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THAIS
filled with pomegranates and apples； entered the room with a light step； in
time to the music of an invisible flute。 They placed the baskets on the table；
the flute ceased； and Zenothemis spoke as follows
〃When Eunoia； 'the thought of God；' had created the world； she
confided the government of the earth to the angels。 But they did not
preserve the dispassion befitting masters。 Seeing that the daughters of men
were fair； they surprised them in the evening by the wellside； and united
themselves to them。 From these unions sprang a turbulent race； who
covered the earth with injustice and cruelty； and the dust of the roads
drank up the blood of the innocent。 The sight of this caused Eunoia infinite
grief。
〃 'See what I have done！' she sighed； leaning towards the world。 'My
poor children are plunged in misery； and by my fault。 Their suffering is my
crime； and I will expiate it。 God Himself； who only thinks through me；
would be powerless to restore them to their pristine purity。 That which is
done is done； and the creation will remain for ever imperfect。 But； at least；
I will not forsake my creatures。 If I cannot make them happy； like me； I
can make myself unhappy； like them。 Since I committed the mistake of
giving them bodies which dishonour them； I will myself assume a body
like unto theirs； and will go and live amongst them。'
〃Having thus spoken； Eunoia descended to the earth； and was
incarnate in the breast of a woman of Argos。 She was born small and
feeble； and received the name of Helen。 She submitted to all the labours of
this life； but soon grew in grace and beauty； and became the most desired
of women； as she had determined； in order that her mortal body might be
tried by the most supreme defilements。 An inert prey to lascivious and
violent men； she suffered rape and adultery； in expiation of all the
adulteries； all the violences； all the iniquities； and caused； by her beauty；
the ruin of nations； that God might pardon the sins of the universe。 And
never was the celestial thought； never was Eunoia； so adorable as in those
days when； as a woman； she prostituted herself to heroes and shepherds。
The poets surmised her divinity when they painted her so peaceful； superb；
and fatal； and when they addressed that invocation to her； 'A soul as serene
as a calm upon the waters。'
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THAIS
〃Thus was Eunoia led by pity into evil and suffering。 She died； and the
Argives still show her tombfor it was necessary that she should know
death after lust； and taste the bitter fruit she had sown。 But； emerging from
the decomposed flesh of Helen； she became incarnate again as a woman；
and again suffered every form of insult and outrage。 Thus； passing from
body to body； throughout all the evil ages； she takes upon her the sins of
the world。 Her sacrifice will not be in vain。 Joined to us by the bonds of
the flesh； loving us； and weeping with us； she will effect her redemption
and ours； and will carry us； clinging to her white breast； into the peace of
the regained paradise。〃
HERMODORUS。 This myth was not unknown to me。 I remembered
having heard that； in one of her metamorphoses； the divine Helen lived
with the magician； Simon； in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius。 I thought；
however； that her perdition was involuntary； and that she was dragged
down by the angels in their fall。
ZENOTHEMIS。 It is true； Hermodorus； that men who were not
properly initiated in the mysteries have imagined that the sad Eunoia was
not a party to her own downfall。 But if it were as they assert Eunoia would
not be the expiating courtesan； the victim covered with stains of all sorts；
the bread steeped in the wine of our shame； the pleasant offering； the
meritorious sacrifice； the holocaust； the smoke of which rises to God。 If
they were not voluntary； there would be no merit in her sins。
CALLICRATES。 Does anyone know； Zenothemis in what country；
under what name； in what adorable form； this ever…renascent Helen is
living now？
ZENOTHEMIS。 A man would have to be very wise indeed to discover
such a secret。 And wisdom； Callicrates； is not given to poets； who live in
the rude world of forms and amuse themselves； like children； with sounds
and empty shows。
CALLICRATES。 Beware of offending the gods； impious Zenothemis；
the poets are dear to them。 The first laws were dictated in verse by the
immortals themselves； and the oracles of the gods are poems。 Hymns have
a pleasant sound to celestial ears。 Who does not know that the poets are
prophets； and that nothing is hidden from them？ Being a poet myself； and
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THAIS
crowned with Apollo's laurel； I will make known to all the last incarnation
of Eunoia。 The eternal Helen is close to us； she is looking at us； and we are
looking at her。 You see that woman reclining on the cushions of her couch…
…so beautiful and so contemplativewhose eyes shed tears； and whose lips
abound with kisses！ It is she！ Lovely as in the time of Priam and the
halcyon days of Asia； Eunoia is now called Thais。
PHILINA。 What do you say； Callicrates？ Our dear Thais knew Paris；
Menelaus； and the Achaians who fought before Ilion！ Was the Trojan
horse big； Thais？
ARISTOBULUS。 Who speaks of a horse？
〃I have drunk like a Thracian！〃 cried Chereas and he rolled under the
table。
Callicrates； raising his cup； cried
〃If we drink like desperate men； we die unavenged！〃
Old Cotta was asleep； and his bald head nodded slowly above his
broad shoulders。
For some time past Dorion had seemed to be greatly excited under his
philosophic cloak。 He reeled up to the couch of Thais。
〃Thais； I love you； although it is unseemly in me to love a woman。〃
THAIS。 Why did you not love me before？
DORION。 Because I had not supped。
THAIS。 But I； my poor friend； have drunk nothing but water； therefore
you must excuse me if I do not love you。
Dorion did not wait to hear more； but made towards Drosea； who had
made a sign to him in order to get him away from her fr