Paphnutius meets with his disciples, who inquire the reason for his sadness. As a preface to his answer, Paphnutius discourses philosophically on music to explain harmony and disharmony. Although the students fail to understand all of Paphnutius's discourse, they understand the basic principle that harmony must be created out of contrary elements. Paphnutius is sad because of Thais, a courtesan in the nearby city, who is out of harmony with God's grand design for creation. He proposes to his students that he will visit Thais disguised as a traveler in order to call her to repentance. He urges his disciples to pray for him lest he fall into temptation.
Once in the city, Paphnutius finds the house of Thais and meets alone with her. He is shocked to discover that she understands God's judgment of men's actions and concludes that her sin is the greater because it is committed willfully and knowingly. Thais is overcome with grief and the conviction that her sin is too great to allow forgiveness. Paphnutius convinces her, however, that no sin is too great for God's grace.
Thais repents and decides to leave the city with Paphnutius. Before leaving, however, she destroys all her wordly wealth in a huge bonfire, much to the dismay of her courtiers. She accompanies Paphnutius to an abbey and submits, albeit reluctantly at first, to the penance of being boarded into a small, one-windowed cell where she is to meditate on her sins until she is fit for forgiveness. Leaving her under the care of the abbess, Paphnutius returns to his disciples.
Three years later, Paphnutius visits a fellow hermit called Antony and seeks his advice on the continuation of Thais's penance. After spending a night in prayer, Paphnutius learns that Paul, one of Antony's disciples has had a vision of a luxurious couch in heaven, attended by four virgins. Paul, of course assumed that his master Antony was the one worthy of such eternal reward, but a voice informs him that this place is reserved for Thais.
Overjoyed that God has accepted Thais's repentance, Paphnutius goes to the abbey to lead her out of her cell of penance. Despite her feelings of unworthiness, she accepts Paphnutius's assurance of her forgiveness. He informs her that she will die within two weeks and remains with her while she dies and her soul ascends into heaven. Paphnutius praises God who creates and restores harmony.
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The Dramas of Hrotswitha of Gandersheim
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