"The ensuing day ended the Pythian games; but not the conflict of
the youthful pair; Love was the arbiter, and in the persons of these
his combatants, determined to exhibit his mightiest contest. Towards
the end of the ceremony, when all Greece was looking on, and the
Amphictyons sat as judges; when the races, the wrestlings, and the
boxing matches were over; a herald came forward, and made proclamation
for the men in armour to appear. At that instant the priestess
Chariclea shone out like some fair star at the end of the course; for
she had prevailed with herself, however unfit, to come forth, that she
might comply with the custom of her country: and perhaps not without
a secret hope of seeing Theagenes. She bore a torch in her left hand,
and a branch of palm in her right. At her appearance every eye in the
assembly was turned upon her, but none sooner than that of Theagenes;
for what is so quick as the glance of a lover? He, who perhaps had
heard that it was probable she might come, had his whole mind intent
upon that expectation; and, when she appeared, was not able to contain
himself; but said softly to me, who sat next to him, ''Tis she herself;
'tis Chariclea!' I bid him be silent, and compose himself. And now,
at the summons of the herald, a warrior stood forth; splendidly armed,
of noble air, and distinguished appearance; who had formerly been
victor in many contests, but at this meeting had not engaged in any,
probably because he could not find a competitor; and none now appearing
to oppose him, the Amphyctyons ordered him to retire, the law not
permitting any one to be crowned who had not contended. He begged the
herald might be suffered again to make proclamation, which he did,
calling upon some one to enter the lists.
"Theagenes said to me, 'This man calls upon me.'--'How so?' said
I,--'He does indeed,' he replied; 'for no other, while I am present and
behold it, shall receive a crown from the hands of Chariclea.'--'But do
you not consider the disgrace, if you should fail of success?'--'Will
any one outrun me in speed and in desire to see and be near
Chariclea?[1] To whom will the sight of her add swifter wings and
more impetuous speed? You know that the painters make Love winged,
signifying thereby how rapid are the motions of his captives; and, were
I inclined to boast, I could say that no one hitherto has been able to
excel me in swiftness.'--And immediately he sprang up, came forward,
gave in his name and family, and took his allotted place.
"He stood there in complete armour, expecting with trembling eagerness
the signal of the trumpet, and scarce able to wait for it. It was a
noble and all-engrossing spectacle, as when Homer[2] describes Achilles
contending on the banks of Scamander. The whole assembly was moved
at his unexpected appearance, and felt as much interested in his
success as they would have done for their own; such power has beauty
to conciliate the minds of men. But Chariclea was affected more than
all: I watched her countenance, and saw the changes of it. And when
the herald proclaimed the names of the racers--Ormenus the Arcadian,
and Theagenes the Thessalian--when they sprang forward from the goal,
and ran together with a swiftness almost too rapid for the eye to
follow--then the maiden was unable to contain herself; her limbs
trembled, and her feet quivered, as if they could assist the course of
her lover, on whom her whole soul was intent. The spectators were on
the very tiptoe of expectation, and full of solicitude for the issue;
and I more than all, who had now determined to regard Theagenes as my
own son."
"No wonder," said Cnemon, "that those present were in an agony of
expectation; when I, even now, am trembling for Theagenes. Deliver me,
therefore, I beseech you, as soon as you can, out of my suspense."
"When they had not finished more than half their course," continued
Calasiris, "Theagenes turning a little, and casting a stern glance at
Ormenus, lifted up his shield on high, and stretching out his neck, and
fixing his eyes intently on Chariclea, flew like an arrow to the goal,
leaving the Arcadian far behind him. When he reached the maiden, he
fell upon her bosom; not, I imagine, without design, but in appearance
as if unable to check on a sudden the rapidity of his pace. When he
took the palm from her hand, I observed he kissed it."
"You have relieved my mind," said Cnemon; "I rejoice that he has both
obtained the victory, and kissed his mistress. But what happened
afterwards?"--"You are not only insatiable of hearing, Cnemon, but
invincible by sleep; a great part of the night is now spent, and you
are still wakeful, still attentive to my tedious story."--"I am at feud
with Homer,[3] father, for saying that love, as well as everything
else, brings satiety in the end; for my part I am never tired either
of feeling it myself, or hearing of its influence on others; and
lives there the man of so iron and adamantine an heart, as not to be
enchanted with listening to the loves of Theagenes and Chariclea,
though the story were to last a year? Go on, therefore, I beseech you."
"Theagenes," continued Calasiris, "was crowned, proclaimed victor,
and conducted home with universal applause. But Chariclea was utterly
vanquished; the second sight of Theagenes fixed deep that love which
the first had inspired; for the mutual looks of lovers revive and
redouble their passion; sight inflames the imagination, as fuel
increases fire. She went home, and spent a night as bad or worse than
the former one. I, too, was sleepless as before, ruminating how I
should conceal our flight, and into what country it was the intention
of the gods that I should conduct my young companions. I conjectured,
from the words of the oracle, that it was to be by sea:
----'and oceans past,
In regions torrid shall arrive at last;'
but I could think only of one method to obtain some information whither
I ought to take them; and that was, if I could gain a sight of the
fillet which was exposed with Chariclea; on which, as Charicles said,
some particulars relating to her were written. It was probable that I
might learn from thence the names of her parents, and of her country,
which I already guessed at; and it was thither, most likely, that the
fates would direct her course. I went, therefore, in the morning, to
the apartment of Chariclea; I found all her servants in tears, and
Charicles in the deepest distress. I inquired into the cause of this
agitation.
"'My daughter's malady,' he replied, 'increases visibly; she has
passed a wretched night, worse than the preceding one.'--Upon this
I desired that he, and all who were present, would leave the room;
and that some one would procure for me a tripod, laurel, fire, and
frankincense; and that no one would disturb me till I should call for
them. Charicles ordered everything to be disposed as I desired. When I
was left at liberty, I began a kind of scenical representation; I burnt
my incense, I muttered a few prayers, and with the branch of laurel
stroked Chariclea several times from head to foot. At last, after
having played a hundred fooleries with myself and the maiden, I began
yawning, grew tired of the mummery, and ceased. She smiled, shook her
head, and signified that I was in an error, and had entirely mistaken
the nature of her disorder. I approached nearer to her, and bid her be
of good cheer, for her malady was by no means, uncommon or difficult
of cure--that she was undoubtedly fascinated, perhaps when she was
present at the procession, but most probably when she presided at the
race--that I suspected who had fascinated her--that my suspicions fell
upon Theagenes, who ran the armour race; for I had observed with what
an intent and ardent eye he gazed upon her.
"'Whether he looked at me or not,' she replied, 'say no more of him;
yet tell me who is he, and whence does he come? I saw many admiring
him.'--I told her that she had already heard from the herald that
he was a Thessalian--that he himself claimed to be of the family of
Achilles; and, I thought, not without great appearance of truth: for
his beauty and stature bespoke him a descendant from that hero. Yet he
was not, like[4] him, insolent or arrogant, but possessed an elevated
mind, tempered with sweetness; 'and though he has an evil eye, and has
fascinated you, he suffers worse torments than he has inflicted.'
"'Father,' said she, 'I am obliged to you for the compassion you
express for me; but do not wish ill to one who perhaps has not
committed any wrong. My malady is not fascination, but, I think, of
another kind.'--'Why do you conceal it then, my daughter, and not
tell it freely, that you may meet with some relief? Consider me as a
father to you, in age at least, and more in good-will. Am not I well
known to, and the intimate friend of, Charicles? Tell me the cause of
your disorder: put confidence in me; I swear I will not betray it.
Speak freely, and do not increase your sufferings by concealing them:
there is no disease, which when easily known, is not easily cured; but
that which is become inveterate by time is almost incurable--silence
nourishes anguish; what is disclosed admits of consolation and
relief.'--After a pause, in which her countenance betrayed the various
agitations of her mind, she said, 'Suffer me to continue silent to-day,
I will be more explicit hereafter; if the art of divination, in which
you are skilled, has not already discovered to you all I have to tell
you.'
"Upon this I arose and took my leave, hinting to the maiden the
necessity of overcoming her modesty and reserve. Charicles met me.
'What have you to tell me?' said he. 'All good news,' I replied.
'To-morrow your daughter shall be cured of her complaint, and
something else shall happen which you greatly desire; in the meantime,
however, it may not be amiss to send for a physician:' and having said
this, I retired, that he might ask me no more questions.
"I had not gone far, when I saw Theagenes wandering about the precincts
of the temple, talking to himself, and seeming satisfied if he could
only see the place where Chariclea dwelt. Turning aside, I passed by
as if I had not observed him; but he cried out, 'Calasiris, I rejoice
to see you! listen to me; I have been long waiting for you.' I turned
suddenly. 'My handsome Theagenes,' said I, 'I did not observe you.'
'How can he be handsome,' he replied, 'who cannot please Chariclea?'
I pretended to be angry. 'Will you not cease,' I said, 'to dishonour
me and my art, which has already worked upon her, and compelled her to
love you? and she now desires, above all things, to see you.' 'To see
me!' he exclaimed; 'what is it you tell me? why do not you instantly
lead me to her:' and immediately he began advancing. I caught hold of
his robe: 'Hold,' I cried, 'however famous you are for speed, this is
not a business to be ventured upon in haste; it requires consideration
and management, and many preparations, in order to ensure success and
safety. You must not think to bear off by force so rich a prize. Do
not you know that her father is one of the principal men of Delphi;
and that such an attempt would here incur a capital punishment?' 'I
regard not death,' he replied, 'if I can possess Chariclea; however,
if you think it better, let us ask her in marriage of her father. I am
not unworthy of his alliance.' 'We should not obtain her,' I answered;
'not that there can be any objection to you, but Charicles has long ago
promised her to his sister's son.' 'He shall have no reason to rejoice
in his good fortune,' said Theagenes. 'No one, while I am alive,
shall make Chariclea his bride; my hand and sword have not yet so far
forgot their office.' 'Moderate your passion,' I replied; 'there is no
occasion for your sword; only be guided by me, and do as I shall direct
you. At present retire, and avoid being seen often in public with me;
but visit me sometimes, quietly and in private.' He went away quite
cast down.
"On the morrow Charicles met me: as soon as he saw me he ran up to
me, and repeatedly kissed my head, crying out, 'How great is the force
of wisdom and friendship! You have accomplished the great work. The
impregnable is taken. The invincible is vanquished. Chariclea is in
love!'
"At this I began to arch my eyebrows: I put on a consequential air, and
proudly paced the room. 'No marvel,' said I, 'that she has not been
able to resist even the first application of my spells, and yet I have
hitherto employed only some of the weakest of them. But how came you
acquainted with what you are rejoicing at?' 'According to your advice,'
said he, 'I sent for some physicians of whom I had a high opinion.
I took them to visit my daughter, promising them large fees if they
could afford her any relief. As soon as they entered her apartment they
inquired into the cause of her complaint. She turned from them, made no
reply to their inquiries, and kept repeating a verse from Homer,[5] the
sense of which is,--
"Achilles, Peleus' son, thou flower of Greeks."
At length the sagacious Acestinus (perhaps you know him) seized her
unwilling hand, hoping to discover by her pulse the movements of her
heart. He felt it, and, after some consideration, said, "Ο Charicles,
it is in vain you call upon us for assistance; the leech's art can here
be of no use." "My God," cried I, "what is it you say? My daughter is
dying, and you give me no hope." "Compose yourself," he replied, "and
attend to me;" and taking me aside he thus addressed me:---
"'"Our art professes to heal only the disorders of the body, not those
of the mind, except only when the mind suffers with the afflicted
body; when one is cured the other is relieved. Your daughter certainly
labours under a malady, but it is not a corporeal one. She has no
redundant humours, no head-ache, no fever, no distemper which has its
origin in the body--this I can venture to pronounce." I besought him,
if he knew what really ailed her, that he would tell me. At last he
said, "Does she not know herself that the malady is a mental one--that
it is, in one word, love? Do you not see how her swelled eyes, her
unsettled look, her pale countenance, betray the wounded heart? Her
thoughts wander, her discourse is unconnected, she gets no sleep, and
visibly falls away; some relief must be sought for, but he alone for
whom she pines can, I think, afford it." Having so said, he took his
leave. I hastened to you, as to a god and preserver, who alone have
it in your power, as both I and my daughter acknowledge, to do us
good. For when I was pressing her, in the most affectionate manner, to
discover to me the cause of her complaint, she answered that she knew
not what was the matter with her; this only she knew, that Calasiris
alone could heal her, and besought me to call you to her; from which I
perceive that she has the greatest opinion of, and confidence in, your
wisdom.'
"'Since you have found out that she is in love,' I replied, 'can you
conjecture with whom?' 'No, by Apollo,' said he; 'how should I discover
that? I wish with all my heart it may be with Alcamenes, my sister's
son. I have long destined him for her spouse, if my wishes can have
weight with her.' I told him it was easy to make the experiment, by
bringing the young man into her presence. He seemed to approve of this
and went away.
"Soon after I met him in the market-place. 'I have very disagreeable
news,' said he, 'my daughter is certainly possessed, she behaves in
so strange a manner. I introduced Alcamenes to her, as you desired;
and he had taken care about his personal appearance, but she, as if
she had seen the Gorgon's head, or anything more frightful, gave a
piercing shriek, turned her face aside, and, grasping her neck with
both her hands, protested that she would strangle herself, if we did
not instantly leave the room. This, you may imagine, we hastened to do
upon seeing such monstrously strange conduct. And we again entreat you
to save her life, and to fulfil, if possible, our wishes.'
"'O Charicles,' I replied, 'you were not mistaken in saying your
daughter was possessed. She is, indeed, beset by those powers which
I was obliged to employ against her. They are very potent, and are
compelling her to that from which her nature and constitution is
averse. But it seems to me that some opposing deity counteracts my
measures, and is fighting against my ministers; wherefore it is
necessary that I should see the fillet which you told me was exposed
with your daughter, and which you had preserved with the other tokens:
I fear it may contain some witcheries and magic which work upon her
mind, the contrivance of an enemy, who wishes her to continue all her
life single, childless, and averse to love.' Charicles assented to what
Ϊ said, and presently brought me the fillet. I begged and obtained
time to consider it. I took it eagerly with me to my apartment, and
began immediately to read what was written on it. The characters
were Ethiopian;[6] not the common ones, but such as those of royal
birth make use of, which are the same as the sacred writings of the
Egyptians; and this was the tenor of the inscription:--
"'Persina, Queen of Ethiopia, inscribes this, her lament, as a last
gift to an unfortunate daughter, who has not yet obtained a name, and
is known to her only by the pangs she cost.'
"I shuddered, Cnemon, when I read the name of Persina; however, I read
on as follows:---
"'I call the Sun to witness, the author of my race, that I do not
expose you, my child, and withdraw you from the sight of your father
Hydaspes, on account of any crime of mine. Yet I would willingly
excuse myself to you, if you should happen to survive, and to him who
shall take you up, if propitious providence vouchsafes to send you a
preserver, and relate to the world the cause of my exposing you.
"'Of the gods we count the Sun and Bacchus among our ancestors; of
the heroes, Perseus, Andromeda, and Memnon. Our kings, at various
times, have adorned the royal apartments with pictures of them and
their exploits; some ornamented the porticoes and men's apartments:
our bed-chamber was painted with the story of Perseus and Andromeda.
There, in the tenth year after our marriage, when as yet we had no
child, I retired to repose myself during the scorching heat of noon;
and here your father, Hydaspes, visited me, being warned to do so by
a dream. In consequence of this visit I became pregnant. The whole
time of my pregnancy was a continual feast, a course of sacrifices and
thanksgivings to the gods, for the near prospect, long wished for, of
a successor to the kingdom.[7] But when at last I brought you forth,
a white infant, so different from the Ethiopian hue, I was at no loss
to explain the cause, since, in the embraces of your father,[8] I
had kept my eyes fixed on the picture of Andromeda, whom the painter
had represented just unchained from the rock, and my imagination had
communicated her complexion to my unhappy offspring. But this, though
satisfactory to me, might not have been so to any one else. I dreaded
the being accused of adultery, and the punishment which awaits that
crime: I committed you, therefore, to the wide world and to fortune.
I thought this better even for you than death, or the disgrace of
being called a bastard, one of which fates must have awaited you had
I preserved you at home. I told my husband that my child was dead,
and exposed you privately, placing as many valuables with you as I
could collect, by way of reward for whoever should find and bring you
up. Among other ornaments I put this fillet upon you, stained with my
own blood and containing this melancholy account, which I have traced
out in the midst of tears and sorrows, when I first brought you into
the world, and was overwhelmed with grief and consternation. And, oh
my sweet, yet soon lost daughter, if you should survive, remember
the noble race from which you spring; honour and cultivate virtue
and modesty, the chief recommendations of a woman, and ornaments of
a queen. But, among the jewels which are exposed with you, remember
to inquire after, and claim for yourself a ring which your father
gave me when he sought me in marriage. The circle of it is inscribed
with royal characters, and in its bezil[9] the stone Pantarbè, which
possesses occult and powerful virtue. I have given you this account
in writing, since cruel fortune denies me the happiness of doing it
in person; my pains may have been taken to no purpose, but they may
be of use to you; the designs of fate are inscrutable by mortals.
These words (oh vainly beautiful, and bringing, by your beauty, an
imputation on her who bore you), if you should be preserved, may serve
as a token to discover your race; if otherwise (which may I never
hear!) they will be the funeral lament of an afflicted mother.'
"When I read this, Cnemon, I acknowledged and wondered at the
dispensations of the deities. I felt both pleasure and pain by a new
kind of sensation; I rejoiced and wept at the same time. I was glad
to have discovered what I was before ignorant of, together with the
meaning of the oracle: but I was apprehensive for the event of the
design I was engaged in; and lamented the instability and uncertainty,
the changes and the chances of human life, of which the fortunes of
Chariclea afforded so remarkable an instance. I recollected that, with
her high birth, heiress of the royal family of Ethiopia, she was now
banished to a vast distance from her native country, and reputed as
a bastard. I continued a considerable time in these contemplations,
deploring her present situation, and hardly daring to flatter myself
with better hopes for the future. At length I collected my scattered
spirits, and determined that something must be done, and that quickly.
I went, therefore, to Chariclea; I found her alone, almost overcome by
what she suffered: her mind willing to bear up against her malady; but
her body labouring, yielding, and unable to resist its attacks. When
I had sent out her attendants, and given orders that no one should
disturb us, on pretence that I had some prayers and invocations to make
use of over her, I thus addressed her:
"'It is now time, my dear Chariclea, to disclose to me (as you promised
yesterday) the cause of your sufferings. Hide nothing, I beseech you,
from a man who has the greatest regard for you; and whose art is
besides able to discover whatever you may obstinately endeavour to
conceal.'--She took my hand, kissed it and wept. 'Sage Calasiris,'
said she, 'permit me, I beg of you, to suffer in silence; and do
you, as you have it in your power, discover of yourself the cause
of my disease. Spare me the ignominy of confessing that which it is
shameful to feel, and still more shameful to avow. Whatever I undergo
from my disorder, I suffer more from the thought of my own weakness,
in permitting myself to be overcome by it, and not resisting it at
the beginning. It was always odious to me; the very mention of it
contaminates the chaste ears of a virgin.'
"'I acquiesce, my daughter,' I replied, 'in your silence. I do not
blame your reserve, and that for two reasons. In the first place, I
have no need to be told that which I have before discovered by my art;
and then an unwillingness to speak of a matter of this nature, becomes
well the modesty of your sex. But since you have at last felt love, and
are manifestly smitten by Theagenes (for this the gods have disclosed
to me), know that you are not the first, or the only one, who has
succumbed under this passion. It is common to you with many celebrated
women, and many maidens in other respects most irreproachable; for
love is a very powerful deity, and is said to subdue even the gods[10]
themselves. Consider then what is best to be done in your present
circumstances. If it be the greatest happiness to be free from love,
the next is, when one is taken captive, to regulate it properly: this
you have in your power to do; you can repel the imputation of mere
sensual love, and sanctify it with the honourable and sacred name of
wedlock.'
"When I said this, Cnemon, she showed much agitation, and great drops
of sweat stood on her forehead. It was plain that she rejoiced at what
she heard, but was anxious about the success of her hopes; and ashamed
and blushing at the discovery of her weakness. After a considerable
pause she said,
"'You talk of wedlock, and recommend that, as if it were evident that
my father would agree to it, or the author of my sufferings desire
it.'--'As to the young man, I have not the least doubt; he is more
deeply smitten than yourself, and suffers full as much on your account
as you can do on his. For, as it seems, your souls at their first
encountering knew that they were worthy of each other, and felt a
mutual passion; this passion, out of regard to you, I have heightened
by my art in Theagenes. But he whom you suppose your father, proposes
to give you another husband, Alcamenes, whom you well know.'--'He shall
sooner find Alcamenes a grave, than find him a wife in me,' said she;
'either Theagenes shall be my husband, or I will yield to the fate
which presses upon me. But why do you hint that Charicles is not really
my father?'
"'It is from this that I have my information,' I replied, shewing
her the fillet.--'Where did you get this?' said she, 'or how? for
since I was brought, I hardly know how, from Egypt, Charicles has
kept it safely locked up in a chest lest any accident should happen
to it.'--'How I got it,' I returned, 'you shall hear another time; at
present tell me if you know what is written on it.'--She owned that she
was entirely ignorant of its contents.--'It discovers,' said I, 'your
family, your country, and your fortunes.'--She besought me to disclose
the purport of it; and I interpreted the whole writing to her, word for
word. When she came to know who she was, her spirit seemed to rise, in
conformity to her noble race. She asked me what was to be done at this
conjuncture. I then became more unreserved and explicit in my advice to
her.
"'I have been, my daughter,' said I, 'in Ethiopia; led by the desire
of making myself acquainted with their wisdom. I was known to your
mother Persina, for the royal palace was always open to the learned. I
acquired some reputation there, as I increased my own stock of Egyptian
knowledge by joining it to that of Ethiopia: and when I was preparing
to return home, the queen unbosomed herself to me, and disclosed
everything she knew relative to you, and your birth, exacting from me
first an oath of secrecy. She said she was afraid to confide in any
of the Ethiopian sages; and she earnestly besought me to consult the
gods as to whether you had been fortunately preserved; and if so, into
what part of the world you were: for she could hear no tidings of you
in Ethiopia, after a most diligent inquiry. The goodness of the gods
discovered by their oracles everything to me: and when I told her you
were still alive, and where you were, she was very earnest with me to
seek you out, and induce you to return to your native land; for she
had continued sorrowful and childless ever since you were exposed; and
was ready, if you should appear, to confess to her husband everything
which had happened. And she was inclined to hope that he would now
acknowledge you; having had so long experience of her virtue and good
conduct, and seeing an unexpected prospect arise of a successor to
his family. This she said, and besought me earnestly by the Sun, an
adjuration which no sage dare violate, to do what she desired of me. I
am now here, desirous to execute what I have been so strongly conjured
to do: and though another cause brought me into this country, I esteem
the pains of my wandering well repaid; and give thanks to the gods
that I have found you here, whom I have long been desirous of meeting
with. You know with what care I have cultivated your friendship--that
I concealed whatever I knew concerning you, till I could obtain
possession of this fillet, as a pledge of the truth of my relation. You
may now, if you will be persuaded, leave this country with me, before
you are obliged, by force, to do anything against your inclinations;
for I know that Charicles is taking every measure to bring about your
marriage with Alcamenes. You may return to your country, revisit your
family, and be restored to your parents accompanied by Theagenes,
your intended husband; and you may change your life of exile and
uncertainty for that of a princess, who shall hereafter reign with him
whom she most loves, if we may place confidence in the predictions of
the gods.' I then put her in mind of the oracle of Apollo, and gave
her my explanation of it. She had heard of it before, for it was much
talked of, and its meaning inquired into. She paused at this: at last
she said, 'Since such, you think, is the will of the gods, and I am
inclined to believe your interpretation, what, Father, will be best
for me to do?'--'You must pretend,' said I, 'that you are willing to
marry Alcamenes.'--'But this is odious to me,' she replied; 'it is
disgraceful to give even a feigned promise to any but Theagenes: but
since I have given myself up to your direction, and that of the gods,
how far will this dissimulation lead me, so that I be not entangled in
any disagreeable circumstances by it?'--'The event will show you,'
said I; 'to tell you beforehand might cause some hesitation upon your
part, whereas suddenness in action will bring with it confidence and
boldness. Only follow my advice: seem, for the present, to agree to the
marriage which Charicles has so much at heart; he will not proceed in
it without my knowledge and direction.' She wept, yet promised to be
guided by me, and I took my leave of her.
"I had scarcely got out of the chamber when I met Charicles, with a
very downcast and sorrowful air.--'You are a strange man,' said I:
'when you ought to rejoice, sacrifice, and give thanks to the gods,
for having obtained what you so long have wished for; when Chariclea
at last, with great difficulty, and the utmost exertions of my art and
wisdom, has been brought to yield to love, and to desire marriage;
you go about sad and drooping, and are ready to shed tears. What can
be the matter with you?'--'I have but too much reason for sorrow,' he
replied, 'when the delight of my eyes, before she can be married, as
you say she is inclined to be, is threatened to be hurried away from
me, if any faith is to be given to dreams, which on several nights,
and particularly on the last, have tormented me. Methought I saw an
eagle take his flight from the hand of Apollo, and stooping down
suddenly upon me, snatch my daughter, alas! out of my very bosom, and
bear her away to some extreme corner of the earth, full of dusky and
shadowy forms. I could not discover what became of them; for soon
the vast intermediate interval hid them from my sight.' I instantly
conjectured what this dream portended; but I endeavoured to comfort
him, and to prevent his having the smallest suspicion of the real
truth. 'Considering that you are a priest,' I said, 'and are dedicated
to that deity who is most famous for oracles, you seem to me not to
have much skill in the interpretation of dreams. This darkly signifies
the approaching marriage of your child, and the eagle represents her
intended spouse: and when Apollo intimates this to you, and that it
is from his hands that your daughter is to receive a husband, you
seem displeased, and wrest the dream to an ominous interpretation.
Wherefore, my dear Charicles, let us be cautious what we say; let us
accommodate ourselves to the will of the gods, and use our utmost
endeavours to persuade the maiden.'
"'But how shall we manage,' he replied, 'to render her more
compliant?'--'Have you,' said I, 'any valuables laid up in store,
garments, or gold, or necklace? if you have, produce them, give them
to her as a marriage present, and propitiate her by gifts. Precious
stones and ornaments have a magic[11] influence upon a female mind.
You must proceed too, as fast as you can, in all your preparations
for the nuptials; there must be no delay in hastening them forward,
while that inclination, forced upon her mind by art, remains yet
undiminished.'--'Nothing shall be wanting which depends upon me,'
replied Charicles; and immediately he ran out, with alacrity and joy,
to put his words in execution. I soon found that he lost no time in
doing what I had suggested; and that he had offered to Chariclea
dresses of great price, and the Ethiopian necklace which had been
exposed with her as tokens by Persina, as if they were marriage
presents from Alcamenes.--Soon after I met Theagenes, and asked
him what was become of all those who had composed his train in the
procession.--He said the maidens had already set forward on their
journey, as they travelled slowly; and that the youths, impatient of
delay, were becoming clamorous, and pressing him to return home. When
I heard this, I instructed him what to say to them, and what he should
do himself; and bidding him observe the signals that I should give him,
both of time and opportunity, I left him.
"I bent my course towards the temple of Apollo, intending to implore
him to instruct me, by some oracle, in what manner I was to direct my
flight with my young friends. But the divinity was quicker than any
thought of mine--he assists those who act in conformity to his will,
and with unasked benevolence anticipates their prayers; as he here
anticipated my question by a voluntary oracle, and in a very evident
manner manifested his superintendence over us. For as I was hastening,
full of anxiety, to his shrine, a sudden voice stopped me--'Make what
speed you can,' it said; 'the strangers call upon you.'--A company
of people were at that time celebrating, to the sound of flutes, a
festival in honour of Hercules. I obeyed, and turned towards them,
as soon as I heard this warning, careful not to neglect the divine
call. I joined the assembly, I threw incense on the altar, and made my
libations of water. They ironically expressed their admiration at the
cost and profusion of my offerings, and invited me to partake of the
feast with them. I accepted the invitation, and having reclined on a
couch adorned with myrtle and laurel, and tasted something of what was
set before me, I said to them, 'My friends, I have partaken of a very
pleasant entertainment with you, but I am ignorant whom I am among;
wherefore it is time now for you to tell me who you are, and from
whence: for it is rude and unbecoming for those who have begun a kind
of friendship, by being partakers of the same table and sacrifice, and
of the same sacred salt, to separate without knowing at least something
of each other.'--They readily replied that they were Phœnician
merchants from Tyre--that they were sailing to Carthage with a cargo of
Ethiopian, Indian, and Phœnician merchandize--that they were at that
instant celebrating a sacrifice to the Tyrian Hercules, on account of a
victory which that young man (showing one of their company) had gained
at the Pythian games; esteeming it a great honour that a Phœnecian
should be declared a conqueror in Greece. 'This youth,' said they,
'after we had passed the Malian promontory, and were driven by contrary
winds to Cephallene, affirmed to us, swearing by this our country's
god, that it was revealed to him in a dream that he should obtain a
prize at the Pythian games; and persuaded us to turn out of our course,
and touch here. In effect, his presages have been fulfilled; and the
head of a merchant is now encircled with a victor's crown. He offers
therefore this sacrifice to the god who foretold his success, both as
a thanksgiving for the victory, and to implore his protection in the
voyage which we are about to undertake; for we propose to set sail
early to-morrow morning, if the winds favour our wishes.'
"'Is that really your intention?' I said.--'It is indeed,' they
answered.--'You may then,' I replied, 'have me as a companion in
your voyage, if you will permit it; for I have occasion to go into
Sicily, and in your course to Africa you must necessarily sail by that
island.'--'You shall be heartily welcome,' they replied; 'for nothing
but good can happen to us from the society of a sage, a Grecian, and,
as we conjecture, a favourite of the gods.'--'I shall be very happy
to accept your offer,' I said, 'if you will allow me one day for
preparation.'--'Well,' said they, 'we will give you to-morrow; but
do not fail in the evening to be by the water-side; for the night is
favourable to our navigation; gentle breezes at that season blow from
the land, and propel the ship quietly on her way.'
"I promised them to be there without fail at the time appointed, and
exacted an oath from them that they would not sail before. And with
this I left them, still employed in their pipes and dances, which
they performed to the brisk notes of their music, something after the
Assyrian fashion; now bounding lightly on high,[12] and now sinking
to the ground on bended knees, and again whirling themselves round
with rapidity, as if hurried on by the influence of the divinity. I
found Chariclea admiring as they lay in her lap the presents which
Charicles had made her; from her I went to Theagenes: I gave each of
them instructions what they were to do, and returned to my apartment,
solicitous and intent upon the prosecution of my design; which I did
not long delay to put in execution. When it was midnight, and all
the city was buried in sleep, a band of armed youths surrounded the
habitation of Chariclea. Theagenes led on this amatory assault: his
troop consisted of those who composed his train. With shouts, and
clamour, and clashing their shields, to terrify any who might be
within hearing, they broke into the house with lighted torches;[13]
the door, which had on purpose been left slightly fastened, easily
giving way to them. They seized and hurried away Chariclea, who was
apprized of their design, and easily submitted to the seeming violence.
They took with her a quantity of valuable stuff, which she indicated
to them; and the moment they had left the house, they raised again
their warlike shouts, clashed their shields, and with an awful noise
marched through the city, to the unspeakable terror of the affrighted
inhabitants; whose alarm was the greater, as they had chosen a still
night for their purpose, and Parnassus resounded to the clang of their
brazen bucklers. In this manner they passed through Delphi, frequently
repeating to each other the name of Chariclea. As soon as they were
out of the city, they galloped as fast as they could towards Mount
Œta. Here the lovers, as had been agreed upon, withdrew themselves
privately from the Thessalians, and fled to me. They fell at my feet,
embraced my knees in great agitation, and called upon me to save them;
Chariclea blushing, with downcast eyes, at the bold step she had
taken. 'Preserve and protect,' said Theagenes, 'strangers, fugitives,
and suppliants, who have given up everything that they may gain each
other; slaves of chaste love; playthings of fortune; voluntary exiles,
yet not despairing, but placing all their hopes of safety in you.' I
was confused and affected with this address: tears would have been a
relief to me; but I restrained myself, that I might not increase their
apprehensions. I raised and comforted them; and bidding them hope
everything which was fortunate, from a design undertaken under the
direction of the gods, I told them I must go and look after what yet
remained to be done for the execution of our project; and desiring them
to stay where they were, and to take great care that they were not seen
by any body, I prepared to leave them; but Chariclea caught hold of my
garment, and detained me.
"'Father,' she cried, 'it will be treacherous and unjust in you to
leave me already, and alone, under the care of Theagenes only. You do
not consider how faithless a guardian a lover is, when his mistress is
in his power, and no one present to impose respect upon him. He will
with difficulty restrain himself, when he sees the object of his ardent
desires defenceless before him; wherefore I insist upon your not
leaving me, till I have exacted an oath from Theagenes, that he will
not attempt to obtain any favours which I am not disposed to grant,
till I arrive in my country, and am restored to my family; or, at
least, if the gods should envy me that happiness, till I am by my own
consent become his wife.'
"I was surprised yet pleased with what she said, and agreed entirely
with her in her sentiments. I raised a flame upon the hearth in place
of an altar, threw on a few grains of frankincense, and Theagenes
took the oath, indignant at its being required of him, and that such
an obligation should deprive him of showing voluntarily that respect
to Chariclea, which he was already determined to show without any
such compulsion. He should now, he said, have no merit in it; all
the restraint he put upon himself would be imputed to the fear of
perjury.[14] He swore, however, by the Pythian Apollo, by Diana, by
Venus herself, and the Loves, that he would conform himself in every
instance to the will of Chariclea. These and other solemn vows having
been mutually taken under the auspices of the gods, I made what haste I
could to Charicles.
"I found his house full of tumult and grief, his servants having
already informed him of the rape of his daughter; his friends flocking
round him with useless consolation, and equally useless advice; himself
in tears, and totally at a loss what to do. I called out with a loud
voice, 'Knaves that you are, how long will you stand here stupid and
undetermined, as if your misfortunes had taken away your senses? Why
do you not arm instantly, pursue and take the ravishers, and revenge
the injuries you have received?' 'It will be to no purpose,' replied
Charicles, in a languid tone; 'I see that all this is come upon me by
the wrath of heaven; the gods foretold to me that I should be deprived
of what I held most dear, since the time that I entered unseasonably
into the temple, and saw what it was not lawful for me to behold.[15]
Yet there is no reason why we should not contend, in this instance,
even against a calamity, though sent by the deities, if we knew whom
we have to pursue, and who have brought this misfortune upon us.' 'We
do know them,' said I; 'it is Theagenes, whom you made so much of and
introduced to me, and his companions. Perhaps you may find some of them
still about the city, who may have loitered here this evening. Arise,
therefore, and call the people to council.'
"What I desired was done: the magistrates sent the herald about, to
convoke an assembly by the sound of trumpet. The people presently came
together, and a night meeting was held in the theatre. Charicles drew
tears of compassion from all, when he appeared in the midst in mourning
garments, with dust upon his face and head, and thus began:
"'Delphians, you may perhaps imagine that I have called together this
meeting, and am now addressing it solely on account of my own great
calamities; but that is not entirely the case. I suffer indeed what is
worse than death. I am left deserted, afflicted by the gods, my house
desolate, and deprived of that sweet conversation which I preferred to
all the pleasures in the world; yet hope, and the self-conceit common
to us, still sustains me, and promises me that I shall again recover my
daughter. But I am moved with indignation at the affront which has been
offered to the city, which I hope to see punished even before my own
wrongs are redressed, unless the Thessalian striplings have taken away
from us our free spirit, and just regard for our country and its gods;
for what can be more shameful than that a few youths, dancers forsooth,
and followers of an embassy, should trample under their feet the laws
and authority of the first city in Greece, and should ravish from: the
temple of Apollo its chiefest ornament, Chariclea, alas! the delight
of my eyes; How obstinate and implacable towards me has been the anger
of the gods! The life of my own daughter, as you know, was extinguished
with the light of her nuptial torches. Grief for her death brought
her mother soon to the grave, and drove me from my country; but, when
I found Chariclea, I felt myself consoled; she became my life, the
hope of succession in my family, my sweet anchor, I may say, my only
comfort. Of all these this sudden storm has bereft me, and that at the
most unlucky time possible, as if I were to be the scorn and sport of
fate, just when preparations were making for her marriage, and you were
all informed of it.'
"While he was speaking, and indulging himself in lamentations, the
chief magistrate Hegesias interrupted and stopped him. 'Let Charicles,
fellow-citizens,' said he, 'lament hereafter at his leisure; but let
not us be so hurried away, and affected by concern for his misfortunes,
as to neglect opportunity, which in all things is of great moment, and
particularly in military affairs.[16] There is some hope that we may
overtake the ravishers if we follow them instantly, for the delay which
must take place on our part will naturally make them less speedy in
their march: but if we spend our time in womanish bewailings, and by
our delays give them an opportunity to escape, what remains but that
we shall become a common laughing-stock, the laughing-stock of youths,
whom the moment we have taken we should nail to so many crosses, and
render their names, and even their families, infamous? This we may
easily effect, if we endeavour to rouse the indignation of their
countrymen against them, and interdict their descendants, and as many
of themselves as may happen to escape, from ever being present at this
annual ceremonial and sacrifice to the Manes of their hero; the expense
of which we defray out of our public treasury.' The people approved
what he advised, and ratified it by their decree. 'Enact, also,' said
he, 'if you please, that the priestess shall never in future appear to
the armed runners; for, as I conjecture, it was the sight of her at
that time which inflamed Theagenes, and excited in him the impious
design of carrying her off; it is desirable, therefore, to guard
against anything which may give occasion to such an attempt for the
time to come.'
"When this also was unanimously agreed to, Hegesias gave the signal
to march, the trumpet sounded, the theatre was abandoned for war, and
there was a general rush from the assembly for the fight. Not only
the robust and mature followed him, but children and youths likewise,
supplying with their zeal the place of age; women, also, with a spirit
superior to their strength, snatching what arms they could meet with,
tried in vain to keep up with them, and, by the fruitless attempt,
were obliged to confess the weakness of their sex. You might see old
men struggling with their age, their mind dragging on their body, and
indignant at their physical weakness, because of the vigour of their
minds. The whole city, in short, felt so deeply the loss of Chariclea,
that, without waiting for day, and moved by a common impulse, it poured
forth in pursuit of her ravishers."
[Footnote 1: It would seem that Chariclea stood with her palm and torch
at the end of the course the contenders were to take.]
[Footnote 2: Iliad, B. xxi.]
[Footnote 3: Il. xiii. 636.
"All pleasures breed satiety, sweet sleep,
Soft dalliance, music, and the grateful dance."--Cowper.
]
[Footnote 4:
----"Honoratum si forte reponis Achillem,
Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer,
Jura neget sibi nata, nihil non arroget armis."--Hor. A. P. 121.
]
[Footnote 5: Il. xvi. 21.]
[Footnote 6: Γράμμασιν Αἰθιοπικoῖς oὐ δημοτικoῖς 'αλλά Βασιλικοῖς.
"This distinction," observes a reviewer, "between the royal and popular
system of hieroglyphics, as well as the etiquette of inscribing the
title of the king within a circle or oval, is borrowed from the
monuments of Egypt."]
[Footnote 7: Tasso, c. xii. 21-40, as is well known, has introduced the
story of Chariclea under the name of Clorinda:--
"D'una pietosa istoria e di devote
Figure la sua stanza era dipinta,
Vergine bianca il bel volto, e le gote
Vermiglia, è quivi presso un drago avvinta.
. . . . . .
Ingravida frattanto, ed espon fuori
(E tu fosti colei) candida figlia."
]
[Footnote 8: The effect of Jacob's rods will suggest itself to the
recollection of the reader. Gen. xxx. 37-41.]
[Footnote 9: Δίθψ παντάρβη την σφενδόνην καθιέρωμενον.]
[Footnote 10:
"His hands are tiny, but afar they throw,
E'en down to Dis and Acheron below.
. . . . . .
Small is his bow, his arrow small to sight,
But to Jove's court it wings its ready flight."
Chapman's Trs. of Moschus.
]
[Footnote 11: ἲυγγα. Properly the bird called the "wryneck." It was
sacred to Venus, and much used in love incantations, especially to
recall the alienated affections of a beloved object. It was employed
fastened to a wheel, by turning which, the effect was supposed to be
produced. It also means the magical wheel itself.--Hickie's Theocritus,
see Theoc. Idyll. 11.]
[Footnote 12: Mr. Hobhouse's description of the dance of the Albanians
affords an illustration of the above. "They danced round the blaze to
their own songs with astonishing energy--one of them which detained
them more than an hour, had for the burden--'Robbers all at Parga!
Robbers all at Parga!' and as they roared out this stave, they whirled
round the fire, dropped and rebounded from their knees, and again
whirled round as the chorus was again repeated."--Notes to Childe
Harold, c. xi. 71.]
[Footnote 13:
----Hic, hic ponite lucida
Funalia, et vectes et arcus
Oppositis foribus minaces.--Hor. Od. iii. xxvi. 6.
]
[Footnote 14:
"I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head,
By the simplicity of Venus' doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
By all the vows that ever men have broke,
In number more than ever woman spoke."
Midsummer Night's Dream.
]
[Footnote 15: Charicles does not farther explain the nature of his
offence but the ancient thought that even an accidental, involuntary
intrusion into any ceremonies or mysteries at which it was not lawful
for the intruder to be present, was always followed by some punishment.
Quartilla in Petronius says, "Neque enim quisquam impunè quod non
licuit aspexit."
"Inscia quod crimen viderunt lumina, plector,
Peccatumque oculos est habuisse, meum!"--Ovid.
]
[Footnote 16: See the fine Chorus in the Œdipus Coloneus,--the subject
being the pursuit after the daughters of Œdipus, carried off by Creon,
1045-1100.]