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Updated: May 26, 2025
And when Paphnutius questioned him more closely still, he said he recollected having done another deed. When he was a robber, he met once in the desert a beautiful woman; and she prayed him to do her no harm, but to take her away with him as a slave, whither he would; for, said she, "I am fleeing from the apparitors and the Governor's curials for the last two years.
The women laughed and ate lemons, and the regular theatre-goers called gaily to one another from their seats. Paphnutius prayed inwardly, and refrained from uttering any vain words, but his neighbour began to complain of the decline of the drama. "Formerly," he said, "clever actors used to declaim, under a mask, the verses of Euripides and Menander.
Paphnutius and Thais remained motionless and mute, side by side, their souls overflowing with disgust, horror, and hope. Suddenly the monk seized the hand of the actress, and stepping over the drunkards, who had fallen close to the lascivious couples, and treading in the wine and blood spilt upon the floor, he led her out of the house. The sun had risen over the city.
Old Taddeus, meanwhile, had been going from one to the other, pulling the ears of the slaves and kissing the hands of the masters, inciting each and all against Paphnutius, and had already formed a little band resolutely determined to oppose the monk who would steal Thais from them. Cerons rose, his face black, his hair singed, and choking with smoke and rage.
I am but a foolish old man, but, by the grace of God, I have remembered what our father told us." Paphnutius thanked Palemon and promised to think over his advice.
But I am surprised, my good Paphnutius, that you should have come from the depths of the Thebaid to talk about Thais." Having said this, he sighed gently. And Paphnutius gazed at him with horror, not conceiving it possible that a man should so calmly avow such a sin. He expected to see the earth open, and Nicias swallowed up in flames.
When he had passed the fence of reeds which enclosed the little garden, he turned round and saw the good old gardener engaged in watering his salads, whilst the pigeon walked about on his bent back, and at that sight Paphnutius felt ready to weep.
It matters not whether we live or die." "Eh, what?" asked Paphnutius. "Do you not desire to live through all eternity? But, tell me, do you not live in a hut in the desert as the hermits do?" "It seems so." "Do I not see you naked, and lacking all things?" "It seems so." "Do you not feed on roots, and live in chastity?" "It seems so." "Have you not renounced all the vanities of this world?"
They laughed at the strange appearance of the monk thus clad. Crobyle called him her dear satrap, as she presented him with the mirror, and Myrtale pulled his beard. But Paphnutius prayed to the Lord, and did not look at them. Having tied on the gilt sandals, and fastened the purse to his belt, he said to Nicias, who was looking at him with an amused expression
The young men themselves began to throw money, and nothing was to be seen in the square but a multitude of backs, rising and falling like waves of the sea, under a shower of coins. Paphnutius was forgotten. Nicias ran up to him, covered him with his cloak, and dragged him and Thais into by-streets where they were safe from pursuit.
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