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THAIS
Where are now the atoms which formed Lais or Cleopatra？ I must confess
that women are sometimes beautiful。 But they are liable to grievous
afflictions； and disgusting inconveniences。 That is patent to all thinking
men； though the vulgar pay no attention to it。 And women inspire love；
though it is absurd and ridiculous to love them。〃
Such were the thoughts of the philosopher and the ascetic as they
gazed on Thais。 They neither of them noticed Hecuba； who turned to her
daughter； and seemed to say by her gestures
〃Try to soften the cruel Ulysses。 Employ your tears； your beauty； and
your youth。〃
Thaisor rather Polyxena herselflet fall the curtain of the tent。 She
made a step forward； and all hearts were conquered。 And when； with firm
but light steps； she advanced towards Ulysses； her rhythmic movements；
which were accompanied by the sound of flutes； created in all present such
happy visions； that it seemed as though she were the divine centre of all
the harmonies of the world。 All eyes were bent on her； the other actors
were obscured by her effulgence； and were not noticed。 The play
continued； however。
The prudent son of Laertes turned away his head； and hid his hand
under his mantle； in order to avoid the looks and kisses of the suppliant。
The virgin made a sign to him to fear nothing。 Her tranquil gaze said
〃I follow you； Ulysses； and bow to necessitybecause I wish to die。
Daughter of Priam； and sister of Hector； my couch； which was once
worthy of Kings； shall never receive a foreign master。 Freely do I quit the
light of day。〃
Hecuba； lying motionless in the dust； suddenly rose and enfolded her
daughter in a last despairing embrace。 Polyxena gently； but resolutely；
removed the old arms which held her。 She seemed to say
〃Do not expose yourself； mother； to the fury of your master。 Do not
wait until he drags you ignominiously on the ground in tearing me from
your arms。 Better； O well…beloved mother； to give me your wrinkled hand；
and bend your hollow cheeks to my lips。〃
The face of Thais looked beautiful in its grief。 The crowd felt grateful
to her for showing them the forms and passions of life endowed with
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THAIS
superhuman grace； and Paphnutius pardoned her present splendour on
account of her coming humility； and glorified himself in advance for the
saint he was about to give to heaven。
The drama neared its end。 Hecuba fell as though dead； and Polyxena；
led by Ulysses； advanced towards the tomb； which was surrounded by the
chief warriors。 A dirge was sung as she mounted the funeral pile； on the
summit of which the son of Achilles poured out libations from a gold cup
to the manes of the hero。 When the sacrificing priests stretched out their
arms to seize her； she made a sign that she wished to die free and unbound；
as befitted the daughter of so many kings。 Then； tearing aside her robe； she
bared her bosom to the blow。 Pyrrhus； turning away his head； plunged his
sword into her heart； and by a skilful trick； the blood gushed forth over the
dazzling white breast of the virgin； who； with head thrown back； and her
eyes swimming in the horrors of death； fell with grace and modesty。
Whilst the warriors enshrouded the victim with a veil； and covered her
with lilies and anemones； terrified screams and groans rent the air； and
Paphnutius； rising from his seat； prophesied in a loud voice。
〃Gentiles？ vile worshippers of demons！ And you Arians more
infamous than the idolaters！learn！ That which you have just seen is an
image and a symbol。 There is a mystic meaning in this fable； and very
soon the woman you see there will be offered； a willing and happy
sacrifice； to the risen God。〃
But already the crowd was surging in dark waves towards the exits。
The Abbot of Antinoe； escaping from the astonished Dorion； gained the
door； still prophesying。
An hour later he knocked at the door of the house of Thais。
The actress then lived in the rich Racotis quarter； near the tomb of
Alexander； in a house surrounded by shady gardens； in which a brook；
bordered with poplars； flowed amidst artificial rocks。 An old black slave
woman； loaded with rings； opened the door； and asked what he wanted。
〃I wish to see Thais；〃 he replied。 〃God is my witness that I came here
for no other purpose。〃
As he wore a rich tunic； and spoke in an imperious manner； the slave
allowed him to enter。
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THAIS
〃You will find Thais；〃 she said； 〃in the Grotto of Nymphs。〃
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THAIS
PART THE SECOND
THE PAPYRUS
Thais was born of free； but poor； parents； who were idolaters。 When
she was a very little girl； her father kept； at Alexandria； near the Gate of
the Moon； an inn； which was frequented by sailors。 She still retained some
vivid； but disconnected； memories of her early youth。 She remembered her
father； seated at the corner of the hearth with his legs crossedtall；
formidable； and quiet； like one of those old Pharaohs who are celebrated in
the ballads sung by blind men at the street corners。 She remembered also
her thin； wretched mother； wandering like a hungry cat about the house；
which she filled with the tones of her sharp voice； and the glitter of her
phosphorescent eyes。 They said in the neighbourhood that she was a witch；
and changed into an owl at night； and flew to see her lovers。 It was a lie。
Thais knew well； having often watched her； that her mother practised no
magic arts； but that she was eaten up with avarice； and counted all night
the gains of the day。 The idle father and the greedy mother let the child
live as best it could； like one of the fowls in the poultry… yard。 She became
very clever in extracting； one by one； the oboli from the belt of some
drunken sailor； and in amusing the drinkers with artless songs and obscene
words； the meaning of which she did not know。 She passed from knee to
knee； in a room reeking with the odours of fermented drinks and resiny
wine…skins； then； her cheeks sticky with beer and pricked by rough beards；
she escaped； clutching the oboli in her little hand； and ran to buy honey…
cakes from an old woman who crouched behind her baskets under the
Gate of the Moon。 Every day the same scenes were repeated； the sailors
relating their perilous adventures； then playing at dice or knuckle…bones；
and blaspheming the gods； amid their shouting for the best beer of Cilicia。
Every night the child was awakened by the quarrels of the drunkards。
Oyster…shells would fly across the tables； cutting the heads of those they
hit； and the uproar was terrible。 Sometimes she saw； by the light of the
smoky lamps； the knives glitter； and the blood flow。
It humiliated her to think that the only person who showed her any
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THAIS
human kindness in her young days was the mild and gentle Ahmes。 Ahmes；
the house…slave； a Nubian blacker than the pot he gravely skimmed； was as
good as a long night's sleep。 Often he would take Thais on his knee； and
tell her old tales about underground treasure…houses constructed for
avaricious kings； who put to death the masons and architects。 There were
also tales about clever thieves who married kings' daughters； and
courtesans who built pyramids。 Little Thais loved Ahmes like a father； like
a mother； like a nurse； and like a dog。 She followed the slave into the
cellar when he went to fill the amphorae； and into the poultry…yard
amongst the scraggy and ragged fowls； all beak； claws； and feathers； who
flew swifter than eagles before the knife of the black cook。 Often at night；
on the straw； instead of sleeping； he built for Thais little water…mill