CHAPTER XI.
According to the law of Egypt, Zopyrus had deserved death.
As soon as his friends heard this, they resolved to go to Sais and tryto rescue him by stratagem. Syloson, who had friends there and couldspeak the Egyptian language well, offered to help them.
Bartja and Darius disguised themselves so completely by dyeing theirhair and eyebrows and wearing broad-brimmed felt-hats,--that they couldscarcely recognize each other. Theopompus provided them with ordinaryGreek dresses, and, an hour after Zopyrus' arrest, they met thesplendidly-got-up Syloson on the shore of the Nile, entered a boatbelonging to him and manned by his slaves, and, after a short sail,favored by the wind, reached Sais,--which lay above the waters of theinundation like an island,--before the burning midsummer sun had reachedits noonday height.
They disembarked at a remote part of the town and walked across thequarter appropriated to the artisans. The workmen were busy at theircalling, notwithstanding the intense noonday heat. The baker's men wereat work in the open court of the bakehouse, kneading bread--the coarserkind of dough with the feet, the finer with the hands. Loaves of variousshapes were being drawn out of the ovens-round and oval cakes, and rollsin the form of sheep, snails and hearts. These were laid in baskets, andthe nimble baker's boys would put three, four, or even five such basketson their heads at once, and carry them off quickly and safely tothe customers living in other quarters of the city. A butcher wasslaughtering an ox before his house, the creature's legs having beenpinioned; and his men were busy sharpening their knives to cut up awild goat. Merry cobblers were calling out to the passers-by from theirstalls; carpenters, tailors, joiners and weavers--were all there, busyat their various callings. The wives of the work-people were going outmarketing, leading their naked children by the hand, and some soldierswere loitering near a man who was offering beer and wine for sale.
But our friends took very little notice of what was going on in thestreets through which they passed; they followed Syloson in silence.
At the Greek guard-house he asked them to wait for him. Syloson,happening to know the Taxiarch who was on duty that day, went in andasked him if he had heard anything of a man accused of murder havingbeen brought from Naukratis to Sais that morning.
"Of course," said the Greek. "It's not more than half an hour since hearrived. As they found a purse full of money in his girdle, they thinkhe must be a Persian spy. I suppose you know that Cambyses is preparingfor war with Egypt."
"Impossible!"
"No, no, it's a fact. The prince-regent has already receivedinformation. A caravan of Arabian merchants arrived yesterday atPelusium, and brought the news."
"It will prove as false as their suspicions about this poor youngLydian. I know him well, and am very sorry for the poor fellow. Hebelongs to one of the richest families in Sardis, and only ran away forfear of the powerful satrap Oroetes, with whom he had had a quarrel.I'll tell you the particulars when you come to see me next in Naukratis.Of course you'll stay a few days and bring some friends. My brother hassent me some wine which beats everything I ever tasted. It's perfectnectar, and I confess I grudge offering it to any one who's not, likeyou, a perfect judge in such matters." The Taxiarch's face brightened upat these words, and grasping Syloson's hand, he exclaimed. "By the dog,my friend, we shall not wait to be asked twice; we'll come soon enoughand take a good pull at your wine-skins. How would it be if you were toask Archidice, the three flower-sisters, and a few flute-playing-girlsto supper?"
[Archidice--A celebrated Hetaira of Naukratis mentioned by Herod. II. 135. Flute-playing girls were seldom missing at the young Greeks' drinking-parties]
"They shall all be there. By the bye, that reminds me that theflower-girls were the cause of that poor young Lydian's imprisonment.Some jealous idiot attacked him before their house with a number ofcomrades. The hot-brained young fellow defended himself...."
"And knocked the other down?"
"Yes; and so that he'll never get up again."
"The boy must be a good boxer."
"He had a sword."
"So much the better for him."
"No, so much the worse; for his victim was an Egyptian."
"That's a bad job. I fear it can only have an unfortunate end. Aforeigner, who kills an Egyptian, is as sure of death as if he had therope already round his neck. However, just now he'll get a few days'grace; the priests are all so busy praying for the dying king that theyhave no time to try criminals."
"I'd give a great deal to be able to save that poor fellow. I know hisfather."
"Yes, and then after all he only did his duty. A man must defendhimself."
"Do you happen to know where he is imprisoned?"
"Of course I do. The great prison is under repair, and so he has beenput for the present in the storehouse between the principal guard-houseof the Egyptian body-guard and the sacred grove of the temple of Neith.I have only just come home from seeing them take him there."
"He is strong and has plenty of courage; do you think he could get away,if we helped him?"
"No, it would be quite impossible; he's in a room two stories high;the only window looks into the sacred grove, and that, you know, issurrounded by a ten-foot wall, and guarded like the treasury. There aredouble sentries at every gate. There's only one place where it is leftunguarded during the inundation season, because, just here, the waterwashes the walls. These worshippers of animals are as cautious aswater-wagtails."
"Well, it's a great pity, but I suppose we must leave the poor fellow tohis fate. Good-bye, Doemones; don't forget my invitation."
The Samian left the guard-room and went back directly to the twofriends, who were waiting impatiently for him.
They listened eagerly to his tidings, and when he had finished hisdescription of the prison, Darius exclaimed: "I believe a little couragewill save him. He's as nimble as a cat, and as strong as a bear. I havethought of a plan."
"Let us hear it," said Syloson, "and let me give an opinion as to itspracticability."
"We will buy some rope-ladders, some cord, and a good bow, put all theseinto our boat, and row to the unguarded part of the temple-wall at dusk.You must then help me to clamber over it. I shall take the things overwith me and give the eagle's cry. Zopyras will know at once, because,since we were children, we have been accustomed to use it when we wereriding or hunting together. Then I shall shoot an arrow, with the cordfastened to it, up into his window, (I never miss), tell him to fastena weight to it and let it down again to me. I shall then secure therope-ladder to the cord, Zopyrus will draw the whole affair up again,and hang it on an iron nail,--which, by the bye, I must not forget tosend up with the ladder, for who knows whether he may have such a thingin his cell. He will then come down on it, go quickly with me to thepart of the wall where you will be waiting with the boat, and wherethere must be another rope-ladder, spring into the boat, and there heis-safe!"
"First-rate, first-rate!" cried Bartja.
"But very dangerous," added Syloson. "If we are caught in the sacredgrove, we are certain to be severely punished. The priests hold strangenightly festivals there, at which every one but the initiated isstrictly forbidden to appear. I believe, however, that these take placeon the lake, and that is at some distance from Zopyrus' prison."
"So much the better," cried Darius; "but now to the main point. We mustsend at once, and ask Theopompus to hire a fast trireme for us, and haveit put in sailing order at once. The news of Cambyses' preparations havealready reached Egypt; they take us for spies, and will be sure not tolet either Zopyrus or his deliverers escape, if they can help it. Itwould be a criminal rashness to expose ourselves uselessly to danger.Bartja, you must take this message yourself, and must marry Sappho thisvery day, for, come what may, we must leave Naukratis to-morrow. Don'tcontradict me, my friend, my brother! You know our plan, and you mustsee that as only one can act in it, your part would be that of a merelooker-on. As it was my own idea I am determined to carry it out myself.We shall meet again to
-morrow, for Auramazda protects the friendship ofthe pure."
It was a long time before they could persuade Bartja to leave hisfriends in the lurch, but their entreaties and representations at lasttook effect, and he went down towards the river to take a boat forNaukratis, Darius and Syloson going at the same time to buy thenecessary implements for their plan.
In order to reach the place where boats were to be hired, Bartja had topass by the temple of Neith. This was not easy, as an immense crowdwas assembled at the entrance-gates. He pushed his way as far as theobelisks near the great gate of the temple with its winged sun-disc andfluttering pennons, but there the temple-servants prevented him fromgoing farther; they were keeping the avenue of sphinxes clear for aprocession. The gigantic doors of the Pylon opened, and Bartja, who, inspite of himself, had been pushed into the front row, saw a brilliantprocession come out of the temple. The unexpected sight of many faceshe had formerly known occupied his attention so much, that he scarcelynoticed the loss of his broad-brimmed hat, which had been knocked off inthe crowd. From the conversation of two Ionian mercenaries behind him helearnt that the family of Amasis had been to the temple to pray for thedying king.
The procession was headed by richly-decorated priests, either wearinglong white robes or pantherskins. They were followed by men holdingoffice at the court, and carrying golden staves, on the ends of whichpeacocks' feathers and silver lotus-flowers were fastened, and these byPastophori, carrying on their shoulders a golden cow, the animal sacredto Isis. When the crowd had bowed down before this sacred symbol, thequeen appeared. She was dressed in priestly robes and wore a costlyhead-dress with the winged disc and the Uraeus. In her left hand sheheld a sacred golden sistrum, the tones of which were to scare awayTyphon, and in her right some lotus-flowers. The wife, daughter andsister of the high-priest followed her, in similar but less splendidornaments. Then came the heir to the throne, in rich robes of state, aspriest and prince; and behind him four young priests in white carryingTachot, (the daughter of Amasis and Ladice and the pretended sister ofNitetis,) in an open litter. The heat of the day, and the earnestnessof her prayers, had given the sick girl a slight color. Her blue eyes,filled with tears, were fixed on the sistrum which her weak, emaciatedhands had hardly strength to hold.
A murmur of compassion ran through the crowd; for they loved their dyingking, and manifested openly and gladly the sympathy so usually felt foryoung lives from whom a brilliant future has been snatched by disease.Such was Amasis' young, fading daughter, who was now being carried pastthem, and many an eye grew dim as the beautiful invalid came in sight.Tachot seemed to notice this, for she raised her eyes from the sistrumand looked kindly and gratefully at the crowd. Suddenly the color lefther face, she turned deadly pale, and the golden sistrum fell on to thestone pavement with a clang, close to Bartja's feet. He felt that hehad been recognized and for one moment thought of hiding himself in thecrowd; but only for one moment--his chivalrous feeling gained the day,he darted forward, picked up the sistrum, and forgetting the danger inwhich he was placing himself, held it out to the princess.
Tachot looked at him earnestly before taking the golden sistrum from hishands, and then said, in a low voice, which only he could understand:"Are you Bartja? Tell me, in your mother's name--are you Bartja?"
"Yes, I am," was his answer, in a voice as low as her own, "your friend,Bartja."
He could not say more, for the priests pushed him back among the crowd.When he was in his old place, he noticed that Tachot, whose bearers hadbegun to move on again, was looking round at him. The color had comeback into her cheeks, and her bright eyes were trying to meet his. Hedid not avoid them; she threw him a lotus-bud-he stooped to pick it up,and then broke his way through the crowd, for this hasty act had rousedtheir attention.
A quarter of an hour later, he was seated in the boat which was totake him to Sappho and to his wedding. He was quite at ease now aboutZopyrus. In Bartja's eyes his friend was already as good as saved, andin spite of the dangers which threatened himself, he felt strangely calmand happy, he could hardly say why.
Meanwhile the sick princess had been carried home, had had heroppressive ornaments taken off, and her couch carried on to one ofthe palace-balconies where she liked best to pass the hot summer days,sheltered by broad-leaved plants, and a kind of awning.
From this veranda, she could look down into the great fore-court of thepalace, which was planted with trees. To-day it was full of priests,courtiers, generals and governors of provinces. Anxiety and suspensewere expressed in every face: Amasis' last hour was drawing very near.
Tachot could not be seen from below; but listening with feverisheagerness, she could hear much that was said. Now that they had to dreadthe loss of their king, every one, even the priests, were full ofhis praises. The wisdom and circumspection of his plans and modes ofgovernment, his unwearied industry, the moderation he had always shown,the keenness of his wit, were, each and all, subjects of admiration."How Egypt has prospered under Amasis' government!" said a Nomarch. "Andwhat glory he gained for our arms, by the conquest of Cyprus and thewar with the Libyans!" cried one of the generals. "How magnificently heembellished our temples, and what great honors he paid to the goddess ofSais!" exclaimed one of the singers of Neith. "And then how gracious andcondescending he was!" murmured a courtier. "How cleverly he managed tokeep peace with the great powers!" said the secretary of state, and thetreasurer, wiping away a tear, cried: "How thoroughly he understood themanagement of the revenue! Since the reign of Rameses III. the treasuryhas not been so well filled as now." "Psamtik comes into a fineinheritance," lisped the courtier, and the soldier exclaimed, "Yes, butit's to be feared that he'll not spend it in a glorious war; he's toomuch under the influence of the priests." "No, you are wrong there,"answered the temple-singer. "For some time past, our lord and masterhas seemed to disdain the advice of his most faithful servants." "Thesuccessor of such a father will find it difficult to secure universalapprobation," said the Nomarch. "It is not every one who has theintellect, the good fortune and the wisdom of Amasis." "The gods knowthat!" murmured the warrior with a sigh.
Tachot's tears flowed fast. These words were a confirmation of what theyhad been trying to hide from her: she was to lose her dear father soon.
After she had made this dreadful certainty clear to her own mind, anddiscovered that it was in vain to beg her attendants to carry her to herdying father, she left off listening to the courtiers below, and beganlooking at the sistrum which Bartja himself had put into her hand, andwhich she had brought on to the balcony with her, as if seeking comfortthere. And she found what she sought; for it seemed to her as if thesound of its sacred rings bore her away into a smiling, sunny landscape.
That faintness which so often comes over people in decline, had seizedher and was sweetening her last hours with pleasant dreams.
The female slaves, who stood round to fan away the flies, saidafterwards that Tachot had never looked so lovely.
She had lain about an hour in this state, when her breathing becamemore difficult, a slight cough made her breast heave, and the bright redblood trickled down from her lips on to her white robe. She awoke, andlooked surprised and disappointed on seeing the faces round her. Thesight of her mother, however, who came on to the veranda at that moment,brought a smile to her face, and she said, "O mother, I have had such abeautiful dream."
"Then our visit to the temple has done my dear child good?" asked thequeen, trembling at the sight of the blood on the sick girl's lips.
"Oh, yes, mother, so much! for I saw him again." Ladice's glance atthe attendants seemed to ask "Has your poor mistress lost her senses?"Tachot understood the look and said, evidently speaking with greatdifficulty: "You think I am wandering, mother. No, indeed, I reallysaw and spoke to him. He gave me my sistrum again, and said he wasmy friend, and then he took my lotus-bud and vanished. Don't look sodistressed and surprised, mother. What I say is really true; it is nodream.--There, you hear, Tentrut saw him too. He must have come to Sais
for my sake, and so the child-oracle in the temple-court did not deceiveme, after all. And now I don't feel anything more of my illness; Idreamt I was lying in a field of blooming poppies, as red as the bloodof the young lambs that are offered in sacrifice; Bartja was sittingby my side, and Nitetis was kneeling close to us and playing wonderfulsongs on a Nabla made of ivory. And there was such a lovely sound in theair that I felt as if Horus, the beautiful god of morning, spring, andthe resurrection, was kissing me. Yes, mother, I tell you he is comingsoon, and when I am well, then--then--ah, mother what is this?... I amdying!"
Ladice knelt down by her child's bed and pressed her lips in burningkisses on the girl's eyes as they grew dim in death.
An hour later she was standing by another bedside--her dying husband's.
Severe suffering had disfigured the king's features, the coldperspiration was standing on his forehead, and his hands grasped thegolden lions on the arms of the deep-seated invalid chair in which hewas resting, almost convulsively.
When Ladice came in he opened his eyes; they were as keen andintelligent as if he had never lost his sight.
"Why do not you bring Tachot to me?" he asked in a dry voice.
"She is too ill, and suffers so much, that..."
"She is dead! Then it is well with her, for death is not punishment;it is the end and aim of life,--the only end that we can attain withouteffort, but through sufferings!--the gods alone know how great. Osirishas taken her to himself, for she was innocent. And Nitetis is dead too.Where is Nebenchari's letter?"
"Here is the place: 'She took her own life, and died calling down aheavy curse on thee and thine. The poor, exiled, scorned and plunderedoculist Nebenchari in Babylon sends thee this intelligence to Egypt. Itis as true as his own hatred of thee.' Listen to these words, Psamtik,and remember how on his dying bed thy father told thee that, for everydrachm of pleasure purchased on earth by wrong-doing, the dying bed willbe burdened by a talent's weight of remorse. Fearful misery is comingon Egypt for Nitetis' sake. Cambyses is preparing to make war on us. Hewill sweep down on Egypt like a scorching wind from the desert. Much,which I have staked my nightly sleep and the very marrow of my existenceto bring into existence, will be annihilated. Still I have not lived invain. For forty years I have been the careful father and benefactor of agreat nation. Children and children's children will speak of Amasis asa great, wise and humane king; they will read my name on the great workswhich I have built in Sais and Thebes, and will praise the greatnessof my power. Neither shall I be condemned by Osiris and the forty-twojudges of the nether world; the goddess of truth, who holds thebalances, will find that my good deeds outweigh my bad."--Here the kingsighed deeply and remained silent for some time. Then, looking tenderlyat his wife, he said: "Ladice, thou hast been a faithful, virtuous wifeto me. For this I thank thee, and ask thy forgiveness for much. We haveoften misunderstood one another. Indeed it was easier for me to accustommyself to the Greek modes of thought, than for a Greek to understand ourEgyptian ideas. Thou know'st my love of Greek art,--thou know'st howI enjoyed the society of thy friend Pythagoras, who was thoroughlyinitiated in all that we believe and know, and adopted much from us.He comprehended the deep wisdom which lies in the doctrines that Ireverence most, and he took care not to speak lightly of truths whichour priests are perhaps too careful to hide from the people; for thoughthe many bow down before that which they cannot understand, they wouldbe raised and upheld by those very truths, if explained to them. To aGreek mind our worship of animals presents the greatest difficulty, butto my own the worship of the Creator in his creatures seems more justand more worthy of a human being, than the worship of his likeness instone. The Greek deities are moreover subject to every human infirmity;indeed I should have made my queen very unhappy by living in the samemanner as her great god Zeus."
At these words the king smiled, and then went on: "And what has givenrise to this? The Hellenic love of beauty in form, which, in the eye ofa Greek, is superior to every thing else. He cannot separate the bodyfrom the soul, because he holds it to be the most glorious of formedthings, and indeed, believes that a beautiful spirit must necessarilyinhabit a beautiful body. Their gods, therefore, are only elevated humanbeings, but we adore an unseen power working in nature and in ourselves.The animal takes its place between ourselves and nature; its actionsare guided, not, like our own, by the letter, but by the eternal lawsof nature, which owe their origin to the Deity, while the letter is adevice of man's own mind. And then, too, where amongst ourselves dowe find so earnest a longing and endeavor to gain freedom, the highestgood, as among the animals? Where such a regular and well-balanced lifefrom generation to generation, without instruction or precept?"
Here the king's voice failed. He was obliged to pause for a few moments,and then continued: "I know that my end is near; therefore enough ofthese matters. My son and successor, hear my last wishes and act uponthem; they are the result of experience. But alas! how often have Iseen, that rules of life given by one man to another are useless. Everyman must earn his own experience. His own losses make him prudent, hisown learning wise. Thou, my son, art coming to the throne at a matureage; thou hast had time and opportunity to judge between right andwrong, to note what is beneficial and what hurtful, to see and comparemany things. I give thee, therefore, only a few wholesome counsels, andonly fear that though I offer them with my right hand, thou wilt acceptthem with the left.
"First, however, I must say that, notwithstanding my blindness, myindifference to what has been going on during the past months has beenonly apparent. I left you to your own devices with a good intention.Rhodopis told me once one of her teacher AEsop's fables: 'A traveller,meeting a man on his road, asked him how long it would be before hereached the nearest town.' 'Go on, go on,' cried the other. 'But I wantto know first when I shall get to the town.' 'Go on, only go on,' wasthe answer. The traveller left him with angry words and abuse; but hehad not gone many steps when the man called after him: 'You will bethere in an hour. I could not answer your question until I had seen yourpace.'
"I bore this fable in my mind for my son's sake, and watched in silenceat what pace he was ruling his people. Now I have discovered what I wishto know, and this is my advice: Examine into everything your self. Itis the duty of every man, but especially of a king, to acquaint himselfintimately with all that concerns the weal or woe of his people. You, myson, are in the habit of using the eyes and ears of other men instead ofgoing to the fountain-head yourself. I am sure that your advisers, thepriests, only desire what is good; but... Neithotep, I must beg you toleave us alone for a few moments."
When the priest was gone the king exclaimed "They wish for what isgood, but good only for themselves. But we are not kings of priests andaristocrats only, we are kings of a nation! Do not listen to the adviceof this proud caste alone, but read every petition yourself, and, byappointing Nomarchs devoted to the king and beloved by the people, makeyourself acquainted with the needs and wishes of the Egyptian nation.It is not difficult to govern well, if you are aware of the state offeeling in your land. Choose fit men to fill the offices of state. Ihave taken care that the kingdom shall be properly divided. The laws aregood, and have proved themselves so; hold fast by these laws, and trustno one who sets himself above them; for law is invariably wiser than theindividual man, and its transgressor deserves his punishment. The peopleunderstand this well, and are ready to sacrifice themselves for us, whenthey see that we are ready to give up our own will to the law. You donot care for the people. I know their voice is often rude and rough, butit utters wholesome truths, and no one needs to hear truth more than aking. The Pharaoh who chooses priests and courtiers for his advisers,will hear plenty of flattering words, while he who tries to fulfil thewishes of the nation will have much to suffer from those around him; butthe latter will feel peace in his own heart, and be praised in the agesto come. I have often erred, yet the Egyptians will weep for me, as onewho knew their needs and considered their welfare like a father. A kingwho really knows his dutie
s, finds it an easy and beautiful task to winthe love of the people--an unthankful one to gain the applause of thegreat--almost an impossibility to content both.
"Do not forget,--I say it again,--that kings and priests exist for thepeople, and not the people for their kings and priests. Honor religionfor its own sake and as the most important means of securing theobedience of the governed to their governors; but at the same timeshow its promulgators that you look on them, not as receptacles, but asservants, of the Deity. Hold fast, as the law commands, by what is old;but never shut the gates of your kingdom against what is new, if better.Bad men break at once with the old traditions; fools only care for whatis new and fresh; the narrowminded and the selfish privileged classcling indiscriminately to all that is old, and pronounce progress to bea sin; but the wise endeavor to retain all that has approved itself inthe past, to remove all that has become defective, and to adopt whateveris good, from whatever source it may have sprung. Act thus, my son.The priests will try to keep you back--the Greeks to urge you forward.Choose one party or the other, but beware of indecision--of yielding tothe one to-day, to the other to-morrow. Between two stools a manfalls to the ground. Let the one party be your friends, the other yourenemies; by trying to please both, you will have both opposed to you.Human beings hate the man who shows kindness to their enemies. In thelast few months, during which you have ruled independently, both partieshave been offended by your miserable indecision. The man who runsbackwards and forwards like a child, makes no progress, and is soonweary. I have till now--till I felt that death was near--alwaysencouraged the Greeks and opposed the priests. In the active business oflife, the clever, brave Greeks seemed to me especially serviceable; atdeath, I want men who can make me out a pass into the nether regions.The gods forgive me for not being able to resist words that sound solike a joke, even in my last hour! They created me and must take me asI am. I rubbed my hands for joy when I became king; with thee, my son,coming to the throne is a graver matter.--Now call Neithotep back; Ihave still something to say to you both."
The king gave his hand to the high-priest as he entered, saving: "Ileave you, Neithotep, without ill-will, though my opinion that you havebeen a better priest than a servant to your king, remains unaltered.Psamtik will probably prove a more obedient follower than I have been,but one thing I wish to impress earnestly on you both: Do not dismissthe Greek mercenaries until the war with the Persians is over, and hasended we will hope--in victory for Egypt. My former predictions are notworth anything now; when death draws near, we get depressed, and thingsbegin to look a little black. Without the auxiliary troops we shall behopelessly lost, but with them victory is not impossible. Be clever;show the Ionians that they are fighting on the Nile for the freedom oftheir own country--that Cambyses, if victorious, will not be contentedwith Egypt alone, while his defeat may bring freedom to their ownenslaved countrymen in Ionia. I know you agree with me, Neithotep, forin your heart you mean well to Egypt.--Now read me the prayers. I feelexhausted; my end must be very near. If I could only forget that poorNitetis! had she the right to curse us? May the judges of the dead-mayOsiris--have mercy on our souls! Sit down by me, Ladice; lay thy hand onmy burning forehead. And Psamtik, in presence of these witnesses, swearto honor and respect thy step-mother, as if thou wert her own child. Mypoor wife! Come and seek me soon before the throne of Osiris. A widowand childless, what hast thou to do with this world? We brought upNitetis as our own daughter, and yet we are so heavily punished for hersake. But her curse rests on us--and only on us;--not on thee, Psamtik,nor on thy children. Bring my grandson. Was that a tear? Perhaps; well,the little things to which one has accustomed one's self are generallythe hardest to give up."
......................
Rhodopis entertained a fresh guest that evening; Kallias, the son ofPhoenippus, the same who first appeared in our tale as the bearer ofnews from the Olympic games.
The lively, cheerful Athenian had just come back from his nativecountry, and, as an old and tried friend, was not only received byRhodopis, but made acquainted with the secret of Sappho's marriage.
Knakias, her old slave, had, it is true, taken in the flag which wasthe sign of reception, two days ago; but he knew that Kallias was alwayswelcome to his mistress, and therefore admitted him just as readily ashe refused every one else.
The Athenian had plenty to tell, and when Rhodopis was called awayon business, he took his favorite Sappho into the garden, joking andteasing her gaily as they looked out for her lover's coming. But Bartjadid not come, and Sappho began to be so anxious that Kallias calledold Melitta, whose longing looks in the direction of Naukratis were, ifpossible, more anxious even than those of her mistress, and told her tofetch a musical instrument which he had brought with him.
It was a rather large lute, made of gold and ivory, and as he handedit to Sappho, he said, with a smile: "The inventor of this gloriousinstrument, the divine Anakreon, had it made expressly for me, at myown wish. He calls it a Barbiton, and brings wonderful tones from itschords--tones that must echo on even into the land of shadows. I havetold this poet, who offers his life as one great sacrifice to the Muses,Eros and Dionysus, a great deal about you, and he made me promise tobring you this song, which he wrote on purpose for you, as a gift fromhimself.
"Now, what do you say to this song? But by Hercules, child, how pale youare! Have the verses affected you so much, or are you frightened at thislikeness of your own longing heart? Calm yourself, girl. Who knows whatmay have happened to your lover?"
"Nothing has happened,--nothing," cried a gay, manly voice, and in a fewseconds Sappho was in the arms of him she loved.
Kallias looked on quietly, smiling at the wonderful beauty of these twoyoung lovers.
"But now," said the prince, after Sappho had made him acquainted withKallias, "I must go at once to your grandmother. We dare not wait fourdays for our wedding. It must be to-day! There is danger in every hourof delay. Is Theopompus here?"
"I think he must be," said Sappho. "I know of nothing else, that couldkeep my grandmother so long in the house. But tell me, what is thisabout our marriage? It seems to me..."
"Let us go in first, love. I fancy a thunder-storm must be coming on.The sky is so dark, and it's so intolerably sultry."
"As you like, only make haste, unless you mean me to die of impatience.There is not the slightest reason to be afraid of a storm. Since I wasa child there has not been either lightning or thunder in Egypt at thistime of year."
"Then you will see something new to-day," said Kallias, laughing; for alarge drop of rain has just fallen on my bald head, "the Nile-swallowswere flying close to the water as I came here, and you see there is acloud coming over the moon already. Come in quickly, or you will getwet. Ho, slave, see that a black lamb is offered to the gods of thelower world."
They found Theopompus sitting in Rhodopis' own apartment, as Sappho hadsupposed. He had finished telling her the story of Zopyrus' arrest, andof the journey which Bartja and his friends had taken on his behalf.
Their anxiety on the matter was beginning to be so serious, thatBartja's unexpected appearance was a great relief. His words flew as herepeated the events of the last few hours, and begged Theopompus tolook out at once for a ship in sailing order, to convey himself and hisfriends from Egypt.
"That suits famously," exclaimed Kallias. "My own trireme brought mefrom Naukratis to-day; it is lying now, fully equipped for sea, in theport, and is quite at your service. I have only to send orders tothe steersman to keep the crew together and everything in sailingorder.--You are under no obligations to me; on the contrary it is Iwho have to thank you for the honor you will confer on me. Ho,Knakias!--tell my slave Philomelus, he's waiting in the hall,--to take aboat to the port, and order my steersman Nausarchus to keep the ship inreadiness for starting. Give him this seal; it empowers him to do allthat is necessary."
"And my slaves?" said Bartja.
"Knakias can tell my old steward to take them to Kallias' ship,"answered Theopompus.
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"And when they see this," said Bartja, giving the old servant his ring,"they will obey without a question."
Knakias went away with many a deep obeisance, and the prince went on:"Now, my mother, I have a great petition to ask of you."
"I guess what it is," said Rhodopis, with a smile. "You wish yourmarriage to be hastened, and I see that I dare not oppose your wish."
"If I'm not mistaken," said Kallias, "we have a remarkable case here.Two people are in great peril, and find that very peril a matter ofrejoicing."
"Perhaps you are right there," said Bartja, pressing Sappho's handunperceived. And then, turning to Rhodopis again, he begged her to delayno longer in trusting her dearest treasure to his care,--a treasurewhose worth he knew so well.
Rhodopis rose, she laid her right hand on Sappho's head and her left onBartja's, and said: "There is a myth which tells of a blue lake in theland of roses; its waves are sometimes calm and gentle, but at othersthey rise into a stormy flood; the taste of its waters is partly sweetas honey, partly bitter as gall. Ye will learn the meaning of thislegend in the marriage-land of roses. Ye will pass calm and stormy-sweetand bitter hours there. So long as thou wert a child, Sappho, thy lifepassed on like a cloudless spring morning, but when thou becam'st amaiden, and hadst learnt to love, thine heart was opened to admit pain;and during the long months of separation pain was a frequent guestthere. This guest will seek admission as long as life lasts. Bartja, itwill be your duty to keep this intruder away from Sappho, as far as itlies in your power. I know the world. I could perceive,--even beforeCroesus told me of your generous nature,--that you were worthy of mySappho. This justified me in allowing you to eat the quince with her;this induces me now to entrust to you, without fear, what I have alwayslooked upon as a sacred pledge committed to my keeping. Look uponher too only as a loan. Nothing is more dangerous to love, than acomfortable assurance of exclusive possession--I have been blamed forallowing such an inexperienced child to go forth into your distantcountry, where custom is so unfavorable to women; but I know what loveis;--I know that a girl who loves, knows no home but the heart of herhusband;--the woman whose heart has been touched by Eros no misfortunebut that of separation from him whom she has chosen. And besides, Iwould ask you, Kallias and Theopompus, is the position of your own wivesso superior to that of the Persian women? Are not the women of Ionia andAttica forced to pass their lives in their own apartments, thankfulif they are allowed to cross the street accompanied by suspicious anddistrustful slaves? As to the custom which prevails in Persia of takingmany wives, I have no fear either for Bartja or Sappho. He will be morefaithful to his wife than are many Greeks, for he will find in her whatyou are obliged to seek, on the one hand in marriage, on the other inthe houses of the cultivated Hetaere:--in the former, housewives andmothers, in the latter, animated and enlivening intellectual society.Take her, my son. I give her to you as an old warrior gives his sword,his best possession, to his stalwart son:--he gives it gladly and withconfidence. Whithersoever she may go she will always remain a Greek, andit comforts me to think that in her new home she will bring honor tothe Greek name and friends to our nation, Child, I thank thee for thosetears. I can command my own, but fate has made me pay an immeasurableprice for the power of doing so. The gods have heard your oath, my nobleBartja. Never forget it, but take her as your own, your friend, yourwife. Take her away as soon as your friends return; it is not thewill of the gods that the Hymenaeus should be sung at Sappho's nuptialrites."
As she said these words she laid Sappho's hand in Bartja's, embraced herwith passionate tenderness, and breathed a light kiss on the forehead ofthe young Persian. Then turning to her Greek friends, who stood by, muchaffected:
"That was a quiet nuptial ceremony," she said; "no songs, notorch-light! May their union be so much the happier. Melitta, bring thebride's marriage-ornaments, the bracelets and necklaces which lie in thebronze casket on my dressing-table, that our darling may give her handto her lord attired as beseems a future princess."
"Yes, and do not linger on the way," cried Kallias, whose oldcheerfulness had now returned. "Neither can we allow the niece of thegreatest of Hymen's poets to be married without the sound of song andmusic. The young husband's house is, to be sure, too far off for ourpurpose, so we will suppose that the andronitis is his dwelling.
[The Hymenaeus was the wedding-song, so called because of its refrain "Hymen O! Hymenae' O!" The god of marriage, Hymen, took his origin and name from the hymn, was afterwards decked out richly with myths, and finally, according to Catullus, received a seat on Mount Helikon with the Muses.]
[A Greek bride was beautifully adorned for her marriage, and her bridesmaids received holiday garments. Homer, Odyss. VI. 27. Besides which, after the bath, which both bride and bridegroom were obliged to take, she was anointed with sweet-smelling essences. Thucyd. II. 15. Xenoph. Symp. II. 3.]
"We will conduct the maiden thither by the centre door, and there wewill enjoy a merry wedding-feast by the family hearth. Here, slavegirls,come and form yourselves into two choruses. Half of your number takethe part of the youths; the other half that of the maidens, and sing usSappho's Hymenaeus. I will be the torch-bearer; that dignity is mine byright. You must know, Bartja, that my family has an hereditary rightto carry the torches at the Eleusinian mysteries and we are thereforecalled Daduchi or torch-bearers. Ho, slave! see that the door of theandronitis is hung with flowers, and tell your comrades to meet us witha shower of sweetmeats as we enter. That's right, Melitta; why, how didyou manage to get those lovely violet and myrtle marriage-crowns made soquickly? The rain is streaming through the opening above. You see, Hymenhas persuaded Zeus to help him; so that not a single marriage-rite shallbe omitted. You could not take the bath, which ancient custom prescribesfor the bride and bridegroom on the morning of their wedding-day, soyou have only to stand here a moment and take the rain of Zeus as anequivalent for the waters of the sacred spring. Now, girls, begin yoursong. Let the maidens bewail the rosy days of childhood, and the youthspraise the lot of those who marry young."
Five well-practised treble voices now began to sing the chorus ofvirgins in a sad and plaintive tone.
Suddenly the song was hushed, for a flash of lightning had shone downthrough the aperture beneath which Kallias had stationed the brideand bridegroom, followed by a loud peal of thunder. "See!" cried theDaduchus, raising his hand to heaven, "Zeus himself has taken thenuptial-torch, and sings the Hymenaeus for his favorites."
At dawn the next morning, Sappho and Bartja left the house and wentinto the garden. After the violent storm which had raged all night, thegarden was looking as fresh and cheerful in the morning light as thefaces of the newly-married pair.
Bartja's anxiety for his friends, whom he had almost forgotten in theexcitement of his marriage, had roused them so early.
The garden had been laid out on an artificial hill, which overlookedthe inundated plain. Blue and white lotus-blossoms floated on the smoothsurface of the water, and vast numbers of water-birds hovered along theshores or over the flood. Flocks of white, herons appeared on thebanks, their plumage gleaming like glaciers on distant mountain peaks;a solitary eagle circled upward on its broad pinions through thepure morning air, turtle-doves nestled in the tops of the palm-trees;pelicans and ducks fluttered screaming away, whenever a gay sailappeared. The air had been cooled by the storm, a fresh north-wind wasblowing, and, notwithstanding the early hour, there were a number ofboats sailing over the deluged fields before the breeze. The songs ofthe rowers, the plashing strokes of their oars and the cries of thebirds, all contributed to enliven the watery landscape of the Nilevalley, which, though varied in color, was somewhat monotonous.
Bartja and Sappho stood leaning on each other by the low wall which ranround Rhodopis' garden, exchanging tender words and watching the scenebelow, till at last Bartja's quick eye caught sight of a boat makingstraight for the house and coming on fast by the help of the breeze andpowerful rowers.
A few m
inutes later the boat put in to shore and Zopyrus with hisdeliverers stood before them.
Darius's plan had succeeded perfectly, thanks to the storm, which, byits violence and the unusual time of its appearance, had scaredthe Egyptians; but still there was no time to be lost, as it mightreasonably be supposed that the men of Sais would pursue their fugitivewith all the means at their command.
Sappho, therefore, had to take a short farewell of her grandmother, allthe more tender, however, for its shortness,--and then, led by Rartjaand followed by old Melitta, who was to accompany her to Persia, shewent on board Syloson's boat. After an hour's sail they reached abeautifully-built and fast-sailing vessel, the Hygieia, which belongedto Kallias.
He was waiting for them on board his trireme. The leave-taking betweenhimself and his young friends was especially affectionate. Bartja hunga heavy and costly gold chain round the neck of the old man in tokenof his gratitude, while Syloson, in remembrance of the dangers they hadshared together, threw his purple cloak over Darius' shoulders. It wasa master-specimen of Tynan dye, and had taken the latter's fancy. Dariusaccepted the gift with pleasure, and said, as he took leave: "You mustnever forget that I am indebted to you, my Greek friend, and as soon aspossible give me an opportunity of doing you service in return."
"You ought to come to me first, though," exclaimed Zopyrus, embracinghis deliverer. "I am perfectly ready to share my last gold piece withyou; or what is more, if it would do you a service, to sit a whole weekin that infernal hole from which you saved me. Ah! they're weighinganchor. Farewell, you brave Greek. Remember me to the flower-sisters,especially to the pretty, little Stephanion, and tell her herlong-legged lover won't be able to plague her again for some time tocome at least. And then, one more thing; take this purse of gold for thewife and children of that impertinent fellow, whom I struck too hard inthe heat of the fray."
The anchors fell rattling on to the deck, the wind filled the sails,the Trieraules--[Flute-player to a trireme]--took his flute and set themeasure of the monotonous Keleusma or rowing-song, which echoed againfrom the hold of the vessel. The beak of the ship bearing the statue ofHygieia, carved in wood, began to move. Bartja and Sappho stood at thehelm and gazed towards Naukratis, until the shores of the Nile vanishedand the green waves of the Hellenic sea splashed their foam over thedeck of the trireme.