them, and gave herself
up to them. So that, whilst she lost her own soul, she also ruined the
souls of many others.

She had almost led Paphnutius himself into the sins of the flesh. She
had awakened desire in him, and he had once approached the house of
Thais. But he stopped on the threshold of the courtesan's house, partly
restrained by the natural timidity of extreme youth--he was then but
fifteen years old--and partly by the fear of being refused on account
of his want of money, for his parents took care that he should commit no
great extravagances.

God, in His mercy, had used these two means to prevent him from
committing a great sin. But Paphnutius had not been grateful to Him for
that, because at that time he was blind to his own interests, and did
not know that he was lusting after false delights. Now, kneeling in
his cell, before the image of that holy cross on which hung, as in a
balance, the ransom of the world, Paphnutius began to think of Thais,
because Thais was a sin to him, and he meditated long, according to
ascetic rules, on the fearful hideousness of the carnal delights with
which this woman had inspired him in the days of his sin and ignorance.
After some hours of meditation the image of Thais appeared to him
clearly and distinctly. He saw her again, as he had seen her when she
tempted him, in all the beauty of the flesh. At first she showed herself
like a Leda, softly lying upon a bed of hyacinths, her head bowed, her
eyes humid and filled with a strange light, her nostrils quivering, her
mouth half open, her breasts like two flowers, and her arms smooth and
fresh as two brooks. At this sight Paphnutius struck his breast and
said--

"I call Thee to witness, my God, that I have considered how heinous has
been my sin."

Gradually the face of the image changed its expression. Little by little
the lips of Thais, by lowering at the corners of the mouth, expressed a
mysterious suffering. Her large eyes were filled with tears and lights;
her breast heaved with sighs, like the sighing of a wind that precedes
a tempest. At this sight Paphnutius was troubled to the bottom of his
soul. 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 c