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heavy shadow； in which the smoke of Arabian gums seemed like the folds
of angels' robes； and the paintings on the walls visions of Paradise。 Priests；
clad in white； were prostrate at the foot of the sarcophagus。 The hymns
they sang with the people expressed the delight of suffering； and mingled；
in a triumphal mourning； so much joy with so much grief； that Thais； in
listening to them； felt the pleasures of life and the terrors of death flowing；
at the same time； through her re…awakened senses。
When they had finished singing； the believers rose； and walked in
single file to the tomb； the side of which they kissed。 They were common
men； accustomed to work with their hands。 They advanced with a heavy
step； the eyes fixed； the jaw dropped； but they had an air of sincerity。 They
knelt down； each in turn； before the sarcophagus； and put their lips to it。
The women lifted their little children in their arms； and gently placed their
cheek to the stone。
Thais； surprised and troubled； asked a deacon why they did so。
〃Do you not know； woman；〃 replied the deacon； 〃that we celebrate to…
day the blessed memory of St。 Theodore the Nubian； who suffered for the
faith in the days of the Emperor Diocletian？ He lived virtuously and died a
martyr； and that is why； robed in white； we bear red roses to his glorious
tomb。〃
On hearing these words； Thais fell on her knees； and burst into tears。
Half…forgotten recollections of Ahmes returned to her mind。 On the
memory of this obscure； gentle； and unfortunate man； the blaze of candles；
the perfume of roses； the clouds of incense； the music of hymns； the piety
of souls； threw all the charms of glory。 Thais thought in the dazzling glare…
…
〃He was good； and now he has become great and glorious。 Why is it
that he is elevated above other men？ What is this unknown thing which is
more than riches or pleasure？〃
She rose slowly； and turned towards the tomb of the saint who had
loved her； those violet eyes； now filled with tears which glittered in the
candle…light； then； with bowed head； humble； slow； and the last； with those
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lips on which so many desires hung； she kissed the stone of the slave's
tomb。
When she returned to her house； she found Nicias； who； with his hair
perfumed； and his tunic thrown open； was reading a treatise on morals
whilst waiting for her。 He advanced with open arms。
〃Naughty Thais；〃 he said； in a laughing voice； 〃whilst I was waiting
for you to come； do you know what I saw in this manuscript； written by
the gravest of Stoics？ Precepts of virtue and noble maxims： No！ On the
staid papyrus； I saw dance thousands and thousands of little Thaises。 Each
was no bigger than my finger； and yet their grace was infinite； and all were
the only Thais。 There were some who flaunted in mantles of purple and
gold； others； like a white cloud； floated in the air in transparent drapery。
Others again； motionless and divinely nude； the better to inspire pleasure；
expressed no thought。 Lastly； there were two； hand in hand； two so alike
that it was impossible to distinguish one from the other。 Both smiled。 The
first said； 'I am love。' The other； 'I am death。' 〃
Thus speaking； he pressed Thais in his arms； and not noticing the
sullen look in her downcast eyes； he went on adding thought to thought；
heedless of the fact that they were all lost upon her。
〃Yes； when I had before my eyes the line in which it was written；
'Nothing should deter you from improving your mind；' I read； 'The kisses
of Thais are warmer than fire； and sweeter than honey。' That is how a
philosopher reads the books of other philosophersand that is your fault；
you naughty child。 It is true that； as long as we are what we are； we shall
never find anything but our own thoughts in the thoughts of others； and
that all of us are somewhat inclined to read books as I have read this one。〃
She did not hear him； her soul was still before the Nubian's tomb。 As
he heard her sigh； he kissed her on the neck； and said
〃Do not be sad； my child。 We are never happy in this world； except
when we forget the world。
〃Come； let us cheat lifeit is sure to take its revenge。 Come； let us
love！〃
But she pushed him away。
〃/We/ love！〃 she cried bitterly。 〃/You/ never loved any one。 And /I/ do
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not love /you/！ No！ I do not love you！ I hate you！ Go！ I hate you！ I curse
and despise all who are happy； and all who are rich！ Go！ Go！ Goodness is
only found amongst the unfortunate。 When I was a child I knew a black
slave who died on the cross。 He was good； he was filled with love； and he
knew the secret of life。 You are not worthy to wash his feet。 Go！ I never
wish to see you again！〃
She threw herself on her face on the carpet； and passed the night
sobbing and weeping； and forming resolutions to live； in future； like Saint
Theodore； in poverty and humbleness。
The next day； she devoted herself again to those pleasures to which she
was addicted。 As she knew that her beauty； though still intact； would not
last very long； she hastened to derive all the enjoyment and all the fame
she could from it。 At the theatre； where she acted and studied more than
ever； she gave life to the imagination of sculptors； painters； and poets。
Recognising that there was in the attitudes； movements； and walk of the
actress； an idea of the divine harmony which rules the spheres； wise men
and philosophers considered that such perfect grace was a virtue in itself；
and said； 〃Thais also is a geometrician！〃 The ignorant； the poor； the
humble； and the timid before whom she consented to appear； regarded her
as a blessing from heaven。 Yet she was sad amidst all the praise she
received； and dreaded death more than ever。 Nothing was able to set her
mind at rest； not even her house and gardens； which were celebrated； and a
proverb throughout the city。
The gardens were planted with trees； brought at great expense from
India and Persia。 They were watered by a running brook； and colonnades
in ruins； and imitation rocks； arranged by a skilful artist； were reflected in
a lake； which also mirrored the statues that stood round it。 In the middle of
the garden was the Grotto of Nymphs； which owed its name to three life…
size figures of women； which stood on the threshold。 They were
represented as divesting themselves of their garments； and about to bathe。
They anxiously turned their heads； fearing to be seen； and looked as
though they were alive。 The only light which entered the building came；
tempered and iridescent； through thin sheets of water。 All the walls were
hungas in the sacred grottoeswith wreaths； garlands； and votive
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pictures； in which the beauty of Thais was celebrated。 There were also
tragic and comic masks； bright with colours； and paintings representing
theatrical scenes or grotesque figures； or fabulous animals。 On a stele in
the centre stood a little ivory Eros of wonderful antique workmanship。 It
was a gift from Nicias。 In one of the bays was a figure of a goat in black
marble； with shining agate eyes。 Six alabaster kids crowded round its teats；
but； raising its cloven hoofs and its ugly head； it seemed impatient to
climb the rocks。 The floor was covered with Byzantine carpets； pillows
embroidered by the yellow men of Cathay； and the skins of Libyan lions。
Perfumed smoke arose from golden censers。 Flowering plants grew in
large onyx vases。 And at the far end； in the purple shadow； gleamed the
gold nails on the shell of a huge Indian tortoise turned upside down； which
served as the bed of the actress。 It was here that every day； to the murmur
of the water； and amid perfumes and flowers； Thais reclined softly； and
conversed with her friends； while awaiting the hour of supper； or
meditated in solitude on theatrical art； or on the flight of years。
On the afternoon after