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meditated in solitude on theatrical art； or on the flight of years。
On the afternoon after the games； Thais was reposing in the Grotto of
Nymphs。 She had noticed in her mirror the first signs of the decay of her
beauty； and she was frightened to think that white hair and wrinkles would
at last come。 She vainly tried to comfort herself with the assurance that she
could recover her fresh complexion by burning certain herbs and
pronouncing a few magic words。 A pitiless voice cried； 〃You will grow old
Thais； you will grow old。〃 And a cold sweat of terror bedewed her
forehead。 Then； on looking at herself again in the mirror with infinite
tenderness； she found that she was still beautiful and worthy to be loved。
She smiled to herself； and murmured； 〃There is not a woman in
Alexandria who can rival me in suppleness or grace or movement； or in
splendour of arms； and the arms； my mirror； are the real chains of love！〃
While she was thus thinking she saw an unknown manthin； with
burning eyes and unkempt beard； and clad in a richly embroidered robe
standing before her。 She let fall her mirror； and uttered a cry of fright。
Paphnutius stood motionless； and seeing how beautiful she was； he
murmured this prayer from the bottom of his heart
〃Grant； my God； that the face of this woman may not be a temptation；
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but may prove salutary to Thy servant。〃
Then； forcing himself to speak； he said
〃Thais； I live in a far country； and the fame of thy beauty has led me to
thee。 It is said that thou art the most clever of actresses and the most
irresistible of women。 That which is related of thy riches and thy love
affairs seems fabulous； and calls to mind the old story of Rhodope； whose
marvellous history is known by heart to all the boatmen on the Nile。
Therefore I was seized with a desire to know thee； and I see that the truth
surpasses the rumour。 Thou art a thousand times more clever and more
beautiful than is reported。 And now that I see thee； I say to myself； 'It is
impossible to approach her without staggering like a drunken man。' 〃
The words were feigned； but the monk； animated by pious zeal； uttered
them with real warmth。 Thais gazed； without displeasure； at this strange
being who had frightened her。 The rough； wild aspect； and the fiery
glances of his eyes； astonished her。 She was curious to learn the state of
life of a man so different from all others she had met。 She replied； with
gentle raillery
〃You seem prompt to admire； stranger。 Beware that my looks do not
consume you to the bones！ Beware of loving me！〃
He said
〃I love thee； O Thais！ I love thee more than my life； and more than
myself。 For thee I have quitted the desert； for thee my lipsvowed to
silencehave pronounced profane words； for thee I have seen what I ought
not to have seen； and heard what it was forbidden to me to hear； for thee
my soul is troubled； my heart is open； and the thoughts gush out like the
running springs at which the pigeons drink； for thee I have walked day and
night across sandy deserts teeming with reptiles and vampires； for thee I
have placed my bare foot on vipers and scorpions！ Yes； I love thee！ I love
thee； but not like those men who； burning with the lusts of the flesh； come
to thee like devouring wolves or furious bulls。 Thou art dear to them as is
the gazelle to the lion。 Their ravening lusts will consume thee to the soul；
O woman！ I love thee in spirit and in truth； I love thee in God； and for ever
and ever； that which is in my breast is named true zeal and divine charity。 I
promise thee better things than drunkenness crowned with flowers or the
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dreams of a brief night。 I promise thee holy feasts and celestial suppers。
The happiness that I bring thee will never end； it is unheard…of； it is
ineffable； and such that if the happy of this world could only see a shadow
of it they would die of wonder。〃
Thais laughed mischievously。
〃Friend；〃 she said； 〃show me this wonderful love。 Make haste！ Long
speeches would be an insult to my beauty； let us not lose a moment。 I am
impatient to taste the felicity you announce； but； to say the truth； I fear that
I shall always remain ignorant of it； and that all you have promised me
will vanish in words。 It is easier to promise a great happiness than to give
it。 Everyone has a talent of some sort。 I fancy that yours is to make long
speeches。 You speak of an unknown love。 It is so long since kisses were
first exchanged that it would be very extraordinary if there still remained
secrets in love。 On this subject lovers know more than philosophers。〃
〃Do not jest； Thais。 I bring thee the unknown love。〃
〃Friend； you come too late。 I know every kind of love。〃
〃The love that I bring thee abounds with glory； whilst the loves that
thou knowest breed only shame。〃
Thais looked at him with an angry eye； a frown gathered on her
beautiful face。
〃You are very bold； stranger； to offend your hostess。 Look at me； and
say if I resemble a creature crushed down with shame。 No； I am not
ashamed； and all others who live like me are not ashamed either； although
they are not so beautiful or so rich as I am。 I have sown pleasure in my
footsteps； and I am celebrated for that all over the world。 I am more
powerful than the masters of the world。 I have seen them at my feet。 Look
at me； look at these little feet； thousands of men would pay with their
blood for the happiness of kissing them。 I am not very big； and I do not
occupy much space on the earth。 To those who look at me from the top of
the Serapeium； when I pass in the street； I look like a grain of rice； but that
grain of rice has caused among men； griefs； despairs； hates； and crimes
enough to have filled Tartarus。 Are you not mad to talk to me of shame
when all around proclaims my glory？〃
〃That which is glory in the eyes of men； is infamy before God。 O
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woman； we have been nourished in countries so different； that it is not
surprising we have neither the same language nor the same thoughts！ Yet
Heaven is my witness that I wish to agree with thee； and that it is my
intention not to leave thee until we share the same sentiments。 Who will
inspire me with burning words that will melt thee like wax in my breath； O
woman； that the fingers of my desires may mould thee as they wish？ What
virtue will deliver thee to me； O dearest of souls； that the spirit which
animates me； creating thee a second time； may imprint on thee a fresh
beauty； and that thou mayest cry； weeping for joy； 'It is only now that I am
born'？ Who will cause to gush in my heart a fount of Siloam； in which
thou mayest bathe and recover thy first purity？ Who will change me into a
Jordan； the waves of which sprinkled on thee； will give thee life eternal？〃
Thais was no longer angry。
〃This man；〃 she thought； 〃talks of life eternal and all that he says
seems written on a talisman。 No doubt he is a mage； and knows secret
charms against old age and death；〃 and she resolved to offer herself to him。
Therefore； pretending to be afraid of him； she retired a few steps to the end
of the grotto； and sitting down on the edge of the bed； artfully pulled her
tunic across her breast； then； motionless and 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 thou