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On the afternoon after the games； Thais was reposing in the Grotto of
Nymphs。 She had noticed in her mirror the first signs of the decay of
her beauty； and she was frightened to think that white hair and
wrinkles would at last come。 She vainly tried to comfort herself with
the assurance that she could recover her fresh complexion by burning
certain herbs and pronouncing a few magic words。 A pitiless voice
cried； 〃You will grow old Thais； you will grow old。〃 And a cold sweat
of terror bedewed her forehead。 Then； on looking at herself again in
the mirror with infinite tenderness； she found that she was still
beautiful and worthy to be loved。 She smiled to herself； and murmured；
〃There is not a woman in Alexandria who can rival me in suppleness or
grace or movement； or in splendour of arms； and the arms； my mirror；
are the real chains of love！〃
While she was thus thinking she saw an unknown manthin； with burning
eyes and unkempt beard； and clad in a richly embroidered robe
standing before her。 She let fall her mirror； and uttered a cry of
fright。
Paphnutius stood motionless； and seeing how beautiful she was； he
murmured this prayer from the bottom of his heart
〃Grant； my God； that the face of this woman may not be a temptation；
but may prove salutary to Thy servant。〃
Then； forcing himself to speak； he said
〃Thais； I live in a far country； and the fame of thy beauty has led me
to thee。 It is said that thou art the most clever of actresses and the
most irresistible of women。 That which is related of thy riches and
thy love affairs seems fabulous； and calls to mind the old story of
Rhodope； whose marvellous history is known by heart to all the boatmen
on the Nile。 Therefore I was seized with a desire to know thee； and I
see that the truth surpasses the rumour。 Thou art a thousand times
more clever and more beautiful than is reported。 And now that I see
thee； I say to myself； 'It is impossible to approach her without
staggering like a drunken man。' 〃
The words were feigned； but the monk； animated by pious zeal； uttered
them with real warmth。 Thais gazed； without displeasure； at this
strange being who had frightened her。 The rough； wild aspect； and the
fiery glances of his eyes； astonished her。 She was curious to learn
the state of life of a man so different from all others she had met。
She replied； with gentle raillery
〃You seem prompt to admire； stranger。 Beware that my looks do not
consume you to the bones！ Beware of loving me！〃
He said
〃I love thee； O Thais！ I love thee more than my life； and more than
myself。 For thee I have quitted the desert； for thee my lipsvowed to
silencehave pronounced profane words； for thee I have seen what I
ought not to have seen； and heard what it was forbidden to me to hear；
for thee my soul is troubled； my heart is open； and the thoughts gush
out like the running springs at which the pigeons drink； for thee I
have walked day and night across sandy deserts teeming with reptiles
and vampires； for thee I have placed my bare foot on vipers and
scorpions！ Yes； I love thee！ I love thee； but not like those men who；
burning with the lusts of the flesh； come to thee like devouring
wolves or furious bulls。 Thou art dear to them as is the gazelle to
the lion。 Their ravening lusts will consume thee to the soul； O woman！
I love thee in spirit and in truth； I love thee in God； and for ever
and ever； that which is in my breast is named true zeal and divine
charity。 I promise thee better things than drunkenness crowned with
flowers or the dreams of a brief night。 I promise thee holy feasts and
celestial suppers。 The happiness that I bring thee will never end； it
is unheard…of； it is ineffable； and such that if the happy of this
world could only see a shadow of it they would die of wonder。〃
Thais laughed mischievously。
〃Friend；〃 she said； 〃show me this wonderful love。 Make haste！ Long
speeches would be an insult to my beauty； let us not lose a moment。 I
am impatient to taste the felicity you announce； but； to say the
truth； I fear that I shall always remain ignorant of it； and that all
you have promised me will vanish in words。 It is easier to promise a
great happiness than to give it。 Everyone has a talent of some sort。 I
fancy that yours is to make long speeches。 You speak of an unknown
love。 It is so long since kisses were first exchanged that it would be
very extraordinary if there still remained secrets in love。 On this
subject lovers know more than philosophers。〃
〃Do not jest； Thais。 I bring thee the unknown love。〃
〃Friend； you come too late。 I know every kind of love。〃
〃The love that I bring thee abounds with glory； whilst the loves that
thou knowest breed only shame。〃
Thais looked at him with an angry eye； a frown gathered on her
beautiful face。
〃You are very bold； stranger； to offend your hostess。 Look at me； and
say if I resemble a creature crushed down with shame。 No； I am not
ashamed； and all others who live like me are not ashamed either；
although they are not so beautiful or so rich as I am。 I have sown
pleasure in my footsteps； and I am celebrated for that all over the
world。 I am more powerful than the masters of the world。 I have seen
them at my feet。 Look at me； look at these little feet； thousands of
men would pay with their blood for the happiness of kissing them。 I am
not very big； and I do not occupy much space on the earth。 To those
who look at me from the top of the Serapeium； when I pass in the
street； I look like a grain of rice； but that grain of rice has caused
among men； griefs； despairs； hates； and crimes enough to have filled
Tartarus。 Are you not mad to talk to me of shame when all around
proclaims my glory？〃
〃That which is glory in the eyes of men； is infamy before God。 O
woman； we have been nourished in countries so different； that it is
not surprising we have neither the same language nor the same
thoughts！ Yet Heaven is my witness that I wish to agree with thee； and
that it is my intention not to leave thee until we share the same
sentiments。 Who will inspire me with burning words that will melt thee
like wax in my breath； O woman； that the fingers of my desires may
mould thee as they wish？ What virtue will deliver thee to me； O
dearest of souls； that the spirit which animates me； creating thee a
second time； may imprint on thee a fresh beauty； and that thou mayest
cry； weeping for joy； 'It is only now that I am born'？ Who will cause
to gush in my heart a fount of Siloam； in which thou mayest bathe and
recover thy first purity？ Who will change me into a Jordan； the waves
of which sprinkled on thee； will give thee life eternal？〃
Thais was no longer angry。
〃This man；〃 she thought； 〃talks of life eternal and all that he says
seems written on a talisman。 No doubt he is a mage； and knows secret
charms against old age and death；〃 and she resolved to offer herself
to him。 Therefore； pretending to be afraid of him； she retired a few
steps to the end of the grotto； and sitting down on the edge of the
bed； artfully pulled her tunic across her breast； then； motionless and
mute and her eyes cast down； she waited。 Her long eyelashes made a
soft sha