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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
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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
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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 loathed the light of day； and lay on her bed all day； sobbing； and with
her head buried in the pillows。 Lollius contrived to gain admittance； and
came many times； but neither his pleadings nor his execrations had any
effect on the obdurate girl。 In his presence； she was as timid as a virgin；
and would say nothing but
〃I will not！ I will not！〃
But at the end of a fortnight she gave in； for she knew that she loved
him； she went to his house and lived with him。 They were supremely
happy。 They passed their days shut up together； gazing into each other's
eyes； and babbling a childish jargon。 In the evening； they walked on the
lonely banks of the Orontes； and lost themselves in the laurel woods。
Sometimes they rose at dawn； to go and gather hyacinths on the slopes of
Sulpicus。 They drank from the same cup； and he would take a grape from
between her lips with his mouth。
Moeroe came to Lollius； and cried and shrieked that Thais should be
restored to her。
〃She is my daughter；〃 she said； 〃my daughter； who has been torn from
me。 My perfumed flowermy own bowels！〃
Lollius gave her a large sum of money； and sent her away。 But； as she
came back to demand some more gold staters； the young man had her put
in prison； and the magistrates having discovered that she was guilty of
many crimes； she was condemned to death； and thrown to the wild beasts。
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Thais loved Lollius with all the passion of her mind； and the
bewilderment of innocence。 She told him； and told him truly from the
bottom of her heart
〃I have never loved any one but you。〃
Lollius replied
〃You are not like any other woman。〃
The spell lasted six months； but it broke at last。 Thais suddenly felt
that her heart was empty and lonely。 Lollius no longer seemed the same to
her。 She thought
〃What can have thus changed me in an instant？ How is it that he is
now like any other man； and no longer like himself？〃
She left him； not without a secret desire to find Lollius again in
another； as she no longer found him in himself。 She thought it would be
less dull to live with someone she had never loved； than with one she had
ceased to love。 She appeared； in the company of rich debauchees； at those
sacred feasts at which naked virgins danced in the temples； and troops of
courtesans swam across the Orontes。 She took part in all the pleasures of
the fashionable and depraved city； and she assiduously frequented the
theatres； at which clever mimes from all countries performed amidst the
applause of a crowd greedy for excitement。
She carefully observed the mimes；