o me. For her sake, I sold a mill and two fields of corn, and I
composed in her honour three books full of detestably bad verses. Surely
beauty is the most powerful force in the world, and were we so made that
we could possess it always, we should care as little as may be for
the demiurgos, the logos, the aeons, and all the other reveries of the
philosophers. But I am surprised, my good Paphnutius, that you should
have come from the depths of the Thebaid to talk about Thais."

Having said this, he sighed gently. And Paphnutius gazed at him with
horror, not conceiving it possible that a man should so calmly avow such
a sin. He expected to see the earth open, and Nicias swallowed up in
flames. But the earth remained solid, and the Alexandrian silent, his
forehead resting on his hand, and he smiling sadly at the memories of
his past youth. The monk rose, and continued in solemn tones--

"Know then, O Nicias, that, with the aid of God, I will snatch this
woman Thais from the unclean affections of the world, and give her as
a spouse to Jesus Christ. If the Holy Spirit does not forsake me, Thais
will leave this city and enter a nunnery."

"Beware of offending Venus," replied Nicias. "She is a powerful goddess,
she will be angry with you if you take away her chief minister."

"God will protect me," said Paphnutius. "May He also illumine thy heart,
O Nicias, and draw thee out of the abyss in which thou art plunged."

And he stalked out of the room. But Nicias followed him, and overtook
him on the threshold, and placing his hand on his shoulder whispered
into his ear the same words--

"Beware of offending Venus; her vengeance is terrible."

Paphnutius, disdainful of these trivial words, left without turning his
head. He felt only contempt for Nicias; but what he could not bear was
the idea that his former friend had received the caresses of Thais. It
seemed to him that to sin with that woman was more detestable than to
sin with any other. To him this appeared the height of iniquity, and he
henceforth looked upon Nicias as an object of execration. He had always
hated impurity, but never before had this vice appeared so heinous to
him; never before had it so seemed to merit the anger of Jesus Christ
and the sorrow of the angels.

He felt only a more ardent desire to save Thais from the Gentiles,
and that he must hasten to see the actress in order to save her.
Nevertheless, before he could enter her house, he must wait till