Plays

you not wandered long enough without restraint? Is it not right that you should now be confined in this narrow, solitary cell, where you will find true freedom? Thais I have been so long accustomed to pleasure and distraction. My mind is still a slave to the senses. Paphnutius The more need to rein it, to discipline it, until it ceases to rebel. Thais I do not rebel⁠—but my weakness revolts against one thing here. Paphnutius Of what do you speak? Thais I am ashamed to say. Paphnutius Speak, Thais! Be ashamed of nothing but your sins. Thais Good father, what could be more repugnant than to have to attend to all the needs of the body in this one little room.⁠ ⁠… It will soon be uninhabitable. Paphnutius Fear the cruel punishments of the soul, and cease to dread transitory evils. Thais My weakness makes me shudder. Paphnutius The sweetness of your guilty pleasures was far more bitter and foul. Thais I know it is just. What grieves me most is that I shall not have one clean sweet spot in which to call upon the sweet name of God. Paphnutius Have a care, Thais, or your confidence may become presumption. Should polluted lips utter so easily the name of the unpolluted Godhead? Thais Oh, how can I hope for pardon! Who will pity me⁠—who save me! What shall I do if I am forbidden to invoke Him against Whom only I have sinned! To whom should I pray if not to Him. Paphnutius You must indeed pray to Him, but with tears, not with words. Let not a tinkling voice, but the mighty roar of a contrite heart sound in the ear of God. Thais I desire His pardon. Surely I may ask for it? Paphnutius Oh, Thais, the more perfectly you humble yourself, the more swiftly you will win it! Let your heart be all prayer, but let your lips say only this: “O God Who made me, pity me!” Thais O God, Who made me, pity me! He alone can save me from defeat in this hard struggle! Paphnutius Fight manfully, and you will gain a glorious victory. Thais It is your part to pray for me! Pray I may earn the victor’s palm. Paphnutius You need not remind me. Thais Give me some hope! Paphnutius Courage! The palm will soon be in this humble hand. It is time for me to return to the desert. I owe a duty to my dear disciples. I know their hearts are torn by my absence. Yes. I must go. Venerable Abbess, I trust this captive to our charity and tenderness. I beg you to take the best care of her. Sustain her delicate body with necessaries. Refresh her soul with the luxuries of divine knowledge. Abbess Have no anxiety about her, for I will cherish her with a mother’s love and tenderness. Paphnutius I go then. Abbess In peace.

Scene VIII

Disciples	Who knocks there?
Paphnutius	It is I⁠—your father.
Disciples	It is the voice of our father Paphnutius!
Paphnutius	Unbolt the door.
Disciple	Good father, welcome.
All	Welcome, father! Welcome!
Paphnutius	A blessing on you all!
Disciple	You have given us great uneasiness by your long absence.
Paphnutius	It has been fruitful.
Disciple	Your mission has succeeded? Come, tell us what has happened to Thais.
Paphnutius	All that I wished.
Disciple	She has abandoned her evil life?
Paphnutius	Yes.
Disciple	Where is she living now?
Paphnutius	She weeps over her sins in a little cell.
Disciples	Praise be to the Supreme Trinity!
Paphnutius	A little narrow cell, no wider than a grave. Blessed be His Terrible Name now and forever.
Disciples	Amen.

Scene IX

Paphnutius

Three years of her penance are over, and I cannot tell whether her sorrow has found favour with God. For some reason He will not enlighten me. I know what I will do. I will go to my brother Antony and beg him to intercede for me. God will make the truth known to him.

Scene X

Antony	Who comes this way? By his dress it is some brother-dweller in the desert. My old eyes do not recognize you yet, friend. Come nearer.
Paphnutius	Brother Antony! Do you not know me?
Antony	This is joy indeed! What pleasures God sends us, when we resign ourselves to have none! I did not think to see my brother Paphnutius again in this world. Is it indeed you, brother?
Paphnutius	Yes, it is I.
Antony	You are welcome, very welcome. Your coming gives me great joy.
Paphnutius	I am no less rejoiced to see you.
Antony	But what is the cause? What has brought Paphnutius from his solitary retreat? He is not sick, I trust? He has not come to old Antony for healing?
Paphnutius	No, I am in good health.
Antony	That’s well! I am glad of it.
Paphnutius	Brother Antony, it is three years since my peace was broken and disturbed by the persistent vision of a soul in peril. I heard a voice calling me night and day. But I stopped my ears⁠—fearing my weakness. I thought “She calls me to ruin me.” “No, no,” the voice said. “I call you to save me.”
Antony	A woman’s voice!
Paphnutius	Before my vision it was well known to us all that in the great town on the edge of the desert there was a harlot called Thais, through whom many were destroyed body and soul.
Antony	It was she who called you!
Paphnutius	Brother Antony, it was God who called me. My disciples opposed me; nevertheless I went to the town to see Thais and wrestle with the demon.
Antony	A perilous enterprise.
Paphnutius	I went to her in the disguise of a lover, and began by flattering her with sweet words. Then I threw off the mask and brought terror to her soul with bitter reproaches and threats of God’s punishment.
Antony	A prudent course. Hard words are necessary when natures have grown soft and can no longer distinguish between good and evil.
Paphnutius	I was disarmed by her docility. Truly, brother Antony, my heart melted like wax when she spurned her ill-gotten wealth and abandoned her lovers.
Antony	But you hid your tenderness?
Paphnutius	Yes, Brother Antony.
Antony	What followed?
Paphnutius	She chose to live in chastity. She consented