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mouth。
THAIS。 I thought you more virtuous。
ZENOTHEMIS。 I am perfect； and the perfect are subject to no laws。
THAIS。 But are you not afraid of sullying your soul in a woman's arms？
ZENOTHEMIS。 The body may yield to lust without the soul being
concerned。
THAIS。 Go away！ I wish to be loved with body and soul。 All these
philosophers are old goats。
The lamps died out one by one。 The pale rays of dawn； which entered
between the openings of the hangings； shone on the livid faces and
swollen eyes of the guests。 Aristobulus was sleeping soundly by the
side of Chereas； and； in his dreams； devoting all his grooms to the
ravens。 Zenothemis pressed in his arms the yielding Philina； Dorion
poured on the naked bosom of Drosea drops of wine； which rolled like
rubies on the white breast； which was shaking with laughter； and the
philosopher tried to catch these drops with his lips； as they rolled
on the slippery flesh。 Eucrites rose； and placing his arm on the
shoulder of Nicias； led him to the end of the hall。
〃Friend；〃 he said； smiling； 〃if you can still think at allof what
are you thinking？〃
〃I think that the love of women is like a garden of Adonis。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃Do you not know； Eucrites； that women make little gardens on the
terraces； in which they plant boughs in clay pots in honour of the
lover of Venus？ These boughs flourish a little time； and then fade。〃
〃What does that signify； Nicias？ That it is foolish to attach
importance to that which fades？〃
〃If beauty is but a shadow； desire is but a lightning flash。 What
madness it is； then； to desire beauty！ Is it not rational； on the
contrary； that that which passes should go with that which does not
endure； and that the lightning should devour the gliding shadow？〃
〃Nicias； you seem to me like a child playing at knuckle…bones。 Take my
advicebe free！ By liberty only can you become a man。〃
〃How can a man be free； Eucrites； when he has a body？〃
〃You shall see presently； my son。 Presently you will say； 'Eucrites
was free。' 〃
The old man spoke； leaning against a porphyry pillar； his face lighted
by the first rays of dawn。 Hermodorus and Marcus had approached； and
stood before him by the side of Nicias； and all four； regardless of
the laughter and cries of the drinkers； conversed on things divine。
Eucrites expresses himself so wisely and eloquently； that Marcus
said
〃You are worthy to know the true God。〃
Eucrites replied
〃The true God is in the heart of the wise man。〃
Then they spoke of death。
〃I wish；〃 said Eucrites； 〃that it may find me occupied in correcting
my faults； and attentive to all my duties。 In the face of death I will
raise my pure hands to heaven； and I will say to the gods； 'Your
images； gods； that you have placed in the temple of my soul； I have
not profaned； I have hung there my thoughts； as well as garlands；
fillets； and wreaths。 I have lived according to your providence。 I
have lived enough。' 〃
Thus speaking； he raised his arms to heaven； and he remained
thoughtful a moment。 Then he continued； with extreme joy
〃Separate thyself from life； Eucrites； like the ripe olive which
falls； returning thanks to the tree which bore thee； and blessing the
earth； thy nurse。〃
At these words； drawing from the folds of his robe a naked dagger； he
plunged it into his breast。
Those who listened to him sprang forward to seize his hand； but the
steel point had already penetrated the heart of the sage。 Eucrites had
already entered into his rest。 Hermodorus and Nicias bore the pale and
bleeding body to one of the couches； amidst the shrill shrieks of the
women； the grunts of the guests disturbed in their sleep； and the
heavy breathing of the couples hidden in the shadow of the tapestry。
Cotta； an old soldier； who slept lightly； woke； approached the corpse；
examined the wound； and cried
〃Call Aristaeus； my physician！〃
Nicias shook his head。
〃Eucrites is no more；〃 he said。 〃He wished to die as others wish to
love。 He has； like all of us； obeyed his inexpressible desire。 And；
lo； now he is like unto the gods； who desire nothing。〃
Cotta struck his forehead。
〃Die！ To want to die when he might still serve the State！ What
nonsense！〃
Paphnutius and Thais remained motionless and mute； side by side； their
souls overflowing with disgust； horror； and hope。
Suddenly the monk seized the hand of the actress； and stepping over
the drunkards； who had fallen close to the lascivious couples； and
treading in the wine and blood spilt upon the floor； he led her out of
the house。
The sun had risen over the city。 Long colonnades stretched on both
sides of the deserted street； and at the end shone the dome of
Alexander's tomb。 Here and there on the pavement lay broken wreaths
and extinguished torches。 Fresh wafts of the sea could be felt in the
air。 Paphnutius； with a look of disgust； tore off his rich robe and
trampled the fragments under his feet。
〃Thou hast heard them； my Thais！〃 he cried。 〃They have spat forth
every sort of folly and abomination。 They dragged the Divine Creator
of all things down the gemonies＇*＇ of the devils of hell； impudently
denied the existence of Good and Evil； blasphemed Jesus； and exalted
Judas。 And the most infamous of all； the jackal of darkness； the
stinking beast； the Arian full of corruption and death； opened his
mouth like a yawning sepulchre。 My Thais； thou hast seen these filthy
snails crawling towards thee and defiling thee with their sticky
sweat； thou hast seen others； like brutes； sleeping under the heels of
their slaves； thou hast seen them coupling like beasts on the carpet
they had fouled with their vomit； thou hast seen a foolish old man
shed a blood yet viler than the wine which flowed at his debauch； and
at the end of the orgie throw himself in the face of the unforeseen
Christ。 Praise be to God！ Thou hast seen error and recognised how
hideous it was。 Thais； Thais； Thais； recall to mind the follies of
these philosophers； and say if thou wilt go mad with them！ Remember
the looks； the gestures； the laughs of their fitting companions； those
two lascivious and malicious strumpets； and say if thou wilt remain
like unto them。〃
＇*＇ Steps on the Aventine Hill； leading to the Tiber； to which the
bodies of executed criminals were dragged to be thrown into the
river。 The word is now obsolete； but was employed by Ben Jonson
（Sejanus） and Massinger （The Roman Actor）。TRANS。
Thais； her heart stirred with horror and disgust at all she had seen
and heard that night； and feeling the indifference and brutality； the
malicious jealousy of women； the heavy weight of useless hours；
sighed。
〃I am weary to death； O my father！ Where shall I find rest？ I feel
that my face is burning； my head empty； and my arms are so tired that
I should not have the strength to seize happiness were it within reach
of my hand。〃
Paphnutius gazed at her with loving pity。
〃Courage； O my sister！ The hour of rest rises for thee； white and pure
as the vapours thou seest rise from the gardens and waters。〃
They were near the house of Thais； and could see； above the wall； the
tops of the sycamore and fir t