按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of women； as she had determined； in order that her mortal body might be
tried by the most supreme defilements。 An inert prey to lascivious and
violent men； she suffered rape and adultery； in expiation of all the
adulteries； all the violences； all the iniquities； and caused； by her beauty；
the ruin of nations； that God might pardon the sins of the universe。 And
never was the celestial thought； never was Eunoia； so adorable as in those
days when； as a woman； she prostituted herself to heroes and shepherds。
The poets surmised her divinity when they painted her so peaceful； superb；
and fatal； and when they addressed that invocation to her； 'A soul as serene
as a calm upon the waters。'
76
… Page 77…
THAIS
〃Thus was Eunoia led by pity into evil and suffering。 She died； and the
Argives still show her tombfor it was necessary that she should know
death after lust； and taste the bitter fruit she had sown。 But； emerging from
the decomposed flesh of Helen； she became incarnate again as a woman；
and again suffered every form of insult and outrage。 Thus； passing from
body to body； throughout all the evil ages； she takes upon her the sins of
the world。 Her sacrifice will not be in vain。 Joined to us by the bonds of
the flesh； loving us； and weeping with us； she will effect her redemption
and ours； and will carry us； clinging to her white breast； into the peace of
the regained paradise。〃
HERMODORUS。 This myth was not unknown to me。 I remembered
having heard that； in one of her metamorphoses； the divine Helen lived
with the magician； Simon； in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius。 I thought；
however； that her perdition was involuntary； and that she was dragged
down by the angels in their fall。
ZENOTHEMIS。 It is true； Hermodorus； that men who were not
properly initiated in the mysteries have imagined that the sad Eunoia was
not a party to her own downfall。 But if it were as they assert Eunoia would
not be the expiating courtesan； the victim covered with stains of all sorts；
the bread steeped in the wine of our shame； the pleasant offering； the
meritorious sacrifice； the holocaust； the smoke of which rises to God。 If
they were not voluntary； there would be no merit in her sins。
CALLICRATES。 Does anyone know； Zenothemis in what country；
under what name； in what adorable form； this ever…renascent Helen is
living now？
ZENOTHEMIS。 A man would have to be very wise indeed to discover
such a secret。 And wisdom； Callicrates； is not given to poets； who live in
the rude world of forms and amuse themselves； like children； with sounds
and empty shows。
CALLICRATES。 Beware of offending the gods； impious Zenothemis；
the poets are dear to them。 The first laws were dictated in verse by the
immortals themselves； and the oracles of the gods are poems。 Hymns have
a pleasant sound to celestial ears。 Who does not know that the poets are
prophets； and that nothing is hidden from them？ Being a poet myself； and
77
… Page 78…
THAIS
crowned with Apollo's laurel； I will make known to all the last incarnation
of Eunoia。 The eternal Helen is close to us； she is looking at us； and we are
looking at her。 You see that woman reclining on the cushions of her couch…
…so beautiful and so contemplativewhose eyes shed tears； and whose lips
abound with kisses！ It is she！ Lovely as in the time of Priam and the
halcyon days of Asia； Eunoia is now called Thais。
PHILINA。 What do you say； Callicrates？ Our dear Thais knew Paris；
Menelaus； and the Achaians who fought before Ilion！ Was the Trojan
horse big； Thais？
ARISTOBULUS。 Who speaks of a horse？
〃I have drunk like a Thracian！〃 cried Chereas and he rolled under the
table。
Callicrates； raising his cup； cried
〃If we drink like desperate men； we die unavenged！〃
Old Cotta was asleep； and his bald head nodded slowly above his
broad shoulders。
For some time past Dorion had seemed to be greatly excited under his
philosophic cloak。 He reeled up to the couch of Thais。
〃Thais； I love you； although it is unseemly in me to love a woman。〃
THAIS。 Why did you not love me before？
DORION。 Because I had not supped。
THAIS。 But I； my poor friend； have drunk nothing but water； therefore
you must excuse me if I do not love you。
Dorion did not wait to hear more； but made towards Drosea； who had
made a sign to him in order to get him away from her friend。 Zenothemis
took the place he had left； and gave Thais a kiss on the 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。
78
… Page 79…
THAIS
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。〃
79
… Page 80…
THAIS
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 t