Prologue
"Paphnutius remembered having seen years before at the theatre of Alexandria an actress of great beauty named Thais. This woman took part in the games and was not ashamed to join in skilful dances, the movements of which recalled the most terrible passions. Or else she enacted some of the scenes of shame which the Pagan fables attribute to Venus, Leda, or Pasiphaë. Thus she inflamed all the spectators with the fire of luxury ; and when fine young men or rich old men, full of love, came and hung garlands of flowers at her door, she gave herself to them. So that, in destroying her own soul, she also destroyed a number of others".
Anatole France, Thais, the courtesan of Alexandria, 1889.
