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mute and her eyes cast down； she waited。 Her long eyelashes made a
soft shadow on her cheeks。 Her entire attitude expressed modesty； her
naked feet swung gently； and she looked like a child sitting thinking
on the bank of a brook。 But Paphnutius looked at her； and did not
move。 His trembling knees hardly supported him； his tongue dried in
his mouth； a terrible buzzing rang in his ears。 But all at once his
sight failed； and he could see nothing before him but a thick cloud。
He thought that the hand of Jesus had been laid on his eyes； to hide
this woman from them。 Reassured by such succour； strengthened and
fortified； he said with a gravity worthy of an old hermit of the
desert
〃If thou givest thyself to me； thinkest thou it is hidden from God？〃
She shook her head。
〃God？ Who forces Him to keep His eye always upon the Grotto of Nymphs？
Let Him go away if we offend Him！ But why should we offend Him？ Since
He has created us； He can be neither angry nor surprised to see us as
He made us； and acting according to the nature He has given us。 A good
deal too much is said on His behalf； and He is often credited with
ideas He never had。 You yourself； stranger； do you know His true
character？ Who are you that you should speak to me in His name？〃
At this question the monk； opening his borrowed robe； showed the
cassock； and said
〃I am Paphnutius； Abbot of Antinoe； and I come from the holy desert。
The hand that drew Abraham from Chaldaea and Lot from Sodom has
separated me from the present age。 I no longer existed for the men of
this century。 But thy image appeared to me in my sandy Jerusalem； and
I knew that thou wert full of corruption； and death was in thee。 And
now I am before thee； woman； as before a grave； and I cry unto thee；
'Thais； arise！' 〃
At the words； Paphnutius； monk； and abbot； she had turned pale with
fright。 And now； with dishevelled hair and joined hands； weeping and
groaning； she dragged herself to the feet of the saint。
〃Do not hurt me！ Why have you come？ What do you want of me？ Do not
hurt me！ I know that the saints of the desert hate women who； like me；
are made to please。 I am afraid that you hate me； and want to hurt me。
Go！ I do not doubt your power。 But know； Paphnutius； that you should
neither despise me nor hate me。 I have never； like many of the men I
know； laughed at your voluntary poverty。 In your turn； do not make a
crime of my riches。 I am beautiful； and clever in acting。 I no more
chose my condition than my nature。 I was made for that which I do。 I
was born to charm men。 And you yourself； did you not say just now that
you loved me？ Do not use your science against me。 Do not pronounce
magic words which would destroy my beauty； or change me into a statue
of salt。 Do not terrify me！ I am already too frightened。 Do not kill
me！ I am so afraid of death。〃
He made a sign to her to rise； and said
〃Child； have no fear。 I will utter no word of shame or scorn。 I come
on behalf of Him who sat on the edge of the well； and drank of the
pitcher which the woman of Samaria offered to Him； and who； also； when
He supped at the house of Simon； received the perfumes of Mary。 I am
not without sin that I should throw the first stone。 I have often
badly employed the abundant grace which God has bestowed upon me。 It
was not anger； but pity； which took me by the hand to conduct me here。
I can； without deceit； address thee in words of love； for it is the
zeal in my heart which has brought me to thee。 I burn with the fire of
charity； and if thy eyes； accustomed only to the gross sights of the
flesh； could see things in their mystic aspect； I should appear unto
thee as a branch broken off the burning bush which the Lord showed on
the mountain to Moses of old； that he might understand true lovethat
which envelops us； and which； so far from leaving behind it mere coals
and ashes； purifies and perfumes for ever that which it penetrates。〃
〃I believe you； monk； and no longer fear either deceit or ill…will
from you。 I have often heard talk of the hermits of the Thebaid。
Marvellous things have been told concerning Anthony and Paul。 Your
name is not unknown to me； and I have heard say that； though you are
still young； you equal in virtue the oldest anchorites。 As soon as I
saw you； and without knowing who you were； I felt that you were no
ordinary man。 Tell me！ can you do for me that which neither the
priests of Isis； nor of Hermes； nor of the celestial Juno； nor the
Chaldean soothsayers； nor the Babylonian magi have been able to
effect？ Monk； if you love me； can you prevent me from dying？〃
〃Woman； whosoever wishes to live shall live。 Flee from the abominable
delights in which thou diest for ever。 Snatch from the devils； who
will burn it most horribly； that body which God kneaded with His
spittle and animated with his own breath。 Thou art consumed with
weariness； come； and refresh thyself at the blessed springs of
solitude； come and drink of those fountains which are hidden in the
desert； and which gush forth to heaven。 Careworn soul； come； and
possess that which thou desirest！ Heart greedy for joy； come and taste
true joyspoverty； retirement； self…forgetfulness； seclusion in the
bosom of God。 Enemy of Christ now； and to…morrow His well…beloved；
come to Him！ Come； thou whom I have sought； and thou wilt say； 'I have
found love！' 〃
Thais seemed lost in meditation on things afar。
〃Monk；〃 she asked； 〃if I adjure all pleasures and do penance； is it
true that I shall be born again in heaven； my body intact in all its
beauty？〃
〃Thais； I bring thee eternal life。 Believe me； for that which I
announce to thee is the truth。〃
〃Who will assure me that it is the truth？〃
〃David and the prophets； the Scriptures； and the wonders that thou
shalt behold。〃
〃Monk； I should like to believe you； for I must confess that I have
not found happiness in this world。 My lot in life is better than that
of a queen； and yet I have many bitternesses and misfortunes； and I am
infinitely weary of my existence。 All women envy me； and yet sometimes
I have envied the lot of a toothless old woman who； when I was a
child； sold honey…cakes under one of the city gates。 Often has the
idea flashed across my mind that only the poor are good； happy； and
blessed； and that there must be great gladness in living humble and
obscure。 Monk； you have agitated a storm in my soul； and brought to
the surface that which lay at the bottom。 Who am I to believe； alas！
and what is to become of meand what is life？〃
Whilst she thus spoke； Paphnutius was transfigured； celestial joy
beamed in his face。
〃Listen！〃 he said。 〃I was not alone when I entered this house。 Another
accompanied me； another who stands by my side。 Him thou canst not see；
because thy eyes are yet unworthy to behold Him； but soon thou shalt
see Him in all His glorious splendour； and thou wilt say； 'He alone is
to be adored。' But now； if He had not placed His gentle hands before
my eyes； O Thais； I should perhaps have fallen into sin with thee； for
of myself I am but weak and sinful。 But He saved us both。 He is as
good as He is powerful； and His name is the Saviour。 He was promised
to the world； by