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joyfully celebrate the festival of Easter。 One night in the holy week； Thais；
who was already asleep on her mat； felt herself lifted by the slave； whose
eyes gleamed with a strange light。 He was clad； not as usual in a pair of
torn drawers； but in a long white cloak； beneath which he pressed the child；
whispering to her
〃Come； my soul！ Come； light of my eyes！ Come； little sweetheart！
Come and be clad in the baptismal robes！〃
He carried the child pressed to his breast。 Frightened and yet curious；
Thais； her head out of the cloak； threw her arms round her friend's neck；
and he ran with her through the darkness。 They went down narrow； black
alleys； they passed through the Jews' quarter； they skirted a cemetery；
where the osprey uttered its dismal cry； they traversed an open space；
passing under crosses on which hung the bodies of victims； and on the
arms of the crosses the ravens clacked their beaks。 Thais hid her head in
the slave's breast。 She did not dare to peep out all the rest of the way。 Soon
it seemed to her that she was going down under ground。 When she
reopened her eyes she found herself in a narrow cave； lighted by resin
torches； on the walls of which were painted standing figures； which
seemed to move and live in the flickering glare of the torches。 They were
men clad in long tunics and carrying branches of palm； and around them
were lambs； doves； and tendrils of vine。
Amongst these figures； Thais recognised Jesus of Nazareth； by the
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anemones flowering at his feet。 In the centre of the cave； near a large stone
font filled with water； stood an old man clad in a scarlet dalmatic
embroidered with gold； and on his head a low mitre。 His thin face ended in
a long beard。 He looked gentle and humble； in spite of his rich costume。
This was Bishop Vivantius； an exiled dignitary of the Church of Cyrene；
who now gained his livelihood by weaving common stuffs of goats' hair。
Two poor children stood by his side。 Close by； an old negress unfolded a
little white robe。 Ahmes set the child down on the ground； and kneeling
before the Bishop； said
〃Father； this is the little soul； the child of my soul。 I have brought her
that you may； according to your promise； and if it please your holiness；
bestow on her the baptism of life。〃
At these words the Bishop opened his arms； and showed his mutilated
hands。 His nails had been torn out because he had maintained the faith in
the days of persecution。 Thais was frightened； and threw herself into the
arms of Ahmes。 But the kind words of the priest reassured her。
〃Fear nothing； dearly beloved little one。 Thou hast here a spiritual
father； Ahmes； who is called Theodore amongst the faithful； and a kind
mother in grace； who has prepared for thee； with her own hands； a white
robe。〃
And turning towards the negress
〃She is called Nitida；〃 he added； 〃and is a slave in this world； but in
heaven she will be a spouse of Jesus。〃
Then he said to the child neophyte
〃Thais； dost thou believe in God； the Father Almighty； and in His only
Son； who died for our salvation； and in all that the apostles taught？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied together the negro and negress； who held her by each
hand。
By the Bishop's orders； Nitida knelt down and undressed Thais。 The
child was quite naked； round her neck was an amulet。 The Pontiff plunged
her three times into the baptismal font。 The acolytes brought the oil； with
which Vivantius anointed the catechumen； and the salt； a morsel of which
he placed on her tongue。 Then； having dried that body which was destined；
after many trials； to life immortal； the slave Nitida put on Thais the white
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robe she had woven。
The Bishop gave to each and all the kiss of peace； and； the ceremony
being terminated； took off his sacerdotal insignia。
When they had left the crypt； Ahmes said
〃We ought to rejoice that we have this day brought a soul to the good
Lord God； let us go to the house of your Holiness and spend the rest of the
night in rejoicing。〃
〃Thou hast well said； Theodore；〃 replied the Bishop； and he led the
little band to his house； which was quite near。 It consisted of a single room；
furnished with a couple of looms； a heavy table； and a worn…out carpet。 As
soon as they had entered；
〃Nitida；〃 cried the Nubian； 〃bring hither the stove and the jar of oil；
and we will have a good supper。〃
Saying thus； he drew from under his cloak some little fish which he
had kept concealed； and lighted a fire and fried them。 The Bishop； the girl；
the two boys； and the two slaves sat in a ring on the carpet； ate the fried
fish； and blessed the Lord。 Vivantius spoke of the torture he had
undergone； and prophesied the speedy triumph of the Church。 His
language was grotesque； and full of word…play and rhetorical tropes。 He
compared the life of the just to a tissue of purple； and to explain the
mystery of baptism； he said
〃The Divine Spirit floated on the waters； and that is why Christians
receive the baptism of water。 But demons also inhabit the brooks； springs
consecrated to nymphs are especially dangerous； and there are certain
waters which cause various maladies； both of the soul and of the body。〃
Sometimes he spoke enigmatically； and the child listened to him with
profound awe and wonder。 At the end of the repast he offered his guests a
little wine； and this unloosed their tongues； and they began to sing
lamentations and hymns。 Ahmes and Nitida then rose； and danced a
Nubian dance which they had learned as children； and which； no doubt；
had been danced by their tribe since the early ages of the world。 It was a
love dance； waving their arms； and moving their bodies in rhythmic
measure； they feigned； in turn； to fly from and to pursue each other。 Their
big eyes rolled； and they showed their gleaming teeth in broad grins。
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In this strange manner did Thais receive the holy rite of baptism。
She loved amusements； and； as she grew； vague desires were