drama。
〃Formerly；〃 he said； 〃clever actors used to declaim； under a mask； the
verses of Euripides and Menander。 Now they no longer recite dramas；
they act in dumb show； and of the divine spectacles with which Bacchus
was honoured in Athens； we have kept nothing but what a barbariana
Scythian evencould understandattitude and gesture。 The tragic
mask； the mouth of which was provided with metal tongues that
increased the sound of the voice； the cothurnus； which raised the
actors to the height of gods； the tragic majesty and the splendid
verses that used to be sung； have all gone。 Pantomimists； and dancing
girls with bare faces； have replaced Paulus and Roscius。 What would
the Athenians of the days of Pericles have said if they had seen a
woman on the stage？ It is indecent for a woman to appear in public。 We
must be very degenerate to permit it。 It is as certain as that my name
is Dorion； that woman is the natural enemy of man； and a disgrace to
human kind。〃
〃You speak wisely；〃 replied Paphnutius； 〃woman is our worst enemy。 She
gives us pleasure； and is to be feared on that account。〃
〃By the immovable gods；〃 cried Dorion； 〃it is not pleasure that woman
gives to man； but sadness； trouble； and black cares。 Love is the cause
of our most biting evils。 Listen； stranger。 When I was a young man I
visited Troezene； in Argolis； and I saw there a myrtle of a most
prodigious size； the leaves of which were covered with innumerable
pinholes。 And this is what the Troezenians say about that myrtle。
Queen Phaedra； when she was in love with Hippolytos； used to recline
idly all day long under this same tree。 To beguile the tedium of her
weary life she used to draw out the golden pin which held her fair
locks； and pierce with it the leaves of the sweet…scented bush。 All
the leaves were riddled with holes。 After she had ruined the poor
young man whom she pursued with her incestuous love； Phaedra； as you
know； perished miserably。 She locked herself up in her bridal chamber；
and hanged herself by her golden girdle from an ivory peg。 The gods
willed that the myrtle； the witness of her bitter misery； should
continue to bear； in its fresh leaves； the marks of the pin…holes。 I
picked one of these leaves； and placed it at the head of my bed； that
by the sight of it I might take warning against the folly of love； and
conform to the doctrine of the divine Epicurus； my master； who taught
that all lust is to be feared。 But； properly speaking； love is a
disease of the liver； and one is never sure of not catching the
malady。〃
Paphnutius asked
〃Dorion； what are your pleasures？〃
Dorion replied sadly
〃I have only one pleasure； and； it must be confessed； that it is not a
very exciting one； it is meditation。 When a man has a bad digestion；
he must not look for any others。〃
Taking advantage of these words； Paphnutius proceeded to initiate the
Epicurean into those spiritual joys which the contemplation of God
procures。 He began
〃Hear the truth； Dorion； and receive the light。〃
But he saw then that all heads were turned towards him； and everybody
was making signs for him to be quiet。 Dead silence prevailed in the
theatre； broken at last by the strains of heroic music。
The play began。 The soldiers left their tents； and were preparing to
depart； when a prodigy occurreda cloud covered the summit of the
funeral pile。 Then the cloud rolled away； and the ghost of Achilles
appeared； clad in golden armour。 Extending his arms towards the
warriors； he seemed to say to them； 〃What！ do you depart； children of
Danaos？ do you return to the land I shall never behold again； and
leave my tomb without any offerings？〃 Already the principal Greek
chieftains pressed to the foot of the pile。 Acamas； the son of
Theseus； old Nestor； Agamemnon； bearing a sceptre and with a fillet on
his brow； gazed at the prodigy。 Pyrrhus； the young son of Achilles；
was prostrate in the dust。 Ulysses； recognisable by the cap which
covered his curly hair； showed by his gestures that he acquiesced in
the demand of the hero's shade。 He argued with Agamemnon； and their
words might be easily guessed
〃Achilles；〃 said the King of Ithaca； 〃is worthy to be honoured by us；
for he died gloriously for Hellas。 He demands that the daughter of
Priam； the virgin Polyxena； should be immolated on his tomb。 Greeks！
appease the manes of the hero； and let the son of Peleus rejoice in
Hades。〃
But the king of kings replied
〃Spare the Trojan virgins we have torn from the altars。 Sufficient
misfortunes have already fallen on the illustrious race of Priam。〃
He spoke thus because he shared the couch of the sister of Polyxena；
and the wise Ulysses reproached him for preferring the couch of
Cassandra to the lance of Achilles。
The Greeks showed they shared the opinion of Ulysses； by loudly
clashing their weapons。 The death of Polyxena was resolved on； and the
appeased shade of Achilles vanished。 The musicsometimes wild and
sometimes plaintivefollowed the thoughts of the personages in the
drama。 The spectators burst into applause。
Paphnutius； who applied divine truth to everything murmured
〃This fable shows how cruel the worshippers of false gods were。〃
〃All religions breed crimes；〃 replied the Epicurean。 〃Happily； a
Greek； who was divinely wise； has freed men from foolish terrors of
the unknown〃
Just at that moment； Hecuba； her white hair dishevelled； her robe
tattered； came out of the tent in which she was kept captive。 A long
sigh went up from the audience； when her woeful figure appeared。
Hecuba had been warned by a prophetic dream； and lamented her
daughter's fate and her own。 Ulysses approached her； and asked her to
give up Polyxena。 The old mother tore her hair； dug her nails into her
cheeks； and kissed the hands of the cruel chieftain； who； with
unpitying calmness； seemed to say
〃Be wise； Hecuba； and yield to necessity。 There are amongst us many
old mothers who weep for their children； now sleeping under the pines
of Ida。〃
And Hecuba； formerly queen of the most flourishing city in Asia； and
now a slave； bowed her unhappy head in the dust。
Then the curtain in front of one of the tents was raised； and the
virgin Polyxena appeared。 A tremor passed through all the spectators。
They had recognised Thais。 Paphnutius saw again the woman he had come
to seek。 With her white arm she held above her head the heavy curtain。
Motionless as a splendid statue； she stood； with a look of pride and
resignation in her violet eyes； and her resplendent beauty made a
shudder of commiseration pass through all who beheld her。
A murmur of applause uprose； and Paphnutius； his soul agitated； and
pressing both hands to his heart； sighed
〃Why； O my God； hast thou given this power to one of Thy creatures？〃
Dorion was not so disturbed。 He said
〃Certainly the atoms； which have momentarily met together to form this
woman； present a combination which is agreeable to the eye。 But that
is but a freak of nature； and the atoms know not what they do。 They
will some day separate with the same indifference as they came
together。 Where are now the atoms which formed Lais or Cleopatra？ I
must confess that women are sometimes beautiful。 But they are liable
to grievous afflictions； and disgusting inconveniences。 That is patent
to all thinking men； though the vulgar pay no attention to it。 And
women inspire love； though it is absurd and ridiculous to love them。〃
Such were the thoughts of the philosopher and the ascetic as they
gazed on Thais。 They neither of them noticed Hecuba； who turned to her
daughter； and seemed to say by her gestures
〃Try to soften the cruel Ulysses。 Employ your tears； your beauty； and
your youth。〃
Thaisor rather Polyxena herselflet fall the curtain of the tent。
She made a step forward； and all hearts were conquered。 And when； with
firm but light steps； she advanced towards Ulysses； her rhythmic
movements； which were accompanied by the sound of flutes； created in
all present such happy visions； that it seemed as though she were the
divine centre of all the harmonies of the world。 All eyes were bent on
her； the other actors were obscured by her effulgence； and were not
noticed。 The play continued； however。
The prudent son of Laertes turned away his head； and hid his hand
under his mantle； in order to avoid the looks and kisses of the
suppliant。 The virgin made a sign to him to fear nothing。 Her tranquil
gaze said
〃I follow you； Ulysses； and bow to necessitybecause I wish to die。
Daughter of Priam； and sister of Hector； my couch； which was once
worthy of Kings； shall never receive a foreign master。 Freely do I
quit the light of day。〃
Hecuba； lying motionless in the dust； suddenly rose and enfolded her
daughter in a last despairing embrace。 Polyxena gently； but
resolutely； removed the old arms which held her。 She seemed to say
〃Do not expose yourself； mother； to the fury of your master。 Do not
wait until he drags you ignominiously on the ground in tearing me from
your arms。 Better； O well…beloved mother； to give me your wrinkled
hand； and bend your hollow cheeks to my lips。〃
The face of Thais looked beautiful in its grief。 The crowd felt
grateful to her for showing them the forms and passions of life
endowed with superhuman grace； and Paphnutius pardoned her present
splendour on account of her coming humility； and glorified himself in
advance for the saint he was about to give to heaven。
The drama neared its end。 Hecuba fell as though dead； and Polyxena；
led by Ulysses； advanced towards the tomb； which was surrounded by the
chief warriors。 A dirge was sung as she mounted the funeral pile； on
the summit of which the son of Achilles poured out libations from a
gold cup to the manes of the hero。 When the sacrificing priests
stretched out their arms to seize her； she made a sign that she wished
to die free and unbound； as befitted the daughter of so many kings。
Then； tearing aside her robe； she bared her bosom to the blow。
Pyrrhus； turning away his head； plunged his sword into her heart； and
by a skilful trick； the blood gushed forth over the dazzling white
breast of the virgin； who； with head thrown back； and her eyes
swimming in the horrors of death