thais-第12章
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dogs； will devour the crumbs from their table。〃
These sayings were noised abroad through all that quarter of the city；
and the masters feared that Ahmes might incite the slaves to revolt。
The innkeeper hated him intensely； though he carefully concealed his
rancour。
One day； a silver salt…cellar； reserved for the table of the gods；
disappeared from the inn。 Ahmes was accused of having stolen itout
of hate to his master and to the gods of the empire。 There was no
proof of the accusation； and the slave vehemently denied the charge。
Nevertheless； he was dragged before the tribunal； and as he had the
reputation of being a bad servant； the judge condemned him to death。
〃As you did not know how to make a good use of your hands；〃 he said；
〃they will be nailed to the cross。〃
Ahmes heard the verdict quietly； bowed to the judge most respectfully；
and was taken to the public prison。 During the three days that
remained to him； he did not cease to preach the gospel to the
prisoners； and it was related afterwards that the criminals； and the
gaoler himself； touched by his words； believed in Jesus crucified。
He was taken to the very place which one night； less than two years
before； he had crossed so joyfully； carrying in his cloak little
Thais； the daughter of his soul； his darling flower。 When his hands
were nailed to the cross； he uttered no complaint； but many times he
sighed and murmured； 〃I thirst。〃
His agony lasted three days and three nights。 It seemed hardly
possible that human flesh could have endured such prolonged torture。
Many times it was thought he was dead； the flies clustered on his
eyelids； but suddenly he would reopen his bloodshot eyes。 On the
morning of the fourth day； he sang； in a voice clearer and purer than
that of a child
〃Tell us； Mary； what thou hast seen where thou hast been？〃
Then he smiled and said
〃They come； the angels of the good Lord。 They bring me wine and fruit。
How refreshing is the fanning of their wings！〃
And he expired。
His features preserved in death an expression of ecstatic happiness。
Even the soldiers who guarded the cross were struck with wonder。
Vivantius； accompanied by some of the Christian brethren； claimed the
body； and buried it with the remains of the other martyrs in the crypt
of St。 John the Baptist； and the Church venerated the memory of Saint
Theodore the Nubian。
Three years later； Constantine； the conquerer of Maxentius； issued an
edict which granted toleration to the Christians； and the believers
were not henceforth persecuted； except by heretics。
Thais had completed her eleventh year when her friend was tortured to
death； and she felt deeply saddened and shocked。 Her soul was not
sufficiently pure to allow her to understand that the slave Ahmes was
blessed both in his life and his death。 The idea sprang up in her
little mind that no one can be good in this world except at the cost
of the most terrible sufferings。 And she was afraid to be good； for
her delicate flesh could not bear pain。
At an early age； she had given herself to the lads about the port； and
she followed the old men who wandered about the quarter in the
evening； and with what she received from them she bought cakes and
trinkets。
As she did not take home any of the money she gained； her mother
continually ill…treated her。 To get out of reach of her mother's arm；
she often ran； bare…footed； to the city walls； and hid with the
lizards。 There she thought with envy of the ladies she had seen pass
her； richly dressed； and in a litter surrounded by slaves。
One day； when she had been beaten more brutally than usual； she was
crouching down beside the gate； motionless and sulky； when an old
woman stopped in front of her； looked at her for some moments in
silence； and then cried
〃Oh； the pretty flower！ the beautiful child！ Happy is the father who
begot thee； and the mother who brought thee into the world！〃
Thais remained silent； with her eyes fixed on the ground。 Her eyelids
were red； and it was evident she had been weeping。
〃My white violet；〃 continued the old woman； 〃is not your mother happy
to have nourished a little goddess like you； and does not your father；
when he sees you； rejoice from the bottom of his heart？〃
To which the child replied； as though talking to herself
〃My father is a wine…skin swollen with wine； and my mother a greedy
horse…leech。〃
The old woman glanced to right and left； to see if she were observed。
Then； in a fawning voice
〃Sweet flowering hyacinth； beautiful drinker of light； come with me；
and you shall have nothing to do but dance and smile。 I will feed you
on honey cakes； and my sonmy own sonwill love you as his eyes。 My
son is handsome and young； he has but little beard on his chin； his
skin is soft； and he is； as they say； a little Acharnian pig。〃
Thais replied
〃I am quite willing to go with you。〃
And she rose and followed the old woman out of the city。
The old woman； who was named Moeroe； went from city to city with a
troupe of girls and boys； whom she taught to dance； and then hired out
to rich people to appear at feasts。
Guessing that Thais would soon develop into a most beautiful woman；
she taught herwith the help of a whipmusic and prosody； and she
flogged with leather thongs those beautiful legs； when they did not
move in time to the strains of the cithara。 Her sona decrepit
abortion； of no age and no sexill…treated the child； on whom he
vented the hate he had for all womankind。 Like the dancing…girls whose
grace he affected； he knew； and taught Thais； the art of pantomime；
and how to mimic； by expression； gesture； and attitude； all human
passions； and more especially the passions of love。 He was a clever
master； though he disliked his work； but he was jealous of his pupil；
and as soon as he discovered that she was born to give men pleasure；
he scratched her cheeks； pinched her arms； or pricked her legs； as a
spiteful girl would have done。 Thanks； however； to his lessons； she
quickly became an excellent musician； pantomimist； and dancer。 The
brutality of her master did not at all surprise her； it seemed natural
to her to be badly treated。 She even felt some respect for the old
woman； who knew music and drank Greek wine。 Moeroe； when she came to
Antioch； praised her pupil to the rich merchants of the city who gave
banquets； both as a dancer and a flute…player。 Thais danced and
pleased。 She accompanied the rich bankers； when they left the table；
into the shady groves on the banks of the Orontes。 She gave herself to
all； for she knew nothing of the price of love。 But one night that she
had danced before the most fashionable young men of the city； the son
of the pro…consul came to her； radiant with youth and pleasure； and
said； in a voice that seemed redolent of kisses
〃Why am I not； Thais； the wreath which crowns your hair； the tunic
which enfolds your beautiful form； the sandal on your pretty foot？ I
wish you to tread me under foot as a sandal； I wish my caresses to be
your tunic and your wreath。 Come； sweet girl！ come to my house； and
let us forget the world。〃
She looked at him whilst he was speaking； and saw that he was
handsome。 Suddenly she felt a cold sweat on her face。 She turned green
as grass； she reeled； a cloud descended before her eyes。 He again
implored her to come with him； but she refused。 His ardent looks； his
burning words were vain； and when he took her in his arms to try and
drag her away； she pushed him off rudely。 Then he implored her； and
shed tears。 But a new； unknown； and invincible passion dominated her
heart； and she still resisted。
〃What madness！〃 said the guests。 〃Lollius is noble； handsome； and
rich； and a dancing…girl treats him with scorn！〃
Lollius returned home alone that night； quite love…sick。 He came in
the morning； pale and red…eyed； and hung flowers at the dancing…girl's
door。
But Thais was frightened and troubled； she avoided Lollius； and yet he
was continually in her mind。 She suffered； and she did not know the
cause of her complaint。 She wondered why she had thus changed； and why
she was melancholy。 She recoiled from all her lovers； they were
hateful to her。 She loathe
