rn it most horribly, that body which God kneaded with His spittle and
animated with his own breath. Thou art consumed with weariness; come,
and refresh thyself at the blessed springs of solitude; come and drink
of those fountains which are hidden in the desert, and which gush forth
to heaven. Careworn soul, come, and possess that which thou desirest!
Heart greedy for joy, come and taste true joys--poverty, retirement,
self-forgetfulness, seclusion in the bosom of God. Enemy of Christ now,
and to-morrow His well-beloved, come to Him! Come, thou whom I have
sought, and thou wilt say, 'I have found love!'"

Thais seemed lost in meditation on things afar.

"Monk," she asked, "if I adjure all pleasures and do penance, is it true
that I shall be born again in heaven, my body intact in all its beauty?"

"Thais, I bring thee eternal life. Believe me, for that which I announce
to thee is the truth."

"Who will assure me that it is the truth?"

"David and the prophets, the Scriptures, and the wonders that thou shalt
behold."

"Monk, I should like to believe you, for I must confess that I have not
found happiness in this world. My lot in life is better than that of
a queen, and yet I have many bitternesses and misfortunes, and I am
infinitely weary of my existence. All women envy me, and yet sometimes
I have envied the lot of a toothless old woman who, when I was a child,
sold honey-cakes under one of the city gates. Often has the idea flashed
across my mind that only the poor are good, happy, and blessed, and that
there must be great gladness in living humble and obscure. Monk, you
have agitated a storm in my soul, and brought to the surface that which
lay at the bottom. Who am I to believe, alas! and what is to become of
me--and what is life?"

Whilst she thus spoke, Paphnutius was transfigured; celestial joy beamed
in his face.

"Listen!" he said. "I was not alone when I entered this house. Another
accompanied me, another who stands by my side. Him thou canst not see,
because thy eyes are yet unworthy to behold Him; but soon thou shalt see
Him in all His glorious splendour, and thou wilt say, 'He alone is to be
adored.' But now, if He had not placed His gentle hands before my eyes,
O Thais, I should perhaps have fallen into sin with thee, for of myself
I am but weak and sinful. But He saved us both. He is as good as He is
powerful, and His name is the Saviour. He was promised to the world, by
David and the prophets, wo