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rising and falling like waves of the sea； under a shower of coins。
Paphnutius was forgotten。
Nicias ran up to him； covered him with his cloak； and dragged him and
Thais into by…streets where they were safe from pursuit。 They ran for
some time in silence； and when they thought they were out of reach of
their enemies； they ceased running； and Nicias said； in a tone of
raillery in which a little sadness was mingled
〃It is finished then！ Pluto ravishes Proserpine； and Thais will follow
my fierce…looking friend whithersoever he will lead her。〃
〃It is true； Nicias；〃 replied Thais； 〃that I am tired of living with
men like you； smiling； perfumed； kindly egoists。 I am weary of all I
know； and I am； therefore； going to seek the unknown。 I have
experienced joy that was not joy； and here is a man who teaches me
that sorrow is true joy。 I believe him； for he knows the truth。〃
〃And I； sweetheart；〃 replied Nicias； smiling； 〃I know the truths。 He
knows but one； I know them all。 I am superior to him in that respect；
but to tell the truth； it doesn't make me any the prouder nor any the
happier。〃
Then； seeing that the monk was glaring fiercely at him
〃My dear Paphnutius； do not imagine that I think you extremely absurd；
or even altogether unreasonable。 And if I were to compare your life
with mine； I could not say which is preferable in itself。 I shall
presently go and take the bath which Crobyle and Myrtale have prepared
for me； I shall eat the wing of a Phasian pheasant； then I shall read
for the hundredth timesome fable by Apuleius or some treatise by
Porphyry。 You will return to your cell； where； leaning like a tame
camel； you will ruminate onI know not whatformulas of incarnations
you have long chewed and rechewed； and in the evening you will swallow
some radishes without any oil。 Well； my dear friend； in accomplishing
these acts； so different apparently； we are both obeying the same
sentiment； the only motive for all human actions； we are both seeking
our own pleasure； and striving to attain the same endhappiness； the
impossible happiness。 It would be folly on my part to say you were
wrong； dear friend； even though I think myself in the right。
〃And you； my Thais； go and enjoy yourself； and be more happy still； if
it be possible； in abstinence and austerity than you have been in
riches and pleasure。 On the whole； I should say you were to be envied。
For if in our whole lives； Paphnutius and I have pursued but one kind
of pleasurable satisfaction； you in your life； dear Thais； have tasted
diverse joys such as it is rarely given to the same person to know。 I
should really like to be for one hour； a saint like our dear friend
Paphnutius。 But that is not possible。 Farewell； then； Thais！ Go where
the secret forces of nature and your destiny conduct you！ Go； and take
with you； whithersoever you go； the good wishes of Nicias！ I know that
is mere foolishness； but can I give you anything more than barren
regrets and vain wishes in payment for the delicious illusions which
once enveloped me when I was in your arms； and of which only the
shadow now remains to me？ Farewell； my benefactress！ Farewell；
goodness that is ignorant of its own existence； mysterious virtue； joy
of men！ Farewell to the most adorable of the images that nature has
ever thrownfor some unknown reasonson the face of this deceptive
world！〃
Whilst he spoke； deep wrath had been brewing in the monk's heart； and
it now broke forth in imprecations。
〃Avaunt； cursed wretch！ I scorn thee and hate thee。 Go； child of hell；
a thousand times worse than those poor lost ones who just now threw
stones and insults at me！ They knew not what they did； and the grace
of God； which I implored for them； may some day descend into their
hearts。 But thou； detestable Nicias； thou art but a perfidious venom
and a bitter poison。 Thy mouth breathes despair and death。 One of thy
smiles contains more blasphemy than issues in a century from the
smoking lips of Satan。 Avaunt； backslider！〃
Nicias looked at him。
〃Farewell； my brother；〃 he said； 〃and may you preserve until your
life's end your store of faith； hate； and love。 Farewell； Thais！ It is
in vain that you will forget me； because I shall ever remember you。〃
On quitting them he walked thoughtfully through the winding streets in
the vicinity of the great cemetery of Alexandria； which are peopled by
the makers of funeral urns。 Their shops were full of clay figures
painted in bright colours and representing gods and goddesses； mimes；
women； winged sprites； &c。； such as were usually buried with the dead。
He fancied that perhaps some of the little images which he saw there
might be the companions of his eternal sleep； and it seemed to him
that a little Eros； with its tunic tucked up； laughed at him
mockingly。 He looked forward to his death； and the idea was painful to
him。 To cure his sadness he tried to philosophise； and reasoned thus
〃Assuredly；〃 he said to himself； 〃time has no reality。 It is a simple
illusion of our minds。 Then； if it does not exist； how can it bring
death to me？ Does that mean that I shall live for ever？ No； but I
conclude therefrom that my death is； always has been； as it always
will be。 I do not feel it yet； but it is in me； and I ought not to
fear it； for it would be folly to dread the coming of that which has
arrived。 It exists； like the last page of a book I read and have not
finished。〃
This argument occupied him all the rest of the way； but without making
him more cheerful； and his mind was filled with dismal thoughts when
he arrived at the door of his house and heard the merry laughter of
Crobyle and Myrtale； who were playing at tennis whilst they were
waiting for him。
Paphnutius and Thais left the city by the Gate of the Moon； and
followed the coast。
〃Woman；〃 said the monk； 〃all that great blue sea could not wash away
thy pollutions。〃
He spoke with scorn and anger。
〃More filthy than a bitch or a sow； thou hast prostituted to pagans
and infidels a body which the Eternal had intended for a tabernacle；
and thy impurities are such that； now that thou knowest the truth；
thou canst not unite thy lips or join thy hands without a horror of
thyself rising in thy heart。〃
She followed him meekly； over stony roads； under a burning sun。 Her
knees ached from fatigue； and her throat was parched with thirst。 But；
far from feeling any of the pity which softens the hearts of the
profane； Paphnutius rejoiced at these propitiatory sufferings of the
flesh which had so sinned。 So infuriated was he with holy zeal that he
would have liked to cut with rods the body that had preserved its
beauty as a shining witness to its infamy。 His meditations augmented
his pious fury； and remembering that Thais had received Nicias in her
bed； that idea seemed so horrible to him that his blood all flowed
back to his heart； and his breast felt ready to burst。 His curses were
stifled in his throat； and he could only grind his teeth。 He sprang
forward and stood before her； pale； terrible； and filled with the
Spirit of Godlooked into her very soul； and then spat in her face。
She calmly wiped her face and continued to walk on。 He followed