind　men；
and　paralyticshad　by　this　time　assembled　in　the　place；　and　crawling
through　the　remnants　of　the　riches；　they　groaned

〃How　shall　we　live　when　Thais　is　no　longer　here　to　feed　us？　Every　day
the　fragments　from　her　table　fed　two　hundred　poor　wretches；　and　her
lovers；　when　they　quitted　her；　threw　us　as　they　passed　handfuls　of
silver　pieces。〃

Some　thieves；　too；　also　mingled　with　the　crowd；　and　created　a
deafening　clamour；　and　pushed　their　neighbours；　to　increase　disorder；
and　take　advantage　of　the　tumult　to　filch　some　valuable　object。

Old　Taddeus；　who　sold　Miletan　wool　and　Tarentan　linen；　and　to　whom
Thais　owed　a　large　sum　of　money；　alone　remained　calm　and　silent　in　the
midst　of　the　uproar。　He　listened　and　watched；　and　gently　stroking　his
goat…beard；　seemed　thoughtful。　At　last　he　approached　young　Cerons；　and
pulling　him　by　the　sleeve；　whispered

〃You　are　the　favoured　lover　of　Thais；　handsome　youth；　show　yourself；
and　do　not　allow　this　monk　to　carry　her　off。〃

〃By　Pollux　and　his　sister；　he　shall　not！〃　cried　Cerons。　〃I　will　speak
to　Thais；　and　without　flattering　myself；　I　think　she　will　listen　to　me
rather　than　to　that　sooty…faced　Lapithan。　Place！　Place；　dogs！〃

And　striking　with　his　fist　the　men；　upsetting　the　old　women　and
treading　on　the　young　children；　he　reached　Thais；　and　taking　her
aside

〃Dearest　girl；〃　he　said；　〃look　at　me；　remember；　and　tell　me　truly　if
you　renounce　love。〃

But　Paphnutius　threw　himself　between　Thais　and　Cerons。

〃Impious　wretch！〃　he　cried；　〃beware　and　touch　her　not；　she　is　sacred
she　belongs　to　God。〃

〃Get　away；　baboon！〃　replied　the　young　man　furiously。　〃Let　me　speak　to
my　sweetheart；　or　if　not　I　will　drag　your　obscene　carcase　by　the　beard
to　the　fire；　and　roast　you　like　a　sausage。〃

And　he　put　his　hand　on　Thais。　But；　pushed　away　by　the　monk　with
unexpected　force；　he　staggered　back　four　paces　and　fell　at　the　foot　of
the　pile　amongst　the　scattered　ashes。

Old　Taddeus；　meanwhile；　had　been　going　from　one　to　the　other；　pulling
the　ears　of　the　slaves　and　kissing　the　hands　of　the　masters；　inciting
each　and　all　against　Paphnutius；　and　had　already　formed　a　little　band
resolutely　determined　to　oppose　the　monk　who　would　steal　Thais　from
them。

Cerons　rose；　his　face　black；　his　hair　singed；　and　choking　with　smoke
and　rage。　He　blasphemed　against　the　gods；　and　threw　himself　amongst
the　assailants；　behind　whom　the　beggars　crawled；　shaking　their
crutches。　Paphnutius　was　soon　enclosed　in　a　circle　of　menacing　fists；
raised　sticks；　and　cries　of　death。

〃To　the　ravens　with　the　monk！　to　the　ravens！〃

〃No；　throw　him　in　the　fire！　Burn　him　alive！〃

Seizing　his　fair　prey；　he　pressed　her　to　his　heart。

〃Impious　men；〃　he　cried　in　a　voice　of　thunder；　〃strive　not　to　tear　the
dove　from　the　eagle　of　the　Lord。　But　rather　copy　this　woman；　and　like
she　turn　your　filth　into　gold。　Imitate　her　example；　and　renounce　the
false　wealth　which　you　think　you　hold　and　which　holds　you。　Hasten！　the
day　is　at　hand；　and　divine　patience　begins　to　grow　weary。　Repent；
confess　your　sins；　weep　and　pray。　Walk　in　the　footsteps　of　Thais。　Hate
your　offenses；　which　are　as　great　as　hers。　Which　of　you；　poor　or　rich；
merchants；　soldiers；　slaves　or　eminent　citizens；　would　dare　to　say；
before　God；　that　he　was　better　than　a　prostitute？　You　are　all　nothing
but　living　filth；　and　it　is　by　a　miracle　of　divine　goodness　that　you
do　not　suddenly　turn　into　streams　of　mire。〃

Whilst　he　spoke　flames　shot　from　his　eyes；　an　it　seemed　as　though　live
coals　came　from　his　lips　and　those　who　surrounded　him　were　obliged　to
hear　him　in　spite　of　themselves。

But　old　Taddeus　did　not　remain　idle。　He　picked　up　stones　and　oyster
shells；　which　he　hid　in　the　skirt　of　his　tunic；　and　not　daring　to
throw　them　himself　slipped　them　into　the　hands　of　the　beggars。　Soon
the　stones　began　to　fly；　and　a　well…directed　shell　cut　Paphnutius'
face。　The　blood；　which　flowed　down　the　dark　face　of　the　martyr；
dropped　in　a　new　baptism　on　the　head　of　the　penitent；　and　Thais；　half
stifled　in　the　monk's　embrace　and　her　delicate　skin　scratched　by　the
coarse　cassock；　felt　a　thrill　of　horror　and　fright。

At　that　moment　a　man　elegantly　dressed；　and　with　a　wreath　of　wild
celery　on　his　head；　opened　a　road　for　himself　through　the　furious
crowd；　and　cried

〃Stop！　Stop！　This　monk　is　my　brother！〃

It　was　Nicias；　who；　having　closed　the　eyes　of　the　philosopher
Eucrites；　was　passing　through　the　square　to　return　to　his　house；。　and
saw；　without　very　much　surprise　（for　nothing　astonished　him）；　the
smoking　pile；　Thais　clad　an　a　serge　cassock；　and　Paphnutius　being
stoned。

He　repeated

〃Stop；　I　tell　you；　spare　my　old　fellow…scholar；　respect　the　beloved
head　of　Paphnutius！〃

But；　being　only　used　to　subtle　disquisitions　with　philosophers；　he　did
not　possess　that　imperious　energy　which　commands　vulgar　minds。　He　was
not　listened　to。　A　shower　of　stones　and　shells　fell　on　the　monk；　who；
protecting　Thais　with　his　body；　praised　the　Lord　whose　goodness　turned
his　wounds　into　caresses。　Despairing　of　making　himself　heard；　and
feeling　but　too　sure　that　he　could　not　save　his　friend　either　by　force
or　persuasion；　Nicias　resigned　himself　to　the　will　of　the　godsin
whom　he　had　little　confidencewhen　the　idea　occurred　to　him　to　use　a
stratagem　which　his　contempt　for　men　had　suddenly　suggested　to　him。　He
took　from　his　girdle　his　purse；　which　was　full　of　gold　and　silver；　for
he　was　a　pleasure…loving　and　charitable　man；　and　running　up　to　the　men
who　were　throwing　the　stones；　he　chinked　the　money　in　their　ears。　At
first　they　paid　no　attention　to　him；　their　fury　being　too　great；　but
little　by　little　their　looks　turned　towards　the　chinking　gold；　and
soon　their　arms　dropped　and　no　longer　menaced　their　victim。　Seeing
that　he　had　attracted　their　eyes　and　minds；　Nicias　opened　his　purse
and　threw　some　pieces　of　gold　and　silver　amongst　the　crowd。　The　more
greedy　of　them　stooped　to　pick　it　up。　The　philosopher；　pleased　at　his
first　success；　adroitly　threw　deniers　and　drachmas　here　and　there。　At
the　sound　of　the　pieces　of　money　rattling　on　the　pavement；　the
persecutors　of　Paphnutius　threw　themselves　on　the　ground。　Beggars；
slaves；　and　tradespeople　scrambled　after　the　money；　whilst；　grouped
round　Cerons；　the　patricians　watched　the　struggle　and　laughed
heartily。　Cerons　himself　quite　forgot　his　wrath。　His　friends
encouraged　the　rivals；　chose　competitors；　and　made　bets；　and　urged　on
the　miserable　wretches　as　they　would　have　done　fighting　dogs。　A
cripple　without　legs　having　succeeded　in　seizing　a　drachma；　the
applause　was　frenetic。　The　young　men　themselves　began　to　throw　money；
and　nothing　was　to　be　seen　in　the　square　but　a　multitude　of　backs；
rising　and　falling　like　waves　of　the　sea；　under　a　shower　of　coins。
Paphnutius　was　forgotten。

Nicias　ran　up　to　him；　covered　him　with　his　cloak；　and　dragged　him　and
Thais　into　by…streets　where　they　were　safe　from　pursuit。　They　ran　for
some　time　in　silence；　and　when　they　thought　they　were　out　of　reach　of
their　enemies；　they　ceased　running；　and　Nicias　said；　in　a　tone　of
raillery　in　which　a　little　sadness　was　mingled

〃It　is　finished　then！　Pluto　ravishes　Proserpine；　and　Thais　will　follow
my　fierce…looking　friend　whithersoever　he　will　lead　her。〃

〃It　is　true；　Nicias；〃　replied　Thais；　〃that　I　am　tired　of　living　with
men　like　you；　smiling；　perfumed；　kindly　egoists。　I　am　weary　of　all　I
know；　and　I　am；　therefore；　going　to　seek　the　unknown。　I　have
experienced　joy　that　was　not　joy；　and　here　is　a　man　who　teaches　me
that　sorrow　is　true　joy。　I　believe　him；　for　he　knows　the　truth。〃

〃And　I；　sweetheart；〃　replied　Nicias；　smiling；　〃I　know　the　truths。　He
knows　but　one；　I　know　them　all。　I　am　superior　to　him　in　that　respect；
but　to　tell　the　truth；　it　doesn't　make　me　any　the　prouder　nor　any　the
happier。〃

Then；　seeing　that　the　monk　was　glaring　fiercely　at　him

〃My　dear　Paphnutius；　do　not　imagine　that　I　think　you　extremely　absurd；
or　even　altogether　unreasonable。　And　if　I　were　to　compare　your　life
with　mine；　I　could　not　say　which　is　preferable　in　itself。　I　shall
presently　go　and　take　the　bath　which　Crobyle　and　Myrtale　have　prepared
for　me；　I　shall　eat　the　wing　of　a　Phasian　pheasant；　then　I　shall　read
for　the　hundredth　timesome　fable　by　Apuleius　or　some　treatise　by
Porphyry。　You　will　return　to　your　cell；　where；　leaning　like　a　tame
camel；　you　will　ruminate　onI　know　not　whatformulas　of　incarnations
you　have　long　chewed　and　rechewed；　and　in　the　evening　you　will　swallow
some　radishes　without　any　oil。　Well；　my　dear　friend；　in　accomplishing
these　acts；　so　different　apparently；　we　are　both　obeying　the　same
sentiment；　the　only　motive　for　all　human　actions；　we　are　both　seeking
our　own　pleasure；　and　striving　to　attain　the　same　endhappiness；　the
impossible　happiness。　It　would　be　folly