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which time he went to the spring； and drank out of his hand。 Then he
plucked some dates and some stalks of lotus； the seeds of which he ate。
Thinking this kind of life was good； he made it the rule of his existence。
From morning to night he never lifted his forehead from the stone。
One day； whilst he was thus prostrated； he heard a voice which said
〃Look at these images； that thou mayest learn。〃
Then； raising his head； he saw； on the walls of the chamber； paintings
which represented lively and domestic scenes。 They were of very old work；
and marvellously lifelike。 There were cooks who blew the fire； with their
cheeks all puffed out； others plucked geese； or cooked quarters of sheep in
stew…pans。 A little farther； a hunter carried on his shoulders a gazelle
pierced with arrows。 In one place； peasants were sowing； reaping； or
gathering。 In another； women danced to the sounds of viols； flutes； and
harp。 A young girl played the theorbo。 The lotus flower shone in her hair；
which was neatly braided。 Her transparent dress let the pure forms of her
body be seen。 Her bosom and mouth were perfect。 The face was turned in
profile； and the beautiful eye looked straight before her。 The whole figure
was exquisite。 Paphnutius having examined it； lowered his eyes； and
replied to the voice
〃Why dost thou command me to look at these images？ No doubt they
represent the terrestrial life of the idolater whose body rests here； under
my feet； at the bottom of a well； in a coffin of black basalt。 They recall the
life of a dead man； and are； despite their bright colours； the shadows of a
shadow。 The life of a dead man！ O vanity！〃
〃He is dead； but he lived；〃 replied the voice； 〃and thou wilt die； and
wilt not have lived。〃
From that day； Paphnutius had not a moment's rest。 The voice spoke to
him incessantly。 The girl with the theorbo looked fixedly at him from
underneath the long lashes of her eye。 At last she also spoke
〃Look。 I am mysterious and beautiful。 Love me。 Exhaust in my arms
the love which torments you。 What use is it to fear me？ You cannot escape
me； I am the beauty of woman。 Whither do you think to fly from me；
senseless fool？ You will find my likeness in the radiancy of flowers； and in
the grace of the palm trees； in the flight of pigeons； in the bounds of the
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gazelle； in the rippling of brooks； in the soft light of the moon； and if you
close your eyes； you will find me within yourself。 It is a thousand years
since the man who sleeps here； swathed in linen； in a bed of black stone；
pressed me to his heart。 It is a thousand years since he received the last
kiss from my mouth； and his sleep is yet redolent with it。 You know me
well； Paphnutius。 How is it you have not recognised me？ I am one of the
innumerable incarnations of Thais。 You are a learned monk； and well
skilled in the knowledge of things。 You have travelled； and it is by travel a
man learns the most。 Often a day passed abroad will show more novelties
than ten years passed at home。 You have heard that Thais lived formerly in
Argos； under the name of Helen。 She had another existence in Thebes
Hecatompyle。 And I was Thais of Thebes。 How is it you have not guessed
it？ I took； when I was alive； a large share in the sins of this world； and now
reduced here to the condition of a shadow； I am still quite capable of
taking your sins upon me； beloved monk。 Whence comes your surprise？ It
was certain that； wherever you went； you would find Thais again。〃
He struck his forehead against the pavement； and uttered a cry of terror。
And every night the player of the theorbo left the wall； approached him；
and spoke in a clear voice mingled with soft breathing。 And as the holy
man resisted the temptations she gave him； she said to him
〃Love me； yield； friend。 As long as you resist me I shall torment you。
You do not know what the patience of a dead woman is。 I shall wait； if
necessary； till you are dead。 Being a sorceress； I shall put into your lifeless
body a spirit who will reanimate it； and who will not refuse me what I
have asked in vain of you。 And think； Paphnutius； what a strange situation
when your blessed soul sees； from the height of heaven； its own body
given up to sin。 God； who has promised to return you this body after the
day of judgment and the end of time； will Himself be much puzzled。 How
can He place in celestial glory a human form inhabited by a devil； and
guarded by a sorceress？ You have not thought of that difficulty。 Nor God
either； perhaps。 Between ourselves； He is not very knowing。 Any ordinary
magician can easily deceive Him； and if He had not His thunder； and the
cataracts of heaven； the village urchins would pull His beard。 He has
certainly not as much sense as the old serpent； His adversary。 He； indeed；
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is a wonderful artist。 If I am so beautiful； it is because he adorned me with
all my attractions。 It was he who taught me how to braid my hair； and to
make for myself rosy fingers with agate nails。 You have misunderstood
him。 When you came to live in this tomb； you drove out with your feet the
serpents which were here； without troubling yourself to know whether
they were of his family； and you crushed their eggs。 I am afraid； my poor
friend； you will have a troublesome business on your hands。 You were
warned； however； that he was a musician and a lover。 What have you done？
You have quarrelled with science and beauty。 You are altogether miserable；
and Iaveh does not come to your help。 It is not probable that he will come。
Being as great as all things； he cannot move for want of space； and if； by
an impossibility； he made the least movement； all creation would be
pushed out of place。 My handsome hermit； give me a kiss。〃
Paphnutius was aware that great prodigies are performed by magic arts。
He thoughtnot without much uneasiness
〃Perhaps the dead man buried at my feet knows the words written in
that mysterious book which exists hidden； not far from here； at the bottom
of a royal tomb。 By virtue of these words； the dead； taking the form which
they had upon earth； see the light of the sun and the smiles of women。〃
His chief fear was that the girl with the theorbo and the dead man
might come together； as they did in their lifetime； and that he should see
them unite。 Sometimes he thought he heard the sound of kissing。
He was troubled in his mind； and now； in the absence of God he feared
to think as much as to feel。 One evening； when he was kneeling prostrate
according to his custom； an unknown voice said to him
〃Paphnutius； there are on earth more people than you imagine； and if I
were to show you what I have seen； you would die of astonishment。 There
are men with a single eye in the middle of their forehead。 There are men
who have but one leg； and advance by jumps。 There are men who change
their sex； and the females become males。 There are men…trees； who shoot
out roots in the ground。 And there are men with no head； with two eyes； a
nose； and a mouth in their breast。 Can you honestly believe that Jesus
Christ died for the salvation of these men？〃
Another time he had a vision。 He saw； in a strong light； a broad road；
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rivulets； and gardens。 On the road； Aristobulus and Chereas passed at a
gallop on their Syrian horses； and the joyous ardour of the race reddened
the cheeks of the two young men。 Beneath a portico； Callicrates recited his
verses； satisfied pride trembled in his voice and shone in his eyes。 In the
garden； Zenothemis picked apples of gold； and caressed a serpent with
azure wings。 Clad in white； and wearing a shining mitre； Hermodorus
meditated beneath a sacred persea； which bore； instead of flowers； small
heads of pure profile； wearing； like the Egyptian goddesses； vultures；
hawks； or the shining disk of the moon； whilst in the background； by the
side of a fountain； Nicias studied； on an armillary sphere； the harmonious
mo