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THAIS
Prostrating himself on the floor； he uttered this prayer
〃Thou who hast put pity in our hearts； like the morning dew upon the
fields； O just and merciful God； be Thou blessed！ Praise！ praise be unto
Thee！ Put away from Thy servant that false tenderness which tempts to
concupiscence； and grant that I may only love Thy creatures in Thee； for
they pass away； but Thou endurest for ever。 If I care for this woman； it is
only because she is Thy handiwork。 The angels themselves feel pity for
her。 Is she not； O Lord； the breath of Thy mouth？ Let her not continue to
sin with many citizens and strangers。 There is great pity for her in my
heart。 Her wickednesses are abominable； and but to think of them makes
my flesh creep。 But the more wicked she is； the more do I lament for her。 I
weep when I think that the devils will torment her to all eternity。〃
As he was meditating in this way； he saw a little jackal lying at his feet。
He felt much surprised； for the door of his cell had been closed since the
morning。 The animal seemed to read the Abbot's thoughts； and wagged its
tail like a dog。 Paphnutius made the sign of the cross and the beast
vanished。 He knew then that； for the first time； the devil had entered his
cell； and he uttered a short prayer； then he thought again about Thais。
〃With God's help；〃 he said to himself； 〃I must save her。〃 And he slept。
The next morning； when he had said his prayers； he went to see the
sainted Palemon； a holy hermit who lived some distance away。 He found
him smiling quietly as he dug the ground； as was his custom。 Palemon was
an old man； and cultivated a little garden； the wild beasts came and licked
his hands； and the devils never tormented him。
〃May God be praised； brother Paphnutius；〃 he said； as he leaned upon
his spade。
〃God be praised！〃 replied Paphnutius。 〃And peace be unto my
brother。〃
〃The like peace be unto thee； brother Paphnutius；〃 said Palemon； and
he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve。
〃Brother Palemon； all our discourse ought to be solely the praise of
Him who has promised to be wheresoever two or three are gathered
together in His Name。 That is why I come to you concerning a design I
have formed to glorify the Lord。〃
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THAIS
〃May the Lord bless thy design； Paphnutius； as He has blessed my
lettuces。 Every morning He spreads His grace with the dew on my garden；
and His goodness causes me to glorify Him in the cucumbers and melons
which He gives me。 Let us pray that He may keep us in His peace。 For
nothing is more to be feared than those unruly passions which trouble our
hearts。 When these passions disturb us we are like drunken men； and we
stagger from right to left unceasingly； and are like to fall miserably。
Sometimes these passions plunge us into a turbulent joy； and he who gives
way to such； sullies the air with brutish laughter。 Such false joy drags the
sinner into all sorts of excess。 But sometimes also the troubles of the soul
and of the senses throw us into an impious sadness which is a thousand
times worse than the joy。 Brother Paphnutius； I am but a miserable sinner；
but I have found； in my long life； that the cenobite has no foe worse than
sadness。 I mean by that the obstinate melancholy which envelopes the soul
as in a mist； and hides from us the light of God。 Nothing is more contrary
to salvation； and the devil's greatest triumph is to sow black and bitter
thoughts in the heart of a good man。 If he sent us only pleasurable
temptations； he would not be half so much to be feared。 Alas！ he excels in
making us sad。 Did he not show to our father Anthony a black child of
such surpassing beauty that the very sight of it drew tears？ With God's
help； our father Anthony avoided the snares of the demon。 I knew him
when he lived amongst us； he was cheerful with his disciples； and never
gave way to melancholy。 But did you not come； my brother； to talk to me
of a design you had formed in your mind？ Let me know what it isif； at
least； this design has for its object the glory of God。〃
〃Brother Palemon； what I propose is really to the glory of God。
Strengthen me with your counsel； for you know many things； and sin has
never darkened the clearness of your mind。〃
〃Brother Paphnutius； I am not worthy to unloose the latchet of thy
sandals； and my sins are as countless as the sands of the desert。 But I am
old； and I will never refuse the help of my experience。〃
〃I will confide in you； then； brother Palemon； that I am stricken with
grief at the thought that there is； in Alexandria； a courtesan named Thais；
who lives in sin； and is a subject of reproach unto the people。〃
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THAIS
〃Brother Paphnutius； that is； in truth； an abomination which we do
well to deplore。 There are many women amongst the Gentiles who lead
lives of that kind。 Have you thought of any remedy for this great evil？〃
〃Brother Palemon； I will go to Alexandria and find this woman； and；
with God's help； I will convert her； that is my intention； do you approve of
it； brother？〃
〃Brother Paphnutius； I am but a miserable sinner； but our father
Anthony used to say； 'In whatsoever place thou art； hasten not to leave it to
go elsewhere。' 〃
〃Brother Palemon； do you disapprove of my project？〃
〃Dear Paphnutius； God forbid that I should suspect my brother of bad
intentions。 But our father Anthony also said； 'Fishes die on dry land； and
so is it with those monks who leave their cells and mingle with the men of
this world； amongst whom no good thing is to be found。' 〃
Having thus spoken； the old man pressed his foot on the spade； and
began to dig energetically round a fig tree laden with fruit。 As he was thus
engaged； there was a rustling in the bushes； and an antelope leaped over
the hedge which surrounded the garden； it stopped； surprised and
frightened； its delicate legs trembling； then ran up to the old man； and laid
its pretty head on the breast of its friend。
〃God be praised in the gazelle of the desert；〃 said Palemon。
He went to his hut； the light…footed little animal trotting after him； and
brought out some black bread； which the ant