e, in poverty and humbleness.

The next day, she devoted herself again to those pleasures to which she
was addicted. As she knew that her beauty, though still intact, would
not last very long, she hastened to derive all the enjoyment and all the
fame she could from it. At the theatre, where she acted and studied more
than ever, she gave life to the imagination of sculptors, painters, and
poets. Recognising that there was in the attitudes, movements, and walk
of the actress, an idea of the divine harmony which rules the spheres,
wise men and philosophers considered that such perfect grace was
a virtue in itself, and said, "Thais also is a geometrician!" The
ignorant, the poor, the humble, and the timid before whom she consented
to appear, regarded her as a blessing from heaven. Yet she was sad
amidst all the praise she received, and dreaded death more than ever.
Nothing was able to set her mind at rest, not even her house and
gardens, which were celebrated, and a proverb throughout the city.

The gardens were planted with trees, brought at great expense from India
and Persia. They were watered by a running brook, and colonnades in
ruins, and imitation rocks, arranged by a skilful artist, were reflected
in a lake, which also mirrored the statues that stood round it. In the
middle of the garden was the Grotto of Nymphs, which owed its name to
three life-size figures of women, which stood on the threshold. They
were represented as divesting themselves of their garments, and about to
bathe. They anxiously turned their heads, fearing to be seen, and looked
as though they were alive. The only light which entered the building
came, tempered and iridescent, through thin sheets of water. All the
walls were hung--as in the sacred grottoes--with wreaths, garlands, and
votive pictures, in which the beauty of Thais was celebrated. There
were also tragic and comic masks, bright with colours; and paintings
representing theatrical scenes or grotesque figures, or fabulous
animals. On a stele in the centre stood a little ivory Eros of wonderful
antique workmanship. It was a gift from Nicias. In one of the bays was a
figure of a goat in black marble, with shining agate eyes. Six alabaster
kids crowded round its teats; but, raising its cloven hoofs and its ugly
head, it seemed impatient to climb the rocks. The floor was covered with
Byzantine carpets, pillows embroidered by the yellow men of Cathay, and
the skins of Libyan lions. Perfumed s