“Thais, I live in a far country, and the fame of thy beauty has led me to thee.  It is said that thou art the most clever of actresses and the most irresistible of women.  That which is related of thy riches and thy love affairs seems fabulous, and calls to mind the old story of Rhodope, whose marvellous history is known by heart to all the boatmen on the Nile.  Therefore I was seized with a desire to know thee, and I see that the truth surpasses the rumour.  Thou art a thousand times more clever and more beautiful than is reported.  And now that I see thee, I say to myself, ’It is impossible to approach her without staggering like a drunken man.’”

The words were feigned; but the monk, animated by pious zeal, uttered them with real warmth.  Thais gazed, without displeasure, at this strange being who had frightened her.  The rough, wild aspect, and the fiery glances of his eyes, astonished her.  She was curious to learn the state of life of a man so different from all others she had met.  She replied, with gentle raillery—­

“You seem prompt to admire, stranger.  Beware that my looks do not consume you to the bones!  Beware of loving me!”

He said—­

“I love thee, O Thais!  I love thee more than my life, and more than myself.  For thee I have quitted the desert; for thee my lips—­vowed to silence—­have pronounced profane words; for thee I have seen what I ought not to have seen, and heard what it was forbidden to me to hear; for thee my soul is troubled, my heart is open, and the thoughts gush out like the running springs at which the pigeons drink; for thee I have walked day and night across sandy deserts teeming with reptiles and vampires; for thee I have placed my bare foot on vipers and scorpions!  Yes, I love thee!  I love thee, but not like those men who, burning with the lusts of the flesh, come to thee like devouring wolves or furious bulls.  Thou art dear to them as is the gazelle to the lion.  Their ravening lusts will consume thee to the soul, O woman!  I love thee in spirit and in truth; I love thee in God, and for ever and ever; that which is in my breast is named true zeal and divine charity.  I promise thee better things than drunkenness crowned with flowers or the dreams of a brief night.  I promise thee holy feasts and celestial suppers.  The happiness that I bring thee will never end; it is unheard-of, it is ineffable, and such that if the happy of this world could only see a shadow of it they would die of wonder.”

Thais laughed mischievously.

“Friend,” she said, “show me this wonderful love.  Make haste!  Long speeches would be an insult to my beauty; let us not lose a moment.  I am impatient to taste the felicity you announce; but, to say the truth, I fear that I shall always remain ignorant of it, and that all you have promised me will vanish in words.  It is easier to promise a great happiness than to give it.  Everyone has a talent of some sort.  I fancy that yours is to make long speeches.  You speak of an unknown love.  It is so long since kisses were first exchanged that it would be very extraordinary if there still remained secrets in love.  On this subject lovers know more than philosophers.”