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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Philothea + A Grecian Romance + +Author: Lydia Maria Child + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9982] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on November 5, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILOTHEA *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +PHILOTHEA: + +A Grecian Romance. + +BY L. MARIA CHILD. + +AUTHOR OF LETTERS FROM NEW YORK, FLOWERS FOR CHILDREN, ETC + + + + + The intelligible forms of ancient poets, + The fair humanities of old religion, + The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty, + That had their haunts in dale or piny mountain. + Or forest by slow stream, or pabbly spring, + Or chasms and watery depths, all these have vanished-- + They live no longer in the faith of Reason! + But still, the heart doth need a language--still + Doth the old instinct bring back the old names. + COLERIDGE. + + A Spirit hung, + Beautiful region! o'er thy towns and farms, + Statues, and temples, and memorial tombs, + And _emanations_ were perceived. + WORDSWORTH. + + +A NEW AND CORRECTED EDITION. + + + + +To + +MY BELOVED BROTHER, + +Dr. Francis, + +OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY, + +To whose Early Influence I owe my Love of Literature + +THIS VOLUME + +IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. + + + + +PREFACE + + +This volume is purely romance; and most readers will consider it romance +of the wildest kind. A few kindred spirits, prone to people space "with +life and mystical predominance," will perceive a light _within_ the +Grecian Temple. + +For such I have written it. To minds of different mould, who may think +an apology necessary for what they will deem so utterly useless, I have +nothing better to offer than the simple fact that I found delight in +doing it. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + Here let us seek Athenæ's towers, + The cradle of old Cecrops' race, + The world's chief ornament and grace; + Here mystic fanes and rites divine, + And lamps in sacred splendour shine; + Here the gods dwell in marble domes, + Feasted with costly hecatombs, + That round their votive statues blaze, + Whilst crowded temples ring with praise; + And pompous sacrifices here + Make holidays throughout the year. + ARISTOPHANES. + + +The moon was moving through the heavens in silent glory; and Athens, +with all her beautiful variety of villas, altars, statues, and temples, +rejoiced in the hallowed light. + +The white columns of the lofty Parthenon stood in distinct relief +against the clear blue sky; the crest and spear of Pallas Promachos +glittered in the refulgent atmosphere, a beacon to the distant mariner; +the line of brazen tripods, leading from the Theatre of Dionysus, glowed +like urns of fire; and the waters of the Illyssus glanced right +joyfully, as they moved onward to the ocean. The earth was like a +slumbering babe, smiling in its sleep, because it dreams of Heaven. + +In the most ancient and quiet part of the city, not far from the gate +Diocharis, was the modest mansion of Anaxagoras; and at this tranquil +hour, the grand-daughter of the philosopher, with her beloved companion +Eudora, stood on the roof, enjoying the radiant landscape, and the balmy +air. + +Philothea's tall figure was a lovely union of majesty and grace. The +golden hair, which she inherited from a Laconian mother, was tastefully +arranged on the top of her head, in a braided crown, over the sides of +which the bright curls fell, like tendrils of grapes from the edge of a +basket. The mild brilliancy of her large dark eyes formed a beautiful +contrast to a complexion fair even to transparency. Her expression had +the innocence of infancy; but it was tinged with something elevated and +holy, which made it seem like infancy in Heaven. + +Eudora had more sparkling eyes, lips more richly coloured, and a form +more slender and flexile. Her complexion might have seemed dark, had it +not been relieved by a profusion of glossy black hair, a portion of +which was fastened with a silver arrow, while the remainder shaded her +forehead, and fell over her shoulders. + +As they stood side by side, with their arms twined around each other, +they were as lovely a sight as the moon ever shone upon. Totally unlike +each other, but both excellent in beauty. One might have been a model +for the seraphs of Christian faith, the other an Olympian deity. + +For a few moments, Philothea stood in earnest silence, gazing upon the +bright planet of evening--then, in a tone of deep enthusiasm, she +exclaimed: + +"It is a night to feel the presence of the gods! Virgin sister of +Phoebus, how calm thou art in thy glorious beauty! Thou art filling the +world with music--silent to the ear, but audible to the heart! Phidias +has embodied the unbreathing harmony in stone, and we worship the fair +proportions, as an emanation from the gods. The birds feel it--and +wonder at the tune that makes no noise. The whole earth is lulled by its +influence. All is motionless; save the Naiades of the stream, moving in +wreathed dance to the voiceless melody. See how their shining hair +sparkles on the surface of the waters! Surely there is music in this +light! Eudora, what is it within us, that listens where there is no +sound? Is it thus we shall hear in Elysium?" + +In a subdued and troubled voice, her companion answered, "Oh, Philothea, +when you talk thus, my spirit is in fear--and now, too, all is so still +and bright, that it seems as if the gods themselves were listening to +our speech." + +"The same mysterious influence impresses me with awe," replied the +contemplative maiden: "In such an hour as this, Plato must have received +the sublime thought, 'God is truth--and light is his shadow.'" + +Eudora drew more closely to her friend, and said, timidly: "Oh, +Philothea, do not talk of the gods. Such discourse has a strange and +fearful power, when the radiant daughter of Zeus is looking down upon us +in all her heavenly majesty. Even the midnight procession of the +Panathenæa affected me less deeply." + +After a few moments of serious silence, she continued: "I saw it last +night, for the first time since my childhood; for you know I was very +ill when the festival was last celebrated. It was truly a beautiful and +majestic scene! The virgins all clothed in white; the heifers decorated +with garlands; the venerable old men bearing branches of olive; the +glittering chariots; the noble white horses, obeying the curb with such +proud impatience; the consecrated image of Pallas carried aloft on its +bed of flowers; the sacred ship blazing with gems and gold; all moving +in the light of a thousand torches! Then the music, so loud and +harmonious! It seemed as if all Athens joined in the mighty sound. I +distinguished you in the procession; and I almost envied you the +privilege of embroidering the sacred peplus, and being six long months +in the service of Pallas Athenæ. I have had so much to say since you +returned, and Phidias has so many guests, that I have found little time +to ask concerning the magnificent sights you saw within the Acropolis." + +"The night would wear away, ere I could describe all I witnessed within +the walls of the Parthenon alone," rejoined her companion: "There is the +silver-footed throne, on which Xerxes sat, while he watched the battle +of Salamis; the scimitar of Mardonius, captured at Platææ; a beautiful +ivory Persephone, on a pedestal of pure gold; and a Methymnean lyre, +said to have belonged to Terpander himself, who you know was the first +that used seven strings. Victorious wreaths, coins, rings, and goblets +of shining gold, are there without number; and Persian couches, and +Egyptian sphynxes, and--", + +"What do you find so interesting beyond the walls?" asked Eudora, +smiling at the earnestness with which her friend gazed in the distance:" +Do the slaves, bringing water from the Fountain of Callirhöe, look so +very beautiful in the moonlight?" + +"I marvel that you can speak so lightly," replied Philothea: "We have as +yet heard no tidings concerning the decision in the Court of Cynosarges, +on which the fate of Philæmon depends; and you know how severely his +high spirit will suffer, if an unfavourable sentence is awarded. Neither +of us have alluded to this painful topic. But why have we thus lingered +on the house-top, if it were not to watch for the group which, if I +mistake not, are now approaching, on their return from Cynosarges?" + +"Then it is for Philæmon's sake, that you have so long been looking +wistfully toward the Illyssus?" said Eudora, playfully. + +"I will not deny that Paralus has had the largest share of my thoughts," +replied the simple-hearted maiden; "but for Philæmon, as your betrothed +lover, and the favourite pupil of my grandfather, I feel an interest +strong enough to keep me on the watch during a less delightful evening +than this. I think it must be Paralus who walks in the centre of the +group; we have been separated many months; and courtesy to the numerous +strangers under his father's roof has prevented our having much +discourse to-day. For his sake, I am glad once more to be in my own +happy home. He is none the less dear to me because I know that he can +never be my husband." + +"And why should he not?" exclaimed Eudora: "The blood of princes flowed +in the veins of your ancestors. If Anaxagoras is poor, it is because he +has preferred wisdom to gold." + +With a faint sigh, Philothea answered, "Had the good old man preferred +gold to wisdom, I should have loved him less; nor would his instructions +have made me such a wife as Paralus deserves; yet Pericles would have +better liked the union. He has obtained from his son a solemn promise +never to speak to me of marriage. The precaution was unnecessary; for +since this new law has passed, I would not marry Paralus, even with his +father's consent. I would never be the means of bringing degradation and +losses upon him." + +"If you still love Paralus, I wonder you can be so quiet and cheerful," +said Eudora. + +"I wished him to make the required promise, because obedience to parents +is our first duty," replied Philothea; "and had I thought otherwise, the +laws compel it. But the liberty of loving Paralus, no power can take +from me; and in that I find sufficient happiness. I am bound to him by +ties stronger than usually bind the hearts of women. My kind grandfather +has given me an education seldom bestowed on daughters; and from our +childhood, Paralus and I have shared the same books, the same music, and +the same thoughts, until our souls seem to be one. When I am very happy, +I always see a peculiar brightness on his countenance; and when I am +powerfully impressed by any of the fair sights of this beautiful world, +or by those radiant deities who live among the stars, often, before I +can speak my thoughts, he utters my very words. I sometimes think the +gods have united human beings by some mysterious principle, like the +according notes of music. Or is it as Plato has supposed, that souls +originally one have been divided, and each seeks the half it has lost? +Eudora, if you consider how generally maidens are bestowed in marriage +without consulting their affections, you must confess that you have +reason to feel deeply grateful for your own lot." + +"Yet this new law against those of foreign parentage, renders marriage +with me as dishonourable as with you," rejoined the maiden: "Nay, it is +much more so; for I am a slave, though, by courtesy, they do not call me +one." + +"But Philæmon has no parents to forbid his choice," said Philothea; +"and if the court decide against him, he will incur no fine by a +marriage with you; for he himself will then be a sojourner in Athens. +The loss of his paternal estates will indeed leave him poor; but he has +friends to assist his own energies, and in all probability, your union +will not be long delayed. Ah, now I am certain that Anaxagoras +approaches, with Paralus and Philæmon. They perceive us; but Paralus +does not wave his hand, as he promised to do, if they brought good +tidings." + +Without appearing to share her anxiety, Eudora carelessly inquired, "Did +you witness the Festival of Torches, while you were within the +Acropolis? The swiftness of the runners, moving in the light of their +own torches, making statues and temples ruddy with the glow as they +passed, was truly a beautiful sight. I suppose you heard that Alcibiades +gained the prize? With what graceful celerity he darted through the +course! I was at Aspasia's house that evening. It is so near the goal, +that we could plainly see his countenance flushed with excitement and +exercise, as he stood waving his unextinguished torch in triumph." + +"I am sorry Phidias considers improvement in music of sufficient +consequence to encourage your visits to that dangerous woman," answered +Philothea: "It was an unpropitious day for Athens when she came here to +invest vice with all the allurements of beauty and eloquence." + +"I think women should judge kindly of Aspasia's faults, and remember +that they are greatly exaggerated by her enemies," rejoined Eudora; "for +she proves that they are fit for something better than mere domestic +slaves. Her house is the only one in all Greece where women are allowed +to be present at entertainments. What is the use of a beautiful face, if +one must be shut up in her own apartment for ever? And what avails skill +in music, if there is no chance to display it? I confess that I like the +customs Aspasia is trying to introduce." + +"And I should like them, if I believed they would make the Grecian women +something _better_ than mere domestic slaves," said Philothea; "but such +as Aspasia will never raise women out of the bondage in which they are +placed by the impurity and selfishness of man. Your own confessions, +Eudora, do not speak well for her instructions. Why should a +true-hearted woman wish to display her beautiful face, or her skill in +music, to any but those on whom her affections are bestowed?" + +"It is natural to wish for admiration," replied the handsome maiden: +"The goddesses themselves contended for it. You, at least, ought not to +judge Aspasia harshly; for she has the idea that you are some deity in +disguise; and she has the most extravagant desire to see you." + +"Flattery to ourselves does not change the nature of what is wrong," +answered Philothea. "Pericles has more than once mentioned Aspasia's +wish that I should visit her; but nothing short of my grandfather's +express command will ever induce me to do it. Our friends are now +entering the gate. Let us go to welcome them." + +Eudora hastily excused herself under the plea of duties at home; and +Philothea, supposing it might be painful to meet her unfortunate lover +in the presence of others, forebore to urge it. + +A paternal blessing beamed from the countenance of Anaxagoras, the +moment Philothea appeared. Paralus greeted her as a brother welcomes a +cherished sister; but in the earnest kindness of his glance was +expressed something more deep and heart-stirring than his words implied. + +Philæmon, though more thoughtful than usual, received his own and +Eudora's friend, with cheerful cordiality. His countenance had the frank +and smiling expression of one who truly wishes well to all men, and +therefore sees everything reflected in forms of joy. His figure was +athletic, while his step and bearing indicated the promptitude and +decision of a man who acts spontaneously from his own convictions. + +Paralus, far from being effeminate, was distinguished for his dexterity +and skill in all the manly sports of the gymnasium; but the purity of +his complexion, and the peculiarly spiritual expression of his face, +would have been deemed beautiful, even in a woman. The first he probably +derived from his mode of life; for, being a strict Pythagorean, he never +partook of animal food. The last was the transparent medium of +innocence, through which thoughts and affections continually showed +their changing forms of life. + +In answer to her eager questions, Philothea soon learned that her fears +had prophesied aright concerning the decision of the court. Philæmon +had been unsuccessful; but the buoyant energy of his character did not +yield even to temporary despondency. He spoke of his enemies without +bitterness, and of his own prospects with confidence and hope. + +Philothea would have immediately gone to convey the tidings to her +friend, had not Philæmon early taken his leave, and passed through the +garden into the house of Phidias. + +Paralus remained until a late hour, alternately talking with the +venerable philosopher, and playing upon his flute, while Philothea sung +the songs they had learned together. + +In the course of conversation, Anaxagoras informed his child that +Pericles particularly urged her attendance at Aspasia's next symposium. +"I obey my grandfather, without a question," she replied; "but I would +much rather avoid this visit, if it were possible." + +"Such is likewise my wish," rejoined the philosopher; "but Pericles has +plainly implied that he should be offended by refusal; it is therefore +necessary to comply with his request." + +The maiden looked doubtingly at her lover, as if she deemed his +sanction necessary; and the inquiring glance was answered by an +affectionate smile. "I need not repeat my thoughts and feelings with +regard to Aspasia," said Paralus, "for you know them well; but for many +reasons it is not desirable that an estrangement should take place +between my father and Anaxagoras. Since, therefore, it has pleased +Pericles to insist upon it, I think the visit had better be made. You +need not fear any very alarming innovation upon the purity of ancient +manners. Even Aspasia will reverence you," + +Philothea meekly yielded to the opinion of her friends; and it was +decided that, on the evening after the morrow, she should accompany her +grandfather to Aspasia's dwelling. + +Before proceeding farther, it is necessary to relate the situation of +the several characters introduced in this chapter. + +Anaxagoras had been the tutor of Pericles, and still retained +considerable influence over him; but there were times when the +straightforward sincerity, and uncompromising integrity of the old man +were somewhat offensive and troublesome to his ambitious pupil. For the +great Athenian statesman, like modern politicians, deemed honesty +excellent in theory, and policy safe in practice. Thus admitting the +absurd proposition that principles entirely false and corrupt in the +abstract are more salutary, in their practical manifestation, than +principles essentially good and true. + +While Pericles was determined to profit by diseases of the state, the +philosopher was anxious to cure them; therefore, independently of +personal affection and gratitude, he was willing to make slight +concessions, in order to retain some influence over his illustrious +pupil. + +The celebrated Aspasia was an elegant and voluptuous Ionian, who +succeeded admirably in pleasing the good taste of the Athenians, while +she ministered to their vanity and their vices. The wise and good +lamented the universal depravity of manners, sanctioned by her +influence; but a people so gay, so ardent, so intensely enamoured of the +beautiful, readily acknowledged the sway of an eloquent and fascinating +woman, who carefully preserved the appearance of decorum. Like the +Gabrielles and Pompadours of modern times, Aspasia obtained present +admiration and future fame, while hundreds of better women were +neglected and forgotten. The crowds of wealthy and distinguished men who +gathered around her, were profuse in their flattery, and munificent in +their gifts; and Pericles so far yielded to her influence, that he +divorced his wife and married her. + +Philæmon was at that time on terms of intimacy with the illustrious +orator; and he earnestly remonstrated against this union, as alike +disgraceful to Pericles and injurious to public morals. By this advice +he incurred the inveterate dislike of Aspasia; who never rested from her +efforts until she had persuaded her husband to procure the revival of an +ancient law, by which all citizens who married foreigners, were +subjected to a heavy fine; and all persons, whose parents were not both +Athenians, were declared incapable of voting in the public assemblies, +or of inheriting the estates of their fathers. Pericles the more +readily consented to this, because such a law at once deprived many +political enemies of power. Philæmon was the son of Chærilaüs, a +wealthy Athenian; but his mother had been born in Corinth, though +brought to Athens during childhood. It was supposed that this latter +circumstance, added to the patriotism of his family and his own moral +excellence, would prevent the application of the law in his individual +case. But Alcibiades, for reasons unknown to the public, united his +influence with that of Aspasia; and their partizans were active and +powerful. When the case was tried in the court of illegitimacy at +Cynosarges, Philæmon was declared a sojourner in Athens, incapable of +holding any office, and dispossessed of his paternal inheritance. + +Eudora was a mere infant when Phidias bought her of a poor goatherd in +Phelle. The child was sitting upon a rock, caressing a kid, when the +sculptor first saw her, and the gracefulness of her attitude attracted +his attention, while her innocent beauty touched his heart. She and her +nurse had been stolen from the Ionian coast, by Greek pirates. The nurse +was sold into slavery, and the babe delivered by one of the pirates to +the care of his mother. The little creature, in her lisping way, called +herself baby Minta; and this appellation she retained, until Phidias +gave her the name of Eudora. + +Philothea, the orphan daughter of Alcimenes, son of Anaxagoras, was a +year or two older than Eudora. She was brought to Athens, at about the +same period; and as they resided very near each other, the habitual +intercourse of childhood naturally ripened into mature friendship. No +interruption of this constant intimacy occurred, until Philothea was +appointed one of the Canephoræ, whose duty it was to embroider the +sacred peplus, and to carry baskets in the grand procession of the +Panathenæa. Six months of complete seclusion within the walls of the +Acropolis, were required of the Canephoræ. During this protracted +absence, Aspasia persuaded Phidias to bring Eudora frequently to her +house; and her influence insensibly produced a great change in that +young person, whose character was even more flexile than her form. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + "With grace divine her soul is blest, + And heavenly Pallas breathes within her breast; + In wonderous arts than woman more renowned, + And more than woman with deep wisdom crowned. + HOMER. + + +It was the last market hour of Athens, when Anaxagoras, Philothea, and +Eudora, accompanied by Geta, the favourite slave of Phidias, stepped +forth into the street, on their way to Aspasia's residence. + +Loud shouts of laughter came from the agoras, and the whole air was +filled with the hum of a busy multitude. Groups of citizens lingered +about the porticos; Egyptians, Medians, Sicilians, and strangers from +all the neighbouring States of Greece, thronged the broad avenue of the +Piræus; women, carrying upon their heads olive jars, baskets of grapes, +and vases of water, glided among the crowd, with that majestic motion so +peculiar to the peasantry in countries where this custom prevails. + +Philothea drew the folds of her veil more closely, and clung timidly to +her venerable protector. But neither this, nor increasing twilight, +could screen the graceful maidens from observation. Athenians looked +back as they passed, and foreigners paused to inquire their name and +parentage. + +In a few moments they were under the walls of the Acropolis, walking in +the shadow of the olive groves, among god-like statues, to which the +gathering obscurity of evening gave an impressive distinctness--as if +the light departing from the world, stood petrified in marble. + +Thence they entered the inner Ceramicus, where Aspasia resided. The +building, like all the private houses of Athens, had a plain exterior, +strongly contrasted by the magnificence of surrounding temples, and +porticos. At the gate, an image of Hermes looked toward the harbour, +while Phoebus, leaning on his lyre, appeared to gaze earnestly at the +dwelling. + +A slave, stationed near the door, lighted the way to the apartment where +Aspasia was reclining, with a Doric harp by her side, on which she had +just been playing. The first emotion she excited was surprise at the +radiant and lucid expression, which mantled her whole face, and made the +very blood seem eloquent. In her large dark eye the proud consciousness +of intellect was softened only by melting voluptuousness; but something +of sadness about her beautiful mouth gave indication that the heavenly +part of her nature still struggled with earth-born passions. + +A garland of golden leaves, with large drops of pearl, was interwoven +among the glossy braids of her hair, and rested on her forehead. + +She wore a robe of rich Milesian purple, the folds of which were +confined on one shoulder within a broad ring of gold, curiously wrought; +on the other they were fastened by a beautiful cameo, representing the +head of Pericles. The crimson couch gave a soft flush to the cheek and +snowy arm that rested on it; and, for a moment, even Philothea yielded +to the enchantment of her beauty. + +Full of smiles, Aspasia rose and greeted Eudora, with the ease and +gracefulness of one long accustomed to homage; but when the venerable +philosopher introduced his child, she felt the simple purity emanating +from their characters, and something of embarrassment mingled with her +respectful salutation. + +Her own face was uncovered, contrary to the custom of Grecian women; and +after a few of those casual remarks which everywhere serve to fill up +the pauses in conversation, she playfully seized Eudora's veil, and +threw it back over her shoulders. She would have done the same to +Philothea; but the maiden placed her hand on the half transparent +covering, and said, "With your leave, lady, I remain veiled." + +"But I cannot give my leave," rejoined Aspasia, playfully, still keeping +her hold upon the veil: "I must see this tyrannical custom done away in +the free commonwealth of Athens. All the matrons who visit my house +agree with me in this point; all are willing to renounce the absurd +fashion." + +"But in a maiden it would be less seemly," answered Philothea. + +Thus resisted, Aspasia appealed to Anaxagoras to exert his authority; +adding, in an audible whisper, "Phidias has told me that she is as +lovely as the immortals." + +With a quiet smile, the aged philosopher replied, "My child must be +guided by her own heart. The gods have there placed an oracle, which +never misleads or perplexes those who listen to it." + +Aspasia continued, "From what I had heard of you, Philothea, I expected +to find you above the narrow prejudices of Grecian women. In _you_ I was +sure of a mind strong enough to break the fetters of habit. Tell me, my +bashful maiden, why is beauty given us, unless it be like sunlight to +bless and gladden the world?" + +"Lady," replied the gentle recluse, "beauty is given to remind us that +the soul should be kept as fair and perfect in its proportions, as the +temple in which it dwells." + +"You are above ordinary women," said Aspasia; "for you hear me allude to +your beauty without affecting to contradict me, and apparently without +pleasure." + +The sound of voices in earnest conversation announced the approach of +Pericles with visiters. "Come to my room for a few moments," said +Aspasia, addressing the maidens: "I have just received a magnificent +present, which I am sure Eudora will admire. As she spoke, she led the +way to an upper apartment. When they opened the door, a soft light shone +upon them from a lamp, which a marble Psyche shaded with her hand, as +she bent over the couch of Eros. + +"Now that we are quite sure of being uninterrupted, you cannot refuse to +raise your veil," said Aspasia. + +Simply and naturally, the maiden did as she was desired; without any +emotion of displeasure or exultation at the eager curiosity of her +hostess. + +For an instant, Aspasia stood rebuked and silent, in the presence of +that serene and holy beauty. + +With deep feeling she exclaimed, "Maiden, Phidias spoke truly. Even +thus do we imagine the immortals!" + +A faint blush gleamed on Philothea's face; for her meek spirit was +pained by a comparison with things divine; but it passed rapidly; and +her whole soul became absorbed in the lovely statues before her. + +Eudora's speaking glance seemed to say, "I knew her beauty would +surprise you!" and then, with the eager gayety of a little child, she +began to examine the gorgeous decorations of the room. + +The couch rested on two sphinxes of gold and ivory, over which the +purple drapery fell in rich and massive folds. In one corner, a pedestal +of Egyptian marble supported an alabaster vase, on the edge of which +were two doves, exquisitely carved, one just raising his head, the other +stooping to drink. On a similar stand, at the other side, stood a +peacock, glittering with many coloured gems. The head lowered upon the +breast formed the handle; while here and there, among the brilliant tail +feathers, appeared a languid flame slowly burning away the perfumed oil, +with which the bird was filled. + +Eudora clapped her hands, with an exclamation of delight. "That is the +present of which I spoke," said Aspasia, smiling: "It was sent by +Artaphernes, the Persian, who has lately come to Athens to buy pictures +and statues for the great king." + +As Philothea turned towards her companion, she met Aspasia's earnest +gaze. "Had you forgotten where you were?" she asked. + +"No, lady, I could not forget that," replied the maiden. As she spoke, +she hastily withdrew her eyes from an immodest picture, on which they +had accidentally rested; and, blushing deeply, she added, "But there is +something so life-like in that slumbering marble, that for a moment I +almost feared Eudora would waken it." + +"You will not look upon the picture," rejoined Aspasia; "yet it relates +a story of one of the gods you reverence so highly. I am told you are a +devout believer in these fables?" + +"When fiction is the robe of truth, I worship it for what it covers," +replied Philothea; "but I love not the degrading fables which poets have +made concerning divine beings. Such were not the gods of Solon; for such +the wise and good can never be, in this world or another." + +"Then you believe in a future existence?" said Aspasia, with an +incredulous smile. + +With quiet earnestness, Philothea answered:--"Lady, the simple fact that +the human soul has ever _thought_ of another world, is sufficient proof +that there is one; for how can an idea be formed by mortals, unless it +has first existed in the divine mind?" + +"A reader of Plato, I perceive!" exclaimed Aspasia: "They told me I +should find you pure and child-like; with a soul from which poetry +sparkled, like moonlight on the waters. I did not know that wisdom and +philosophy lay concealed in its depths." + +"Is there any other wisdom, than true simplicity and innocence?" asked +the maiden. + +With a look of delighted interest, Aspasia took her arm familiarly; +saying, "You and I must be friends. I shall not grow weary of you, as I +do of other women. Not of you, dearest," she added in an under tone, +tapping Eudora's cheek. "You must come here constantly, Philothea. +Though I am aware," continued she, smiling, "that it is bad policy for +me to seek a guest who will be sure to eclipse me." + +"Pardon me, lady," said Philothea, gently disengaging herself: +"Friendship cannot be without sympathy." + +A sudden flush of anger suffused Aspasia's countenance; and Eudora +looked imploringly at her friend, as she said, "You love _me_, +Philothea; and I am sure we are very different." + +"I crave pardon," interrupted Aspasia, with haughty impatience. "I +should have remembered that the conversation prized by Pericles and +Plato, might appear contemptible, to this youthful Pallas, who so +proudly seeks to conceal her precious wisdom from ears profane." + +"Lady, you mistake me," answered Philothea, mildly: "Your intellect, +your knowledge, are as far above mine, as the radiant stars are above +the flowers of the field. Besides, I never felt contempt for anything to +which the gods had given life. It is impossible for me to despise you; +but I pity you." + +"Pity!" exclaimed Aspasia, in a piercing tone, which made both the +maidens start. "Am I not the wife of Pericles, and the friend of Plato? +Has not Phidias modelled his Aphrodite from my form? Is there in all +Greece a poet who has not sung my praises? Is there an artist who has +not paid me tribute? Phoenicia sends me her most splendid manufactures +and her choicest slaves; Egypt brings her finest linen and her metals of +curious workmanship; while Persia unrolls her silks, and pours out her +gems at my feet. To the remotest period of time, the world,--aye, the +_world_,--maiden, will hear of Aspasia, the beautiful and the gifted!" + +For a moment, Philothea looked on her, silently and meekly, as she stood +with folded arms, flushed brow, and proudly arched neck. Then, in a +soft, sad voice, she answered: "Aye, lady--but will your spirit _hear_ +the echo of your fame, as it rolls back from the now silent shores of +distant ages?" + +"You utter nonsense!" said Aspasia, abruptly: "There is no immortality +but fame. In history, the star of my existence will never set--but shine +brilliantly and forever in the midst of its most glorious +constellation!" + +After a brief pause, Philothea resumed: "But when men talk of Aspasia +the beautiful and the gifted, will they add, Aspasia the good--the +happy--the innocent?" + +The last word was spoken in a low, emphatic tone. A slight quivering +about Aspasia's lips betrayed emotion crowded back upon the heart; while +Eudora bowed her head, in silent confusion, at the bold admonition of +her friend. + +With impressive kindness, the maiden continued: "Daughter of Axiochus, +do you never suspect that the homage you receive is half made up of +selfishness and impurity? This boasted power of intellect--this giddy +triumph of beauty--what do they do for you? Do they make you happy in +the communion of your own heart? Do they bring you nearer to the gods? +Do they make the memory of your childhood a gladness, or a sorrow?" + +Aspasia sank on the couch, and bowed her head upon her hands. For a few +moments, the tears might be seen stealing through her fingers; while +Eudora, with the ready sympathy of a warm heart, sobbed aloud. + +Aspasia soon recovered her composure. "Philothea," she said, "you have +spoken to me as no one ever dared to speak; but my own heart has +sometimes uttered the truth less mildly. Yesterday I learned the same +lesson from a harsher voice. A Corinthian sailor pointed at this house, +and said, 'There dwells Aspasia, the courtezan, who makes her wealth by +the corruption of Athens!' My very blood boiled in my veins, that such +an one as he could give me pain. It is true the illustrious Pericles has +made me his wife; but there are things which even his power, and my own +allurements, fail to procure. Ambitious women do indeed come here to +learn how to be distinguished; and the vain come to study the fashion of +my garments, and the newest braid of my hair. But the purest and best +matrons of Greece refuse to be my guests. You, Philothea, came +reluctantly--and because Pericles would have it so. Yes," she added, the +tears again starting to her eyes--"I know the price at which I purchase +celebrity. Poets will sing of me at feasts, and orators describe me at +the games; but what will that be to me, when I have gone into the silent +tomb? Like the lifeless guest at Egyptian tables, Aspasia will be all +unconscious of the garlands she wears. + +"Philothea, you think me vain, and heartless, and wicked; and so I am. +But there are moments when I am willing that this tongue, so praised for +its eloquence, should be dumb forever--that this beauty, which men +worship, should be hidden in the deepest recesses of barbarian +forests--so that I might again be as I was, when the sky was clothed in +perpetual glory, and the earth wore not so sad a smile as now. Oh, +Philothea! would to the gods, I had your purity and goodness! But you +despise me;--for you are innocent." + +Soothingly, and almost tearfully, the maiden replied: "No, lady; such +were not the feelings which made me say we could not be friends. It is +because we have chosen different paths; and paths that never approach +each other. What to you seem idle dreams, are to me sublime realities, +for which I would gladly exchange all that you prize in existence. You +live for immortality in this world; I live for immortality in another. +The public voice is your oracle; I listen to the whisperings of the gods +in the stillness of my own heart; and never yet, dear lady, have those +two oracles spoken the same language." + +Then falling on her knees, and looking up earnestly, she exclaimed, +"Beautiful and gifted one! Listen to the voice that tries to win you +back to innocence and truth! Give your heart up to it, as a little child +led by its mother's hand! Then shall the flowers again breathe poetry, +and the stars move in music." + +"It is too late," murmured Aspasia: "The flowers are scorched--the stars +are clouded. I cannot again be as I have been." + +"Lady, it is _never_ too late," replied Philothea: "You have unbounded +influence--use it nobly! No longer seek popularity by flattering the +vanity, or ministering to the passions of the Athenians. Let young men +hear the praise of virtue from the lips of beauty. Let them see religion +married to immortal genius. Tell them it is ignoble to barter the +heart's wealth for heaps of coin--that love weaves a simple wreath of +his own bright hopes, stronger than massive chains of gold. Urge +Pericles to prize the good of Athens more than the applause of its +populace--to value the permanence of her free institutions more than the +splendour of her edifices. Oh, lady, never, never, had any mortal such +power to do good!" + +Aspasia sat gazing intently on the beautiful speaker, whose tones grew +more and more earnest as she proceeded. + +"Philothea," she replied, "you have moved me strangely. There is about +you an influence that cannot be resisted. It is like what Pindar says of +music; if it does not give delight, it is sure to agitate and oppress +the heart. From the first moment you spoke, I have felt this mysterious +power. It is as if some superior being led me back, even against my +will, to the days of my childhood, when I gathered acorns from the +ancient oak that shadows the fountain of Byblis, or ran about on the +banks of my own beloved Meander, filling my robe with flowers." + +There was silence for a moment. Eudora smiled through her tears, as she +whispered, "Now, Philothea, sing that sweet song Anaxagoras taught you. +He too is of Ionia; and Aspasia will love to hear it." + +The maiden answered with a gentle smile, and began to warble the first +notes of a simple bird-like song. + +"Hush!" said Aspasia, putting her hand on Philothea's mouth, and +bursting into tears--"It was the first tune I ever learned; and I have +not heard it since my mother sung it to me." + +"Then let me sing it, lady," rejoined Philothea: "It is good for us to +keep near our childhood. In leaving it, we wander from the gods." + +A slight tap at the door made Aspasia start up suddenly; and stooping +over the alabaster vase of water, she hastened to remove all traces of +her tears. + +As Eudora opened the door, a Byzantian slave bowed low, and waited +permission to speak. + +"Your message?" said Aspasia, with queenly brevity. + +"If it please you, lady, my master bids me say he desires your +presence." + +"We come directly," she replied; and with another low bow, the Byzantian +closed the door. Before a mirror of polished steel, supported by ivory +Graces, Aspasia paused to adjust the folds of her robe, and replace a +curl that had strayed from its golden fillet. + +As she passed, she continued to look back at the reflection of her own +fair form, with a proud glance, which seemed to say, "Aspasia is herself +again!" + +Philothea took Eudora's arm, and folding her veil about her, with a deep +sigh followed to the room below. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + All is prepared--the table and the feast-- + With due appurtenance of clothes and cushions. + Chaplets and dainties of all kinds abound: + Here rich perfumes are seen--there cakes and cates + Of every fashion; cakes of honey, cakes + Of sesamum, and cakes of unground corn. + What more? A troop of dancing women fair, + And minstrels who may chaunt us sweet Harmodius. + ARISTOPHANES. + + +The room in which the guests were assembled, was furnished with less of +Asiatic splendour than the private apartment of Aspasia; but in its +magnificent simplicity there was a more perfect manifestation of ideal +beauty. It was divided in the middle by eight Ionic columns, alternately +of Phrygian and Pentelic marble. Between the central pillars stood a +superb statue from the hand of Phidias, representing Aphrodite guided by +Love, and crowned by Peitho, goddess of Persuasion. Around the walls +were Phoebus and Hermes in Parian marble, and the nine Muses in ivory. A +fountain of perfumed water, from the adjoining room, diffused coolness +and fragrance, as it passed through a number of concealed pipes, and +finally flowed into a magnificent vase, supported by a troop of Naiades. + +In a recess stood the famous lion of Myron, surrounded by infant Loves, +playing with his paws, climbing his back, and decorating his neck with +garlands. This beautiful group seemed actually to live and move in the +clear light and deep shadows derived from a silver lamp suspended above. + +The walls were enriched with some of the choicest paintings of +Apollodorus, Zeuxis, and Polygnotus. Near a fine likeness of Pericles, +by Aristolaus, was Aspasia, represented as Chloris scattering flowers +over the earth, and attended by winged Hours. + +It chanced that Pericles himself reclined beneath his portrait, and +though political anxiety had taken from his countenance something of the +cheerful freshness which characterized the picture, he still retained +the same elevated beauty--the same deep, quiet expression of +intellectual power. At a short distance, with his arm resting on the +couch, stood his nephew Alcibiades, deservedly called the handsomest man +in Athens. He was laughing with Hermippus, the comic writer, whose +shrewd, sarcastic and mischievous face was expressive of his calling. +Phidias slowly paced the room, talking of the current news with the +Persian Artaphernes. Anaxagoras reclined near the statue of Aphrodite, +listening and occasionally speaking to Plato, who leaned against one of +the marble pillars, in earnest conversation with a learned Ethiopian. + +The gorgeous apparel of the Asiatic and African guests, contrasted +strongly with the graceful simplicity of Grecian costume. A +saffron-coloured mantle and a richly embroidered Median vest glittered +on the person of the venerable Artaphernes. Tithonus, the Ethiopian, +wore a skirt of ample folds, which scarcely fell below the knee. It was +of the glorious Tyrian hue, resembling a crimson light shining through +transparent purple. The edge of the garment was curiously wrought with +golden palm leaves. It terminated at the waist in a large roll, twined +with massive chains of gold, and fastened by a clasp of the far-famed +Ethiopian topaz. The upper part of his person was uncovered and +unornamented, save by broad bracelets of gold, which formed a +magnificent contrast with the sable colour of his vigorous and +finely-proportioned limbs. + +As the ladies entered, the various groups came forward to meet them; and +all were welcomed by Aspasia with earnest cordiality and graceful +self-possession. While the brief salutations were passing, Hipparete, +the wife of Alcibiades came from an inner apartment, where she had been +waiting for her hostess. She was a fair, amiable young matron, evidently +conscious of her high rank. The short blue tunic, which she wore over a +lemon-coloured robe, was embroidered with golden grasshoppers; and on +her forehead sparkled a jewelled insect of the same species. It was the +emblem of unmixed Athenian blood; and Hipparete alone, of all the ladies +present, had a right to wear it. Her manners were an elaborate copy of +Aspasia; but deprived of the powerful charm of unconsciousness, which +flowed like a principle of life into every motion of that beautiful +enchantress. + +The momentary silence, so apt to follow introductions, was interrupted +by an Ethiopian boy, who, at a signal from Tithonus, emerged from behind +the columns, and kneeling, presented to Aspasia a beautiful box of +ivory, inlaid with gold, filled with the choicest perfumes. The lady +acknowledged the costly offering by a gracious smile, and a low bend of +the head toward the giver. + +The ivory was wrought with exquisite skill, representing the imaginary +forms of the constellations, studded with golden stars. The whole rested +on a golden image of Atlas, bending beneath the weight. The box was +passed from hand to hand, and excited universal admiration. + +"Were these figures carved by an artist of your own country?" asked +Phidias. + +With a smile, Tithonus replied, "You ask the question because you see a +Grecian spirit in those forms. They were indeed fashioned by an +Ethiopian; but one who had long resided in Athens." + +"There is truly a freedom and variety in these figures, which I have +rarely seen even in Greece," rejoined Phidias; "and I have never met +with those characteristics in Ethiopian or Egyptian workmanship." + +"They belong not to the genius of those countries," answered Tithonus: +"Philosophy and the arts are but a manifestation of the intelligible +ideas that move the public mind; and thus they become visible images of +the nations whence they emanate. The philosophy of the East is misty and +vast--with a gleam of truth here and there, resting like sunlight on the +edge of a dark and mighty cloud. Hence, our architecture and statuary is +massive and of immense proportions. Greece is free--therefore she has a +philosopher, who sees that every idea must have a form, and in every +form discovers its appropriate life. And because philosophy has +perceived that the principle of vitality and beauty flows from the +divine mind into each and every earthly thing, therefore Greece has a +sculptor, who can mould his thoughts into marble forms, from which the +free grandeur of the soul emanates like a perpetual presence." As he +spoke, he bowed low to Plato and Phidias. + +"The gigantic statues of Sicily have fair proportions," said Plato; "and +they have life; but it is life in deep repose. There is the vastness of +eternity, without the activity of time." + +"The most ancient statuary of all nations is an image of death; not of +sleeping energy," observed Aspasia. "The arms adhere rigidly to the +sides, the feet form one block; and even in the face, the divine ideal +seems struggling hard to enter the reluctant form. But thanks to +Pygmalion of Cyprus, we now have the visible impress of every passion +carved in stone. The spirit of beauty now flows freely into the +harmonious proportions, even as the oracle is filled by the inspiration +of the god. Now the foot bounds from the pedestal, the finger points to +the stars, and life breathes from every limb. But in good time the +Lybian pipe warns us that the feast is ready. We must not soar too far +above the earth, while she offers us the rich treasures of her +fruit-trees and vines." + +"Yet it is ever thus, when Plato is with us," exclaimed Pericles. "He +walks with his head among the stars--and, by a magic influence, we rise +to his elevation, until we perceive the shadows of majestic worlds, +known in their reality only to the gods. As the approach of Phoebus +fills the priestess with prophecy, so does this son of Phoebus impart +something of his own eloquence to all who come within its power." + +"You speak truly, O Pericles," replied Tithonus; "but it is a truth felt +only by those who are in some measure worthy to receive it. Aspasia +said wisely, that the spirit of beauty flows in, only where the +proportions are harmonious. The gods are ever with us, but few feel the +presence of the gods." + +Philothea, speaking in a low tone to Eudora, added, "And Plato rejoices +in their glorious presence, not only because he walks with his head +among the stars, but because he carries in his heart a blessing for +every little child." + +These words, though spoken almost in a whisper, reached the ear of the +philosopher himself; and he turned toward the lovely speaker with a +beaming glance, which distinctly told that his choicest blessings were +bestowed upon spirits pure and gentle as her own. + +Thus conversing, the guests passed between the marble columns, and +entered that part of the room where the banquet was prepared. Aspasia +filled a golden basket with Athenian olives, Phoenician dates, and +almonds of Naxos, and whispering a brief invocation, placed it on a +small altar, before an ivory image of Demeter, which stood in the midst +of the table. Seats covered with crimson cloth were arranged at the end +of the couches, for the accommodation of women; but the men reclined in +Asiatic fashion, while beautiful damsels sprinkled perfumes on their +heads, and offered water for their hands in vases of silver. + +In choosing one to preside over the festivities of the evening, the lot +fell upon Tithonus; but he gracefully declined the office, saying it +properly belonged to an Athenian. + +"Then I must insist that you appoint your successor," said Aspasia. + +"Your command partakes little of the democracy of Athenian +institutions," answered he, smiling; "but I obey it cheerfully; and +will, as most fitting, crown the wisest." He arose, as he spoke, and +reverently placed the chaplet on the head of Plato. + +"I will transfer it to the most beautiful," rejoined the philosopher; +and he attempted to place the garland on the brow of Alcibiades. But the +young man prevented him, and exclaimed, "Nay--according to your own +doctrines, O admirable Plato, wisdom should wear the crown; since beauty +is but its outward form." + +Thus urged, Plato accepted the honours of the banquet; and taking a +handful of garlands from the golden urn on which they were suspended, he +proceeded to crown the guests. He first placed upon Aspasia's head a +wreath of bright and variegated flowers, among which the rose and the +myrtle were most conspicuous. Upon Hipparete he bestowed a coronal of +violets, regarded by the proud Athenians as their own peculiar flower. +Philothea received a crown of pure white lilies. + +Aspasia, observing this, exclaimed, "Tell me, O Plato, how you knew that +wreath, above all the others, was woven for the grand-daughter of +Anaxagoras?" + +"When I hear a note of music, can I not at once strike its chord?" +answered the philosopher: "Even as surely is there an everlasting +harmony between the soul of man and the visible forms of creation. If +there were no innocent hearts, there would be no white lilies." + +A shadow passed over Aspasia's expressive countenance; for she was aware +that her own brilliant wreath contained not one purely white blossom. +But her features had been well-trained to conceal her sentiments; and +her usual vivacity instantly returned. + +The remainder of the garlands were bestowed so rapidly, that there +seemed scarcely time for deliberate choice; yet Pericles wore the oak +leaves sacred to Zeus; and the laurel and olive of Phoebus rested on the +brow of Phidias. + +A half mischievous smile played round Aspasia's lips, when she saw the +wreath of ivy and grape leaves placed on the head of Alcibiades. "Son of +Aristo," she exclaimed, "the Phoenician Magii have given you good skill +in divination. You have bestowed every garland appropriately." + +"It needed little magic," replied Plato, "to know that the oaken leaves +belonged to one whose eloquence is so often called Olympian; or that the +laurel was due to him who fashioned Pallas Parthenia; and Alcibiades +would no doubt contend boldly with any man who professed to worship the +god of vineyards with more zeal than himself." + +The gay Athenian answered this challenge by singing part of an +Anacreontic ode, often repeated during the festivities of the Dionysia: + + "To-day I'll haste to quaff my wine, + As if to-morrow ne'er should shine; + But if to-morrow comes, why then-- + I'll haste to quaff my wine again. + + For death may come with brow unpleasant-- + May come when least we wish him present, + And beckon to the sable shore, + And grimly bid us--drink no more!" + +This profane song was sung in a voice so clear and melodious, that +Tithonus exclaimed, "You err, O Plato, in saying the tuneful soul of +Marsyas has passed into the nightingale; for surely it remains with this +young Athenian. Son of Clinias, you must be well skilled in playing upon +the flute the divine airs of Mysian Olympus?" + +"Not I, so help me Dionysus!" lisped Alcibiades. "My music master will +tell you that I ever went to my pipes reluctantly. I make ten sacrifices +to equestrian Poseidon, where I offer one gift to the Parnassian +chorus." + +"Stranger, thou hast not yet learned the fashions of Athens," said +Anaxagoras, gravely. "Our young equestrians now busy themselves with +carved chariots, and Persian mantles of the newest mode. They vie with +each other in costly wines; train doves to shower luxuriant perfumes +from their wings; and upon the issue of a contest between fighting +quails, they stake sums large enough to endow a princess. To play upon +the silver-voiced flute is Theban-like and vulgar. They leave that to +their slaves." + +"And why not leave laughter to the slaves?" asked Hermippus; "since +anything more than a graceful smile distorts the beauty of the features? +I suppose bright eyes would weep in Athens, should the cheeks of +Alcibiades be seen puffed out with vulgar wind-instruments." + +"And can you expect the youth of Athens to be wiser than their gods?" +rejoined Aspasia. "Pallas threw away her favourite flute, because Hera +and Aphrodite laughed at her distorted countenance while she played upon +it. It was but a womanly trick in the virgin daughter of Zeus." + +Tithonus looked at the speaker with a slight expression of surprise; +which Hermippus perceiving, he thus addressed him, in a cool, ironical +tone: "O Ethiopian stranger, it is evident you know little of Athens; or +you would have perceived that a belief in the gods is more vulgar than +flute-playing. Such trash is deemed fit for the imbecility of the aged, +and the ignorance of the populace. With equestrians and philosophers, it +is out of date. You must seek for it among those who sell fish at the +gates; or with the sailors at Piræus and Phalerum." + +"I have visited the Temple of Poseidon, in the Piræus," observed +Aspasia; "and I saw there a multitude of offerings from those who had +escaped shipwreck." She paused slightly, and added, with a significant +smile, "But I perceived no paintings of those who had been wrecked, +notwithstanding their supplications to the god." + +As she spoke, she observed that Pericles withdrew a rose from the +garland wherewith his cup was crowned; and though the action was so +slight as to pass unobserved by others, she instantly understood the +caution he intended to convey by that emblem sacred to the god of +silence. + +At a signal from Plato, slaves filled the goblets with wine, and he rose +to propose the usual libation to the gods. Every Grecian guest joined in +the ceremony, singing in a recitative tone: + + Dionysus, this to thee, + God of warm festivity! + Giver of the fruitful vine, + To thee we pour the rosy wine! + +Music, from the adjoining room, struck in with the chorus, and continued +for some moments after it had ceased. + +For a short time, the conversation was confined to the courtesies of the +table, as the guests partook of the delicious viands before them. Plato +ate olives and bread only; and the water he drank was scarcely tinged +with Lesbian wine. Alcibiades rallied him upon this abstemiousness; and +Pericles reminded him that even his great pattern, Socrates, gave +Dionysus his dues, while he worshipped the heaven-born Pallas. + +The philosopher quietly replied, "I can worship the fiery God of Vintage +only when married with Nymphs of the Fountain." + +"But tell me, O Anaxagoras and Plato," exclaimed Tithonus, "if, as +Hermippus hath said, the Grecian philosophers discard the theology of +the poets? Do ye not believe in the Gods?" + +Plato would have smiled, had he not reverenced the simplicity that +expected a frank and honest answer to a question so dangerous. +Anaxagoras briefly replied, that the mind which did not believe in +divine beings, must be cold and dark indeed. + +"Even so," replied Artiphernes, devoutly; "blessed be Oromasdes, who +sends Mithras to warm and enlighten the world! But what surprises me +most is, that you Grecians import new divinities from other countries, +as freely as slaves, or papyrus, or marble. The sculptor of the gods +will scarcely be able to fashion half their images." + +"If the custom continues," rejoined Phidias, "it will indeed require a +life-time as long as that conferred upon the namesake of Tithonus." + +"Thanks to the munificence of artists, every deity has a representative +in my dwelling," observed Aspasia. + +"I have heard strangers express their surprise that the Athenians have +never erected a statue to the principle of _Modesty_" said Hermippus. + +"So much the more need that we enshrine her image in our own hearts," +rejoined Plato. + +The sarcastic comedian made no reply to this quiet rebuke. Looking +toward Artaphernes, he continued: "Tell me, O servant of the great king, +wherein the people of your country are more wise in worshipping the sun, +than we who represent the same divinity in marble!" + +"The principles of the Persian religion are simple, steady, and +uniform," replied Artaphernes; "but the Athenian are always changing. +You not only adopt foreign gods, but sometimes create new ones, and +admit them into your theology by solemn act of the great council. These +circumstances have led me to suppose that you worship them as mere +forms. The Persian Magii do indeed prostrate themselves before the +rising Sun; but they do it in the name of Oromasdes, the universal +Principle of Good, of whom that great luminary is the visible symbol. In +our solemn processions, the chariot sacred to Oromasdes precedes the +horse dedicated to Mithras; and there is deep meaning in the +arrangement. The Sun and Zodiac, the Balance and the Rule, are but +emblems of truths, mysterious and eternal. As the garlands we throw on +the sacred fire feed the flame, rather than extinguish it, so the +sublime symbols of our religion are intended to preserve, not to +conceal, the truths within them." + +"Though you disclaim all images of divinity," rejoined Aspasia, "yet we +hear of your Mithras pictured like a Persian King, trampling on a +prostrate ox." + +With a smile, Artaphernes replied, "I see, lady, that you would fain +gain admittance to the Mithraic cave; but its secrets, like those of +your own Eleusis, are concealed from all save the initiated." + +"They tell us," said Aspasia, "that those who are admitted to the +Eleusinian mysteries die in peace, and go directly to the Elysian +fields; while the uninitiated wander about in the infernal abyss." + +"Of course," said Anaxagoras, "Alcibiades will go directly to Elysium, +though Solon groped his way in darkness." + +The old philosopher uttered this with imperturbable gravity, as if +unconscious of satirical meaning; but some of the guests could scarcely +repress a smile, as they recollected the dissolute life of the young +Athenian. + +"If Alcibiades spoke his real sentiments," said Aspasia, "I venture to +say he would tell us that the mystic baskets of Demeter, covered with +long purple veils, contain nothing half so much worth seeing, as the +beautiful maidens who carry them." + +She looked at Pericles, and saw that he again cautioned her, by raising +the rose toward his face, as if inhaling its fragrance. + +There was a brief pause, which Anaxagoras interrupted, by saying, "The +wise can never reverence images merely as images. There is a mystical +meaning in the Athenian manner of supplicating the gods with garlands on +their heads, and bearing in their hands boughs of olive twined with +wool. Pallas, at whose birth we are told gold rained upon the earth, was +unquestionably a personification of wisdom. It is not to be supposed +that the philosophers of our country consider the sun itself as anything +more than a huge ball of fire; but the sight of that glorious orb leads +the contemplative soul to the belief in one Pure Intelligence, one +Universal Mind, which in manifesting itself produces order in the +material world, and preserves the unconfused distinction of infinite +varieties." + +"Such, no doubt, is the tendency of all reflecting minds," said Phidias; +"but in general, the mere forms are worshipped, apart from the sacred +truths they represent. The gods we have introduced from Egypt are +regarded by the priests of that learned land as emblems of certain +divine truths brought down from ancient times. They are like the Hermae +at our doors, which outwardly appear to rest on inexpressive blocks of +stone; but when opened, they are found to contain beautiful statues of +the gods within them. It is not so with the new fables which the Greeks +are continually mixing with their mythology. Pygmalion, as we all know, +first departed from the rigid outline of ancient sculpture, and +impressed life and motion upon marble. The poets, in praise of him, +have told us that his ardent wishes warmed a statue into a lovely and +breathing woman. The fable is fanciful and pleasing in itself; but will +it not hereafter be believed as reality? Might not the same history be +told of much that is believed? It is true," added he, smiling, "that I +might be excused for favouring a belief in images, since mortals are +ever willing to have their own works adored." + +"What! does Plato respond to the inquiries of Phidias?" asked +Artaphernes. + +The philosopher replied: "Within the holy mysteries of our religion is +preserved a pure and deep meaning, as the waters of Arethusa flow +uncontaminated beneath the earth and the sea. I do not presume to decide +whether all that is believed has the inward significancy. I have ever +deemed such speculations unwise. If the chaste daughter of Latona always +appears to my thoughts veiled in heavenly purity, it is comparatively +unimportant whether I can prove that Acteon was torn by his dogs, for +looking on the goddess with wanton eyes. Anaxagoras, said wisely that +material forms lead the contemplative mind to the worship of ideal good, +which is in its nature immortal and divine. Homer tells us that the +golden chain resting upon Olympus reaches even to the earth. Here we see +but a few of the last links, and those imperfectly. We are like men in a +subterranean cave, so chained that they can look only forward to the +entrance. Far above and behind us is a glowing fire: and beautiful +beings, of every form, are moving between the light and us poor fettered +mortals. Some of these bright beings are speaking, and others are +silent. We see only the shadows cast on the opposite wall of the +cavern, by the reflection of the fire above; and if we hear the echo of +voices, we suppose it belongs to those passing shadows. The soul, in its +present condition, is an exile from the orb of light; its ignorance is +forgetfulness; and whatever we can perceive of truth, or imagine of +beauty, is but a reminiscence of our former more glorious state of +being. He who reverences the gods, and subdues his own passions, returns +at last to the blest condition from which he fell. But to talk, or +think, about these things with proud impatience, or polluted morals, is +like pouring pure water into a miry trench; he who does it disturbs the +mud, and thus causes the clear water to become defiled. When Odysseus +removed his armour from the walls, and carried it to an inner apartment, +invisible Pallas moved before him with her golden lamp, and filled the +place with radiance divine. Telemachus, seeing the light, exclaimed, +'Surely, my father, some of the celestial gods are present.' With deep +wisdom, the king of Ithaca replied, 'Be silent. Restrain your intellect, +and speak not.'" + +"I am rebuked, O Plato," answered Phidias; "and from henceforth, when my +mind is dark and doubtful, I will remember that transparent drops may +fall into a turbid well. Nor will I forget that sometimes, when I have +worked on my statues by torch-light, I could not perceive their real +expression, because I was carving in the shadow of my own hand." + +"Little can be learned of the human soul, and its connection with the +Universal Mind," said Anaxagoras: "These sublime truths seem vague and +remote, as Phoeacia appeared to Odysseus like a vast shield floating on +the surface of the distant ocean. + +"The glimmering uncertainty attending all such speculations, has led me +to attach myself to the Ionic sect, who devote themselves entirely to +the study of outward nature." + +"And this is useful," rejoined Plato: "The man who is to be led from a +cave will more easily see what the heavens contain by looking to the +light of the moon and the stars, than by gazing on the sun at noon-day." + +Here Hermippus interrupted the discourse, by saying, "The son of Clinias +does not inform us what _he_ thinks of the gods. While others have +talked, he has eaten." + +"I am a citizen and a soldier--neither priest nor philosopher," replied +Alcibiades: "With a strong arm and a willing heart to fight for my +country, I leave others to settle the attributes of her gods. Enough for +me, that I regularly offer sacrifices in their temples, and pour +libations upon their altars. I care very little whether there be Elysian +fields, or not. I will make an Elysium for myself, as long as Aspasia +permits me to be surrounded by forms so beautiful, and gives me nectar +like this to drink." He replaced the goblet, from which he had drunk +deeply, and exclaimed, "By Dionysus! they quaff nothing better than this +in voluptuous Ionia!" + +"Methinks a citizen and a soldier might find a more worthy model in +Spartan, than in Ionian manners," said Anaxagoras; "but the latter truly +suits better with the present condition of Athens." + +"A condition more glorious than that of any other people upon earth," +exclaimed Pericles, somewhat warmly: "The story of Athens, enthroned in +her beauty and power, will thrill through generous hearts, long after +other nations are forgotten." + +"She is like a torch sending forth its last bright blaze, before it is +extinguished forever," replied Anaxagoras, calmly: "Where idle +demagogues control the revenues of industrious citizens, the government +cannot long stand. It is a pyramid with the base uppermost." + +"You certainly would not blame the wisdom of Aristides, in allowing the +poor as well as the rich, the privilege of voting?" said Pericles. + +"A moderate supply of wealth is usually the result of virtuous and +industrious habits; and it should be respected merely for what it +indicates," rejoined Anaxagoras. "Aristides, and other wise men, in +their efforts to satisfy the requirements of a restless people, have +opened a sluice, without calculating how it would be enlarged by the +rushing waters, until the very walls of the city are undermined by its +power." + +"But can the safety of the state be secured by merely excluding the +vicious poor?" said Plato. "Are there not among us vicious rich men, who +would rashly vote for measures destructive of public good, if they could +thereby increase their own wealth? He who exports figs to maintain +personal splendour, when there is famine in Attica, has perhaps less +public virtue than the beggar, who steals them to avoid starvation." + +"But the vicious rich man will bribe the beggar to vote as he +dictates," replied Anaxagoras; "and thus his power of doing evil becomes +two fold." + +"Your respect for permanent institutions makes you blind to the love of +change, inherent and active in the human mind," said Pericles. "If +society be like the heaving ocean, those who would guide their vessels +in safety, must obey the winds and the tides." + +"Nay, Pericles," replied the old man, earnestly; "if society be a +tumultuous ocean, government should be its everlasting shores. If the +statesman watches wind and tide only that his own bark may ride through +the storm in safety, while every fresh wave sweeps a landmark away, it +is evident that, sooner or later, the deluge must come." + +The discourse was growing too serious to be agreeable to Pericles, who +well knew that some of his best friends deemed he had injured the state, +by availing himself too freely of the democratic tendencies of the +people. Plato, perceiving this, said, "If it please you, Anaxagoras, we +will leave these subjects to be discussed in the Prytaneum and the +Agoras. Fair and glorious is the violet-crowned city, and let us trust +the gods will long preserve it so." + +"Thou hast well spoken, son of Aristo," replied Artaphernes: "Much as I +had heard of the glory and beauty of Athens, it far surpasses my hopes. +Perhaps I find myself lingering to gaze on the Odeum more frequently +than on any other of your magnificent edifices; not for its more +impressive beauty; but because it is in imitation of our Great King's +Pavilion." + +Hermippus looked up, and smiled with ill-natured significance; for +Cratinus, the ribald, had openly declared in the theatre, that Pericles +needed only to look in his mirror, to discover a model for the sloping +roof of the Odeum. Athenian guests were indignant at being thus reminded +of the gross allusion to a deformity conspicuous in the head of their +illustrious statesman; but Artaphernes, quite unconscious of his +meaning, continued: "The noble structure is worthy of him who planned +it. Yet the unpretending beauty of some of your small temples makes me +feel more as if I were in the presence of a god. I have often marvelled +what it is in those fair white columns, that charms me so much more than +the palaces of the East, refulgent with gems and gold." + +"The beauty that lies _within_ has ever a mysterious power," answered +Plato. "An amethyst may beam in the eye of a statue; but what, save the +soul itself, can give the expression of soul? The very spirit of harmony +is embodied in the proportions of the Parthenon. It is marble music. I +sometimes think the whole visible beauty of creation is formed from the +music of the Infinite; and that the various joys we feel are but the +union of accordant notes in the great chorus of the universe. There is +music in the airy dance; music in poetry; music in the glance of a +beautiful woman; music in the involutions and inflexions of numbers; +above all, there is music in light! And what _Light_ is in this world, +_Truth_ is in that glorious world to which the mind of man returns after +its long exile. Yes, there is music in light! Hence, Phoebus is god of +the Sun and of the Lyre, and Memnon yields sweet sounds to welcome +approaching day. For this reason, the disciples of Zoroaster and +Pythagoras hail the rising sun with the melody of harps; and the birds +pour forth their love of light in song. Perchance the order of the +universe is revealed in the story of Thebes rising to the lyre of +Amphion; and Ibycus might have spoken sublime truth, when he told of +music in the motion of the everlasting stars." + +Philothea had listened so earnestly, that for a moment all other +thoughts were expelled from her mind. She threw back her veil, and with +her whole soul beaming from her face, she exclaimed, "O Plato, I once +_heard_ the music of the stars! Ibycus"---- + +The ardent gaze of Alcibiades restored her to painful consciousness; +and, blushing deeply, she replaced her veil. Aspasia smiled; but Plato, +with gentle reverence, asked, "What would Philothea say of the divine +Ibycus?" + +The timid maiden gave no reply; and the tears of innocent shame were +seen falling fast upon her trembling arm. + +With that ready skill, which ever knows how to adapt itself to the +circumstances of the moment, Aspasia gave a signal to her attendants, +and at once the mingled melody of voices and instruments burst upon the +ear. It was one of the enchanting strains of Olympus the Mysian; and +every heart yielded to its influence. A female slave noiselessly brought +Aspasia's silver harp, and placed before her guests citharas and lyres, +of ivory inlaid with gold. One by one, new voices and instruments joined +in the song; and when the music ceased, there was a pause of deep and +silent joy. + +"Shame to the feast, where the praises of Harmodius are not sung," said +Pericles, smiling, as he looked toward Eudora. With rapid fingers the +maiden touched her lyre, and sung the patriotic song of Callistratus: + + "I'll wreathe my sword with myrtle, as brave Harmodius did, + And as Aristogeiton his avenging weapon hid; + When they slew the haughty tyrant and regained our liberty, + And, breaking down oppression, made the men of Athens free. + + "Thou art not, loved Harmodius, thou art not surely dead, + But to some secluded sanctuary far away art fled; + With the swift-footed Achilleus, unmolested there to rest, + And to rove with Diomedes through the islands of the blest. + + "I'll wreathe my sword with myrtle, as Aristogeiton did, + And as the brave Harmodius his avenging weapon hid; + When on Athenæ's festival they aimed the glorious blow, + And calling on fair freedom, laid the proud Hipparchus low. + + "Thy fame, beloved Harmodius, through ages still shall brighten, + Nor ever shall thy glory fade, beloved Aristogeiton; + Because your country's champions ye nobly dared to be, + And striking down the tyrant, made the men of Athens free." + +The exhilarating notes stirred every Grecian heart. Some waved their +garlands in triumph, while others joined in the music, and kept time +with branches of myrtle. + +"By Phoebus! a glorious song and divinely sung," exclaimed Alcibiades: +"But the lovely minstrel brings danger to our hearts in those sweet +sounds, as Harmodius concealed his sword among myrtle leaves." + +Hipparete blushed, and with a quick and nervous motion touched her +cithara. With a nod and a smile, Aspasia said, "Continue the music, I +pray you." The tune being left to her own choice, the young matron sang +Anacreon's Ode to the Grasshopper. Her voice was not unpleasing; but it +contrasted disadvantageously with the rich intonations of Eudora; and if +the truth must be told, that dark-haired damsel was quite too conscious +of the fact. + +Tithonus expressed an earnest desire to hear one of Pindar's odes; and +Philothea, urged by Aspasia, began with a quivering hand to accompany +herself on the harp. Her voice was at first weak and trembling; and +Plato, to relieve her timidity, joined in the music, which soon gushed +forth, clear, deep, and melodious: + + "Hail, celestial Poesy! + Fair enchantress of mankind! + Veiled in whose sweet majesty + Fables please the human mind. + But, as year rolls after year, + These fictitious charms decline; + Then, O man, with holy fear, + Write and speak of things divine. + Of the heavenly natures say + Nought unseemly, or profane-- + Hearts that worship and obey, + Are preserved from guilty stain." + +Oppressed with the grandeur of the music, and willing to evade the tacit +reproach conveyed in the words, Aspasia touched her lyre, and, with +mournful tenderness, sung Danæ's Hymn to her Sleeping Infant. Then, +suddenly changing to a gayer measure, she sang, with remarkable +sweetness and flexibility of voice: + + "While our rosy fillets shed + Blushes o'er each fervid head, + With many a cup, and many a smile, + The festal moments we beguile. + And while the harp impassioned flings + Tuneful rapture from the strings, + Some airy nymph, with fluent limbs, + Through the dance luxuriant swims, + Waving in her snowy hand, + The leafy Dionysian wand, + Which, as the tripping wanton flies, + Shakes its tresses to her sighs. + +At these words, a troop of graceful maidens, representing the Zephyrs +and the Hours, glided in and out, between the marble columns, pelting +each other with roses, as they flew through the mazes of the dance. + +Presently, the music, more slow and measured in its cadence, announced +the dance of Ariadne guiding her lover from the Labyrinth. In obedience +to a signal from Aspasia, Eudora sprang forward to hold the silken cord, +and Alcibiades darted forward to perform the part of Theseus. Slowly, +but gracefully as birds balancing themselves on the air, the maidens +went through the difficult involutions of the dance. They smiled on each +other, as they passed and repassed; and though Eudora's veil concealed +the expression of her features, Philothea observed, with an undefined +feeling of apprehension, that she showed no tokens of displeasure at the +brief whispers and frequent glances of Alcibiades. + +At last, Pericles bade the attendants bring forth the goblet of the Good +Genius. A large golden bowl, around which a silver grape-vine twined its +luxuriant clusters, was immediately placed before him, filled with the +rich juices of the Chian grape. Then Plato, as king of the feast, +exclaimed, "The cup of the Good Genius is filled. Pledge him in unmixed +wine." + +The massive goblet passed among all the guests; some taking a deep +draught, and others scarcely moistening their lips with the wine. When +the ceremony was finished, Pericles said, "Now, if it pleases Hermippus, +we should like to see him in the comic dance, for which he is so +celebrated." + +Philothea looked earnestly at her grandfather. He instantly understood +her wishes, and bade farewell to Aspasia; urging the plea that his child +was unused to late hours, and too timid to be in the streets of Athens +without his protection. Phidias requested that Eudora might accompany +them; and Hipparete likewise asked leave to depart. Aspasia bestowed +gifts on her visiters, according to the munificent custom of the +country. To Hipparete she gave a bracelet of pearls; to Philothea, a +lyre of ivory and gold; and to Eudora, a broad clasp for her mantle, on +which the car of Aphrodite, drawn by swans, was painted in enamel, by +Polygnotus, the inventor of the art. + +Alcibiades chose to remain at his wine; but slaves with torches were in +readiness at the gates, and Hipparete lived in the Ceramicus, within +sight of Aspasia's dwelling. + +A rapid walk soon restored the maidens to their own peaceful homes. +Philothea, with the consent of Anaxagoras, went to share the apartment +of her friend; which, separated only by a small garden, was almost +within hearing of her own. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Much I dislike the beamless mind, + Whose earthly vision, unrefined, + Nature has never formed to see + The beauties of simplicity! + Simplicity, the flower of Heaven, + To souls elect by nature given." + ANACREON. + + +As the maidens entered their apartment, Eudora rather abruptly dismissed +Dione, the aged nurse, who had been waiting their arrival. Her favourite +dog was sleeping on the couch; and she gave the little creature a hasty +box on the ear, which made him spring suddenly to the floor, and look up +in her face, as if astonished at such ungentle treatment. + +Philothea stooped down and caressed the animal, with a slightly +reproachful glance at her friend. + +"He was sleeping on my mantle," said the petulant damsel. + +"His soft, white fur could not have harmed it," rejoined her companion; +"and you know that Hylax himself, as well as the mantle, was a gift from +Philæmon." + +Eudora carelesssly tossed the mantle over her embroidery frame, from +which it trailed along the dusty floor. Philothea looked earnestly in +her face, unable to comprehend such wayward conduct. "It is evident you +do not want my company to-night," she said; "I will therefore return to +my own apartment." + +The peevish maiden slowly untied her sandal, without making any reply. +Philothea's voice trembled slightly, as she added, "Good night, Eudora, +To-morrow I hope you will tell me how I have offended you." + +"Stay! Stay!" exclaimed the capricious damsel; and she laid her hand +coaxingly on her friend's arm. Philothea smiled a ready forgiveness. + +"I know I am very petulant to-night," said Eudora; "but I do not believe +you yourself could listen to Hipparete without being vexed. She is so +stupid, and so haughty. I don't think she spoke ten words to-night +without having a grasshopper for one of them. She is so proud of her +pure Athenian blood! Do you know she has resolved to employ a skilful +artificer from Corinth, to make her an ivory box just like the one +Tithonus gave Aspasia; but she took care to inform me that it should be +inlaid with golden grasshoppers, instead of stars. A wise and witty +device, is't not? to put grasshoppers in the paws of transformed +Calisto, and fasten them in the belt of Orion. The sky will be so purely +Athenian, that Hipparete herself might condescend to be a +constellation." + +The talkative maiden laughed at her own conceit; and even her more +serious companion could not refrain from a smile, as with untiring +volubility she continued: "Then she told me that she herself embroidered +her grasshopper robe, and bade me admire the excellence of the pattern. +She said Plato could not possibly have mistaken the wreath intended for +her; knowing, as he did, that her father and mother were both descended +from the most ancient families in Athens; and she repeated a list of +ancestors with names all ending in _ippus_ and _ippides_. When, in +answer to her question, I acknowledged that the ornament in her hair +was beautiful, she told me she would gladly give me one like it, if it +were proper for me to wear it. I do so detest the sight of that Athenian +emblem! I would walk to the fields of Acharnae, on purpose to crush a +grasshopper." + +"You put yourself in a singular passion for such a harmless insect," +replied Philothea, smiling. "I hope there are none of them within +hearing. You know the poets say they rose from the ashes of men, who, +when the Muses first had existence, pined away for the love of song; and +that after death they go to Parnassus, and inform the most ancient +Calliope, the heavenly Urania, and the amorous Erato, concerning the +conversation of their votaries. If they are truly the children of song, +they will indeed forget their own resentments; but your conversation +would be so unlikely to make a favourable impression on the tuneful +sisters, that it may be well for you the insects are now sleeping." + +"If the tattling tribe were all awake and listening," replied Eudora, "I +would freely give them leave to report all I say against Astronomy, or +Poetry, or Music. If this be the test, I am willing to be tried with +Hipparete at the court of the Muses. If she were less stupid, I think I +could tolerate her pride. But I thought she would never have done with a +long story about a wine-stain that nearly spoiled her new dove-coloured +robe; the finest from the looms of Ecbatana; the pattern not to be +matched in all Greece; and Aspasia half wild to obtain one like it. She +did not fail to inform me that the slave who had spilled the wine, was +tied to the olive-tree in the garden, and whipped six days in +succession. I never saw her in my life that she did not remind me of +being a slave." + +"Dearest Eudora," said Philothea, "how can you make yourself so unhappy +on this subject? Has not Phidias, from the first hour he bought you, +allowed you all the privileges of a daughter?" + +"Yes," replied Eudora; "but the very circumstance that I was bought with +his money embitters it all. I do not thank him that I have been taught +all which becomes an Athenian maiden; for I can never be an Athenian. +The spirit and the gifts of freedom ill assort with the condition of a +slave. I wish he had left me to tend goats and bear burdens, as other +slaves do; to be beaten as they are beaten; starved as they are starved; +and die as they die. I should not then have known my degradation. I +would have made friends with the birds and the flowers, and never had a +heart-wound from a proud Athenian fool." + +Philothea laid her hand gently on her friend's arm, and gazing on her +excited countenance, she said, "Eudora, some evil demon vexes you +strangely to-night. Did I not know the whole tenor of your blameless +life, I should fear you were not at peace with your own conscience." + +Eudora blushed deeply, and busily caressed the dog with her foot. + +In a mild, clear voice, Philothea continued: "What _now_ prevents you +from making friendship with the birds and the flowers! And why do you +cherish a pride so easily wounded? Yes, it is pride, Eudora. It is +useless disguise to call it by another name. The haughtiness of others +can never make us angry, if we ourselves are humble. Besides, it is +very possible that you are unjust to Hipparete. She might very naturally +have spoken of her slave's carelessness, without meaning to remind you +of bondage." + +"She _did_ mean it," replied Eudora, with angry emphasis. "She is always +describing her pompous sacrifices to Demeter; because she knows I am +excluded from the temple. I hope I shall live to see her proud heart +humbled." + +"Nay, Eudora," said Philothea, turning mournfully away: "Your feelings +are strangely embittered; the calm light of reason is totally obscured +by the wild torch-dance of your passions. Methinks hatred itself need +wish Hipparete no worse fate than to be the wife of so bold and bad a +man as Alcibiades." + +"Oh, Philothea! I wonder you can call him bold," rejoined Eudora. "He +looks steadily at no one; his eyelashes ever rest on his face, like +those of a modest maiden." + +"Aye, Eudora--but it is not the expression of a sinless heart, timidly +retiring within the shrine of its own purity; it is the shrinking of a +conscience that has something to conceal. Little as we know about the +evils of the world, we have heard enough of Alcibiades, to be aware that +Hipparete has much need to seek the protection of her patron goddess." + +"She had better worship in the temple of Helen, at Therapne," answered +Eudora, sharply: "The journey might not prove altogether hopeless; for +that temple is said to confer beauty on the ugliest woman that ever +entered it." As the peevish damsel said this, she gave a proud glance +at her own lovely person, in the mirror, before which a lamp was +burning. + +Philothea had often seen her friend in petulant moods; but she had never +before known her to evince so much bitterness, or so long resist the +soothing influence of kindness. Unwilling to contend with passions she +could not subdue, and would not flatter, she remained for some moments +in serious silence. + +The expression of her countenance touched Eudora's quick feelings; and +she said, in an humble tone, "I know I am doing wrong, Philothea, but I +cannot help it." + +Her friend calmly replied, "If you believe you cannot help it, you +deceive yourself; and if you do not believe it, you had better not have +said it." + +"Now you are angry with me," exclaimed the sensitive maiden; and she +burst into tears. + +Philothea passed her arm affectionately round her waist, saying, "I am +not angry with you, Eudora; but while I love you, I cannot and ought not +to love the bad feelings you cherish. Believe me, my dear friend, the +insults of others can never make us wretched, or resentful, if all is +right within our own hearts. The viper that stings us is always +nourished within us. Moreover, I believe, dearest Eudora, that half your +wrongs are in your own imagination. I too am a foreigner; but I have +been very happy within the walls of Athens." + +"Because you have never been a slave," retorted her companion; "and you +have shared privileges that strangers are seldom allowed to share. You +have been one of the Canephoræ; you have walked in the grand +procession of the Panathenæa: and your statue in pure Pentelic marble, +upholds the canopy over the sacred olive-tree. I know that your skilful +fingers, and your surpassing beauty have deserved these honours; but you +must pardon me, if I do not like the proud Athenians quite so well as +you do." + +"I gratefully acknowledge the part I have been allowed to take in the +sacred service of Pallas," replied the maiden; "but I owe it neither to +my beauty, nor my skill in embroidery. It was a tribute to that wise and +good old man, my grandfather." + +"And I," said Eudora, in a tone of deep melancholy, "have neither +grandfather, parent, or brother to care for me." + +"Who could have proved a better protector than Phidias has been?" +inquired her gentle friend. + +"Philothea, I cannot forget that I am his slave. What I said just now in +anger, I repeat in sober sadness; it would be better for me to have a +slave's mind with a slave's destiny." + +"I have no doubt," replied Philothea, "that Phidias continues to be your +master merely that he may retain lawful power to protect you, until you +are the wife of Philæmon." + +"Some slaves have been publicly registered as adopted children," said +Eudora. + +"But in order to do that," rejoined her friend, "it is necessary to +swear to their parentage; and yours is unknown. If it were not for this +circumstance, I believe Phidias would be most willing to adopt you." + +"No, Philothea--Phidias would do no such thing. He is good and kind. I +know that I have spoken of him as I ought not to have spoken. But he is +a proud man. He would not adopt a nameless orphan, found with a poor +goatherd of Phelle. Had I descended from any of the princes conquered by +Grecian valour, or were I even remotely allied with any of the +illustrious men that Athens has ostracised, then indeed I might be the +adopted daughter of Phidias," After a short pause, she added, "If he +enfranchised me without adoption, I think I should have no difficulty in +finding a protector;" and again the maiden gave a triumphant glance at +her mirror. + +"I am aware that your marriage with Philæmon has only awaited the +termination of these unfortunate law-suits," replied Philothea: "Though +he is not rich, it cannot be very long before he is able to take you +under his protection; and as soon as he has the power, he will have the +disposition." + +"Will he, indeed!" exclaimed Eudora; and she trotted her little foot +impatiently. + +"You are altogether mysterious to-night," said Philothea: "Has any +disagreement arisen between you and Philæmon, during my absence?" + +"He is proud, and jealous; and wishes me to be influenced by every whim +of his," answered the offended beauty. + +"The fetters of love are a flowery bondage," rejoined Philothea: +"Blossoms do not more easily unfold themselves to the sunshine, than +woman obeys the object of her affections. Don't you remember the little +boy we found piping so sweetly, under the great plane-tree by the +fountain of Callirhöe? When my grandfather asked him where he learned to +play so well, he answered; with a look of wondering simplicity, that it +'piped itself.' Methinks this would be the reply of a loving woman, to +one who inquired how her heart had learned submission. But what has +Philæmon required, that you consider so unreasonable?" + +"He dislikes to have me visit Aspasia; and was angry because I danced +with Alcibiades." + +"And did you tell him that you went to Aspasia's house, in conformity +with the express directions of Phidias?" inquired Philothea. + +"Why don't you say of my _master_?" interrupted Eudora, contemptuously. + +Without noticing the peevishness of this remark, her friend continued: +"Are you quite sure that you have not been more frequently than you +would have been, if you had acted merely in reluctant obedience to the +will of Phidias. I am not surprised that Philæmon is offended at your +dancing with Alcibiades; assuredly a practice, so boldly at variance +with the customs of the country, is somewhat unmaidenly." + +"It is enough to be one man's slave," replied Eudora. "I will dance with +whom I please. Alcibiades is the handsomest, and the most graceful, and +the most agreeable man in Athens--at least every body says so. I don't +know why I should offend him to please Philæmon." + +"I thought there was a very satisfactory reason," observed Philothea, +quietly: "Alcibiades is the husband of Hipparete, and you are the +promised wife of Philæmon. I would not have believed the person who +told me that Eudora seriously called Alcibiades the handsomest and most +agreeable man in Athens." + +"The sculptors think him pre-eminently beautiful," answered Eudora; "or +they would not so often copy his statue in the sacred images of Hermes. +Socrates applied Anacreon's eloquent praise of Bathyllus to him, and +said he saw in his lips 'Persuasion sleeping upon roses.'" + +"That must have been in the days of youthful innocence," replied +Philothea: "Surely his countenance has now nothing divine in its +expression; though I grant the colouring rich, and the features regular. +He reminds me of the Alexandrian coin; outwardly pleasing to the eye but +inwardly made of base metal. Urania alone confers the beauty-giving +zone. The temple of Aphrodite in the Piræus is a fitting place for the +portrait of Alcibiades; and no doubt he is well pleased that the people +go there in throngs to see him represented leaning on the shoulder of +the shameless Nemea." + +"If Aristophon chose to paint him side by side with the beautiful Nemea, +it is no fault of his," said Eudora. + +"The artist would not have dared so to represent Plato, or Philæmon, or +Paralus," rejoined Philothea; "nor would Alcibiades allow his picture +thus to minister to the corruption of the Athenians, if he had any +perception of what is really beautiful. I confess, Eudora, it pained me +to see you listen to his idle flattery. He worships every handsome +woman, who will allow herself to be polluted by his incense. Like +Anacreon, his heart is a nest for wanton loves. He is never without a +brood of them--some trying their wings, some in the egg, and some just +breaking the shell." + +With slight resentment in her manner, Eudora answered: "Anacreon is the +most beautiful of poets; and I think you speak too harshly of the son of +Clinias." + +"I am sorry for you, if you can perceive the beautiful where the pure is +wanting," rejoined Philothea; "You have changed, since my residence in +the Acropolis. The cherub Innocence, that was once the ever-present +deity in your soul, has already retired deeper within the shrine, and +veils his face in presence of the vain thoughts you have introduced +there. I fear Aspasia has made you believe that a passion for +distinction is but another name for love of the good, the true, and the +beautiful. Eudora, if this false man has flattered you, believe me, he +is always ready to bestow the same upon others. He has told me that I +was the loveliest of earthly objects; no doubt he has told you the same; +but both cannot be true." + +"You!" exclaimed her companion: "Where could he find opportunity to +address such language to you?" + +"Where a better man would have had better thoughts," replied Philothea: +"It was during the sacred festival of the Panathenæa. A short time +before midnight, it was my duty to receive the sacred basket from the +hands of the priestess, and deposit it in the cave, beneath the Temple +of Urania, in the gardens. Eucoline, the daughter of Agatho, attended +me, carrying a lighted torch. Having entered the cave, I held the torch +while she took up the other sacred basket, which was there in readiness +to be conveyed to the Parthenon; and we again stepped forth into the +gardens. A flood of light streamed from the Temple, so clear and +strong, that I could distinctly see the sacred doves, among the +multitude of fragrant roses--some sleeping in the shaded nooks, others +fluttering from bush to bush, or wheeling round in giddy circles, +frightened by the glare. Near a small lake in the centre of the gardens, +stood Myron's statue of the heavenly Urania, guiding a dove to her +temple by a garland of flowers. It had the pure and placid expression of +the human soul, when it dwells in love and peace. In this holy +atmosphere we paused for a moment in silent reverence. A smiling band of +infant hours came clustering round my memory, and softly folded +themselves about my heart. I thought of those early days, when, hand in +hand with Paralus, I walked forth in the spring-time, welcoming the +swallows to our shores, and gathering fragrant thyme to feed my bees. We +did not then know that bees and young hearts need none to take thought +for their joy, but best gather their own sweet nourishment in sunlight +and freedom. I remembered the helpless kid that Paralus confided to my +care. When we dressed the little creature in wreaths, we mourned that +flowers would not _grow_ in garlands; for it grieved our childish hearts +to see them wither. Once we found, in the crevice of a moss-covered +rock, a small nest with three eggs. Paralus took one of them in his +hand; and when we had admired its beauty, he kissed it reverently, and +returned it to its hiding-place. It was the natural outpouring of a +heart brimful of love for all things pure and simple. Paralus ever lived +in affectionate communion with the birds and the flowers. Firm in +principle, but gentle in affection, he himself is like the rock, in +whose bosom the loving bird found a sheltered nook, so motherly and +safe, where she might brood over her young hopes in quiet joy." + +The maiden's heart had unconsciously followed her own innocent +recollections, like the dove led by a garland; and for a few moments she +remained silent in thoughtful tenderness. + +Eudora's changeful and perturbed spirit had been soothed by the serene +influence of her friend; and she too was silent for awhile. But the +giddy images that had of late been reeling their wild dance through her +brain, soon came back in glittering fantasy. + +"Philothea!" she exclaimed, abruptly, "you have not told me where you +met Alcibiades?" + +The maiden looked up suddenly, like an infant startled from sweet dreams +by some rude noise. Recovering from her surprise, she smiled, and said, +"Eudora, your question came upon me like his unexpected and unwelcome +presence in the sacred gardens. I told you that we stood by that quiet +lake in meek reverence; worshipping,--not the marble image before +us,--but the Spirit of Beauty, that glides through the universe, +breathing the invisible through visible forms, in such mysterious +harmony. Suddenly Eucoline touched my arm with a quick and timid motion. +I turned and saw a young man gazing earnestly upon us. Our veils, which +had been thrown back while we looked at the statue, were instantly +dropped, and we hastily retraced our steps. The stranger followed us, +until we passed under the shade of the olive grove, within sight of the +Propylæa. He then knelt, and attempting to hold me by the robe, poured +forth the wildest protestations of love. I called aloud for protection; +and my voice was heard by the priests, who were passing in and out of +the Acropolis, in busy preparation for the festival. The young man +suddenly disappeared; but he was one of the equestrians that shared in +the solemnities of the night, and I again saw him as I took my place in +the procession. I had then never seen Alcibiades; but when I met him +to-night, I immediately recognized the stranger who spoke so rudely in +the olive-grove." + +"You must forgive me," said Eudora, "if I am not much disposed to blame +mortal man for wishing to look upon your face a second time. Even Plato +does homage to woman's beauty." + +"True, Eudora; but there is reverence mingled with his homage. The very +atmosphere around Alcibiades seemed unholy. I never before met such a +glance; and the gods grant I may never meet such another. I should not +have mentioned the occurrence, even to you, had I not wished to warn you +how lightly this volatile Athenian can make love." + +"I heard something of this before," rejoined Eudora; "but I did not know +the particulars." + +"How could you have heard of it?" inquired Philothea, with an accent of +strong surprise. + +"Alcibiades had a more eager curiosity than yourself," replied Eudora. +"He soon ascertained the name of the lovely Canephoræ that he saw in +the Gardens of Urania; and he has never ceased importuning Aspasia, +until you were persuaded to visit her house." + +The face, neck, and arms of the modest maiden were flushed with +indignant crimson. "Was it for this purpose," she said, "that I was +induced to yield my own sense of propriety to the solicitations of +Pericles? It is ever thus, when we disobey the gods, to please mortals. +How could I believe that any motive so harmless as idle curiosity +induced that seductive and dangerous woman to urge me into her +unhallowed presence?" + +"I marvelled at your courage in talking to her as you did," said Eudora. + +"Something within impelled me," replied Philothea, reverently;--"I did +not speak from myself." + +Eudora remained in serious silence for a moment; and then said, "Can you +tell me, Philothea, what you meant by saying you once heard the stars +sing? Or is that one of those things concerning which you do not love to +have me inquire?" + +The maiden replied: "As I sat at my grandfather's feet, near the statue +of Phoebus in the portico, at early dawn, I heard music, of soft and +various sounds, floating in the air; and I thought perchance it was the +farewell hymn of the stars, or the harps of the Pleiades, mourning for +their lost sister.--I had never spoken of it; but to-night I forgot the +presence of all save Plato, when I heard him discourse so eloquently of +music." + +"And were you as unhappy as you expected to be during this visit?" +inquired her friend. + +"Some portions of the evening I enjoyed exceedingly," replied Philothea. +"I could have listened to Plato and Tithonus, until I grew old in their +presence. Their souls seem to move in glowing moonlight, as if +surrounded by bright beings from a better world." + +Eudora looked thoughtfully in her friend's face. "It is strange," she +said, "how closely you associate all earthly objects with things divine. +I have heard Anaxagoras say that when you were a little child, you +chased the fleeting sunshine through the fields, and called it the +glittering wings of Phoebus Apollo, as he flew over the verdant earth. +And still, dearest Philothea, your heart speaks the same language. +Wherever you look, you see the shining of god-like wings. Just so you +talked of the moonlight, the other evening. To Hipparete, that solemn +radiance would have suggested no thought except that lamp-light was more +favourable to the complexion; and Hermippus would merely have rejoiced +in it, because it saved him the expense of an attendant and a torch, as +he reeled home from his midnight revels. I seldom think of sacred +subjects, except when I am listening to you; but they then seem so +bright, so golden, so divine, that I marvel they ever appear to me like +cold, dim shadows." + +"The flowers of the field are unlike, but each has a beauty of its own; +and thus it is with human souls," replied Philothea. + +For a brief space there was silence. But Eudora, true to the restless +vivacity of her character, soon seized her lyre, and carelessly touching +the strings, she hummed one of Sappho's ardent songs: + + "More happy than the gods is he, + Who soft reclining sits by thee; + His ears thy pleasing talk beguiles, + His eyes thy sweetly dimpled smiles. + This, this, alas! alarmed my breast, + And robbed me of my golden rest." + +Philothea interrupted her, by saying, "I should much rather hear +something from the pure and tender-hearted Simonides." + +But the giddy damsel, instead of heeding her request, abruptly +exclaimed, "Did you observe the sandals of Artaphernes sparkle as he +walked? How richly Tithonus was dressed! Was it not a magnificent +costume?" + +Philothea, smiling at her childish prattle, replied, "It was gorgeous, +and well fancied; but I preferred Plato's simple robe, distinguished +only by the fineness of its materials, and the tasteful adjustment of +its folds." + +"I never saw a philosopher that dressed so well as Plato," said Eudora. + +"It is because he loves the beautiful, even in its minutest forms," +rejoined Philothea; "in that respect he is unlike the great master he +reverences so highly." + +"Yes--men say it is a rare thing to meet either Socrates or his robe +lately returned from the bath," observed Eudora; "yet, in those three +beautiful statues, which Pericles has caused to be placed in the +Propylæa, the philosopher has carved admirable drapery. He has clothed +the Graces, though the Graces never clothed him. I wonder Aristophanes +never thought of that jest. Notwithstanding his willingness to please +the populace with the coarse wit current in the Agoras, I think it +gratifies his equestrian pride to sneer at those who are too frugal to +buy coloured robes, and fill the air with delicious perfumes as they +pass. I know you seldom like the comic writers. What did you think of +Hermippus?" + +"His countenance and his voice troubled me, like the presence of +evil," answered Philothea. "I rejoiced that my grandfather withdrew with +us, as soon as the goblet of the Good Genius passed round, and before he +began to dance the indecent cordax." + +"He has a sarcastic, suspicious glance, that might sour the ripest +grapes in Chios," rejoined Eudora. "The comic writers are over-jealous of +Aspasia's preference to the tragic poets; and I suppose she permitted +this visit to bribe his enmity; as ghosts are said to pacify Cerberus +with a cake. But hark! I hear Geta unlocking the outer gate. Phidias has +returned; and he likes to have no lamp burn later than his own. We must +quickly prepare for rest; though I am as wakeful as the bird of Pallas." + +She began to unclasp her girdle, as she spoke, and something dropped +upon the floor. + +Philothea was stooping to unlace her sandal, and she immediately picked +it up. + +It was a beautiful cameo of Alcibiades, with the quiver and bow of Eros. + +Eudora took it with a deep blush, saying, "Aspasia gave it to me." + +Her friend looked very earnestly in her face for a moment, and sighed as +she turned away. It was the first time she had ever doubted Eudora's +truth. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + "Two several gates + Transmit those airy phantoms. One of horn, + And of sawn ivory one. Such dreams as pass + The gate of ivory, prove empty sounds; + While others, through the polished horn effused, + Whose eye soe'er they visit, never fail." + HOMER. + + +The dwellings of Anaxagoras and Phidias were separated by a garden +entirely sheltered from public observation. On three sides it was +protected by the buildings, so as to form a hollow square; the remainder +was screened by a high stone wall. This garden was adorned with statues +and urns, among which bloomed many choice shrubs and flowers. The entire +side of Anaxagoras' house was covered with a luxuriant grape-vine, which +stretched itself out on the roof, as if enjoying the sunshine. The +women's apartments communicated by a private avenue, which enabled the +friends to see each other as conveniently as if they had formed one +household. + +The morning after the conversation we have mentioned, Philothea rose +early, and returned to her own dwelling. As she passed through the +avenue, she looked into the garden, and smiled to see, suspended by a +small cord thrown over the wall, a garland, fastened with a +delicately-carved arrow, bearing the inscription--"To Eudora, the most +beautiful, most beloved." + +Glad to assist in the work of reconciliation, she separated the wreath +from the string, and carried it to her for whom it was intended. +"Behold the offering of Philæmon!" she exclaimed, joyfully: "Dearest +Eudora, beware how you estrange so true a heart." + +The handsome maiden received her flowers with evident delight, not +unmingled with confusion; for she suspected that they came from a +greater flatterer than Philæmon. + +Philothea returned to her usual avocations, with anxiety somewhat +lessened by this trifling incident. + +Living in almost complete seclusion, the simple-hearted maiden was +quite unconscious that the new customs, introduced by Aspasia, had +rendered industry and frugality mere vulgar virtues, But the restraint +of public opinion was unnecessary to keep her within the privacy of +domestic life; for it was her own chosen home. She loved to prepare her +grandfather's frugal repast of bread and grapes, and wild honey; to take +care of his garments; to copy his manuscripts; and to direct the +operations of Milza, a little Arcadian peasant girl, who was her only +attendant. These duties, performed with cheerful alacrity, gave a fresh +charm to the music and embroidery with which she employed her leisure +hours. + +Anaxagoras was extremely attached to his lovely grandchild; and her +great intellectual gifts, accompanied as they were by uncommon purity of +character, had procured from him and his friends a degree of respect not +usually bestowed upon women of that period. She was a most welcome +auditor to the philosophers, poets, and artists, who were ever fond of +gathering round the good old man; and when it was either necessary or +proper to remain in her own apartment, there was the treasured wisdom of +Thales, Pythagoras, Hesiod, Homer, Simonides, Ibycus, and Pindar. More +than one of these precious volumes were transcribed entirely by her own +hand. + +In the midst of such communion, her spirit drank freely from the +fountains of sublime knowledge; which, "like the purest waters of the +earth, can be obtained only by digging deep,--but when they are found, +they rise up to meet us." + +The intense love of the beautiful, thus acquired, far from making the +common occupations of life distasteful, threw over them a sort of poetic +interest, as a richly painted window casts its own glowing colours on +mere boards and stones. The higher regions of her mind were never +obscured by the clouds of daily care; but thence descended perpetual +sunshine, to gild the vapour. + +On this day, however, Philothea's mind was less serene than usual. The +unaccountable change in Eudora's character perplexed and troubled her. +When she parted from her to go into the Acropolis, she had left her as +innocent and contented as a little child; and so proud and satisfied in +Philæmon's love, that she deemed herself the happiest of all happy +beings: at the close of six short months, she found her transformed into +a vain, restless, ambitious woman, wild for distinction, and impatient +of restraint. + +All this Philothea was disposed to pity and forgive; for she felt that +frequent intercourse with Aspasia might have dazzled even a stronger +mind, and changed a less susceptible heart. Her own diminished +influence, she regarded as the inevitable result of her friend's present +views and feelings; and she only regretted it because it lessened her +power of doing good where she was most desirous to be useful. + +Several times, in the course of the day, her heart yearned toward the +favourite of her childhood; and she was strongly impelled to go to her +and confess all her anxieties. But Eudora came not, as she had ever been +wont to do, in the intervals of household occupation; and this obvious +neglect drove Philothea's kind impulses back upon her heart. + +Hylax, as he ran round the garden, barking and jumping at the birds in +the air, instantly knew her voice, and came capering in, bounding up at +her side, and licking her hand. The tears came to Philothea's eyes, as +she stooped to caress the affectionate animal: "Poor Hylax," said she, +"_you_ have not changed." She gathered some flowers, and twined them +round the dog's neck, thinking this simple artifice might bring a visit +from her friend. + +But the sun went down, and still she had not caught a glimpse of Eudora, +even in the garden. Her affectionate anxiety was almost deepening into +sadness, when Anaxagoras returned, accompanied by the Ethiopian boy. + +"I bring an offering from the munificent Tithonus," said the +philosopher: "He came with my disciples to-day, and we have had much +discourse together. To-morrow he departs from Athens; and he bade me say +that he hoped his farewell gift would not be unacceptable to her whose +voice made even Pindar's strains more majestic and divine." + +The boy uncovered an image he carried in his arms, and with low +obeisance presented it to Philothea. It was a small statue of Urania, +wrought in ivory and gold. The beautiful face was turned upward, as if +regarding the heavens with quiet contemplation. A crown of golden +planets encircled the head, and the scarf, enamelled with deep and vivid +azure, likewise glowed with stars. + +Philothea smiled, as she glanced round the apartment, and said, "It is a +humble shrine for a Muse so heavenly." + +"Honesty and innocence are fitter companions for the gods, than mere +marble and gold," replied the philosopher. + +As a small indication of respect and gratitude, the maiden sent Tithonus +a roll of papyrus, on which she had neatly copied Pindar's Odes; and the +boy, haying received a few oboli for his trouble, returned charged with +thanks and good wishes for his master. + +Philothea, spontaneously yielding to the old habit of enjoying +everything with her friend, took the statue in her arms, and went +directly to her room. Eudora was kind and cheerful, but strangely +fluttered. She praised the beautiful image in the excessive terms of one +who feels little, and is therefore afraid of not saying enough. Her mind +was evidently disturbed with thoughts quite foreign to the subject of +her conversation; but, making an effort at self-possession, she said, "I +too have had a present: Artaphernes sent it because my voice reminded +him of one he loved in his youth." She unfolded a roll of perfumed +papyrus, and displayed a Persian veil of gold and silver tissue. +Philothea pronounced it fit for the toilette of a queen; but frankly +confessed that it was too gorgeous to suit her taste. + +At parting, she urged Eudora to share her apartment for the night. The +maiden refused, under the pretext of illness; but when her friend +offered to remain with her, she hastily replied that she should be much +better alone. + +As Philothea passed through the sheltered avenue, she saw Milza +apparently assisting Geta in cleansing some marbles; and thinking +Phidias would be pleased with the statue, she asked Geta to convey it to +his room. He replied, "My master has gone to visit a friend at Salamis, +and will not return until morning." The maiden was much surprised that +her friend had made no allusion to this circumstance; but she forbore to +return and ask an explanation. + +Another subject attracted her attention and occupied some share of her +thoughts. She had observed that Geta and Milza appeared much confused +when she spoke to them. When she inquired what Geta had been saying, the +pretty Arcadian, with an averted face, replied, "He called me to see a +marble dog, barking as if he had life in him; only he did not make any +noise." + +"Was that all Geta talked of?" said Philothea. + +"He asked me if I liked white kids," answered the blushing peasant. + +"And what did you tell him?" inquired the maiden. + +With a bashful mixture of simplicity and archness, the young damsel +answered, "I told him I liked white kids very much." + +Philothea smiled, and asked no more questions. When she repeated this +brief conversation to Anaxagoras, he heard it with affectionate interest +in Milza's welfare, and promised to have a friendly talk with +honest-hearted Geta. + +The wakefulness and excitement of the preceding night had been quite at +variance with the tranquil regularity of Philothea's habits; and the +slight repose, which she usually enjoyed in the afternoon, had been +disturbed by her grandfather, who came to say that Paralus was with him, +and wished to see her a few moments, before they went out to the Piræus +together. Being therefore unusually weary, both in body and mind, the +maiden early retired to her couch; and with mingled thoughts of her +lover and her friend, she soon fell into a profound sleep. + +She dreamed of being with Paralus in an olive grove, over the deep +verdure of which shining white blossoms were spread, like a silver veil. +Her lover played upon his flute, while she leaned against a tree and +listened. Soon, the air was filled with a multitude of doves, flocking +from every side; and the flapping of their wings kept time to the music. + +Then, suddenly, the scene changed to the garden of Phidias. The statues +seemed to smile upon her, and the flowers looked up bright and cheerful, +in an atmosphere more mild than the day, but warmer than the moon. +Presently, one of the smiling statues became a living likeness of +Eudora, and with delighted expression gazed earnestly on the ground. +Philothea looked to see what excited her admiration--and lo! a large +serpent, shining with green and gold, twisted itself among the flowers +in manifold involutions; and wheresoever the beautiful viper glided, +the blossoms became crisped and blackened, as if fire had passed over +them. With a sudden spring the venomous creature coiled itself about +Eudora's form, and its poisoned tongue seemed just ready to glance into +her heart; yet still the maiden laughed merrily, heedless of her danger. + +Philothea awoke with a thrill of anguish; but thankful to realize that +it was all a dream, she murmured a brief prayer, turned upon her couch, +and soon yielded to the influence of extreme drowsiness. + +In her sleep, she seemed to be working at her embroidery; and Hylax came +and tugged at her robe, until she followed him into the garden. There +Eudora stood smiling, and the glittering serpent was again dancing +before her. + +Disturbed by the recurrence of this unpleasant dream, the maiden +remained awake for a considerable time, listening to the voices of her +grandfather and his guests, which still came up with a murmuring sound +from the room below. Gradually her senses were lulled into slumber; and +again the same dream recurred to distress and waken her. + +Unable longer to resist the strength of her impressions, Philothea +arose, and descending a few of the steps, which led to the lower part of +the house, she looked into the garden, through one of the apertures that +had been left in the wall for the admission of light. Behind a statue of +Erato, she was sure that she saw coloured drapery floating in the +moonlight. Moving on to the next aperture, she distinctly perceived +Eudora standing by the statue; and instead of the graceful serpent, +Alcibiades knelt before her. His attitude and gesture were impassioned; +and though the expression of Eudora's countenance could not be seen, +she was evidently giving him no ungracious audience. + +Philothea put her hand to her heart, which throbbed violently with +painful emotion. Her first thought was to end this interview at all +hazards; but she was of a timid nature; and when she had folded her robe +and veil about her, her courage failed. Again she looked through the +aperture and saw that the arm of Alcibiades rested on the shoulder of +her misguided friend. + +Without taking time for a second thought, she sprang down the remaining +steps, darted through the private avenue into the garden, and standing +directly before the deluded girl, she exclaimed, in a tone of earnest +expostulation, "Eudora!" + +With a half-suppressed scream, the maiden disappeared. Alcibiades, with +characteristic boldness, seized Philothea's robe, exclaiming, "What have +we here? So help me Aphrodite! it is the lovely Canephora of the +gardens! Now Eros forsake me if I lose this chance to look on her +heavenly face again." + +He attempted to raise the veil, which the terrified maiden grasped +convulsively, as she tried to extricate herself from his hold. + +At that instant, a stern voice sounded from the opposite wall; and +Philothea, profiting by the sudden surprise into which Alcibiades was +thrown, darted through the avenue, bolted the door, and in an instant +after was within the sanctuary of her own chamber. + +Here the tumult of mingled emotion subsided in a flood of tears. She +mourned over the shameful infatuation of Eudora, and she acutely felt +the degradation attached to her own accidental share in the scene. With +these thoughts was mingled deep pity for the pure-minded and excellent +Philæmon. She was sure that it was his voice she had heard from the +wall; and she rightly conjectured that, after his prolonged interview +with Anaxagoras, he had partly ascended the ladder leading to the +house-top, and looked through the fluttering grape-leaves at the +dwelling of his beloved. + +The agitation of her mind prevented all thoughts of sleep. Again and +again she looked out anxiously. All was hushed and motionless. The +garden reposed in the moonbeams, like truths, which receive no warmth +from the heart--seen only in the clear, cold light of reason. The plants +were visible, but colourless; and the statues stood immovable in their +silent, lifeless beauty. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Persuasive is the voice of Vice, + That spreads the insidious snare. + ÆSCHYLUS. + + +Early the next morning, painful as the task was, Philothea went to +Eudora's room; for she felt that if she ever hoped to save her, she must +gain influence now. + +The maiden had risen from her couch, and was leaning her head on her +hand, in an attitude of deep thought. She raised her eyes as Philothea +entered, and her face was instantly suffused with the crimson flush of +shame. She made no reply to the usual salutations of the morning, but +with evident agitation twisted and untwisted some shreds that had fallen +from her embroidery. + +For a moment her friend stood irresolute. She felt a strong impulse to +put her arm around Eudora's neck and conjure her, even for her own sake, +to be frank and confiding; but the scene in the garden returned to her +memory, and she recoiled from her beloved companion, as from something +polluted. + +Still ignorant how far the deluded girl was involved, she felt that the +manner in which she deported herself toward her, might perhaps fix her +destiny for good or evil. With a kind, but trembling voice, she said, +"Eudora, will you tell me whether the interview I witnessed last night +was an appointed one?" + +Eudora persevered in silence, but her agitation obviously increased. + +Her friend looked earnestly in her excited countenance for a moment, +and then said, "Eudora, I do entreat you to tell me the whole truth in +this matter." + +"I have not yet learned what right you have to inquire," replied the +misguided maiden. + +Philothea's eyes were filled with tears, as she said, "Does the love we +have felt for each other from our earliest childhood, give me no claim +to your confidence? Had we ever a cake, or a bunch of grapes, of which +one did not reserve for the other the largest and best portion? I well +remember the day when you broke the little marble kid Phidias had given +you. You fairly sobbed yourself to sleep in my lap, while I smoothed +back the silky curls all wet with your tears, and sung my childish songs +to please you. You came to me with all your infant troubles--and in our +maturer years, have we not shared all our thoughts? Oh, still trust to +the affection that never deceived you. Believe me, dear Eudora, you +would not wish to conceal your purposes and actions from your earliest +and best friend, unless you had an inward consciousness of something +wrong. Every human being has, like Socrates, an attendant spirit; and +wise are they who obey its signals. If it does not always tell us what +to do, it always cautions us what not to do. Have you not of late +struggled against the warnings of this friendly spirit? Is it safe to +contend with him, till his voice recedes, like music in the distance, +and is heard no more?" + +She looked earnestly in Eudora's face for a moment, and perceiving that +her feelings were somewhat softened, she added, "I will not again ask +whether the meeting of last night was an appointed one; for you surely +would repel the suspicion, if you could do so with truth. It is too +evident that this insinuating man has fascinated you, as he already has +done hundreds of others; and for the sake of his transient flattery, you +have thrown away Philæmon's pure and constant love. Yet the passing +notice of Alcibiades is a distinction you will share with half the +maidens of Athens. When another new face attracts his fancy, you will be +forgotten; but you cannot so easily forget your own folly. The friends +you cast from you can never be regained; tranquillity of mind will +return no more; conscious innocence, which makes the human countenance a +tablet for the gods to write upon, can never be restored. And for what +will you lose all this? Think for a moment what is the destiny of those +women, who, following the steps of Aspasia, seek happiness in the homage +paid to triumphant beauty--youth wasted in restless excitement, and old +age embittered by the consciousness of deserved contempt. For this, are +you willing to relinquish the happiness that attends a quiet discharge +of duty, and the cheerful intercourse of true affection?" + +In a tone of offended pride, Eudora answered: "Philothea, if I were what +you seem to believe me, your words would be appropriate; but I have +never had any other thought than that of being the acknowledged wife of +Alcibiades." + +"Has he then made you believe that he would divorce Hipparete?" + +"Yes--he has solemnly sworn it. Such a transaction would have nothing +remarkable in it. Each revolving moon sees similar events occur in +Athens. The wife of Pericles had a destiny like that of her namesake; of +whom the poets write that she was beloved for awhile by Olympian Zeus, +and afterward changed into a quail. Pericles promised Aspasia that he +would divorce Asteria and marry her; and he has kept his word. Hipparete +is not so very beautiful or gifted, as to make it improbable that +Alcibiades might follow his example." + +"It is a relief to my heart," said Philothea, "to find that you have +been deluded with hopes, which, however deceitful, render you +comparatively innocent. But believe me, Eudora, Alcibiades will never +divorce Hipparete. If he should do so, the law would compel him to +return her magnificent dowry. Her connections have wealth and influence; +and her brother Callias has promised that she shall be his heir. The +paternal fortune of Alcibiades has all been expended, except his estate +near Erchia; and this he knows full well is quite insufficient to +support his luxury and pride." + +Eudora answered warmly, "If you knew Alcibiades, you would not suspect +him of such sordid motives. He would throw money into the sea like dust, +if it stood in the way of his affections." + +"I am well aware of his pompous wastefulness, when he wishes to purchase +popularity by lavish expenditure," replied Philothea. "But Alcibiades +has found hearts a cheap commodity, and he will not buy with drachmæ, +what he can so easily obtain by flattery. Your own heart, I believe, is +not really touched. Your imagination is dazzled with his splendid +chariots of ivory inlaid with silver; his unrivalled stud of Phasian +horses; his harnesses of glittering brass; the golden armour which he +loves to display at festivals; his richly-coloured garments, fresh from +the looms of Sardis, and redolent with the perfumes of the East. You are +proud of his notice, because you see that other maidens are flattered by +it; because his statue stands among the Olympionicæ, in the sacred +groves of Zeus, and because all Athens rings with the praises of his +beauty, his gracefulness, his magnificence, and his generosity." + +"I am not so weak as your words imply," rejoined Eudora. "I believe that +I love Alcibiades better than I ever loved Philæmon; and if the consent +of Phidias can be obtained, I cannot see why you should object to our +marriage." + +For a few moments, Philothea remained in hopeless silence; then, in a +tone of tender expostulation, she continued: "Eudora, I would the power +were given me to open your eyes before it is too late! If Hipparete be +not beautiful, she certainly is not unpleasing; her connections have +high rank and great wealth; she is virtuous and affectionate, and the +mother of his children. If, with all these claims, she can be so lightly +turned away for the sake of a lovelier face, what can you expect, when +your beauty no longer has the charm of novelty? You, who have neither +wealth nor powerful connections, to serve the purposes of that ambitious +man? And think for yourself, Eudora, if Alcibiades means as he says, why +does he seek stolen interviews at midnight, in the absence of Phidias?" + +"It is because he knows that Phidias has an uncommon regard for +Philæmon," replied Eudora; "but he thinks he can, in time, persuade him +to consult our wishes. I know, better than you possibly can, what +reasons I have to trust the strength of his affection. Aspasia says she +has never seen him so deeply in love as he is now." + +"It is as I feared," said Philothea; "the voice of that siren is luring +you to destruction." + +Eudora answered, in an angry tone, "I love Aspasia; and it offends me to +hear her spoken of in this manner. If you are content to be a slave, +like the other Grecian women, who bring water and grind corn for their +masters, I have no objection. I have a spirit within me that demands a +wider field of action, and I enjoy the freedom that reigns in Aspasia's +house. Alcibiades says he does not blame women for not liking to be shut +up within four walls all their life-time, ashamed to show their faces +like other mortals." + +Quietly, but sadly, Philothea replied: "Farewell, Eudora. May the powers +that guide our destiny, preserve you from any real cause for shame. You +are now living in Calypso's island; and divine beings alone can save you +from the power of her enchantments." + +Eudora made no response, and did not even raise her eyes, as her +companion left the apartment. + +As Philothea passed through the garden, she saw Milza standing in the +shadow of the vines, feeding a kid with some flowers she held in her +hand, while Geta was fastening a crimson cord about its neck. A glad +influence passed from this innocent group into the maiden's heart, like +the glance of a sunbeam over a dreary landscape. + +"Is the kid yours, Milza?" she asked, with an affectionate smile. + +The happy little peasant raised her eyes with an arch expression, but +instantly lowered them again, covered with blushes. It was a look that +told all the secrets of her young heart more eloquently than language. + +Philothea had drank freely from those abundant fountains of joy in the +human soul, which remain hidden till love reveals their existence, as +secret springs are said to be discovered by a magic wand. With +affectionate sympathy she placed her hand gently on Milza's head, and +said, "Be good--and the gods will ever provide friends for you." + +The humble lovers gazed after her with a blessing in their eyes; and in +the consciousness of this, her meek spirit found a solace for the wounds +Eudora had given. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + O Zeus! why hast thou given us certain proof + To know adulterate gold, but stamped no mark, + Where it is needed most, on man's base metal? + EURIPIDES. + + +When Philothea returned to her grandfather's apartment, she found the +good old man with an open tablet before him, and the remainder of a rich +cluster of grapes lying on a shell by his side. + +"I have wanted you, my child," said he, "Have you heard the news all +Athens is talking of, that you sought your friend so early in the day? +You are not wont to be so eager to carry tidings." + +"I have not heard the rumours whereof you speak," replied Philothea. +"What is it, my father?" + +"Hipparete went from Aspasia's house to her brother Callias, instead of +the dwelling of her husband," rejoined Anaxagoras: "by his advice she +refused to return; and she yesterday appealed to the archons for a +divorce from Alcibiades, on the plea of his notorious profligacy. +Alcibiades, hearing of this, rushed into the assembly, with his usual +boldness, seized his wife in his arms, carried her through the crowd, +and locked her up in her own apartment. No man ventured to interfere +with this lawful exercise of his authority. It is rumoured that +Hipparete particularly accused him of promising marriage to Electra the +Corinthian, and Eudora, of the household of Phidias." + +For the first time in her life, Philothea turned away her face, to +conceal its expression, while she inquired in a tremulous tone whether +these facts had been told to Philæmon, the preceding evening. + +"Some of the guests were speaking of it when he entered," replied +Anaxagoras; "but no one alluded to it in his presence. Perhaps he had +heard the rumour, for he seemed sad and disquieted, and joined little in +the conversation." + +Embarrassed by the questions which her grandfather was naturally +disposed to ask, Philothea briefly confessed that a singular change had +taken place in Eudora's character, and begged permission to silent on a +subject so painful to her feelings. She felt strongly inclined to return +immediately to her deluded friend; but the hopelessness induced by her +recent conversation, combined with the necessity of superintending Milza +in some of her household occupations, occasioned a few hours' delay. + +As she attempted to cross the garden for that purpose, she saw Eudora +enter hastily by the private gate, and pass to her own apartment. +Philothea instantly followed her, and found that she had thrown herself +on the couch, sobbing violently. She put her arms about her neck, and +affectionately inquired the cause of her distress. + +For a long time the poor girl resisted every soothing effort, and +continued to weep bitterly. At last, in a voice stifled with sobs, she +said, "I was indeed deceived; and you, Philothea, was my truest friend; +as you have always been." + +The tender-hearted maiden imprinted a kiss upon her hand, and asked +whether it was Hipparete's appeal to the archons, that had so suddenly +convinced her of the falsehood of Alcibiades. + +"I have heard it all," replied Eudora, with a deep blush; "and I have +heard my name coupled with epithets never to be repeated to your pure +ears. I was so infatuated that, after you left me this morning, I sought +the counsels of Aspasia, to strengthen me in the course I had determined +to pursue. As I approached her apartment, the voice of Alcibiades met my +ear. I stopped and listened. I heard him exult in his triumph over +Hipparete; I heard my name joined with Electra, the wanton Corinthian. I +heard him boast how easily our affections had been won; I heard--" + +She paused for a few moments, with a look of intense shame, and the +tears fell fast upon her robe. + +In gentle tones Philothea said, "These are precious tears, Eudora. They +will prove like spring-showers, bringing forth fragrant blossoms." + +With sudden impulse, the contrite maiden threw her arms around her neck, +saying, in a subdued voice, "You must not be so kind to me--it will +break my heart." + +By degrees the placid influence of her friend calmed her perturbed +spirit. "Philothea," she said, "I promise with solemn earnestness to +tell you every action of my life, and every thought of my soul; but +never ask me to repeat all I heard at Aspasia's dwelling. The words went +through my heart like poisoned arrows." + +"Nay," replied Philothea, smiling; "they have healed, not poisoned." + +Eudora sighed, as she added, "When I came away, in anger and in shame, I +heard that false man singing in mockery: + + "Count me on the summer trees + Every leaf that courts the breeze; + Count me on the foamy deep + Every wave that sinks to sleep; + Then when you have numbered these, + Billowy tides and leafy trees, + Count me all the flames I prove, + All the gentle nymphs I love." + +Philothea, how could you, who are so pure yourself, see so much clearer +than I did the treachery of that bad man?" + +The maiden replied, "Mortals, without the aid of experience, would +always be aware of the presence of evil, if they sought to put away the +love of it in their own hearts, and in silent obedience listened to the +voice of their guiding spirit. Flowers feel the approach of storms, and +birds need none to teach them the enmity of serpents. This knowledge is +given to them as perpetually as the sunshine; and they receive it fully, +because their little lives are all obedience and love." + +"Then, dearest Philothea, you may well know when evil approaches. By +some mysterious power you have ever known my heart better than I myself +have known it. I now perceive that you told me the truth when you said I +was not blinded by love, but by foolish pride. If it were not so, my +feelings could not so easily have turned to hatred. I have more than +once tried to deceive you, but you will feel that I am not now speaking +falsely. The interview you witnessed was the first and only one I ever +granted to Alcibiades." + +Philothea freely expressed her belief in this assertion, and her joy +that the real character of the graceful hypocrite had so soon been made +manifest. Her thoughts turned towards Philæmon; but certain +recollections restrained the utterance of his name. They were both +silent for a few moments; and Eudora's countenance was troubled. She +looked up earnestly in her friend's face, but instantly turned away her +eyes, and fixing them on the ground, said, in a low and timid voice, "Do +you think Philæmon can ever love me again?" + +Philothea felt painfully embarrassed; for when she recollected how +deeply Philæmon was enamoured of purity in women, she dared not answer +in the language of hope. + +While she yet hesitated, Dione came to say that her master required the +attendance of Eudora alone in his apartment. + +Phidias had always exacted implicit obedience from his household, and +Eudora's gratitude towards him had ever been mingled with fear. The +consciousness of recent misconduct filled her with extreme dread. Her +countenance became deadly pale, as she turned toward her friend, and +said, "Oh, Philothea, go with me." + +The firm-hearted maiden took her arm gently within her own, and +whispered, "Speak the truth, and trust in the Divine Powers." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Thus it is; I have made those + Averse to me whom nature formed my friends; + Those, who from me deserved no ill, to win + Thy grace, I gave just cause to be my foes; + And thou, most vile of men, thou hast betrayed me. + EURIPIDES. + + +Phidias was alone, with a large unfinished drawing before him, on a +waxen tablet. Various groups of statues were about the room; among which +was conspicuous the beautiful workmanship of Myron, representing a +kneeling Paris offering the golden apple to Aphrodite; and by a mode of +flattery common with Athenian artists, the graceful youth bore the +features of Alcibiades. Near this group was Hera and Pallas, from the +hand of Phidias; characterized by a severe majesty of expression, as +they looked toward Paris and his voluptuous goddess in quiet scorn. + +Stern displeasure was visible in the countenance of the great sculptor. +As the maidens entered, with their faces covered, he looked up, and said +coldly, "I bade that daughter of unknown parents come into my presence +unattended." + +Eudora keenly felt the reproach implied by the suppression of her name, +which Phidias deemed she had dishonoured; and the tremulous motion of +her veil betrayed her agitation. + +Philothea spoke in a mild, but firm voice: "Son of Charmides, by the +friendship of my father, I conjure you do not require me to forsake +Eudora in this hour of great distress." + +In a softened tone, Phidias replied: "The daughter of Alcimenes knows +that for his sake, and for the sake of her own gentle nature, I can +refuse her nothing." + +"I give thee thanks," rejoined the maiden, "and relying on this +assurance, I will venture to plead for this helpless orphan, whom the +gods committed to thy charge. The counsels of Aspasia have led her into +error; and is the son of Charmides blameless, for bringing one so young +within the influence of that seductive woman?" + +After a short pause, Phidias answered: "Philothea, it is true that my +pride in her gift of sweet sounds first brought her into the presence of +that bad and dangerous man; it was contrary to Philæmon's wishes, too; +and in this I have erred. If that giddy damsel can tell me the meeting +in the garden was not by her own consent, I will again restore her to my +confidence. Eudora, can you with truth give me this assurance?" + +Eudora made no reply; but she trembled so violently, that she would have +sunk, had she not leaned on the arm of her friend. + +Philothea, pitying her distress, said, "Son of Charmides, I do not +believe Eudora can truly give the answer you wish to receive; but +remember in her favour that she does not seek to excuse herself by +falsehood. Alcibiades has had no other interview than that one, of which +the divine Phoebus sent a messenger to warn me in my sleep. For that +fault, the deluded maiden has already suffered a bitter portion of shame +and grief." + +After a short silence, Phidias spoke: "Eudora, when I called you +hither, it was with the determination of sending you to the temple of +Castor and Polydeuces, there to be offered for sale to your paramour, +who has already tried, in a secret way, to purchase you, by the +negociation of powerful friends; but Philothea has not pleaded for you +in vain. I will not punish your fault so severely as Alcibiades ventured +to hope. You shall remain under my protection. But from henceforth you +must never leave your own apartment, without my express permission, +which will not soon be granted. I dare not trust your sudden repentance; +and shall therefore order a mastiff to be chained to your door. Dione +will bring you bread and water only. If you fail in obedience, the fate +I first intended will assuredly be yours, without time given for +expostulation. Now go to the room that opens into the garden; and there +remain, till I send Dione to conduct you to your own apartment." + +Eudora was so completely humbled, that these harsh words aroused no +feeling of offended pride. Her heart was too full for utterance; and her +eyes so blinded with tears, that, as she turned to leave the apartment, +she frequently stumbled over the scattered fragments of marble. + +It was a day of severe trials for the poor maiden. They had remained but +a short time waiting for Dione, when Philæmon entered, conducted by +Phidias, who immediately left the apartment. Eudora instantly bowed her +head upon the couch, and covered her face with her hands. + +In a voice tremulous with emotion, the young man said, "Eudora, +notwithstanding the bitter recollection of where I last saw you, I have +earnestly wished to see you once more--to hear from your own lips +whether the interview I witnessed in the garden was by your own +appointment. Although many things in your late conduct have surprised +and grieved me, I am slow to believe that you could have taken a step so +unmaidenly; particularly at this time, when it has pleased the gods to +load me with misfortunes. By the affection I once cherished, I entreat +you to tell me whether that meeting was unexpected." + +He waited in vain for any other answer than audible sobs. After a slight +pause, he continued: "Eudora, I wait for a reply more positive than +silence. Let me hear from your own lips the words that must decide my +destiny. Perchance it is the last favour I shall ever ask." + +The repentant maiden, without looking up, answered, in broken accents, +"Philæmon, I will not add deceit to other wrongs, I must speak the +truth, if my heart is broken. I did consent to that interview." + +The young man bowed his head in silent anguish against one of the +pillars--his breast heaved, and his lips quivered. After a hard struggle +with himself, he said, "Farewell, Eudora. I shall never again intrude +upon your presence. Many will flatter you; but none will love you as I +have loved." + +With a faint shriek, Eudora sprung forward, and threw herself at his +feet. She would have clasped his knees, but he involuntarily recoiled +from her touch, and gathered the folds of his robe about him. + +Then the arrow entered deeply into her heart, She rested her burning +forehead against the marble pillar, and said, in tones of agonized +entreaty, "I never met him but once." + +Philothea, who during this scene had wept like an infant, laid her hand +beseechingly on his arm, and added, "Son of Chærilaüs, remember that +was the only interview." + +Philæmon shook his head mournfully, as he replied, "But I cannot forget +that it was an appointed one.--We can never meet again." + +He turned hastily to leave the room; but lingered on the threshold, and +looked back upon Eudora with an expression of unutterable sadness. + +Philothea perceived the countenance of her unhappy friend grow rigid +beneath his gaze. She hastened to raise her from the ground whereon she +knelt, and received her senseless in her arms. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Fare thee well, perfidious maid! + My soul,--its fondest hopes betrayed, + Betrayed, perfidious girl, by thee,-- + Is now on wing for liberty. + I fly to seek a kindlier sphere, + Since thou hast ceased to love me here. + ANACREON. + + +Not long after the parting interview with Eudora, Philæmon, sad and +solitary, slowly wended his way from Athens. As he passed along the +banks of the Illyssus, he paused for a moment, and stood with folded +arms, before the chaste and beautiful little temple of Agrotera, the +huntress with the unerring bow. + +The temple was shaded by lofty plane trees, and thickly intertwined +willows, among which transparent rivulets glided in quiet beauty; while +the marble nymphs, with which the grove was adorned, looked modestly +down upon the sparkling waters, as if awe-stricken by the presence of +their sylvan goddess. + +A well-known voice said, "Enter Philæmon. It is a beautiful retreat. The +soft verdant grass tempts to repose; a gentle breeze brings fragrance +from the blossoms; and the grasshoppers are chirping with a summer-like +and sonorous sound. Enter, my son." + +"Thanks, Anaxagoras," replied Philæmon, as he moved forward to give and +receive the cordial salutation of his friend: "I have scarcely travelled +far enough to need repose; but the day is sultry, and this balmy air is +indeed refreshing." + +"Whither leads your path, my son?" inquired the good old man. "I +perceive that no servant follows you with a seat whereon to rest, when +you wish to enjoy the prospect, and your garments are girded about you, +like one who travels afar." + +"I seek Mount Hymettus, my father," replied Philæmon: "There I shall +stop to-night, to take my last look of Athens. To-morrow, I join a +company on their way to Persia; where they say Athenian learning is +eagerly sought by the Great King and his nobles." + +"And would you have left Athens without my blessing?" inquired +Anaxagoras. + +"In truth, my father, I wished to avoid the pain of parting," rejoined +Philæmon. "Not even my beloved Paralus is aware that the homeless +outcast of ungrateful Athens has left her walls forever." + +The aged philosopher endeavoured to speak, but his voice was tremulous +with emotion. After a short pause, he put his arm within Philæmon's, and +said, "My son, we will journey together. I shall easily find my way back +to Athens before the lamps of evening are lighted." + +The young man spoke of the wearisome walk; and reminded him that Ibycus, +the beloved of the gods, was murdered while returning to the city after +twilight. But the philosopher replied, "My old limbs are used to +fatigue, and everybody knows that the plain robe of Anaxagoras conceals +no gold." + +As they passed along through the smiling fields of Agra, the +cheerfulness of the scene redoubled the despondency of the exile. Troops +of laughing girls were returning from the vineyards with baskets full +of grapes; women were grinding corn, singing merrily, as they toiled; +groups of boys were throwing quoits, or seated on the grass eagerly +playing at dice, and anon filling the air with their shouts; in one +place was a rural procession in honour of Dionysus; in another, loads of +pure Pentelic marble were on their way from the quarry, to increase the +architectural glory of Athens. + +"I could almost envy that senseless stone!" exclaimed Philæmon. "It goes +where I have spent many a happy hour, and where I shall never enter +more. It is destined for the Temple of the Muses, which Plato is causing +to be built among the olive-groves of Academus. The model is more +beautifully simple than anything I have ever seen." + +"The grove of Academus is one of the few places now remaining where +virtue is really taught and encouraged," rejoined Anaxagoras. "As for +these new teachers, misnamed philosophers, they are rapidly hastening +the decay of a state whose diseases produced them." + +"A few days since, I heard one of the sophists talking to crowds of +people in the old Agora," said Philæmon; "and truly his doctrines +formed a strange contrast with the severe simplicity of virtue expressed +in the countenances of Solon, Aristides, and the other god-like statues +that stood around him. He told the populace that it was unquestionably a +great blessing to commit an injury with impunity; but as there was more +evil in suffering an injury than there was good in committing one, it +was necessary to have the subject regulated by laws: that justice, +correctly defined, meant nothing more than the interest of the +strongest; that a just man always fared worse than the unjust, because +he neglected to aggrandize himself by dishonest actions, and thus became +unpopular among his acquaintances; while those who were less scrupulous, +grew rich and were flattered. He said the weak very naturally considered +justice as a common right; but he who had power, if he had likewise +courage, would never submit to any such agreement: that they who praised +virtue, did it because they had some object to gain from those who had +less philosophy than themselves; and these pretended worthies, if they +could act invisibly, would soon be found in the same path with the +villain. He called rhetoric the noblest of the arts, because it enabled +an ignorant man to appear to know as much as one who was thoroughly +master of his subject. Some of the people demanded what he had to say of +the gods, since he had spoken so ably of men. With an unpleasant mixture +of derision and feigned humility, the sophist replied, that he left such +vast subjects to be discussed by the immortal Socrates. He forthwith +left the Agora, and many a loud laugh and profane jest followed his +departure. When such doctrines can be uttered without exciting +indignation, it is easy to foresee the destinies of the state." + +"Thucydides speaks truly," rejoined Anaxagoras: "In the history he is +writing, he says,--The Athenian people are beginning to be more fond of +calling dishonest men able, than simple men honest; and that statesmen +begin to be ashamed of the more worthy title, while they take pride in +the other: thus sincerity, of which there is much in generous natures, +will be laughed down; while wickedness and hypocrisy are everywhere +triumphant." + +"But evil grows weary of wearing a mask in reluctant homage to good," +replied Philæmon; "she is ever seeking to push it aside, with the hope +that men may become accustomed to her face, and find more beauty +therein, than in the disguise she wears. The hidden thought at last +struggles forth into expression, and cherished passions assume a form in +action. One of the sophists has already given notice that he can teach +any young man how to prove that right is wrong, or wrong is right. It is +said that Xanthippus has sent his son to benefit by these instructions, +with a request that he may learn the art thoroughly, but be taught to +use it only in the right way." + +"Your words are truth, my son," answered the philosopher; "and the blame +should rest on those who taint the stream at its source, rather than +with them who thoughtlessly drink of it in its wanderings. The great and +the gifted of Athens, instead of yielding reverent obedience to the +unchangeable principle of truth, have sought to make it the servant of +their own purposes. Forgetful of its eternal nature, they strive to +change it into arbitrary forms of their own creating; and then marvel +because other minds present it in forms more gross and disgusting than +their own. They do not ask what is just or unjust, true or untrue, but +content themselves with recommending virtue, as far as it advances +interest, or contributes to popularity; and when virtue ceases to be +fashionable, the multitude can no longer find a satisfactory reason for +adhering to it. But when the teachers of the populace hear their vulgar +pupils boldly declare that vice is as good as virtue, provided a man can +follow it with success, pride prevents them from seeing that this maxim +is one of their own doctrines stripped of its equestrian robes, and +shown in democratic plainness. They did not venture to deride the gods, +or even to assert that they took no cognizance of human affairs; but +they declared that offences against divine beings might be easily atoned +for by a trifling portion of their own gifts--a sheep, a basket of +fruit, or a few grains of salt, offered at stated seasons, with becoming +decorum; and then when alone together, they smiled that such concessions +were necessary to satisfy the superstitions of the vulgar. But disbelief +in divine beings, and the eternal nature of truth, cannot long be +concealed by pouring the usual libations, or maintaining a cautious +reserve. The whispered opinions of false philosophers will soon be +loudly echoed by the popular voice, which is less timid, because it is +more honest. Even thus did Midas laboriously conceal the deformity of +his head; but his barber, who saw him without disguise, whispered his +secret in the earth, and when the winds arose, the voices of a thousand +reeds proclaimed to the world, 'King Midas hath ass's ears.'" + +"The secret has already been whispered to the ground," answered +Philæmon, smiling: "If it were not so, the comic writers would not be +able to give with impunity such grotesque and disgusting representations +of the gods." + +"And yet," rejoined the old man, "I hear that Hermippus, who has himself +personified Hera on the stage, as an angry woman attempting to strike +infuriated Zeus, is about to arraign me before the public tribunal, +because I said the sun was merely a great ball of fire. This he +construes into blasphemy against the life-giving Phoebus." + +"The accusation may be thus worded," said Philæmon; "but your real crime +is that you stay away from political assemblies, and are therefore +suspected of being unfriendly to democratic institutions. Demos +reluctantly admits that the right to hold such opinions is an inherent +part of liberty. Soothe the vanity of the dicasts by humble +acknowledgments, and gratify their avarice by a plentiful distribution +of drachmæ; flatter the self-conceit of the Athenians, by assurances +that they are the greatest, most glorious, and most consistent people +upon earth; be careful that Cleon the tanner, and Thearion the baker, +and Theophrastus the maker of lyres, are supplicated and praised in due +form--and, take my word for it, the gods will be left to punish you for +whatever offences you commit against them. They will receive no +assistance from the violet-crowned city." + +"And you, my son," replied the philosopher, "would never have been +exiled from Athens, if you had debated in the porticos with young +citizens, who love to exhibit their own skill in deciding whether the +true cause of the Trojan war were Helen, or the ship that carried her +away, or the man that built the ship, or the wood whereof it was made; +if in your style you had imitated the swelling pomp of Isagoras, where +one solitary idea is rolled over and over in an ocean of words, like a +small pearl tossed about in the Ægean; if you had supped with +Hyperbolus, or been seen in the agoras, walking arm in arm with Cleon. +With such a man as you to head their party, Pericles could not always +retain the ascendancy, by a more adroit use of their own weapons." + +"As soon would I league myself with the Odomantians of Thrace!" +exclaimed Philæmon, with an expression of strong disgust. "It is such +men who destroy the innocence of a republic, and cause that sacred name +to become a mockery among tyrants. The mean-souled wretches! Men who +take from the poor daily interest for a drachma, and spend it in +debauchery. Citizens who applauded Pericles because he gave them an +obolus for a vote, and are now willing to see him superseded by any man +that will give two oboli instead of one! No, my father--I could unite +with none but an honest party--men who love the state and forget +themselves; and such are not now found in Athens. The few that exist +dare not form a barrier against the powerful current that would +inevitably drive them to destruction." + +"You speak truth, Philæmon," rejoined Anaxagoras: "Pallas Athenæ seems +to have deserted her chosen people. The proud Spartans openly laugh at +our approaching downfall, while the smooth Persians watch for a +favourable moment to destroy the freedom already rendered so weak by its +own insanity." + +"The fault will be attributed to democratic principles," said Philæmon; +"but the real difficulty exists in that love of power which hides itself +beneath the mask of Democracy, until a corrupted public can endure its +undisguised features without execration. No one can believe that +Pericles lessened the power of the Areopagus from a sincere conviction +that it was for the good of the people. It was done to obtain personal +influence, by purchasing the favour of those who had sufficient reasons +for desiring a less equitable tribunal. Nor could he have ever supposed +that the interests of the republic would be advanced by men whom the +gift of an obolus could induce to vote. The Athenians have been spoiled +by ambitious demagogues, who now try to surfeit them with flattery, as +nurses seek to pacify noisy children with sponges dipped in honey. They +strive to drown the din of domestic discord in boasts of foreign +conquests; and seek to hide corruption in a blaze of glory, as they +concealed their frauds amid the flames of the treasury." + +"Pericles no doubt owes his great popularity to skill in availing +himself of existing circumstances," replied Anaxagoras; "and I am afraid +that the same motives for corrupting, and the same willingness to be +corrupted, will always be found in democratic institutions." + +"It has always been matter of surprise to me," said Philæmon, "that one +so humble and frugal as yourself, and so zealous for the equal rights of +all men, even the meanest citizens, should yet be so little friendly to +that popular idol which the Athenians call Demos." + +The philosopher rejoined: "When I was young, I heard it said of +Lycurgus, that being asked why he, who was such a friend to equality, +did not bestow a democratic government upon Sparta, he answered: "Go and +try a democracy in your own house." The reply pleased me; and a long +residence in Athens has not yet taught me to believe that a man who is +governed by ten thousand masters has more freedom than he who is +governed by one." + +"If kings had the same natural affection for their subjects that parents +have for their children, the comparison of Lycurgus would be just," +answered Philæmon. + +"And what think you of the paternal kindness of this republican decree +whereby five thousand citizens have been sold into slavery, because the +unjust confiscation of their estates rendered them unable to pay their +debts?" said Anaxagoras. + +"Such an edict was passed because Athens is _not_ a republic," replied +Philæmon. "All things are under the control of Pericles; and Aspasia +rules him. When she heard that I remonstrated against his shameful +marriage, she said she would sooner or later bring a Trojan horse into +my house. She has fulfilled her threat by the same means that enabled +Pericles to destroy the political power of some of his most influential +enemies." + +"Pericles has indeed obtained unbounded influence," rejoined Anaxagoras; +"but he did it by counterfeiting the very principle that needed to be +checked; and this is so easily counterfeited, that democracy is always +in danger of becoming tyranny in disguise. The Athenians are as servile +to their popular idol, as the Persians to their hereditary one; but the +popular idol seeks to sustain his power by ministering to that love of +change, which allows nothing to remain sacred and established. Hence, +two opposite evils are combined in action--the reality of despotism +with the form of democracy; the power of a tyrant with the +irresponsibility of a multitude. But, in judging of Pericles, you, my +son, should strive to guard against political enmity, as I do against +personal affection. It cannot be denied that he has often made good use +of his influence. When Cimon brought the remains of Theseus to Athens, +and a temple was erected over them in obedience to the oracle, it was he +who suggested to the people that a hero celebrated for relieving the +oppressed could not be honoured more appropriately than by making his +temple a refuge for abused slaves." + +"Friendly as I am to a government truly republican," answered Philæmon, +"it is indeed difficult to forgive the man who seduces a democracy to +the commission of suicide, for his own advancement. His great abilities +would receive my admiration, if they were not employed in the service of +ambition. As for this new edict, it will prove a rebounding arrow, +striking him who sent it. He will find ten enemies for one in the +kindred of the banished." + +"While we have been talking thus sadly," said the old philosopher, "the +fragrant thyme and murmuring bees give cheerful notice that we are +approaching Mount Hymettus. I see the worthy peasant, Tellus, from whom +I have often received refreshment of bread and grapes; and if it please +you we will share his bounty now." + +The peasant respectfully returned their friendly greeting, and readily +furnished clusters from his luxuriant vineyard. As the travellers seated +themselves beneath the shelter of the vines, Tellus asked, "What news +from Athens?" + +"None of importance," replied Anaxagoras, "excepting rumours of +approaching war, and this new edict, by which so many citizens are +suddenly reduced to poverty." + +"There are always those in Athens who are like the eel-catchers, that +choose to have the waters troubled," observed the peasant. "When the lake +is still, they lose their labour; but when the mud is well stirred, they +take eels in plenty. My son says he gets twelve oboli for a conger-eel, +in the Athenian markets; and that is a goodly price." + +The travellers smiled, and contented themselves with praising his +grapes, without further allusion to the politics of Athens. But Tellus +resumed the discourse, by saying, "So, I hear my old neighbour, +Philargus, has been tried for idleness." + +"Even so," rejoined Anaxagoras; "and his condemnation has proved the +best luck he ever had. The severe sentence of death was changed into a +heavy fine; and Lysidas, the Spartan, immediately begged to be +introduced to him, as the only gentleman he had seen or heard of in +Athens. He has paid the fine for him, and invited him to Lacedæmon; +that he may show his proud countrymen one Athenian who does not disgrace +himself by industry." + +"That comes of having the Helots among them," said Tellus. "My boy +married a Spartan wife, and I can assure you she is a woman that looks +lightning, and speaks mustard. When my son first told her to take the +fish from his basket, she answered angrily, that she was no Helot." + +"I heard this same Lysidas, the other day," said Philæmon, "boasting +that the Spartans were the only real freemen; and Lacedæmon the only +place where courage and virtue always found a sure reward. I asked him +what reward the Helots had for bravery or virtue. 'They are not +scourged; and that is sufficient reward for the base hounds,' was his +contemptuous reply. He approves the law forbidding masters to bestow +freedom on their slaves; and likes the custom which permits boys to whip +them, merely to remind them of their bondage. He ridicules the idea that +injustice will weaken the strength of Sparta, because the gods are +enemies to injustice. He says the sun of liberty shines brighter with +the dark atmosphere of slavery around it; as temperance seems more +lovely to the Spartan youth, after they have seen the Helots made +beastly drunk for their amusement. He seems to forget that the passions +are the same in every human breast; and that it is never wise in any +state to create natural enemies at her own doors. But the Lacedæmonians +make it a rule never to speak of danger from their slaves. They remind +me of the citizens of Amyclæ, who, having been called from their +occupations by frequent rumours of war, passed a vote that no man should +be allowed, under heavy penalties, to believe any report of intended +invasion. When the enemy really came, no man dared to speak of their +approach, and Amyclæ was easily conquered. Lysidas boasted of salutary +cruelty; and in the same breath told me the Helots loved their masters." + +"As the Spartan boys love Orthia, at whose altar they yearly receive a +bloody whipping," said Tellus, laughing. + +"There is one great mistake in Lacedæmonian institutions," observed +Anaxagoras: "They seek to avoid the degrading love of money, by placing +every citizen above the necessity of laborious occupation; but they +forget that the love of tyranny may prove an evil still more dangerous +to the state." + +"You speak justly, my father," answered Philæmon: "The Athenian law, +which condemns any man for speaking disrespectfully of his neighbour's +trade, is most wise; and it augurs ill for Athens that some of her young +equestrians begin to think it unbecoming to bring home provisions for +their own dinner from the agoras." + +"Alcibiades, for instance!" exclaimed the philosopher: "He would +consider himself disgraced by any other burthen than his fighting +quails, which he carries out to take the air." + +Philæmon started up suddenly--for the name of Alcibiades stung him like +a serpent. Immediately recovering his composure, he turned to recompense +the hospitality of the honest peasant, and to bid him a friendly +farewell. + +But Tellus answered bluntly; "No, young Athenian; I like your +sentiments, and will not touch your coin. The gods bless you." + +The travellers having heartily returned his parting benediction, slowly +ascended Mount Hymettus. When they paused to rest upon its summit, a +glorious prospect lay stretched out before them. On the north, were +Megara, Eleusis, and the cynosure of Marathon; in the south, numerous +islands, like a flock of birds, reposed on the bright bosom of the +Aegean; to the west, was the broad Piræus with its thousand ships, and +Athens in all her magnificence of beauty; while the stately buildings of +distant Corinth mingled with the cloudless sky. The declining sun threw +his refulgent mantle over the lovely scene, and temples, towers, and +villas glowed in the purple light. + +The travellers stood for a few moments in perfect silence--Philæmon +with folded arms, and Anaxagoras leaning on his staff. At length, in +tones of deep emotion, the young man exclaimed, "Oh, Athens, how I have +loved thee! Thy glorious existence has been a part of my own being! For +thy prosperity how freely would I have poured out my blood! The gods +bless thee, and save thee from thyself!" + +"Who could look upon her and not bless her in his heart?" said the old +philosopher: "There she stands, fair as the heaven-born Pallas, in all +her virgin majesty! But alas for Athens, when every man boasts of his +own freedom, and no man respects the freedom of his neighbour. Peaceful, +she seems, in her glorious beauty; but the volcano is heaving within, +and already begins to throw forth its showers of smoke and stones." + +"Would that the gods had permitted me to share her dangers--to die and +mingle with her beloved soil!" exclaimed Philæmon. + +The venerable philosopher looked up, and saw intense wretchedness in the +countenance of his youthful friend. He laid his hand kindly upon +Philæmon's arm; "Nay, my son," said he; "You must not take this unjust +decree so much to heart. Of Athens nothing can be so certainly predicted +as change. Things as trifling as the turning of a shell may restore you +to your rights. You can even now return, if you will submit to be a mere +sojourner in Athens. After all, what vast privileges do you lose with +your citizenship. You must indeed wrestle at Cynosarges, instead of the +Lyceum or the Academia; but in this, the great Themistocles has given +you honourable example. You will not be allowed to enter the theatre +while the Athenians keep the second day of their festival Anthesteria; +but to balance this privation, you are forbidden to vote, and are thus +freed from all blame belonging to unjust and capricious laws." + +"My father, playful words cannot cure the wound," replied the exile, +seriously: "The cherished recollections of years cannot be so easily +torn from the heart. Athens, with all her faults, is still my own, my +beautiful, my beloved land. They might have killed me, if they would, if +I had but died an Athenian citizen." + +He spoke with a voice deeply agitated; but after a few moments of forced +composure, he continued more cheerfully: "Let us speak of other +subjects. We are standing here, on the self-same spot where Aristo and +Perictione laid the infant Plato, while they sacrificed to the +life-giving Phoebus. It was here the bees clustered about his infant +mouth, and his mother hailed the omen of his future eloquence. Commend +me to that admirable man, and tell him I shall vainly seek throughout +the world to find another Plato. + +"Commend me likewise to the Persian Artaphernes. To his bounty I am much +indebted. Lest he should hope that I carry away feelings hostile to +Athens, and favourable to her enemies, say to the kind old man, that +Philæmon will never forget his country or his friends. I have left a +long letter to Paralus, in which my full heart has but feebly expressed +its long-cherished friendship. When you return, you will find a trifling +token of remembrance for yourself and Philothea. May Pallas shower her +richest blessings upon that pure and gifted maiden." + +With some hesitation, Anaxagoras said, "You make no mention of Eudora; +and I perceive that both you and Philothea are reserved when her name is +mentioned. Do not believe every idle rumour, my son. The gayety of a +light-hearted maiden is often unmixed with boldness, or crime. Do not +cast her from you too lightly." + +Philæmon averted his face for a moment, and struggled hard with his +feelings. Then turning abruptly, he pressed the old man's hand, and +said, "Bid Philothea, guide and cherish her deluded friend, for my sake. +And now, farewell, Anaxagoras! Farewell, forever! my kind, my good old +master. May the gods bless the wise counsels and virtuous example you +have given me." + +The venerable philosopher stretched forth his arms to embrace him. The +young man threw himself upon that friendly bosom, and overcome by a +variety of conflicting emotions, sobbed aloud. + +As they parted, Anaxagoras again pressed Philæmon to his heart, and +said, "May that God, whose numerous attributes the Grecians worship, +forever bless thee, my dear son." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Courage, Orestes! if the lots hit right, + If the black pebbles don't exceed the white, + You're safe. + EURIPIDES. + + +Pericles sought to please the populace by openly using his influence to +diminish the power of the Areopagus; and a decree had been passed that +those who denied the existence of the gods, or introduced new opinions +about celestial things, should be tried by the people. This event proved +fortunate for some of his personal friends; for Hermippus soon laid +before the Thesmothetæ Archons an accusation of blasphemy against +Anaxagoras, Phidias, and Aspasia. The case was tried before the fourth +Assembly of the people; and the fame of the accused, together with the +well-known friendship of Pericles, attracted an immense crowd; insomuch +that the Prytaneum was crowded to overflowing. The prisoners came in, +attended by the Phylarchi of their different wards. Anaxagoras retained +his usual bland expression and meek dignity. Phidias walked with a +haughtier tread, and carried his head more proudly. Aspasia was veiled; +but as she glided along, gracefully as a swan on the bosom of still +waters, loud murmurs of approbation were heard from the crowd. Pericles +seated himself near them, with deep sadness on his brow. The moon had +not completed its revolution since he had seen Phidias arraigned before +the Second Assembly of the people, charged by Menon, one of his own +pupils, with having defrauded the state of gold appropriated to the +statue of Pallas. Fortunately, the sculptor had arranged the precious +metal so that it could be taken off and weighed; and thus his innocence +was easily made manifest. But the great statesman had seen, by many +indications, that the blow was in part aimed at himself through his +friends; and that his enemies were thus trying to ascertain how far the +people could be induced to act in opposition to his well-known wishes. +The cause had been hurried before the assembly, and he perceived that +his opponents were there in great numbers. As soon as the Epistates +began to read the accusation, Pericles leaned forward, and burying his +face in his robe, remained motionless. + +Anaxagoras was charged with not having offered victims to the gods; and +with having blasphemed the divine Phoebus, by saying the sun was only a +huge ball of fire. Being called upon to answer whether he were guilty of +this offence, he replied: "Living victims I have never sacrificed to the +gods; because, like the Pythagoreans, I object to the shedding of blood; +but, like the disciples of their sublime philosopher, I have duly +offered on their altars small goats and rams made of wax. I did say I +believed the sun to be a great ball of fire; and deemed not that in so +doing I had blasphemed the divine Phoebus." + +When he had finished, it was proclaimed aloud that any Athenian, not +disqualified by law, might speak. Cleon arose, and said it was well +known to the disciples of Anaxagoras, that he taught the existence of +but one God. Euripides, Pericles, and others who had been his pupils, +were separately called to bear testimony; and all said he taught One +Universal Mind, of which all other divinities were the attributes; even +as Homer represented the inferior deities subordinate to Zeus. + +When the philosopher was asked whether he believed in the gods, he +answered, "I do: but I believe in them as the representatives of various +attributes in One Universal Mind." He was then required to swear by all +the gods, and by the dreaded Erinnys, that he had spoken truly. + +The Prytanes informed the assembly that their vote must decide whether +this avowed doctrine r endered Anaxagoras of Clazomenæ worthy of death. +A brazen urn was carried round, in which every citizen deposited a +pebble. When counted, the black pebbles predominated over the white, and +Anaxagoras was condemned to die. + +The old man heard it very calmly, and replied: "Nature pronounced that +sentence upon me before I was born. Do what you will, Athenians, ye can +only injure the outward case of Anaxagoras; the real, immortal +Anaxagoras is beyond your power." + +Phidias was next arraigned, and accused of blasphemy, in having carved +the likeness of himself and Pericles on the shield of heaven-born +Pallas; and of having said that he approved the worship of the gods, +merely because he wished to have his own works adored. The sculptor +proudly replied, "I never declared that my own likeness, or that of +Pericles, was on the shield of heaven-born Pallas; nor can any Athenian +prove that I ever intended to place them there. I am not answerable for +offences which have their origin in the eyes of the multitude. If +_their_ quick discernment be the test, crimes may be found written even +on the glowing embers of our household altars. I never said I approved +the worship of the gods because I wished to have my own works adored; +for I should have deemed it irreverent thus to speak of divine beings. +Some learned and illustrious guests, who were at the symposium in +Aspasia's house, discoursed concerning the worship of images, apart from +the idea of any divine attributes, which they represented. I said I +approved not of this; and playfully added, that if it were otherwise, I +might perchance be excused for sanctioning the worship of mere images, +since mortals were ever willing to have their own works adored." The +testimony of Pericles, Alcibiades, and Plato, confirmed the truth of his +words. + +Cleon declared it was commonly believed that Phidias decoyed the maids +and matrons of Athens to his house, under the pretence of seeing +sculpture; but in reality to minister to the profligacy of Pericles. The +sculptor denied the charge; and required that proof should be given of +one Athenian woman, who had visited his house, unattended by her husband +or her father. The enemies of Pericles could easily have procured such +evidence with gold; but when Cleon sought again to speak, the Prytanes +commanded silence; and briefly reminded the people that the Fourth +Assembly had power to decide concerning religious matters only. +Hermippus, in a speech of considerable length, urged that Phidias seldom +sacrificed to the gods; and that he must have intended likenesses on the +shield of Pallas, because even Athenian children recognized them. + +The brazen urn was again passed round, and the black pebbles were more +numerous than they had been when the fate of Anaxagoras was decided. +When Phidias heard the sentence, he raised himself to his full stature, +and waving his right arm over the crowd, said, in a loud voice: "Phidias +can never die! Athens herself will live in the fame of Charmides' son." +His majestic figure and haughty bearing awed the multitude; and some, +repenting of the vote they had given, said, "Surely, invisible Phoebus +is with him!" + +Aspasia was next called to answer the charges brought against her. She +had dressed herself, in deep mourning, as if appealing to the compassion +of the citizens; and her veil was artfully arranged to display an arm +and shoulder of exquisite whiteness and beauty, contrasted with glossy +ringlets of dark hair, that carelessly rested on it. She was accused of +saying that the sacred baskets of Demeter contained nothing of so much +importance as the beautiful maidens who carried them; and that the +temple of Poseidon was enriched with no offerings from those who had +been wrecked, notwithstanding their supplications--thereby implying +irreverent doubts of the power of Ocean's god. To this, Aspasia, in +clear and musical tones, replied: "I said not that the sacred baskets of +Demeter contained nothing of so much importance as the beautiful maidens +who carried them. But, in playful allusion to the love of beauty, so +conspicuous in Alcibiades, I said that _he_, who was initiated into the +mysteries of Eleusis, might think, the baskets less attractive than the +lovely maidens who carried them. Irreverence was not in my thoughts; +but inasmuch as my careless words implied it, I have offered atoning +sacrifices to the mother of Persephone, during which I abstained from +all amusements. When I declared that the temple of Poseidon contained no +offerings in commemoration of men that had been wrecked, I said it in +reproof of those who fail to supplicate the gods for the manes of the +departed. They who perish on the ocean, may have offended Poseidon, or +the Virgin Sisters of the Deep; and on their altars should offerings be +laid by surviving friends. + +"No man can justly accuse me of disbelief in the gods; for it is well +known that with every changing moon I offer on the altars of Aphrodite, +doves and sparrows, with baskets of apples, roses and myrtles: and who +in Athens has not seen the ivory car drawn by golden swans, which the +grateful Aspasia placed in the temple of that love-inspiring deity?" + +Phidias could scarcely restrain a smile, as he listened to this defence; +and when the fair casuist swore by all the gods, and by the Erinnys, +that she had spoken truly, Anaxagoras looked up involuntarily, with an +expression of child-like astonishment. Alcibiades promptly corroborated +her statement. Plato, being called to testify, gravely remarked that she +had uttered those words, and she alone could explain her motives. The +populace seemed impressed in her favour; and when it was put to vote +whether sentence of death should be passed, an universal murmur arose, +of "Exile! Exile!" + +The Epistates requested that all who wished to consider it a question of +exile, rather than of death, would signify the same by holding up their +hands. With very few exceptions, the crowd were inclined to mercy. +Hermippus gave tokens of displeasure, and hastily rose to accuse Aspasia +of corrupting the youth of Athens, by the introduction of singing and +dancing women, and by encouraging the matrons of Greece to appear +unveiled. + +A loud laugh followed his remarks; for the comic actor was himself far +from aiding public morals by an immaculate example. + +The Prytanes again reminded him that charges of this nature must be +decided by the First Assembly of the people; and, whether true or +untrue, ought to have no influence on religious questions brought before +the Fourth Assembly. + +Hermippus was perfectly aware of this; but he deemed that the vote might +be affected by his artful suggestion. + +The brazen urn was again carried round; and fifty-one pebbles only +appeared in disapprobation of exile. + +Then Pericles arose, and looked around him with calm dignity. He was +seldom seen in public, even at entertainments; hence, something of +sacredness was attached to his person, like the Salaminian galley +reserved for great occasions. A murmur like the Distant ocean was heard, +as men whispered to each other, "Lo, Pericles is about to speak!" When +the tumult subsided, he said, in a loud voice, "If any here can accuse +Pericles of having enriched himself at the expense of the state, let him +hold up his right hand!" + +Not a hand was raised--for his worst enemies could not deny that he was +temperate and frugal. + +After a slight pause, he again resumed: "If any man can show that +Pericles ever asked a public favour for himself or his friends, let him +speak!" No words were uttered; but a murmur of discontent was heard in +the vicinity of Cleon and Hermippus. + +The illustrious statesman folded his arms, and waited in quiet majesty +for the murmur to assume a distinct form. When all was hashed, he +continued: "If any man believes that Athens has declined in beauty, +wealth, or power, since the administration of Pericles, let him give his +opinion freely!" + +National enthusiasm was kindled; and many voices exclaimed, "Hail +Pericles! All hail to Athens in her glory!" + +The statesman gracefully waved his hand toward the multitude, as he +replied, "Thanks, friends and brother-citizens. Who among you is +disposed to grant to Pericles one favour, not inconsistent with your +laws, or in opposition to the decrees of this assembly?" + +A thousand hands were instantly raised. Pericles again expressed his +thanks, and said, "The favour I have to ask is, that the execution of +these decrees be suspended, until the oracle of Amphiaraus can be +consulted. If it please you, let a vote be taken who shall be the +messenger." + +The proposal was accepted; and Antiphon, a celebrated diviner, appointed +to consult the oracle. + +As the crowd dispersed, Cleon muttered to Hermippus, "By Circe! I +believe he has given the Athenians philtres to make them love him. No +wonder Archidamus of Sparta said, that when he threw Pericles in +wrestling, he insisted he was never down, and persuaded the very +spectators to believe him." + +Anaxagoras and Phidias, being under sentence of death, were placed in +prison, until the people should finally decide upon their fate. The old +philosopher cheerfully employed his hours in attempts to square the +circle. The sculptor carved a wooden image, with many hands and feet, +and without a head; upon the pedestal of which he inscribed Demos, and +secretly reserved it as a parting gift to the Athenian people. + +Before another moon had waned, Antiphon returned from Oropus, whither he +had been sent to consult the oracle. Being called before the people, he +gave the following account of his mission: "I abstained from food until +Phoebus had twice appeared above the hills, in his golden chariot; and +for three days and three nights, I tasted no wine. When I had thus +purified myself, I offered a white ram to Amphiaraus; and spreading the +skin on the ground, I invoked the blessing of Phoebus and his prophetic +son, and laid me down to sleep. Methought I walked in the streets of +Athens. A lurid light shone on the walls of the Piræus, and spread into +the city, until all the Acropolis seemed glowing beneath a fiery sky. I +looked up--and lo! the heavens were in a blaze! Huge masses of flame +were thrown backward and forward, as if Paridamator and the Cyclops were +hurling their forges at each other's heads. Amazed, I turned to ask the +meaning of these phenomena; and I saw that all the citizens were clothed +in black; and wherever two were walking together, one fell dead by his +side. Then I heard a mighty voice, that seemed to proceed from within +the Parthenon. Three times it pronounced distinctly, 'Wo! wo! wo unto +Athens! + +"I awoke, and after a time slept again. I heard a rumbling noise, like +thunder; and from the statue of Amphiaraus came a voice, saying, 'Life +is given by the gods.' + +"Then all was still. Presently I again heard a sound like the +multitudinous waves of ocean, when it rises in a storm--and Amphiaraus +said, slowly, 'Count the pebbles on the seashore--yea, count them +twice.' Then I awoke; and having bathed in the fountain, I threw therein +three pieces of gold and silver, and departed." + +The people demanded of Antiphon the meaning of these visions. He +replied: "The first portends calamity to Athens, either of war or +pestilence. By the response of the oracle, I understand that the +citizens are commanded to vote twice, before they take away life given +by the gods." + +The wish to gain time had chiefly induced Pericles to request that +Amphiaraus might be consulted. In the interval, his emissaries had been +busy in softening the minds of the people; and it became universally +known that in case Aspasia's sentence were reversed, she intended to +offer sacrifices to Aphrodite, Poseidon, and Demeter; during the +continuance of which, the citizens would be publicly feasted at her +expense. + +In these exertions, Pericles was zealously assisted by Clinias, a noble +and wealthy Athenian, the friend of Anaxagoras and Phidias, and a +munificent patron of the arts. He openly promised, if the lives of his +friends were spared, to evince his gratitude to the gods, by offering a +golden lamp to Pallas Parthenia, and placing in each of the agoras any +statue or painting the people thought fit to propose. + +Still, Pericles, aware of the bitterness of his enemies, increased by +the late severe edict against those of foreign parentage, felt +exceedingly fearful of the result of a second vote. A petition, signed +by Pericles, Clinias, Ephialtes, Euripides, Socrates, Plato, Alcibiades, +Paralus, and many other distinguished citizens, was sent into the Second +Assembly of the people, begging that the accused might have another +trial; and this petition was granted. + +When the Fourth Assembly again met, strong efforts were made to fill the +Prytaneum at a very early hour with the friends of Pericles. + +The great orator secluded himself for three preceding days, and +refrained from wine. During this time, he poured plentiful libations of +milk and honey to Hermes, god of Eloquence, and sacrificed the tongues +of nightingales to Peitho, goddess of Persuasion. + +When he entered the Prytaneum, it was remarked that he had never before +been seen to look so pale; and this circumstance, trifling as it was, +excited the ready sympathies of the people. When the Epistates read the +accusation against Anaxagoras, and proclaimed that any Athenian, not +disqualified by law, might speak, Pericles arose. For a moment he looked +on the venerable countenance of the old philosopher, and seemed to +struggle with his emotions. Then, with sudden impulse, he exclaimed, +"Look on him, Athenians! and judge ye if he be one accursed of the +gods!--He is charged with having said that the sun is a great ball of +fire; and therein ye deem that the abstractions of philosophy have led +him to profane the sacred name of Phoebus. We are told that Zeus assumed +the form of an eagle, a serpent, and a golden shower; yet these forms do +not affect our belief in the invisible god. If Phoebus appeared on earth +in the disguise of a woman and a shepherd, is it unpardonable for a +philosopher to suppose that the same deity may choose to reside within a +ball of fire? In the garden of Anaxagoras, you will find a statue of +Pallas, carved from an olive-tree. He brought it with him from Ionia; +and those disciples who most frequent his house, can testify that +sacrifices were ever duly offered upon her altar. Who among you ever +received an injury from that kind old man? He was the descendant of +princes,--yet gave up gold for philosophy, and forbore to govern +mankind, that he might love them more perfectly. Ask the young noble, +who has been to him as a father; and his response will be 'Anaxagoras.' +Ask the poor fisherman at the gates, who has been to him as a brother; +and he will answer 'Anaxagoras.' When the merry-hearted boys throng your +doors to sing their welcome to Ornithæ, inquire from whom they receive +the kindest word and the readiest gift; and they will tell you, +'Anaxagoras.' The Amphiaraus of Eschylus, says, 'I do not wish to +_appear_ to be a good man, but I wish to _be_ one.' Ask any of the +poets, what living man most resembles Amphiaraus in this sentiment; and +his reply will surely be, 'It is Anaxagoras.' + +"Again I say, Athenians, look upon his face; and judge ye if he be one +accursed of the gods!" + +The philosopher had leaned on his staff, and looked downward, while his +illustrious pupil made this defence; and when he had concluded, a tear +was seen slowly trickling down his aged cheek. His accusers again urged +that he had taught the doctrine of one god, under the name of One +Universal Mind; but the melodious voice and fluent tongue of Pericles +had so wrought upon the citizens, that when the question was proposed, +whether the old man were worthy of death, there arose a clamourous cry +of "Exile! Exile!" + +The successful orator did not venture to urge the plea of entire +innocence; for he felt that he still had too much depending on the +capricious favour of the populace. + +The aged philosopher received his sentence with thanks; and calmly +added, "Anaxagoras is not exiled from Athens; but Athens from +Anaxagoras. Evil days are coming on this city; and those who are too +distant to perceive the trophy at Salamis will deem themselves most +blessed. Pythagoras said, 'When the tempest is rising,'tis wise to +worship the echo.'" + +After the accusation against Phidias had been read, Pericles again rose +and said, "Athenians! I shall speak briefly; for I appeal to what every +citizen values more than his fortune or his name. I plead for the glory +of Athens. When strangers from Ethiopia, Egypt, Phoenicia, and distant +Taprobane, come to witness the far-famed beauty of the violet-crowned +city, they will stand in mute worship before the Parthenon; and when +their wonder finds utterance, they will ask what the Athenians bestowed +on an artist so divine. Who among you could look upon the image of +Virgin Pallas, resplendent in her heavenly majesty, and not blush to +tell the barbarian stranger that death was the boon you bestowed on +Phidias? + +"Go, gaze on the winged statue of Rhamnusia, where vengeance seems to +breathe from the marble sent by Darius to erect his trophy on the plains +of Marathon! Then turn and tell the proud Persian that the hand which +wrought those fair proportions, lies cold and powerless, by vote of the +Athenian people. No--ye could not say it: your hearts would choke your +voices. Ye could not tell the barbarian that Athens thus destroyed one +of the most gifted of her sons." + +The crowd answered in a thunder of applause; mingled with the cry of +"Exile! Exile!" A few voices shouted, "A fine! A fine!" Then Cleon arose +and said: "Miltiades asked for an olive crown; and a citizen answered, +'When Miltiades conquers alone, let him be crowned alone.' When Phidias +can show that he built the Parthenon without the assistance of Ictinus, +Myron, Callicrates, and others, then let him have the whole credit of +the Parthenon." + +To this, Pericles replied, "We are certainly much indebted to those +artists for many of the beautiful and graceful details of that sublime +composition; but with regard to the majestic design of the Parthenon, +Phidias conquered alone, and may therefore justly be crowned alone." + +A vote was taken on the question of exile, and the black pebbles +predominated. The sculptor heard his sentence with a proud gesture, not +unmingled with scorn; and calmly replied, "They can banish Phidias from +Athens, more easily than I can take from them the fame of Phidias." + +When Pericles replied to the charges against Aspasia, his countenance +became more pale, and his voice was agitated: "You all know," said he, +"That Aspasia is of Miletus. That city which poets call the laughing +daughter of Earth and Heaven: where even the river smiles, as it winds +along in graceful wanderings, eager to kiss every new blossom, and court +the dalliance of every breeze. Do ye not find it easy to forgive a +woman, born under those joyful skies, where beauty rests on the earth in +a robe of sunbeams, and inspires the gayety which pours itself forth in +playful words? Can ye judge harshly of one, who from her very childhood +has received willing homage, as the favourite of Aphrodite, Phoebus, and +the Muses? If she spoke irreverently, it was done in thoughtless mirth; +and she has sought to atone for it by sacrifices and tears. + +"Athenians! I have never boasted; and if I seem to do it now, it is +humbly,--as befits one who seeks a precious boon. In your service I have +spent many toilsome days and sleepless nights. That I have not enriched +myself by it, is proved by the well-known fact that my own son blames my +frugality, and reproachfully calls me the slave of the Athenian people." + +He paused for a moment, and held his hand over Aspasia's head, as he +continued: "In the midst of perplexities and cares, here I have ever +found a solace and a guide. Here are treasured up the affections of my +heart. It is not for Aspasia, the gifted daughter of Axiochus, that I +plead. It is for Aspasia, the beloved wife of Pericles." + +Tears choked his utterance; but stifling his emotion, he exclaimed, +"Athenians! if ye would know what it is that thus unmans a soul capable +of meeting death with calmness, behold, and judge for yourselves!" + +As he spoke, he raised Aspasia's veil. Her drapery had been studiously +arranged to display her loveliness to the utmost advantage; and as she +stood forth radiant in beauty, the building rung with the acclamations +that were sent forth, peal after peal, by the multitude. + +Pericles had not in vain calculated on the sympathies of a volatile and +ardent people, passionately fond of the beautiful, in all its forms. +Aspasia remained in Athens, triumphant over the laws of religion and +morality. + +Clinias desired leave to speak in behalf of Philothea, grandchild of +Anaxagoras; and the populace, made good-humoured by their own clemency, +expressed a wish to hear. He proceeded as follows: "Philothea,--whom you +all know was, not long since, one of the Canephoræ, and embroidered the +splendid peplus exhibited at the last Panathenæa--humbly begs of the +Athenians, that Eudora, Dione, and Geta, slaves of Phidias, may remain +under his protection, and not be confiscated with his household goods. A +contribution would have been raised, to buy these individuals of the +state, were it not deemed an insult to that proud and generous people, +who fined a citizen for proposing marble as a cheaper material than +ivory for the statue of Pallas Parthenia." + +The request, thus aided by flattery, was almost unanimously granted. One +black pebble alone appeared in the urn; and that was from the hand of +Alcibiades. + +Clinias expressed his thanks, and holding up the statue of Urania, he +added: "In token of gratitude for this boon, and for the life of a +beloved grandfather, Philothea consecrates to Pallas Athenæ this image +of the star-worshipping muse; the gift of a munificent Ethiopian." + +The populace, being in gracious mood, forthwith voted that the exiles +had permission to carry with them any articles valued as the gift of +friendship. + +The Prytanes dismissed the assembly; and as they dispersed, Alcibiades +scattered small coins among them. Aspasia immediately sent to the +Prytaneum an ivory statue of Mnemosyne, smiling as she looked back on a +group of Hours; a magnificent token that she would never forget the +clemency of the Athenian people. + +Hermippus took an early opportunity to proclaim the exhibition of a new +comedy called Hercules and Omphale; and the volatile citizens thronged +the theatre, to laugh at that infatuated tenderness, which in the +Prytaneum had well nigh moved them to tears. The actor openly ridiculed +them for having been so much influenced by their orator's +least-successful attempt at eloquence; but in the course of the same +play, Cratinus raised a laugh at his expense, by saying facetiously: +"Lo! Hermippus would speak like Pericles! Hear him, Athenians! Is he not +as successful as Salmoneus, when he rolled his chariot over a brazen +bridge, and hurled torches to imitate the thunder and lightning of +Zeus?" + +When the day of trial had passed, Pericles slept soundly; for his heart +was relieved from a heavy pressure. But personal enemies and envious +artists were still active; and it was soon buzzed abroad that the people +repented of the vote they had given. The exiles had been allowed ten +days to sacrifice to the gods, bid farewell to friends, and prepare for +departure; but on the third day, at evening twilight, Pericles entered +the dwelling of his revered old master. "My father," said he, "I am +troubled in spirit. I have just now returned from the Piræus, where I +sought an interview with Clinias, who daily visits the Deigma, and has a +better opportunity than I can have to hear the news of Athens. I found +him crowned with garlands; for he had been offering sacrifices in the +hall. He told me he had thus sought to allay the anxiety of his mind +with regard to yourself and Phidias. He fears the capricious Athenians +will reverse their decree." + +"Alas, Pericles," replied the old man, "what can you expect of a people, +when statesmen condescend to buy justice at their hands, by promised +feasts, and scattered coin?" + +"Nay, blame me not, Anaxagoras," rejoined Pericles; "I cannot govern as +I would. I found the people corrupted; and I must humour their disease. +Your life must be saved; even if you reprove me for the means. At +midnight, a boat will be in readiness to conduct you to Salamis, where +lies a galley bound for Ionia. I hasten to warn Phidias to depart +speedily for Elis." + +The parting interview between Philothea and her repentant friend was +almost too painful for endurance. Poor Eudora felt that she was indeed +called to drink the cup of affliction, to its last bitter drop. Her +heart yearned to follow the household of Anaxagoras; but Philothea +strengthened her own conviction that duty and gratitude both demanded +she should remain with Phidias. + +Geta and Milza likewise had their sorrows--the harder to endure, because +they were the first they had ever encountered. The little peasant was so +young, and her lover so poor, that their friends thought a union had +better be deferred. But Milza was free: and Anaxagoras told her it +depended on her own choice, to go with them, or follow Geta. The +grateful Arcadian dropped on one knee, and kissing Philothea's hand, +while the tears flowed down her cheeks, said: "She has been a mother to +orphan Milza, and I will not leave her now. Geta says it would be wrong +to leave her when she is in affliction." + +Philothea, with a gentle smile, put back the ringlets from her tearful +eyes, and told her not to weep for her sake; for she should be resigned +and cheerful, wheresover the gods might place her; but Milza saw that +her smiles were sad. + +At midnight, Pericles came, to accompany Anaxagoras to Salamis. Paralus +and Philothea had been conversing much, and singing their favourite +songs together, for the last time. The brow of the ambitious statesman +became clouded, when he observed that his son had been in tears; he +begged that preparations for departure might be hastened. The young man +followed them to the Piræus; but Pericles requested him to go no +further. The restraint of his presence prevented any parting less formal +than that of friendship. But he stood watching the boat that conveyed +them over the waters; and when the last ripple left in its wake had +disappeared, he slowly returned to Athens. + +The beautiful city stoood before him, mantled in moonlight's silvery +veil. Yet all seemed cheerless; for the heart of Paralus was desolate. +He looked toward the beloved mansion near the gate Diocharis; drew from +his bosom a long lock of golden hair; and leaning against the statue of +Hermes, bowed down his head and wept. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + "How I love the mellow sage, + Smiling through the veil of age! + Age is on his temples hung, + But his heart--his heart is young!" + ANACREON + + +A few years passed away, and saw Anaxagoras the contented resident of a +small village near Lampsacus, in Ionia. That he still fondly cherished +Athens in his heart was betrayed only by the frequent walks he took to a +neighbouring eminence, where he loved to sit and look toward the Ægean; +but the feebleness of age gradually increased, until he could no longer +take his customary exercise. Philothea watched over him with renewed +tenderness; and the bright tranquillity he received from the world he +was fast approaching, shone with reflected light upon her innocent soul. +At times, the maiden was so conscious of this holy influence, that all +the earthly objects around her seemed like dreams of some strange +foreign land. + +One morning, after they had partaken their frugal repast, she said, in a +cheerful tone, "Dear grandfather, I had last night a pleasant dream; and +Milza says it is prophetic, because she had filled my pillow with fresh +laurel leaves. I dreamed that a galley, with three banks of oars, and +adorned with fillets, came to carry us back to Athens." + +With a faint smile, Anaxagoras replied, "Alas for unhappy Athens! If +half we hear be true, her exiled children can hardly wish to be restored +to her bosom. Atropos has decreed that I at least shall never again +enter her walls. I am not disposed to murmur. Yet the voice of Plato +would be pleasant to my ears, as music on the waters in the night-time. +I pray you bring forth the writings of Pythagoras, and read me something +that sublime philosopher has said concerning the nature of the soul, and +the eternal principle of life. As my frail body approaches the Place of +Sleep, I feel less and less inclined to study the outward images of +things, the forms whereof perish; and my spirit thirsteth more and more +to know its origin and its destiny. I have thought much of Plato's +mysterious ideas of light. Those ideas were doubtless brought from the +East; for as that is the quarter where the sun rises, so we have thence +derived many vital truths, which have kept a spark of life within the +beautiful pageantry of Grecian mythology." + +"Paralus often said that the Persian Magii, the Egyptian priests, and +the Pythagoreans imbibed their reverence for light from one common +source," rejoined Philothea. + +Anaxagoras was about to speak, when a deep but gentle voice, from some +invisible person near them, said: + +"The unchangeable principles of Truth act upon the soul like the sun +upon the eye, when it turneth to him. But the _one_ principle, better +than intellect, from which all things flow, and to which all things +tend, is Good. As the sun not only makes objects visible, but is the +cause of their generation, nourishment, and increase, so the Good, +through Truth, imparts being, and the power of being known, to every +object of knowledge. For this cause, the Pythagoreans greet the sun with +music and with reverence." + +The listeners looked at each other in surprise, and Philothea was the +first to say, "It is the voice of Plato!" + +"Even so, my friends," replied the philosopher, smiling, as he stood +before them. + +The old man, in the sudden joy of his heart, attempted to rise and +embrace him; but weakness prevented. The tears started to his eyes, as +he said, "Welcome, most welcome, son of Aristo. You see that I am fast +going where we hope the spirit is to learn its own mysteries." + +Plato, affected at the obvious change in his aged friend, silently +grasped his hand, and turned to answer the salutation of Philothea. She +too had changed; but she had never been more lovely. The colour on her +cheek, which had always been delicate as the reflected hue of a rose, +had become paler by frequent watchings; but her large dark eyes were +more soft and serious, and her whole countenance beamed with the bright +stillness of a spirit receiving the gift of prophecy. + +The skies were serene; the music of reeds came upon the ear, softened by +distance; while the snowy fleece of sheep and lambs formed a beautiful +contrast with the rich verdure of the landscape. + +"All things around you are tranquil," said Plato; "and thus I ever found +it, even in corrupted Athens. Not the stillness of souls that sleep, but +the quiet of life drawn from deep fountains." + +"How did you find our peaceful retreat?" inquired Philothea. "Did none +guide you?" + +"Euago of Lampsacus told me what course to pursue," he replied; "and not +far distant I again asked of a shepherd boy--well knowing that all the +children would find out Anaxagoras as readily as bees are guided to the +flowers. As I approached nearer I saw at every step new tokens of my +friends. The clepsydra, in the little brook, dropping its pebbles to +mark the hours; the arytæna placed on the rock for thirsty travellers; +the door loaded with garlands, placed there by glad-hearted boys; the +tablet covered with mathematical lines, lying on the wooden bench, +sheltered by grape-vines trained in the Athenian fashion, with a distaff +among the foliage; all these spoke to me of souls that unite the wisdom +of age with the innocence of childhood." + +"Though we live in indolent Ionia, we still believe Hesiod's maxim, that +industry is the guardian of virtue," rejoined Anaxagoras. "Philothea +plies her distaff as busily as Lachesis spinning the thread of mortal +life." He looked upon his beautiful grandchild, with an expression full +of tenderness, as he added, "And she does indeed spin the thread of the +old man's life; for her diligent fingers gain my bread. But what news +bring you from unhappy Athens? Is Pericles yet alive?" + +"She is indeed unhappy Athens," answered Plato. "The pestilence is still +raging; a manifested form of that inward corruption, which, finding a +home in the will of man, clothed itself in thought, and now completes +its circle in his corporeal nature. The dream at the cave of Amphiaraus +is literally fulfilled. Men fall down senseless in the street, and the +Piræus has been heaped with unburied dead. All the children of Clinias +are in the Place of Sleep. Hipparete is dead, with two of her little +ones. Pericles himself was one of the first sufferers; but he was +recovered by the skill of Hippocrates, the learned physician from Cos. +His former wife is dead, and so is Xanthippus his son. You know that +that proud young man and his extravagant wife could never forgive the +frugality of Pericles. Even in his dying moments he refused to call him +father, and made no answer to his affectionate inquiries. Pericles has +borne all his misfortunes with the dignity of an immortal. No one has +seen him shed a tear, of heard him utter a complaint. The ungrateful +people blame him for all their troubles, as if he had omnipotent power +to avert evils. Cleon and Tolmides are triumphant. Pericles is deprived +of office, and fined fifty drachmæ." + +He looked at Philothea, and seeing her eyes fixed earnestly upon him, +her lips parted, and an eager flush spread over her whole countenance, +he said, in a tone of tender solemnity, "Daughter of Alcimenes, your +heart reproaches me, that I forbear to speak of Paralus. That I have +done so has not been from forgetfulness, but because I have, with vain +and self-defeating prudence, sought for cheerful words to convey sad +thoughts. Paralus breathes and moves, but is apparently unconscious of +existence in this world. He is silent and abstracted, like one just +returned from the cave of Trophonius. Yet, beautiful forms are ever with +him, in infinite variety; for his quiescent soul has now undisturbed +recollection of the divine archetypes in the ideal world, of which all +earthly beauty is the shadow." + +"He is happy, then, though living in the midst of death," answered +Philothea: "But does his memory retain no traces of his friends?" + +"One--and one only," he replied. "The name of Philothea was too deeply +engraven to be washed away by the waters of oblivion. He seldom speaks; +but when he does, you are ever in his visions. The sound of a female +voice accompanying the lyre is the only thing that makes him smile; and +nothing moves him to tears save the farewell song of Orpheus to +Eurydice. In his drawings there is more of majesty and beauty than +Phidias or Myron ever conceived; and one figure is always there--the +Pythia, the Muse, the Grace, or something combining all these, more +spiritual than either." + +As the maiden listened, tears started from fountains long sealed, and +rested like dew-drops on her dark eyelashes. + +Farewell to Eurydice! Oh, how many thoughts were wakened by those words! +They were the last she heard sung by Paralus, the night Anaxagoras +departed from Athens. Often had the shepherds of Ionia heard the +melancholy notes float on the evening breeze; and as the sounds died +away, they spoke to each other in whispers, and said, "They come from +the dwelling of the divinely-inspired one!" + +Plato perceived that the contemplative maiden was busy with memories of +the past. In a tone of gentle reverence, he added, "What I have told you +proves that your souls were one, before it wandered from the divine +home; and it gives hope that they will be re-united, when they return +thither after their weary exile in the world of shadows." + +"And has this strange pestilence produced such an effect on Paralus +only?" inquired Anaxagoras. + +"Many in Athens have recovered health without any memory of the images +of things," replied Plato; "but I have known no other instance where +recollections of the ideal world remained more bright and unimpaired, +than they possibly can be while disturbed by the presence of the +visible. Tithonus formerly told me of similar cases that occurred when +the plague raged in Ethiopia and Egypt; and Artaphernes says he has seen +a learned Magus, residing among the mountains that overlook Taoces, who +recovered from the plague with a perpetual oblivion of all outward +forms, while he often had knowledge of the thoughts passing in the minds +of those around him. If an unknown scroll were placed before him, he +would read it, though a brazen shield were interposed between him and +the parchment; and if figures were drawn on the water, he at once +recognized the forms, of which no visible trace remained." + +"Marvellous, indeed, is the mystery of our being," exclaimed Anaxagoras. + +"It involves the highest of all mysteries," rejoined Plato; "for if man +did not contain within himself a type of all that is,--from the highest +to the lowest plane of existence,--he could not enter the human form. At +times, I have thought glimpses of these eternal truths were revealed to +me; but I lost them almost as soon as they were perceived, because my +soul dwelt so much with the images of things. Thus have I stood before +the thick veil which conceals the shrine of Isis, while the narrow +streak of brilliant light around its edges gave indication of unrevealed +glories, and inspired the eager but fruitless hope that the massive +folds would float away, like a cloud before the sun. There are indeed +times when I lose the light entirely, and cannot even perceive the veil +that hides it from me. This is because my soul, like Psyche bending over +the sleeping Eros, is too curious to examine, by its own feeble taper, +the lineaments of the divinity whereby it hath been blessed." + +"How is Pericles affected by this visitation of the gods upon the best +beloved of his children?" inquired Anaxagoras. + +"It has softened and subdued his ambitious soul," answered Plato; "and +has probably helped him to endure the loss of political honours with +composure. I have often observed that affliction renders the heart of +man like the heart of a little child; and of this I was reminded when I +parted from Pericles at Salamis, whence the galley sailed for Ionia. You +doubtless remember the little mound, called Cynos-sema? There lies the +faithful dog, that died in consequence of swimming after the ship which +carried the father of Pericles, when the Athenians were all leaving +their beloved city by advice of Themistocles. The illustrious statesman +has not been known to shed a tear amid the universal wreck of his +popularity, his family, and his friends; but standing by this little +mound, the recollections of childhood came over him, and he wept as an +infant weeps for its lost mother." + +There was a tremulous motion about the lips of the old man, as he +replied, "Perchance he was comparing the constancy of that affectionate +animal with the friendship of men, and the happy unconsciousness of his +boyhood with the anxious cares that wait on greatness. Pericles had a +soft heart in his youth; and none knew this better than the forgotten +old man, whom he once called his friend." + +Plato perceived his emotion, and answered, in a soothing voice, "He has +since been wedded to political ambition, which never brought any man +nearer to his divine home; but Anaxagoras is not forgotten. Pericles has +of late often visited the shades of Academus, where he has talked much +of you and Philothea, and expressed earnest hopes that the gods would +again restore you to Athens, to bless him with your wise counsels." + +The aged philosopher shook his head, as he replied, "They who would have +a lamp should take care to supply it with oil. Had Philothea's affection +been like that of Pericles, this old frame would have perished for want +of food." + +"Nay, Anaxagoras," rejoined Plato, "you must not forget that this +Peloponessian war, the noisy feuds in Athens, and afflictions in his own +family, have involved him in continual distractions. He who gives his +mind to politics, sails on a stormy sea, with a giddy pilot. Pericles +has now sent you substantial proofs of his gratitude; and if his power +equalled his wishes, I have no doubt he would make use of the alarmed +state of public feeling to procure your recall." + +"You have as yet given us no tidings of Phidias and his household," said +Philothea. + +"The form of Phidias sleeps," replied Plato: "His soul has returned to +those sacred mysteries, once familiar to him; the recollection of which +enabled him while on earth to mould magnificent images of supernal +forms--images that awakened in all who gazed upon them some slumbering +memory of ideal worlds; though few knew whence it came, or why their +souls were stirred. The best of his works is the Olympian Zeus, made at +Elis after his exile. It is far more sublime than the Pallas Parthenia. +The Eleans consider the possession of it as a great triumph over +ungrateful Athens." + +"Under whose protection is Eudora placed?" inquired Philothea. + +"I have heard that she remains at the house where Phidias died," +rejoined Plato. "The Eleans have given her the yearly revenues of a +farm, in consideration of the affectionate care bestowed on her +illustrious benefactor.--Report says that Phidias wished to see her +united to his nephew Pandænus; but I have never heard of the marriage. +Philæmon is supposed to be in Persia, instructing the sons of the +wealthy satrap Megabyzus." + +"And where is the faithful Geta?" inquired Anaxagoras. + +"Geta is at Lampsacus; and I doubt not will hasten hither, as soon as he +has taken care of certain small articles of merchandize that he brought +with him. Phidias gave him his freedom the day they left Athens; and +after his death, the people of Elis bestowed upon him fifty drachmæ. He +has established himself at Phalerum, where he tells me he has doubled +this sum by the sale of anchovies. He was eager to attend upon me for +the sake, as he said, of once more seeing his good old master +Anaxagoras, and that maiden with mild eyes, who always spoke kind words +to the poor; but I soon discovered there was a stronger reason for his +desire to visit Lampsacus. From what we had heard, we expected to find +you in the city. Geta looked very sorrowful, when told that you were +fifty stadia farther from the sea." + +"When we first landed on the Ionian shore,"'replied Anaxagoras, "I took +up my abode two stadia from Lampsacus, and sometimes went thither to +lecture in the porticos. But when I did this, I seemed to breathe an +impure air; and idle young men so often followed me home, that the +maidens were deprived of the innocent freedom I wished them to enjoy. +Here I feel, more than I have ever felt, the immediate presence of +divinity." + +"I know not whether it be good or bad," said Plato; "but philosophy has +wrought in me a dislike of conversing with many persons. I do not +imitate the Pythagoreans, who close their gates; for I perceive that +truth never ought to be a sealed fountain; but I cannot go into the +Prytanæum, the agoras, and the workshops, and jest, like Socrates, to +captivate the attention of young men. When I thus seek to impart hidden +treasures, I lose without receiving; and few perceive the value of what +is offered. I feel the breath of life taken away from me by the +multitude. Their praises cause me to fear, lest, according to Ibycus, I +should offend the gods, but acquire glory among men. For these reasons, +I have resolved never to abide in cities." + +"The name of Socrates recalls Alcibiades to my mind," rejoined +Anaxagoras. "Is he still popular with the Athenians?" + +"He is; and will remain so," replied Plato, "so long as he feasts them +at his own expense, and drinks three cotylæ of wine at a draught. I +know not of what materials he is made; unless it be of Carpasian flax, +which above all things burns and consumes not." + +"Has this fearful pestilence no power to restrain the appetites and +passions of the people?" inquired the old man. + +"It has but given them more unbridled license,'" rejoined Plato. "Even +when the unburied dead lay heaped in piles, and the best of our +equestrians were gasping in the streets, robbers took possession of +their dwellings, drinking wine from their golden vessels, and singing +impure songs in the presence of their household gods. Men seek to obtain +oblivion of danger by reducing themselves to the condition of beasts, +which have no perception above the immediate wants of the senses. All +pursuits that serve to connect the soul with the world whence it came +are rejected. The Odeum is shut; there is no more lecturing in the +porticos; the temples are entirely forsaken, and even the Diasia are no +longer observed. Some of the better sort of citizens, weary of fruitless +prayers and sacrifices to Phoebus, Phoebe, Pallas, and the Erinnys. have +erected an altar to the Unknown God; and this altar only is heaped with +garlands, and branches of olive twined with wool." + +"A short time ago, he who had dared to propose the erection of such an +altar would have been put to death," said Anaxagoras. "The pestilence +has not been sent in vain, if the faith in images is shaken, and the +Athenians have been led to reverence One great Principle of Order, even +though they call it unknown." + +"It is fear, unmingled with reverence, in the minds of many," replied +the philosopher of Academus. "As for the multitude, they consider all +principles of right and wrong as things that may exist, or not exist, +according to the vote of the Athenian people. Of ideas eternal in their +nature, and therefore incapable of being created or changed by the will +of a majority, they cannot conceive. When health is restored, they will +return to the old worship of forms, as readily as they changed from +Pericles to Cleon, and will again change from him to Pericles." + +The aged philosopher shook his head and smiled, as he said: "Ah, Plato! +Plato! where will you find materials for your ideal republic?" + +"In an ideal Atlantis," replied the Athenian, smiling in return; "or +perchance in the fabled groves of Argive Hera, where the wild beasts are +tamed--the deer and the wolf lie down together--and the weak animal +finds refuge from his powerful pursuer. But the principle of a republic +is none the less true, because mortals make themselves unworthy to +receive it. The best doctrines become the worst, when they are used for +evil purposes. Where a love of power is the ruling object, the tendency +is corruption; and the only difference between Persia and Athens is, +that in one place power is received by birth, in the other obtained by +cunning. + +"Thus it will ever be; while men grope in the darkness of their outward +nature; which receives no light from the inward, because they will not +open the doors of the temple, where a shrine is placed, from which it +ever beams forth with occult and venerable splendour. + +"Philosophers would do well if they ceased to disturb themselves with +the meaning of mythologic fables, and considered whether they have not +within themselves a serpent possessing more folds than Typhon, and far +more raging and fierce. When the wild beasts within the soul are +destroyed, men will no longer have to contend against their visible +forms." + +"But tell me, O admirable Plato!" said Anaxagoras, "what connection can +there be between the inward allegorical serpent, and the created form +thereof?" + +"One could not exist without the other," answered Plato, "because where +there is no ideal, there can be no image. There are doubtless men in +other parts of the universe better than we are, because they stand on a +higher plane of existence, and approach nearer to the _idea_ of man. The +celestial lion is intellectual, but the sublunary irrational; for the +former is nearer the _idea_ of a lion. The lower planes of existence +receive the influences of the higher, according to the purity and +stillness of the will. If this be restless and turbid, the waters from a +pure fountain become corrupted, and the corruption flows down to lower +planes of existence, until it at last manifests itself in corporeal +forms. The sympathy thus produced between things earthly and celestial +is the origin of imagination; by which men have power to trace the +images of supernal forms, invisible to mortal eyes. Every man can be +elevated to a higher plane by quiescence of the will; and thus may +become a prophet. But none are perfect ones; because all have a tendency +to look downward to the opinions of men in the same existence with +themselves: and this brings them upon a lower plane, where the prophetic +light glimmers and dies. The Pythia at Delphi, and the priestess in +Dodona, have been the cause of very trifling benefits, when in a +cautious, prudent state; but when agitated by a divine mania, they have +produced many advantages, both public and private, to the Greeks." + +The conversation was interrupted by the merry shouts of children; and +presently a troop of boys and girls appeared, leading two lambs decked +with garlands. They were twin lambs of a ewe that had died; and they had +been trained to suck from a pipe placed in a vessel of milk. This day, +for the first time, the young ram had placed his budding horns under the +throat of his sister lamb, and pushed away her head that he might take +possession of the pipe himself. The children were greatly delighted with +this exploit, and hastened to exhibit it before their old friend +Anaxagoras, who always entered into their sports with a cheerful heart. +Philothea replenished the vessel of milk; and the gambols of the young +lambs, with the joyful laughter of the children, diffused a universal +spirit of gladness. One little girl filled the hands of the old +philosopher with tender leaves, that the beautiful animals might come +and eat; while another climbed his knees, and put her little fingers on +his venerable head, saying, "Your hair is as white as the lamb's; will +Philothea spin it, father?" + +The maiden, who had been gazing at the little group with looks full of +tenderness, timidly raised her eyes to Plato, and said, "Son of Aristo, +these have not wandered so far from their divine home as we have!" + +The philosopher had before observed the peculiar radiance of Philothea's +expression, when she raised her downcast eyes; but it never before +appeared to him so much like light suddenly revealed from the inner +shrine of a temple. + +With a feeling approaching to worship, he replied, "Maiden, your own +spirit has always remained near its early glories." + +When the glad troop of children departed, Plato followed them to see +their father's flocks, and play quoits with the larger boys. Anaxagoras +looked after him with a pleased expression, as he said, "He will delight +their minds, as he has elevated ours. Assuredly, his soul is like the +Homeric, chain of gold, one end of which rests on earth, and the other +terminates in Heaven." + +Milza was daily employed in fields not far distant, to tend a +neighbour's goats, and Philothea, wishing to impart the welcome tidings, +took up the shell with which she was accustomed to summon her to her +evening labours. She was about to apply the shell to her lips, when she +perceived the young Arcadian standing in the vine-covered arbour, with +Geta, who had seized her by each cheek and was kissing her after the +fashion of the Grecian peasantry. With a smile and a blush, the maiden +turned away hastily, lest the humble lovers should perceive they were +discovered. + +The frugal supper waited long on the table before Plato returned. As he +entered, Anaxagoras pointed to the board, which rested on rude sticks +cut from the trees, and said, "Son of Aristo, all I have to offer you +are dried grapes, bread, wild honey, and water from the brook." + +"More I should not taste if I were at the table of Alcibiades," replied +the philosopher of Athens. "When I see men bestow much thought on eating +and drinking, I marvel that they will labour so diligently in building +their own prisons. Here, at least, we can restore the Age of Innocence, +when no life was taken to gratify the appetite of man, and the altars of +the gods were unstained with blood." + +Philothea, contrary to the usual custom of Grecian women, remained with +her grandfather and his guest during their simple repast, and soon after +retired to her own apartment. + +When they were alone, Plato informed his aged friend that his visit to +Lampsacus was at the request of Pericles. Hippocrates had expressed a +hope that the presence of Philothea might, at least in some degree, +restore the health of Paralus; and the heart-stricken father had sent to +intreat her consent to a union with his son. + +"Philothea would not leave me, even if I urged it with tears," replied +Anaxagoras; "and I am forbidden to return to Athens." + +"Pericles has provided an asylum for you, on the borders of Attica," +answered Plato; "and the young people would soon join you, after their +marriage. He did not suppose that his former proud opposition to their +loves would be forgotten; but he said hearts like yours would forgive it +all, the more readily because he was now a man deprived of power, and +his son suffering under a visitation of the gods. Alcibiades laughed +aloud when he heard of this proposition; and said his uncle would never +think of making it to any but a maiden who sees the zephyrs run and +hears the stars sing. He spoke truth in his profane merriment. Pericles +knows that she who obediently listens to the inward voice will be most +likely to seek the happiness of others, forgetful of her own wrongs." + +"I do not believe the tender-hearted maiden ever cherished resentment +against any living thing," replied Anaxagoras. "She often reminds me of +Hesiod's description of Leto: + + 'Placid to men and to immortal gods; + Mild from the first beginning of her days; + Gentlest of all in Heaven.' + +"She has indeed been a precious gift to my old age. Simple and loving as +she is, there are times when her looks and words fill me with awe, as if +I stood in the presence of divinity." + +"It is a most lovely union when the Muses and the Charities inhabit the +same temple," said Plato. "I think she learned of you to be a constant +worshipper of the innocent and graceful nymphs, who preside over kind +and gentle actions. But tell me, Anaxagoras, if this marriage is +declined, who will protect the daughter of Alcimenes when you are +gone?" + +The philosopher replied, "I have a sister Heliodora, the youngest of my +father's flock; who is Priestess of the Sun, at Ephesus. Of all my +family, she has least despised me for preferring philosophy to gold; and +report bespeaks her wise and virtuous. I have asked and obtained from +her a promise to protect Philothea when I am gone; but I will tell my +child the wishes of Pericles, and leave her to the guidance of her own +heart. If she enters the home of Paralus, she will be to him, as she has +been to me, a blessing like the sunshine." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Adieu, thou sun, and fields of golden light; + For the last time I drink thy radiance bright, + And sink to sleep. + ARISTOPHANES. + + +The galley that brought Plato from Athens was sent on a secret political +mission, and was not expected to revisit Lampsacus until the return of +another moon. Anaxagoras, always mindful of the happiness of those +around him, proposed that the constancy of faithful Geta should be +rewarded by an union with Milza. The tidings were hailed with joy; not +only by the young couple, but by all the villagers. The superstition of +the little damsel did indeed suggest numerous obstacles. The sixteenth +of the month must on no account be chosen; one day was unlucky for a +wedding, because as she returned from the fields, an old woman busy at +the distaff had directly crossed her path; and another was equally so, +because she had seen a weasel, without remembering to throw three stones +as it passed. But at last there came a day against which no objections +could be raised. The sky was cloudless, and the moon at its full; both +deemed propitious omens. A white kid had been sacrificed to Artemis, and +baskets of fruit and poppies been duly placed upon her altar. The long +white veil woven by Milza and laid by for this occasion, was taken out +to be bleached in the sunshine and dew. Philothea presented a zone, +embroidered by her own skilful hands; Anaxagoras bestowed a pair of +sandals laced with crimson; and Geta purchased a bridal robe of flaming +colours. + +Plato promised to supply the feast with almonds and figs. The peasant, +whose goats Milza had tended, sent six large vases of milk, borne by +boys crowned with garlands. And the matrons of the village, with whom +the kind little Arcadian had ever been a favourite, presented a huge +cake, carried aloft on a bed of flowers, by twelve girls clothed in +white. The humble residence of the old philosopher was almost covered +with the abundant blossoms brought by joyful children. The door posts +were crowned with garlands anointed with oil, and bound with fillets of +wool. The bride and bridegroom were carried in procession, on a litter +made of the boughs of trees, plentifully adorned with garlands and flags +of various colours; preceded by young men playing on reeds and flutes, +and followed by maidens bearing a pestle and sieve. The priest performed +the customary sacrifices at the altar of Hera; the omens were +propitious; libations were poured; and Milza returned to her happy home, +the wife of her faithful Geta. Feasting continued till late in the +evening, and the voice of music was not hushed until past the hour of +midnight. + +The old philosopher joined in the festivity, and in the cheerfulness of +his heart exerted himself beyond his strength. Each succeeding day found +him more feeble; and Philothea soon perceived that the staff on which +she had leaned from her childhood was about to be removed forever. On +the twelfth day after Milza's wedding, he asked to be led into the open +portico, that he might enjoy the genial warmth. He gazed on the bright +landscape, as if it had been the countenance of a friend. Then looking +upward, with a placid smile, he said to Plato, "You tell me that Truth +acts upon the soul, like the Sun upon the eye, when it turneth to him. +Would that I could be as easily and certainly placed in the light of +truth, as I have been in this blessed sunshine! But in vain I seek to +comprehend the mystery of my being. All my thoughts on this subject are +dim and shadowy, as the ghosts seen by Odysseus on the Stygian shore." + +Plato answered: "Thus it must ever be, while the outward world lies so +near us, and the images of things crowd perpetually on the mind. An +obolus held close to the eye may prevent our seeing the moon and the +stars; and thus does the ever-present earth exclude the glories of +Heaven. But in the midst of uncertainty and fears, one feeling alone +remains; and that is hope, strong as belief, that virtue can never die. +In pity to the cravings of the soul, something will surely be given in +future time more bright and fixed than the glimmering truths preserved +in poetic fable; even as radiant stars arose from the ashes of Orion's +daughters, to shine in the heavens an eternal crown." + +The old man replied, "I have, as you well know, been afraid to indulge +in your speculations concerning the soul, lest I should spend my life in +unsatisfied attempts to embrace beautiful shadows." + +"To me likewise they have sometimes appeared doctrines too high and +solemn to be taught," rejoined Plato: "Often when I have attempted to +clothe them in language, the airy forms have glided from me, mocking me +with their distant beauty. We are told of Tantalus surrounded by water +that flows away when he attempts to taste it, and with delicious fruits +above his head, carried off by a sudden wind whenever he tries to seize +them. It was his crime that, being admitted to the assemblies of +Olympus, he brought away the nectar and ambrosia of the gods, and gave +them unto mortals. Sometimes, when I have been led to discourse of ideal +beauty, with those who perceive only the images of things, the +remembrance of that unhappy son of Zeus has awed me into silence." + +While they were yet speaking, the noise of approaching wheels was heard, +and presently a splendid chariot, with four white horses, stopped before +the humble dwelling. + +A stranger, in purple robes, descended from the chariot, followed by +servants carrying a seat of ivory inlaid with silver, a tuft of peacock +feathers to brush away the insects, and a golden box filled with +perfumes. It was Chrysippus, prince of Clazomenæ, the nephew of +Anaxagoras. He had neglected and despised the old man in his poverty, +but had now come to congratulate him on the rumour of Philothea's +approaching marriage with the son of Pericles. The aged philosopher +received him with friendly greeting, and made him known to Plato. +Chrysippus gave a glance at the rude furniture of the portico, and +gathered his perfumed robes carefully about him. + +"Son of Basileon, it is the dwelling of cleanliness, though it be the +abode of poverty," said the old man, in a tone of mild reproof. + +Geta had officiously brought a wooden bench for the high-born guest; +but he waited till his attendants had opened the ivory seat, and covered +it with crimson cloth, before he seated himself, and replied: + +"Truly, I had not expected to find the son of Hegesibulus in so mean a +habitation. No man would conjecture that you were the descendant of +princes." + +With a quiet smile, the old man answered,--"Princes have not wished to +proclaim kindred with Anaxagoras; and why should he desire to perpetuate +the remembrance of what they have forgotten?" + +Chrysippus looked toward Plato, and with some degree of embarrassment +sought to excuse himself, by saying, "My father often told me that it +was your own choice to withdraw from your family; and if they have not +since offered to share their wealth with you, it is because you have +ever been improvident of your estates." + +"What! Do you not take charge of them?" inquired Anaxagoras. "I gave my +estates to your father, from the conviction that he would take better +care of them than I could do; and in this I deemed myself most +provident." + +"But you went to Athens, and took no care for your country," rejoined +the prince. + +The venerable philosopher pointed to the heavens, that smiled serenely +above them,--and said, "Nay, young man, my greatest care has ever been +for my country." + +In a more respectful tone, Chrysippus rejoined: "Anaxagoras, all men +speak of your wisdom; but does this fame so far satisfy you, that you +never regret you sacrificed riches to philosophy?" + +"I am satisfied with the pursuit of wisdom, not with the fame of it," +replied the sage. "In my youth, I greatly preferred wisdom to gold; and +as I approach the Stygian shore, gold has less and less value in my +eyes. Charon will charge my disembodied spirit but a single obolus for +crossing his dark ferry. Living mortals only need a golden bough to +enter the regions of the dead." + +The prince seemed thoughtful for a moment, as he gazed on the benevolent +countenance of his aged relative. + +"If it be as you have said, Anaxagoras is indeed happier than princes," +he replied. "But I came to speak of the daughter of Alcimenes. I have +heard that she is beautiful, and the destined wife of Paralus of +Athens." + +"It is even so," said the philosopher; "and it would gladden my heart, +if I might be permitted to see her placed under the protection of +Pericles, before I die." + +"Has a sufficient dowry been provided?" inquired Chrysippus. "No one of +our kindred must enter the family of Pericles as a slave." + +A slight colour mantled in the old man's cheeks, as he answered, "I have +friends in Athens, who will not see my precious child suffer shame for +want of a few drachmæ." + +"I have brought with me a gift, which I deemed in some degree suited to +the dignity of our ancestors," rejoined the prince; "and I indulged the +hope of giving it into the hands of the maiden." + +As he spoke, he made a signal to his attendants, who straightway brought +from the chariot a silver tripod lined with gold, and a bag containing +a hundred golden staters. At the same moment, Milza entered, and in a +low voice informed Anaxagoras that Philothea deemed this prolonged +interview with the stranger dangerous to his feeble health; and begged +that he would suffer himself to be placed on the couch. The invalid +replied by a message desiring her presence. As she entered, he said to +her, "Philothea, behold your kinsman Chrysippus, son of Basileon." + +The illustrious guest was received with the same modest and friendly +greeting, that would have been bestowed on the son of a worthy peasant. +The prince felt slightly offended that his splendid dress and +magnificent equipage produced so little effect on the family of the +philosopher; but as the fame of Philothea's beauty had largely mingled +with other inducements to make the visit, he endeavoured to conceal his +pride, and as he offered the rich gifts, said in a respectful tone, +"Daughter of Alcimenes, the tripod is from Heliodora, Priestess at +Ephesus. The golden coin is from my own coffers. Accept them for a +dowry; and allow me to claim one privilege in return. As I cannot be at +the marriage feast, to share the pleasures of other kinsmen, permit the +son of Basileon to see you now one moment without your veil." + +He waved his hand for his attendants to withdraw; but the maiden +hesitated, until Anaxagoras said mildly, "Chrysippus is of your father's +kindred; and it is discreet that his request be granted." + +Philothea timidly removed her veil, and a modest blush suffused her +lovely countenance, as she said, "Thanks, Prince of Clazomenæ, for +these munificent gifts. May the gods long preserve you a blessing to +your family and people." + +"The gifts are all unworthy of her who receives them," replied +Chrysippus, gazing so intently that the maiden, with rosy confusion, +replaced her veil. + +Anaxagoras invited his royal guest to share a philosopher's repast, to +which he promised should be added a goblet of wine, lately sent from +Lampsacus. The prince courteously accepted his invitation; and the kind +old man, wearied with the exertions he had made, was borne to his couch +in an inner apartment. When Plato had assisted Philothea and Milza in +arranging his pillows, and folding the robe about his feet, he returned +to the portico. Philothea supposed the stranger was about to follow him; +and without raising her head, as she bent over her grandfather's couch, +she said: "He is feeble, and needs repose. In the days of his, strength, +he would not have thus left you to the courtesy of our Athenian guest." + +"Would to the gods that I had sought him sooner!" rejoined Chrysippus. +"While I have gathered foreign jewels, I have been ignorant of the gems +in my own family." + +Then stooping down, he took Anaxagoras by the hand, and said +affectionately, "Have you nothing to ask of your brother's son?" + +"Nothing but your prayers for us, and a gentle government for your +people," answered the old man. "I thank you for your kindness to this +precious orphan. For myself, I am fast going where I shall need less +than ever the gifts of princes." + +"Would you not like to be buried with regal honour, in your native +Clazomenæ?" inquired the prince. + +The philosopher again pointed upward as he replied, "Nay. The road to +heaven would be no shorter from Clazomenæ." + +"And what monument would you have reared to mark the spot where +Anaxagoras sleeps?" said Chrysippus. + +"I wish to be buried after the ancient manner, with the least possible +trouble and expense," rejoined the invalid. "The money you would expend +for a monument may be given to some captive sighing in bondage. Let an +almond tree be planted near my grave, that the boys may love to come +there, as to a pleasant home." + +"The citizens of Lampsacus, hearing of your illness, requested me to ask +what they should do in honour of your memory, when it pleased the gods +to call you hence. What response do you give to this message?" inquired +the prince. + +The philosopher answered, "Say to them that I desire all the children +may have a holiday on the anniversary of my death." + +Chrysippus remained silent for a few moments; and then continued: +"Anaxagoras, I perceive that you are strangely unlike other mortals; and +I know not how you will receive the proposal I am about to make. +Philothea has glided from the apartment, as if afraid to remain in my +presence. That graceful maiden is too lovely for any destiny meaner than +a royal marriage. As a kinsman, I have the best claim to her; and if it +be your will, I will divorce my Phoenician Astarte, and make Philothea +princess of Clazomenæ." + +"Thanks, son of Basileon," replied the old man; "but I love the innocent +orphan too well to bestow upon her the burden and the dangers of +royalty." + +"None could dispute your own right to exchange power and wealth for +philosophy and poverty," said Chrysippus; "but though you are the lawful +guardian of this maiden, I deem it unjust to reject a splendid alliance +without her knowledge." + +"Philothea gave her affections to Paralus, even in the days of their +childhood," replied Anaxagoras; "and she is of a nature too divine to +place much value on the splendour that passes away." + +The prince seemed disturbed and chagrined by this imperturbable spirit +of philosophy; and after a few brief remarks retreated to the portico. + +Here he entered into conversation with Plato; and after some general +discourse, spoke of his wishes with regard to Philothea. "Anaxagoras +rejects the alliance," said he, smiling; "but take my word for it, the +maiden would not dismiss the matter thus lightly. I have never yet seen +a woman who preferred philosophy to princes." + +"Kings are less fortunate than philosophers," responded Plato; "I have +known several women, who preferred wisdom to gold. Could Chrysippus look +into those divine eyes, and yet believe that Philothea's soul would +rejoice in the pomp of princes?" + +The wealthy son of Basileon still remained incredulous of any exceptions +to woman's vanity; and finally obtained a promise from Plato, that he +would use his influence with his friend to have the matter left +entirely to Philothea's decision. + +When the maiden was asked by her grandfather, whether she would be the +wife of Paralus, smitten by the hand of disease, or princess of +Clazomenæ, surrounded by more grandeur than Penelope could boast in her +proudest days--her innocent countenance expressed surprise, not +unmingled with fear, that the mind of Anaxagoras was wandering. But when +assured that Chrysippus seriously proposed to divorce his wife and marry +her, a feeling of humiliation came over her, that a man, ignorant of the +qualities of her soul, should be thus captivated by her outward beauty, +and regard it as a thing to be bought with gold. But the crimson tint +soon subsided from her transparent cheek, and she quietly replied, "Tell +the prince of Clazomenæ that I have never learned to value riches; nor +could I do so, without danger of being exiled far from my divine home." + +When these words were repeated to Chrysippus, he exclaimed impatiently, +"Curse on the folly which philosophers dignify with the name of wisdom!" + +After this, nothing could restore the courtesy he had previously +assumed. He scarcely tasted the offered fruit and wine; bade a cold +farewell, and soon rolled away in his splendid chariot, followed by his +train of attendants. + +This unexpected interview produced a singular excitement in the mind of +Anaxagoras. All the occurrences of his youth passed vividly before him; +and things forgotten for years were remembered like events of the past +hour. Plato sat by his side till the evening twilight deepened, +listening as he recounted scenes long since witnessed in Athens. When +they entreated him to seek repose, he reluctantly assented, and said to +his friend, with a gentle pressure of the hand, "Farewell, son of +Aristo. Pray for me before you retire to your couch." + +Plato parted the silver hairs, and imprinted a kiss on his forehead; +then crowning himself with a garland, he knelt before an altar that +stood in the apartment, and prayed aloud: "O thou, who art King of +Heaven, life and death are in thy hand! Grant what is good for us, +whether we ask it, or ask it not; and refuse that which would be +hurtful, even when we ask it most earnestly." + +"That contains the spirit of all prayer," said the old philosopher. "And +now, Plato, go to thy rest; and I will go to mine. Very pleasant have +thy words been to me. Even like the murmuring of fountains in a parched +and sandy desert." When left alone with his grandchild and Milza, the +invalid still seemed unusually excited, and his eyes shone with unwonted +brightness. Again he recurred to his early years, and talked fondly of +his wife and children. He dwelt on the childhood of Philothea with +peculiar pleasure. "Often, very often," said he, "thy infant smiles and +artless speech led my soul to divine things; when, without thee, the +link would have been broken, and the communication lost." + +He held her hand affectionately in his, and often drew her toward him, +that he might kiss her cheek. Late in the night, sleep began to steal +over him with gentle influence; and Philothea was afraid to move, lest +she should disturb his slumbers. + +Milza reposed on a couch close by her side, ready to obey the slightest +summons; the small earthen lamp that stood on the floor, shaded by an +open tablet, burned dim; and the footsteps of Plato were faintly heard +in the stillness of the night, as he softly paced to and fro in the open +portico. + +Philothea leaned her head upon the couch, and gradually yielded to the +drowsy influence. + +When she awoke, various objects in the apartment were indistinctly +revealed by the dawning light. All was deeply quiet. She remained +kneeling by her grandfather's side, and her hand was still clasped in +his; but it was chilled beneath his touch. She arose, gently placed his +arm on the couch, and looked upon his face. A placid smile rested on his +features; and she saw that his spirit had passed in peace. + +She awoke Milza, and desired that the household might be summoned. As +they stood around the couch of that venerable man, Geta and Milza wept +bitterly; but Philothea calmly kissed his cold cheek; and Plato looked +on him with serene affection, as he said, "So sleep the good." + +A lock of grey hair suspended on the door, and a large vase of water at +the threshold, early announced to the villagers that the soul of +Anaxagoras had passed from its earthly tenement. The boys came with +garlands to decorate the funeral couch of the beloved old man; and no +tribute of respect was wanting; for all that knew him blessed his +memory. + +He was buried, as he had desired, near the clepsydra in the little +brook; a young almond tree was planted on his grave; and for years +after, all the children commemorated the anniversary of his death, by a +festival called Anaxagoreia. + +Pericles had sent two discreet matrons, and four more youthful +attendants, to accompany Philothea to Athens, in case she consented to +become the wife of Paralus. The morning after the decease of Anaxagoras, +Plato sent a messenger to Lampsacus, desiring the presence of these +women, accompanied by Euago and his household. As soon as the funeral +rites were passed, he entreated Philothea to accept the offered +protection of Euago, the friend of his youth, and connected by marriage +with the house of Pericles. "I urge it the more earnestly," said he, +"because I think you have reason to fear the power and resentment of +Chrysippus. Princes do not willingly relinquish a pursuit; and his train +could easily seize you and your attendants, without resistance from +these simple villagers." + +Aglaonice, wife of Euago, likewise urged the orphan, in the most +affectionate manner, to return with them to Lampsacus, and there await +the departure of the galley. Philothea acknowledged the propriety of +removal, and felt deeply thankful for the protecting influence of her +friends. The simple household furniture was given to Milza; her own +wardrobe, with many little things that had become dear to her, were +deposited in the chariot of Euago; the weeping villagers had taken an +affectionate farewell; and sacrifices to the gods had been offered on +the altar in front of the dwelling. + +Still Philothea lingered and gazed on the beautiful scenes where she +had passed so many tranquil hours. Tears mingled with her smiles, as she +said, "O, how hard it is to believe the spirit of Anaxagoras will be as +near me in Athens, as it is here, where his bones lie buried!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + One day, the muses twined the hands + Of infant love with flowery bands, + And gave the smiling captive boy + To be Celestial Beauty's joy. + ANACREON. + + +While Philothea remained at Lampsacus, awaiting the arrival of the +galley, news came that Chrysippus, with a company of horsemen, had been +to her former residence, under the pretext of paying funeral rites to +his deceased relative. At the same time, several robes, mantles, and +veils, were brought from Heliodora at Ephesus; with the request that +they, as well as the silver tripod, should be considered, not as a +dowry, but as gifts to be disposed of as she pleased. The priestess +mentioned feeble health as a reason for not coming in person to bid the +orphan farewell; and promised that sacrifices and prayers for her +happines should be duly offered at the shrine of radiant Phoebus. + +Philothea smiled to remember how long she had lived in Ionia without +attracting the notice of her princely relatives, until her name became +connected with the illustrious house of Pericles; but she meekly +returned thanks and friendly wishes, together with the writings of +Simonides, beautifully copied by her own hand. + +The day of departure at length arrived. All along the shore might be +seen smoke rising from the altars of Poseidon, Æolus, Castor and +Polydeuces, and the sea-green Sisters of the Deep. To the usual danger +of winds and storms was added the fear of encountering hostile fleets; +and every power that presided over the destinies of sailors was invoked +by the anxious mariners. But their course seemed more like an excursion +in a pleasure barge, than a voyage on the ocean. They rowed along +beneath a calm and sunny sky, keeping close to the verdant shores where, +ever and anon, temples, altars, and statues, peeped forth amid groves of +cypress and cedar; under the shadow of which many a festive train hailed +the soft approach of spring, with pipe, and song, and choral dance. + +The tenth day saw the good ship Halcyone safely moored in the harbour of +Phalerum, chosen in preference to the more crowded and diseased port of +the Piræus. The galley having been perceived at a distance, Pericles and +Clinias were waiting, with chariots, in readiness to convey Philothea +and her attendants. The first inquiries of Pericles were concerning the +health of Anaxagoras; and he seemed deeply affected, when informed that +he would behold his face no more. Philothea's heart was touched by the +tender solemnity of his manner when he bade her welcome to Athens. Plato +anticipated the anxious question that trembled on her tongue; and a +brief answer indicated that no important change had taken place in +Paralus. Clinias kindly urged the claims of himself and wife to be +considered the parents of the orphan; and they all accompanied her to +his house, attended by boys burning incense, as a protection against the +pestilential atmosphere of the marshy grounds. + +When they alighted, Philothea timidly, but earnestly, asked to see +Paralus without delay. Their long-cherished affection, the full +communion of soul they had enjoyed together, and the peculiar visitation +which now rested on him, all combined to make her forgetful of ceremony. + +Pericles went to seek his son, and found him reclining on the couch +where he had left him. The invalid seemed to be in a state of deep +abstraction, and offered no resistance as they led him to the chariot. +When they entered the house of Clinias, he looked around with a painful +expression of weariness, until they tenderly placed him on a couch. He +was evidently disturbed by the presence of those about him, but +unmindful of any familiar faces, until Philothea suddenly knelt by his +side, and throwing back her veil, said, "Paralus! dear Paralus! Do you +not know me?" Then his whole face kindled with an expression of joy, so +intense that Pericles for a moment thought the faculties of his soul +were completely restored. + +But the first words he uttered showed a total unconsciousness of past +events. "Oh, Philothea!" he exclaimed, "I have not heard your voice +since last night, when you came to me and sung that beautiful welcome to +the swallows, which all the little children like so well." + +On the preceding evening, Philothea, being urged by her maidens to sing, +had actually warbled that little song; thinking all the while of the +days of childhood, when she and Paralus used to sing it, to please their +young companions. When she heard this mysterious allusion to the music, +she looked at Plato with an expression of surprise; while Milza and the +other attendants seemed afraid in the presence of one thus visited by +the gods. + +With looks full of beaming affection, the invalid continued: "And now, +Philothea, we will again walk to that pleasant place, where we went when +you finished the song." + +In low and soothing tones, the maiden inquired, "Where did we go, +Paralus?" + +"Have you forgotten?" he replied. "We went hand in hand up a high +mountain. A path wound round it in spiral flexures, ever ascending, and +communicating with all above and all below. A stream of water, pure as +crystal, flowed along the path, from the summit to the base. Where we +stood to rest awhile, the skies were of transparent blue; but higher up, +the light was purple and the trees full of doves. We saw little children +leading lambs to drink at the stream, and they raised their voices in +glad shouts, to see the bright waters go glancing and glittering down +the sides of the mountain." + +He remained silent and motionless for several minutes; and then +continued: "But this path is dreary. I do not like this wide marsh, and +these ruined temples. Who spoke then and told me it was Athens? But now +I see the groves of Academus. There is a green meadow in the midst, on +which rests a broad belt of sunshine. Above it, are floating little +children with wings; and they throw down garlands to little children +without wings, who are looking upward with joyful faces. Oh, how +beautiful they are! Come, Philothea, let us join them." + +The philosopher smiled, and inwardly hailed the words as an omen +auspicious to his doctrines. All who listened were deeply impressed by +language so mysterious. + +The silence remained unbroken, until Paralus asked for music. A cithara +being brought, Philothea played one of his favourite songs, accompanied +by her voice. The well-remembered sounds seemed to fill him with joy +beyond his power to express; and again his anxious parent cherished the +hope that reason would be fully restored. + +He put his hand affectionately on Philothea's head, as he said, "Your +presence evidently has a blessed influence; but oh, my daughter, what a +sacrifice you are making--young and beautiful as you are!" + +"Nay, Pericles," she replied, "I deem it a privilege once more to hear +the sound of his voice; though it speaks a strange, unearthly language." + +When they attempted to lead the invalid from the apartment, and +Philothea, with a tremulous voice, said, "Farewell, Paralus,"--an +expression of intense gloom came over his countenance, suddenly as a +sunny field is obscured by passing clouds. "Not farewell to Eurydice!" +he said: "It is sad music--sad music." + +The tender-hearted maiden was affected even to tears, and found it hard +to submit to a temporary separation. But Pericles assured her that his +son would probably soon fall asleep, and awake without any recollection +of recent events. Before she retired to her couch, a messenger was sent +to inform her that Paralus was in deep repose. + +Clinias having removed from the unhealthy Piræus, in search of purer +atmosphere, Philothea found him in the house once occupied by Phidias; +and the hope that scenes of past happiness might prove salutary to the +mind of Paralus, induced Pericles to prepare the former dwelling of +Anaxagoras for his bridal home. The friends and relations of the invalid +were extremely desirous to have Philothea's soothing influence +continually exerted upon him; and the disinterested maiden earnestly +wished to devote every moment of her life to the restoration of his +precious health. Under these circumstances, it was deemed best that the +marriage should take place immediately. + +The mother of Paralus had died; and Aspasia, with cautious delicacy, +declined being present at the ceremony, under the pretext of ill health; +but Phoenarete, the wife of Clinias, gladly consented to act as mother +of the orphan bride. + +Propitiatory sacrifices were duly offered to Artemis, Hera, Pallas, +Aphrodite, the Fates, and the Graces. On the appointed day, Philothea +appeared in bridal garments, prepared by Phoenarete. The robe of fine +Milesian texture, was saffron-coloured, with a purple edge. Over this, +was a short tunic of brilliant crimson, confined at the waist by an +embroidered zone, fastened with a broad clasp of gold. Glossy braids of +hair were intertwined with the folds of her rose-coloured veil; and both +bride and bridegroom were crowned with garlands of roses and myrtle. The +chariot, in which they were seated, was followed by musicians, and a +long train of friends and relatives. Arrived at the temple of Hera, the +priest presented a branch, which they held between them as a symbol of +the ties about to unite them. Victims were sacrificed, and the omens +declared not unpropitious. When the gall had been cast behind the +altar, Clinias placed Philothea's hand within the hand of Paralus; the +bride dedicated a ringlet of her hair to Hera; the customary vows were +pronounced by the priest; and the young couple were presented with +golden cups of wine, from which they poured libations. The invalid was +apparently happy; but so unconscious of the scene he was acting, that +his father was obliged to raise his hand and pour forth the wine. + +The ceremonies being finished, the priest reminded Philothea that when a +good wife died, Persephone formed a procession of the best women to +scatter flowers in her path, and lead her spirit to Elysium. As he +spoke, two doves alighted on the altar; but one immediately rose, and +floated above the other, with a tender cooing sound. Its mate looked +upward for a moment; and then both of them rose high in the air, and +disappeared. The spectators hailed this as an auspicious omen; but +Philothea pondered it in her heart, and thought she perceived a deeper +meaning than was visible to them. + +As the company returned, with the joyful sound of music, many a friendly +hand threw garlands from the housetops, and many voices pronounced a +blessing. + +In consideration of the health of Paralus, the customary evening +procession was dispensed with. An abundant feast was prepared at the +house of Clinias. The gentle and serious bride joined with her female +friends in the apartments of the women; but no bridegroom appeared at +the banquet of the men. + +As the guests seated themselves at table, a boy came in covered with +thorn-boughs and acorns, bearing a golden basket filled with bread, and +singing, "I have left the worse and found the better." As he passed +through the rooms, musicians began to play on various instruments, and +troops of young dancers moved in airy circles to the sound. + +At an early hour, Philothea went to the apartment prepared for her in +the home of her childhood. Phoenarete preceded her with a lighted torch, +and her female attendants followed, accompanied by young Pericles, +bearing on his head a vase of water from the Fountain of Callirhöe, with +which custom required that the bride's feet should be bathed. Music was +heard until a late hour, and epithalamia were again resumed with the +morning light. + +The next day, a procession of women brought the bridal gifts of friends +and relatives, preceded by a boy clothed in white, carrying a torch in +one hand, and a basket of flowers in the other. Philothea, desirous to +please the father of her husband, had particularly requested that this +office might be performed by the youthful Pericles--a beautiful boy, the +only son of Aspasia. The gifts were numerous; consisting of embroidered +sandals, perfume boxes of ivory inlaid with gold, and various other +articles, for use or ornament. Pericles sent a small ivory statue of +Persephone gathering flowers in the vale of Enna; and Aspasia a clasp, +representing the Naiades floating with the infant Eros, bound in +garlands. The figures were intaglio, in a gem of transparent cerulean +hue, and delicately painted. When viewed from the opposite side, the +effect was extremely beautiful; for the graceful nymphs seemed actually +moving in their native element Alcibiades presented a Sidonian veil, of +roseate hue and glossy texture. Phoenarete bestowed a ring, on which was +carved a dancing Oread; and Plato a cameo clasp, representing the infant +Eros crowning a lamb with a garland of lilies. + +On the third day, custom allowed every relative to see the bride with +her face unveiled; and the fame of her surpassing beauty induced the +remotest connections of the family to avail themselves of the privilege. +Philothea meekly complied with these troublesome requisitions; but her +heart was weary for quiet hours, that she might hold free communion with +Paralus, in that beautiful spirit-land, where his soul was wandering +before its time. + +Music, and the sound of Philothea's voice, seemed the only links that +connected him with a world of shadows; but his visions were so blissful, +and his repose so full of peace, that restless and ambitious men might +well have envied a state thus singularly combining the innocence of +childhood with the rich imagination of maturer years. + +Many weeks passed away in bright tranquillity; and the watchful wife +thought she at times perceived faint indication of returning health. +Geta and Milza, in compliance with their own urgent entreaties, were her +constant assistants in nursing the invalid; and more than once she +imagined that he looked at them with an earnest expression, as if his +soul were returning to the recollections of former years. + +Spring ripened into summer. The olive-garlands twined with wool, +suspended on the doors during the festival of Thargelia, had withered +and fallen; and all men talked of the approaching commemoration of the +Olympic games. + +Hippocrates had been informed that Tithonus, the Ethiopian, possessed +the singular power of leading the soul from the body, and again +restoring it to its functions, by means of a soul-directing wand; and +the idea arose in his mind, that this process might produce a salutary +effect on Paralus. + +The hopes of the anxious father were easily kindled; and he at once +became desirous that his son should be conveyed to Olympia; for it was +reported that Tithonus would be present at the games. + +Philothea sighed deeply, as she listened to the proposition; for she had +faith only in the healing power of perfect quiet, and the free communion +of congenial souls. She yielded to the opinion of Pericles with +characteristic humility; but the despondency of her tones did not pass +unobserved. + +"It is partly for your sake that I wish it, my poor child," said he. "If +it may be avoided, I will not see the whole of your youth consumed in +anxious watchings." + +The young wife looked up with a serene and bright expression, as she +replied, "Nay, my father, you have never seen me anxious, or troubled. I +have known most perfect contentment since my union with your son." + +Pericles answered affectionately, "I believe it, my daughter; and I have +marvelled at your cheerfulness. Assuredly, with more than Helen's +beauty, you have inherited the magical Egyptian powder, whereby she +drove away all care and melancholy." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + _Iphegenia_--Absent so long, with joy I look on thee. + _Agamemnon_--And I on thee; so this is mutual joy. + EURIPIDES. + + +In accordance with the advice of Hippocrates, the journey to Olympia was +undertaken. Some time before the commencement of the games, a party, +consisting of Pericles, Plato, Paralus, Philothea, and their attendants, +made preparations for departure. + +Having kissed the earth of Athens, and sacrificed to Hermes and Hecate, +the protectors of travellers, they left the city at the Dipylon Gate, +and entered the road leading to Eleusis. The country presented a +cheerless aspect; for fields and vineyards once fruitful were desolated +by ferocious war. But religious veneration had protected the altars, and +their chaste simplicity breathed the spirit of peace; while the +beautiful little rustic temples of Demeter, in commemoration of her +wanderings in search of the lost Persephone, spoke an ideal language, +soothing to the heart amid the visible traces of man's destructive +passions. + +During the solemnization of the Olympic Games, the bitterest animosities +were laid aside. The inhabitants of states carrying on a deadly war with +each other, met in peace and friendship. Even Megara, with all her +hatred to Athens, gave the travellers a cordial welcome. In every house +they entered, bread, wine, and salt, were offered to Zeus Xinias, the +patron of hospitality. + +A pleasant grove of cypress trees announced the vicinity of Corinth, +famed for its magnificence and beauty. A foot-path from the grove led to +a secluded spot, where water was spouted forth by a marble dolphin, at +the foot of a brazen statue of Poseidon. + +The travellers descended from their chariots to rest under the shadow of +the lofty plane trees, and refresh themselves with a draught from the +fountain. The public road was thronged with people on their way to +Olympia. Most of them drove with renewed eagerness to enter Corinth +before the evening twilight; for nearly all travellers made it a point +to visit the remarkable scenes in this splendid and voluptuous city, the +Paris of the ancient world. A few were attracted by the cool murmuring +of the waters, and turned aside to the fountain of Poseidon. Among these +was Artaphernes the Persian, who greeted Pericles, and made known his +friend Orsames, lately arrived from Ecbatana. The stranger said he had +with him a parcel for Anaxagoras; and inquired whether any tidings of +that philosopher had been lately received in Athens. Pericles informed +them of the death of the good old man, and mentioned that his +grand-daughter, accompanied by her husband and attendants, was then in a +retired part of the grove. The Persian took from his chariot a roll of +parchment and a small box, and placed them in the hands of Geta, to be +conveyed to Philothea. The tears came to her eyes, when she discovered +that it was a friendly epistle from Philæmon to his beloved old master. +It appeared to have been written soon after he heard of his exile, and +was accompanied by a gift of four minæ. His own situation was described +as happy as it could be in a foreign land. His time was principally +employed in instructing the sons of the wealthy satrap, Megabyzus; a +situation which he owed to the friendly recommendation of Artaphernes. +At the close, after many remarks concerning the politics of Athens, he +expressed a wish to be informed of Eudora's fate, and an earnest hope +that she was not beyond the reach of Philothea's influence. + +This letter awakened busy thoughts. The happy past and a cheerful future +were opened to her mind, in all the distinctness of memory and the +brightness of hope. At such moments, her heart yearned for the ready +sympathy she had been wont to receive from Paralus. As she drew aside +the curtains of the litter, and looked upon him in tranquil slumber, she +thought of the wonderful gift of Tithonus, with an intense anxiety, to +which her quiet spirit was usually a stranger. Affectionate +recollections of Eudora, and the anticipated joy of meeting, mingled +with this deeper tide of feeling, and increased her desire to arrive at +the end of their journey. Pericles shared her anxiety, and admitted no +delays but such as were necessary for the health of the invalid. + +From Corinth they passed into the pleasant valleys of Arcadia, encircled +with verdant hills. Here nature reigned in simple beauty, unadorned by +the magnificence of art. The rustic temples were generally composed of +intertwined trees, in the recesses of which were placed wooden images of +Pan, "the simple shepherd's awe-inspiring god." Here and there an aged +man reposed in the shadow of some venerable oak; and the shepherds, as +they tended their flocks, welcomed this brief interval of peace with +the mingled music of reeds and flutes. + +Thence the travellers passed into the broad and goodly plains of Elis; +protected from the spoiler by its sacred character, as the seat of the +Olympic Games. In some places, troops of women might be seen in the +distance, washing garments in the river Alpheus, and spreading them out +to whiten in the sun. Fertility rewarded the labours of the husbandmen, +and the smiling fields yielded pasturage to numerous horses, which +Phoebus himself might have prized for strength, fleetness, and majestic +beauty. + +Paralus passed through all these scenes entirely unconscious whether +they were sad or cheerful. When he spoke, it was of things unrecognized +by those of earthly mould; yet those who heard him found therein a +strange and marvellous beauty, that seemed not altogether new to the +soul, but was seen in a dim and pleasing light, like the recollections +of infant years. + +The travellers stopped at a small town in the neighbourhood of Olympia, +where Paralus, Philothea, and their attendants were to remain during the +solemnization of the games. The place chosen for their retreat was the +residence of Proclus and his wife Melissa; worthy, simple-hearted +people, at whose house Phidias had died, and under whose protection he +had placed Eudora. + +As the chariots approached the house, the loud barking of Hylax +attracted the attention of Zoila, the merry little daughter of Proclus, +who was playing in the fields with her brother Pterilaüs. The moment the +children espied a sight so unusual in that secluded place, they ran +with all speed to carry tidings to the household. Eudora was busy at the +loom; but she went out to look upon the strangers, saying, as she did +so, that they were doubtless travellers, who, in passing to the Olympic +Games, had missed their way. + +Her heart beat tumultuously when she saw Hylax capering and fawning +about a man who bore a strong resemblance to Geta. The next moment, she +recognized Pericles and Plato speaking with a tall, majestic looking +woman, closely veiled. She darted forward a few paces, in the eagerness +of her joy; but checked herself when she perceived that the stranger +lingered; for she said, in her heart, "If it were Philothea, she could +not be so slow in coming to meet me." + +Thus she reasoned, not knowing that Philothea was the wife of Paralus, +and that his enfeebled health required watchful care. In a few moments +her doubts were dispelled, and the friends were locked in each others' +arms. + +Proclus gave the travellers a hospitable reception, and cheerfully +consented that Paralus and his attendants should remain with them. +Pericles, having made all necessary arrangements for the beloved +invalid, bade an early farewell, and proceeded with Plato to Olympia. + +When Geta and Milza had received a cordial welcome; and Hylax had +somewhat abated his boisterous joy; and old Dione, with the tears in her +eyes, had brought forward treasures of grapes and wine--Eudora eagerly +sought a private interview with the friend of her childhood. + +"Dearest Philothea!" she exclaimed, "I thought you were still in Ionia; +and I never expected to see you again; and now you have come, my heart +is _so_ full"---- + +Unable to finish the sentence, she threw herself on that bosom where she +had ever found sympathy in all her trials, and sobbed like a child. + +"My beloved Eudora," said Philothea, "you still carry with you a heart +easily kindled; affections that heave and blaze like a volcano." + +The maiden looked up affectionately, and smiled through her tears, as +she said, "The love you kindled in infancy has burned none the less +strongly because there was no one to cherish it. If the volcano now +blazes, it only proves how faithfully it has carried the hidden fire in +its bosom." + +She paused, and spoke more sadly, as she added, "There was, indeed, one +brief period, when it was well-nigh smothered. Would to the gods, _that_ +might pass into oblivion! But it will not. After Phidias came to Elis, +he made for Plato a small statue of Mnemosyne, that turned and looked +upward to Heaven, while she held a half-opened scroll toward the earth. +It was beautiful beyond description; but there was bitterness in my +heart when I looked upon it; I thought Memory should be represented +armed with the scourge of the Furies." + +"And did you not perceive," said Philothea, "that yourself had armed the +benignant goddess with a scourge? Thus do the best gifts from the Divine +Fountain become changed by the will of those who receive them. But, +dearest Eudora, though your heart retains its fire, a change has passed +over your countenance. The cares of this world have driven away the +spirit of gladness, that came with you from your divine home. That +smiling twin of Innocence is ever present and visible while we are +unconscious of its existence; but when in darkness and sorrow the soul +asks where it has gone, a hollow voice, like the sound of autumn winds, +echoes, 'Gone!'" + +Eudora sighed, as she answered, "It is even so. But I know not where you +could have learned it; for you have ever seemed to live in a region +above darkness and storms. Earth has left no shadow on your countenance. +It expresses the same transparent innocence, the same mild love. A light +not of this world is gleaming there; and it has grown brighter and +clearer since we parted. I could almost believe that you accompany Hera +to the Fountain of Canathus, where it is said she every year bathes to +restore her infant purity." + +Philothea smiled, as she playfully laid her hand on Eudora's mouth, and +said, "Nay, Eudora, you forget that flattery produces effects very +unlike the Fountain of Canathus. We have been gazing in each other's +faces, as if we fondly hoped there to read the record of all that has +passed since we were separated. Yet, very little of all that we have +known and felt--of all that has gradually become a portion of our +life--is inscribed there. Perhaps you already know that Anaxagoras fell +asleep in Ionia. The good old man died in peace, as he had lived in +love. If I mistake not, while I talked with Pericles, Milza informed you +that I was the wife of Paralus?" + +"Yes, dearest Philothea; but not till she had first told me of her own +marriage with Geta." + +Philothea smiled, as she replied, "I believe it is the only case in +which that affectionate creature thinks of herself, before she thinks of +me; but Geta is to her an object of more importance than all the world +beside. When we were in Ionia, I often found her whispering magical +words, while she turned the sieve and shears, to ascertain whether her +lover were faithful to his vows. I could not find it in my heart to +reprove her fond credulity;--for I believe this proneness to wander +beyond the narrow limits of the visible world is a glimmering +reminiscence of parentage divine; and though in Milza's untutored mind +the mysterious impulse takes an inglorious form, I dare not deride what +the wisest soul can neither banish nor comprehend." + +As she finished speaking, she glanced toward the curtain, which +separated them from the room where Paralus reposed, watched by the +faithful Geta. There was a tender solemnity in the expression of her +countenance, whereby Eudora conjectured the nature of her thoughts. +Speaking in a subdued voice, she asked whether Paralus would inquire for +her, when he awoke. + +"He will look for me, and seem bewildered, as if something were lost," +replied Philothea. "Since I perceived this, I have been careful not to +excite painful sensations by my absence. Geta will give me notice when +slumber seems to be passing away." + +"And do you think Tithonus can restore him?" inquired Eudora. + +Philothea answered, "Fear is stronger than hope. I thought I perceived a +healing influence in the perfect quiet and watchful love that surrounded +him in Athens; and to these I would fain have trusted, had it been the +will of Pericles. But, dearest Eudora, let us not speak on this subject. +It seems to me like the sacred groves, into which nothing unconsecrated +may enter." + +After a short pause, Eudora said. "Then I will tell you my own history. +After we came to Elis, Phidias treated me with more tenderness and +confidence than he had ever done. Perhaps he observed that my proud, +impetuous character was chastened and subdued by affliction and +repentance. Though we were in the habit of talking unreservedly, he +never alluded to the foolish conduct that offended him so seriously. I +felt grateful for this generous forbearance; and by degress I learned to +fear him less and love him deeply." + +"We received some tidings of him when Plato came into Ionia," rejoined +Philothea; "and we rejoiced to learn that he found in Elis a rich +recompense for the shameful ingratitude of Athens." + +"It was a rich recompense, indeed," replied Eudora. "The people +reverenced him as if he were something more than mortal. His statue +stands in the sacred grove at Olympia, bearing the simple inscription; +'Phidias, Son of Charmides, sculptor of the Gods.' At his death, the +Elians bestowed gifts on all his servants; endowed me with the yearly +revenues of a farm; and appointed his nephew Pandænus to the honourable +office of preserving the statue of Olympian Zeus." + +"Did Phidias express no anxiety concerning your unprotected situation?" +inquired Philothea. + +"It was his wish that I should marry Pandænus," answered Eudora; "but +he urged the subject no farther, when he found that I regarded the +marriage with aversion. On his death-bed he charged his nephew to +protect and cherish me as a sister. He left me under the guardianship of +Proclus, with strict injunctions that I should have perfect freedom in +the choice of a husband. He felt no anxiety concerning my maintenance; +for the Elians had promised that all persons connected with him should +be liberally provided at the public expense; and I was universally +considered as the adopted daughter of Phidias." + +"And what did Pandænus say to the wishes of his uncle?" asked +Philothea. + +Eudora blushed slightly as she answered, "He tried to convince me that +we should all be happier, if I would consent to the arrangement. I could +not believe this; and Pandænus was too proud to repeat his +solicitations to a reluctant listener. I seldom see him; but when there +is opportunity to do me service, he is very kind." + +Her friend looked earnestly upon her, as if seeking to read her heart; +and inquired, "Has no other one gained your affections? I had some fears +that I should find you married." + +"And why did you fear?" said Eudora: "Other friends would consider it a +joyful occasion." + +"But I feared, because I have ever cherished the hope that you would be +the wife of Philæmon," rejoined her companion. + +The sensitive maiden sighed deeply, and turned away her head, as she +said, with a tremulous voice, "I have little doubt that Philæmon has +taken a Persian wife, before this time." + +Philothea made no reply; but searched for the epistle she had received +at Corinth, and placed it in the hands of her friend. Eudora started, +when she saw the well-known writing of Philæmon. But when she read the +sentence wherein he expressed affectionate solicitude for her welfare, +she threw her arms convulsively about Philothea's neck, exclaiming, "Oh, +my beloved friend, what a blessed messenger you have ever been to this +poor heart!" + +For some moments, her agitation was extreme; but that gentle influence, +which had so often soothed her, gradually calmed her perturbed feelings; +and they talked freely of the possibility of regaining Philæmon's love. + +As Eudora stood leaning on her shoulder, Philothea, struck with the +contrast in their figures, said: "When you were in Athens, we called you +the Zephyr; and surely you are thinner now than you were then. I fear +your health suffers from the anxiety of your mind. "See!" continued she, +turning towards the mirror--"See what a contrast there is between us!" + +"There should be a contrast," rejoined Eudora, smiling: "The pillars of +agoras are always of lighter and less majestic proportions than the +pillars of temples." + +As she spoke, Geta lifted the curtain, and Philothea instantly obeyed +the signal. For a few moments after her departure, Eudora heard the low +murmuring of voices, and then the sound of a cithara, whose tones she +well remembered. The tune was familiar to her in happier days, and she +listened to it with tears. + +Her meditations were suddenly disturbed by little Zoila, who came in +with a jump and a bound, to show a robe full of flowers she had gathered +for the beautiful Athenian lady. When she perceived that tears had +fallen on the blossoms, she suddenly changed her merry tones, and with +artless affection inquired, "What makes Dora cry?" + +"I wept for the husband of that beautiful Athenian lady, because he is +very ill," replied the maiden. + +"See the flowers!" exclaimed Zoila. "It looks as if the dew was on it; +but the tears will not make it grow again--will they?" + +Eudora involuntarily shuddered at the omen conveyed in her childish +words; but gave permission to carry her offering to the Athenian lady, +if she would promise to step very softly, and speak in whispers. +Philothea received the flowers thankfully, and placed them in vases near +her husband's couch; for she still fondly hoped to win back the +wandering soul by the presence of things peaceful, pure, and beautiful. +She caressed the innocent little one, and tried to induce her to remain +a few minutes; but the child seemed uneasy, as if in the presence of +something that inspired fear. She returned to Eudora with a very +thoughtful countenance; and though she often gathered flowers for "the +tall infant," as she called Paralus, she could never after be persuaded +to enter his apartment. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + They in me breathed a voice + Divine; that I might know, with listening ears, + Things past and future; and enjoined me praise + The race of blessed ones, that live for aye. + HESIOD + + +PHILOTHEA to PHILÆMON, greeting: + +The body of Anaxagoras has gone to the Place of Sleep. If it were not +so, his hand would have written in reply to thy kind epistle. I was with +him when he died, but knew not the hour he departed, for he sunk to rest +like an infant. + +We lived in peaceful poverty in Ionia; sometimes straitened for the +means whereby this poor existence is preserved, but ever cheerful in +spirit. + +I drank daily from the ivory cup thou didst leave for me, with thy +farewell to Athens; and the last lines traced by my grandfather's hand +still remain on the tablet thou didst give him. They are preserved for +thee, to be sent in to Persia, if thou dost not return to Greece, as I +hope thou wilt. + +I am now the wife of Paralus; and Pericles has brought us into the +neighbourhood of Olympia, seeking medical aid for my husband, not yet +recovered from the effects of the plague. Pure and blameless, Paralus +has ever been--with a mind richly endowed by the gods; and all this thou +well knowest. Yet he is as one that dies while he lives; though not +altogether as one unbeloved by divine beings. Wonderful are the accounts +he brings of that far-off world, where his spirit wanders. Sometimes I +listen with fear, till all philosophy seems dim, and I shrink from the +mystery of our being. When they do not disturb him with earthly +medicines, he is quiet and happy. Waking, he speaks of things clothed in +heavenly splendour; and in his sleep, he smiles like a child whose +dreams are pleasant. I think this blessing comes from the Divine, by +reason of the innocence of his life. + +We abide at the house of Proclus, a kind, truth-telling man, whose wife, +Melissa, is at once diligent and quiet--a rare combination of goodly +virtues. These worthy people have been guardians of Eudora, since the +death of Phidias; and with much affection, they speak of her gentleness, +patience, and modest retirement. Melissa told me Aspasia had urgently +invited her to Athens, but she refused, without even asking the advice +of her guardian. Thou knowest her great gifts would have been worshipped +by the Athenians, and that Eudora herself could not be ignorant of this. + +Sometimes a stream is polluted in the fountain, and its waters are +tainted through all its wanderings; and sometimes the traveller throws +into a pure rivulet some unclean thing, which floats awhile, and is then +rejected from its bosom. Eudora is the pure rivulet. A foreign stain +floated on the surface, but never mingled with its waters. + +Phidias wished her to marry his nephew; and Pandænus would fain have +persuaded her to consent; but they forebore to urge it, when they saw it +gave her pain. She is deeply thankful to her benefactor for allowing her +a degree of freedom so seldom granted to Grecian maidens. + +The Elians, proud of their magnificent statue of Olympian Zeus, have +paid extraordinary honours to the memory of the great sculptor, and +provided amply for every member of his household. Eudora is industrious +from choice, and gives liberally to the poor; particularly to orphans, +who, like herself, have been brought into bondage by the violence of +wicked men, or the chances of war. For some time past, she has felt all +alone in the world;--a condition that marvellously helps to bring us +into meekness and tenderness of spirit. When she read what thou didst +write of her in thy epistle, she fell upon my neck and wept. + +I return to thee the four minæ. He to whose necessities thou wouldst +have kindly administered, hath gone where gold and silver avail not. +Many believe that they who die sleep forever; but this they could not, +if they had listened to words I have heard from Paralus. + +Son of Chærilaüs, farewell. May blessings be around thee, wheresoever +thou goest, and no evil shadow cross thy threshold. + +Written in Elis, this thirteenth day of the increasing moon, in the +month Hecatombæon, and the close of the eighty-seventh Olympiad." + +Without naming her intention to Eudora, Philothea laid aside the scroll +she had prepared, resolved to place it in the hands of Pericles, to be +entrusted to the care of some Persian present at the games, which were +to commence on the morrow. + +Before the hour of noon, Hylax gave notice of approaching strangers, who +proved to be Pericles and Plato, attended by Tithonus. The young wife +received them courteously, though a sudden sensation of dread ran +through her veins with icy coldness. It was agreed that none but +herself, Pericles, and Plato, should be present with Tithonus; and that +profound silence should be observed. Preparation was made by offering +solemn sacrifices to Phoebus, Hermes, Hecate, and Persephone; and +Philothea inwardly prayed to that Divine Principle, revealed to her only +by the monitions of his spirit in the stillness of her will. + +Tithonus stood behind the invalid, and remained perfectly quiet for many +minutes. He then gently touched the back part of his head with a small +wand, and leaning over him, whispered in his ear. An unpleasant change +immediately passed over the countenance of Paralus; he endeavoured to +place his hand on his head, and a cold shivering seized him. Philothea +shuddered, and Pericles grew pale, as they watched these symptoms; but +the silence remained unbroken. A second and a third time the Ethiopian +touched him with his wand, and spoke in whispers. The expression of pain +deepened; insomuch that his friends could not look upon him without +anguish of heart. Finally his limbs straightened, and became perfectly +rigid and motionless. + +Tithonus, perceiving the terror he had excited, said soothingly, "Oh, +Athenians, be not afraid. I have never seen the soul withdrawn without a +struggle with the body. Believe me, it will return. The words I +whispered, were those I once heard from the lips of Plato: 'The human +soul is guided by two horses; one white, with a flowing mane, earnest +eyes, and wings like a swan, whereby he seeks to fly; but the other is +black, heavy and sleepy-eyed--ever prone to lie down upon the earth.' + +"The second time, I whispered, 'Lo, the soul seeketh to ascend!' And the +third time I said, 'Behold the winged separates from that which hath no +wings.' When life returns, Paralus will have remembrance of these +words." + +"Oh, restore him! Restore him!" exclaimed Philothea, in tones of +agonized entreaty. + +Tithonus answered with respectful tenderness, and again stood in +profound silence several minutes, before he raised the wand. At the +first touch, a feeble shivering gave indication of returning life. As it +was repeated a second and a third time, with a brief interval between +each movement, the countenance of the sufferer grew more dark and +troubled, until it became fearful to look upon. But the heavy shadow +gradually passed away, and a dreamy smile returned, like a gleam of +sunshine after storms. The moment Philothea perceived an expression +familiar to her heart, she knelt by the couch, seized the hand of +Paralus, and bathed it with her tears. + +When the first gush of emotion had subsided, she said, in a soft, low +voice, "Where have you been, dear Paralus?" The invalid answered: "A +thick vapour enveloped me, as with a dark cloud; and a stunning noise +pained my head with its violence. A voice said to me, 'The human soul is +guided by two horses; one white, with a flowing mane, earnest eyes, and +wings like a swan, whereby he seeks to fly; but the other is black, +heavy, and sleepy-eyed--ever prone to lie down upon the earth.' Then the +darkness began to clear away. But there was strange confusion. All +things seemed rapidly to interchange their colours and their forms--the +sound of a storm was in mine ears--the elements and the stars seemed to +crowd upon me--and my breath was taken away. Then I heard a voice, +saying, 'Lo, the soul seeketh to ascend!' And I looked and saw the +chariot and horses, of which the voice had spoken. The beautiful white +horse gazed upward, and tossed his mane, and spread his wings +impatiently; but the black horse slept upon the ground. The voice again +said, 'Behold the winged separates from that which hath no wings!' And +suddenly the chariot ascended, and I saw the white horse on light fleecy +clouds, in a far blue sky. Then I heard a pleasing, silent sound--as if +dew-drops made music as they fell. I breathed freely, and my form seemed +to expand itself with buoyant life. All at once, I was floating in the +air, above a quiet lake, where reposed seven beautiful islands, full of +the sound of harps; and Philothea slept at my side, with a garland on +her head. I asked, 'Is this the divine home, whence I departed into the +body?' And a voice above my head answered 'It is the divine home. Man +never leaves it. He ceases to perceive.' Afterward, I looked downward, +and saw my dead body lying on a couch. Then again there came strange +confusion--and a painful clashing of sounds--and all things rushing +together. But Philothea took my hand, and spoke to me in gentle tones, +and the discord ceased." + +Plato had listened with intense interest. He stood apart with Tithonus, +and they spoke together in low tones, for several minutes before they +left the apartment. The philosopher was too deeply impressed to return +to the festivities of Olympia. He hired an apartment at the dwelling of +a poor shepherd, and during the following day remained in complete +seclusion, without partaking of food. + +While Paralus revealed his vision, his father's soul was filled with +reverence and fear, and he breathed with a continual consciousness of +supernatural presence. When his feelings became somewhat composed, he +leaned over the couch, and spoke a few affectionate words to his son; +but the invalid turned away his head, as if disturbed by the presence of +a stranger. The spirit of the strong man was moved, and he trembled like +a leaf shaken by the wind. Unable to endure this disappointment of his +excited hopes, he turned away hastily, and sought to conceal his grief +in solitude. + +During the whole of the ensuing day, Paralus continued in a deep sleep. +This was followed by silent cheerfulness, which, flowing as it did from +a hidden source, had something solemn and impressive in its character. +It was sad, yet pleasant, to see his look of utter desolation whenever +he lost sight of Philothea; and the sudden gleam of joy that illumined +his whole face the moment she re-appeared. + +The young wife sat by his side, hour after hour, with patient love; +often cheering him with her soft, rich voice, or playing upon the lyre +he had fashioned for her in happier days. She found a sweet reward in +the assurance given by all his friends, that her presence had a healing +power they had elsewhere sought in vain. She endeavoured to pour balm +into the wounded heart of Pericles, and could she have seen him willing +to wait the event with perfect resignation, her contentment would have +been not unmingled with joy. + +She wept in secret when she heard him express a wish to have Paralus +carried to the games, to try the effect of a sudden excitement; for +there seemed to her something of cruelty in thus disturbing the +tranquillity of one so gentle and so helpless. But the idea had been +suggested by a learned physician of Chios, and Pericles seemed reluctant +to return to Athens without trying this experiment also. Philothea found +it more difficult to consent to the required sacrifice, because the laws +of the country made it impossible to accompany her beloved husband to +Olympia; but she suppressed her feelings; and the painfulness of the +struggle was never fully confessed, even to Eudora. + +While the invalid slept, he was carefully conveyed in a litter, and +placed in the vicinity of the Hippodrome. He awoke in the midst of a +gorgeous spectacle. Long lines of splendid chariots were ranged on +either side of the barrier; the horses proudly pawed the ground, and +neighed impatiently; the bright sun glanced on glittering armour; and +the shouts of the charioteers were heard high above the busy hum of that +vast multitude. + +Paralus instantly closed his eyes, as if dazzled by the glare; and an +expression of painful bewilderment rested on his countenance. + +In the midst of the barrier stood an altar, on the top of which was a +brazen eagle. When the lists were in readiness, the majestic bird arose +and spread its wings, with a whirring noise, as a signal for the racers +to begin. Then was heard the clattering of hoofs, and the rushing of +wheels, as when armies meet in battle. A young Messenian was, for a +time, foremost in the race; but his horse took fright at the altar of +Taraxippus--his chariot was overthrown--and Alcibiades gained the prize. +The vanquished youth uttered a loud and piercing shriek, as the horses +passed over him; and Paralus fell senseless in his father's arms. + +It was never known whether this effect was produced by the presence of a +multitude, by shrill and discordant sounds, or by returning +recollection, too powerful for his enfeebled frame. He was tenderly +carried from the crowd, and restoratives having been applied, in vain, +the melancholy burden was slowly and carefully conveyed to her who so +anxiously awaited his arrival. + +During his absence, Philothea had earnestly prayed for the preservation +of a life so precious to her; and as the time of return drew near, she +walked in the fields, accompanied by Eudora and Milza, eager to catch +the first glimpse of his father's chariot. She read sad tidings in the +gloomy countenance of Pericles, before she beheld the lifeless form of +her husband. + +Cautiously and tenderly as the truth was revealed to her, she became +dizzy and pale, with the suddenness of the shock. Pericles endeavoured +to soothe her with all the sympathy of a parental love, mingled with +deep feelings of contrition, that his restless anxiety had thus brought +ruin into her paradise of peace: and Plato spoke gentle words of +consolation; reminding her that every soul, which philosophized +sincerely and loved beautiful forms, was restored to the full vigour of +its wings, and soared to the blest condition from which it fell. + +They laid Paralus upon a couch, with the belief that he slept to wake no +more. But as Philothea bent over him, she perceived a faint pulsation of +the heart. Her pale features were flushed with joy, as she exclaimed, +"He lives! He will speak to me again! Oh, I could die in peace,--if I +might once more hear his voice, as I heard it in former years." + +She bathed his head with cool perfumed waters, and watched him with love +that knew no weariness. + +Proclus and Telissa deemed he had fallen by the dart of Phoebus Apollo; +and fearing the god was angry for some unknown cause, they suspended +branches of rhamn and laurel on the doors, to keep off evil demons. + +For three days and three nights, Paralus remained in complete oblivion. +On the morning of the fourth, a pleasant change was observed in his +countenance; and he sometimes smiled so sweetly, and so rationally, that +his friends still dared to hope his health might be fully restored. + +At noon, he awoke; and looking at his wife with an expression full of +tenderness, said: "Dearest Philothea, you are with me. I saw you no +more, after the gate had closed. I believe it must have been a dream; +but it was very distinct." He glanced around the room, as if his +recollections were confused; but his eyes no longer retained the fixed +and awful expression of one who walked in his sleep. + +Speaking slowly and thoughtfully, he continued: "It could not be a +dream. I was in the temple of the most ancient god. The roof was of +heaven's pure gold, which seemed to have a ligat within it, like the +splendour of the sun. All around the temple were gardens full of bloom. +I heard soft, mumuring sounds, like the cooing of doves; and I saw the +immortal Oreades and the Naiades pouring water from golden urns. +Anaxagoras stood beside me; and he said we were living in the age of +innocence, when mortals could gaze on divine beings unveiled, and yet +preserve their reason. They spoke another language than the Greeks; but +we had no need to learn it; we seemed to breathe it in the air. The +Oreades had music written on scrolls, in all the colours of the rainbow. +When I asked the meaning of this, they showed me a triangle. At the top +was crimson, at the right hand blue, and at the left hand yellow. And +they said, 'Know ye not that all life is three-fold!' It was a dark +saying; but I then thought I faintly comprehended what Pythagoras has +written concerning the mysterious signification of One and Three. Many +other things I saw and heard, but was forbidden to relate. The gate of +the temple was an arch, supported by two figures with heavy drapery, +eyes closed, and arms folded. They told me these were Sleep and Death. +Over the gate was written in large letters, 'The Entrance of Mortals.' +Beyond it, I saw you standing with outstretched arms, as if you sought +to come to me, but could not. The air was filled with voices, that sung: + + Come! join thy kindred spirit, come! + Hail to the mystic two in one! + When Sleep hath passed, thy dreams remain-- + What he hath brought, Death brings again. + Come hither, kindred spirits, come! + Hail to the mystic two in one! + +I tried to meet you; but as I passed through the gate, a cold air blew +upon me, and all beyond was in the glimmering darkness of twilight. I +would have returned, but the gate had closed; and I heard behind me the +sound of harps and of voices, singing: + + Come hither, kindred spirits, come! + Hail to the mystic two in one!" + +Philothea kissed his hand, and her face beamed with joy. She had +earnestly desired some promise of their future union; and now she felt +the prayer was answered. + +"Could it be a dream?" said Paralus: "Methinks I hear the music now." + +Philothea smiled affectionately, as she replied: "When sleep hath +passed, thy dreams remain." + +As she gazed upon him, she observed that the supernatural expression of +his eyes had changed; and that his countenence now wore its familiar, +household smile. Still she feared to cherish the hope springing in her +heart, until he looked toward the place where her attendant sat, +motionless and silent, and said, "Milza, will you bring me the lyre?" + +The affectionate peasant looked earnestly at Philothea, and wept as she +placed it in his hand. + +Making an effort to rise, he seemed surprised at his own weakness. They +gently raised him, bolstered him with pillows, and told him he had long +been ill. + +"I have not known it," he replied. "It seems to me I have returned from +a far country." + +He touched the lyre, and easily recalled the tune which he said he had +learned in the Land of Dreams. It was a wild, unearthly strain, with +sounds of solemn gladness, that deeply affected Philothea's soul. + +Pericles had not visited his son since his return to perfect +consciousness. When he came, Paralus looked upon him with a smile of +recognition, and said, "My father!" + +Milza had been sent to call the heart-stricken parent, and prepare him +for some favourable change; but when he heard those welcome words, he +dropped suddenly upon his knees, buried his face in the drapery of the +couch, and his whole frame shook with emotion. + +The invalid continued: "They tell me I have been very ill, dear father; +but it appears to me that I have only travelled. I have seen Anaxagoras +often--Plato sometimes--and Philothea almost constantly; but I have +never seen you, since I thought you were dying of the plague at Athens." + +Pericles replied, "You have indeed been ill, my son. You are to me as +the dead restored to life. But you must be quiet now, and seek repose." + +For some time after the interview with his father, Paralus remained very +wakeful. His eyes sparkled, and a feverish flush was on his cheek. +Philothea took her cithara, and played his favourite tunes. This seemed +to tranquilize him; and as the music grew more slow and plaintive, he +became drowsy, and at length sunk into a gentle slumber. + +After more than two hours of deep repose, he was awakened by the merry +shouts of little Zoila, who had run out to meet Plato, as he came from +Olympia. Philothea feared, lest the shrill noise had given him pain; +but he smiled; and said, "The voice of childhood is pleasant." + +He expressed a wish to see his favourite philosopher; and their kindred +souls held long and sweet communion together. When Plato retired from +the couch, he said to Philothea, "I have learned more from this dear +wanderer, than philosophers or poets have ever written. I am confirmed +in my belief that no impelling truth is ever learned in this world; but +that all is received directly from the Divine Ideal, flowing into the +soul of man when his reason is obedient and still." + +A basket of grapes, tastefully ornamented with flowers, was presented to +the invalid; and in answer to his inquiries, he was informed that they +were prepared by Eudora. He immediately desired that she might be +called; and when she came, he received her with the most cordial +affection. He alluded to past events with great clearness of memory, and +asked his father several questions concerning the condition of Athens. +When Philothea arranged his pillows and bathed his head, he pressed her +hand affectionately, and said, "It almost seems as if you were my wife." + +Pericles, deeply affected, replied, "My dear son, she is your wife. She +forgot all my pride, and consented to marry you, that she might become +your nurse, when we all feared that you would be restored to us no +more." + +Paralus looked up with a bright expression of gratitude, and said, "I +thank you, father. This was very kind. Now you will be her father, when +I am gone." + +Perceiving that Pericles and Eudora wept, he added: "Do not mourn +because I am soon to depart. Why would ye detain my soul in this world? +Its best pleasures are like the shallow gardens of Adonis, fresh and +fair in the morning, and perishing at noon." + +He then repeated his last vision, and asked for the lyre, that they +might hear the music he had learned from immortal voices. + +There was melancholy beauty in the sight of one so pale and thin, +touching the lyre with an inspired countenance, and thus revealing to +mortal ears the melodies of Heaven. + +One by one his friends withdrew; being tenderly solicitous that he +should not become exhausted by interviews prolonged beyond his strength. +He was left alone with Philothea; and many precious words were spoken, +that sunk deep into her heart, never to be forgotten. + +But sleep departed from his eyes; and it soon became evident that the +soul, in returning to its union with the body, brought with it a +consciousness of corporeal suffering. This became more and more intense; +and though he uttered no complaint, he said to those who asked him, that +bodily pain seemed at times too powerful for endurance. + +Pericles had for several days remained under the same roof, to watch the +progress of recovery; but at midnight, he was called to witness +convulsive struggles, that indicated approaching death. + +During intervals of comparative ease, Paralus recognized his afflicted +parent, and conjured him to think less of the fleeting honours of this +world, which often eluded the grasp, and were always worthless in the +possession. + +He held Philothea's hand continually, and often spoke to her in words of +consolation. Immediately after an acute spasm of pain had subsided, he +asked to be turned upon his right side, that he might see her face more +distinctly. As she leaned over him, he smiled faintly, and imprinted a +kiss upon her lips. He remained tranquil, with his eyes fixed upon hers; +and a voice within impelled her to sing: + + Come hither, kindred spirits, come! + Hail to the mystic two in one! + +He looked upward with a radiant expression, and feebly pressed her hand. +Not long after, his eyelids closed, and sleep seemed to cover his +features with her heavy veil. + +Suddenly his countenance shone with a strange and impressive beauty. The +soul had departed to return to earth no more. + +In all his troubles, Pericles had never shed a tear; but now he rent the +air with his groans, and sobbed, like a mother bereft of her child. + +Philothea, though deeply bowed down in spirit, was more composed: for +she heard angelic voices singing: + + When sleep hath passed, thy dreams remain-- + What he hath brought, Death brings again. + Come hither, kindred spirits, come! + Hail to the mystic two in one! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + Thus a poor father, helpless and undone, + Mourns o'er the ashes of an only son; + Takes a sad pleasure the last bones to burn, + And pour in tears, ere yet they close the urn. + HOMER + + +Of the immense concourse collected together at Olympia, each one pursued +his pleasure, or his interest, in the way best suited to his taste. +Alcibiades was proud of giving a feast corresponding in magnificence to +the chariots he had brought into the course. Crowds of parasites +flattered him and the other victors, to receive invitations in return; +while a generous few sympathized with the vanquished. Merchants were +busy forming plans for profitable negociation, and statesmen were +eagerly watching every symptom of jealousy between rival states and +contending parties. + +One, amid that mass of human hearts, felt so little interest in all the +world could offer, that she seemed already removed beyond its influence. +Philothea had herself closed the eyes of her husband, and imprinted her +last kiss upon his lips. Bathed in pure water, and perfumed with +ointment, the lifeless form of Paralus lay wrapped in the robe he had +been accustomed to wear. A wreath of parsley encircled his head, and +flowers were strewn around him in profusion. + +In one hand was placed an obolus, to pay the ferryman that rowed him +across the river of death; and in the other, a cake made of honey and +flour, to appease the triple-headed dog, which guarded the entrance to +the world of souls. + +The bereaved wife sat by his side, and occasionally renewed the +garlands, with a quiet and serene expression, as if she still found +happiness in being occupied for him who had given her his heart in the +innocence and freshness of its childhood. + +The food prepared by Milza's active kindness was scarcely tasted; except +when she observed the tears of her faithful attendant, and sought to +soothe her feelings with characterestic tenderness. + +The event soon became universally known; for the hair of the deceased, +consecrated to Persephone, and a vase of water at the threshold, +proclaimed tidings of death within the dwelling. + +Many of the assembled multitude chose to remain until the funeral +solemnities were past; some from personal affection for Paralus, others +from respect to the son of Pericles. + +Plato sent two large vases, filled with wine and honey; Eudora provided +ointments and perfumes; Alcibiades presented a white cloak, richly +embroidered with silver; and the young men of Athens, present at the +games, gave a silver urn, on which were sculptured weeping genii, with +their torches turned downward. + +Enveloped in his glittering mantle, and covered with flowers, the form +of Paralus remained until the third day. The procession, which was to +attend the body to the funeral pile, formed at morning twilight; for +such was the custom with regard to those who died in their youth. +Philothea followed the bier, dressed in white, with a wreath of roses +and myrtle around her head, and a garland about the waist. She chose +this beautiful manner to express her joy that his pure spirit had passed +into Elysium. + +At the door of the house, the nearest relatives addressed the inanimate +form, so soon to be removed from the sight of mortals. In tones of +anguish, almost amounting to despair, Pericles exclaimed: "Oh, my son! +my son! Why didst thou leave us? Why wast thou, so richly gifted of the +gods, to be taken from us in thy youth? Oh, my son, why was I left to +mourn for thee?" + +Instead of the usual shrieks and lamentations of Grecian women, +Philothea said, in sad, heart-moving accents: "Paralus, farewell! +Husband of my youth, beloved of my heart, farewell!" + +Then the dead was carried out; and the procession moved forward, to the +sound of many voices and many instruments, mingled in a loud and solemn +dirge. The body of Paralus was reverently laid upon the funeral pile, +with the garments he had been accustomed to wear; his lyre and Phrygian +flute; and vases filled with oil and perfumes. + +Plentiful libations of wine, honey, and milk were poured upon the +ground, and the mourners smote the earth with their feet, while they +uttered supplications to Hermes, Hecate, and Pluto. Pericles applied the +torch to the pile, first invoking the aid of Boreas and Zephyrus, that +it might consume quickly. As the flames rose, the procession walked +slowly three times around the pile, moving toward the left hand. The +solemn dirge was resumed, and continued until the last flickering tongue +of fire was extinguished with wine. Then those who had borne the silver +urn in front of the hearse, approached. Pericles, with tender +reverence, gathered the whitened bones, sprinkled them with wine and +perfumes, placed them within the urn, and covered it with a purple pall, +inwrought with gold; which Philothea's prophetic love had prepared for +the occasion. + +The procession again moved forward, with torches turned downward; and +the remains of Paralus were deposited in the Temple of Persephone, until +his friends returned to Athens. + +In token of gratitude for kind attentions bestowed by the household of +Proclus, Pericles invited his family to visit the far-famed wonders of +the violet-crowned city; and the eager solicitations of young Pterilaüs +induced the father to accept this invitation for himself and son. As an +inhabitant of consecrated Elis, without wealth, and unknown to fame, it +was deemed that he might return in safety, even after hostilities were +renewed between the Peloponessian states. Eudora likewise obtained +permission to accompany her friend; and her sad farewell was cheered by +an indefinite hope that future times would restore her to that quiet +home. The virtuous Melissa parted from them with many blessings and +tears. Zoila was in an agony of childish sorrow; but she wiped her eyes +with the corner of her robe, and listened, well pleased, to Eudora's +parting promise of sending her a flock of marble sheep, with a painted +wooden shepherd. + +The women travelled together in a chariot, in front of which reposed the +silver urn, covered with its purple pall. Thus sadly did Philothea +return through the same scenes she had lately traversed with hopes, +which, in the light of memory, now seemed like positive enjoyment. +Pericles indeed treated her with truly parental tenderness; and no +soothing attention, that respect or affection could suggest, was omitted +by her friends. But he, of whose mysterious existence her own seemed a +necessary portion, had gone to return no more; and had it not been for +the presence of Eudora, she would have felt that every bond of sympathy +with this world of forms had ceased forever. + +At Corinth, the travellers again turned aside to the Fountain of +Poseidon, that the curiosity of Pterilaüs might be satisfied with a view +of the statues by which it was surrounded. + +"When we are in Athens, I will show you something more beautiful than +these," said Pericles. "You shall see the Pallas Athenæ, carved by +Phidias." + +"Men say it is not so grand as the statue of Zeus, that we have at +Olympia," replied the boy. + +"Had you rather witness the sports of the gymnasia than the works of +artists?" inquired Plato. + +The youth answered very promptly, "Ah, no indeed. I would rather gain +one prize from the Choragus, than ten from the Gymnasiarch. Anniceris, +the Cyrenæan, proudly displayed his skill in chariot-driving, by riding +several times around the Academia, each time preserving the exact orbit +of his wheels. The spectators applauded loudly; but Plato said, 'He who +has bestowed such diligence to acquire trifling and useless things, must +have neglected those that are truly admirable.' Of all sights in +Athens, I most wish to see the philosophers; and none so much as Plato." + +The company smiled, and the philosopher answered, "I am Plato." + +"You told us that your name was Aristocles," returned Pterilaüs; "and we +always called you so. Once I heard that Athenian lady call you Plato; +and I could not understand why she did so." + +"I was named Aristocles for my grandfather," answered the philosopher; +"and when I grew older, men called me Plato." + +"But you cannot be the Plato that I mean," said Pterilaüs; "for you +carried my little sister Zoila on your shoulders--and played peep with +her among the vines; and when I chased you through the fields, you ran +so fast that I could not catch you." The philosopher smiled, as he +replied, "Nevertheless, I am Plato; and they call me by that name, +because my shoulders are broad enough to carry little children." + +The boy still insisted that he alluded to another Plato. "I mean the +philosopher, who teaches in the groves of Academus," continued he. "I +knew a freedman of his, who said he never allowed himself to be angry, +or to speak in a loud voice. He never but once raised his hand to strike +him; and that was because he had mischievously upset a poor old woman's +basket of figs; feeling that he was in a passion, he suddenly checked +himself, and stood perfectly still. A friend coming in asked him what he +was doing; and the philosopher replied, 'I am punishing an angry man.' + +"Speusippus, his sister's son, was such a careless, indecent, and +boisterous youth, that his parents could not control him. They sent him +to his uncle Plato, who received him in a friendly manner, and forbore +to reproach him. Only in his own example he was always modest and +placid. This so excited the admiration of Speusippus, that a love of +philosophy was kindled within him. Some of his relatives blamed Plato, +because he did not chastise the impertinent youth; but he replied, +'There is no reproof so severe as to show him, by the manner of my own +life, the contrast between virtue and baseness.'--That is the Plato I +want you to show me, when we are in Athens." + +Proclus, perceiving a universal smile, modestly added, by way of +explanation: "My son means him whom men call the divine Plato. He +greatly desires to see that philosopher, of whom it is said Socrates +dreamed, when he first received him as his pupil. In his dream he saw a +swan without wings, that came and sat upon his bosom; and soon after, +its wings grew, and it flew high up in the air, with melodious notes, +alluring all who heard it." + +Pericles laid his hand on the philosopher's shoulder, and smiling, +answered, "My unbelieving friend, this is the teacher of Academus; this +is the divine Plato; this is the soaring swan, whose melodious notes +allure all that hear him." + +Proclus was covered with confusion, but still seemed half incredulous. +"What would Melissa say," exclaimed he, "if she knew that her frolicsome +little plaything, Zoila, had been rude enough to throw flowers at the +divine Plato." + +"Nay, my friend," replied the disciple of Socrates,--what better could +a philosopher desire, than to be pelted with roses by childhood?" + +Eudora looked up with an arch expression; and Philothea smiled as she +said, "This is a new version of unknown Phoebus tending the flocks of +Admetus." + +Pterilaüs seemed utterly confounded by a discovery so unexpected. It was +long before he regained his usual freedom; and from time to time he was +observed to fix a scrutinizing gaze on the countenance of Plato, as if +seeking to read the mystery of his hidden greatness. + +As the travellers approached Athens, they were met by a numerous +procession of magistrates, citizens, and young men bearing garlands, +which they heaped on the urn in such profusion that it resembled a +pyramid of flowers. They passed the chariots with their arms and ensigns +of office all reversed; then turned and followed to the abode of +Pericles, singing dirges as they went, and filling the air with the +melancholy music of the Mysian flute. + +The amiable character of the deceased, his genius, the peculiar +circumstances attending his death, and the accumulated afflictions of +his illustrious parent, all combined to render it an impressive scene. +Even the gay selfishness of Alcibiades was subdued into reverence, as he +carefully took the urn from the chariot, and gave it to attendants, who +placed it beside the household altar. + +Early the next morning, a procession again formed to convey the ashes of +Paralus to the sepulchre of his fathers; called, in the beautiful +language of the Greeks, a Place of Sleep. + +When the urn was again brought forth, Philothea's long golden hair +covered it, like a mantle of sunbeams. During his life-time, these +shining tresses had been peculiarly dear to him; and in token of her +love, she placed them on his grave. Her white robe was changed for +coarse black garments; and instead of flowery wreaths, a long black veil +covered the beautiful head, from which its richest ornament had just +been severed. She had rejoiced for his happy spirit, and now she mourned +her own widowed lot. + +At the sepulchre, Pericles pronounced a funeral oration on the most +gifted, and best-beloved of his children. In the evening, kindred and +friends met at his house to partake a feast prepared for the occasion; +and every guest had something to relate concerning the genius and the +virtues of him who slept. + +A similar feast was prepared in the apartments of the women, where +Philothea remained silent and composed; a circumstance that excited no +small degree of wonder and remark, among those who measured affection by +the vehemence of grief. + +As soon as all ceremonies were completed, she obtained leave to return +to her early home, endeared by many happy scenes; and there, in the +stillness of her own heart, she held communion with the dear departed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + There await me till I die; prepare + A mansion for me, as again with me + To dwell; for in thy tomb will I be laid, + In the same cedar, by thy side composed: + For e'en in death I will not be disjoined. + EURIPIDES + + +It soon became evident that a great change had taken place in +Philothea's health. Some attributed it to the atmosphere of Athens, +still infected with the plague; others supposed it had its origin in the +death of Paralus. The widowed one, far from cherishing her grief, made a +strong effort to be cheerful; but her gentle smile, like moonlight in a +painting, retained its sweetness when the life was gone. There was +something in this perfect stillness of resignation more affecting than +the utmost agony of sorrow. She complained of no illness, but grew +thinner and thinner, like a cloud gradually floating away, and retaining +its transparent beauty to the last. Eudora lavished the most +affectionate attentions upon her friend, conscious that she was merely +strewing flowers in her pathway to the tomb. + +A few weeks after their return to Athens, she said, "Dearest Eudora, do +you remember the story of the nymph Erato, who implored the assistance +of Areas, when the swelling torrent threatened to carry away the tree +over which she presided, and on whose preservation her life depended?" + +"I remember it well," replied Eudora: "Dione told it to me when I was +quite a child; and I could never after see a tree torn by the lightning, +or carried away by the flood, or felled by the woodman, without a +shrinking and shivering feeling, lest some gentle, fair-haired Dryad had +perished with it." + +Philothea answered, "Thus was I affected, when my grandfather first read +to me Hesiod's account of the Muses: + + 'Far round, the dusky earth + Rings with their hymning voices; and beneath + Their many-rustling feet a pleasant sound + Ariseth, as they take their onward way + To their own father's presence.' + +"I never after could hear the quivering of summer leaves, or the busy +hum of insects, without thinking it was the echoed voices of those + + 'Thrice three sacred maids, whose minds are knit + In harmony; whose only thought is song.' + +"There is a deep and hidden reason why the heart loves to invest every +hill, and stream, and tree, with a mysterious principle of life. All +earthly forms are but the clothing of some divine ideal; and this truth +we _feel_, though we _know_ it not. But when I spoke of Arcus and the +Wood Nymph, I was thinking that Paralus had been the tree, on whose +existence my own depended; and that now he was removed, I should not +long remain." + +Eudora burst into a passionate flood of tears. "Oh, dearest Philothea, +do not speak thus," she said. "I shall indeed be left alone in the +world. Who will guide me, who will protect me, who will love me when you +are gone?" + +Her friend endeavoured to calm these agitated feelings, by every +soothing art her kindness could suggest. + +"I would rather suffer much in silence, than to give you unnecessary +pain," she replied, affectionately: "but I ought not to conceal from you +that I am about to follow my beloved husband. In a short time, I shall +not have sufficient strength to impart all I have to say. You will find +my clothing and jewels done up in parcels, bearing the names of those +for whom they are intended. My dowry returns to Chrysippus, who gave it; +but Pericles has kindly given permission that everything else should be +disposed of according to my own wishes. Several of my grandfather's +manuscripts, and a copy of Herodotus, which I transcribed while I was in +Ionia, are my farewell gifts to him. When the silver tripod, which +Paralus gained as a prize for the best tragedy exhibited during the +Dionysia, is returned to his father's house, let them be placed within +it. The statue of Persephone, (that ominous bridal gift,) and the ivory +lyre bestowed by Aspasia, are placed in his trust for the youthful +Pericles; together with all the books and garments that belonged to his +departed brother. In token of gratitude for the parental care of Clinias +and his wife, I have bestowed on them the rich tripod received from +Heliodora. In addition to the trifling memorials I have already sent to +Melissa, and her artless little Zoila, you will find others prepared for +you to deliver, when restored to your peaceful home in Elis. To my +faithful Milza I have given all the garments and household goods suited +to her condition. My grandfather's books have been divided, as he +requested, between Plato and Philæmon; the silver harp and the ivory +tablet are likewise designed for them. Everything else belongs to you, +dearest Eudora. Among many tokens of my affection, you will not value +least the ivory cup lined with silver, which Philæmon gave me when he +departed from Athens. The clasp, representing the Naiades binding Eros +in garlands, will, I trust, be worn at your marriage with Philæmon." + +With tearful eyes, Eudora answered, "Oh, Philothea! in the days of my +pride and gayety, I little knew what a treasure I threw from me, when I +lost Philæmon's love. Had it not been for my own perverse folly, I +should at this moment be his happy, honoured wife. The hope of his +forgiveness is now the only gleam of sunshine in a world of gloom; but I +hardly dare to cherish it." + +Philothea kissed her affectionately, and said, "Believe me, you will yet +be united. Of this, there is an impression on my mind too strong to +admit of doubt. If at times you are tempted to despond, remember these +words were uttered by your friend, when she drew near the confines of +another world: you will be united to Philæmon." + +As she spoke, Milza, who was occupied in the next apartment, sneezed +aloud. The sound was at Eudora's right hand, and she received the +auspicious omen with a sudden thrill of joy. + +Philothea observed her emotion with a gentle smile, and added: "When we +were at Elis, I wrote an epistle to Philæmon, in which I spoke of you +as my heart dictated; and Artaphernes found opportunity to send it +directly into Persia." + +The maiden blushed deeply and painfully, as she replied, "Nay, my +dearest friend--you know that I must appear contemptible in his eyes; +and I would not have insulted him with the offer of a heart, which he +has reason to believe is so capricious and ungrateful." + +"Trust me, I said nothing whereby your modesty might be wounded," +answered Philothea: "I wrote as I was moved; and I felt strong assurance +that my words would waken a response in Philæmon's heart. But there is +one subject, on which my mind is filled with foreboding. I hope you will +leave Athens as soon as it is safe to return to Elis." + +"Do you then fear that I would again dance over a pit, because it was +artfully covered with garlands?" said Eudora. "Believe me, I have been +tried with too many sorrows, and too long been bowed under a load of +shame, to be again endangered by such treacherous snares." + +Philothea looked upon her affectionately, as she replied: "You are good +and pure; but you have ever been like a loving and graceful vine, ready +to cling to its nearest support." + +"'Tis you have made me so," rejoined Eudora, kissing her pale cheek: "To +you I have always applied for advice and instruction; and when you gave +it, I felt confident and happy, as if led by the gods." + +"Then so much the more need that I should caution the weakness I have +produced," responded Philothea. "Should Aspasia gain access to you, when +I am gone, she will try to convince you that happiness consists not in +the duties we perform, but in the distinction we acquire; that my hopes +of Elysium are all founded on fable; that my beloved Paralus has +returned to the elements of which he was composed; that he nourishes the +plants, and forms some of the innumerable particles of the atmosphere. +I have seen him in my dreams, as distinctly, as I ever saw him; and I +believe the same power that enabled me to see him when these poor eyes +were veiled in slumber, will restore him to my vision when they are +closed in eternal sleep. Aspasia will tell you I have been a beautiful +but idle dreamer all my life. If you listen to her syren tongue, the +secret guiding voice will be heard no more. She will make evil appear +good, and good evil, until your soul will walk in perpetual twilight, +unable to perceive the real size and character of any object." + +"Never," exclaimed Eudora. "Never could she induce me to believe you an +idle dreamer. Moreover, she will never again have opportunity to exert +influence over me. The conversation I heard between her and Alcibiades +is too well impressed upon my memory; and while that remains +unforgotten, I shall shun them both, as I would shun a pestilence." + +Philothea answered: "I do indeed believe that no blandishments will now +make you a willing victim. But I have a secret dread of the character +and power of Alcibiades. It is his boast that he never relinquishes a +pursuit. I have often heard Pericles speak of his childish obstinacy and +perseverance. He was one day playing at dice with other boys, when a +loaded wagon came near. In a commanding tone, he ordered the driver to +stop; and finding his injunctions disregarded, he laid down before the +horses' feet, and told him to go on if he dared. The same character +remains with him now. He will incur any hazard for the triumph of his +own will. From his youth, he has been a popular idol; a circumstance +which has doubtless increased the requirements of his passions, without +diminishing the stubbornness of his temper. Milza tells me he has +already inquired of her concerning your present residence and future +intentions. Obstacles will only increase his eagerness and multiply his +artifices. + +"I have asked Clinias, whose dwelling is so closely connected with our +own, to supply the place of your distant guardian, while you remain in +Athens. In Pericles you might likewise trust, if he were not so fatally +under the influence of Aspasia. Men think so lightly of these matters, I +sometimes fear they might both regard the persecutions of Alcibiades too +trivial for their interference. For these reasons I wish you to return +to Elis as soon as possible when I am gone." + +Eudora's countenance kindled with indignation, as she listened to what +Milza had told. In broken and contrite tones, she answered; "Philothea, +whatever trials I may suffer, my former folly deserves them all. But +rest assured, whenever it pleases the gods to remove your counsel and +protection, I will not abide in Athens a single hour after it is +possible to leave with safety." + +"I find consolation in that assurance," replied Philothea; "and I have +strong belief that a divine shield will guard you from impending evil. +And now I will go to my couch; for I am weary, and would fain be lulled +with music." + +Eudora tenderly arranged the pillows, and played a succession of sweet +and plaintive tunes, familiar to their childhood. Her friend listened +with an expression of tranquil pleasure, slowly keeping time by the +motion of her fingers, until she sunk into a peaceful sleep. + +After long and sweet repose, she awoke suddenly, and looking up with a +beaming glance, exclaimed, "I shall follow him soon!" + +Eudora leaned over the couch, to inquire why she had spoken in such +delighted accents. + +Philothea answered: "I dreamed that I sat upon a bank of violets, with +Paralus by my side; and he wove a garland and placed it on my head. +Suddenly, golden sounds seemed floating in the air, melting into each +other with liquid melody. It was such a scene as Paralus often +described, when his soul lived apart from the body, and only returned at +intervals, to bring strange tidings of its wanderings. I turned to tell +him so; and I saw that we were both clothed in garments that shone like +woven sunbeams. Then voices above us began to sing: + + 'Come hither, kindred spirits, come! + Hail to the mystic two in one!' + +"Even after I awoke, I seemed to hear the chorus distinctly. It sounded +like the voice of Paralus in his youth, when we used to sing together, +to please my grandfather, as he sat by the side of that little sheltered +brook, over whose bright waters the trees embrace each other in silent +love. Dearest Eudora, I shall soon follow him." + +The maiden turned away to conceal her tears; for resignation to this +bereavement seemed too hard a lesson for her suffering heart. + +For several weeks, there was no apparent change in Philothea's health or +spirits. The same sad serenity remained--perpetually exciting the +compassion it never seemed to ask. Each day the children of the +neighbourhood brought their simple offering of flowers, with which she +wove fresh garlands for the tomb of Paralus. When no longer able to +visit the sepulchre herself, she intrusted them to the youthful +Pericles, who reverently placed them on his brother's urn. + +The elder Pericles seemed to find peculiar solace in the conversation of +his widowed daughter. Scarcely a day passed without an interview between +them, and renewed indications of his affectionate solicitude. + +He came one day, attended by his son, on whom his desolated heart now +bestowed a double portion of paternal love. They remained a long time, +in earnest discourse; and when they departed, the boy was in tears. + +Philothea, with feeble steps, followed them to the portico, and gazed +after them, as long as she could see a fold of their garments. As she +turned to lean on Eudora's arm, she said, "It is the last time I shall +ever see them. It is the last. I have felt a sister's love for that dear +boy. His heart is young and innocent." + +For a few hours after, she continued to talk with unusual animation, and +her eyes beamed with an expression of inspired earnestness. At her +request, Geta and Milza were called; and the faithful servants listened +with mournful gratitude to her parting words of advice and consolation. + +At evening twilight, Eudora gave her a bunch of flowers, sent by the +youthful Pericles. She took them with a smile, and said, "How fragrant +is their breath, and how beautiful their colours! I have heard that the +Persians write their music in colours; and Paralus spoke the same +concerning music in the spirit-world. Perchance there was heavenly +melody written on this fair earth in the age of innocence; but mortals +have now forgotten its language." Perceiving Eudora's thoughtful +countenance, she said: "Is my gentle friend disturbed, lest infant +nymphs closed their brief existence when these stems were broken?" + +"Nay;" replied Eudora: "My heart is sad; but not for the perished genii +of the flowers." + +Philothea understood the import of her words; and pressing her hand +affectionately, said, "Your love has been as balm to my lonely heart; +and let that remembrance comfort you, when I go hence. Listen in +stillness to the whispered warnings of your attendant spirit, and he +will never leave you. I am weary; and would fain repose on your +affectionate bosom." + +Eudora gently placed her head as she desired; and carefully supporting +the precious burden, she began to sing, in low and soothing tones. + +After some time, the quiet and regular respiration of the breath +announced that the invalid had fallen into tranquil slumber. Milza came, +to ask if the lamps were wanted; but receiving a silent signal from +Eudora, she crept noiselessly away. + +For more than an hour, there was perfect stillness, as the shades of +evening deepened. All at once, the room was filled with soft, clear +light! Eudora turned her head quickly, to discover whence it came; but +could perceive no apparent cause for the sudden radiance. + +With an undefined feeling of awe, she looked in the countenance of her +friend. It was motionless as marble; but never had she seen anything so +beautiful, and so unearthly. + +As she gazed, doubting whether this could indeed be death, there was a +sound of music in the air--distinct, yet blended, like the warbling of +birds in the spring-time. + +It was the tune Paralus had learned from celestial harps; and even after +the last note floated away, Eudora seemed to hear the well-remembered +words: + + Come hither, kindred spirit, come! + Hail to the mystic two in one! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + Take courage I no vain dream hast thou beheld, + But in thy sleep a truth. + HOMER. + + +At the time of Philothea's death, Pandænus, the nephew of Phidias, was +in Athens, intending soon to return to Elis, in company with an +ambassador bound to Lacedæmon; and Eudora resolved to avail herself of +this opportunity to follow the farewell advice of her friend. As the +time for departure was near at hand, no change was made in household +arrangements; and though the desolate maiden at times experienced +sensations of extreme loneliness, the near vicinity of Clinias and +Phoenarete left her no fears concerning adequate protection. + +This confidence seemed well grounded; yet not many days after the +funeral solemnities, Eudora suddenly disappeared. She had gone out, as +usual, to gather flowers for the tomb of the beloved sleeper; and not +rinding sufficient variety in the garden, had wandered into a small +field adjoining. Milza was the first to observe that her absence was +unusually protracted. She mentioned her anxiety to Geta, who immediately +went out in search of his young mistress; but soon returned, saying she +was neither in the house of Clinias, nor in the neighbouring fields, nor +at the Fountain of Callirhöe. + +The faithful attendants at once suspected treachery in Alcibiades. "I +never rightly understood what was the difficulty, when Eudora was locked +up in her chamber, and Lucos chained to the door," said Geta; "but from +what I could hear, I know that Phidias was very angry with Alcibiades. +Many a time I've heard him say that he would always have his own way, +either by a straight course or a crooked one." + +"And my good old master used to say he had changed but little since he +was a boy, when he made the wagoner turn back, by lying down in front of +his horses," rejoined Milza: "I thought of that, when Alcibiades came +and drank at the Fountain, while I was filling my urn. You remember I +told you that he just tasted of the water, for a pretence, and then +began to inquire where Eudora was, and whether she would remain in +Athens." + +After some further consultation, it was deemed best for Milza to request +a private interview with Phoenarete, during which she freely expressed +her fears. The wife of Clinias, though connected by marriage with the +house of Alcibiades, was far from resenting the imputation, or +pretending that she considered it groundless. Her feelings were at once +excited for the lonely orphan girl, whose beauty, vivacity, and +gentleness, had won upon her heart; and she readily promised assistance +in any plan for her relief, provided it met the approbation of her +husband. + +There was in Salamis a large mansion built by Eurysaces, the ancestor of +Alcibiades, by whom it had been lately purchased, and repaired for a +summer residence. Report said that many a fair maiden had been decoyed +within its walls, and retained a prisoner. This place was guarded by +several powerful dogs, and vigilant servants were always stationed at +the gates. Milza proposed to disguise herself as much as possible, and, +with a basket on her head, go thither to offer fish for sale. Geta, +being afraid to accompany her, hired an honest boatman to convey her to +the island, and wait till she was ready to return to Athens. + +As she approached the walls of the mansion, the dogs began to growl, but +were soon silenced by the porters. Without answering the indecent jibes, +with which they greeted her ears as she passed along, the little +fish-woman balanced her basket on her head, and began carelessly to sing +some snatches of a hymn to Amphitrite. It was a tune of which Eudora was +particularly fond; and often when Milza was humming it over her work, +her soft and sonorous voice had been heard responding from the inner +apartment. + +She had scarcely finished the first verse, ere the chorus was repeated +by some one within the dwelling; and she recognized the half-suppressed +growl of Hylax, as if his barking had been checked by some cautious +hand. Afraid to attract attention by a prolonged stay, Milza passed +along and entered the servants' apartment. Having sold a portion of her +fish, and lingered as long as she dared in conversation with the cooks, +she returned slowly in the same direction, singing as she went, and +carefully observing everything around her. She was just beginning to +fear the impossibility of obtaining any solution of her doubts, when she +saw a leaf fluttering near the ground, as if its motions were impelled +by some other cause than the wind. Approaching nearer, she perceived +that it was let down from a grated opening in the wall above, by a +small thread, with a little ball of wax attached to it for a weight. She +examined the leaf, and discovered certain letters pricked upon it; and +when the string was pulled gently, it immediately dropped upon her arm. +At the same time, a voice, which she distinctly recognized as Eudora's, +was heard singing: + + On a rock, amid the roaring water, + Lies Cassiopea's gentle daughter. + +Milza had just begun to sing, "Bold Perseus comes," when she perceived a +servant crossing the court, and deemed it prudent to retire in silence. +She carefully preserved the leaf, and immediately after her return +hastened to the apartment of Phoenarete, to obtain an explanation. That +matron, like most Grecian women, was ignorant of her own written +language. The leaf was accordingly placed in a vessel of water, to +preserve its freshness until Clinias returned from the Prytaneum. He +easily distinguished the name of Pandænus joined with his own; and +having heard the particulars of the story, had no difficulty in +understanding that Milza was directed to apply to them for assistance. +He readily promised to intercede with his profligate kinsman, and +immediately sent messengers in search of Pandænus. + +Geta awaited intelligence with extreme impatience. He was grateful for +many an act of kindness from Eudora; and he could not forget that she +had been the cherished favourite of his beloved and generous master. + +At night, Clinias returned from a conference with Alcibiades, in which +the latter denied all knowledge of Eudora; and it seemed hazardous to +institute legal inquiries into the conduct of a man so powerful and so +popular, without further evidence than had yet been obtained. Pandænus +could not be found. At the house where he usually resided, no +information could be obtained, except that he went out on the preceding +evening, and had not returned as usual. + +During that night, and part of the following day, the two faithful +attendants remained in a state of melancholy indecision. At last, Geta +said, "I will go once more in search of Pandænus; and if he has not yet +returned, I have resolved what to do. To-day I saw one of the slaves of +Artaphernes buying olives; and he said he must have the very best, +because his master was to give a feast to-night. Among other guests, he +spoke of Alcibiades; and he is one that is always sure to stay late at +his wine. While he is feasting, I will go to Salamis. His steward often +bought anchovies of me at Phalerum. He is a countryman of mine; and I +know he is as avaricious as an Odomantian. I think money will bribe him +to carry a message to Eudora, and to place a ladder near the outer wall +for her escape. He is intrusted with all the keys, and can do it if he +will. And if he can get gold enough by it, I believe he will trust +Hermes to help him settle with his master, as he has done many a time +before this. I will be in readiness at the Triton's Cove, and bring her +back to Athens as fast as oars can fly." + +"Do so, dear Geta," replied Milza; "but disguise yourself from the other +servants, and take with you the robe and veil that I wear to market. +Then if Eudora could only walk a little more like a fish-woman, she +might pass very well. But be sure you do not pay the steward till you +have her at the boat's edge; for he that will play false games with his +master, may do the same by you." + +Necessary arrangements were speedily made. Geta resolved to offer the +earnings of his whole life as a bribe, rather than intrust the secret of +his bold expedition to any of the household of Clinias; and Milza, +fearful that their own store would not prove a sufficient temptation, +brought forth a sum of money found in Eudora's apartment, together with +a valuable necklace, which had been a birth-day present from Phidias. + +It was past midnight when three figures emerged from the shadow of the +high wall surrounding the mansion of Alcibiades, and with cautious haste +proceeded toward the cove. Before they could arrive at the beach, a +large and gaily-trimmed boat was seen approaching the shore, from the +direction of the Piræus. It was flaming with torches; and a band of +musicians poured out upon the undulating waters a rich flood of melody, +rendered more distinct and soft by the liquid element over which it +floated. One of the fugitives immediately turned, and disappeared within +the walls they had left; the other two concealed themselves in a thick +grove, the darkness of which was deepened by the glare of torches along +its borders. A man richly dressed, with several fillets on his head, and +crowned with a garland of violets, ivy, and myrtle, stepped from the +boat, supported by the arm of a slave. His countenance was flushed with +wine, and as he reeled along, he sung aloud: + + "Have I told you all my flames, + 'Mong the amorous Syrian dames? + Have I numbered every one + Glowing under Egypt's sun! + Or the nymphs, who, blushing sweet, + Deck the shrine of Love in Crete-- + Where the God, with festal play, + Holds eternal holiday?" + +"Castor and Polydeuces!" whispered Geta, "there goes Alcibiades. He has +returned from his wine earlier than usual; but so blinded by the merry +god, that he would not have known us, if we had faced the glare of his +torches." + +"Oh, hasten! hasten!" said Eudora, weeping and trembling, as she spoke. +"I beseech you do not let a moment be lost." + +As Alcibiades and his train disappeared, they left the grove, and +hurried toward their boat; keeping as much as possible within the shadow +of the trees. They reached the cove in safety, and Geta rowed with +unwonted energy; but he was single-handed, and Salamis was many stadia +from Athens. Long before he arrived at the place were he had been +accustomed to land, they heard the sound of distant oars plied with +furious rapidity. + +They landed, and with the utmost haste proceeded toward the city. +Eudora, fearful of being overtaken, implored Geta to seek refuge behind +the pillars of Poseidon's temple. Carefully concealing themselves in the +dense shadow, they remained without speaking, and almost without +breathing, until their pursuers had passed by. The moment these were out +of hearing, they quitted their hiding-place, and walked swiftly along +the Piræus. Intense fear imparted a degree of strength, which the +maiden, under other circumstances, would have hardly deemed it possible +to exert. She did not for a moment relax her speed, until they came +within sight of the Areopagus, and heard noisy shouts, apparently not +far distant. Eudora, sinking with fatigue and terror, entreated Geta not +to attempt any approach to the house of Clinias, where her enemies would +certainly be lying in wait for them. With uncertain steps they proceeded +toward the great Gate of the Acropolis, until the helpless maiden, +frightened at the approaching noise, stopped suddenly, and burst into a +flood of tears. + +"There is one place of safety, if you have courage to try it," said +Geta: "We are nearly under the Propylæa; and close beside us is the +grotto of Creüsa. Few dare to enter it in the day-time, and no profane +steps will venture to pass the threshold after nightfall; for it is said +the gods often visit it, and fill it with strange sights and sounds. +Shall we enter?" + +It was a windy night, and the clouds that occasionally passed over the +face of the moon gave the earth a dreary aspect. The high wall under +which they stood seemed to frown gloomily upon them, and the long flight +of white marble steps, leading from the Propylæa, looked cold and +cheerless beneath the fitful gleamings of the moon. + +Eudora hesitated, and looked timidly around; but as the sound of riotous +voices came nearer, she seized Geta's arm, and exclaimed, in hurried +accents, "The gods protect me! Let us enter." + +Within the grotto, all was total darkness. Having groped their way a +short distance from the entrance, they found a large rock, on which +they seated themselves. The voices approached nearer, and their +discordant revelry had an awful sound amid the echoes of the grotto. +These gradually died away in the distance, and were heard no more. + +When all was perfectly still, Eudora, in whispered accents, informed +Geta that she had been seized, as she stooped to gather flowers within +sight of her own dwelling. Two men suddenly started up from behind a +wall, and one covered her mouth, while the other bound her hands. They +made a signal to a third, who came with two attendants and a curtained +chariot, in which she was immediately conveyed to a solitary place on +the seashore, and thence to Salamis. Two men sat beside her, and held +her fast, so as to prevent any possibility of communication with the few +people passing at that early hour. + +Arrived at the place of destination, she was shut up in a large +apartment, luxuriously furnished. Alcibiades soon visited her, with an +affectation of the most scrupulous respect, urging the plea of ardent +love as an excuse for his proceedings. + +Aware that she was completely in his power, she concealed her +indignation and contempt, and allowed him to indulge the hope that her +affections might be obtained, if she were entirely convinced of his wish +to atone for the treachery and violence with which she had been treated. + +Milza's voice had been recognized the moment she began to sing; and she +at once conjectured the object that led her thither. But when hour after +hour passed without any tidings from Pandænus or Clinias, she was in a +state of anxiety bordering on distraction; for she soon perceived +sufficient indication that the smooth hypocrisy of Alcibiades was +assumed but for a short period. + +She had already determined on an effort to bribe the servants, when the +steward came stealthily to her room, and offered to convey her to the +Triton's Cove, provided she would promise to double the sum already +offered by Geta. To this she eagerly assented, without even inquiring +the amount; and he, fearful of detection, scarcely allowed time to throw +Milza's robe and veil over her own. + +Having thus far effected her escape, Eudora was extremely anxious that +Pandænus and Clinias should be informed of her place of retreat, as soon +as the morning dawned. When Geta told her that Pandænus had disappeared +as suddenly as herself, and no one knew whither, she replied, "This, +too, is the work of Alcibiades." + +Their whispered conversation was stopped by the barking of a dog, to +which the echoes of the cavern gave a frightful appearance of nearness. +Each instinctively touched the other's arm, as a signal for silence. +When all was again quiet, Geta whispered, "It is well for us they were +not witty enough to bring Hylax with them; for the poor fellow would +certainly have betrayed us." This circumstance warned them of the danger +of listeners, and few more words were spoken. + +The maiden, completely exhausted by the exertions she had made, laid her +head on the shoulder of her attendant, and slept until the morning +twilight became perceptible through the crevices of the rocks. + +At the first approach of day, she implored Geta to hasten to the house +of Clinias, and ask his protection: for she feared to venture herself +abroad, without the presence of some one whose rank and influence would +be respected by Alcibiades. + +"Before I go," replied Geta, "let me find a secure hiding-place for you; +for though I shall soon return, in the meantime those may enter whose +presence may be dangerous." + +"You forget that this is a sacred place," rejoined Eudora, in tones that +betrayed fear struggling with her confidence. + +"There are men, with whom nothing is sacred," answered Geta; "and many +such are now in Athens." + +The cavern was deep, and wide. As they passed along, the dawning light +indistinctly revealed statues of Phoebus and Pan, with altars of pure +white marble. At the farthest extremity, stood a trophy of shields, +helmets, and spears, placed there by Miltiades, in commemoration of his +victory at Marathon. It was so formed as to be hollow in the centre, and +Geta proposed that the timid maiden should creep in at the side, and +stand upright. She did so, and it proved an effectual screen from head +to foot. Having taken this prudent precaution, the faithful attendant +departed, with a promise to return as soon as possible. But hour after +hour elapsed, and he came not. As Eudora peeped through the chinks of +the trophy, she perceived from the entrance of the cave glowing streaks +of light, that indicated approaching noon. Yet all remained still, save +the echoed din of noises in the city; and no one came to her relief. + +Not long after the sun had begun to decline from its meridian, two men +entered, whom she recognized as among the individuals that had seized +and conveyed her to Salamis. As they looked carefully all around the +cave, Eudora held her breath, and her heart throbbed violently. +Perceiving no one, they knelt for a moment before the altars, and +hastily retreated, with indications of fear; for the accusations of +guilty minds were added to the usual terrors of this subterranean abode +of the gods. + +The day was fading into twilight, when a feeble old man came, with a +garland on his head, and invoked the blessing of Phoebus. He was +accompanied by a boy, who laid his offering of flowers and fruit on the +altar of Pan, with an expression of countenance that showed how much he +was alarmed by the presence of that fear-inspiring deity. + +After they had withdrawn, no other footsteps approached the sacred +place. Anxiety of mind, and bodily weariness, more than once tempted +Eudora to go out and mingle with the throng continually passing through +the city. But the idea that Geta might arrive, and be perplexed by her +absence, combined with the fear of lurking spies, kept her motionless, +until the obscurity of the grotto gave indication that the shadows of +twilight were deepening. + +During the day, she had observed near the trophy a heap of withered +laurel branches and wreaths, with which the altar and statue of Phoebus +had been at various times adorned. Overcome with fatigue, and desirous +to change a position, which from its uniformity had become extremely +painful, she resolved to lie down upon the rugged rock, with the sacred +garlands for a pillow. She shuddered to remember the lizards and other +reptiles she had seen crawling, through the day; but the universal fear +of entering Creüsa's grotto after nightfall, promised safety from human +intrusion; and the desolate maiden laid herself down to repose, in such +a state of mind that she would have welcomed a poisonous reptile, if it +brought the slumbers of death. It seemed to her that she was utterly +solitary and friendless; persecuted by men, and forsaken by the gods. + +By degrees, all sounds died away, save the melancholy hooting of owls, +mingled occasionally with the distant barking and howling of dogs. +Alone, in stillness and total darkness, memory revealed herself with +wonderful power. The scenes of her childhood; the chamber in which she +had slept; figures she had embroidered and forgotten; tunes that had +been silent for years; thoughts and feelings long buried; Philæmon's +smile; the serene countenance of Philothea; the death-bed of Phidias; +and a thousand other images of the past, came before her with all the +vividness of present reality. Exhausted in mind and body, she could not +long endure this tide of recollection. Covering her face with her hands, +she sobbed convulsively, as she murmured, "Oh, Philothea! why didst thou +leave me? My guide, my only friend! oh, where art thou!" + +A gentle strain of music, scarcely audible, seemed to make reply. Eudora +raised her head to listen--and lo! the whole grotto was filled with +light; so brilliant that every feather in the arrow of Phoebus might be +counted, and the gilded horns and star of Pan were radiant as the sun. + +Her first thought was that she had slept until noon. She rubbed her +eyes, and glanced at the pedestal of a statue, on which she distinctly +read the inscription: "Here Miltiades placed me, Pan, the goat-footed +god of Arcadia, who warred with the Athenians against the Medes." + +Frightened at the possibility of having overslept herself, she started +up, and was about to seek the shelter of the trophy, when Paralus and +Philothea stood before her! They were clothed in bright garments, with +garlands on their heads. His arm was about her waist, and hers rested on +his shoulder. There was a holy beauty in their smile, from which a +protecting influence seemed to emanate, that banished mortal fear. + +In sweet, low tones, they both said, as if with one voice, "Seek +Artaphernes, the Persian." + +"Dearest Philothea, I scarcely know his countenance," replied the +maiden. + +Again the bright vision repeated, "Seek Artaphernes, nothing doubting." + +The sounds ceased; the light began to fade; it grew more and more dim, +till all was total darkness. For a long time, Eudora remained intensely +wakeful, but inspired with a new feeling of confidence and hope, that +rendered her oblivious of all earthly cares. Whence it came, she neither +knew nor asked; for such states preclude all inquiry concerning their +own nature and origin. + +After awhile, she fell into a tranquil slumber, in which she dreamed of +torrents crossed in safety, and of rugged, thorny paths, that ended in +blooming gardens. She was awakened by the sound of a troubled, timid +voice, saying, "Eudora! Eudora!" + +She listened a moment, and answered, "Is it you, Milza?" + +"Oh, blessed be the sound of your voice," replied the peasant. "Where +are you? Let me take your hand; for I am afraid in this awful place." + +"Don't be frightened, my good Milza. I have had joyful visions here," +rejoined the maiden. She reached out her arms as she spoke, and +perceived that her companion trembled exceedingly. "May the gods protect +us!" whispered she; "but it is a fearful thing to come here in the +night-time. All the gold of Croesus would not have tempted me, if Geta +had not charged me to do it, to save you from starving." + +"You are indeed kind friends," said Eudora; "and the only ones I have +left in this world. If ever I get safely back to Elis, you shall be to +me as brother and sister." + +"Ah, dear lady," replied the peasant, "you have ever been a good friend +to us;--and there is one that sleeps, who never spoke an ungentle word +to any of us. When her strength was almost gone, she bade me love +Eudora, even as I had loved her; and the gods know that for her sake +Milza would have died. Phoebus protect me, but this is an awful place to +speak of those who sleep. It must be near the dawn; but it is fearfully +dark here. Where is your hand? I have brought some bread and figs, and +this little arabyllus of water mixed with Lesbian wine. Eat; for you +must be almost famished." + +Eudora took the refreshment, but ere she tasted it, inquired, "Why did +not Geta come, as he promised?" Milza began to weep. + +"Has evil befallen him?" said Eudora, in tones of alarm. + +The afflicted wife sobbed out, "Poor Geta! Poor, dear Geta! I dreaded to +come into this cavern; but then I thought if I died, it would be well, +if we could but die together." + +"Do tell me what has happened," said Eudora: "Am I doomed to bring +trouble upon all who love me? Tell me, I entreat you." + +Milza, weeping as she spoke, then proceeded to say that Alcibiades had +discovered Eudora's escape immediately after his return from the feast +of Artaphernes. He was in a perfect storm of passion, and threatened +every one of the servants with severe punishment, to extort confession. +The steward received a few keen lashes, notwithstanding his +protestations of innocence. But he threatened to appeal to the +magistrates for another master; and Alcibiades, unwilling to lose the +services of this bold and artful slave, restrained his anger, even when +it was at its greatest height. + +To appease his master's displeasure, the treacherous fellow acknowledged +that Geta had been seen near the walls, and that his boat had been lying +at the Triton's Cove. + +In consequence of this information, men were instantly ordered in +pursuit, with orders to lie in wait for the fugitives, if they could not +be overtaken before morning. When Geta left Creüsa's Grotto, he was +seized before he reached the house of Clinias. + +Milza knew nothing of these proceedings, but had remained anxiously +waiting till the day was half spent. Then she learned that Alcibiades +had claimed Eudora and Geta as his slaves, by virtue of a debt due to +him from Phidias, for a large quantity of ivory; and notwithstanding the +efforts of Clinias in their favour, the Court of Forty Four, in the +borough of Alcibiades, decided that he had a right to retain them, until +the debt was paid, or until the heir appeared to show cause why it +should not be paid. "The gods have blessed Clinias with abundant +wealth," said Eudora; "Did he offer nothing to save the innocent?" + +"Dear lady," replied Milza, "Alcibiades demands such an immense sum for +the ivory, that he says he might as well undertake to build the wall of +Hipparchus, as to pay it. But I have not told you the most cruel part of +the story. Geta has been tied to a ladder, and shockingly whipped, to +make him tell where you were concealed. He said he would not do it, if +he died. I believe they had the will to kill him; but one of the young +slaves, whose modesty Alcibiades had insulted, was resolved to make +complaint to the magistrates, and demand another master. She helped Geta +to escape: they have both taken refuge in the Temple of Theseus. Geta +dared trust no one but me to carry a message to Clinias. I told him he +supped with Pericles to-night; and he would not suffer me to go there, +lest Alcibiades should be among the guests." + +"I am glad he gave you that advice," said Eudora; "for though Pericles +might be willing to serve me, for Philothea's sake, I fear if he once +learned the secret, it would soon be in Aspasia's keeping." + +"And that would be all the same as telling Alcibiades himself," rejoined +Milza. "But I must tell you that I did not know of poor Geta's +sufferings until many hours after they happened. Since he went to +Salamis in search of you, I have not seen him until late this evening. +He is afraid to leave the altar, lest he should fall into the hands of +his enemies; and that is the reason he sent me to bring you food. He +expects to be a slave again; but having been abused by Alcibiades, he +claims the privilege of the law to be transferred to another master." + +Eudora wept bitterly, to think she had no power to rescue her faithful +attendant from a condition he dreaded worse than death. + +Milza endeavoured, in her own artless way, to soothe the distress her +words had excited. "In all Geta's troubles, he thinks more of you than +he does of himself," said she. "He bade me convey you to the house of a +wise woman from Thessalia, who lives near the Sacred Gate; for he says +she can tell us what it is best to do. She has learned of magicians in +foreign lands. They say she can compound potions that will turn hatred +into love; and that the power of her enchantments is so great, she can +draw the moon down from the sky." + +"Nevertheless, I shall not seek her counsel," replied the maiden; "for I +have heard a better oracle." + +When she had given an account of the vision in the cave, the peasant +asked, in a low and trembling voice, "Did it not make you afraid?" + +"Not in the least," answered Eudora; "and therefore I am doubtful +whether it were a vision or a dream. I spoke to Philothea just as I used +to do; without remembering that she had died. She left me more composed +and happy than I have been for many days. Even if it were a vision, I +do not marvel that the spirit of one so pure and peaceful should be less +terrific than the ghost of Medea or Clytemnestra." + +"And the light shone all at once!" exclaimed Milza, eagerly. "Trust to +it, dear lady--trust to it. A sudden brightness hath ever been a happy +omen." + +Two baskets, filled with Copaic eels and anchovies, had been deposited +near the mouth of the cavern; and with the first blush of morning, the +fugitives offered prayers to Phoebus and Pan, and went forth with the +baskets on their heads, as if they sought the market. Eudora, in her +haste, would have stepped across the springs that bubbled from the +rocks; but Milza held her back, saying, "Did you never hear that these +brooks are Creüsa's tears? When the unhappy daughter of Erectheus left +her infant in this cave to perish, she wept as she departed; and +Phoebus, her immortal lover, changed her tears to rills. For this +reason, the water has ever been salt to the taste. It is a bad omen to +wet the foot in these springs." + +Thus warned, Eudora turned aside, and took a more circuitous path. + +It happened, fortunately, that the residence of Artaphernes stood behind +the temple of Asclepius, at a short distance from Creüsa's Grotto; and +they felt assured that no one would think of searching for them within +the dwelling of the Persian stranger. They arrived at the gate without +question or hindrance; but found it fastened. To their anxious minds, +the time they were obliged to wait seemed like an age; but at last the +gate was opened, and they preferred a humble request to see +Artaphernes. Eudora, being weary of her load, stooped to place the +basket of fish on a bench, and her veil accidentally dropped. The porter +touched her under the chin, and said, with a rude laugh, "Do you +suppose, my pretty dolphin, that Artaphernes buys his own dinner?" + +Eudora's eyes flashed fire at this familiarity; but checking her natural +impetuosity, she replied, "It was not concerning the fish that I wished +to speak to your master. We have business of importance." + +The servant gave a significant glance, more insulting than his former +freedom. "Oh, yes, business of importance, no doubt," said he; "but do +you suppose, my little Nereid, that the servant of the Great King is +himself a vender of fish, that he should leave his couch at an hour so +early as this?" + +Eudora slipped a ring from her finger, and putting it in his hand, said, +in a confidential tone, "I am not a fish-woman. I am here in disguise. Go +to your master, and conjure him, if he ever had a daughter that he +loved, to hear the petition of an orphan, who is in great distress." + +The man's deportment immediately changed; and as he walked away, he +muttered to himself, "She don't look nor speak like one brought up at +the gates; that's certain." + +Eudora and Milza remained in the court for a long time, but with far +less impatience than they had waited at the gate. At length the servant +returned, saying his master was now ready to see them. Eudora followed, +in extreme agitation, with her veil folded closely about her; and when +they were ushered into the presence of Artaphernes, the embarrassment +of her situation deprived her of the power of utterance. With much +kindness of voice and manner, the venerable stranger said: "My servant +told me that one of you was an orphan, and had somewhat to ask of me." + +Eudora replied: "O Persian stranger, I am indeed a lonely orphan, in the +power of mine enemies; and I have been warned by a vision to come hither +for assistance." + +Something in her words, or voice, seemed to excite surprise, mingled +with deeper feelings; and the old man's countenance grew more troubled, +as she continued: "Perhaps you may recollect a maiden that sung at +Aspasia's house, to whom you afterwards sent a veil of shining texture?" + +"Ah, yes," he replied, with a deep sigh: "I do recollect it. They told +me she was Eudora, the daughter of Phidias." + +"I am Eudora, the adopted daughter of Phidias," rejoined the maiden. "My +benefactor is dead, and I am friendless." + +"Who were your parents?" inquired the Persian. + +"I never knew them," she replied. "I was stolen from the Ionian coast by +Greek pirates. I was a mere infant when Phidias bought me." + +In a voice almost suffocated with emotion, Artaphernes asked, "Were you +_then_ named Eudora?" + +The maiden's heart began to flutter with a new and strange hope, as she +replied, "No one knew my name. In my childish prattle, I called myself +Baby Minta." + +The old man started from his seat--his colour went and came--and every +joint trembled. He seemed to make a strong effort to check some sudden +impulse. After collecting himself for a moment, he said, "Maiden, you +have the voice of one I dearly loved; and it has stirred the deepest +fountains of my heart. I pray you, let me see your countenance." + +As Eudora threw off the veil, her long glossy hair fell profusely over +her neck and shoulders, and her beautiful face was flushed with eager +expectation. + +The venerable Persian gazed at her for an instant, and then clasped her +to his bosom. The tears fell fast, as he exclaimed, "Artaminta! My +daughter! My daughter! Image of thy blessed mother! I have sought for +thee throughout the world, and at last I believed thee dead. My only +child! My long-lost, my precious one! May the blessing of Oromasdes be +upon thee." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + Whate'er thou givest, generous let it be. + EURIPIDES + + +When it was rumoured that Artaphernes had ransomed Eudora and Geta, by +offering the entire sum demanded for the ivory, many a jest circulated +in the agoras, at the expense of the old man who had given such an +enormous price for a handsome slave; but when it became known, that he +had, in some wonderful and mysterious manner, discovered a long-lost +daughter, the tide of public feeling was changed. + +Alcibiades at once remitted his claim, which in fact never had any +foundation in justice; he having accepted two statues in payment for the +ivory, previous to the death of Phidias. He likewise formally asked +Eudora in marriage; humbly apologizing for the outrage he had committed, +and urging the vehemence of his love as an extenuation of the fault. + +Artaphernes had power to dispose of his daughter without even making any +inquiry concerning the state of her affections; but the circumstances of +his past life induced him to forbear the exercise of his power. + +"My dear child," said he, "it was my own misfortune to suffer by an +ill-assorted marriage. In early youth, my parents united me with +Artaynta, a Persian lady, whose affections had been secretly bestowed +upon a near kinsman. Her parents knew of this fact, but mine were +ignorant of it. It ended in wretchedness and disgrace. To avoid the +awful consequences of guilt, she and her lover eloped to some distant +land, where I never attempted to follow them. + +Some time after, the Great King was graciously pleased to appoint me +Governor of the sea-coast in Asia Minor. I removed to Ephesus, where I +saw and loved your blessed mother, the beautiful Antiope, daughter of +Diophanes, priest of Zeus. I saw her accidentally at a fountain, and +watched her unobserved, while she bathed the feet of her little sister. +Though younger than myself, she reciprocated the love she had inspired. +Her father consented to our union; and for a few years I enjoyed as +great happiness as Oromasdes ever bestows on mortals. You were our only +child; named Artaminta, in remembrance of my mother. You were scarcely +two years old, when you and your nurse suddenly disappeared. As several +other women and children were lost at the same time, we supposed that +you were stolen by pirates. All efforts to ascertain your fate proved +utterly fruitless. As moon after moon passed away, bringing no tidings +of our lost treasure, Antiope grew more and more hopeless. She was a +gentle, tender-hearted being, that complained little and suffered much. +At last, she died broken-hearted." + +After remaining in silent thoughtfulness for a few moments, he added: +"Of my two sons by Artaynta, one died in childhood; the other was killed +in battle, before I came to Athens. I had never ceased my exertions to +discover you; but after I became childless, it was the cherished object +of existence. Some information received from Phoenician sailors led to +the conclusion that I owed my misfortune to Greek pirates; and when the +Great King informed me that he had need of services in Athens, I +cherfully undertook the mission." + +"Having suffered severely in my own marriage, I would not willingly +endanger your happiness by any unreasonable exercise of parental +authority. Alcibiades is handsome, rich, and of high rank. How do you +regard his proposal of marriage?" + +The colour mounted high in Eudora's cheek, and she answered hastily, "As +easily could I consent to be the wife of Tereus, after his brutal +outrage on the helpless Philomela. I have nothing but contempt to bestow +on the man who persecuted me when I was friendless, and flatters me when +I have wealthy friends." + +Artaphernes replied, "I knew not how far you might consider violent love +an excuse for base proceedings; but I rejoice to see that you have pride +becoming your noble birth. For another reason, it gives me happiness to +find you ill-disposed toward this match; for duty will soon call me to +Persia, and having just recovered you in a manner so miraculous, it +would be a grievous sacrifice to relinquish you so soon. But am I so +fortunate as to find you willing to return with me? Are there no strong +ties that bind your heart to Athens?" + +Perceiving that Eudora blushed deeply, he added, in an inquiring tone, +"Clinias told me to-day, that Phidias wished to unite you with that +gifted artist, his nephew Pandænus?" + +The maiden replied, "I have many reasons to be grateful to Pandænus; +and it was painful to refuse compliance with the wishes of my +benefactor; but if Phidias had commanded me to obey him in this +instance, my happiness would have been sacrificed. Of all countries in +the world, there is none I so much wish to visit as Persia. Of that you +may rest assured, my father." + +The old man looked upon her affectionately, and his eyes filled with +tears, as he exclaimed, "Oromasdes be praised, that I am once more +permitted to hear that welcome sound! No music is so pleasant to my ears +as that word--father. Zoroaster tells us that children are a bridge +joining this earth to a heavenly paradise, filled with fresh springs and +blooming gardens. Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices +call him father! But, my daughter, why is it that the commands of +Phidias would have made you unhappy? Speak frankly, Artaminta; lest +hereafter there should be occasion to mourn that we misunderstood each +other." + +Eudora then told all the particulars of her attachment to Philæmon, and +her brief infatuation with regard to Alcibiades. Artaphernes evinced no +displeasure at the disclosure; but spoke of Philæmon with great respect +and affection. He dwelt earnestly upon the mischievous effects of such +free customs as Aspasia sought to introduce, and warmly eulogized the +strictness and complete seclusion of Persian education. When Eudora +expressed fears that she might never be able to regain Philæmon's love, +he gazed on her beautiful countenance with fond admiration, and smiled +incredulously as he turned away. + +The proposal of Alcibiades was civilly declined; the promised sum paid +to his faithless steward, and the necklace, given by Phidias, redeemed. + +Hylax had been forcibly carried to Salamis with his young mistress, lest +his sagacity should lead to a discovery of her prison. When Eudora +escaped from the island, she had reluctantly left him in her apartment, +in order to avoid the danger that might arise from any untimely noise; +but as soon as her own safety was secured, her first thoughts were for +the recovery of this favourite animal, the early gift of Philæmon. The +little captive had pined and moaned continually, during their brief +separation; and when he returned, it seemed as if his boisterous joy +could not sufficiently manifest itself in gambols and caresses. + +When Artaphernes was convinced that he had really found his long-lost +child, the impulse of gratitude led to very early inquiries for +Pandænus. The artist had not yet re-appeared; and all Athens was filled +with conjectures concerning his fate. Eudora still suspected that +Alcibiades had secreted him, for the same reason that he had claimed +Geta as a slave; for it was sufficiently obvious that he had desired, as +far as possible, to deprive her of all assistance and protection. + +The event proved her suspicions well founded. On the fourth day after +her escape from Salamis, Pandænus came to congratulate Artaphernes, and +half in anger, half in laughter, told the particulars of his story. He +had been seized as he returned home at night, and had been forcibly +conveyed to the mansion of Eurysaces, where he was kept a close +prisoner, with the promise of being released whenever he finished a +picture, which Alcibiades had long desired to obtain. This was a +representation of Europa, just entering the ocean on the back of the +beautiful bull, which she and her unsuspecting companions had crowned +with garlands. + +At first, the artist resisted, and swore by Phoebus Apollo that he would +not be thus forced into the service of any man; but an unexpected +circumstance changed his resolution. + +There was a long, airy gallery, in which he was allowed to take exercise +any hour of the day. In some places, an open-work partition, richly and +curiously wrought by the skilful hand of Callicrates, separated this +gallery from the outer balustrade of the building. During his walks, +Pandænus often heard sounds of violent grief from the other side of the +screen. Curiosity induced him to listen, and inquire the cause. A sad, +sweet voice answered, "I am Cleonica, daughter of a noble Spartan. Taken +captive in war, and sold to Alcibiades, I weep for my dishonoured lot; +for much I fear it will bring the gray hairs of my mother to an untimely +grave." + +This interview led to another, and another; and though the mode of +communication was imperfect, the artist was enabled to perceive that the +captive maiden was a tall, queenly figure, with a rich profusion of +sunny hair, indicating a fair and fresh complexion. The result was a +promise to paint the desired picture, provided he might have the Spartan +slave as a recompense. + +Alcibiades, equally solicitous to obtain the painting, and to prolong +the seclusion of Pandænus, and being then eager in another pursuit, +readily consented to the terms proposed. After Eudora's sudden change +of fortune, being somewhat ashamed of the publicity of his conduct, and +desirous not to lose entirely the good opinion of Artaphernes, he gave +the artist his liberty, simply requiring the fulfilment of his promise. + +"And what are your intentions with regard to this fair captive?" +inquired the Persian, with a significant smile. + +With some degree of embarrassment, Pandænus answered, "I came to ask +your protection; and that Eudora might for the present consider her as a +sister, until I can restore her to her family." + +"It shall be so," replied Artaphernes; "but this is a very small part of +the debt I owe the nephew of Phidias. Should you hereafter have a favour +to ask of Cleonica's noble family, poverty shall be no obstruction to +your wishes. I have already taken measures to purchase for you a large +estate in Elis, and to remit yearly revenues, which will I trust be +equal to your wishes. I have another favour to ask, in addition to the +many claims you already have upon me. Among the magnificent pictures +that adorn the Poecile, I have not observed the sculptor of your gods. I +pray you exert your utmost skill in a painting of Phidias crowned by the +Muses; that I may place it on those walls, a public monument of my +gratitude to that illustrious man." + +"Of his statues and drawings I have purchased all that can be bought in +Athens. The weeping Panthea, covering the body of Abradates with her +mantle, is destined for my royal and munificent master. By the kindness +of Pericles, I have obtained for myself the beautiful group, +representing my precious little Artaminta caressing the kid, in that +graceful attitude which first attracted the attention of her benefactor. +For the munificent Eleans, I have reserved the Graceful Three, which +your countrymen have named the presiding deities over benevolent +actions. All the other statues and drawings of your illustrious kinsman +are at your disposal. Nay, do not thank me, young man. Mine is still the +debt, and my heart will be ever grateful." + +The exertions of Clinias, although they proved unavailing, were +gratefully acknowledged by the present of a large silver bowl, on which +the skilful artificer, Mys, had represented, with exquisite delicacy, +the infant Dionysus watched by the nymphs of Naxos. + +In the midst of this generosity, the services of Geta and Milza were not +forgotten. The bribe given to the steward was doubled in the payment, +and an offer made to establish them in any part of Greece or Persia, +where they wished to reside. + +A decided preference was given to Elis, as the only place where they +could be secure from the ravages of war. A noble farm, in the +neighbourhood of Proclus, was accordingly purchased for them, well +stocked with herds and furnished with all agricultural and household +conveniences. Geta, having thus become an owner of the soil, dropped the +brief name by which he had been known in slavery, and assumed the more +sonorous appellation of Philophidias. + +Dione, old as she was, overcame her fear of perils by land and sea, and +resolved to follow her young mistress into Persia. + +Before a new moon had begun its course, Pandænus fulfilled his +intention of returning to Olympia, in company with the Lacedæmonian +ambassador and his train. Cleonica, attended by Geta and Milza, +travelled under the same protection. Artaphernes sent to Proclus four +noble horses and a Bactrian camel, together with seven minæ as a +portion for Zoila. For Pterilaüs, likewise, was a sum of money +sufficient to maintain him ten years in Athens, that he might gratify +his ardent desire to become the disciple of Plato. Eudora sent her +little playmate a living peacock, which proved even more acceptable than +her flock of marble sheep with their painted shepherd. To Melissa was +sent a long affectionate epistle, with the dying bequest of Philothea, +and many a valuable token of Eudora's gratitude. + +Although a brilliant future was opening before her, the maiden's heart +was very sad, when she bade a last farewell to the honest and faithful +attendants, who had been with her through so many changing scenes, and +aided her in the hour of her utmost need. The next day after their +departure was spent by the Persian in the worship of Mithras, and +prayers to Oromasdes. Eudora, in remembrance of her vision, offered +thanksgiving and sacrifice to Phoebus and Pan; and implored the deities +of ocean to protect the Phoenician galley, in which they were about to +depart from Athens. + +These ceremonies being performed, Artaphernes and his weeping daughter +visited the studio of Myron, who, in compliance with their orders, had +just finished the design of a beautiful monument to Paralus and +Philothea, on which were represented two doves sleeping upon garlands. + +For the last time, Eudora poured oblations of milk and honey, and placed +fragrant flowers, with ringlets of her hair, upon the sepulchre of her +gentle friend; then, with many tears, she bade a long farewell to scenes +rendered sacred by the remembrance of their mutual love. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + Next arose + A well-towered city, by seven golden gates + Inclosed, that fitted to their lintels hung. + Then burst forth + Aloud the marriage song; and far and wide + Long splendors flashed from many a quivering torch. + HESIOD + + +When the galley arrived at the opulent city of Tyre, the noble Persian +and his retinue joined a caravan of Phoenician merchants bound to +Ecbatana, honoured at that season of the year with the residence of the +royal family. Eudora travelled in a cedar carriage drawn by camels. The +latticed windows were richly gilded, and hung with crimson curtains, +which her father ordered to be closed at the slightest indication of +approaching travellers. Dione, with six more youthful attendants, +accompanied her, and exerted all their powers to make the time pass +pleasantly; but all their stories of romantic love, of heroes mortal and +immortal, combined with the charms of music, could not prevent her from +feeling that the journey was exceedingly long and wearisome. + +She recollected how her lively spirit had sometimes rebelled against the +restraints imposed on Grecian women, and sighed to think of all she had +heard concerning the far more rigid customs of Persia. Expressions of +fatigue sometimes escaped her; and her indulgent parent consented that +she should ride in the chariot with him, enveloped in a long, thick +veil, that descended to her feet, with two small openings of net-work +for the eyes. + +As they passed through Persia, he pointed out to her the sacred groves, +inhabited by the Magii: the entrance of the cave where Zoroaster penned +his divine precepts; and the mountain on whose summit he was wont to +hold midnight communication with the heavenly bodies. + +Eudora remarked that she nowhere observed temples or altars; objects to +which her eye had always been accustomed, and which imparted such a +sacred and peculiar beauty to Grecian scenery. + +Artaphernes replied, "It is because these things are contrary to the +spirit of Persian theology. Zoroaster taught us that the temple of +Oromasdes was infinite space--his altar, the air, the earth, and the +heavens." + +When the travellers arrived within sight of Ecbatana, the setting sun +poured upon the noble city a flood of dazzling light. It was girdled by +seven walls of seven different colours; one rising above the other, in +all the hues of the rainbow. From the centre of the innermost, arose the +light, graceful towers of the royal palace, glittering with gold. The +city was surrounded by fertile, spacious plains, bounded on one side by +Mount Orontes, and on the other by a stately forest, amid whose lofty +trees might here and there be seen the magnificent villas of Persian +nobles. + +Eudora's heart beat violently, when her father pointed to the residence +of Megabyzus, and told her that the gilded balls on its pinnacles could +be discovered from their own dwelling; but maiden shame prevented her +from inquiring whether Philæmon was still the instructor of his sons. + +The morning after his arrival, Artaphernes had a private audience with +his royal master. This conference lasted so long, that many of the +courtiers supposed his mission in Greece related to matters of more +political importance than the purchase of pictures and statues; and this +conjecture was afterward confirmed by the favours lavished upon him. + +It was soon known throughout the precincts of the court that the +favourite noble had returned from Athens, bringing with him his +long-lost daughter. The very next day, as Eudora walked round the +terraces of her father's princely mansion, she saw the royal carriages +approach, followed by a long train of attendants, remarkable for age and +ugliness, and preceded by an armed guard, calling aloud to all men to +retire before their presence, on pain of death. In obedience to these +commands, Artaphernes immediately withdrew to his own apartment, closed +the shutters, and there remained till the royal retinue departed. + +The visiters consisted of Amestris, the mother of Artaxerxes; Arsinöe of +Damascus, his favourite mistress; and Parysatis, his daughter; with +their innumerable slaves. They examined Eudora with more than childish +curiosity; pulled every article of her dress, to ascertain its colour +and its texture; teased to see all her jewels; wanted to know the name +of everything in Greek; requested her to sing Greek songs; were +impatient to learn Ionian dances; conjured her to paint a black streak +from the eyes to the ears; and were particularly anxious to ascertain +what cosmetic the Grecian ladies used to stain the tips of their +fingers. + +When all these important matters were settled, by means of an +interpreter, they began to discuss the merits of Grecian ladies; and +loudly expressed their horror at the idea of appearing before brothers +unveiled, and at the still grosser indelicacy of sometimes allowing the +face to be seen by a betrothed lover. Then followed a repetition of all +the gossip of the harem; particularly, a fresh piece of scandal +concerning Apollonides of Cos, and their royal kinswoman, Amytis, the +wife of Megabyzus. Eudora turned away to conceal her blushes; for the +indelicacy of their language was such as seldom met the ear of a Grecian +maiden. + +The Queen mother was eloquent in praise of a young Lesbian girl, whom +Artaphernes had bought to attend upon his daughter. This was equivalent +to asking for the slave; and the captive herself evinced no +unwillingness to join the royal household; it having been foretold by an +oracle that she would one day be the mother of kings. Amestris accepted +the beautiful Greek, with many thanks, casting a triumphant glance at +Arsinöe and Parysatis, who lowered their brows, as if each had reasons +of her own for being displeased with the arrangement. + +The royal guests gave and received a variety of gifts; consisting +principally of jewels, embroidered mantles, veils, tufts of peacock +feathers with ivory handles, parrots, and golden boxes filled with +roseate powder for the fingers, and black paint for the eyebrows. At +length they departed, and Eudora's attendants showered perfumes on them +as they went. + +Eudora recalled to mind the pure and sublime discourse she had so often +enjoyed with Philothea, and sighed as she compared it with this +specimen of intercourse with high-born Persian ladies. + +When the sun was setting, she again walked upon the terrace; and, +forgetful of the customs of the country, threw back her veil, that she +might enjoy more perfectly the beauty of the landscape. She stood +thoughtfully gazing at the distant pinnacles, which marked the residence +of Megabyzus, when the barking of Hylax attracted her attention, and +looking into the garden, she perceived a richly dressed young man, with +his eyes fixed earnestly upon her. She drew her veil hastily, and +retired within the dwelling, indulging the secret hope that none of her +attendants had witnessed an action, which Artaphernes would deem so +imprudent. + +On the following morning commenced the celebrated festival called, 'The +Salutation of Mithras;' during which, forty days were set apart for +thanksgiving and sacrifice. The procession formed long before the rising +of the sun. First appeared a long train of the most distinguished Magii +from all parts of the empire, led by their chief in scarlet robes, +carrying the sacred fire upon a silver furnace. Next appeared an empty +chariot consecrated to Oromasdes, decorated with garlands, and drawn by +white steeds harnessed with gold. This was followed by a magnificent +large horse, his forehead flaming with gems, in honour of Mithras. Then +came the Band of Immortals, and the royal kindred, their Median vests +blazing with embroidery and gold. Artaxerxes rode in an ivory chariot, +richly inlaid with precious stones. He was followed by a long line of +nobles, riding on camels splendidly caparisoned; and their countless +attendants closed the train. This gorgeous retinue slowly ascended +Mount Orontes. When they arrived upon its summit, the chief of the Magii +assumed his tiara interwoven with myrtle, and hailed the first beams of +the rising sun with sacrifice. Then each of the Magii in turns sung +orisons to Oromasdes, by whose eternal power the radiant Mithras had +been sent to gladden the earth, and preserve the principle of life. +Finally, they all joined in one universal chorus, while king, princes, +and nobles, prostrated themselves, and adored the Fountain of Light. + +At that solemn moment, a tiger leaped from an adjoining thicket, and +sprung toward the king. But ere the astonished courtiers had time to +breathe, a javelin from some unknown hand passed through the ferocious +animal, and laid him lifeless in the dust. + +Eudora had watched the procession from the house-top; and at this moment +she thought she perceived hurried and confused movements, of which her +attendants could give no explanation. + +The splendid concourse returned toward the palace in the same order that +it had ascended the mountain. But next to the royal chariot there now +appeared a young man on a noble steed, with a golden chain about his +neck, and two heralds by his side, who ever and anon blew their +trumpets, and proclaimed, "This is Philæmon of Athens, whom the king +delighteth to honour?" + +Eudora understood the proclamation imperfectly; but afar off, she +recognized the person of her lover. As they passed the house, she saw +Hylax running to and fro on the top of the wall, barking, and jumping, +and wagging his tail, as if he too were conscious of the vicinity of +some familiar friend. The dog evidently arrested Philæmon's attention; +for he observed him closely, and long continued to look back and watch +his movements. + +A tide of sweet and bitter recollections oppressed the maiden's heart; a +deadly paleness overspread her cheeks; a suffocating feeling choked her +voice; and had it not been for a sudden gush of tears, she would have +fallen. + +When her father returned, he informed her that the life of Artaxerxes +had been saved by the promptitude and boldness of Philæmon, who +happened to perceive the tiger sooner than any other person at the +festival. He added, "I saw Philæmon after the rescue, but we had brief +opportunity to discourse together. I think his secluded habits have +prevented him from hearing that I found a daughter in Athens. He told me +he intended soon to return to his native country, and promised to be my +guest for a few days before he departed. Furthermore, my child, the +Great King, in the fulness of his regal bounty, last night sent a +messenger to demand you in marriage for his son Xerxes." + +He watched her countenance, as he spoke; but seemed doubtful how to +understand the fluctuating colour. Still keeping his scrutinizing gaze +fixed upon her, he continued, "Artaminta, this is an honour not to be +lightly rejected; to be princess of Persia now, and hereafter perhaps +its queen." + +In some confusion, the maiden answered, "Perhaps the prince may not +approve his father's choice." + +"No, Artaminta; the prince has chosen for himself. He sent his sister to +obtain a view of my newly discovered daughter; and he himself saw you, +as you stood on the terrace unveiled." + +In an agitated voice, Eudora asked, "And must I be compelled to obey the +commands of the king?" + +"Unless it should be his gracious pleasure to dispense with obedience," +replied Artaphernes. "I and all my household are his servants. I pray +Oromasdes that you may never have greater troubles than the fear of +becoming a princess." + +"But you forget, my dear father, that Parysatis told me her brother +Xerxes was effeminate and capricious, and had a new idol with every +change of the moon. Some fairer face would soon find favour in his +sight; and I should perhaps be shut up with hundreds of forgotten +favourites, in the old harem, among silly women and ugly slaves." + +Her father answered, in an excited tone, "Artaminta, if you had been +brought up with more becoming seclusion, like those silly Persian women, +you would perhaps have known, better than you now seem to do, that a +woman's whole duty is submission." + +Eudora had never heard him speak so harshly. She perceived that his +parental ambition was roused, and that her indifference to the royal +proposal displeased him. The tears fell fast, as she replied, "Dear +father, I will obey you, even if you ask me to sacrifice my life, at the +command of the king." + +Her tears touched the feelings of the kind old man. He embraced her +affectionately, saying, "Do not weep, daughter of my beloved Antiope. It +would indeed gratify my heart to see you Queen of Persia; but you shall +not be made wretched, if my interest with the Great King can prevent +it. All men praise his justice and moderation; and he has pledged his +royal word to grant anything I ask, in recompense for services rendered +in Greece. The man who has just saved his life can no doubt obtain any +favour. But reflect upon it well, my daughter. Xerxes has no son; and +should you give birth to a boy, no new favourite could exclude you from +the throne. Perhaps Philæmon was silent from other causes than ignorance +of your arrival in Persia; and if this be the case, you may repent a too +hasty rejection of princely love." + +Eudora blushed like crimson, and appeared deeply pained by this +suggestion; but she made no answer. Artaphernes departed, promising to +seek a private audience with the king; and she saw him no more that +night. When she laid her head upon the pillow, a mind troubled with many +anxious thoughts for a long time prevented repose; and when she did sink +to sleep, it was with a confused medley of ideas, in which the +remembrance of Philæmon's love was mixed up with floating visions of +regal grandeur, and proud thoughts of a triumphant marriage, now placed +within her power, should he indeed prove as unforgiving and indifferent, +as her father had suggested. + +In her sleep, she saw Philothea; but a swift and turbid stream appeared +to roll between them; and her friend said, in melancholy tones, "You +have left me, Eudora; and I cannot come to you, now. Whence are these +dark and restless waters, which separate our souls?" + +Then a variety of strange scenes rapidly succeeded each other--all +cheerless, perturbed, and chaotic. At last, she seemed to be standing +under the old grape-vine, that shaded the dwelling of Anaxagoras, and +Philæmon crowned her with a wreath of myrtle. In the morning, soon after +she had risen from her couch, Artaphernes came to her apartment, and +mildly asked if she still wished to decline the royal alliance. He +evinced no displeasure when she answered in the affirmative; but quietly +replied, "It may be that you have chosen a wise part, my child; for true +it is, that safety and contentment rarely take up their abode with +princes. But now go and adorn yourself with your richest apparel; for +the Great King requires me to present you at the palace, before the hour +of noon. Let your Greek costume be laid aside; for I would not have my +daughter appear like a foreigner, in the presence of her king." + +With a palpitating heart, Eudora resigned herself into the hands of her +Persian tire-women, who so loaded her with embroidery and gems, that she +could scarcely support their weight. + +She was conveyed to the palace in a cedar carriage, carefully screened +from observation. Her father rode by her side, and a numerous train of +attendants followed. Through gates of burnished brass, they entered a +small court with a tesselated pavement of black and white marble. Thence +they passed into a long apartment, with walls of black marble, and +cornices heavily gilded. The marble was so highly polished, that Eudora +saw the light of her jewels everywhere reflected like sunbeams. +Surprised by the multiplied images of herself and attendants, she did +not at first perceive, through the net-work of her veil, that a young +man stood leaning against the wall, with his arms folded. This +well-remembered attitude attracted her attention, and she scarcely +needed a glance to assure her it was Philæmon. + +It being contrary to Persian etiquette to speak without license within +hearing of the royal apartments, the Athenian merely smiled, and bowed +gracefully to Artaphernes; but an audible sigh escaped him, as he +glanced at the Greek attendants. Eudora hastily turned away her head, +when he looked toward her; but her heart throbbed so violently that +every fold of her veil trembled. They continued thus in each other's +presence many minutes; one in a state of perfect unconsciousness, the +other suffering an intensity of feeling, that seemed like the condensed +excitement of years. At last a herald came to say it was now the +pleasure of the Great King to receive them in the private court, opening +into the royal gardens. + +The pavement of this court was of porphyry inlaid with costly marbles, +in various hieroglyphics. The side connected with the palace was adorned +with carved open-work, richly painted and gilded, and with jasper +tablets, alternately surmounted by a golden ram and a winged lion; one +the royal ensign of Persia, the other emblematic of the Assyrian empire +conquered by Cyrus. The throne was placed in the centre, under a canopy +of crimson, yellow, and blue silk, tastefully intermingled and +embroidered with silver and gold. Above this was an image of the sun, +with rays so brilliant, that it dazzled the eyes of those who looked +upon it. + +The monarch seemed scarcely beyond the middle age, with long flowing +hair, and a countenance mild and dignified. On his right hand stood +Xerxes--on his left, Darius and Sogdianus; and around him were a +numerous band of younger sons; all wearing white robes, with jewelled +vests of Tyrian purple. + +As they entered, the active buzzing of female voices was heard behind +the gilded open-work of the wall; but this was speedily silenced by a +signal from the herald. Artaphernes prostrated himself, till his +forehead touched the pavement; Eudora copied his example; but Philæmon +merely bowed low, after the manner of the Athenians. Artaxerxes bade +them arise, and said, in a stern tone, "Artaphernes, has thy daughter +prepared herself to obey our royal mandate? Or is she still contemptuous +of our kingly bounty?" + +Eudora trembled; and her father again prostrated himself, as he replied: +"O great and benignant king! mayest thou live forever. May Oromandes +bless thee with a prosperous reign, and forever avert from thee the +malignant influence of Arimanius. I and my household are among the least +of thy servants. May the hand that offends thee be cut off, and cast to +unclean dogs." + +"Arise, Artaphernes!" said the monarch: "Thy daughter has permission to +speak." + +Eudora, awed by the despotic power and august presence of Artaxerxes, +spoke to her father, in a low and tremulous voice, and reminded him of +the royal promise to grant whatever he might ask." + +Philæmon turned eagerly, and a sudden flush mantled his cheeks, when he +heard the pure Attic dialect, "with its lovely marriage of sweet +sounds." + +"What does the maiden say?" inquired the king. Artaphernes again paid +homage, and answered; "O Light of the World! Look in mercy upon the +daughter of thy servant, and grant that her petition may find favour in +thy sight. As yet, she hath not gained a ready utterance of the Persian +language--honoured and blessed above all languages, in being the +messenger of thy thoughts, O king. Therefore she spoke in the Greek +tongue, concerning thy gracious promise to grant unto the humblest of +thy servants whatsoever he might ask at thy hands." + +Then the monarch held forth his golden sceptre, and replied, "Be it unto +thee, as I have said. I have sought thy daughter in marriage for Xerxes, +prince of the empire. What other boon does Artaphernes ask of the king?" + +The Persian approached, and reverently touching the point of the +sceptre, answered: "O King of kings! before whom the nations of the +earth do tremble. Thy bounty is like the overflowing Nilus, and thy +mercy refreshing as dew upon the parched earth. If it be thy pleasure, O +King, forgive Artaminta, my daughter, if she begs that the favour of the +prince, like the blessed rays of Mithras, may fall upon some fairer +damsel. I pray thee have her excused." + +Xerxes looked up with an angry frown; but his royal father replied, "The +word of the king is sacred; and his decree changeth not. Be it unto thee +even as thou wilt." + +Then turning to Philæmon, he said: "Athenian stranger, our royal life +preserved by thy hand deserves a kingly boon. Since our well beloved son +cannot find favour in the eyes of this damsel, we bestow her upon thee. +Her father is one of the illustrious Pasargadæ, and her ancestors were +not unremotely connected with the princes of Media. We have never looked +upon her countenance--deeming it wise to copy the prudent example of our +cousin Cyrus; but report describes her beautiful as Panthea." + +Eudora shrunk from being thus bestowed upon Philæmon; and she would have +said this to her father, had he not checked the first half-uttered word +by a private signal. + +With extreme confusion, the Athenian bowed low, and answered, "Pardon +me, O King, and deem me not insensible of thy royal munificence. I pray +thee bestow the daughter of the princely Artaphernes upon one more +worthy than thy servant." + +"Now, by the memory of Cyrus!" exclaimed Artaxerxes, "The king's favours +shall this day be likened unto a beggar, whose petitions are rejected at +every gate." + +Then, turning to his courtiers, he added: "A proud nation are these +Greeks! When the plague ravaged all Persia and Media, Hippocrates of Cos +refused our entreaties, and scorned our royal bounty; saying he was born +to serve his own countrymen, and not foreigners. Themistocles, on whom +our mighty father bestowed the revenues of cities, died, rather than +fight for him against Athens; and lo! here is a young Athenian, who +refuses a maiden sought by the Persian prince, with a dowry richer than +Pactolus. + +Philæmon bowed himself reverently, and replied: "Deem not, O king, that +I am moved by Grecian pride; for well I know that I am all unworthy of +this princely alliance. An epistle lately received from Olympia makes it +necessary for me to return to Greece; where, O king, I seek a beloved +maiden, to whom I was betrothed before my exile." + +Eudora had trembled violently, and her convulsive breathing was audible, +while Philæmon spoke; but when he uttered the last words, forgetful of +the reverence required of those who stood in the presence of majesty, +she murmured, "Oh, Philothea!" and sunk into the arms of her father. + +The young man started; for now, not only the language, but the tones +were familiar to his heart. As the senseless form was carried into the +garden, he gazed upon it with an excited and bewildered expression. + +Artaxerxes smiled, as he said: "Athenian stranger, the daughter of +Artaphernes, lost on the coast of Ionia, was discovered in the household +of Phidias, and the Greeks called her Eudora." + +Philæmon instantly knelt at the monarch's feet, and said, "Pardon me, O +king. I was ignorant of all this. I ----" + +He would have explained more fully; but Artaxerxes interrupted him; "We +know it all, Athenian stranger--we know it all. You have refused +Artaminta, and now we bestow upon you Eudora, with the revenues of +Magnesia and Lampsacus for her dowry." + +Before the next moon had waned, a magnificent marriage was celebrated in +the court of audience, opening into the royal gardens. On a shining +throne, in the midst of a stately pavilion, was seated Artaxerxes, +surrounded by the princes of the empire. Near the throne stood Philæmon +and Eudora. Artaphernes placed the right hand of the bride within the +right hand of the bridegroom, saying, "Philæmon of Athens, I bestow upon +thee, Artaminta, my daughter, with my estates in Pasagarda, and five +thousand darics as her dowry." + +The chief of the Magii bore sacred fire on a silver censer, and the +bridal couple passed slowly around it three times, bowing reverently to +the sacred emblem of Mithras. Then the bridegroom fastened a golden +jewel about the bride's neck, and they repeated certain words, promising +fidelity to each other. The nuptial hymn was sung by six handsome +youths, and as many maidens, clothed in white garments, with a purple +edge. + +Numerous lamps were lighted in the trees, making the gardens bright as +noon. Women belonging to the royal household, and to the most favoured +of the nobility, rode through the groves and lawns, in rich pavilions, +on the backs of camels and white elephants. As the huge animals were led +along, fireworks burst from under their feet, and playing for a moment +in the air, with undulating movements, fell in a sparkling shower. + +Artaxerxes gave a luxurious feast, which lasted seven days; during which +time the Queen entertained her guests with equal splendour, in the +apartments of the women. + +The Athenian decree against those of foreign parentage had been repealed +in favour of young Pericles; but in that country everything was in a +troubled and unsettled state; and Artaphernes pleaded hard to have his +daughter remain in Persia. + +It was therefore decided that the young couple should reside at +Pasagarda, situated in a fertile valley, called the Queen's Girdle, +because its revenues were appropriated to that costly article of the +royal wardrobe. This pleasant city had once been the favourite residence +of Cyrus the Great, and a plain obelisk in the royal gardens marked his +burial-place. The adjacent promontory of Taoces afforded a convenient +harbour for Tyrian merchants, and thus brought in the luxuries of +Phoenicia, while it afforded opportunities for literary communication +between the East and the West. Here were celebrated schools under the +direction of the Magii, frequently visited by learned men from Greece, +Ethiopia, and Egypt. + +Philæmon devoted himself to the quiet pursuits of literature; and +Eudora, happy in her father, husband and children, thankfully +acknowledged the blessings of her lot. + +Her only daughter, a gentle maiden, with plaintive voice and earnest +eyes, bore the beloved name of Philothea. + + + + +APPENDIX + + +_Zeus_--The Jupiter of the Romans. + +_Zeus Xenius_--Jupiter the Hospitable. + +_Hera_--Juno. + +_Pallas_--Minerva. + +_Pallas Athena_--An ancient appellation of Minerva, from which Athens +took its name. + +_Pallas Parthenia_--Pallas the Virgin. + +_Pallas Promachos_--Pallas the Defender. + +_Phoebus_--The Apollo of the Romans; the Sun. + +_Phoebus Apollo_--Phoebus the Destroyer, or the Purifier. + +_Phoebe_--Diana; the Moon. + +_Artemis_--Diana. + +_Agrotera_--Diana the Huntress. + +_Orthia_--Name of Diana among the Spartans. + +_Poseidon_--Neptune. + +_Aphrodite_--Venus. + +_Urania_--The Heavenly Venus. The same name was applied to the Muse of +Astronomy. + +_Eros_--Cupid. + +_Hermes_--Mercury. + +_Demeter_--Ceres. + +_Persephone_--Proserpine. + +_Dionysus_--Bacchus. + +_Pandamator_--A name of Vulcan, signifying the All-subduing. + +_Mnemosyne_--Goddess of Memory. + +_Chloris_--Flora. + +_Asclepius_--Esculapius. + +_Rhamnusia_--Name of a statue of Nemesis, goddess of Vengeance; so +called because it was in the town of Rhamnus. + +_Polydeuces_--Pollux. + +_Leto_--Latona. + +_Taraxippus_--A deity whose protection was implored at Elis, that no +harm might happen to the horses. + +_Erinnys_--The Eumenides, or Furies. + +_Naiades_--Nymphs of Rivers, Springs, and Fountains. + +_Nereides_--Nymphs of the Sea. + +_Oreades_--Nymphs of the Mountains. + +_Dryades_--Nymphs of the Woods. + +_Oromasdes_--Persian name for the Principle of Good. + +_Mithras_--Persian name for the Sun. + +_Arimanius_--Persian name for the Principle of Evil. + +_Odysseus_--Ulysses. + +_Achilleus_-Achilles. + +_Cordax_--An immodest comic dance. + +_Agora_--A Market House. + +_Prytaneum_--The Town House. + +_Deigma_--A place in the Piræus, corresponding to the modern Exchange. + +_Clepsydra_--A Water-dial. + +_Cotylæ_--A measure. Some writers say one third of a quart; others much +less. + +_Arytana_--A small cup. + +_Arabyllus_--A vase, wide at bottom and narrow at top. + +_Archons_--Chief Magistrates of Athens. + +_Prytanes_--Magistrates who presided over the Senate. + +_Phylarchi_--Sheriffs. + +_Epistates_--Chairman, or speaker. + +_Hippodrome_--The Horse-course. + +_Stadium_--Thirty-six and a half rods. + +_Obulus_, (plural _Oboli_)--A small coin, about the value of a penny. + +_Drachma_, (plural _Drachmæ_)--About ten-pence sterling. + +_Mina_, (plural _Minæ_)--Four pounds, three shillings, four pence. + +_Stater_--A gold coin; estimated at about twelve shillings, three pence. + +_Daric_--A Persian gold coin, valued one pound, twelve shillings, three +pence. + +(All the above coins are estimated very differently by different writers.) + + * * * * * + + +"The midnight procession of the Panathenæa." p. 11. + +This festival in honour of Pallas was observed early in the summer, +every fifth year, with great pomp. + + +"The Sacred Peplus." p. 12. + +This was a white garment consecrated to Pallas, on which the actions of +illustrious men were represented in golden embroidery. + + +"Festival of Torches." p. 15. + +In honour of Prometheus. The prize was bestowed on him who ran the +course without extinguishing his torch. + + +"Six months of seclusion within the walls of the Acropolis, were +required of the Canephoræ." p. 22. + +Maidens of the first families were selected to embroider the sacred +peplus. The two principal ones were called Canephoræ, because they +carried baskets in the Panathenaic procession. + + +"Fountain of Byblis." p. 33. + +This name was derived from a young Ionian, passionately fond of her +brother Caunus, for whom she wept till she was changed into a fountain, +near Miletus. + + +"During the festivities of the Dionysia." p. 42. + +This festival, in honour of Dionysus, was observed with great splendour. +Choragic games are supposed to have been celebrated; in which prizes +were given to the successful competitors in music, and the drama. + + +"The tuneful soul of Marsyas." p. 43. + +Marsyas was a celebrated musician of Phrygia, generally considered the +inventor of the flute. + + +"Contest between fighting quails." p. 43. + +In Athens, quails were pitched against each other, in the same manner as +game-cocks among the moderns. + + +"Pericles withdrew a rose from the garland." p. 44. + +This flower was sacred to Silence. The ancients often suspended it above +the table at feasts, to signify that what was said _sub rosa_ was not to +be repeated. + + +"A life-time as long as that conferred upon the namesake of Tithonus." +p. 46. + +It is related of him, that he asked and obtained the gift of immortality +in this world; but unfortunately forgot to ask for youth and vigour. + + +"Eleusinian Mysteries." p. 47. + +Ceremonies at Eleusis, in honour of Demeter, observed with great +secrecy. Those who were initiated were supposed to be peculiarly under +the protection of the gods. + + +"Model for the sloping roof of the Odeum." p. 54. + +Pericles was usually represented with a helmet, to cover the deformity +in his skull. It was jestingly said that the model for the Odeum was +from his own head. + + +"Patriotic song of Callistratus." p. 56. + +Translated from the Greek, by the Rt. Rev. G. W. Doane, Bishop of New +Jersey. + + +"While our rosy fillets shed," &c. p. 57. + +The 43d Ode of Anacreon. This and other extracts from the same poet are +translated by Thomas Moore, Esq. + + +"All ending in ippus and ippides." p. 61. + +Ippus is the Greek for horse. Wealthy Athenians generally belonged to +the equestrian order; to which the same ideas of honour were attached as +to the knights, or cavaliers, of modern times. Their names often +signified some quality of a horse; as Leucippus, a white horse, &c. + + +"Describing her pompous sacrifices to Demeter." p. 64. + +None but Greeks were allowed to enter the temples of this goddess. + + +"Urania alone confers the beauty-giving zone." p. 69. + +Urania was the Heavenly Venus, who presided over the pure sentiment of +love, in distinction from Aphrodite, who presided over the sensual +passion. + + +"The Pleiades mourning for their lost sister." p. 74. + +One of the stars in the constellation of the Pleiades is said to have +disappeared. They were fabled as seven sisters, and one lost her place +in the sky by marrying a mortal. + + +"More happy than the gods is he." p. 75. + +Second Ode of Sappho, translated by F. Fawkes, Esq. + + +"He has clothed the Graces." p. 76. + +Socrates was originally a sculptor. He carved a beautiful group of the +Graces; said to have been the first that were represented with clothing. + + +"Too frugal to buy coloured robes." p. 76. + +The common people in Athens generally bought white garments, for the +economy of having them dyed when they were defaced. + + +"Every human being has, like Socrates, an attendant spirit." p. 89. + +In the Phoedrus of Plato, Socrates is represented as saying, "When I was +about to cross the river, a demoniacal and usual sign was given me; and +whenever this takes place, it always prohibits me from accomplishing +what I was about to do. In the present instance, I seemed to hear a +voice, which would not suffer me to depart till I had made an expiation; +as if I had offended in some particular a divine nature." + + +"His statue stands among the Olympionicæ." p. 92. + +The victors at the Olympic Games had their statues placed in the groves. +These statues were called Olympionicæ. + + +"Count me on the summer trees." p. 98. + +Part of the 14th Ode of Anacreon. + + +"As soon would I league myself with Odomantians." p. 112. + +The Odomantians of Thrace, near the river Strymon, had the same +grasping, avaricious character, attributed to the Jews in modern times. + + +"Concealed their frauds amid the flames of the Treasury." p. 113. + +The Treasury in Athens was burned to the ground, by the Treasurers, who +took that method to avoid being called to account for the money they had +embezzled. + + +"That comes of having the Helots among them." p. 116. + +The freemen of Sparta were forbidden the exercise of any mechanical or +laborious employment. All these duties devolved upon the Helots; while +their masters spent their time in dancing, feasting, hunting, and +fighting. + + +"He approves the law forbidding masters to bestow freedom." p. 117. + +There was a Spartan law forbidding masters to emancipate their slaves. +About two thousand, who were enfranchised by a public decree, for having +bravely defended the country during the Peloponessian war, soon after +disappeared suddenly, and were supposed to have been secretly murdered. + + +"Whip them, merely to remind them of bondage." p. 117. + +The Helots were originally a brave people; but after they were conquered +by the Spartans, no pains were spared to render them servile and +degraded. Once a year they publicly received a severe flagellation, +merely to remind them that they were slaves. They were never allowed to +learn any liberal art, or to sing manly songs. In order to expose them +to greater contempt, they were often obliged to perform indecent dances, +and to get brutally drunk, that their master's children might learn to +despise such uncomely things. + + +"Things as trifling as the turning of a shell." p. 120. + +This was an Athenian proverb, applied to things that were done quickly, +or changed easily. + + +"You must indeed wrestle at Cynosarges." p. 120. + +This was a name of Hercules; and because he was illegitimate, it was +applied to a place near the Lyceum, where those of half Athenian blood, +were wont to exercise in gymnastic sports. Themistocles, being partly of +foreign extraction, induced the young Athenian nobles to go there and +wrestle with him, that the distinction might be done away. + + +"Festival Anthesteria." 120. + +In honour of Dionysus. The best drinker was rewarded with a golden crown +and a cask of wine; and none but Athenians were allowed to enter the +theatre. + + +"Which he inscribed Demos." p. 131. + +A phrase signifying the People, or the Democracy. + + +"Sing their welcome to Ornithæ." p. 134, + +This name was applied to a wind that blew in the spring, at the time +when the birds began to return. It was a Grecian custom for children to +go about with garlands from door to door, singing a welcome to the +swallows, and receiving trifling presents in return. + + +"The marble sent by Darius." p. 136. + +The Persians were so confident of victory that they brought with them +marble to erect a trophy on the plains of Marathon. From this marble +Phidias sculptured a statue of Vengeance, which was called Rhamnusia. + + +"Filled my pillow with fresh laurel leaves." p. 143. + +Phoebus was supposed to inspire dreams and prophecy; and the laurel +which was sacred to him, was supposed to be endowed with similar +properties. + + +"Like one returned from the cave of Trophonius." p. 147. + +In this cave was a celebrated oracle. Those who entered it always +returned pale and dejected. + + +"Psyche bending over the sleeping Eros." p. 150. + +This beautiful fable represents the union of the human soul with +immortal love. Pysche was warned that separation would be the +consequence, if she looked on the countenance of her divine lover. She +gazed on his features as he slept; and was left to sorrow alone. + + +"Even the Diasia are no longer observed." p. 154. + +Festivals in honour of Zeus, because he delivered men from misfortunes +and dangers. + + +"When the Muses and the Charities inhabit the same temple." p. 160. + +Among the Greeks, the Graces were called the Charities. It was a +beautiful idea thus to deify the moral, rather than the outward graces; +and to represent innocent and loving nymphs, forever hand in hand, +presiding over kind and gentle actions. The Graces were often worshipped +in the same temple with the Muses. + + +"Olive garlands suspended on the doors." p. 185. + +This was a common practice during the festival of Thargelia, in honour +of Phoebus. + + +"Gently touched the back part of his head with a small wand." p. 202. + +That the phenomena of animal magnetism were not entirely unknown to the +ancients, appears by what Clearchus relates of an experiment tried in +the presence of Aristotle. He speaks of a man who, by means of "a +soul-attracting wand," let the soul out of a sleeping lad, and left the +body insensible. When the soul was again led into the body, it related +all that had happened to it. + + +"The laws of the country made it impossible to accompany her beloved +husband." p. 206. + +No woman was allowed to enter Olympia, during the celebration of the +games. + + +"Deemed he had fallen by the dart of Phoebus Apollo." p. 208. + +Those who died very suddenly were supposed to have been struck with the +arrows of Phoebus, or his sister. + + +"Its best pleasures are like the gardens of Adonis." p. 213. + +When the annual procession formed to mourn the death of Adonis, earth +was placed in shells, and lettuce planted in it, in commemoration of +Adonis laid out on a bed of lettuces. These shells were called the +Gardens of Adonis. Their freshness soon withered, on account of the +shallowness of the earth. + + +"Rather gain one prize from the Choragus than ten from the Gymnasiarch." +p. 219. + +The first presided over musical and literary competition; the last over +athletic games. + + +"The statue of Persephone, (that ominous bridal gift.)" p. 226. + +While Persephone was gathering flowers, she was seized by Pluto, and +carried to the regions of the dead, over which she presided. Hence the +hair of the deceased was consecrated to her, and her name invoked at +funerals. + + +"Milza sneezed aloud." p. 227. + +This was considered a lucky omen; particularly if the sound came from +the direction of the right hand. + + +"He will trust to Hermes to help him." p. 239. + +Hermes was the god of lies and fraud. + + +"Have I told you all my flames." p. 241. + +Part of the 14th ode of Anacreon. + + +"Threatened to appeal to the magistrates for another master." p. 250. + +The Athenian slave laws were much more mild than modern codes. If a +servant complained of being abused, his master had no power to retain +him. + + +"Build the wall of Hipparchus." p. 251. + +A wall built round the Academia by Hipparchus was so expensive that it +became a proverb applied to all costly undertakings. + + +"One of the slaves whose modesty Alcibiades had insulted." p. 251. + +Slaves that were either personally abused, or insulted, took refuge in +the Temple of Theseus, and could not be compelled to return to those of +whom they complained. + + +"These brooks are Creüsa's tears." p. 253. + +Ion was the son of Phoebus and Creüsa. His mother, to avoid her father's +displeasure, concealed the birth of the infant, and hid him in the +grotto, which afterwards bore her name. The child was preserved, and +brought up in the temple of Phoebus. + + +"She does not speak like one brought up at the gates." p. 254. + +The lower classes of tradesmen were generally placed near the gates. + + +"One of the illustrious Pasargadæ." p. 280. + +These were the noblest families in Persia. + + * * * * * + +In some unimportant matters, I have not adhered strictly to dates; +deeming this an allowable freedom in a work so purely romantic, relating +to times so ancient. + +I am aware that the Christian spirit is sometimes infused into a Grecian +form; and in nothing is this more conspicuous than the representation of +love as a pure sentiment rather than a gross passion. + +Greek names for the deities were used in preference to the Roman, +because the latter have become familiarized by common and vulgar use. + +If there be errors in the application of Greek names and phrases, my +excuse must be an entire want of knowledge in the classic languages. +But, like the ignoramus in the Old Drama, I can boast, "Though I _speak_ +no Greek, I love the _sound_ on't." + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Philothea, by Lydia Maria Child + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILOTHEA *** + +This file should be named 8phth10.txt or 8phth10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8phth11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8phth10a.txt + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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