Plays

men through her marvellous beauty, and drag them down with her. Disciples What a woeful thing! Paphnutius And it is not only fools and wastrels who squander their substance with her. Citizens of high standing and virtue lay precious things at her feet, and enrich her to their own undoing. Disciples It is terrible to hear of such things. Paphnutius Flocks of lovers crowd to her doors. Disciples And to their destruction! Paphnutius They are so crazed with desire that they quarrel and fight for admission to her house. Disciples One vice brings another in its train. Paphnutius They come to blows. Heads are broken, faces bruised, noses smashed; at times they drive each other out with weapons, and the threshold of the vile place is dyed with blood! Disciples Most horrible! Paphnutius This is the injury to the Creator for which I weep day and night. This is the cause of my sorrow. Disciples We understand now. You have good reason to be distressed, and I doubt not that the citizens of the heavenly country share your grief. Paphnutius Oh, to rescue her from that wicked life! Why should I not try? Disciples God forbid! Paphnutius Brother, our Lord Jesus went among sinners. Disciples She would not receive a hermit. Paphnutius What if I were to go in the disguise of a lover? Disciple If that thought is from God, God will give you strength to accomplish it. Paphnutius I will set out immediately. I shall need your best prayers. Pray that I may not be overcome by the wiles of the serpent. Pray that I may be able to show this soul the beauty of divine love. Disciple May He Who laid low the Prince of Darkness give you the victory over the enemy of the human race.

Scene II

Paphnutius	I am bewildered in this town. I cannot find my way. Now I shut my eyes, and I am back in the desert. I can hear my children’s voices praising God. Good children, I know you are praying for me! I fear to speak. I fear to ask my way. O God, come to my help! I see some young men in the marketplace. They are coming this way. I will go up to them and ask where she is to be found.
The Young Men	That stranger seems to want to speak to us.
Young Man	Let us go and find out.
Paphnutius	Your pardon, gentlemen. Am I speaking to citizens of this town?
Young Man	You are. Can we do anything for you?
Paphnutius	My salutations!
Young Man	And ours, whether you are a native or a foreigner.
Paphnutius	I am a stranger.
Young Man	What brings you here? Have you come for pleasure, business, or learning? This is a great city for learning. Which is it?
Paphnutius	I cannot say.
Young Man	Why?
Paphnutius	That is my secret.
Young Man	It would be wiser to tell us your secret. It will be difficult for you, a stranger, to do your business here without the advice of us citizens.
Paphnutius	But if I tell you, you may try to hinder me from carrying out my plans.
Young Man	You can trust us. We are men of honour!
Paphnutius	I believe it. I will trust in your loyalty and tell you my secret.
Young Man	We are not traitors. No harm shall come to you.
Paphnutius	I am told that there lives in this town a woman who loves all who love her. She is kind to all men; she’ll not deny them anything.
Young Man	Stranger, you must tell us her name. There are many women of that kind in our city. Do you know her name?
Paphnutius	Yes, I know it.
Young Man	Who is she?
Paphnutius	Thais.
Young Man	Thais! She is the flame of this land! She sets all hearts on fire.
Paphnutius	They say she is beautiful. The most exquisite woman of her kind in the world!
Young Man	They have not deceived you.
Paphnutius	For her sake I have made a long and difficult journey. I have come here only to see her.
Young Man	Well, what should prevent you? You are young and handsome.
Paphnutius	Where does she live?
Young Man	Over there. Her house is quite near this place.
Paphnutius	That house?
Young Man	Yes, to the left of the statue.
Paphnutius	I will go there.
Young Man	If you like, we will come with you.
Paphnutius	I thank you for the courtesy, but I would rather go alone.
Young Man	We understand. Have you money in your purse, stranger? Thais loves a handsome face, but she loves a full purse more.
Paphnutius	Gentlemen, I am rich. I have a rare present to offer her.
Young Man	To our next meeting, then! Farewell. May Thais be kind!
Paphnutius	Farewell.

Scene III

Paphnutius	Thais! Thais!
Thais	Who is there? I do not know that voice.
Paphnutius	Thais! Your lover speaks! Thais!
Thais	Stranger, who are you?
Paphnutius	Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come!
Thais	Who are you?
Paphnutius	A man who loves you!
Thais	And what do you want with me?
Paphnutius	I will show you.
Thais	You would be my lover?
Paphnutius	I am your lover, Thais, flame of the world!
Thais	Whoever loves me is well paid. He receives as much as he gives.
Paphnutius	Oh, Thais, Thais! If you knew what a long and troublesome journey I have come to speak to you⁠—to see your face!
Thais	Well? Have I refused to speak to you, or to show you my face?
Paphnutius	I cannot speak to you here. I must be with you alone. What I have to say is secret. The room must be secret too.
Thais	How would you like a bedchamber, fragrant with perfumes, adorned as for a marriage? I have such a room. Look!
Paphnutius	Is there no room still more secret⁠—a room that your lovers do not know? Some room where you and I might hide from all the world?
Thais	Yes, there is a room like that in this house. No one even knows that it exists except myself, and God.
Paphnutius	God! What God?
Thais	The true God.
Paphnutius	You believe that He exists?
Thais	I am a Christian.
Paphnutius	And you believe that He knows what we do?
Thais	I believe He knows everything.
Paphnutius	What do you think, then? That He