A furious expression flickered over Laet’s face. She controlled it quickly. ‘My past is no concern of yours. It’s time for Aristophanes to make his decision.’
She strode back towards the stage.
‘Well?’ she demanded.
Everyone looked towards Aristophanes. He turned to Bremusa, hoping for some help, but while Bremusa seemed quite calm, she had no advice for him. He could choose either to win the play competition, or win peace for Athens.
‘Zeus damn it,’ he muttered. ‘We can’t risk the peace conference failing. I suppose you’d better go into the judges’ room.’
Laet nodded.
‘Wait,’ called Aristophanes.
‘Yes?’
‘If we make peace now, will Athens return to her former prosperity?’
‘I’m not an oracle. The oracles are coming to an end. Am I the only one who realises that?’
She walked off. Aristophanes turned to Bremusa. ‘Can’t you kill her or something?’
‘No. I’m not allowed. Sorry.’
Socrates emerged from the wings. Theodota followed. Athens’ most beautiful and wealthy hetaera trailing around after Athens’ ugliest philosopher. Aristophanes scowled. He’d never understand it.
‘What just happened?’ asked Socrates.
‘Athens made peace.’
‘Oh. That’s good. Why does no one look happy?’
Bremusa took Aristophanes’ hand. ‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘You still triumphed. Everyone saw it. You don’t need the prize.’
Aristophanes’ strength deserted him. He sat down on the edge of the stage.
‘Triumph,’ he mumbled. ‘Ha.’
Pindar
When toils have been resolved, festivity is the best physician;
Songs, the skilful daughters of the Muses, soothe with their touch
Words of praise married to the music of the lyre
Will comfort more than the hot spring.
Words live longer than deeds
When, by the Graces’ assent,
They rise up out of the deep heart.
Bremusa
Next day, Bremusa watched as a crowd of Athenians made their way to the assembly on Pnyx hill. She hurried towards the agora, now nearly empty. Close to the Altar of the Twelve Gods she concealed herself behind a large statue of a discus thrower. As she crouched there, hidden from sight, she noticed how deftly the sculptor had reproduced the lines of the athlete’s calf muscles. For the first time, she felt some appreciation of the sculptor’s art.
That must take a lot of skill.
She peered between the statue’s legs as Idomeneus came into view, striding into the market, his great black beard marking him out as an ancient warrior, the sword on his back catching the rays of the sun. Bremusa had known he’d buy supplies for Laet, before they left the city. She couldn’t let him leave Athens without challenging him. Her honour would not allow it. Yet she knew she couldn’t defeat him in face to face combat.
Laet’s work was done. Bremusa wondered if the people who’d brought her here were pleased with the results. She doubted that Laet would care; she’d amused herself for a while.
As Idomeneus came near, two children suddenly dashed into his path. Young Plato and Xenophon, rolling a wooden hoop along the ground. They shouted and laughed, absorbed in their game. So absorbed were they that they failed to notice Idomeneus, or so it seemed. They crashed into him, the eight-year-old and nine-year-old hitting one leg each and making the Cretan warrior stagger, just for a second.
Bremusa emerged from her hiding place and leapt towards him. She’d hired the children to distract him and they’d done it admirably. Before Idomeneus knew what was happening, she’d grabbed him from behind and had her knife at his throat, touching the skin.
‘Move and I’ll kill you,’ she said.
‘What is this?’
‘This is me defeating you in combat. I could kill you now.’
‘You think jumping out from behind and putting a knife at my throat is defeating me in combat?’
‘Yes.’
Bremusa had a firm grip of Idomeneus’s tunic. He couldn’t turn round, or move at all, without her knife slitting his throat.
‘I never knew an Amazon to act so dishonourably.’
‘I just learned some strategy, Idomeneus. Like the Greeks at Troy. And now, by letting you live, my defeat is avenged, and my honour is restored.’
Bremusa released him. Perhaps Idomeneus would have drawn his sword to fight, but they were interrupted by a low-pitched laugh.
‘Well, Idomeneus. She did seem to best you. For a moment, anyway.’ Laet held out her hand. A stallholder hurried over and placed some grapes in her palm. She put one in her mouth.
‘I never expected my visit to Athens to be so entertaining,’ she said. ‘But we must be off. I’m being paid to curse Melos, and I have something very bad in mind for them.’
Laet wrinkled her nose. ‘These children, they do give me a headache. Come, Idomeneus.’
Idomeneus glared at Bremusa with loathing, but followed his mistress out of the agora. Nearby, a stallholder was looking confused, wondering why she’d just given away free grapes to a women she didn’t know.
Xenophon and Plato were looking on. They’d done their task well. The Amazon thanked them, awkwardly. She rarely knew what to say to children. ‘What are you going to be when you grow up?’
‘A warrior,’ said Plato.
‘A philosopher,’ said Xenophon.
‘I wish you luck.’ Bremusa handed over the silver she’d promised. They ran off, rolling their wooden hoop in front of them.
The Assembly
Nicias was in fine form as he addressed the crowd, speaking much less hesitantly than he normally did. He had good news. It was already known to everyone there, but that didn’t take away from Nicias’s glory in being the one to announce it.
‘… and I hereby confirm that the peace treaty has been signed by myself, Nicias, along with the rest of our delegation, those signatories being Lampon, Isthmonicus, Laches, Euthydemus, Pythodorus, Hagnon, Myrtilus, Lamachus…’
The crowd listened attentively. The oppressive heat that hung over the city had vanished overnight. Spring had resumed and the mood was positive. The war was finally ending. There were only a few glum faces in the crowd. Hyperbolus was one, and Euphranor another. Then there was Aristophanes, who seemed not to be paying attention at all. He sat with his eyes fixed on the ground, apparently unhappy, despite the good news.
‘… the signatories from Sparta being Damagetus, Chionis, Metagenes, Acanthus, Daithus, Ischagoras…’ continued Nicias.
When he’d finished reading out the list of names, he paused, then raised one hand as he spoke to the assembly.
‘The war has now ended!’
The cheering was loud and prolonged as the Athenians contemplated the joys of returning to their normal lives. Those farmers who’d been shut behind the city walls for safety were particularly loud in their applause. Now they could return to their farms. Fields would be tilled, vines and figs planted, and goats sent out to pasture.
Oh sweet peace, wealth-giver to mortals
Aristophanes stared at his feet. He barely heard the cheering. He couldn’t believe that he’d been cheated out of first prize again.
The Trident
Polykarpos, landlord of the Trident, had rarely seen trade pick up so quickly. There was a mass of business waiting to be done in Athens. As soon as peace was declared, farms, mines and workshops all across the city-state hurried to restart their business. The port was bustling again, and fishing boats were already heading out to sea. Farmers, on their way to market to buy seeds, stopped in at the tavern for a swift drink, meeting friends whose business mending fishing nets was suddenly active again. Potters were busy at their wheels and blacksmiths were hammering out ploughshares, earning money, calling in to the tavern for a reviving drink between shifts. The prostitutes, back in business again, looked much happier, a
nd there were raucous conversations between them and the market women who suddenly had goods to sell.
In the agora they were joking that Hyperbolus and Aristophanes were the only two unhappy men in Athens.
A plague on them anyway, thought Polykarpos. I’ve got no time for politicians. Or artists.
Laet
‘That was all a waste of time.’ Idomeneus had been in a poor temper ever since they’d left Athens. It wasn’t helped by carrying their baggage up the steep hills on their journey north.
‘I wouldn’t say that, Idomeneus. I was well paid.’
‘But Athens made peace, didn’t they?’
Laet smiled. ‘I repeat, I was well paid. I provide an excellent service, but I offer no guarantees. Why do you care that they made peace, anyway?’
‘I hate Athens. I’d rather see them swept away.’
‘Really? I didn’t dislike them too much. Some of them anyway. Socrates for one. And young Luxos, if only because I wish someone had written a poem like that about me. I wonder what life has in store for him now he’s become entangled with the immortals? He may find it stranger than he imagined.’
‘To Hades with them all,’ grunted Idomeneus.
‘Idomeneus, you are tiresome when you’re in a bad mood. Don’t worry about Athens. My spirit will linger there. They’ll make plenty of bad decisions in future. Disastrous decisions, very likely.’
Laet looked west. ‘Have you ever been in Syracuse?’
‘Syracuse? Why would we go all the way there?’
‘Just a notion. I’ve always enjoyed travelling.’
Luxos
Muses, daughters of Zeus, let us hymn the blessed ones with immortal songs.
At Theodota’s house, Luxos was in fine voice, declaiming grandly. He had, it was agreed, a very fine voice for someone of such slender stature. His lyre playing was excellent. The more discerning among his audience could tell that his instrument wasn’t the best, and showed obvious signs of recent repair, but he could play it well, and he got a good tone. If he did make one or two fancy flourishes that purists might not like, well, he was young, and they could make allowances.
Luxos stood at one end of the room, beside a splendid statue of a nymph, sculpted by Phidias. It was one of the few pieces by the famous sculptor to be found in private hands. Theodota had never actually confirmed that Phidias had given it to her just before he passed away, nine years ago, for services rendered when she was fifteen, but it was commonly supposed to be the case.
Theodota sat on a gilded chair, listening appreciatively to Luxos. She’d heard all of Greece’s most famous poets. Many of them had obliged her with private readings. She’d declared Luxos to be a very talented young man, and his reputation, already high after his performance at the theatre, had risen even further. Beside Theodota were several other elegant courtesans, and behind them their servants. Metris was perched on a table, swinging her legs, and the nymph’s presence brought an added cheer to the room.
As Luxos finished his poem, there were smiles and applause. Various women, including Mnesarete, headed straight for him, but they were beaten there by Metris, who did not intend sharing him for the moment.
Aristophanes had complained to Theodota about Mnesarete’s treachery, but the hetaera had laughed it off. ‘Treachery and bribery are mainstays of Athenian politics,’ she’d told him. ‘The assembly sets a very bad example. You can’t blame my maid if she decided to join in.’
Metris
In the middle of the night, Luxos and Bremusa, appearing from different directions, were greeted by Metris at the edge of the agora.
‘Hello! I’ve asked you both here for a reason. Not that I need a reason, of course. It’s always lovely to see you.’
Bremusa was more sympathetic towards Metris now their mission was concluded, but regarded her suspiciously out of habit. Aristophanes had invited the Amazon to visit him; she wondered if the nymph knew that.
‘Why are we here?’
Metris pointed towards an ancient piece of stone.
‘The Altar of Pity. Laet ruined it. Stonemasons repaired it, and the head of all religion in Athens came to consecrate it. But it isn’t working properly.’ Her face fell. ‘They couldn’t really fix it. Laet was too powerful.’
She laid her hand on the altar and sighed. ‘No one can pray here properly any more. It’s such a shame.’
Bremusa was puzzled. ‘Is it really that important? Athens is full of temples. You can hardly move without finding somewhere to pray.’
‘This is the Altar of Pity,’ said Metris. ‘The place of last resort. When everything else fails, you can come here. I thought it was a nice thing to have.’
‘I suppose so.’
Luxos liked the altar too. He’d known family members use it, back when he had a family.
‘I tried to make it better,’ continued Metris. ‘But I couldn’t. So I asked Goddess Athena if she could help. She couldn’t either. She said the altar was older than her, and she had no power over it.’
‘Then what do you have in mind?’
‘Athena suggested I gather up people with spiritual power and try again.’
Bremusa raised her eyebrows. ‘Is that meant to include me? My spiritual power would be around zero, I imagine.’
‘I’m sure it’s not,’ said Metris. ‘You’ve been an Amazon for hundreds of years and you’ve lived on Mount Olympus. You must have something inside you or that wouldn’t have happened. And Luxos, I’m sure you’re spiritual. You write such lovely poems.’
Luxos shook his head. ‘I’m not that good a poet. And I’m too young. You need to be old and experienced before you can write anything that powerful.’
‘We have to try. Don’t you know anything that would be appropriate?’
Luxos, for once, looked uncertain on the subject of poetry.
‘Isn’t there some hymn to Mother Earth, oldest of beings?’ said Bremusa.
‘Yes, I know that.’
‘I’m sure that will be perfect,’ said Metris. ‘Everyone put your hands on the altar while Luxos recites the poem.’
Beautiful Earth, mother of all, eldest of all beings.
Who sustains all creatures
All that walk upon the bountiful land,
All that are in the seas,
And all that fly.
Through you, O queen, we are blessed in our children
And blessed in our harvests,
Happy is the man whom you delight to honour!
His land is covered with corn, his pastures are full of cattle,
His daughters skip merrily over the soft flowers of the field.
Thus is it with those whom you honour, O holy goddess.
Hail, Mother of the gods, wife of starry Heaven.
Luxos and Bremusa felt a great warmth spreading from Metris’s hands, through theirs, and into the altar. Metris looked down. At the foot of the altar were one buttercup and one daisy. She nodded and smiled. Not her normal, whole-hearted smile, but something more thoughtful.
‘That’s a little better. We haven’t fully repaired it, but it’s better. It might still work. Anyone coming here as a last resort might still find help.’
Aristophanes
Aristophanes was suffering from insomnia. He hadn’t slept properly since the last night of the Dionysia. The crushing gloom may have lifted from the city but it still afflicted the playwright. He thought of the Spartans, riding home with news that they’d signed the treaty. He wondered if they’d be pleased. Most of them would be, he supposed. Even Spartans didn’t like to fight all the time. Most of Athens was certainly pleased. Hyperbolus and his cronies were defeated for the moment, and keeping a low profile in the face of public mockery. Even their discomfiture didn’t bring Aristophanes any pleasure. He hadn’t won the competition. He’d been awarded second place. Just like last year, when his play Wasps had been placed second, even though it was clearly the best comedy at the festival.
He couldn’t believe it had happe
ned again. Peace had been placed second. Eupolis had won, with a play which was inferior to his in every way.
Aristophanes sighed loudly. He felt dull, fatigued, yet still unable to sleep. He paced around the room, then looked out of the window at the dark streets. He saw a line of torches passing by. A procession, coming from a symposium somewhere. There had been a lot of drinking parties in the past few days. Aristophanes had refused all invitations. Hermogenes was no longer speaking to him. He didn’t care. He was sick of the whole city.
Aristophanes knew he wasn’t being entirely rational. The city had made peace. His play had been instrumental in that. There was good reason for rejoicing.
But why was I the only one who had to suffer? It simply isn’t fair.
He sat down. His eyelids were drooping. He rested his head on his hand and gazed at the table in front of him. There were scrolls there, all blank. Normally he wrote every day, but since the Dionysia he’d been unable to compose a word.
Weariness began to overwhelm him. He experienced a brief, dreamlike feeling, and suddenly the Goddess Athena was standing in front of him. She looked just like Phidias’s great statue of her in the Parthenon, with her robe cascading in folds, her bronze helmet pushed back on her head, and a spear in her hand. Aristophanes froze, incapable of movement. He was scared, though she didn’t seem hostile. Fortunately, he hadn’t insulted her in any of his plays.
The goddess regarded him calmly. ‘Aristophanes. It’s time for you to cheer up.’