Ivan Yefremov - Thais of Athens

Thais invited the merchant to come over and stated that she would release Clonaria without a payment, but only under the condition of legal marriage. The merchant promised to think about it. He was a widower, but there was not epigamy between his native Lydia and Rhodes, where Clonaria was from. However, there was nothing to prevent an arrangement of a special agreement for Clonaria’s “taking”, and Thais decided to insist.

Thais had to let go of her house. Its owner wanted to raise the already unaffordable rent. Only the uncertain situation in Egypt on the eve of Alexander’s arrival kept the landlord from trading Thais for wealthier tenants.

Hesiona watched anxiously as the mistress’ jewels disappeared from the large box one after another. Even during her wealthiest times

Thais had lived modestly compared to the unguarded spending of other famous hetaerae.

Egesikhora’s death had taken half of her heart and Menedem’s demise had deprived her of love and safe haven. Thais lost sight of her path, like a horse that stumbled at full gallop, and now twirled in a circle of slow days, having lost all aspirations. She saw no sense to living in Egypt and had no idea where to go in order to fill the emptiness in her soul. Only the horse races and dangerous feats with Salmaakh managed to bring back the old Thais, the flushed cheeks and shining eyes that were mischievous and serious at the same time, the combination of inspired dignity and girlish liveliness which gave Thais irresistible allure.

During the last three days of the month, the days of the dead, also known as the “heavy days” of Puanepsion, Thais felt particularly lost. The calm and trouble-free life, her confident expectation of better and more beautiful things, the divine certainty of her own beauty, those things were gone, never to return. Along with those went the feeling of health and the hope for a fortunate future that only happens at the height of one’s youth. Thais turned twenty-three years old, full prime for a Helenian woman, yet she felt her beauty was leaving along with her youth. She believed she was losing her irresistible charms and had no desire to try them on anyone again. This absence of desires frightened Thais. It was like a ghost of the future aging most of all. If only the scholar from Delos were here. She would have found herself sooner and revived, sought a new life. How much she needed her teacher-friend.

Thais left the house in Hesiona’s care and went back into the seclusion of the Neit temple. The priests accepted her benevolently, probably informed in advance by the Delos philosopher.

The hetaera settled in a library-like room in the top story of the pylon and sought out Plato’s Gorgius among the Greek books. She remembered the ironic chuckle of the Delos teacher in response to her dismissive attitude toward Plato. She felt that she may have made a mistake and decided right away to reread the works of the great philosopher. Indeed, in his dialogs Thais discovered his deep concern about the people of Athens, which she had not understood before. She read of his attempts to elevate the Helenians of Attica so that each lived in harmony with the spirit of the city of the Maid. She sensed the wise man’s nostalgia corresponded to her own present mood. He pined for the past of Athens, which had become an empty vessel of former splendor after the war with Sparta.

Where in the past she saw only boring admonitions, she now discovered his firm belief that high moral code and people’s spiritual attitude toward each other could create a true arche, or state. The task of people’s improvement was the most important one, in Plato’s opinion. The rulers who plunged Helenians into lawlessness and taught their people nothing but anger and betrayal never achieved anything except for shame and infamy.

It would be interesting to know what Alexander was trying to achieve. Where was he going to direct his mighty army? Where was he going to apply his great wisdom and the constant benevolence of the gods? Then again, why would Thais bother with such things? Where was she to go to rediscover her own love of adventure and travel?

It was time to leave Memphis if only to separate herself from the loss of Egesikhora and Menedem. Over the last few days she had been persistently approached by one Stemlos, the only son of one of the wealthiest merchants in Memphis. He had only just come out of the age of epheb [18] A teenage boy or very young man and probably was no older than Thais herself. He felt as if a boy before a goddess. But, she recalled, the mighty Menedem had often been like a boy as well. Kind, trusting, fearless. Should she accept Stemlos’ offer? Oh, no. She didn’t want anyone.

While reading Plato’s seventh letter, Thais sensed that the wise man revered the ancient and sacred, as he called it, religion of the Orphics. Still she retained some of her old dislike toward Plato’s teachings. Perhaps it was because he preached suppressing the physical, natural essence in a person. She was put off by his ancient mindset and the feelings of a devout slave owner, since she had developed a broader outlook upon people and the world in general. Thais stayed at the temple for several days, thinking and reading, until she became overwhelmed and gave up trying to guess her own future. She felt some relief at that decision, and some of her former lively confidence regarding health and strength returned.

That was when she heard a servant’s call, announcing that “a beautiful girl in a pink chiton was asking Thais to come to the gates of the inner courtyard.”

“The beautiful girl” turned out to be Hesiona. She wore a bright garment, not typical for the stern Theban. Hesiona had changed significantly and grown lovelier since she had come to Thais’ household from the slave market.

Hesiona noticed her mistress’ amazement and blushed, then told her, “All citizens of Memphis are ordered to dress in their best garb.”

“What? Why? Alexander?”

“Yes.”

Thais clapped her hands, summoning the servant boy. “Tell the honorable priests that I thank them for their hospitality, but I must go. I shall be back soon.”

Thais had no idea how mistaken she was. She would once again cross the threshold of the Neit temple nine years later — as the queen of Egypt.

It had been a long time since Memphis streets were so filled with life. Thais and Hesiona slowly made their way home through the excited throngs. The normally restrained and polite Egyptians, the one aspect in which they resembled Spartans, could not be recognized. They did not give way to women and elders, but instead pushed each other around like Athenians at Agora.

Thais was not recognized and was even insulted several times because of her worn and dull colored dress. She did not respond, but chose to bow her head and cover her face with a scarf.

The people of Memphis greeted Alexander with delight and wanted to hold a general celebration in his honor. The great conqueror, however, vanished as suddenly as he arrived, as soon as he received the admission of surrender from the envoy and the priests, who announced the pharaoh’s resignation.

Thais did not wish to see Alexander, and fate accommodated her. Late in the evening, two days after Thais returned from the temple, she received a visit from Nearchus. The Athenian recognized the seafarer immediately, even though he had changed noticeably and acquired sharp and commanding tones in his speech. His beard stuck out arrogantly, against the fashion of the rest of Alexander’s captains. The Cretan did not seem to be surprised to see his old friend. When he stepped toward Thais, she ran out to greet him. He took her hand firmly and spoke a single word, “Egesikhora?”

The hetaera’s lips trembled, and her eyes filled with tears. She hung her head, holding her breath. They stood before each other silently. Nearchus’ hands squeezed the soft gold bracelets around her wrists. Finally Thais caught herself and called Hesiona.