THAIS PAUL^MLSTACH PQ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE Joseph Whitmore Barry dramatic library THE GIFT OF TWO FRIENDS OF Cornell University 1934 Cornell University Library PQ 2254.T32W75 1911 3 1924 027 270 408 The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924027270408 THAIS THAIS 'The Story of a Sinner who Became a Saint and a Saint who Sinned" a play in four acts By PAUL WILSTACH Founded on Anatole France's Novel of the Same Name ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright 1911 Paul Wilstach A UssJ-z^ THE PLAY PUBLISHED IN THIS VOLUME IS COPYRIGHTED AS A DRAMATIC COMPOSITION. STAGE AND PLATFORM RIGHTS RESERVED. ; 'i iviiHJ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Thais • . . . . Fnntitpiett "Shall I not go and deliver Thsus from her evil life?" . 18 "Not yet has he come who will deliver Thai's from herself." 22 "Know that I shall make a pious use of these pagan garments." 54 "My faithful friends." . "Surely this man comes not to join my train?" "Wliat IS there real but love?" "You do not find me hideous?" "Though you die where you stand, you'll vrait in vain." "She has fainted! She is ill! Thais! Thais!" "Though I do believe you, your words are full of mystery." Damiel delivers Thais to the White Sisters "What gladness in the earth and skies." . "Death is but the door of life." "Wonderful are the vrays of the Lord." 62 70 78 100 112 118 126 132 138 144 148 THAIS WAS PRODUCED IN NEW YORK CITY MARCH 14. 1911. AT THE CRITERION THEATER. BY JOSEPH M. GAITES UNDER THE STAGE DIRECTION OF LAWRENCE MARSTON CAST OF CHARACTERS Thais Constance Collier Damiel, a hermit of the Theban Desert Tyrone Power Nicias, a pagan, friend of Thais Arthur Forrest Hermodorus \ / V. L. Granville Dorion I I A. B. Imeson Chereas I \ Franklin Jones Aristobulus I Pagans of ) Edmund Mortimer Eucrites \ Alexandria. / Harry Christie Callicrates / , ~, .. \ Charles Sievert Lucius I Friends of Thais I W.C.Bradley Basilides I / Frank Lenord Dekon I I Frank Durand Theros f \ Milton King Zenothemis, an Athenian Fred B. Hanson Drose \ / Cynthia Fane Philina / I Mary E. Forbes ^:e:::::::::::: ^nendsofThais ---"S^S Callista \ / Nina Heather Euronia J \ Lucile Fallon Damon, a priest from Alexandria Mr. Imeson Palemon 1 ( Elmer Grandin Flavian > Hermits < Mr. Granville Paul ) ( Mr. Jones Adhemes, Thais' Egyptian head servant Mr. Grandin Cephenes, Thais' cook Sydney Greenstreet ^^l::.::\ Th«s' Greek Slave Gins j --^J^l^-K First Egyptian slave Marion Alexander Second Egyptian slave Rita Ricardo Third Egyptian slave John Ennis Fourth Egyptian slave H. B. Bogart Albina, Superior of the White Sisters Frances Younge The Infirmarian Mary Shannon Maria Pia Miss Kingston Jonatha Miss Bums Rosalia Miss Forbes Angelica Miss Fane Alexandrians, Greeks, Courtezans, Hermits, White Ladies, Nubian and Other Slaves SCENES OF THE PLAY ACT I The Huts of the Anchorites in the Desert ACT II The Marble Terrace Before the Portico of Thais' House in Alexandria ACT III The Temple of Love in Thais' Garden ACT IV The Courtyard of the Retreat of the White Sisters Near Alexandria TIME The Early Christian Era THAIS THAIS THE FIRST ACT Scene The anchorites of the desert. It is night. The starlight tempers the opaque black- ness and in the mysterious half-light may be discovered a group of low, square, baked-clay huts of the holy hermits of the Theban Desert. The portals are without doors, and, as there are no windows, they serve for both door and window. A few large boulders are scattered about. Other than these there is no movable object. All is barren, austere, and lifeless. Nature, as if imitative, stretches out in her most ascetic mood — a vast, unbroken, sterile waste of sand. THAIS At Rise of Curtain A group of hermits at meditation and prayer are discovered. Paul sits alone, as the others disperse. He wears the dark, ragged, heavy cloth gown of the ancho- rites. It reaches to the heels; the sleeves are full, and though turned back in a deep cuff, fall below the hands; a hood is attached at the collar and is worn either on the head or pushed back on the shoul- ders; the gown folds in front and is held in place by a rough strap or cord. His feet are bare in sandals. And this is the habit of all the hermits. Damon approaches. He, too, is a re- ligious, but he is a priest of the city. He is travel-stained, and overcome with fa- tigue. He glances about and into the empty cells and finally he sees Paul and touches him on the shoulder. Damon — Brother? Paul — (Rises, observes, bows, and gives the kiss of peace.) Peace be with you. 2 THAIS Damon — And with thy spirit. How far into the desert have I come? Paul — To the cells of the holy Damiel and his disciples. Damon — You are one of those who fast and pray with him, mortifying the flesh for the spirit's sake? Paul — I am Paul, and with me are An^ thony and Cyril, Flavian, who knows the Scriptures and speaks well; Palemon, whose spade and prayers make the desert give up green things, and others who obey Damiel in the worship of the Lord our Sa- vior. {They incline their heads reverently.^ Damon — Then praise and thanks to him who has led my footsteps hither, for I am at my journey's end. Paul — By your habit and your speech I 3 THAIS believe that you are one with us who wor- ship the one true living God. Damon — I am Damon, a priest of Alex- andria. The fragrance of this holy spot has spread throughout the desert and even beyond its wastes. I have struggled in vain to dwell amid the wickedness of the city with fidelity to my vows — but I have not the strength for the battlefield, and I have come to beg Damiel that I may share the peace of his retreat. Paul — And do you believe that we do not battle night and day against the appe- tites of the flesh? Damon — Here the temptation is from within. I have lived surrounded by the baits of lust, for the cities are in the control of the pagans, and life is dedicated to the appetites of the flesh. Paul — I have heard that it is so, but I 4 THAIS have been spared the trial of battling in the open field. My parents grew figs and pomegranates on the banks of the great river, and ever since my twelfth year I have lived here in prayer and meditation, apart even from the circle of mine own people. But what you say of the evil city I know is true, for even here in the sand, among the rocks, in this retreat of silence and prayer, the echo of the world reaches us, and the word it brings travels faster than the si- moon. Of what you speak I have heard, but I have not lived it, therefore I do not understand. Damon — But thy father, Damiel, will he not understand? Paul — Aye, that he will, for he is a son of the city, of your very city of Alexandria. Like you he fled its snares and its delights, and sought here in prayer and meditation to 5 THAIS strengthen his spirit against the attacks of the flesh. Aye, he will make you welcome. Damon — May I speak with him now? Paul — That is his cell. But you can see it is empty. He is among the hills yonder ; he meditates in the silent places. But now that night has fallen he will return soon. Follow me and you shall share my loaf. {They depart together.) {From another direction appears Fla- vian, the deacon, with a skin of water slung across his shoulder and a wounded bird in his hand. He is more mature, but, like Damon and Paul, he is slender. In passing the door of Damiel's cell he pauses and glances in. Advancing, he slings the bag of water on a peg. At the door of his own cell, which is at an angle to Damiel's, he gathers a few wisps of straw, twists them, into a nest and places the bird in it near the door.) {From another direction Palemon, an THAIS aged but robust monk, returns from his day's labors in the field. On his shoul- der he carries a rude instrument for breaking the earth, and in a basket are the green tops of the products of his garden.) Flavian — Peace be with thee, brother Palemon. Palemon — And with thee, brother Fla- vian. What have you there? Flavian — A bird. Palemon — It is tame to allow you to handle it so freely. Flavian — It is wounded. I found it in a trapper's net. Palemon — It has a sadness in its eye, yet it is not sad either, for see how it pecks your finger. It is grateful, brother. It thanks thee. {Palemon crosses and lays his basket 7 THAIS within his cell's door, next to that of Fla- vian. He glances at Damiel's cell.) Our brother Damiel has not returned? Flavian — Not yet. Palemon — Brother, he is not as he was. (He sits and scrapes the earth from the implement.) Flavian — It is fasting, meditation, prayer. It is holiness. Palemon — It is meditation. Flavian — You think — Palemon — Peace, brother; I am not worthy to judge any man. (Touching his forehead.) But he hath here that which troubles him. Flavian — He broods upon his sins. Palemon — Sins? The holy Damiel? Flavian — True, a saintlier man dwells not in the desert. His holiness is like in- 8 THAIS cense, and its perfume mounts continually to Heaven. It may be his passion for the salvation of souls? Palemon — There you border the truth, for, having no sins of his own, he allows the sins of the world to weigh heavily upon him. Flavian — ^^His zeal is wonderful. Palemon — It is a fire which consumes others as perfectly as it consumes himself. I hope it is this {Rising to go into his cell.) Brother, I fear we forget our vow of holy silence. If there be need for confidence about this change we've noted, soon enough Damiel will tell his friend Flavian. Flavian— Or thee, Palemon He comes. See how sanctity transfigures him like the blessed martyrs in the arena Are you going? 9 THAIS Palemon — To pray forgiveness. I use idly this tongue given me to praise the Lord. (He departs into his cell.) {Flavian crosses toward the water^bag.) {Damiel returns from his meditation in the desert. He is a man of thirty, of strong frame, unfleshed by fasting. He wears the worn habit of the hermit. His dark hair is matted and falls on his shoul- ders; his beard is short, thin, and pointed. His skin is white, his eyes are sunk deep in their sockets. His nostrils are delicate, his lips thin and colorless. He leans on a staff tall as he is, and near the top a cross- piece is spliced He is deep in thought, and his purpose seems to lead him on, his head erect, his eyes burning.) {Flavian draws water from the bag into a small earthen bowl and presents it to Damiel, taking the staff, which he rests against the hut.) Flavian— Peace be with thee. lO THAIS Damiel — And with thy spirit. (He takes the bowl in both his hands, raises his eyes in silent ejaculation, drinks, and returns the bowl to Flavian.) Damiel — Brother? Flavian — (Turns and approaches.) You spoke? Damiel — Flavian, you have been much beloved of me. Flavian — You are my guide in Christ our Lord. Damiel — I have inclined mine ear unto the Lord, and He has spoken to his servant. Flavian — A revelation ! Damiel — Brother, you have heard me speak of Alexandria. Flavian — The city of your birth and youth. A great city. Damiel — Great in the vanities of the II THAIS world. Great in sin. To escape its temp- tations I fled here into the desert. Flavian — ^And thou has found peace? Damiel — Peace from its temptations, yes. Yet Alexandria calls me. Though a thousand times a day I banish it from my mind, still sick and suffering does it rise up before me, begging to be cured. Flavian — Is not this Heaven speaking in your heart? Damiel — If I were sure ! Flavian — How do you interpret what has been revealed to you? Damiel — It is a call. Flavian — To abandon your retreat? Damiel — Yes. Flavian — To go into the city? Damiel — ^Yes. Flavian — And you do not fear the snares of the evil one? 12 THAIS Damiel — Heaven will protect its serv- ant. Flavian — You will preach the conver- sion of the city? Damiel — First I will conquer the citadel of its vice. Flavian — The citadel of its vice? Damiel — You have heard of Thais. Flavian — Aye, she who is called the per- fect woman, the courtezan of Alexandria. Damiel — Under her sway the city sinks in sin My brother, when a youth I followed in her train. I saw her in the theater, where she revealed her charms and spoke verses to the pagan gods. I have been near her and seen the loveliness of her flesh ; in my nostrils has been the intoxicat- ing aroma which she casts about her. At night I have stolen to her door, and only a 13 THAIS merciful Heaven has stayed my hand from the latch. Flavian — Should we not give praise and thanksgiving that thou hast been removed from the path of temptation? Damiel — ^You mean security lies here in the sands, apart from the haunts of men? Flavian — Yes, Damiel — I, too, thought the way of peace lay apart, here in the wilderness. But it is vain to fly from the sin to which we abandon others. The beauty and charm of Thais corrupt everyone. The city worships her as a goddess. The threshold of her pal- ace is adorned with flowers and bathed in blood. She ridicules virtue, and of sin she makes a religion. Flavian — Alexandria should expel her, Damiel — Like a queen's subjects, they follow her. H THAIS Flavian— She is not fit to live. Damiel — She is not fit to die. Flavian — I do not understand. If she be neither fit to live nor die? Damiel — She must be made so. I must go to her and bear her the word of truth and life. The Lord hath sent an angel in the night to show^ me the beauty of this cour- tezan. Flavian — A vision? Damiel — Darkness has become a terror. My cell has become a place of frightful combat. I fast. I pray. With scourging do I fight the enticements of the evil one. It is in vain. It cannot be without reason that Heaven abandons its servant. These visions do not come from the evil one. They are from Heaven, that I may know that I am called to save Thais and deliver the city of its sins. 15 THAIS {Flavian moves apart Damiel ap- proaches Flavian.) You do not answer. Flavian — Each man from the heart of his own experience. I am a sinner. I have not the strength to meet and conquer temp- tation, so I dwell apart from it. It is the only way I know. Heaven forbid I should suspect the intentions of my brother — Damiel — Suspect my intentions — Flavian — Forgive me. The word does injustice equally to me and thee. But our father Anthony has said: The fish which are placed in a dry spot find death there; likewise it happens that the hermits who de- part from their cells and mingle with the people of the world turn aside from good purposes. Damiel — You would not have me go? Flavian — Though your friend I am i6 THAIS also your disciple. You are my father, and I am not worthy to advise. Damiel — Yet you fear for me. Flavian — I should fear for myself. Damiel — ^What have you in your hand? Flavian — A bird. {Looking upon the bird, he exclaims:) Oh! Damiel — Why do you exclaim? Flavian — It is dead This even- ing, as I returned from the well, I heard a fluttering near by. A bird was caught in a trapper's net. The beating of her wings and her cries of fright and pain were heard by her mate, who flew to her assistance. He beat about and pecked the net until his mate was liberated, and, throating a song of grat- itude, the bird he freed flew to the sky. Damiel — Brother, do you not see? It is again a revelation! Flavian — I do not see. 17 THAIS Damiel — The bird in the trap, it is the woman of Alexandria, Thais snared by the evil one. If a bird comes and releases its mate, shall I not go and deliver Thais from her evil life? Flavian — {Confused and doubtful.) I am not learned in these things. But this I know: The bird which delivered the cap- tive was himself trapped. His wings were broken. See, he is dead. {Paul returns, followed by Damon.) Paul — There is Damiel. Damon — {Approaching reverently.) You are the holy Damiel? Damiel — Damiel is my name, and I am an humble servant of our Lord. ( To Fla- vian:) Nay, do not go. {To Damon:) This is Flavian, our brother. And you? i8 THAIS ■ Damon — I am Damon, a priest of Alex- andria. Damiel— Of Alexandria! Damon — I come to beg leave to share your life here in the desert. I cannot any longer withstand the sins of the city. It is given over to iniquity. As easily might I plunge my body into a furnace and come forth whole as to remain in that city of cor- ruption and remain uncorrupted. It is given over entirely to the worship of a cour- tezan called Tha'is. Damiel — So it is said. Can you tell us of her? Damon — Everywhere the air rings with her name. She composes pagan verses to Venus, Eros and the other gods. She re- cites them in the theater, and straightway they are on everyone's lips. Her train passes along the street, and clearers must 19 THAIS break a way. When she appears in the theater, the benches hold but a third of the people who clamor without. And this woman, this idol of the people, is a creature of the flesh; her kisses are for sale, her beauty is merchandise. In vain have the priests of Alexandria striven to move her from the ways of her abandonment. She has been deaf to the call of Heaven. Not yet has he come who will deliver the city from Thais, and Thais from herself From her have I fled. DAMIEL — {His eyes are fixed straight before him. He addresses Flavian with renewed ecstasy:) Do you not see that Heaven has directed the steps of this holy man to my cell to remind me again that the soul of Thais beseeches my aid? Damon — I am welcome? Damiel — ^Thou art thrice welcome, 20 THAIS Damon — And I may remain? DamIEL — (Embracing him.) In hu- mility offer thanks to the Most High. You have been the medium of a miracle. Henceforth you are one with us. Follow your brother Paul. (Raises his hand in blessing.) (Damon and Paul retire together.) Damiel — Now are you convinced? Flavian — Dare I speak? Damiel — Aye, speak that which feeds your fears and robs me of your free assent. Flavian — The desert is the house of your adoption. In silence, solitude, fasting and prayer have you placed the hope of your salvation. This may be but another temptation of the evil one. Be slow to be- lieve other than that. Be content where you are. You have chosen your portion. 21 THAIS It is here. Hold fast to that which you have. Damiel — Twice within the hour has Heaven spoken. Is not the bird's release a figure of the succor I must take to the en- snared woman? Has not this priest been sent a witness of her need? .... And should Heaven speak a third time? .... You are silent. Flavian — Night is upon us. Pray, and I will pray with you that light may come to you, and that this temptation may pass. {He raises his hand in benediction and crosses to a heap of embers against the wall. Taking a knotted stick and light- ing it, he passes into his cell.) {It has grown quite dark, and the light from Flavian's cell falls in an amber streak along the ground before the open- ing to Damiel's cell.) 22 THAIS Damiel — (Stands unmoved in the dark- ness, gazing straight before him.) "Not yet has he come who will deliver the city from Thais, and Thais from herself." .... Is it .... is it temptation, or in these things do I see the hand of God? .... {He draws the hood over his head and before his face. He folds his hands in his sleeves and raises them to his face, plunged in contemplative struggle. Slowly he moves to his cell. At the door he starts back, as if dreading a renewal of "the frightful combat" of which he has told Flavian. He falls on his knees in prayer, and then stretches himself on the rude cot before the door of his cell. His eyes close in sleep.) {Infinitely soft music of quivering strings is heard, as if the night winds whispered. Almost imperceptibly, as if the moon passed from behind a cloud, a faint aureola of light appears above Da- miel's cell. Gradually the accustomed 23 THAIS eye defines in it the figure of Thau wrapped in a diaphanous veil of rosy tints. She postures with grace, the lines of her limbs and body and arms dissolv- ing from one pose to another. At last her plastic caresses are directed to Damiel beneath her, and she puts into her move- ment every allurement her art can sug- gest. Damiel's deep breathing grows into troubled moaning, and finally into the groans of one in agony and travail. He struggles to break the fetters of the spell, and finally gains his feet, staggers, and falls to the ground in great perturbation of spirit. As he awakened the vision faded and disappeared. Damiel's groans and cries having awakened Paul, he rushes to Damiel and tries to raise him, calling his brothers to aid him:) Paul — Flavian, Cyril, Anthony, broth- ers! Brothers! (The others rush out of the cells, Fla- vian bearing the torch, which breaks somewhat the blackness of the night. They raise Damiel to his feet.) 24 THAIS Damiel — You have seen! You have seen! Omnes — ^What? What have you seen? Damiel — In my sleep, a vision ! Omnes— A vision ! Damiel— Thais! Thais! Again has Heaven called me. Flavian — It is the evil one. Damiel — It is from Heaven. Thrice to- night have I been called. Flavian — Nay. Consider. Pray. Damiel — Yea, pray for me, brothers; pray for your brother Damiel. But I — for me has come the hour of action. Flavian — What would you do? Damiel — I go to Alexandria. To save Thais I {He grasps the rood as a warrior would a standard. Holding it before 25 THAIS him, he walks forth across the sands in the direction of the city.) (The curtain falls.) END OF ACT ONE THE SECOND ACT Scene A marble terrace before the house of Thais in Alexandria. On one side {Left) rises a lofty pillared portico with many steps before the house. On the opposite side (Right) is a high marble wall, broken midway by an arched opening leading down a flight of unseen steps to the street. This wall is joined to the house by a long low stone parapet, beyond which may be seen the city of Alex- andria stretching in white immensity to the bronze surface of the Nile under a cloudless sun-baked turquoise sky. An embroidered canopy screens the greater part of the terrace, suffusing the scene with a soft-tinted glow. Within the por- tico are two tall bronze tripods, sur- mounted with bowls of purple bloom, and near them are huge earthen bowls filled with poppies. "Soft rugs from By- 27 THAIS santium" dress the steps to the portico; they hang over the parapet and carpet the terrace. In the center of the terrace is a couch draped with a covering of cloth of gold. Near it is a table of ormolu, on which stand wine pitchers, gold drinking goblets, jeweled boxes of per- fume and ointments. On one side is a carved stone seat, on the other side an ebony chair inlaid with pearl and ivory. The note of the picture is sybaritism, opulent to the point of decadence. At Rise of Curtain From the street below may be heard the hum. of a crowd — laughing, singing and calling to one another; the crack of char- ioteers' whips, and the music of the hoofs and wheels on the pavements. Two Nubians spread rugs before the couch. Egyptian slaves bring vases and pitchers, exchanging them for those on the table. CROBYLE — {A beautiful Greek slave girl, her nakedness draped in jeweled transpar- 28 THAIS encies, runs out of the house. At the edge of the portico and again at the foot of the steps she turns, calling:) Myrtale! Myrtale! {She glides up to the parapet.) Oh! Oh! They are passing! Oh, Myrtale! {Returning to the portico and calling into the house:) Myrtale ! Myrtale ! Come, come. The per- formance at the theater is concluded. Come, the crowds are in the street. Myr- tale! {She runs b:4ck again to the parapet and, hanging over, waves her graceful little arms to admirers in the street be- low.) Myrtale — {Runs from the house. She, too, is a beautiful white slave girl, so en- veloped in draperies and jewels as to best reveal the lines of her beautiful body. 29 THAIS She hurries to Crobyle's side, and with her watches the crowd below.) Crobyle — See, see, yonder is Chereas, driving his Judean chargers. MyrTALE — And Aristobulus paces him. See Cranio in the crimson tunic. He has the head and limbs of Eros. Crobyle — He looks up here. MyrTALE — {Waves to him.) It is Mar- cus Callia with him. Crobyle — ^They are twins for loveliness. MyrTALE — The gods fashioned him in their own likeness. Crobyle — How they stare. MyrTALE — Pretend to see them not. Crobyle — See Sagitallis. Save Nicias, none has more slaves in Alexandria. Myrtale — Nor more beautiful. They come from Syria. AhlAntonius. See! {From a basket slung to the parapet 30 THAIS she seizes handfuls of crimson blossoms and tosses them into the air, showering herself and those below. Answering laughter comes up in the midst of the street's hum.) CroBYLE — {Throws out a rope of flow- ers.) Wear that, Miletus, wear that. AdhemES — {An Egyptian, Thais' head- servant, enters from the street through the archway in the wall. His dress is very splendid.) Crobyle! Myrtale! The crowds come from the theater. Friends of our mistress come. Nicias comes to make preparations here for the supper he will take with her. {Myrtale and Crobyle run down to Adhemes, bowing on either side of him.) Myrtale — We knew. Crobyle — All things are ready. His bath — 31 THAIS Myrtale — His robes — Crobyle — Perfumes, ointments, wine — Myrtale — All wait on his coming — Adhemes — A plague on his bath and ointments! There's bigger business here to- day. Thais brings home a crowd to sup with her. Crobyle — There's preparation's call- come — Adhemes — {To Egyptian woman slave.) Send Cephenes. {Exit Egyptian man slave. To other Egyptian slaves:) Let the large hall be garlanded and lit. {Exit Egyptian men slaves.) Use only the service of gold. {Exeunt Nubian slaves.) Strew the table with poppies and burn incense. Go. {Exe- unt Egyptian women slaves.) Myrtale — This is good news. I like it when the men troop in. {Crobyle and Myrtale run into the house, THAIS laughing. Cephenes, a red-faced, fat slave, Thais' cook, enters through the portico.) Adhemes — ^Ah, Cephenes, our mistress dines at home to-day. Cephenes — At home? But not alone? Adhemes — Nicias and other friends will come. Cephenes — Nicias, of course. His name was on my tongue. Adhemes — Being an indiscreet tongue, it could not conceal its impudence. Cephenes — Being a marvelous epicu- rean tongue, it knew it spoke a brother. Adhemes — Rest your tongue, and give me a report of your larder. What can you prepare for a dozen guests or more? Cephenes — Think not to rout me. I was not Nicias' cook for half a score of years for nought. 3.1 THAIS Adhemes — What has the boaster's lar- der? Cephenes — ^What say you to fishes boiled in oil, served in date leaves — ram's meat in jelly — pheasants with truffles and spices — flamingoes' tongues, pomegranates, olives and citrons, melons from the green valley to the south, cheese of Calabrian goats' milk, to be eaten w^ith honey of Thes- salian bees — Adhemes — Enough! I asked that you answer me, not torture me Add the rarest wines, and hasten. Cephenes — ^With such speed as the gods give the runt-legged. {He waddles up the steps.) Adhemes — And, Cephenes, fear not to prepare abundance. 34 THAIS Cephenes — Especially of fishes in oil and ram's meat in jelly? 'Ho! ho! Adhemes — It would be a scandal that the guests of Thais had left her table hun- gry— Cephenes — And in leaving had left nothing for hungry Adhemes? Oh! Ho! ho! Adhemes — The gods be praised for sending us a mistress whose friends have bellies for food and heads for wine. Cephenes — Thais herself hath a nice taste for delicacies. Adhemes — And by the token of her own appetite she understands the desire of good things in the mouths of others. Cephenes — Aye, a good appetite is a gift of the gods. Were there no appetites, there would be no cooks, and were there no cooks, I ask you now, where should I be? 35 THAIS Adhemes — True, set before me good food — Cephenes — And abundance — Adhemes — And abundance, — and to- morrow may come at its own gait. Cephenes — 'Tis a strange world, a mess of many tastes. One finds happiness in the concord of sweet sounds ; another in the lan- guor of spiced perfumes; another in all that the eye can feast on; another in the em- braces of fair women. But I tell you, Ad- hemes, as sure as Bacchus has placed me deputy over the pots and kettles, spits, spoons and wine-vats — a man has energy for none of these whose belly is empty. Adhemes — Your philosophy rivals your victuals — But , hark — while you stand here prattling of your pans and kettles, the others are upon us. In — in — {They go into the house.) 36 THAIS {Nicias returns from the theater, accom- panied by Dorion and Hermodorus.) Nicias — Come up, my friends. As if this house were still my own, I bid you wel- come. In Thais' name, to Thais' house I bid you welcome. Within! Within! {During the following the Greek slave girls enter and relieve the men of their mantles and serve them with wine and anoint them.) Hermodorus — How welcome are her couches and her shade after the stones and glare of the theater. This loveliness about us is Nicias' creation, and Nicias orders his life after a pattern which breeds delights. {Reclining on the couch. Myrtale an- oints his locks.) Nicias — Of which delights you are in- deed a judge. 37 THAIS DORION — If Nicias were a Christian, by Bacchus, he'd be nothing less than an an- chorite in the desert. Nicias — By all the stars which the Chal- deans read, how would you argue me an anchorite? DORION — I do not— 'Tis argued by the marvelous completeness of all you under- take. Witness this palace, the beauty about us, the grace of every detail of your life, — all proof of the completeness of your devo- tion to a life of pleasure, true end of every sane man's desire. In this I see what, as a follower of the Nazarene, would drive you from all this allurement of the flesh to its last avoidance. (Sits on the bench near the gate. Myr- tale anoints Dorion.) Hermodorus — A tricky maze of words — 38 THAIS NiciAS — And yet, there's sense in what he says, since my judgment, inclination — what you will — drives me to quite opposite ex- tremes from the pleasure-haters of the wil- derness. Hermodorus — I find sense in no philoso- phy but that of him who said : "I see, there- fore I am." I see, I feel, I smell, I taste — they are the infallible guides to my exist- ence. By Eros, when I can no longer smell, hear, touch, see and taste — then will I know the gods have translated me to the realms of Pluto. NiClAS — Experience is Life, and all Life is pleasure or pain. What philosopher could not make choice between these? The mistress of pleasure is Venus. While I love I am. When the flesh withers and the blood cools — when I cease to love, then will I cease to live. 39 THAIS Hermodorus — ^Well argued. My mis- tress is Venus. NiClAS — Mine is not the goddess, but her incarnation, — her priestess. Her lips are like the petals of blown roses ; her breath is sweet as the night-wind from Cyprus; her touch is the awakening, her caress is life. Hermodorus — [Softly, in reverie.) .... Thais DORION — (Softly, in reverie.) .... Thais .... {Egyptian slaves enter from the house, the men serving wine and the women bearing fans. Eucrites and Zenothemis come up to the terrace from, the street.) NiClAS — Here are others .... Eucrites .... Zenothemis. Zenothemis — Greeting, Nicias. NiClAS — ^Welcome My friends, Dorion and Hermodorus. Zenothemis — This hospitality and its 40 THAIS promise is a fitting climax to a day which, of all the days of my journey about the shores of the great sea, is not matched by any other. NiClAS — Praise from an Athenian is pre- cious. Zenothemis — At your theater I have heard poetry from the lips of Polyxena re- incarnated. I am made welcome to the most notable company of Alexandria. To round the joys of a perfect day, I am invited here, to the table of Thais. Hermodorus — The verses of Polyxena became her well. NiClAS — For my part, her silences were more seductive. What a picture she was as she appeared first at the door of the tent. With her white arm she held above her head the heavy cloth. Motionless as a splen- did statue, save for the quiet glance of her 41 THAIS violet eyes. Her beauty tingles the blood like a sweet poison and the eyes close softly in the blindness of love. ZenoTHEMIS — She is a sister of the Graces. Hermodorus — You have never known the touch of woman until Thais lays her soft arms about your neck. Her eyes know how to express everything. DORION — The priestess of Venus gives much suffering. NiClAS — But she provides the cure. ZENOTHEMIS — How blessed is Alexan- dria in the possession of Thais. Hermodorus — How favored is Nicias in the favor of Thais. Nicias — How favored are we all in the gifts of the gods, gifts epitomized in the priestess whose health we drink. {All drink.) 42 THAIS Against her coming shortly, let us within to the pool and refresh ourselves in cool waters. Eucrites, bear Zenothemis com- pany. Dorion, I will follow you and Hcr- modorus. {All precede him into the portico.) {A noise of voices approaches along the street below. Adhemes has returned from within the portico and he has gone up to the parapet to watch the crowd.) (Nicias pauses on the steps, his atten- tion attracted by the sudden hum, and lis- tens.) Nicias — ^What passes in the street? Adhemes — A crowd of men and boys. Nicias— Well, and do they follow their own shadows? Adhemes — There's some one in their midst, they mock him and pull his beard. Nicias — Looks he like one of my friends? 43 THAIS Adhemes — One of your friends! You should see him. He hath the marks of a beggar. I think his tunic is a meal-bag. .... They're stopping here below the ter- race. NiClAS— Well, let the dogs frolic. {Departs into house.) Adhemes — {Does not preceive Nicias' departure and, from the parapet, he con- tinues to acquaint him with what passes below in the street.) He is asking the direction. They point this way. He ap- proaches the gateway. By Bacchus, the beggar ascends — {He turns, discovers himself alone, crosses to the portico after Nicias, glances back toward the gateway, and finds him- self in the presence of the stranger.) Damiel — {Enters through the archway. 44 THAIS He wears the same coarse habit of the an- chorite and carries the rood with which he has picked his way from the desert to the city.) Peace, brother. Adhemes — Out, beggar ! out with you ! Damiel — My brother, I ask nothing of you save that I may talk with your master, Nicias. Adhemes — Nicias is not my master. Damiel — I seek him, and was told I should find him here. Adhemes — He has no time for such as you. Out, I say, out, or take a beating with this staff. Damiel — Strike if you will, but do what I have asked of you, I pray. Adhemes — {Trembling with astonish- ment.) Who are you that do not fear suffering? Damiel — Nicias was a friend of my 4.S THAIS youth. Tell him that Damiel, a hermit of the Theban Desert, waits upon him. AdhEMES — {He ascends the steps into the portico, muttering with astonishment :) Damiel, the anchorite .... the holy her- mit, Damiel NiCIAS — {Returning through the por- tico.) What was that commotion? Adhemes — A man who says he is a friend of yours — Damiel, the hermit. {Disappears into the house.) NiCIAS— Incredible ! {Approaches Da- miel and scrutinizes his features.) You — you Damiel? Damiel — Aye. NiCIAS — {He takes Damiel' s hand and turns him, that he may better search his face.) Aye, it is Damiel You arc but the shadow of your former self. 46 THAIS Damiel — ^What is the self of man, my brother? This shell informed with appe- tites? To me, Nicias, the corporate is in- deed the shadow, the perishable — the real self of man is that which comes awhile to dwell in the shadow of this shell. Nicias — A mystic still. Damiel — A Christian. Nicias — ^You have not, then, abjured the superstitions of this Judean faith? Nay, tell me you have; let me welcome you once again to the joys of living. Tell me the desert is to know you no longer. Proclaim your return to life, to your old haunts, your old friends, the ancient delights. Damiel — Peace. Your words are idle. I have not abjured what you call supersti- tion — I still worship the living God, by whom all has been done, and nothing has been done that has been done without him. 47 THAIS NiCiAS — Ha! And do you think to move me with your recital of words assembled without art? Do you think to satisfy me with some fragments wrested by ignorant men from the greatness of Amelius, when Amelius, Porphyry and Plato in all their glory do not satisfy me? My friend, I, too, am somewhat of a philosopher. Damiel— You toy with half-truths. NiClAS — True. Such is the purpose of philosophy. Humanity must be diverted. The systems constructed by the sages are mere tales invented to amuse the eternal childhood of men. Damiel — As you will. It is not for con- troversy that I have come. NiCiAS — The fault is mine, I own. But — your errand? Tell me. What brings you to Alexandria? In advance, I'll guess .... No, I own myself defeated. You are 48 THAIS a disciple of the spirit, I of the flesh. I own my one guess, a woman, bowls me out. Damiel — Cease your jesting. It is a woman that has brought me hither. NiciAS — No? Ye gods! Here's common ground! Again we stand with feet upon the earth. Your senses have returned — the voice of nature speaks — in spite of protesta- tions, you are — you are, as I am — a man! Oh, ha! ha! ha! .... A woman? Damiel — ^Yes. NiClAS — She's beautiful, of course? Damiel — {Still with the gaze trans- fixed.) The most beautiful in Alexandria! NiClAS — ^The nut gives up its kernel! The secret's out. A woman ! And the most beautiful in Alexandria? (Laughs.) (Insinuatingly.) For all we know, the most beautiful woman in all the world, eh? Damiel — For all I know. 49 THAIS NiCIAS — Freed or bond? Damiel — Both. NiciAS— Both? Damiel — To men a mistress, to herself a slave. NiCIAS — A courtezan ! I honor your com- pleteness. You sin royally. Some fair un- known? Her name. Damiel — Even as her kisses, it is on all men's lips. NICIAS — She is — ? Damiel — Thais. NiCIAS — {Starts with astonishment, then storms with resentment:) Thais. You — you? You are bold thus to confess yourself to me. You and Thai's ! Do you not know .... no .... no .... of course you would not know. {His anger yields to the appearance of the hermit as he slantwise eyes him.) Thais? .... ha, ha, ha! 50 THAIS .... This will amuse her. Here's grist for the wits. ... So the beauty of Thais has drawn you from the sterile desert? DAMIEL — (As before, in this talk with Nicias he is hurt, but conceals it behind drooped eyelids and a soft answer.) I cannot speak with you of that of which you know not or deny Neither her beauty nor her body has drawn me hither, but that part of her which lives. Nicias — ( Cynically :) Her soul ? Damiel — Yes. Nicias — And you would lead her back with you to make your desert bloom? Damiel — {Again concealing the pain:) There is, at a distance of twelve hours to the west, where the sea washes the sand, a re- treat of holy women. I will snatch Thais from her unclean loves, and thither will I lead her. 51 THAIS NiClAS — ^You speak with certainty. Damiel — ^Truth is its anchor. NiClAS — You think with a wish and a word — Damiel— With faith and will — NiCIAS — Faith and will — Damiel, you were always an enigma to me But .... if I heard seriously this dream of yours to snatch the divine Thais from us, . . . . I . . . {Lightly again:) Well, you have faith and I am a skeptic. So be it. For Thais I fear nothing. For you .... Damiel — Forme? NiClAS — Beware of Venus if you do bear away her most illustrious priestess. The vengeance of Venus is terrible. Damiel — I fear nothing. NiCIAS — {Smiles at this singular confi- dence and, glancing over the hermit's rude garment, he replies lightly:) 52 THAIS But this surely you fear: to appear before the goddess in these hermit rags? Damiel — They are my shield and my armor. NiClAS — They'll be your undoing, for they will disclose at once your character — an anchorite, a hermit She fears an- chorites as she does magi, hermits as she would sybils and sorcerers. (Claps his hands.) Within, there! You shall have a tunic as becomes the company. I'll lend you one of mine. {Adhemes appears.) Bid Crobyle and Myrtale bring a tunic here, sandals, headpiece and perfume. Make haste. (Adhemes retires within.) Damiel — ^Without it I would be dis- missed? NiClAS — Without a doubt. Be sure that I 53 THAIS advise what's best, I'm eager you should try your arts upon the courtezan. {Crobyle and Myrtale run out, fol- lowed by Egyptian and Nubian slaves bearing tunic, sandals and headpiece.) Here are the slave girls. I commit you to their hands. Attend him. {They kneel at either side of Damiel and buckle on the gilt sandals. Rising, they hold the tunic and he draws it about him.) Damiel — Nicias, let not these things be an offense to thine eyes. Know that I shall make a pious use of these pagan garments. Nicias — I suspect no evil, my friend, for I believe that men are equally incapable of doing good or doing evil. Good and evil exist only in the minds of men. (7n serving Damiel the slaves play about him, adjusting and arranging, standing off to note the effect, laughing. 54 THAIS Damiel retains a battling aloofness, in- dicative of his fear of these houri and of his compromise in putting on these pro- fane robes.) Crobyle — ^We have sweet waters, sir. Shall we perfume thy head and beard? Damiel — I want no perfumes. Take thyselves away. Myrtale— But thy hair, it's matted with the dust and sweat .... Damiel — Begone. (Takes the jeweled headpiece from Myrtale's extended hands and, holding it aloof as if crowning himself, rests it on his head.) NiClAS — It's most becoming (To the slaves:) Go in (The slaves re- tire.) You are in all parts appareled to make appearance before our Thais. Damiel — And now, Nicias, thanks and farewell. 55 THAIS NiCIAS — Farewell? Whither do you go? Damiel — To the house of Thais. NiClAS — To the house of Thais? Damiel— Yes. NICIAS — ^^You do not know? This is the house of Thais. Damiel — This her house? Thais lives here? NiClAS — I thought you knew. Damiel — I asked for you and was di- rected here. NiCIAS — (Laughing.) True, I'm much at home here. Damiel — Thais' house! .... (Starting toward the arch.) NiClAS — ^What indecision is this? You would see her, yet you fly. Damiel — I will return. NiClAS — I fear you're trapped. ^6 THAIS Damiel— Trapped ? NiCiAS — She comes. Do you not hear the shouts of the attending crowds? She's on her way from the theater. She's in the street below already. Stay and you shall see her at once. Damiel — No ! no ! Not now. NiCiAS — Then go within and I will sum- mon you. {Damiel rushes through the portico.) (From the street comes Chereas, fol- lowed by Aristobulus, two handsome youths, bearing wreathes and garlands.) Chereas — Send the servants to stay the crowds. Aristobulus — They'll break the gates and swarm through the house. NICIAS — ^Within ! Adhemes ! Cephenes ! Within, there! Chereas — I'll see to Philina. 57 THAIS {He rushes below to the street again.) Aristobulus — And I to Drose. {Hurrying after Chereas.) {Enter Adhemes and other slaves from the portico.) NiciAS— Quick. Below. This way . . . . Make way for Thais, her friends, and none beside. {Adhemes and others hurry through the gateway to the street below.) {From, the house come Dorian, Zeno- themis, Hermodorus and Eucrites.) These Four — She comes? It is Thais? The crowd as usual. {They run to the parapet and look below.) Hermodorus— What a crowd. NiClAS — There are hundreds. 58 THAIS ZenoTHEMIS — It is as if the streets were paved with pates. Hermodorus — Every one carries flow- ers. ZENOTHEMIS — They have wreathed her. Hermodorus — And her bearers. {Chereas returns with Philina, a beau- tiful courtezan, Aristobulus and Drose, her companion. They turn at the gate and the four men run down from the parapet. All look through the gateway to the street below, laughing and expect- ant.) NiCIAS — They're storming her with flowers. Dorion— Quick, Tha'is ! Drosb — Her way is a carpet of buds. Philina — Come! Quick! Quick! {The crowd throw flowers through the gate and flowers rain over the wall in showers. All at the gate retire toward 59 THAIS the portico, laughing and warding off the flowers. The whole terrace is a bed of blossoms. In the midst of all the bloom, Thais, wreathed in ropes of flowers, bursts in with Nicias, followed by the servants, who block the gateway, pushing the crowd down.) Thais — {Laughing and waving her ropes of flowers, floats across the terrace.) Philina! Drose! Dorion! Hermodorus ! {Wreathing the two men with ropes.) There! There! With chains of flowers I enchain you. {Chereas and Aristobulus come to her.) Chereas — ^We, too, are your slaves. Aristobulus — Will you not manacle us? Thais — Aye, with these two arms, love's own chains. {Throws her arms about them, laughing.) Nicias — And I? 60 THAIS Thais— You? NiClAS — I, too, am your slave. How will you seal my bondage? Thais — While the words hang warm on your lips, with a kiss. (Kisses him.) You were all at the theater? Omnes — ^AU. Thais — I knew you were. My faithful friends! I wanted to steal but one glance out upon the benches .... but a goddess .... a goddess does not search for mor- tals Liked you Polyxena? Hermodorus — 'Twas wonderful. Chereas — A marvel. EUCRITES — Your masterpiece. Thais— Thanks! Thanks! The gods will bless you Chereas, was I beau- tiful? Chereas — As thyself. Thais — Your wits improve (7"© 6i THAIS Aristobulus :) Thought you they were moved? Aristobulus — As wind-driven clouds. Thais— Oh! (To Hermodoms:) What said they? Hermodorus — You ne'er before had shown such power. Thais — Ah ! And such a crowd it was ! Was ever such a greeting? Such silence! Such applause ! And when I left the stage .... What think you? All— What? Thais — The crowd demands the play again, at once, to-morrow. As I left the theater thousands stood about the door and cheered me, and fought to draw my chariot. All — ^Wonderful! Remarkable! It's your desert! Thais — Nay, more. All— No! 62 THAIS Thais— Better still. All— What? Thais — I go to Rome ! All— No? To Rome? No! No! Thais — The legate of the Emperor was there, saw my Polyxena, and straightway all is settled. All— To Rome! To Rome! No! No! NiClAS — How shall we spare you? Chereas — Rome steals our most precious jewel. Hermodorus — ^You shall not go. ArISTOBULUS — (Kneels at her feet.) I'll sinlc the ship that bears you. NiClAS — I'll lead an army to storm the city and bring you back in triumph. Thais — My friends! My friends! {In playful supplication amid general laughter.) 63 THAIS NiCIAS — Thais, you are indeed upon the heights. Thais— I feel it. I stand aloft alone and tremble. Nought have the gods denied me. All I have striven for is mine. The cup of my desire is full. My hands, my heart, my life is full. If yesterday I had one unfulfilled wish, to-day has robbed me of it. DORION — And to-morrow, Thais? Thais — Ah, Dorion. Our good, gruff friend, Dorion, who wears the masque of cynic and thinks to frighten us. Why do you sit apart and silent on the steps, while others crowd about and all are gay? Dorion — I am not less amused than they. Thais — Your sharp tongue frightens me not. Dorion — Yet you do not answer. Thais — You asked about — 64 THAIS DORION — To-morrow. Thais — To-morrow? Aye, it's trouble- some. To-morrow. What is it? A shadow we pursue and never overtake. It is there and it is not. We reach and grasp it, and in our hand we hold to-day. A beacon to ambition ; a crutch the idle lean upon. The mother of fear; the cave of uncertainty; the refuge of the vanquished; a ledger where knaves write promises; a bank in which the idle store their hopes ; the sword which con- science hangs above us; a fixture unattain- able; a threat, a hope, a lure. To-morrow! It is nowhere save in the fool's calendar. DORION — ^You embroider in words; you do not answer. Thais — My to-morrows, as my yester- days, I consecrate to joy, to love, to con- quest. (She sweeps to the couch and sits.) 6? THAIS NiClAS— rThat's more in the humor of the Thais we revere. Count two more pilgrims at your shrine. Welcome Zenothemis of Athens. Zenothemis — (Kneels.) I lay the trib- ute of the Greeks at your feet. Thais — (Gives her hand.) Greece! You come from Athens? The playground of the gods ! To live and not to be in Athens is but to counterfeit the joy of living The other? NiClAS — Friends, I am loathe to disclose him. We are not ready to give up our queen. (Laughs quietly.) Thais — ^You mock me. NiClAS — I but think of the comedy in store. Thais — Comedy? NiClAS — You, Thai's, v^^ho have so often represented the griefs of the gods in others' 66 THAIS tragedies, shall not act, but shall be yourself the heroine of your own comedy. Thais — ^Who writes it? Pallarium? Alcestius? Chereas? Dorion? Nay, or thee, my Nicias? NiCiAS — It is not written. It shall not be written, save when we have passed and tradition gathers up the threads in counter- feit. Your comedy, Thais, you shall live. Thais — Unravel your riddles. What metaphor is this? Nicias — This day, less than an hour ago, here on this very spot, there came to me a boyhood friend. He had journeyed far, drawn by the wide repute of Thais' charms. Chereas — Another lover! All — Who is he? Come. Come. Who is he? Thais — You interest me now. Whence 67 THAIS comes the stranger? Athens? Rome? Or far Hispania? NiClAS — From none of these. From any one of these a rival I might fear, and that would be a tragedy. Thais — ^Whence is he, then? NiClAS — He shall tell you. Thais — His name? NiClAS — Ask him. Thais — And is he comely? NiciAS — ^You shall see. Thais — Since you will tell me nothing, summon the stranger, that I may ask and see and judge of his appeal. NiClAS — Behold him, for he approaches by the portico. DamIEL — {Appears in the portico and advances to the top of the steps, searching the faces of the courtezans.) Which of you is Thais? 68 THAIS Thais — {Rising and confronting him.) Which of us answers to the repute of her fame? That is not a question I am wont to hear, for I am Tha!ts, Your beginning is bad. You do not flatter me. Damiel — I came not to flatter you. Thais— You came .... Damiel — That you may hear the truth. Thais — That is the luxury of none save jealous women Your name? Damiel — Damiel. Thais — Whence came you here? Damiel — I have come out of the desert. The hand which drew Abraham from Chaldea and Lot from Sodom has separated me from the world. I no longer exist for men. But your image appeared to me in my Jerusalem of the sands, and I have come before you as before a sepulcher, and I say to you, arise and follow me. 69 THAIS Thais — {This mysterious speech makes a deep impression. The silence of ap- prehension is on her.) I do not understand. You speak a language strange to my ears. {Rising and advanc- ing.) Who are you that you dare speak thus to Thais? You are "not of the world"? You "exist not for men" ? Your "Jerusalem of the sands"? {As if fascinated by him, she draws nearer and nearer, and asks with a note of dreading his reply.) You are .... you .... are a hermit? Damiel — Yes. TUA\S,— {With terror.) Oh! {Rushes past him and throws herself in Nicias' arms.) Do not let him touch me. He has charms and spells. Let him not rob me of my beauty; let him not strike me dead. 70 THAIS NiClAS— I'll vouch for that. Fear not. Thais — I do not want to die. I dare not yet. Life is so pleasant NiClAS— You shall not die. Thais — Not yet ... . not yet ... . NiClAS — Fear not ; he comes not in anger to you, Thais. He has been drawn by the silken thread of love. Thais — Love? He spoke not of love. NiClAS — He loves you. Thais — Nay, surely this man comes not to join my train — He to love me? — im- possible! NiClAS — Did I not promise you a com- edy? Thais — A comedy indeed. NiClAS — Be gracious to him, Thais. Be gracious, as you know how so well. Thais — (Regains her confidence by de- grees and, with a self-amusing interest, 71 THAIS she swings in a circle behind Damiel and approaches him from the other side.) Priest .... Damiel .... Your name is Damiel? Damiel — {With apprehension and an obvious effort for self-control.) My name is Damiel. Thais — I like it not — not so well as priest. That title becomes you. I feel the kinship Oh, be not surprised, for am I not a priestess, at that altar where all mankind worship .... in the temple of love? .... Priest, you were brave to ven- ture here. Damiel — I fear nothing. Thais — Are you invulnerable? Achilles was not that. Damiel — I am protected. Thais — Nay, be generous; if you would 72 THAIS find me in a kindly mood, humor me a little. .... What offering do you bring? Damiel — None. Thais — A compliment were not amiss .... no vanity so vain it's callous to a compliment. Damiel — I do not see in thee what others see. Thais — You see, my friends, I'm impo- tent. Unless my prayer, as Sappho's, will draw immortal Venus from Heaven to earth again. All. Yes. The prayer. The Hymn to Venus. Sappho's hymn. Come. Come. Thais — (As the crowd breaks and circles her and the players of the lute and cythera give tone, she raises her arms and intones Sappho's Hymn to Venus:*) O Venus, beauty of the skies. To whom a thousand temples rise, 'Translation by Ambrose Philips, ITll. 73 THAIS Gaily false in gentle smiles, Full of love-perplexing wiles ; O Goddess, from my heart remove The wasting cares and pains of love. If ever thou hast kindly heard A song in soft distress preferred, Propitious to my tuneful vow, gentle Goddess, hear me now. Descend, thou bright immortal guest, In all thy radiant charms confessed. Thou once did leave immortal Jove And all the golden roofs above : The car thy wanton sparrows drew. Hovering in air they lightly flew; As to thy bower they winged their way 1 saw their quivering pinions play. The birds dismissed (while you remain) Bore back their empty car again : Then you with looks divinely mild. In every heavenly feature smiled, And asked what new complaints I made, And why I called you to my aid. (Drawing nearer to Damiel.) 74 THAIS What frenzy in my bosom raged, And by what cure to be assuaged? What gentle youth I would allure, Whom in my artful toils secure? Who does thy tender heart subdue, Tell me, my Sappho, tell me who? (At Damiel's elbow.) Though now he shuns thy longing arms. He soon shall court thy slighted charms; Though now thy offerings he despise, He soon to thee shall sacrifice ; Though now he freeze, he soon shall burn, And be thy victim in his turn. Look, Damiel, look upon this beauty which has drawn you from afar. Damiel — {With a struggle.) No! No! Not thy beauty, for thou art not beautiful. Thou art deformed, defiled, hideous! Thais — Hideous? Damiel — Aye, hideous! Thais — What! You dare tell me this? 75 THAIS Beggar I Toad ! You dare tell Thais she is hideous? Do you not know that I am the darling of men, the queen of this capital, the idol of the people? Accomplishment leaps before my softest breathed desire. Nothing have I ever been refused. My word creates and destroys. Your life I hold here in this hand. Like a feather it dances on the edge of my lip — I have but to whisper and you die. (Ntctas throws his arms about her to restrain her, but, with one twist of her supple body, she eludes him and stands alone, upright and defiant.) Damiel — ^Woman, all you say is vain. For your body or how it appears or how you adorn it, I care nothing. I see it not. That is not you. It will pass and worms will feed upon it, but you will remain. It is your soul that beckons me. Your sins 76 THAIS have made it hideous, but in repentance you shall cleanse and purify it. I have been sent to save you from yourself. Thais — {Has received this bold yet mys- tic declaration with anger dissolving in incredulity and terror. For a moment she is thoughtful, bewildered, then with a light hysteria she laughs.) You hear this Christian madness! Tell me, Dorion, Eucrites, Philina, Chereas — tell me, Nicias, is Thais beautiful or not? All — Yes. Yes Nicias — You are wrong to be angry with this folly. Thais— True. Nicias — Remember, I promised you a comedy. Let him amuse you. Thais — {Caressingly.) You are ever wise. {Approaching Damiel mockingly.) Come, Damiel. Holy Damiel, come; let 77 THAIS us wreathe you with roses. We'll perfume your locks. Music there. To thee I'll sing. Before thee I'll dance. (Drawing nearer and nearer, she postures about him caress- ingly.) Behold my ugliness! Upon my hideousness feast! {Whispers in his ear, her breath warm upon his cheek:) What is there real but love? DamIEL — {Has stood rigid, his eyes closed, his hand clasping his breast. With a cry he rushes past Thais toward the gate, but his way is blocked by the jeering guests, who tear the headpiece and mantle from him and shower his ragged figure with armsful of flowers.) Thais — A comedy indeed, Nicias. Have we not been well diverted, friends? All — {Amid the laughter and jeers.) Yes. Yes. DORION — Here is a conquest for our queen. Who ever heard of such a lover? 78 THAIS Thais — A new kind indeed. Let us go in, and feast and sing, and drink, and love, — {with a significant glance at Damiel) — and forget! {Remembering his words, she repeats:) "Hideous!" NiciAS — No, Thais; thou art beautiful .... beautiful. Thais — And he comes before me "as be- fore a sepulcher" and bids me "rise and fol- low him." NiClAS — Nay, you are the temple of life and love. {One of the courtezans having held his rood mockingly before him, Damiel grasps it and holds it as if a standard of hope and victory.) Damiel — It is in vain that you revile me. {With his eyes upon the rood.) I fear no evil. I go. I shall kneel without your gate. There will I wait. 79 THAIS Thais — {Facing him indignantly.) You will wait in vain ! Damiel — Nevertheless, there will I wait. And you will send for me, and I will come. {The Curtain Falls.) END OF ACT TWO THE THIRD ACT Scene The Temple of Love in the garden suV" rounding Thais' house. It is night. Out of the shadows of the poplars, sycamores, and turpentine trees, and "the trees and shrubs brought at great expense from India and Persia," rises a Greek Tem- ple, in which is the couch of the courte- zan. Soft turfy paths lead in all direc- tions into caressing shadows. Falling water in imitation of a woodland rill trickles and dances off under the leafy bushes. Circular benches of marble are supported by fabulous monsters. On tri- pods are braziers of incense which throw forth their sweet scents in almost imper- ceptible smoke. In great vases of onyx bloom rare and exquisite flowers. On one side, near but unseen, is Thais' house. Above the luxurious foliage rises an ivy- hung sculptured colonnade, and beyond 8i THAIS one catches a glimpse of a shadowy pool and the high stone wall which encloses the garden. The couch within the Tem- ple is overladen with rich stuffs and with "cushions embroidered by the yellow men of Cathay." Near the Temple a tongue of pale fire from, a bronze torch laps the silent darkness. The warm houselights play upon the stone floor of the portico. The rill dances in the silver moonlight. The soft strains of the cythera and pipes float out from within the house. At Rise of Curtain Adhemes, Crobyle, and Myrtale and the other slaves lounge in the garden await- ing the guests, who are within, still on the supper couches. Cephenes comes into the garden from the house, bearing a heavily laden tray. Adhemes — What have you there? Cephenes — Breast of pheasant, a cut of young lamb, bread and cake, wild olives, pomegranates and apples, 82 THAIS Adhemes — Stolen sweets, eh, to munch here in the garden? Cephenes — And the gods were as gra- cious to Cephenes as they are to the stranger at our gates, they would be for me. Adhemes — You take them to the hermit, eh? Cephenes — Yes. Adhemes — In expectation of reward? Go back. Cephenes — If reward there be it will come from my mistress, for 'tis she sends me. Adhemes — Then see you eat it not your- self. Cephenes — It's a sore temptation. Me- thinks it's no profitless business being a her- mit at a courtezan's gate. Since this be the fare, I myself have a stomach for such a life. Adhemes — Be on your way with it. 83 THAIS Cephenes — And it's lucky I've but two hands. Adhemes — Else? Cephenes — A third would make a mar- velous fine feeder. Adhemes — 'Twould be a blessing to stop your mouth even with a Christian's victuals. Out. Out. Cephenes — These same Christians talk of martyrdom. But martyrdom is death, and death's oblivion. It's nothing com- pared to the agony of a keen nose and a sharp appetite behind such a tray of food as this, engaging both hands to carry it. I would I were a hermit. {He departs through the foliage to- ward the unseen gate in the wall.) CroBYLE — An hour ago I took him a goblet of wine by my mistress' order. He refused it. 84 THAIS Adhemes — ^What said he? Crobyle — Nought. He waved it aside. And he has been there now six hours. Adhemes — He came before the sun set and it is now the ninth hour. Sat he in the same place? Crobyle — He has not moved. With his hands crossed in his sleeves, his eyes fixed on the gate, yet vacant of any answering glance, he sits erect, not daring through the long hours to even rest against the wall. CepheneS — (Returns running and chuck- ling, bearing the tray as before.) I tell ye I like that hermit. Adhemes — ^Why so? CephENES — (Sitting, resting the tray on a bench and applying himself to the food.) He did refuse to touch this food. Not a bite would he take, nor of pheasant, cake or 85 THAIS fruit. I told him that if he ate it not I should, and he still refused, and I'm as good as my word. Adhemes — He will neither drink wine nor taste food? Cephenes — He did take food, though not this. The porter passed with a basket of black bread to be thrown the dogs. He begged a crust of him and munched it dry. .... And refused this steaming pheasant! {He gorges.) MyrTALE — Drive him away. Adhemes — I begged our mistress that I might. Myrtale — And she answered? Adhemes — No. Crobyle — He is a mystic. Myrtale — He casts spells. Crobyle — He will foretell your death. 86 THAIS MyrtALE — Do you think he can cast his spell upon Thais? Crobyle — She seemed sad at supper. Cephenes — You do not think he is a new lover? Adhemes — Who can tell? Cephenes — For my sake I hope not. Adhemes — For your sake? For your sake? Cephenes — And he convert her to pre- ferring black bread to my cooking, I'll be hunting a new roof. {Laughter is heard from within, min- gled with voices speaking.) Adhemes — Hurry ! Within ! All of you. They'll be coming into the garden. {Myrtale and Crobyle go toward the house.) Quick, Cephenes, in with you. 87 THAIS Cephenes — One moment while I light- en this load. AdhemES — {Grasping the tray.) And increase your own? Cephenes — {Up and after him.) Stop. I'll come. Here! Here! {Grasps tray.) Adhemes — Hurry. Do not be seen. {He departs into the house.) Cephenes — {Mumbling to himself:) And if I be seen I pray the gods of pots and kettles that it be not without good food The newcomer is a good man. He hath proven himself my friend {With an admiring sigh over the food before him:) I like that hermit. {He goes after the others into the house.) {The music, which had stopped before the laughter was heard, now strikes up in a new tempo.) 88 THAIS (For a moment the garden is empty, and the night, with its soft and varied lights, the ripple of the cascade, and the cadence of the music floating out among the shadows, is allowed to work its spell.) ArISTOBULUS — (Strolls out upon the por- tico, and, supporting himself against a pillar, he draws back his hair and opens his tunic at the neck, as if to drink in the cooling night.) DroSE — [Steals out and, standing behind him, turns the length of her bare arm against his.) ArISTOBULUS — [Starts and, turning im- pulsively, encircles her with his arm and holds her in a long kiss. Then he whis- pers:) Come, into the night. [They disappear in the shadows be- neath the low-hanging boughs.) PhILINA — [Laughing, runs out from the portico and across the garden. She trips and falls upon the steps of the Temple.) ChereaS — [Chases after her and with a 89 THAIS garland of roses he ropes her and draws her to him, both laughing with a note of hysterical gaiety. He checks her laugh- ter with a kiss.) Philina! Philina — Chcreas ! Chereas — To-morrow you shall have a fillet set with amethysts. Philina — The stone that I love best! Chereas — I'll buy you a Nubian slave girl for your very own. Philina — Chereas! A Nubian! Chereas — You love me, Philina? Philina — And you can ask? Chereas — Are you glad that I am not as Thais' new friend? He is rough and wild as those who live under the earth and are besmirched with the smoke of Hades. Philina — Sh! The mysteries of love must forever remain secret. I would prefer to be kissed by the mouth of smoking 90 THAIS Aetna than by this man. But Thais, who is beautiful and adorable as the goddesses, must, like the goddesses, listen to all en- treaties. Thais — {Has appeared unobserved through the colonnade, and startles them by whispering with light raillery :) Take care, Philina; Chereas, beware what you say. The monk is a magician and will enchant you. He hears whispered words and unspoken thoughts. While you sleep he will tear out your heart and in its place put a sponge, so that when you drink you die. Philina — {Jumping up with a cry of reproach:) Oh! Thais 1 .... And he is there, only there beyond the gate. Chereas — {Enfolding her.) Come away. 91 THAIS Over here where the shadows are low. Come. {He leads her away to a remote corner of the garden.) Thais — {Hesitates a moment when they are out of sight, then glancing off, first in the direction of the gate and then back into the house, lest she be followed, she comes out into the garden, crossing to the barriers of green. She peers through to make sure the others are no longer near, and with a movement of decision returns towards the gate.) NiCIAS — {Advances from the direction of the house.) You are looking for Damiel? Thais — I was faint. The house smoth- ered me. The lights blinded me. I wanted the night. NiCIAS — And me? {As she does not an- swer him, he asks with a changed tone. 92 THAIS into which comes something of resent- ment:) And him? Thais — Did I not command you not to follow me? {She crosses away from him.) NiCIAS — {Follows her.) You are changed. Thais — {Summoning a light tone:) Changed? No. Yet, what if I am? Moods are but the garments of the soul I shall change as I please. NiClAS — Thais You say what you do not believe. Thais — It is not so. NiClAS — You say what you do not feel. .... Are you indeed changed? Thais — No. No, Nicias. I am weary. NiCIAS — {Drawing her toward him.) Come, let us rest. Thais — {Disengaging herself.) It is not rest I want. It is relief. I am weary 93 THAIS of men like you, smiling, perfumed, pleas- ant and selfish. I am weary of all that I know. (She throws herself on a bench.) NiCIAS — {Comes to her and softly whis- pers her name, but she does not answer:) Thais Thais Do not harbor such thoughts. As mine are all of you, let yours be only of me Do you know when I read what I see on the page? Thais — [With a weary indifference.) What? NiClAS — Last night I held in my hand a manuscript dictated by the gravest of stoics. It was full of virtuous precepts and noble maxims. Yet before my eyes danced thou- sands of little Thaises. Each was the height of my finger, yet their grace was infinite and they were my one and only Thais. There 94 THAIS were some who trailed after them mantles of purple and gold, others like a cloud floated in the air in vanishing draperies. Others, the better to inspire pleasure, lay motionless, expressing no thought. Finally there were two, so like it was impossible to distinguish one from the other. Both smiled. One said: "I am Love," .... the other "I am Death." Thais — {At this word shudders as if she had been struck.) NiClAS — ^Yes, when beneath my eye was the line where it is written : "Let nothing turn thy mind from virtue," I read : "The kisses of Thais are more ardent than flames. They are sweeter than honey." Thus by your fault does the philosopher interpret philosophy. Whoever we are we discover our own thoughts in the thought of another, 95 THAIS and we read books as I read this one Thais {Bending over her and rais- ing her in his arms.) You weep Thais — And I must not. I may not. Men do not love cheeks that are stained and eyes that are red. NiClAS — Nay, the eyes forget the tears that are shed. Thais— But the heart? NICIAS — Your heart is full? Thais — One drop would o'erflow it. NiCiAS — Of love, Thais? Thais — Of fear Even now, with your arm about me, my head on your breast, I feel an icy finger on my shoulder, and I dare not turn to look, for I know that stand- ing there, invisible, is Death. NICIAS — {Laughing.) What matters it? Whether it be our destiny to descend into 96 THAIS eternal night with whitened hair and wrin- kled cheek, or that this very night that laughs back at a smiling sky is to be our last, .... what matters it? Let us enjoy life. And life is experience. There is no other intelligence than that of the senses. What we are ignorant of does not exist. Why torment ourselves for a mere nothing? Thais — I thought so once, but now .... I can't tell why .... I despise those who, like you, hope nothing and fear nothing. I want to know ! I want to know ! NiClAS — And when you know all, what do you know? Thais — Nothing. NiClAS — ^Why bother to know all when one has all? .... See .... see what I have brought you Pearls Hang them about your white shoulders. Thais — They are the tears of the gods. 97 THAIS NiClAS — Then these are their blood. Thais — Rubies ! NiClAS — ^When you gaze into them, let their crimson depths reflect the ardor of Nicias' love. Thais — {Holding them out in each hand, she contemplates them at first with delight, but in another moment she re- turns them to him.) No, I want them not. Nicias — I have never found you in this mood before. Thais — {Moving away.) I want to be alone. Nicias — You love me? Thais, . . . you love me still ? Thais — Of course, .... yet ... . can't you understand that sometimes .... Oh, Nicias, leave me. Nicias — Are you not mine? Do not be 98 THAIS sad. One is happy in this world when one forgets the world. Come, let us deceive life. Let us love one another. Thais— Love! Love! What is love! {She throws herself on the couch in the Temple.) NiCIAS— Everything! {He sits by her, and, leaning over her, whispers softly:) Thais .... I wish only to be the wreath that binds your tresses, the tunic that en- folds your beautiful body, nay, the sandal under your foot. Let my caresses be your tunic and your wreath. Let us forget ev- erything Thais — Ah, Nicias, you do indeed lull me to forgetfulness. Nicias — Remember only that I love you, that everything I have is yours. 99 THAIS Thais — You do not find me hideous? NiCiAS — You are unrivaled. Thais— Ah I NiClAS — You are yourself again. Thais is happy once more? Thais — To be happy one must forget. NiClAS — To forget, one need but love. {He folds her in a long embrace.) You are mine once more. Thais — Yes. NiciAS — The mood is passed? Thais — Yes Yes ■ NiCIAS — I could have believed .... Thais— What? NiClAS — That Damiel had cast a spell on you. Thais — ^You have made me forget him. NiClAS — He is still at the gate? Thais — {Does not reply.) 100 THAIS NiCIAS — (Starting up.) I'll look. Thais— Hold! NiClAS — Why do you stay me? Thais — ^Why do you wish to go? NiCIAS — To send him away. Thais— No. NiCIAS — ^What! Thais— Not yet. NiCIAS — ^Why not? Thais — Not yet, Nicias, not yet. . NiCIAS — {Grasps her by the wrist.) Thais! Thais — Oh, you are hurting me. NiCIAS — Forgive me (Grasps her in his arms.) Thais are you not mine? Thais — Yes Nicias — Forever? lOI THAIS Thais — ^Yes. NiCIAS — {Kisses her ) You will send him away? Thais — ^Yes. NiciAS — Now? Thais— Now. NICIAS — I'll go myself. Thais— No No I'll send for him and speak him civilly Go. .... Go in to the others Do not let them disturb us And then when he is gone I'll send for you The night is young Send a servant to him to say that I would speak to him here. .... There, there .... Nicias Go .... go ... • (Nicias disappears toward the house.) (Myrtale crosses to summon Damiel.) (Thais throws herself at full length on ,102 THAIS her couch, admiring her beauty in her mirror.) {After a moment Damiel appears through the shadows.) Damiel — ^You have sent for me? Thais — Remembering your prophecy that I would send. It was made in pres- ence of so many. Not to send were so hu- miliating — and to send is so easy. So of your prophecy I make a prophecy, and not bravado merely, by sending for you. Damiel — This is mockery. Why do you send for me? Thais — ^To send you away. Damiel — ^You can send me no farther than your gate, Thais, for there will I wait your call to come and take you with me. Thais — My servants shall drive you away. Damiel — I will come back. 103 THAIS Thais — ^With clubs and stones they will drive you oflf. Damiel — I will come back- Thais — The guards shall arrest you and imprison you Damiel — And when they do release me I will return. Thais — But I will not call you even then. Damiel — Nevertheless, I will wait. Thais — How long? Damiel — Till you do call. {He moves toward the gate.) Thais — ^Where do you go? Damiel — As far as your gate. Thais — Hold One moment. . . . What would you have me do? Damiel — Renounce sin. Thais — You juggle words. What you 104 THAIS call sin I know for pleasure You wish that I should follow you. Damiel — Yes. Thais— Whither? Damiel — Ah, you'll come ! Thais— Whither? Damiel — To the west near the sea is a convent of women with their feet upon the earth and their hearts in Heaven. There shall you know a joyful peace like a sun- burnt crater healed with snow. That soli- tude is the audience chamber of God, where He speaks to the soul through the ear of silence. At the door of this refuge you shall have the kiss of peace and welcome from their mother Albina. Thais — Albina? A daughter of the Caesars? Damiel — Herself. Born to the purple she clothes herself in drugget. A daughter 105 THAIS of the masters of the world, she has raised herself to the rank of a servant of the Lord. (He waits a moment for her answer.) What do you say? Thais — You speak well. Damiel — You'll come. Thais — If I refuse? Damiel — ^You'll come you will not? You refuse? Thais— And if I do? Damiel — I will wait. Thais — {Coming near him, caress- ingly:) Do you not know that all end by loving Thais? Damiel— 'Tis thus that I begin. Thais— Eh? Damiel — I do love thee, Thais Thais— Ah! 1 06 THAIS Damiel — I love thee more than my- self Thais — At last Damiel — More than my life Thais — You confess! Damiel — For you have I left my la- mented desert For you my lips vowed to silence have pronounced profane w^ords. For you I have seen what I ought not to have seen. I have heard what is for- bidden to hear. For you I have walked day and night through the sands. For you I have placed my naked feet upon vipers and scorpions. But I love you not as these men, with the desire of the flesh. Mine is the unknown love. I love you in spirit and in truth; I love you for God and for time eternal. Thais — My friend, show me this mar- velous love. Hasten! I'm impatient to 107 THAIS know the joy you announce. But in truth I fear to be forever ignorant of it, and your promises will vanish in words. It is easier to promise a great happiness than to give it. Each has his talent. I think your gift is speech. You speak of an unknown love. It is a long time since kisses were first given. It would be extraordinary if there re- mained any secrets of love. Upon this sub- ject lovers know more than philosophers. Damiel — You jeer at me. I bring you the unknown love. Thais — ^You come too late. I know all loves. Damiel — The love I bring you is full of glory; the love you give breeds only shame Thais — Shame! Shame! You dare to speak to me of shame ! You are bold to of- fend your hostess. Look at me and say if I 1 08 THAIS resemble a creature crushed with shame! I have sowed pleasure at every step. I am celebrated throughout the universe. I am more powerful than the masters of the world. I've seen them at my feet. Look at me. Look To those who see Thais from the top of the Serapeum, when I pass in the street, I look like a grain of rice, but that grain of rice has caused among men enough grief, despair, hatred and crime to fill Tartarus. You are mad to speak to me of shame when everything proclaims my glory. Damiel — ^Woman, we have neither the same language nor the same thoughts. . . . Who will inspire me with burning words that will melt you like wax in my breath, that the fingers of my desires may mold you? Who will give me the virtue that will recreate you so weeping you'll cry, 109 THAIS "Now indeed do I live." Who will change me into a Jordan whose waters spread over you shall give you eternal life I Thais — You speak of life eternal What you say seems read from a talisman. There is but one thing I fear in life. Damiel — That is? Thais — Death. Have you charms to ward off death? Damiel — Death is but the door of life, the door from darkness into light. What you call life is death. By death alone shalt thou live. Thais— But I love life so It is so sweet to love and be loved Damiel — Your friends love not thee. The love they love is but the youth of flesh. When years with seams and age with ugli- ness lay hands on you, you will be aban- doned, forsaken, alone, no THAIS Thais — You do not know the depths of love. Damiel — Nor you its heights. Thais — ^You do not know the thrill of power. Without empire, without army, without gold or crown or scepter, with only this body, these arms, these eyes, these lips, I reign o'er men. Damiel— 'Tis vain. 'Twill pass. 'Tis all unreal. You shall grow old and your body cold Thais— No! Damiel — Your arms shall wither and your lips thin Thais— No! No! Damiel — Already the lines seam your chin . . . your cheeks draw Paint, not youth, doth color your skin. Thais— No! No! No! iir THAIS DamieL — Each day brings new terrors. This you know is the truth. Thais— No! You lie! You lie! Go. . . Go! . . Go! . . Thais I am. Thais I shall remain. Thais the courtezan, daugh- ter of Venus. I believe in nothing more. Nothing more do I desire. Nor you, nor your truth, nor your life, nor your God. Go! Go!! Go!!! Damiel — I shall wait (He turns and departs to the gate.) Thais— (As he goes.) Out! Out!! I care not. Wait if you will. Though you die where you stand, you'll wait in vain. .... Within! Within there! Nicias .... Eucrites .... Chereas. . . . Am I deserted? {Crossing and calling through the gardens.) Philina! Drose! Friends! Friends! 112 THAIS {Enter Nicias, Hermodorus, Zenothe- mis, Eucrites and Dorian from the house with their mantles. Enter Chereas, Aris- tobulus, Philina and Drose from the other part of the garden.) All— What is it? What's to do? ... . Nicias— Thais ! You're pale. You are ill. What is it? Thais — I . . . was here . . . here in the garden . . . here . . . I . . . {her ef- fort to tell is a failure, and she lies) . . . alone. The night . . . the loneliness . . . I ... I ... I imagined I ... I was was frightened . . . and I called. I'm glad you've come. But see ... . your mantles .... what do they mean? All — It is late. We depart. Thais — No. No. The night's young. Here 'neath the stars we'll sing and I'll dance. Within! The cythera and pipes. 113 THAIS None shall go. Here, here in the face of the moon, .... let the night invite you if I may not. Wine there. {Adhemes, Crobyle, Myrtale and Egyptian slaves appear, bearing golden jugs of wine and goblets of gold. Mu- sicians sit near the Temple of Love and play.) {The men who have come out of the house are in wine, especially Nicias.) All — You will dance? Come, Thais! Let us sit. Thais — One moment first while I re- cover and you refresh with wine. {All sit; the wine is served.) Nicias — Come, Thais, pledge yourself to me. Thais — You are already pledged to Bac- chus. But Bacchus and Venus, 'twere 114 THAIS heaven with them though all the other gods were not. NlCIAS — {Dropping his voice to a note of earnest confidence.) He is gone? Thais — If he waits, let him make what he can of the echo across the wall. {Taking a goblet.) To whom shall we drink? All— To Thais. Thais — To the gods! To the gods of love! In love there is no yesterday and no to-morrow. Only the soft, warm, shadowy now! The daughters of love are indeed the daughters of a day and a night. {She throws the goblet in the direction of the gate.) NiClAS — Then let us bathe the night in 115 THAIS wine, and from the rosy mists let love ap- pear. (Drinks.) HermODORUS — (Who reclines on the Temple steps.) And you bathe longer, friend, the wine will seal your senses, NiCIAS — [Laughing, throws the emptied cup at Hermodorus.) Thais — ^While your tongues are loose you shall tell me of your love. Nicias, .... why did you leave Euphemine? Nicias — For the best reason in the world. She no longer had charm for me. Thais — As when younger? Nicias — Ah, you should have seen her at twenty! Thais — And you, Hermodorus You have abandoned Delectra. . . . Why? ii6 THAIS Hermodorus — She deceived me She ceased to be beautiful. {The men all laugh.) Thais — Her beauty fled and so did you. And, Dorion, what has become of the di- vine Myrna? DORION' — She committed the unpardon- able sin She grew old. Thais — The sin to which we are all pre- destined to grow old Mu- sic. Music there. Play, and I'll dance. {The music plays and she makes an ef- fort to dance. She sways faintly on the first step, and hands are extended to her, but she continues. In another moment she falls in Adhemes' arms insensible.) {The others all leap to their feet. A hand is raised and the music stops.) All — She has fainted ! She is ill ! Thais ! Thais ! 117 THAIS NiClAS — Go .... go, call the servants. Thais — (Reviving.) Nicias .... What is it? Nicias — You arc ill. Go . . . go . . . my friends. Thais — (Rising.) No . . . no . . . see, I am well. All — It's late We go (They start to leave toward the gate, where Damiel stands his vigil.) Thais — Not that way, . . . please. The nearer way is through the house . . . here. Good night Good night (They depart toward the house.) Nicias — (Has stood apart, yet near. He seems to sense a significance in her having sent her friends by the farther gate.) Thais — (Turning from her departing guests, she discovers Nicias remains.) Ii8 THAIS Ahj Nicias, you do not go? NiCIAS — I could not leave you. . . . You are ill. Thais— No, I am well I wish to be alone. Nicias— Then I'll go. Thais — Good night. Nicias — {Turns to go by the gate where Damiel has waited.) Good night. Thais — Not that way. Nicias — And why not? Thais— Not that way Nicias — Damiel is there. Thais — I have sent him away. Nicias — ^The Christian dog! Thais — Nicias. . . . , Nicias Nicias — He has fuddled you with his mystic jibberings 119 THAIS Thais — You are drunk. NiClAS — But not blind. He is there ! Thais — Perhaps. But I sent him away. I drove him out I cursed him. I, .... if he be there it is because his faith is strong. NiCIAS — (Jeering.) His faith? .... His appetite .... Thais — (With revulsion.) Oh, Nicias! NiClAS — He has told you he has come to procure your soul. He lied to you. Thais— No! NiCIAS — If he believed it, he lied to him- self Your soul ! . . . . For all he is a hermit yet he is a man ... a man of flesh and blood and appetites .... of blood as hot as flows in the veins of any man you know. Of appetites like yours and mine Thais— Oh, Nicias! 1 20 THAIS NiciAS— And what's behind it all? . . . . "Come with me" .... what does he de- mand? You follow him Whither? Why? .... Ye gods, it is transparent as the day! .... Your soul? .... Your soul! Ha! You need not follow him .... that which he comes for is here .... here .... here .... where you are .... it is you! you!! you!!! And you love him? You think I'll wait to be cast off by you? Thais — {With great agony of spirit.) Nicias ! NiClAS — You think I'll be abandoned by a courtezan like you. No ! I'll go, and you may give yourself to him! {He goes to- ward the house.) Thais — {Crushing her hands into her face.) Oh! Oh!! Oh!!! {She supports herself against the couch. As she recovers, her eyes rest a 121 THAIS moment on the little table and what she sees there transfixes her attention. She reaches and draws her mirror before her face, but cannot look on it.) {Her spirit is chilled in the nakedness of lost illusions. Her tongue and throat are dry and she can scarce raise her voice above a whisper as she calls:) Damiel! .... Damiell! {She listens, hut hears nothing, and turns, crossing slowly away from the gate.) Gone ! Nicias was right He sought only the toll of love. Damiel — {Appears, dimly visible in the shadows of the branches. With his accus- tomed tone of imperturbable resignation he says:) You called? Thais— Ah! You were there. You were faithful ! 122 THAIS Damiel — ^Why have you called? Thais — Because .... because, my friend, I am weary unto death. Where can I find rest? My forehead is burning .... my arms are so tired that I should not have the strength to seize happiness were it brought within my reach. Damiel — Follow me and you shall know perfect peace. Thais — If I could search the mystery of this love of thine. {She looks him full in the face, then looks away with vacant concentration on the problem which confronts her the light of determination now radiates from her whole person. She lets fall the mantle from one shoulder and turning swiftly she glides to Damiel's side and swings the loose end of the mantle so that it turns about his knees and feet, as if to envelope them both. With both her bare arms extended aloft she holds the mantle 123 THAIS above her head and his, and leaning very near him she whispers in her softest ac- cents:) Damiel! you have conquered! Damiel — {Senses the significance of this temptation. He cannot move. With a parched tongue he answers:) You will follow me? Thais — ^You have said that you love me. .... Damiel .... Damiel — {After a furious struggle he breaks the spell and staggers from her.) No! No!! No!!! .... I love you! Yes, Thais, I do love you ! Thais— Ah! Damiel — But 'tis your soul .... the better part of you, and not your flesh And you .... you cannot love me! See! Seel! See, I am hideous, ragged, bloody! 124 THAIS {As she approaches.) Off! Off!! Stand back! Thais — No man has e'er refused before. Are you a god to thus spurn Thais? {Approaching his side again.) Damiel — ^No. . . . Alas, I .... I am a man! Thais — ^And you refuse me? Damiel — {Again upon the brink he closes his eyes as if in prayer and sum- moning all his strength he says:) Yes! Thais — {Her astonishment succumbs to conviction in the presence of this man who is more than ever an enigma to her.) Nay, Damiel, if you be less than a god you are indeed more than a man. Damiel — {Still fighting.) No, I'm but a man. 125 THAIS Thais — (A great peace and resignation come over her. As she lowers her eyes she becomes conscious of her nakedness and with unconscious modesty she again folds herself from head to foot in her mantle.) What you have said I now believe. Tell me, shall you be able to do for me what neither the priests of Isis or Hermes or Juno, nor the seers of Chaldea, nor the Babylonian magi could do? Will your love ward ofif death from me? Damiel — ^Woman, whoever wishes to live will live. Thais — I would like to believe. I have not found happiness. You have stirred the waters of my soul and drawn to the surface what has slept below. And though I do be- lieve you, your words are full of mystery. Damiel — ^Your life, as mine, is full of mystery. The yesterdays .... the to- 126 THAIS morrows .... the rainbow's end .... the moonbeam's kiss! "Who knows whither the clouds have fled, in the trackless skies they leave no wake." The world is mirage and moving sand .... a vain murmur .... You weep. Thais — Yes. Damiel — Tears! The ransom for your soul. Thais — Life Death Hap- piness. I want to know. I want to know. Damiel — Come Follow me and you shall know. Thais — [Places her hand in his.) I will follow you. {As Damiel leads her toward the gate, Nicias appears before them.) Nicias — This, then, is my reward? All you have I have given you. This palace, 127 THAIS this garden, robes, jewels, all! With lies and infidelity you repay my generosity and love! Out .... out both of you. I take them back nothing .... nothing more of mine is yours ! Thais — Peace, Nicias. I shall have no further need of your gifts. Nicias— You go then? Thais— Yes. Nicias — You follow him? Thais — ^Yes. Take back what you have given me That I can return .... Your kisses I shall wash out in the fountains of prayer. Nicias — Nay, Thais, he deceives you. Thais — He speaks the only truth. Nicias — He deceives you. He loves you. Thais — He saves me. Nicias — He steals you. Thais— No! 128 THAIS NiCIAS — ^^He steals you — with mean hy- pocrisy of virtue — Thais— Oh! NICIAS— He steals for himself— Thais — Nicias ! NiClAS — You are his dupe ! Thais— No! NICIA&— His toy! Thais— No! No!! Nicias— His tool! Thais— No! No!! No!!! Damiel — ^Nicias ! Nicias— (To Damiel:) You? You hypocrite! In mean pretense of spiritual call, beneath the cloak of sanctity you come .... to me, your friend, with hands in mine! My friend! My friend!! (To Thais:) Your youth's the magnet — your beauty drew him here — Thais — Stop ! 129 THAIS NiClAS — He's welcome — his portion's but the dregs — the dregs ! A stale and with- ered thing! . go, then, go! Go with the dog! {To Damiel:) Take her! Bear off your prize ! But, I tell you, monk, you take a harlot! Damiel — I take a saint! {Damiel leads Thais majestically forth as to victory.) {The curtain falls.) END OF ACT THREE THE FOURTH ACT Scene i A tableau, interpolated, in which, through a mystic light, is dimly visible a palm grove on an oasis in the desert, and it is shown how Thais and Damiel approach and are met by Albina and her White Sisters, and how he delivers Thais into their keeping. Scene 2 The courtyard of the retreat of the White Sisters, on the sea-coast near Alexandria. Along one side runs the wall to a height of eight or nine feet, thick and unbroken save by the gateway. The solid gate has a small aperture through which arrivals are spoken before they are admitted. The other sides of this courtyard are enclosed by the low rambling walls of the convent, which are pierced at inter- vals by the small windows of the nuns' cells and by the low arched entrances. 131 THAIS The tone of all the architecture is buff and •white. The sandy courtyard is buff. Be- yond the walls rise the tops of palm trees and a gnarled old fig tree. A cluster of palms rises in the center of the garden, spreading a grateful shade over the hot sands. Beneath it is a bench. The white tropical light is tempered by the buff and amber reflections of the sandstone of the walls and the sand underfoot, strong but mellow, by the soft, green turf and the overhanging trees. A hedge of white lilies in full bloom grows under the con- vent walls. At Rise of Curtain The porter, Maria Pia, sits at the gate. Others are engaged in spinning, embroid- ery and breaking the earth. Their habit is a coarse cloth of creamy white. The sleeves are wide and long, folded back in loose, broad cuffs, and the head is wrapped in the same soft cloth. Albina, the mother superior, comes into the court- yard. Albina — Sister. 132 THAIS JONATHA — {Advancing a step.)' You spoke? Albina — Tell the infirmarian to join me here. JONATHA — {Bows silently and retires.) Albina — {Addressing Maria Pia at the gate.) Sister? Are all the nuns within the walls? Maria — All save Angelica and Rosalia. They carried medicine to a woman sick with the fever. Albina — ^You may go. Some one will be here when they return. Maria — {Bows silently and crosses into the convent.) The Infirmarian — {Passes out as Ma- ria passes in.) Mother, you sent for me? Albina — ^You have visited the cell of our Sister Thais to-day? 133 THAIS The Infirmarian — I have this moment left her. Albina— What change? The Infirmarian — None that I can see. Life hangs by a slender thread. Albina — ^You think her hour is near? The Infirmarian— We need not be surprised at any change. Albina — Her spirit is strong? The Infirmarian — An example to us all. She is most happy. She has the holy expectation of a saint. Albina — In passing from this world she has but one regret, one wish; to see again the holy Damiel, who brought her here, to let him know how great a joy his victory over her has given her. The Infirmarian — Do you think, mother, he will come? Albina- — Nay, his last words in parting 134 THAIS were that he would return to his cell in the desert to await in prayer and fasting their reunion before the throne of Heaven. She will never see him more. The Infirmarian — I would not have believed it. Albina — ^What do you mean, sister? The Infirmarian — 'Twas in his eye. It was when he said farewell. Albina — It was no common battle that he waged in forsaking the desert to rescue this daughter of sin. His eye no doubt was lighted with the holy ecstasy of triumph. The Infirmarian— It was sadder, mother. Albina — Sadder? The Infirmarian — He loved her. Albina— Oh! .... It was his zeal for her salvation. 135 THAIS The Infirmarian — Mother, it was not in his face. AlbinA' — He has conquered it; he never has returned. The Infirmarian — And live he will. Albina — May Heaven take Thais first. The Infirmarian — Amenl {Maria Pia approaches out of the con- vent.) Maria — Mother? Albina— Daughter? Maria — It is the hour when our sister, Thais, has been accustomed to come out into the courtyard here. The Infirmarian — Pray, let her come. Remaining there within her cell will not prolong her soul's imprisonment. The bars that cage her spirit grow weaker every hour. 136 THAIS Maria — Mother, her eyes, her heart, her hope are on the happy moment of release. Albina — This holy aspiration is a fore- taste of Heaven Let her be brought. Maria — {Bows, and retires into the con- vent.) Albina — Let us go in. {Albina and the Infirmarian move in the same direction. They are arrested by a knock without at the gate.) Albina — See who is there. The Infirmarian — {Crosses to the gate and raises the little wooden blind.) It is Rosalia and Angelica. Albina — Admit them. {She goes into the convent.) {The Infirmarian opens the gate. An- gelica and Rosalia enter quickly, as if pursued.) 137 THAIS Rosalia — Quick, shut the gate Do you remember holy Damiel, who brought our sister Thais here? The Infirmarian — You've seen him? Rosalia — ^Yes. As we returned. We followed near. At first we thought him just a pilgrim. But when he reached the gate he stopped, and so did we. He seemed most undecided, advanced and turned, and then advanced again. But when he turned we saw his face. Such agony! The Infirmarian — You're sure you recognized him? Rosalia— Yes. It was Damiel. The Infirmarian — He is there, now? Rosalia — He walked back and forth be- fore the gate twice, raising his hand to knock, but something held it sweat stood on his brow, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hand trembled as if with palsy. 138 THAIS The Infirmarian — And then? Rosalia — After a great struggle he de- parted, his head bent and his hands clasp- ing his breast. Angelica — Twice he stopped and turned. The Infirmarian — But, he is gone? Rosalia — ^Yes. The Infirmarian — Our sister is spared ! She comes {The Infirmarian, Rosalia, Angelica and the others depart by the other arch- way as Maria Pia and Jonatha reappear. Between them and leaning on them, is Thais in the habit of the White Ladies.) Thais — {Pauses a moment, a smile of ecstasy on her upturned face.) How beau- tiful! Oh, peace benign! What gladness in the earth and skies, the birds and flowers! Or is this gladness but the echo of mine 139 THAIS own? Come. {She comes forward to the bench under the palms and sits.) Maria? Maria — ^Yes? (She drops on one knee at one side and before Thais.) Thais — And my Jonatha? JONATHA — I am here. {She also kneels, at the other side.) Thais — My sisters! When did holy Da- miel first deliver me into this tabernacle of peace? Maria — 'Tis six months now. Thais — He stood at the door of my cell. When Albina had given me this robe, the bowl of water and the dish of meal, he took wet clay into his hand, added a hair from his head, and with his own hands sealed the door against the day when Heaven should loose the seal and deliver its servant. Jonatha — I remember the morning. I 140 THAIS bore you bread and found the seal was broken. Thais — It was a miracle 1 MariA' — And you were ill, to death. Thais — To life! At that moment my soul began its journey home What says the Infirmarian? Will I enter into the great peace to-night? Or, will my joy be delayed? .... Be not afraid to speak. .... Be glad as I am Maria — I know that envy is a sin, but I do envy you who are so soon to enter Heaven. Thais — Oh, promise divine! JONATHA — ^If you could but bear us with you. Thais — Some breath of Heaven is in the air already. See .... there's not a cloud. The air is crystal and the light spun gold. 141 THAIS See yonder sunbeam, a thread on which my soul shall travel to its spouse. Maria — Pity us, sister, who cannot hope so soon for happiness. JONATHA — ^We must linger among the shadows while you enter into reality. Thais — Once I thought that only real which I could see and touch. I loved only those things which came from the hands of man. My pleasure fed on that which changed and passed. Then came the holy Damiel and raised me up and led me here .... here, where I've found all. No man can wreck this peace or steal this joy, it shall not change, it cannot die. Oh, happiness without alloy. If only in this moment of supremest joy Maria — ^What wish remains unsatisfied? Thais — I would this gratitude unuttered should not die upon my lips. Would 142 THAIS Heaven should send me Damiel that he who gave me so much happiness might share it. If he could know this ecstasy I owe to him! .... Maria! Maria— Yes? Thais— Jonatha! JONATHA— Well? .... Sister, what is it? Thais— Hark! 'Hark! Maria — I hear nothing. Thais — He comes ! Mariaand Jonatha— Thais! Sister! Thais — My prayer is answered. He is at the gate. Maria — Nay, sister, we hear no one. Jonatha— No one. Thais — Go ! Go ! .... He comes ! He comes to take my blessing! .... Now he will know! .... Open! .... Open quickly! He is there ! 143 THAIS (Maria and Jonatha rise and retreat from the ecstatic Thais.) Damiel! Damiell! Damiellll (The cry is answered by three knocks at the gate.) Open! Open!! {The nuns run to the gate and open it.) (Damiel rushes in and falls prostrate at Thais' feet.) (The nuns, .overwhelmed with what they have seen, retreat into the convent.) Thais — I knew that you would come. Damiel — (Lifting himself on his hands, half reclining, not trusting himself to raise his eyes, much less to look at her.) You wished me here? Thais — To pour out my thanks. Look, look in my eyes. They mirror my heart. 144 THAIS .... Can't you read of the ecstasy thrill- ing my soul ! Damiel — ^You wanted me here? Thais — 'Twas my prayer; once more to see you, and you to see me, and to know what a victory you had gained Damiel — Thais ! Thais — Thais no longer. Thais was con- sumed in the fire of your faith. That night in the Temple of Love was her last. Only now do I live! .... And you heard me call! Damiel — At night .... Thais — Holy hour! Damiel — In my sleep Thais — A vision. Damiel — A vision Thais — From Heaven! Damiel — {Mortified and agonized, he bows his head.) Alas! 145 THAIS Thais— Nay, tell me all. Damiel— All? Thais — Since your victory. . . . Damiel — (Bitterly.) My victory! Thais — Hasten .... I am eager .... you returned Damiel — I returned to the desert, the anchorite's rest Thais — And I in this haven secure! Damiel — But the peace had departed, I knew it no more. Thais — Ah! You could not be sure your victory would endure. Damiel — I knew only struggle, unrest, and regret One night you appeared to me in the agony of death Thais — Death is but the door of life ! Damiel — (Still on the ground at her feet, half reclining on his hands, not yet able to look upon her face.) Thais is dy- 146 THAIS ing! The words rang in my soul. I longed to see you once more ! To see you .... to touch you ! Thais— To bless me! Damiel — I started ... Iran .... 'At every step I cursed myself. Thais is dying! And she is not mine. Dying, and I've lost her. Fool ! Fool that I was to have thought there was anything in the world but you. As if anything counted when one has seen Thais. She opened her arms and I did not fall into them I dreamed I groped .... I stumbled .... I missed my way, deluded and blind And in my heart rang the wild peal, "Thais is dy- ing!" .... But it is not true {Turning to her.) .... Deny it You'll live Don't you see, Thais. .... Don't you see, I love you ! Thais — 'Tis my soul. 147 THAIS Damiel — 'Tis you! You! I deceived myself. I lied to you. Thais— No! Damiel — {Rising on his knees.) Love drew me first from the desert to you .... love draws me back to you now Thais— No! No! Damiel — Do not die! Thais — Oh, spoil it not. Damiel — ^Thais, my beloved! Thais — You gave me so much; do not take it away. Damiel — Life without you is blackness, despair. (Standing.) Live Live for me ! Thais — You rave. You are mad Damiel — ^Thais ! I love you. Thais — (Has drawn herself to her feet ■ and cries in agonized protest:) Father! (As his faith had strengthened her, so 148 THAIS now he realizes the strength of her faith. Overwhelmed with shame, he sinks to the ground at her feet, his face buried in his hands.) Thais — {With a sweet, masterful solem- nity:) Damiel .... Father .... by that faith by which you did recreate me, I bid you rise. Are you blind? When the scales fell from my eyes did they fall upon thine? Awake! Be thyself! My deliverer! My savior! As thy faith saved me, let mine save thee {Yet softer, as her strength fails, and she sinks on the bench:) The last grains of this handful of clay sift through the fingers of life The heavens open ! I see the roses of eternal morning! Damiel — Intercede! Aslc forgiveness for me ! Thais — {Full upright, with the pale voice of ecstasy.) I feel the breath of an- 149 THAIS gels in my face. My ears are deafened with the canticles of joy. My eyes are blinded with the dawn of life eternal ! {A smile sits upon her upturned face. A flood of golden light descends from above and bathes her in a celestial au- reola. Damiel feels this, turns, beholds and rises to his full height at her side, his face raised in humility to Heaven.) Damiel — Oh, miracle! Wonderful are the ways of the Lord, who sent me to save Thais, the Courtezan, that I might be saved by Thais the Saint! j^The curtain falls.) ^ END OF THE PLAY.