from Act II, Scene 2 of the French opera
Thaïs by Jules Massenet
Libretto: Louis Gallet
Voice Part: soprano Fach: lyric soprano
Setting: In front of Thaïs's house, Alexandria, Egypt, late 14th century
Synopsis: Thaïs has consented to go with Athanaël the monk and give up her sinful ways. She wants to keep a small statute of Eros, though. She tells Athanaël that love is precious and that it should be revered like the small statue given to her by Nicias when he still loved her.