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crimes； those heavy hangings； those beds； carpets； perfume censers and
lamps； which would proclaim thy infamy！ Dost thou wish that； animated
by the demons； and carried by the evil spirit that is in them； those accursed
belongings should pursue thee even to the desert？ It is but too true that
there are tables which bring ruin； seats which serve as the instruments of
devils； which act； speak； strike the ground； and pass through the air。 Let all
perish which has seen thy shame！ Hasten； Thais； and； whilst the city is yet
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asleep； order thy slaves to make； in the centre of this place； a pile； upon
which we will burn all the abominable riches thy dwelling contains。〃
Thais consented。
〃Do as you will； my father；〃 she said。 〃I know that spirits often dwell
in inanimate objects。 At night some articles of furniture talk； either by
giving knocks at regular intervals or by emitting little flashes of light as
signals。 And even more。 Have you remarked； my father； at the entrance to
the Grotto of Nymphs； on the right； a statue of a naked woman about to
bathe？ One day I saw； with my own eyes； that statue turn its head like a
living person； and then return to its ordinary attitude。 I was terrified。
Nicias； to whom I related this prodigy； laughed at me； yet there must be
some magic in that statue； for it inspired with violent desires a certain
Dalmatian； who was insensible to my beauty。 It is certain that I have lived
amongst enchanted things； and that I was exposed to the greatest perils； for
men have been strangled by the embraces of a bronze statue。 Yet it would
be a pity to destroy valuable works made with rare skill； and to burn my
carpets and tapestry would be a great loss。 The beautiful colours of some
of them are truly wonderful； and they cost much money to those who gave
them to me。 I also possess cups； statues； and pictures of great price。 I do
not think they ought to perish。 But you know what is necessary。 Do as you
will； my father。〃
Thus saying； she followed the monk to the little door at which so many
garlands and wreaths had been hung； and； when it was opened； she told the
porter to call together all the slaves in the house。 Four Indians； who were
employed in the kitchen； were the first to appear。 They were all four
yellow men； and each had but one eye。 It had cost Thais much trouble； and
given her amusement； to get together these four slaves of the same race；
and all afflicted with the same infirmity。 When they attended at table they
excited the curiosity of the guests； and Thais made them relate the story of
their lives。 These four waited in silence。 Their assistants followed them。
Then came the stablemen； the huntsmen； the litter…bearers； and the running
footmen with muscles like iron； two gardeners hirsute as Priapus； six
ferocious looking negroes； three Greek slavesone a grammarian； another
a poet； and the third a singer。 They all stood； ranged in order； on the public
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square； and were presently joined by the negressescurious； suspicious；
rolling big round eyes； and each with a huge mouth slit to her earrings。
Lastly； adjusting their veils and languidly dragging their feet； which were
shackled with light gold chains； appeared six sulky… looking； beautiful
white slave…girls。 When they were all assembled； Thais； pointing to
Paphnutius； said
〃Do whatever this man commands you； for the spirit of God is in him；
and if you disobey him you will fall dead。〃
For she had heard； and really believed； that the earth would open and
swallow up in flames and smoke any impious wretch whom a saint of the
desert struck with his staff。
Paphnutius sent away the women and the Greek men…slaves； and said
to the others
〃Bring wood to the middle of this place； make a huge fire； and throw
into it pell…mell all that there is in the house and grotto。〃
They were astonished； and stood motionless； looking at their mistress。
And they still stood inactive and silent； and pressed against each other；
elbow to elbow； suspecting that the order was a joke。
〃Obey！〃 said the monk。
Several of them were Christians。 They understood the command； and
went to the house to fetch wood and torches。 The others were not
indisposed to imitate them； for； being poor； they hated riches and had a
natural instinct for destruction。 Whilst they were building the pile；
Paphnutius said to Thais
〃I thought at one time of fetching the treasurer of one of the churches
of Alexandria （if there still remain one worthy of the name of church； and
that is not defiled by the Arian beasts） and giving him thy goods； woman；
that he might distribute them to widows； and change the proceeds of crime
into the treasure of justice。 But such a thought did not come from God； and
I cast it from me； for assuredly it would be a great offence to the well…
beloved of Jesus Christ to offer them the spoils of thy lust。 Thais； all that
thou hast touched must be devoured by the fire； even to its very soul。
Thanks be to Heaven； these tunics and veils； which have seen kisses more
innumerable than the waves of the sea； will only feel now the lips and
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tongues of the flames。 Hasten； slaves！ More wood！ More links and torches！
And thou； woman； return to thy house； strip thyself of thy shameful robes；
and ask of the most humble of thy slaves； as an undeserving favour； the
tunic that she puts on when she scrubs the floors。〃
Thais obeyed。 Whilst the Indians knelt down and blew the embers； the
negroes threw on the pile coffers of ivory； ebony； or cedar； which broke
open and let out wreaths； garlands； and necklaces。 The smoke rose in a
dark column； as in the holocausts of the old religion。 Then the fire； which
had been smouldering； burst out suddenly with a roar as of some
monstrous animal； and the almost invisible flames began to devour their
valuable prey。 The slaves worked more eagerly； they joyfully dragged out
rich carpets； veils embroidered with silver； and flowered tapestry。 They
staggered under the weight of tables； couches； thick cushions； and beds
with gold nails。 Three strong Ethiopians came hugging the coloured
statues of the nymphs； one of which had been loved as though it were a
mortal； and they looked like huge apes carrying off women。 And when the
beautiful naked forms fell from the arms of these monsters； and were
broken on the stones； a deep groan was heard。
At that moment Thais appeared； her hair unloosed and streaming over
her shoulders； barefooted； and clad in a clumsy coarse garment which
seemed redolent with divine voluptuousness merely from having touched
her body。 Behind her came a gardener； carrying； half hidden in his long
beard； an ivory Eros。
She made a sign to the man to stop； and approaching Paphnutius；
showed him the little god。
〃My father；〃 she asked； 〃should this also be thrown into the flames？ It
is of marvellous antique work； and is worth a hundred times its weight in
gold。 Its loss would be irreparable； for there is not a sculptor in the world
capable of making such a beautiful Eros。 Remember also； my father； that
this child is Love； and he should not be harshly treated。 Believe me； Love
is a virtue； and if I have sinned； it is not through him； my father； but
against him。 Never shall I regret aught that he has caused me to do； and I
deplore only those things I have done contrary to his commands。 He does
not allow women to give themselves to those who do not come in his
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name。 For that reason he ought to be honoured。 Look； Paphnutius； how
pretty this little Eros is！ With what grace he hides himself in the gardener's
beard！ One day Nicias； who loved me then； brought it to me and said； 'It
will remind you