Paphnutius
Scene III
PAPHNUTIUS. Thais! Thais!
THAIS. Who is there? I do not know that voice.
PAPHNUTIUS. Thais! Your lover speaks! Thais!
THAIS. Stranger, who are you?
PAPHNUTIUS. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come!
THAIS. Who are you?
PAPHNUTIUS.
THAIS. And what do you want with me?
PAPHNUTIUS. I will show you.
THAIS. You would be my lover?
PAPHNUTIUS. I am your lover, Thais, flame of the world!
THAIS. Whoever loves me is well paid. He receives as much as he gives.
PAPHNUTIUS. Oh, Thais, Thais! If you knew what a long and troublesome journey I have come to speak to you—to see your face!
THAIS. Well? Have I refused to speak to you, or to show you my face?
PAPHNUTIUS. I cannot speak to you here. I must be with you alone. What I have to say is secret. The room must be secret too.
THAIS. How would you like a bedchamber, fragrant with perfumes, adorned as for a marriage? I have such a room. Look!
PAPHNUTIUS. Is there no room still more secret—a room that your lovers do not know? Some room where you and I might hide from all the world?
THAIS. Yes, there is a room like that in this house. No one even knows that it exists except myself, and God.
PAPHNUTIUS. God! What God?
THAIS. The true God.
PAPHNUTIUS. You believe that He exists?
THAIS. I am a Christian.
PAPHNUTIUS. And you believe that He knows what we do?
THAIS. I believe He knows everything.
PAPHNUTIUS. What do you think, then? That He is indifferent to the actions of the sinner, or that He reserves judgment?
THAIS. I suppose that the merits of each man are weighed in the balance, and that we shall be punished or rewarded according to our deeds.
PAPHJNUTIUS. O Christ! How wondrous is Thy patience! How wondrous is Thy love! Even when those who believe in Thee sin deliberately, Thou dost delay their destruction!
THAIS. Why do you tremble? Why do you turn pale? Why do you weep?
PAPHNUTIUS. I shudder at your presumption. I weep for your damnation. How, knowing what you know, can you destroy men in this manner and ruin so many souls, all precious and immortal?
THAIS. Your voice pierces my heart! Strange lover—you are cruel. Pity me!
PAPHNUTIUS. Oh, Thais, you have wilfully offended the divine Majesty. That condemns you.
THAIS. What do you mean?
PAPHNUTIUS. Because the punishment of hell-fire ta you if you remain in sin.
THAIS. Who are you, who rebuke me so sternly? Oh, you have shaken me to the depths of my terrified heart!
PAPHNUTIUS. I would that you could be shaken with fear to your very bowels! I would like to see your delicate body impregnated with terror in every vein, and every fibre, if that would keep you from yielding to the dangerous delights of the flesh.
THAIS. And what zest for pleasure do you think is left now in a heart suddenly awakened to a consciousness of guilt! Remorse has killed everything.
PAPHNUTIUS. I long to see the thorns of vice cut away, and the choked-up fountain of your tears flowing once more. Tears of repentance are precious in the sight of God.
THAIS. Oh, vo