thais-第7章

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Then　the　curtain　in　front　of　one　of　the　tents　was　raised；　and　the
virgin　Polyxena　appeared。　A　tremor　passed　through　all　the　spectators。
They　had　recognised　Thais。　Paphnutius　saw　again　the　woman　he　had　come
to　seek。　With　her　white　arm　she　held　above　her　head　the　heavy　curtain。
Motionless　as　a　splendid　statue；　she　stood；　with　a　look　of　pride　and
resignation　in　her　violet　eyes；　and　her　resplendent　beauty　made　a
shudder　of　commiseration　pass　through　all　who　beheld　her。

A　murmur　of　applause　uprose；　and　Paphnutius；　his　soul　agitated；　and
pressing　both　hands　to　his　heart；　sighed

〃Why；　O　my　God；　hast　thou　given　this　power　to　one　of　Thy　creatures？〃

Dorion　was　not　so　disturbed。　He　said

〃Certainly　the　atoms；　which　have　momentarily　met　together　to　form　this
woman；　present　a　combination　which　is　agreeable　to　the　eye。　But　that
is　but　a　freak　of　nature；　and　the　atoms　know　not　what　they　do。　They
will　some　day　separate　with　the　same　indifference　as　they　came
together。　Where　are　now　the　atoms　which　formed　Lais　or　Cleopatra？　I
must　confess　that　women　are　sometimes　beautiful。　But　they　are　liable
to　grievous　afflictions；　and　disgusting　inconveniences。　That　is　patent
to　all　thinking　men；　though　the　vulgar　pay　no　attention　to　it。　And
women　inspire　love；　though　it　is　absurd　and　ridiculous　to　love　them。〃

Such　were　the　thoughts　of　the　philosopher　and　the　ascetic　as　they
gazed　on　Thais。　They　neither　of　them　noticed　Hecuba；　who　turned　to　her
daughter；　and　seemed　to　say　by　her　gestures

〃Try　to　soften　the　cruel　Ulysses。　Employ　your　tears；　your　beauty；　and
your　youth。〃

Thaisor　rather　Polyxena　herselflet　fall　the　curtain　of　the　tent。
She　made　a　step　forward；　and　all　hearts　were　conquered。　And　when；　with
firm　but　light　steps；　she　advanced　towards　Ulysses；　her　rhythmic
movements；　which　were　accompanied　by　the　sound　of　flutes；　created　in
all　present　such　happy　visions；　that　it　seemed　as　though　she　were　the
divine　centre　of　all　the　harmonies　of　the　world。　All　eyes　were　bent　on
her；　the　other　actors　were　obscured　by　her　effulgence；　and　were　not
noticed。　The　play　continued；　however。

The　prudent　son　of　Laertes　turned　away　his　head；　and　hid　his　hand
under　his　mantle；　in　order　to　avoid　the　looks　and　kisses　of　the
suppliant。　The　virgin　made　a　sign　to　him　to　fear　nothing。　Her　tranquil
gaze　said

〃I　follow　you；　Ulysses；　and　bow　to　necessitybecause　I　wish　to　die。
Daughter　of　Priam；　and　sister　of　Hector；　my　couch；　which　was　once
worthy　of　Kings；　shall　never　receive　a　foreign　master。　Freely　do　I
quit　the　light　of　day。〃

Hecuba；　lying　motionless　in　the　dust；　suddenly　rose　and　enfolded　her
daughter　in　a　last　despairing　embrace。　Polyxena　gently；　but
resolutely；　removed　the　old　arms　which　held　her。　She　seemed　to　say

〃Do　not　expose　yourself；　mother；　to　the　fury　of　your　master。　Do　not
wait　until　he　drags　you　ignominiously　on　the　ground　in　tearing　me　from
your　arms。　Better；　O　well…beloved　mother；　to　give　me　your　wrinkled
hand；　and　bend　your　hollow　cheeks　to　my　lips。〃

The　face　of　Thais　looked　beautiful　in　its　grief。　The　crowd　felt
grateful　to　her　for　showing　them　the　forms　and　passions　of　life
endowed　with　superhuman　grace；　and　Paphnutius　pardoned　her　present
splendour　on　account　of　her　coming　humility；　and　glorified　himself　in
advance　for　the　saint　he　was　about　to　give　to　heaven。

The　drama　neared　its　end。　Hecuba　fell　as　though　dead；　and　Polyxena；
led　by　Ulysses；　advanced　towards　the　tomb；　which　was　surrounded　by　the
chief　warriors。　A　dirge　was　sung　as　she　mounted　the　funeral　pile；　on
the　summit　of　which　the　son　of　Achilles　poured　out　libations　from　a
gold　cup　to　the　manes　of　the　hero。　When　the　sacrificing　priests
stretched　out　their　arms　to　seize　her；　she　made　a　sign　that　she　wished
to　die　free　and　unbound；　as　befitted　the　daughter　of　so　many　kings。
Then；　tearing　aside　her　robe；　she　bared　her　bosom　to　the　blow。
Pyrrhus；　turning　away　his　head；　plunged　his　sword　into　her　heart；　and
by　a　skilful　trick；　the　blood　gushed　forth　over　the　dazzling　white
breast　of　the　virgin；　who；　with　head　thrown　back；　and　her　eyes
swimming　in　the　horrors　of　death；　fell　with　grace　and　modesty。

Whilst　the　warriors　enshrouded　the　victim　with　a　veil；　and　covered　her
with　lilies　and　anemones；　terrified　screams　and　groans　rent　the　air；
and　Paphnutius；　rising　from　his　seat；　prophesied　in　a　loud　voice。

〃Gentiles？　vile　worshippers　of　demons！　And　you　Arians　more　infamous
than　the　idolaters！learn！　That　which　you　have　just　seen　is　an　image
and　a　symbol。　There　is　a　mystic　meaning　in　this　fable；　and　very　soon
the　woman　you　see　there　will　be　offered；　a　willing　and　happy
sacrifice；　to　the　risen　God。〃

But　already　the　crowd　was　surging　in　dark　waves　towards　the　exits。　The
Abbot　of　Antinoe；　escaping　from　the　astonished　Dorion；　gained　the
door；　still　prophesying。

An　hour　later　he　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　house　of　Thais。

The　actress　then　lived　in　the　rich　Racotis　quarter；　near　the　tomb　of
Alexander；　in　a　house　surrounded　by　shady　gardens；　in　which　a　brook；
bordered　with　poplars；　flowed　amidst　artificial　rocks。　An　old　black
slave　woman；　loaded　with　rings；　opened　the　door；　and　asked　what　he
wanted。

〃I　wish　to　see　Thais；〃　he　replied。　〃God　is　my　witness　that　I　came　here
for　no　other　purpose。〃

As　he　wore　a　rich　tunic；　and　spoke　in　an　imperious　manner；　the　slave
allowed　him　to　enter。

〃You　will　find　Thais；〃　she　said；　〃in　the　Grotto　of　Nymphs。〃



PART　THE　SECOND

THE　PAPYRUS

Thais　was　born　of　free；　but　poor；　parents；　who　were　idolaters。　When
she　was　a　very　little　girl；　her　father　kept；　at　Alexandria；　near　the
Gate　of　the　Moon；　an　inn；　which　was　frequented　by　sailors。　She　still
retained　some　vivid；　but　disconnected；　memories　of　her　early　youth。
She　remembered　her　father；　seated　at　the　corner　of　the　hearth　with　his
legs　crossedtall；　formidable；　and　quiet；　like　one　of　those　old
Pharaohs　who　are　celebrated　in　the　ballads　sung　by　blind　men　at　the
street　corners。　She　remembered　also　her　thin；　wretched　mother；
wandering　like　a　hungry　cat　about　the　house；　which　she　filled　with　the
tones　of　her　sharp　voice；　and　the　glitter　of　her　phosphorescent　eyes。
They　said　in　the　neighbourhood　that　she　was　a　witch；　and　changed　into
an　owl　at　night；　and　flew　to　see　her　lovers。　It　was　a　lie。　Thais　knew
well；　having　often　watched　her；　that　her　mother　practised　no　magic
arts；　but　that　she　was　eaten　up　with　avarice；　and　counted　all　night
the　gains　of　the　day。　The　idle　father　and　the　greedy　mother　let　the
child　live　as　best　it　could；　like　one　of　the　fowls　in　the　poultry…
yard。　She　became　very　clever　in　extracting；　one　by　one；　the　oboli　from
the　belt　of　some　drunken　sailor；　and　in　amusing　the　drinkers　with
artless　songs　and　obscene　words；　the　meaning　of　which　she　did　not
know。　She　passed　from　knee　to　knee；　in　a　room　reeking　with　the　odours
of　fermented　drinks　and　resiny　wine…skins；　then；　her　cheeks　sticky
with　beer　and　pricked　by　rough　beards；　she　escaped；　clutching　the
oboli　in　her　little　hand；　and　ran　to　buy　honey…cakes　from　an　old　woman
who　crouched　behind　her　baskets　under　the　Gate　of　the　Moon。　Every　day
the　same　scenes　were　repeated；　the　sailors　relating　their　perilous
adventures；　then　playing　at　dice　or　knuckle…bones；　and　blaspheming　the
gods；　amid　their　shouting　for　the　best　beer　of　Cilicia。

Every　night　the　child　was　awakened　by　the　quarrels　of　the　drunkards。
Oyster…shells　would　fly　across　the　tables；　cutting　the　heads　of　those
they　hit；　and　the　uproar　was　terrible。　Sometimes　she　saw；　by　the　light
of　the　smoky　lamps；　the　knives　glitter；　and　the　blood　flow。

It　humiliated　her　to　think　that　the　only　person　who　showed　her　any
human　kindness　in　her　young　days　was　the　mild　and　gentle　Ahmes。　Ahmes；
the　house…slave；　a　Nubian　blacker　than　the　pot　he　gravely　skimmed；　was
as　good　as　a　long　night's　sleep。　Often　he　would　take　Thais　on　his
knee；　and　tell　her　old　tales　about　underground　treasure…houses
constructed　for　avaricious　kings；　who　put　to　death　the　masons　and
architects。　There　were　also　tales　about　clever　thieves　who　married
kings'　daughters；　and　courtesans　who　built　pyramids。　Little　Thais
loved　Ahmes　like　a　father；　like　a　mother；　like　a　nurse；　and　like　a
dog。　She　followed　the　slave　into　the　cellar　when　he　went　to　fill　the
amphorae；　and　into　the　poultry…yard　amongst　the　scraggy　and　ragged
fowls；　all　beak；　claws；　and　feathers；　who　flew　swifter　than　eagles
before　the　knife　of　the　black　cook。　Often　at　night；　on　the　straw；
instead　of　sleeping；　he　built　for　Thais　little　water…mills；　and　ships
no　bigger　than　his　hand；　with　all　their　rigging。

He　had　been　badly　treated　by　his　masters；　one　of　his　ears　was　torn；
and　his　body　covered　with　scars。　Yet　his　features　always　wore　an　air
of　joyous　peace。　And　no　one　ever　asked　him　whence　he　drew　the
consolation　in　his　soul；　and　the　peace　in　his　heart。　He　was　as　simple
as　a　child。　As　he　performed　his　heavy　tasks；　he　sang；　in　a　harsh
voice；　hymns　which　made　the　child　tremble　and　dream。　He　murmured；　in　a
gravely　joyous　tone

　　〃Tell　us；　Mary；　what　thou　hast　seen　where　thou　hast　been？
　　I　saw　the　shroud　and　the　linen　cloths；　and　the　angels　seated　on　the　tomb。
　　And　I　saw　the　glory　of　the　Risen　One。〃

She　asked　him

〃Father；　why　do　you　sing　about　angels　seated　on　a　tomb？〃

And　he　replied

〃Little　light　of　my　eyes；　I　sing　of　the　angels　because　Jesus；　our
Lord；　is　risen　to　heaven。〃

Ahmes　was　a　Christian。　He　had　been　baptised；　and　was　known　as　Theodore
at　the　meetings　of　the　faithful；　to　which　he　went　secretly　during　the
hours　allowed　him　for　sleep。

At　that　time　the　Church　was　suffering　the　severest　trials。　By　order　of
the　Emperor；　the　churches　had　been　thrown　down；　the　holy　books　burned；
the　sacred　vessels　and　candlesticks　melted。　The　Christians　had　been
deprived　of　all　their　honours；　and　expected　nothing　but　death。　Terror
reigned　over　all　the　community　at　Alexandria；　and　the　prisons　were
crammed　with　victims。　It　was　whispered　with　horror　amongst　the
faithful；　that　in　Syria；　in　Arabia；　in　Mesopotamia；　in　Cappadocia；　in
all　the　empire；　bishops　and　virgins　had　been　flogged；　tortured；
crucified　or　thrown　to　wild　beasts。　Then　Anthony；　already　celebrated
for　his　visions　and　his　solitary　life；　a　prophet；　and　the　head　of　all
the　Egyptian　believers；　descended　like　an　eagle　from　his　desert　rock
on　the　city　of　Alexandria；　and；　flying　from　church　to　church；　fired
the　whole　community　with　his　holy　ardour。　Invisible　to　the　pagans；　he
was　present　at　the　same　time　at　all　the　meetings　of　Christians；
endowing　all　with　the　spirit　of　strength　and　prudence　by　which　he　was
animated。　Slaves；　in　particular；　were　persecuted　with　singular
severity。　Many　of　them；　seized　with　fright；　denied　the　faith。　Others；
and　by　far　the　greater　number；　fled　to　the　desert；　hoping　to　live
there；　either　as　hermits　or　robbers。　Ahmes；　however；　frequented　the
meetings　as　usual；　visited　the　prisoners；　buried　the　martyrs；　and
joyfully　professed　the　religion　of　Christ。　The　great　Anthony；　who　saw
his　unshaken　zeal；　before　he　returned　into　the　desert；　pressed　the
black　slave　in　his　arms；　and　gave　him　the　kiss　of　peace。

When　Thais　was　seven　years　old；　Ahmes　began　to　talk　to　her　of　God。

〃The　good　Lord　God；〃　he　said；　〃lived　in　heaven　like　a　Pharaoh；　under
the　tents