thais-第8章

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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　of　His　harem；　and　under　the　trees　of　His　gardens。　He　was　the
Ancient　of　Ancients；　and　older　than　the　world；　and　He　had　but　one　Son；
the　Prince　Jesus；　whom　He　loved　with　all　His　heart；　and　who　surpassed
in　beauty　the　virgins　and　the　angels。　And　the　good　Lord　God　said　to
Prince　Jesus

〃　'Leave　My　harem　and　My　palace；　and　My　date　trees　and　My　running
waters。　Descend　to　earth　for　the　welfare　of　men。　There　Thou　shalt　be
like　a　little　child；　and　Thou　shalt　live　poor　amongst　the　poor。
Suffering　shall　be　Thy　daily　bread；　and　Thou　shalt　weep　so　profusely
that　Thy　tears　shall　form　rivers；　in　which　the　tired　slave　shall　bathe
with　delight。　Go；　My　Son！'

〃Prince　Jesus　obeyed　the　good　Lord；　and　He　came　down　to　earth；　to　a
place　named　Bethlehem　of　Judaea。　And　He　walked　in　fields；　amidst　the
flowering　anemones；　saying　to　His　companion

〃　'Blessed　are　they　who　hunger；　for　I　will　lead　them　to　My　Father's
table！　Blessed　are　they　who　thirst；　for　they　shall　drink　of　the
fountains　of　heaven！　Blessed　are　they　who　weep；　for　I　will　dry　their
tears　with　veils　finer　than　those　of　the　almehs！'

〃That　is　why　the　poor　loved　Him；　and　believed　in　Him。　But　the　rich
hated　Him；　fearing　that　He　should　raise　the　poor　above　them。　At　that
time；　Cleopatra　and　Caesar　were　powerful　on　the　earth。　They　both　hated
Jesus；　and　they　ordered　the　judges　and　priests　to　put　Him　to　death。　To
obey　the　Queen　of　Egypt；　the　princes　of　Syria　erected　a　cross　on　a
high　mountain；　and　they　caused　Jesus　to　die　on　this　cross。　But　women
washed　His　corpse；　and　buried　it；　and　Prince　Jesus；　having　broken　the
door　of　His　tomb；　rose　again　to　the　good　Lord；　His　Father。

〃And；　from　that　time；　all　those　who　believed　in　Him　go　to　heaven。

〃The　Lord　God　opens　His　arms；　and　says　to　them

〃　'Ye　are　welcome；　because　ye　love　the　Prince；　My　Son。　Wash；　and　then
eat。'

〃They　bathe　to　the　sound　of　beautiful　music；　and；　all　the　time　they
are　eating；　they　see　almehs　dancing；　and　they　listen　to　tales　that
never　end。　They　are　dearer　to　the　good　Lord　God　than　the　light　of　His
eyes；　because　they　are　His　guests；　and　they　shall　have　for　their
portion　the　carpets　of　His　house；　and　the　pomegranates　of　His
gardens。〃

Ahmes　often　spoke　in　this　strain；　and　thus　taught　the　truth　to　Thais。
She　wondered；　and　said

〃I　should　like　to　eat　the　pomegranates　of　the　good　Lord。〃

Ahmes　replied

〃Only　those　who　are　baptised　may　taste　the　fruits　of　heaven。〃

And　Thais　asked　to　be　baptised。　Seeing　by　this　that　she　believed　in
Jesus；　the　slave　resolved　to　instruct　her　more　fully；　so　that；　being
baptised；　she　might　enter　the　Church；　and　he　loved　her　as　his
spiritual　daughter。

The　child；　unloved　and　uncared　for　by　its　selfish　parents；　had　no　bed
in　the　house。　She　slept　in　a　corner　of　the　stable　amongst　the　domestic
animals；　and　there　Ahmes　came　to　her　every　night　secretly。

He　gently　approached　the　mat　on　which　she　lay；　and　sat　down　on　his
heels；　his　legs　bent　and　his　body　straighta　position　hereditary　to
his　race。　His　face　and　his　body；　which　was　clothed　in　black；　were
invisible　in　the　darkness；　but　his　big　white　eyes　shone　out；　and　there
came　from　them　a　light　like　a　ray　of　dawn　through　the　chinks　of　a
door。　He　spoke　in　a　husky；　monotonous　tone；　with　a　slight　nasal　twang
that　gave　it　the　soft　melody　of　music　heard　at　night　in　the　streets。
Sometimes　the　breathing　of　an　ass；　or　the　soft　lowing　of　an　ox；
accompanied；　like　a　chorus　of　invisible　spirits；　the　voice　of　the
slave　as　he　recited　the　gospels。　His　words　flowed　gently　in　the
darkness；　which　they　filled　with　zeal；　mercy；　and　hope；　and　the
neophyte；　her　hand　in　that　of　Ahmes；　lulled　by　the　monotonous　sounds；
and　the　vague　visions　in　her　mind；　slept　calm　and　smiling；　amid　the
harmonies　of　the　dark　night　and　the　holy　mysteries；　gazed　down　on　by　a
star；　which　twinkled　between　the　joists　of　the　stable…roof。

The　initiation　lasted　a　whole　year；　till　the　time　when　the　Christians
joyfully　celebrate　the　festival　of　Easter。　One　night　in　the　holy　week；
Thais；　who　was　already　asleep　on　her　mat；　felt　herself　lifted　by　the
slave；　whose　eyes　gleamed　with　a　strange　light。　He　was　clad；　not　as
usual　in　a　pair　of　torn　drawers；　but　in　a　long　white　cloak；　beneath
which　he　pressed　the　child；　whispering　to　her

〃Come；　my　soul！　Come；　light　of　my　eyes！　Come；　little　sweetheart！　Come
and　be　clad　in　the　baptismal　robes！〃

He　carried　the　child　pressed　to　his　breast。　Frightened　and　yet
curious；　Thais；　her　head　out　of　the　cloak；　threw　her　arms　round　her
friend's　neck；　and　he　ran　with　her　through　the　darkness。　They　went
down　narrow；　black　alleys；　they　passed　through　the　Jews'　quarter；　they
skirted　a　cemetery；　where　the　osprey　uttered　its　dismal　cry；　they
traversed　an　open　space；　passing　under　crosses　on　which　hung　the
bodies　of　victims；　and　on　the　arms　of　the　crosses　the　ravens　clacked
their　beaks。　Thais　hid　her　head　in　the　slave's　breast。　She　did　not
dare　to　peep　out　all　the　rest　of　the　way。　Soon　it　seemed　to　her　that
she　was　going　down　under　ground。　When　she　reopened　her　eyes　she　found
herself　in　a　narrow　cave；　lighted　by　resin　torches；　on　the　walls　of
which　were　painted　standing　figures；　which　seemed　to　move　and　live　in
the　flickering　glare　of　the　torches。　They　were　men　clad　in　long　tunics
and　carrying　branches　of　palm；　and　around　them　were　lambs；　doves；　and
tendrils　of　vine。

Amongst　these　figures；　Thais　recognised　Jesus　of　Nazareth；　by　the
anemones　flowering　at　his　feet。　In　the　centre　of　the　cave；　near　a
large　stone　font　filled　with　water；　stood　an　old　man　clad　in　a　scarlet
dalmatic　embroidered　with　gold；　and　on　his　head　a　low　mitre。　His　thin
face　ended　in　a　long　beard。　He　looked　gentle　and　humble；　in　spite　of
his　rich　costume。　This　was　Bishop　Vivantius；　an　exiled　dignitary　of
the　Church　of　Cyrene；　who　now　gained　his　livelihood　by　weaving　common
stuffs　of　goats'　hair。　Two　poor　children　stood　by　his　side。　Close　by；
an　old　negress　unfolded　a　little　white　robe。　Ahmes　set　the　child　down
on　the　ground；　and　kneeling　before　the　Bishop；　said

〃Father；　this　is　the　little　soul；　the　child　of　my　soul。　I　have　brought
her　that　you　may；　according　to　your　promise；　and　if　it　please　your
holiness；　bestow　on　her　the　baptism　of　life。〃

At　these　words　the　Bishop　opened　his　arms；　and　showed　his　mutilated
hands。　His　nails　had　been　torn　out　because　he　had　maintained　the　faith
in　the　days　of　persecution。　Thais　was　frightened；　and　threw　herself
into　the　arms　of　Ahmes。　But　the　kind　words　of　the　priest　reassured
her。

〃Fear　nothing；　dearly　beloved　little　one。　Thou　hast　here　a　spiritual
father；　Ahmes；　who　is　called　Theodore　amongst　the　faithful；　and　a　kind
mother　in　grace；　who　has　prepared　for　thee；　with　her　own　hands；　a
white　robe。〃

And　turning　towards　the　negress

〃She　is　called　Nitida；〃　he　added；　〃and　is　a　slave　in　this　world；　but
in　heaven　she　will　be　a　spouse　of　Jesus。〃

Then　he　said　to　the　child　neophyte

〃Thais；　dost　thou　believe　in　God；　the　Father　Almighty；　and　in　His　only
Son；　who　died　for　our　salvation；　and　in　all　that　the　apostles　taught？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　together　the　negro　and　negress；　who　held　her　by　each
hand。

By　the　Bishop's　orders；　Nitida　knelt　down　and　undressed　Thais。　The
child　was　quite　naked；　round　her　neck　was　an　amulet。　The　Pontiff
plunged　her　three　times　into　the　baptismal　font。　The　acolytes　brought
the　oil；　with　which　Vivantius　anointed　the　catechumen；　and　the　salt；　a
morsel　of　which　he　placed　on　her　tongue。　Then；　having　dried　that　body
which　was　destined；　after　many　trials；　to　life　immortal；　the　slave
Nitida　put　on　Thais　the　white　robe　she　had　woven。

The　Bishop　gave　to　each　and　all　the　kiss　of　peace；　and；　the　ceremony
being　terminated；　took　off　his　sacerdotal　insignia。

When　they　had　left　the　crypt；　Ahmes　said

〃We　ought　to　rejoice　that　we　have　this　day　brought　a　soul　to　the　good
Lord　God；　let　us　go　to　the　house　of　your　Holiness　and　spend　the　rest
of　the　night　in　rejoicing。〃

〃Thou　hast　well　said；　Theodore；〃　replied　the　Bishop；　and　he　led　the
little　band　to　his　house；　which　was　quite　near。　It　consisted　of　a
single　room；　furnished　with　a　couple　of　looms；　a　heavy　table；　and　a
worn…out　carpet。　As　soon　as　they　had　entered；

〃Nitida；〃　cried　the　Nubian；　〃bring　hither　the　stove　and　the　jar　of
oil；　and　we　will　have　a　good　supper。〃

Saying　thus；　he　drew　from　under　his　cloak　some　little　fish　which　he
had　kept　concealed；　and　lighted　a　fire　and　fried　them。　The　Bishop；　the
girl；　the　two　boys；　and　the　two　slaves　sat　in　a　ring　on　the　carpet；
ate　the　fried　fish；　and　blessed　the　Lord。　Vivantius　spoke　of　the
torture　he　had　undergone；　and　prophesied　the　speedy　triumph　of　the
Church。　His　language　was　grotesque；　and　full　of　word…play　and
rhetorical　tropes。　He　compared　the　life　of　the　just　to　a　tissue　of
purple；　and　to　explain　the　mystery　of　baptism；　he　said

〃The　Divine　Spirit　floated　on　the　waters；　and　that　is　why　Christians
receive　the　baptism　of　water。　But　demons　also　inhabit　the　brooks；
springs　consecrated　to　nymphs　are　especially　dangerous；　and　there　are
certain　waters　which　cause　various　maladies；　both　of　the　soul　and　of
the　body。〃

Sometimes　he　spoke　enigmatically；　and　the　child　listened　to　him　with
profound　awe　and　wonder。　At　the　end　of　the　repast　he　offered　his
guests　a　little　wine；　and　this　unloosed　their　tongues；　and　they　began
to　sing　lamentations　and　hymns。　Ahmes　and　Nitida　then　rose；　and　danced
a　Nubian　dance　which　they　had　learned　as　children；　and　which；　no
doubt；　had　been　danced　by　their　tribe　since　the　early　ages　of　the
world。　It　was　a　love　dance；　waving　their　arms；　and　moving　their　bodies
in　rhythmic　measure；　they　feigned；　in　turn；　to　fly　from　and　to　pursue
each　other。　Their　big　eyes　rolled；　and　they　showed　their　gleaming
teeth　in　broad　grins。

In　this　strange　manner　did　Thais　receive　the　holy　rite　of　baptism。

She　loved　amusements；　and；　as　she　grew；　vague　desires　were　created　in
her　mind。　All　day　long　she　danced　and　sang　with　the　children　in　the
streets；　and　when　at　night　she　returned　to　her　father's　house；　she　was
still　singing

　　〃Crooked　twist；　why　do　you　stay　in　the　house？
　　I　comb　the　wool；　and　the　Miletan　threads。
　　Crooked　twist；　what　did　your　son　die　of？
　　He　fell　from　the　white　horses　into　the　sea。〃

She　now　began　to　prefer　the　company　of　boys　and　girls　to　that　of　the
gentle　and　quiet　Ahmes。　She　did　not　notice　that　her　friend　was　not　so
often　with　her。　The　persecution　having　relented；　the　Christians　were
able　to　assemble　more　regularly；　and　the　Nubian　frequented　these
meetings　assiduously。　His　zeal　increased；　and　he　sometimes　uttered
mysterious　threats。　He　said　that　the　rich　would　not　keep　their　wealth。
He　went　to　the　public　places　to　which　the　poorer　Christians　used　to
resort；　and　assembling　together　all　the　poor　wretches　who　were　lying
in　the　shade　of　the　old　walls；　he　announced　to　them　that　all　slaves
would　soon　be　free；　and　that　the　day　of　justice　was　at　hand。

〃In　the　kingdom　of　God；〃　he　said；　〃the　slaves　will　drink　new　wine　and
eat　delicious　fruits；　whilst　the　rich；　crouching　at　their　feet　like
dogs；　will　devour　the　crumbs　from　their　table。〃

These　s