An earthen vessel, filled with water, stood before the door, to signify to the
passenger
that it was a house of mourn ing.
Universal Anthology - v04
His country estates, his houses in the city and the Piraeus, and his numerous slaves, yielded him, with no trouble, a secure income ; which however was as nothing compared to that which he derived from the ready money lying at the money changers', or lent out else where, at a high rate of interest.
Those who were more inti mate with the state of his affairs were convinced that his property amounted in all to more than fifty talents.
He had remained single till his fifty-fifth year, and then, in compliance with his late brother's dying request, he had mar ried his only surviving daughter, Cleobule, a blooming girl of sixteen. But in the midst of the festivity of the marriage feast, he was attacked with apoplexy, which had been succeeded by tedious and painful illness. No means of relief had been neglected. The veteran family physician, a man of no mean skill, had called in the advice of other medical men, but the resources of their art were exhausted without success : neither their exertions, nor the tenderness of Cleobule, who nursed the patient like a dutiful daughter, availed to reunite the ruptured threads of his existence. Polycles was not satisfied with ap plying for aid to the successors of JSsculapius, but tried the efficacy of certain charms ; while interpreters of dreams were consulted, expiations placed in the crossways, and aged women, reputed to have the power of curing diseases by mysterious arts and magic songs, had been summoned to attend. Whole days and nights had also been passed by the sufferer in the temple
THE FORGED WILL. 241
of J5sculapius, but to no purpose. At last, hearing of a happy cure effected in a similar case by the baths of jEdepsos, he repaired thither for the benefit of the waters : but the Nymphs had refused their succor ; and some days ago the doctor had declared that the patient would never need any herb more, save
the parsley [funeral wreaths].
Next day Charicles was on the point of going out. The
previous evening he had come to the resolution of marrying, and he had determined that Phorion should play the suitor for him. At this moment a slave rapped at the door, on an errand from Polycles. Weak as the patient was, he had expressed great pleasure on hearing that the son of his old friend was in Athens, and now sent to say he wished to see him once more before his end, which he felt was drawing nigh. Charicles could not refuse a request expressive of so much kindliness, and"therefore promised to attend.
It were better to come along with me at once," said the slave. " My master is very low now, and his friends have just met at his bedside. "
"Well, lead on," said Charicles, not unwilling to put off
for a time his intended visit to Phorion ; " lead on, I follow
you. "
At the doctor's side stood three friends of the family, their
gaze fixed inquiringly on his countenance ; while at the foot of the bed an aged slave, with clasped hands, was gazing in tently on his dying master. Long and silently did the leech hold the sick man's wrist, and at last let it go, though without uttering a word that might encourage hope.
The slave who had conducted Charicles now approached, and first whispered his arrival to the doctor, with whose assent he further announced it to his master. The sick man pushed back the felt cap which he had drawn down over his forehead, and extended his right hand to Charicles. " Joy to you, son of my friend," he murmured feebly ; " and thanks for fulfilling my wish. I was present at the festival of naming you, and thus you stand now at my dying bed. "
" Health to you also," answered Charicles, "and joy, although now you are in pain and anguish. May the gods transform into lightsome day the dark night that now encompasses you. "
"Nay," said Polycles; "I am not to be deceived. I am not one of those who, when they meet with suffering or mis fortune, send for a sophist to console them. Rather tell me
VOL. IV. — 16
242 THE FORGED WILL.
something of the fate of thy family. " The youth, accordingly, delivered a brief recital of the fortunes of his house since the flight from Athens.
The sick man evinced so much emotion in the course of the narration, that at last the doctor motioned Charicles to break off. " Is the draught ready that I ordered to be prepared? " he inquired of a slave who just then entered.
" Manto will bring it immediately," was the reply.
" Manto? " exclaimed Polycles : " why not Cleobule ? " "She heard that gentlemen were with you," replied the
slave.
" They are only near friends of the family," said the sick
man ; " she need not mind them. I prefer taking the draught from her. "
The slave departed to inform the lady of his master's wishes, and the doctor again felt the patient's pulse, whilst the by standers stood aside.
One of the three, who had been addressed as Sophilos, had seized Charicles by the hand, and retired with him to a corner of the room. His age was between fifty and sixty, and his exterior bespoke affluence, as well as polish and good breeding. Time had furrowed his brow, and rendered gray his locks ; but his firm carriage and active step betokened one still vigorous, and he conversed with all the vivacity of youth. A gentle earnestness and good-humored benevolence beamed in his countenance, and his whole appearance was calculated to awaken confidence and attract the beholder.
As Charicles recounted the misfortunes of his family, Sophi los had listened with sympathy, and, when he now further ques tioned Charicles about many passages in his life, his glance dwelt on the youth with peculiar satisfaction. Whilst they were en gaged in low-toned conversation, the hanging was pushed aside, and Cleobule entered, followed by a female slave. Nearly over come with timidity, she did not dare raise her eyes, but kept them fixed on the glass phial in her right hand, and she hastened to present to her sick husband and uncle the portion which it contained, the physician having first mingled in it something from his drug box. She next smoothed the pillow, bending affectionately over her husband, as if to inquire whether he felt any relief.
The eyes of all present were fastened on this picture of dutiful affection, but the gaze of Charicles especially seemed
THE FORGED WILL. 243
riveted to the spot. When Cleobule entered, he was convers ing with Sophilos, with his back to the door, and she on her part was so entirely occupied with tending the sick man, that her face had not once been turned towards the group behind her. Yet there was something in that graceful figure that awoke scarcely stifled emotions in his breast. It was the very image of the apparition by the brook. . . .
The physician next prescribed a bath for his patient. . . . Cleobule hastened to superintend in person the needful prepara tions, and as she turned round to go towards the door, her eye fell upon Charicles, who was standing near it. Suddenly she started as though she had seen the Gorgon's head, or some specter risen out of Hades ; and the glass phial would have dropped from her hand, had not the doctor caught it. With a deep blush, and downcast eyes, she rushed hurriedly past the young man, who was himself so surprised and confused that he did not hear the question which Sophilos just then put to him. It was now necessary to leave the sick chamber, and he was not sorry to do so. Approaching the bed, he expressed a hope that its tenant would amend, and then hastened from the chamber in a tumult of contending emotions.
It was one of those blustering nights so common at the com mencement of Maemacterion [latter part of November]. The wind blew from Salamis, driving before it the scud of black rain clouds over the Piraeus ; and when they opened for a mo ment, the crescent of the waning moon would peer forth, throw ing a transient glimmer on the distant temples of the Acropolis. In the streets of the seaport, generally so full of bustle, reigned deep repose, only broken by the dull roaring of the sea, or the groaning of the masts, as some more violent gust swept through the rigging of the vessels yet remaining in the harbor. Occa sionally, too, some half -intoxicated sailor would stagger lantern- less from the wine shops towards the harbor ; or some footpad would sneak along the sides of the houses, ready to pounce on the cloak of a belated passenger, and hiding cautiously behind a Hermes or an altar whenever the bell of the night patrol was heard.
In a small room of a house situated some distance from the harbor, a young man of unprepossessing exterior lay stretched upon a low couch, which was too short for his figure. His hol low eyes and sunken cheeks, the carelessness of his demeanor,
244 THE FORGED WILL.
his hasty way of draining the cup in his right hand, and the coarse jokes that from time to time escaped him, sufficiently marked him as one of those vulgar roues who were accustomed to waste the day at the dice board, and devote the night to riot and debauchery. On the table near him, beside the nearly empty punch bowl, stood a lamp with a double wick, whose light abundantly illumined the narrow chamber. There were also the remnants of the frugal supper that he had just concluded, and a second goblet, which a slave, who sat upon another couch opposite the young man, replenished pretty frequently. Be tween them was a draughtboard which the slave was eying attentively, whilst the other surveyed it with tolerable indiffer ence. The game was by no means even. The menial evidently had the advantage ; and he now made a move which reduced his adversary to great straits.
" A stupid game, this ! " exclaimed the youth, as he tossed the pieces all in a heap ; " a game where it's all thinking, and nothing won after all. Dicing for me," he added with a yawn. " But what has got Sosilas ? It must be past midnight ; and such weather as this, I should not over-enjoy the walk from the town to the haven. "
"He's gone to Polycles," replied the slave. "'Twas said he would not live till morning, and Sosilas seems vastly con cerned about him. "
" I know," answered the youth ; " but then why did he send for me, just at this time of all others ? The morning would have done quite as well ; and I must needs leave a jolly party, forsooth ; and here I am, hang it, and have to stand my own wine, for not a drop has the old hunks provided. "
" All I know," replied the slave, " is that he bade me fetch you wherever you were, as he must have speech with you this very night without fail. "
" Then why doesn't he come ? " retorted the other, peevishly. "Did he go unattended? "
" Syrus went with him ; he'll come to no harm. And even suppose he didn't return," continued the slave with a smile ; "why, you're his next relation and heir, aren't you? Two houses in the city, besides this here — a carpenter's shop, and maybe some five or six talents in ready cash ; — in sooth, no such bad heritage ! "
The youth lolled back complacently on the couch. " Yes, Molon," said he, " when he's once out of the way, then "
THE FORGED WILL. 245
At this moment came a violent rap at the outer door. " There he is ! " cried the slave, as he hastily caught up the draughtboard and one of the goblets, smoothed down the cushion and coverlet of the couch he had been sitting on, and stationed himself at the stripling's elbow, as if he had been waiting on him.
Steps were now audible in the courtyard, and a gruff voice was heard giving orders to a slave in harsh accents. The door opened, and in walked a man with a large beard, and dark and forbidding features. He was wrapped, after the Spartan fash ion, in a short mantle of coarse thick texture, and wore Laco- nian shoes. In his hand was a stout cudgel, with its handle bent in the form of a cross. The sight of the drinking cups and the unwonted illumination of the chamber made him forget the greeting. He approached the slave in a rage.
" Ah ! you knave ! " cried he, raising his stick ; " what d'ye mean by these two burners, and such large wicks ? Does not the winter consume oil enough without this ? And you, Lysis- tratos," — he here turned to the youth — "seem to make your self"quite at home in my house. " "
Oh ! to be sure, uncle," answered the other, dryly ;
on credit from the tavern, since yours is safe under lock and key. Do you suppose I'm going to wait here half the night for you, without a drop to drink? "
" I didn't expect to be kept so long," said the old man, some what softened, as he hastily scanned the apartment. " You may go," he said to the slave ; " we don't want you any more : leave us, and go to bed. " The slave departed; Sosilas bolted the door, and returned to his nephew.
" He is dead," whispered he, drawing a long breath ; " Poly- cles is dead, and a property of sixty talents and more is left
without natural heirs. " " The nephew started.
Well ! and what good is that to us, ifwe do not come in for a share ? "
" That's just the question," answered the uncle. " Lysistra- tos," he resumed after a short silence, " you may be a rich man, if you will. "
" Will ? ay ! by Dionysos will I, and no mistake," laughed the nephew.
"Only do what I tell you," said Sosilas, "and you have your desire. We are connected — very distantly, I grant — with Polycles, for my long-deceased wife and Cleobule's mother
wine
246 THE FORGED WILL.
were first cousins. Yet this connection gives us no title to the property. But, now, what if a will were produced naming me heir ! "
" You mean a forged one," said Lysistratos musingly ; " but how will it be accredited without you have his signet ring ? And do you suppose Polycles, during his long illness, has not himself arranged about bequeathing his property ? "
The old man quietly opened an adjoining room, and fetched out of it a box, which he unfastened, and drew forth a document with a seal. " Look ye there, read that," said he, as he placed it before the youth. " " What's the superscription ? "
" By Dionysos ! cried the youth springing to his feet, "' The last will of Polycles. ' How came you by this ? "
"Very simply," replied the uncle. "When Polycles was starting to JSdepsos, and Sophilos, who had got him in his meshes, was luckily gone upon a journey, he summoned me, as a relative of his wife's, and intrusted me with his will in the presence of the three witnesses therein named. "
" Capital ! " shouted Lysistratos ; " so you can substitute another of your own composing. But still, even then, you will want his signet : do you think you could imitate it? "
" "That would be a dangerous experiment," replied the uncle;
and besides, you can perceive by the superscription in what peculiar shaky characters it is written; so that it would be almost impossible to forge an imitation, nor indeed do we want one. " Saying this he produced a knife, removed the shell which served as a capsule to the seal, and said, " See ! that's Polycles' seal, and there is just such another beneath the writing ; and now look at this," cried he, as he placed side by side"with it another seal, hanging by a slip of string.
" You'll understand presently," replied the uncle. He took the knife, and without hesitation severed the string to which the seal was appended, opened the document, and spread it before his nephew. " Look," he said with a malicious grin ; " supposing ' Sosilas ' stood here instead of ' Sophilos,' and there, ' Sophilos ' instead of ' Sosilas. ' I should not so much mind then. " "
By Poseidon ! exactly the same," exclaimed Lysistratos, in amazement; "but I can't conceive what all this is about. "
The youth read in astonishment.
"that were indeed a master stroke; and there are only two letters to alter; for as good luck has the fathers' names are
I' faith!
"
he exclaimed,
it,
THE FORGED WILL. 247
the same. But the seal ? " he added, " the seal ? how could you venture to break open the deed ? "
The old man made a second dive into the mysterious box, and drew out something resembling a signet. "I learned how to make this substance from a cunning fellow who went about soothsaying. If pressed upon a seal when soft, it receives all the characters with perfect accuracy and in a short time be comes as hard as stone. " The will had been opened before, and the seal appended to it was merely an impression of this. " Can you distinguish between it and the genuine one ? "
" No, that I can't," answered the nephew.
" So, then, it will be an easy matter to reseal the deed, when we have alterIed the letters in these two places. "
"
to become rich by this ? now interposed
"But how am
the youth, suspiciously; "my name is not mentioned in the testament. "
"Listen a moment," replied the uncle; "the inheritance, as you may have read, is coupled with one condition — that the heir must marry the widow Cleobule, and if he object to this, must be content with five talents as his portion ; but he will have the right of giving the widow in marriage, along with the rest of the property, to whomsoever he may judge proper. Now I am too old to marry again; and be sides, I was warned against it in a dream. I dreamed that I wished to take a wife, and went to the bride's house to be be trothed to her; but when I essayed to go away again, the door was fastened, and could not be opened. Two interpreters of dreams, whom I consulted, foretold that I should die on the day of my betrothment ; and that is warning enough ; but you shall marry Cleobule, if you will privately cede half the property to me. " "
After some higgling, it was finally settled that the uncle should not receive the five talents over and above his half of the property, but that these should be included in the parti tion.
The nephew reflected for a moment.
tition," he said at last: "your share is unincumbered, while my moiety will be saddled with the widow. "
" Fool ! " retorted Sosilas : " Cleobule is such a beauty that many a man would be glad to take her without any dowry at all ; besides which, it all depends on me, you know, whether you get a farthing. "
It's an unequal par
248 THE FORGED WILL.
" Now hand me the will," said the old man ; "with this little sponge I erase the two letters, and the more easily because the paper is so good. Look ! they are now scarce distinguishable. This ink," continued he, as he produced a little box and the writing reed, "is of just the same blackness as the writing. There we have it, all right. Who will assert that it was not always as it now stands ? "
" Excellent ! " said the nephew ; " now for the seal. "
The old man carefully folded up the deed again, moistened some clay, tied the string, and impressed the forged stamp upon the clay. "There ! " said he, "isn't it the same seal ? "
" Well, that beats everything," cried Lysistratos, as he com pared the two seals ; " no one will ever dream that it is a forgery. "
A rustling outside the door startled the old man. He snatched up the will and the other contents of the box, which he bore off, and fastened the door of the room adjacent, seal ing it for greater security. Then taking the lamp he explored the court, to discover if possible the cause of the disturbance. " It was nothing," he said, when he came back ; " most likely the storm which made the door shake. It will soon be morn ing : Lysistratos, come into my bedchamber, and let us have a short nap. "
The two worthies had not been long gone when Molon glided softly into the room, and groped about in the dark for one of the sofas. A gleam of moonlight shone through the open door, and he hastily seized something that lay in the folds of the drapery, and then as quickly and softly vanished, his gestures denoting the prize to be one on which he set a high value.
When morning dawned on the house of the deceased, it found the inmates already busy with preparations for the burial.
An earthen vessel, filled with water, stood before the door, to signify to the passenger that it was a house of mourn ing. Within, the women were occupied in anointing and lay ing out the corpse. Cleobule, inexperienced, and woe-begone like an orphan child, had begged the aid of Sophilos, who, even without solicitation, would have undertaken to conduct the funeral. She had always looked on Polycles in the light of an affectionate uncle, who had indulged her every wish ; and now she wept for him as for a parent ; while she applied herself to
THE FORGED WILL. 249
her mournful duties, assisted by her mother, whom she had sent for on the previous evening, — as her childlike tremors, which had been early nourished by nurses' fairy tales and ghost stories, rendered solitude in the house of death insupportable.
It was still early, and Sophilos was just debating with the women of the order of the interment, when Sosilas also made his appearance, with sorrow in his aspect but exultation in his heart. He had hastened, he said, to bring the will which the deceased had deposited in his hands ; as perhaps it might con tain some dispositions respecting his interment. He then named the witnesses who had been by when he received the will, and whose presence would now be necessary at the opening. Cleo- bule was somewhat disconcerted to find the document that was to decide her future fate placed in the custody of one to whom, from early childhood, she had entertained feelings of aversion. Polycles had never been explicit on this head, merely assuring her in general terms that she had been cared for. And such she now hoped was the case ; but yet she had rather that any body else had produced the will. Sophilos, on the other hand, did not seem at all put out by the circumstance. He praised Sosilas for his punctuality, and desired that the witnesses might be cited to attend ; but this, the other said, was not necessary, as he had already sent them notices to that effect. "
Before long the three made their appearance.
present," said Sosilas to" them, " when Polycles committed his last will to my charge ?
They replied in the affirmative.
"You will be ready then to testify that this is the deed which he intrusted to me ? "
" The superscription and the seal," answered one of them, " are what prove its authenticity. All that we can witness to is that a testament was deposited with you — not, that this is the identical one in question ; still there is no ground for the con trary assumption, since the seal is untouched, and may be recog nized as that of Polycles. "
" Do you, therefore, satisfy yourself, Cleobule, that I have faithfully discharged your husband's behest. Do you acknowl edge this seal ? "
With trembling hand Cleobule took the deed. " An eagle clutching a snake," said she ; "it is the device of his signet. " She next handed the testament to Sophilos, who also pro nounced it all right.
You were
250
THE FORGED WILL.
" Open it then," said Sosilas to one of the witnesses, " that its contents may be known. My sight is bad : do one of you read for me. "
The string was cut, the document unfolded, and the witness read as follows : —
" The testament of Polycles the Paeanian. May all be well ; but should I not recover from this sickness, thus do I devise my estate. I give my wife Cleobule, with all my fortune, as set down in the accompanying schedule, — save and except all that is herein otherwise disposed, — to my friend Sosilas, the son of Philo, to which end I adopt him as my son. Should he refuse to marry her, then I bequeath to him the five talents lying with Pasion, the money changer ; but I then constitute him guardian of Cleobule, and he shall give her, with the rest of the property, to some husband of his own choosing, who shall take posses sion of my house. I give and bequeath my house on the Olym- pieion to Theron, the son of Callias ; and the lodging house in the Piraeus to Sophilos, son of Philo. To the son of Callipides I bequeath my largest silver bowl, and to his wife a pair of gold earrings, and two coverlets and two cushions of the best in my possession ; that I may not seem to have forgotten them. To my physician Zenothemis I leave a legacy of one thousand drachmae, though his skill and attention have deserved still more. Let my sepulchre be erected in a fitting spot of the garden outside the Melitic gate. Let Theron, together with Sophilos and my relatives, see to it that my obsequies and monument be neither unworthy of me, nor yet on too sumptu ous a scale. I expressly prohibit Cleobule and the women, as well as the female slaves, from cutting off their hair, or other wise disfiguring themselves. To Demetrius, who has long been free, I remit his ransom, and make him a present of five minae, a himation and a chiton [cloak and gown], in considera tion of his faithful services. Of the slaves I hereby manumit Parmeno, and Chares, with his child ; but Carion and Donax must work for four years in the garden, and shall then be made free, if they shall have conducted themselves well during that period. Manto shall be free immediately on Cleobule's mar riage, and shall also receive three minae. Of the children of my slaves none are to be sold, but are to be kept in the house
till they are grown up, and then set free. Syrus, however, shall be sold. Sophilos, Theron, and Callipides will discharge the duties of executors. This testament is placed in the keeping
THE FORGED WILL.
251
of Sosilas. Witnesses : Lysimachos, son of Strato ; Hegesias, of Hegio; and Hipparchos of Callippos. "
A deathlike stillness reigned among the audience when the reader had concluded. At the first words Cleobule had turned pale, and sunk back on a settle half fainting, while her mother, who was crying, supported her. Sophilos placed his hand on his lips, and was lost in thought ; the witnesses mutely surveyed the scene. Sosilas alone seemed perfectly composed. "Take courage," said he, approaching Cleobule ; " fear not that I will lay claim to the happiness that Polycles intended for me. I my self, too, am astonished, and could easily be dazzled by the tempt ing prize ; but I am too old to dream of wedding a young bride. Willingly do I resign the rich inheritance, and shall select for you a husband more suitable in age. "
Cleobule turned away with a shudder. Sosilas grasped the will, saying, " Nothing more is now wanting but the attesta tion of the witnesses, that such was the tenor of the will when opened. "
" The witnesses accordingly set their seals to the writing. It is not the only testament that Polycles has left," remarked
one of them. " " How ? What ?
exclaimed Sosilas, turning pale ; " noth ing is said here about the existence of another will. "
" I don't rightly understand it," replied the witness ; " but two days after you received this, Polycles called me and four others in as witnesses, on his depositing another document— doubtless a duplicate of this — in the hands of Menecles, to whose house he had caused himself to be conveyed. "
The effects of this disclosure on those present were, as might have been expected, extremely various. Sosilas stood like one utterly undone ; a faint ray of hope glimmered in the bosom of Cleobule ; Sophilos eyed narrowly the countenance of the forger, who quailed before his glance; and the witnesses looked doubtingly at one another.
Sosilas at length broke the silence. "This will," said he with some vehemence, " is genuine ; and even supposing that there is another authentic one in existence, its contents will of course be the same. "
"Why"! it is indeed hardly to be supposed," rejoined Sophilos, that Polycles would have changed his mind in two days ; but we must invite Menecles to produce the copy in his custody, without loss of time. " A slave here entered, and
252 THE FORGED WILL.
whispered a message in his ear. " The very thing ! " he cried. " Menecles is not less punctual than you. Two of his witnesses have already arrived, in obedience to his summons ; and he will therefore shortly be here in person. "
The men now entered. Sosilas walked up and down the room, and gradually recovered his composure. Even should his plans be unpleasantly disturbed by the contents of the second will, still a wide field would be open for litigation, in which he had an even chance of coming off victor. Menecles soon arrived with the other two witnesses, and delivered the will. The superscription and seal were found to be correct, and its contents tallied with those of the first, word for word, with the exception of the two names, which were interchanged. At the end was a postscript, to the effect that an exactly similar testament was deposited with Sosilas the Piraean.
The reading of this caused a violent scene, and plenty of abuse and recrimination followed on both sides. Sosilas pro nounced it a forgery, and went off declaring that he would make good his claims before a court of law.
The morning of the funeral had arrived ; and before day break a crowd of mourners, and of others actuated merely by motives of curiosity, had collected in and around the house, either to attach themselves to the procession, or merely to be spectators of the pageant. Even the day before, whilst the corpse lay in state, the door was crowded by persons who in the course of their lives had never before crossed its threshold. Several, too, had evinced much celerity in putting on mourning, being very anxious to establish their claims to a distant rela tionship with the defunct, when they learned the property was in dispute, and there seemed a prospect of good fishing in the troubled waters.
Charicles, however, did not present himself within ; although perhaps the house possessed greater attractions for him than for any of the others. The impression his late unexpected appear ance made on Cleobule had not escaped him, and he held it im proper to disturb her duties to the departed by a second visit. Still he could not omit accompanying the funeral procession to the place of interment ; and in fact Sophilos, who somehow felt a great liking for the youth, had himself invited him to be pres ent. The old gentleman had paid him several visits, and in a significant manner had described how much Cleobule was im
THE FORGED WILL. 253
periled by the will, which he was convinced was a forgery. Charicles was perhaps more disquieted at this than even Sophilos himself. Whichever way the matter might be decided, it would of course make no difference to him personally : for in case a fraud were detected, the lady would become the wife of Sophilos ; and as regarded himself, he had made up his mind that even under the most favorable circumstances, it would never befit one of his years and condition to marry a widow of such large property : he was nevertheless pained to think that such a fascinating creature might fall into the power of one who, to judge from all accounts, must be utterly unworthy of her. . . .
When the bones had been consigned to the ground, and the women had bidden farewell to the new-made grave, Charicles with Sophilos wended his way back towards the city. The possible consequences of the unhappy will formed the topic of conversation. Charicles could not conceal how very different an impression Sosilas had made upon him from what he had ex pected. To-day the man had looked so unassuming and devout, and withal so venerable, that he had well nigh dropped his sus picions.
"Who would ever believe," said he, "that beneath this exterior lurked such knavery? "
" You will meet with plenty more such," answered Sophilos, "who go about with the aspect of lambs, but within are the most poisonous scorpions ; it is just these that are most danger ous of all. "
At the city gate they separated. A strange slave had fol lowed them at a distance all the way. He now stood still for a moment, "apparently undetermined which of the two he should pursue. Youth is more liberal," said he half aloud, after re flecting a moment, "especially when in love. " With this he struck into the path Charicles had taken, and which led through a narrow lonely lane, between two garden walls ; here he re doubled his pace, and soon overtook Charicles.
" Who art thou ? " asked the youth, retreating back a step.
" A slave, as you see," was the reply, " and one who may be of service to you. You seem interested in Cleobule's fate,
eh? " " " What business is that of yours ?
retorted Charicles ; but his blush was more than a sufficient answer for the slave.
"It is not indifferent to you," he proceeded, "whether Sophilos or Sosilas be the heir. "
254 THE FORGED WILL.
" Very possibly ; but wherefore these inquiries ? what is this to you, sirrah ? "
" More than you think," rejoined the slave. " What shall be my reward"if I hand you the proof that one of the two wills
is a forgery ? "
" You ! a miserable slave !
" The slave is often acquainted with his master's most secret
exclaimed the youth, astonished.
dealings," answered the other. " Come now, what's to be my reward ? " *
" Freedom, which is your rightful due for the discovery of such a crime. "
"Good," replied the slave, "but the freedman must have the means wherewith to live. "
" That also shall you have : five minae are yours, if you speak the truth. "
"Thy name is Charicles," said the slave; "no one hears your promise, but I'll trust you. My master is Sosilas, and they call me Molon. " He opened a small "bag, and pulled something out of it with a mysterious air. See, here is the signet," said he, " with which the forged will was sealed. " He took some wax, wetted it, and impressed the seal thereon. " That is the device of Polycles, an eagle clawing a snake ; you will be the eagle. " He related how he had witnessed the forgery through a crack in the door ; how a rustling he had made was near betraying him ; and how Sosilas, in his haste to bundle up the things, had unwittingly let the false stamp drop on the coverlet. "Now then," said he, "haven't I kept my word? "
" By the gods ! and so will I," cried Charicles, almost be side himself with wonder and joy. " Not five — no — ten minae shalt thou"have. And now to Sophilos with all speed. "
"No ! said the slave, "Itrust toyou. Do you go by your self, and have me called when you have need of me. " . . .
In addition to the slave's statement, and the production of the forged signet, another decisive proof had been obtained. With his usual circumspection and prudence, Polycles had, during his stay at iEdepsos, deposited a third copy of the will in the hands of a respectable man there. Of course this also testified against Sosilas ; and the forgery he had committed was now so manifest, that he might congratulate himself on the magnanimity of Sophilos in not proceeding against him.
THE GOLDEN MEAN. 255
THE GOLDEN MEAN. By ARISTOTLE.
(From the "Ethics. ")
[Aristotle, the greatest name in the history of philosophy, was born at Stageira, Macedonia, B. C. 384, of a line of able physicians ; his father was the friend and physician of King Philip's father. Early orphaned, and trained for the family profession, at eighteen he went to Athens to study philosophy ; on Plato's return from Syracuse, three years later, Aristotle became his pupil, and remained such for the seventeen years of Plato's life, teaching rhetoric, also in rivalry with Isocrates. On Plato's death, he went to the court of his old pupil Hermeias, now chief by conquest of Atarneus, opposite Lesbos. Three years after, Hermeias was slain by treachery ; Aristotle escaped to Mitylene with and married Hermeias' daughter. Two years later, b. c. 342, Philip invited him to Macedon to educate his son Alexander, then thirteen. In 334, when Alexander invaded Asia, he returned to Athens, and opened a school of phi losophy in the Peripatos, or covered walk of the Lyceum. After the death of Alexander in 323, Aristotle was prosecuted for impiety, like Socrates ; he fled to Chalcis in Euboea, and died in 322. His writings comprised 146 volumes
(100 now lost), and systematized all the knowledge of antiquity. Of his extant works, the chief are his "Logic,""— a science he practically created, — "Eth ics," "Politics," "Poetics," and Rhetoric. "]
Liberality and Illiberalitt.
Let us next speak of liberality. Now it appears to be a mean on the subject of possessions ; for the liberal man is praised, not for matters which relate to war, nor for those in which the temperate character is exhibited, nor yet for his judgment, but in respect to the giving and receiving of prop erty; and more in giving than receiving. But by property we mean everything of which the value is measured by money. Now, the excess and defect on the subject of property are prodigality and illiberality : the term illiberality we always attach to those who are more anxious than they ought about money ; but that of prodigality we sometimes use in a com plex sense, and attach it to intemperate people, — for we call those who are incontinent, and profuse in their expenditure for purposes of intemperance, prodigal ; therefore they seem to be the most wicked, for they have many vices at once. Now, they are not properly so called, for the meaning of the word prodigal is the man who has one single vice, namely, that of wasting his fortune ; for the man who is ruined by his own means is prodigal, and the waste of property appears
256 THE GOLDEN MEAN.
to be a sort of ruining one's self, since life is supported by means of property. This is the sense, therefore, that we attach to prodigality. But it is possible to make a good and bad use of everything which has use. Now, money is one of the useful things ; and that man makes the best use of every thing who possesses the virtue which relates to it : therefore he who possesses the virtue that relates to money will make the best use of it, and the possessor of it is the liberal man.
But spending and giving seem to be the use of money, and receiving and taking care of it are more properly the method of acquiring it : hence it is more the part of the liberal man to give to proper objects than to receive from proper persons, or to abstain from receiving from improper persons; for it belongs more to the virtue of liberality to do than to receive good, and to do what is honorable than to abstain from doing what is disgraceful. And it is clear that doing what is good and honorable belongs to giving, and that receiving good and abstaining from doing what is disgraceful belongs to receiv ing; and thanks are bestowed on the giver, and not on him who abstains from receiving, and praise still more so ; and abstaining from receiving is more easy than giving, for men are less disposed to give what is their own than not to take what belongs to another; and givers are called liberal, while those who abstain from receiving are not praised for liberality, but nevertheless they are praised for justice ; but those who receive are not praised at all. But liberal men are more beloved than any others, for they are useful, and their use fulness consists in giving.
But actions according to virtue are honorable, and are done for the sake of the honorable : the liberal man, therefore, will give for the sake of the honorable, and will give properly, for he will give to proper objects, in proper quantities, at proper times: and his giving will have all the other qualifications of right giving, and he will do this pleasantly and without pain ; for that which is done according to virtue is pleasant, or without pain, and by no means annoying to the doer. But he who gives to improper objects, and not for the sake of the honorable, is not to be called liberal, but something else ; nor yet he who gives with pain, for he would prefer the money to the performance of an honorable action, and this is not the part of a liberal man. Nor yet will the liberal man receive from improper persons, for such receiving is not characteristic
THE GOLDEN MEAN. 257
of him who estimates things at their proper value ; nor would he be fond of asking, for it is not like a benefactor readily to allow himself to be benefited : but he will receive from proper sources, for instance from his own possessions, not because it is honorable, but because it is necessary in order that he may have something to give; nor will he be careless of his own fortune, because he hopes by means of it to be of use to others ; nor will he give at random to anybody, in order that he may have something to give to proper objects and in cases where it is honorable to do so.
It is characteristic of the liberal man to be profuse and lavish in giving, so as to leave but little for himself ; for it is characteristic of him not to look to his own interest. But the term liberality is applied in proportion to a man's fortune, for the liberal consists not in the quantity of the things given, but in the habit of the giver ; and this habit gives according to the means of the giver. And there is nothing to hinder the man whose gifts are smaller being more liberal, provided he gives from smaller means. But those who have not been the makers of their own fortune, but have received it by inheritance, are thought to be more liberal, for they are inexperienced in want, and all men love their own productions most, as parents and poets. But it is not easy for the liberal man to be rich, since he is not apt to receive or to take care of money, but rather to give it away, and to be careless of it for its own sake, and only to care for it for the sake of giving away. And for this reason people upbraid fortune, because those who are most deserving of wealth are the least wealthy. But this happens not without reason, for it is impossible for a man to have money who takes no pains about getting as the case in other things.
Yet the liberal man will not give to improper persons, nor at improper times, and so forth, for he did, he would cease to act with liberality; and he were to spend money upon these things, he would have none to spend upon proper objects, —for, as has been observed, the man who spends according to his means, and upon proper objects, liberal, but he who
in the excess prodigal. For this reason we do not call kings prodigal, for does not appear easy to exceed the greatness of their possessions in gifts and expenditure.
Liberality, therefore, being middle state on the subject of
giving and receiving money, the liberal man will give and vol. nr. — 17
it is
a
is
if
is
if
it, is
258 THE GOLDEN MEAN.
expend upon proper objects, and in proper quantities, in small and great matters alike, and this he will do with pleasure ; and he will receive from proper sources, and in proper quantities : for since the virtue of liberality is a mean state, it both giving and receiving, he will in both cases act as he ought ; for proper receiving is naturally consequent upon proper giving, and im proper receiving is the contrary. Habits, therefore, which are naturally consequent upon each other are produced together in the same person, but those that are contrary clearly cannot. But if it should happen to the liberal man to spend in a manner inconsistent with propriety and what is honorable, he will feel pain, but only moderately and as he ought ; for it is character istic of virtue to feel pleasure and pain at proper objects, and in a proper manner. And the liberal man is ready to share his money with others ; for, from his setting no value on it, he is liable to be dealt with unjustly, and he is more annoyed at not spending anything that he ought to have spent, than pained at having spent what he ought not. But the prodigal man even in these cases acts wrongly, for he neither feels pleasure nor pain, where he ought nor as he ought.
But we have said that prodigality and illiberality are the excess and the defect, and that they are conversant with two things, giving and receiving, for we include spending under giving. Prodigality, therefore, exceeds in giving and not receiving, and falls short in receiving ; but illiberality is defi cient in giving, but excessive in receiving, but only in cases of small expenditure. Both the characteristics of prodigal ity, therefore, are seldom found in the same person ; for it is not easy for a person who receives from nobody to give to everybody, for their means soon fail private persons who give, and these are the very persons who seem to be prodigal. This character now would seem considerably better than the illiberal one ; for he is easily to be cured by age and by want, and is able to arrive at the mean : for he has the qualifications of the liberal man ; for he both gives and abstains from receiving, but in neither instance as he ought, nor well.
He had remained single till his fifty-fifth year, and then, in compliance with his late brother's dying request, he had mar ried his only surviving daughter, Cleobule, a blooming girl of sixteen. But in the midst of the festivity of the marriage feast, he was attacked with apoplexy, which had been succeeded by tedious and painful illness. No means of relief had been neglected. The veteran family physician, a man of no mean skill, had called in the advice of other medical men, but the resources of their art were exhausted without success : neither their exertions, nor the tenderness of Cleobule, who nursed the patient like a dutiful daughter, availed to reunite the ruptured threads of his existence. Polycles was not satisfied with ap plying for aid to the successors of JSsculapius, but tried the efficacy of certain charms ; while interpreters of dreams were consulted, expiations placed in the crossways, and aged women, reputed to have the power of curing diseases by mysterious arts and magic songs, had been summoned to attend. Whole days and nights had also been passed by the sufferer in the temple
THE FORGED WILL. 241
of J5sculapius, but to no purpose. At last, hearing of a happy cure effected in a similar case by the baths of jEdepsos, he repaired thither for the benefit of the waters : but the Nymphs had refused their succor ; and some days ago the doctor had declared that the patient would never need any herb more, save
the parsley [funeral wreaths].
Next day Charicles was on the point of going out. The
previous evening he had come to the resolution of marrying, and he had determined that Phorion should play the suitor for him. At this moment a slave rapped at the door, on an errand from Polycles. Weak as the patient was, he had expressed great pleasure on hearing that the son of his old friend was in Athens, and now sent to say he wished to see him once more before his end, which he felt was drawing nigh. Charicles could not refuse a request expressive of so much kindliness, and"therefore promised to attend.
It were better to come along with me at once," said the slave. " My master is very low now, and his friends have just met at his bedside. "
"Well, lead on," said Charicles, not unwilling to put off
for a time his intended visit to Phorion ; " lead on, I follow
you. "
At the doctor's side stood three friends of the family, their
gaze fixed inquiringly on his countenance ; while at the foot of the bed an aged slave, with clasped hands, was gazing in tently on his dying master. Long and silently did the leech hold the sick man's wrist, and at last let it go, though without uttering a word that might encourage hope.
The slave who had conducted Charicles now approached, and first whispered his arrival to the doctor, with whose assent he further announced it to his master. The sick man pushed back the felt cap which he had drawn down over his forehead, and extended his right hand to Charicles. " Joy to you, son of my friend," he murmured feebly ; " and thanks for fulfilling my wish. I was present at the festival of naming you, and thus you stand now at my dying bed. "
" Health to you also," answered Charicles, "and joy, although now you are in pain and anguish. May the gods transform into lightsome day the dark night that now encompasses you. "
"Nay," said Polycles; "I am not to be deceived. I am not one of those who, when they meet with suffering or mis fortune, send for a sophist to console them. Rather tell me
VOL. IV. — 16
242 THE FORGED WILL.
something of the fate of thy family. " The youth, accordingly, delivered a brief recital of the fortunes of his house since the flight from Athens.
The sick man evinced so much emotion in the course of the narration, that at last the doctor motioned Charicles to break off. " Is the draught ready that I ordered to be prepared? " he inquired of a slave who just then entered.
" Manto will bring it immediately," was the reply.
" Manto? " exclaimed Polycles : " why not Cleobule ? " "She heard that gentlemen were with you," replied the
slave.
" They are only near friends of the family," said the sick
man ; " she need not mind them. I prefer taking the draught from her. "
The slave departed to inform the lady of his master's wishes, and the doctor again felt the patient's pulse, whilst the by standers stood aside.
One of the three, who had been addressed as Sophilos, had seized Charicles by the hand, and retired with him to a corner of the room. His age was between fifty and sixty, and his exterior bespoke affluence, as well as polish and good breeding. Time had furrowed his brow, and rendered gray his locks ; but his firm carriage and active step betokened one still vigorous, and he conversed with all the vivacity of youth. A gentle earnestness and good-humored benevolence beamed in his countenance, and his whole appearance was calculated to awaken confidence and attract the beholder.
As Charicles recounted the misfortunes of his family, Sophi los had listened with sympathy, and, when he now further ques tioned Charicles about many passages in his life, his glance dwelt on the youth with peculiar satisfaction. Whilst they were en gaged in low-toned conversation, the hanging was pushed aside, and Cleobule entered, followed by a female slave. Nearly over come with timidity, she did not dare raise her eyes, but kept them fixed on the glass phial in her right hand, and she hastened to present to her sick husband and uncle the portion which it contained, the physician having first mingled in it something from his drug box. She next smoothed the pillow, bending affectionately over her husband, as if to inquire whether he felt any relief.
The eyes of all present were fastened on this picture of dutiful affection, but the gaze of Charicles especially seemed
THE FORGED WILL. 243
riveted to the spot. When Cleobule entered, he was convers ing with Sophilos, with his back to the door, and she on her part was so entirely occupied with tending the sick man, that her face had not once been turned towards the group behind her. Yet there was something in that graceful figure that awoke scarcely stifled emotions in his breast. It was the very image of the apparition by the brook. . . .
The physician next prescribed a bath for his patient. . . . Cleobule hastened to superintend in person the needful prepara tions, and as she turned round to go towards the door, her eye fell upon Charicles, who was standing near it. Suddenly she started as though she had seen the Gorgon's head, or some specter risen out of Hades ; and the glass phial would have dropped from her hand, had not the doctor caught it. With a deep blush, and downcast eyes, she rushed hurriedly past the young man, who was himself so surprised and confused that he did not hear the question which Sophilos just then put to him. It was now necessary to leave the sick chamber, and he was not sorry to do so. Approaching the bed, he expressed a hope that its tenant would amend, and then hastened from the chamber in a tumult of contending emotions.
It was one of those blustering nights so common at the com mencement of Maemacterion [latter part of November]. The wind blew from Salamis, driving before it the scud of black rain clouds over the Piraeus ; and when they opened for a mo ment, the crescent of the waning moon would peer forth, throw ing a transient glimmer on the distant temples of the Acropolis. In the streets of the seaport, generally so full of bustle, reigned deep repose, only broken by the dull roaring of the sea, or the groaning of the masts, as some more violent gust swept through the rigging of the vessels yet remaining in the harbor. Occa sionally, too, some half -intoxicated sailor would stagger lantern- less from the wine shops towards the harbor ; or some footpad would sneak along the sides of the houses, ready to pounce on the cloak of a belated passenger, and hiding cautiously behind a Hermes or an altar whenever the bell of the night patrol was heard.
In a small room of a house situated some distance from the harbor, a young man of unprepossessing exterior lay stretched upon a low couch, which was too short for his figure. His hol low eyes and sunken cheeks, the carelessness of his demeanor,
244 THE FORGED WILL.
his hasty way of draining the cup in his right hand, and the coarse jokes that from time to time escaped him, sufficiently marked him as one of those vulgar roues who were accustomed to waste the day at the dice board, and devote the night to riot and debauchery. On the table near him, beside the nearly empty punch bowl, stood a lamp with a double wick, whose light abundantly illumined the narrow chamber. There were also the remnants of the frugal supper that he had just concluded, and a second goblet, which a slave, who sat upon another couch opposite the young man, replenished pretty frequently. Be tween them was a draughtboard which the slave was eying attentively, whilst the other surveyed it with tolerable indiffer ence. The game was by no means even. The menial evidently had the advantage ; and he now made a move which reduced his adversary to great straits.
" A stupid game, this ! " exclaimed the youth, as he tossed the pieces all in a heap ; " a game where it's all thinking, and nothing won after all. Dicing for me," he added with a yawn. " But what has got Sosilas ? It must be past midnight ; and such weather as this, I should not over-enjoy the walk from the town to the haven. "
"He's gone to Polycles," replied the slave. "'Twas said he would not live till morning, and Sosilas seems vastly con cerned about him. "
" I know," answered the youth ; " but then why did he send for me, just at this time of all others ? The morning would have done quite as well ; and I must needs leave a jolly party, forsooth ; and here I am, hang it, and have to stand my own wine, for not a drop has the old hunks provided. "
" All I know," replied the slave, " is that he bade me fetch you wherever you were, as he must have speech with you this very night without fail. "
" Then why doesn't he come ? " retorted the other, peevishly. "Did he go unattended? "
" Syrus went with him ; he'll come to no harm. And even suppose he didn't return," continued the slave with a smile ; "why, you're his next relation and heir, aren't you? Two houses in the city, besides this here — a carpenter's shop, and maybe some five or six talents in ready cash ; — in sooth, no such bad heritage ! "
The youth lolled back complacently on the couch. " Yes, Molon," said he, " when he's once out of the way, then "
THE FORGED WILL. 245
At this moment came a violent rap at the outer door. " There he is ! " cried the slave, as he hastily caught up the draughtboard and one of the goblets, smoothed down the cushion and coverlet of the couch he had been sitting on, and stationed himself at the stripling's elbow, as if he had been waiting on him.
Steps were now audible in the courtyard, and a gruff voice was heard giving orders to a slave in harsh accents. The door opened, and in walked a man with a large beard, and dark and forbidding features. He was wrapped, after the Spartan fash ion, in a short mantle of coarse thick texture, and wore Laco- nian shoes. In his hand was a stout cudgel, with its handle bent in the form of a cross. The sight of the drinking cups and the unwonted illumination of the chamber made him forget the greeting. He approached the slave in a rage.
" Ah ! you knave ! " cried he, raising his stick ; " what d'ye mean by these two burners, and such large wicks ? Does not the winter consume oil enough without this ? And you, Lysis- tratos," — he here turned to the youth — "seem to make your self"quite at home in my house. " "
Oh ! to be sure, uncle," answered the other, dryly ;
on credit from the tavern, since yours is safe under lock and key. Do you suppose I'm going to wait here half the night for you, without a drop to drink? "
" I didn't expect to be kept so long," said the old man, some what softened, as he hastily scanned the apartment. " You may go," he said to the slave ; " we don't want you any more : leave us, and go to bed. " The slave departed; Sosilas bolted the door, and returned to his nephew.
" He is dead," whispered he, drawing a long breath ; " Poly- cles is dead, and a property of sixty talents and more is left
without natural heirs. " " The nephew started.
Well ! and what good is that to us, ifwe do not come in for a share ? "
" That's just the question," answered the uncle. " Lysistra- tos," he resumed after a short silence, " you may be a rich man, if you will. "
" Will ? ay ! by Dionysos will I, and no mistake," laughed the nephew.
"Only do what I tell you," said Sosilas, "and you have your desire. We are connected — very distantly, I grant — with Polycles, for my long-deceased wife and Cleobule's mother
wine
246 THE FORGED WILL.
were first cousins. Yet this connection gives us no title to the property. But, now, what if a will were produced naming me heir ! "
" You mean a forged one," said Lysistratos musingly ; " but how will it be accredited without you have his signet ring ? And do you suppose Polycles, during his long illness, has not himself arranged about bequeathing his property ? "
The old man quietly opened an adjoining room, and fetched out of it a box, which he unfastened, and drew forth a document with a seal. " Look ye there, read that," said he, as he placed it before the youth. " " What's the superscription ? "
" By Dionysos ! cried the youth springing to his feet, "' The last will of Polycles. ' How came you by this ? "
"Very simply," replied the uncle. "When Polycles was starting to JSdepsos, and Sophilos, who had got him in his meshes, was luckily gone upon a journey, he summoned me, as a relative of his wife's, and intrusted me with his will in the presence of the three witnesses therein named. "
" Capital ! " shouted Lysistratos ; " so you can substitute another of your own composing. But still, even then, you will want his signet : do you think you could imitate it? "
" "That would be a dangerous experiment," replied the uncle;
and besides, you can perceive by the superscription in what peculiar shaky characters it is written; so that it would be almost impossible to forge an imitation, nor indeed do we want one. " Saying this he produced a knife, removed the shell which served as a capsule to the seal, and said, " See ! that's Polycles' seal, and there is just such another beneath the writing ; and now look at this," cried he, as he placed side by side"with it another seal, hanging by a slip of string.
" You'll understand presently," replied the uncle. He took the knife, and without hesitation severed the string to which the seal was appended, opened the document, and spread it before his nephew. " Look," he said with a malicious grin ; " supposing ' Sosilas ' stood here instead of ' Sophilos,' and there, ' Sophilos ' instead of ' Sosilas. ' I should not so much mind then. " "
By Poseidon ! exactly the same," exclaimed Lysistratos, in amazement; "but I can't conceive what all this is about. "
The youth read in astonishment.
"that were indeed a master stroke; and there are only two letters to alter; for as good luck has the fathers' names are
I' faith!
"
he exclaimed,
it,
THE FORGED WILL. 247
the same. But the seal ? " he added, " the seal ? how could you venture to break open the deed ? "
The old man made a second dive into the mysterious box, and drew out something resembling a signet. "I learned how to make this substance from a cunning fellow who went about soothsaying. If pressed upon a seal when soft, it receives all the characters with perfect accuracy and in a short time be comes as hard as stone. " The will had been opened before, and the seal appended to it was merely an impression of this. " Can you distinguish between it and the genuine one ? "
" No, that I can't," answered the nephew.
" So, then, it will be an easy matter to reseal the deed, when we have alterIed the letters in these two places. "
"
to become rich by this ? now interposed
"But how am
the youth, suspiciously; "my name is not mentioned in the testament. "
"Listen a moment," replied the uncle; "the inheritance, as you may have read, is coupled with one condition — that the heir must marry the widow Cleobule, and if he object to this, must be content with five talents as his portion ; but he will have the right of giving the widow in marriage, along with the rest of the property, to whomsoever he may judge proper. Now I am too old to marry again; and be sides, I was warned against it in a dream. I dreamed that I wished to take a wife, and went to the bride's house to be be trothed to her; but when I essayed to go away again, the door was fastened, and could not be opened. Two interpreters of dreams, whom I consulted, foretold that I should die on the day of my betrothment ; and that is warning enough ; but you shall marry Cleobule, if you will privately cede half the property to me. " "
After some higgling, it was finally settled that the uncle should not receive the five talents over and above his half of the property, but that these should be included in the parti tion.
The nephew reflected for a moment.
tition," he said at last: "your share is unincumbered, while my moiety will be saddled with the widow. "
" Fool ! " retorted Sosilas : " Cleobule is such a beauty that many a man would be glad to take her without any dowry at all ; besides which, it all depends on me, you know, whether you get a farthing. "
It's an unequal par
248 THE FORGED WILL.
" Now hand me the will," said the old man ; "with this little sponge I erase the two letters, and the more easily because the paper is so good. Look ! they are now scarce distinguishable. This ink," continued he, as he produced a little box and the writing reed, "is of just the same blackness as the writing. There we have it, all right. Who will assert that it was not always as it now stands ? "
" Excellent ! " said the nephew ; " now for the seal. "
The old man carefully folded up the deed again, moistened some clay, tied the string, and impressed the forged stamp upon the clay. "There ! " said he, "isn't it the same seal ? "
" Well, that beats everything," cried Lysistratos, as he com pared the two seals ; " no one will ever dream that it is a forgery. "
A rustling outside the door startled the old man. He snatched up the will and the other contents of the box, which he bore off, and fastened the door of the room adjacent, seal ing it for greater security. Then taking the lamp he explored the court, to discover if possible the cause of the disturbance. " It was nothing," he said, when he came back ; " most likely the storm which made the door shake. It will soon be morn ing : Lysistratos, come into my bedchamber, and let us have a short nap. "
The two worthies had not been long gone when Molon glided softly into the room, and groped about in the dark for one of the sofas. A gleam of moonlight shone through the open door, and he hastily seized something that lay in the folds of the drapery, and then as quickly and softly vanished, his gestures denoting the prize to be one on which he set a high value.
When morning dawned on the house of the deceased, it found the inmates already busy with preparations for the burial.
An earthen vessel, filled with water, stood before the door, to signify to the passenger that it was a house of mourn ing. Within, the women were occupied in anointing and lay ing out the corpse. Cleobule, inexperienced, and woe-begone like an orphan child, had begged the aid of Sophilos, who, even without solicitation, would have undertaken to conduct the funeral. She had always looked on Polycles in the light of an affectionate uncle, who had indulged her every wish ; and now she wept for him as for a parent ; while she applied herself to
THE FORGED WILL. 249
her mournful duties, assisted by her mother, whom she had sent for on the previous evening, — as her childlike tremors, which had been early nourished by nurses' fairy tales and ghost stories, rendered solitude in the house of death insupportable.
It was still early, and Sophilos was just debating with the women of the order of the interment, when Sosilas also made his appearance, with sorrow in his aspect but exultation in his heart. He had hastened, he said, to bring the will which the deceased had deposited in his hands ; as perhaps it might con tain some dispositions respecting his interment. He then named the witnesses who had been by when he received the will, and whose presence would now be necessary at the opening. Cleo- bule was somewhat disconcerted to find the document that was to decide her future fate placed in the custody of one to whom, from early childhood, she had entertained feelings of aversion. Polycles had never been explicit on this head, merely assuring her in general terms that she had been cared for. And such she now hoped was the case ; but yet she had rather that any body else had produced the will. Sophilos, on the other hand, did not seem at all put out by the circumstance. He praised Sosilas for his punctuality, and desired that the witnesses might be cited to attend ; but this, the other said, was not necessary, as he had already sent them notices to that effect. "
Before long the three made their appearance.
present," said Sosilas to" them, " when Polycles committed his last will to my charge ?
They replied in the affirmative.
"You will be ready then to testify that this is the deed which he intrusted to me ? "
" The superscription and the seal," answered one of them, " are what prove its authenticity. All that we can witness to is that a testament was deposited with you — not, that this is the identical one in question ; still there is no ground for the con trary assumption, since the seal is untouched, and may be recog nized as that of Polycles. "
" Do you, therefore, satisfy yourself, Cleobule, that I have faithfully discharged your husband's behest. Do you acknowl edge this seal ? "
With trembling hand Cleobule took the deed. " An eagle clutching a snake," said she ; "it is the device of his signet. " She next handed the testament to Sophilos, who also pro nounced it all right.
You were
250
THE FORGED WILL.
" Open it then," said Sosilas to one of the witnesses, " that its contents may be known. My sight is bad : do one of you read for me. "
The string was cut, the document unfolded, and the witness read as follows : —
" The testament of Polycles the Paeanian. May all be well ; but should I not recover from this sickness, thus do I devise my estate. I give my wife Cleobule, with all my fortune, as set down in the accompanying schedule, — save and except all that is herein otherwise disposed, — to my friend Sosilas, the son of Philo, to which end I adopt him as my son. Should he refuse to marry her, then I bequeath to him the five talents lying with Pasion, the money changer ; but I then constitute him guardian of Cleobule, and he shall give her, with the rest of the property, to some husband of his own choosing, who shall take posses sion of my house. I give and bequeath my house on the Olym- pieion to Theron, the son of Callias ; and the lodging house in the Piraeus to Sophilos, son of Philo. To the son of Callipides I bequeath my largest silver bowl, and to his wife a pair of gold earrings, and two coverlets and two cushions of the best in my possession ; that I may not seem to have forgotten them. To my physician Zenothemis I leave a legacy of one thousand drachmae, though his skill and attention have deserved still more. Let my sepulchre be erected in a fitting spot of the garden outside the Melitic gate. Let Theron, together with Sophilos and my relatives, see to it that my obsequies and monument be neither unworthy of me, nor yet on too sumptu ous a scale. I expressly prohibit Cleobule and the women, as well as the female slaves, from cutting off their hair, or other wise disfiguring themselves. To Demetrius, who has long been free, I remit his ransom, and make him a present of five minae, a himation and a chiton [cloak and gown], in considera tion of his faithful services. Of the slaves I hereby manumit Parmeno, and Chares, with his child ; but Carion and Donax must work for four years in the garden, and shall then be made free, if they shall have conducted themselves well during that period. Manto shall be free immediately on Cleobule's mar riage, and shall also receive three minae. Of the children of my slaves none are to be sold, but are to be kept in the house
till they are grown up, and then set free. Syrus, however, shall be sold. Sophilos, Theron, and Callipides will discharge the duties of executors. This testament is placed in the keeping
THE FORGED WILL.
251
of Sosilas. Witnesses : Lysimachos, son of Strato ; Hegesias, of Hegio; and Hipparchos of Callippos. "
A deathlike stillness reigned among the audience when the reader had concluded. At the first words Cleobule had turned pale, and sunk back on a settle half fainting, while her mother, who was crying, supported her. Sophilos placed his hand on his lips, and was lost in thought ; the witnesses mutely surveyed the scene. Sosilas alone seemed perfectly composed. "Take courage," said he, approaching Cleobule ; " fear not that I will lay claim to the happiness that Polycles intended for me. I my self, too, am astonished, and could easily be dazzled by the tempt ing prize ; but I am too old to dream of wedding a young bride. Willingly do I resign the rich inheritance, and shall select for you a husband more suitable in age. "
Cleobule turned away with a shudder. Sosilas grasped the will, saying, " Nothing more is now wanting but the attesta tion of the witnesses, that such was the tenor of the will when opened. "
" The witnesses accordingly set their seals to the writing. It is not the only testament that Polycles has left," remarked
one of them. " " How ? What ?
exclaimed Sosilas, turning pale ; " noth ing is said here about the existence of another will. "
" I don't rightly understand it," replied the witness ; " but two days after you received this, Polycles called me and four others in as witnesses, on his depositing another document— doubtless a duplicate of this — in the hands of Menecles, to whose house he had caused himself to be conveyed. "
The effects of this disclosure on those present were, as might have been expected, extremely various. Sosilas stood like one utterly undone ; a faint ray of hope glimmered in the bosom of Cleobule ; Sophilos eyed narrowly the countenance of the forger, who quailed before his glance; and the witnesses looked doubtingly at one another.
Sosilas at length broke the silence. "This will," said he with some vehemence, " is genuine ; and even supposing that there is another authentic one in existence, its contents will of course be the same. "
"Why"! it is indeed hardly to be supposed," rejoined Sophilos, that Polycles would have changed his mind in two days ; but we must invite Menecles to produce the copy in his custody, without loss of time. " A slave here entered, and
252 THE FORGED WILL.
whispered a message in his ear. " The very thing ! " he cried. " Menecles is not less punctual than you. Two of his witnesses have already arrived, in obedience to his summons ; and he will therefore shortly be here in person. "
The men now entered. Sosilas walked up and down the room, and gradually recovered his composure. Even should his plans be unpleasantly disturbed by the contents of the second will, still a wide field would be open for litigation, in which he had an even chance of coming off victor. Menecles soon arrived with the other two witnesses, and delivered the will. The superscription and seal were found to be correct, and its contents tallied with those of the first, word for word, with the exception of the two names, which were interchanged. At the end was a postscript, to the effect that an exactly similar testament was deposited with Sosilas the Piraean.
The reading of this caused a violent scene, and plenty of abuse and recrimination followed on both sides. Sosilas pro nounced it a forgery, and went off declaring that he would make good his claims before a court of law.
The morning of the funeral had arrived ; and before day break a crowd of mourners, and of others actuated merely by motives of curiosity, had collected in and around the house, either to attach themselves to the procession, or merely to be spectators of the pageant. Even the day before, whilst the corpse lay in state, the door was crowded by persons who in the course of their lives had never before crossed its threshold. Several, too, had evinced much celerity in putting on mourning, being very anxious to establish their claims to a distant rela tionship with the defunct, when they learned the property was in dispute, and there seemed a prospect of good fishing in the troubled waters.
Charicles, however, did not present himself within ; although perhaps the house possessed greater attractions for him than for any of the others. The impression his late unexpected appear ance made on Cleobule had not escaped him, and he held it im proper to disturb her duties to the departed by a second visit. Still he could not omit accompanying the funeral procession to the place of interment ; and in fact Sophilos, who somehow felt a great liking for the youth, had himself invited him to be pres ent. The old gentleman had paid him several visits, and in a significant manner had described how much Cleobule was im
THE FORGED WILL. 253
periled by the will, which he was convinced was a forgery. Charicles was perhaps more disquieted at this than even Sophilos himself. Whichever way the matter might be decided, it would of course make no difference to him personally : for in case a fraud were detected, the lady would become the wife of Sophilos ; and as regarded himself, he had made up his mind that even under the most favorable circumstances, it would never befit one of his years and condition to marry a widow of such large property : he was nevertheless pained to think that such a fascinating creature might fall into the power of one who, to judge from all accounts, must be utterly unworthy of her. . . .
When the bones had been consigned to the ground, and the women had bidden farewell to the new-made grave, Charicles with Sophilos wended his way back towards the city. The possible consequences of the unhappy will formed the topic of conversation. Charicles could not conceal how very different an impression Sosilas had made upon him from what he had ex pected. To-day the man had looked so unassuming and devout, and withal so venerable, that he had well nigh dropped his sus picions.
"Who would ever believe," said he, "that beneath this exterior lurked such knavery? "
" You will meet with plenty more such," answered Sophilos, "who go about with the aspect of lambs, but within are the most poisonous scorpions ; it is just these that are most danger ous of all. "
At the city gate they separated. A strange slave had fol lowed them at a distance all the way. He now stood still for a moment, "apparently undetermined which of the two he should pursue. Youth is more liberal," said he half aloud, after re flecting a moment, "especially when in love. " With this he struck into the path Charicles had taken, and which led through a narrow lonely lane, between two garden walls ; here he re doubled his pace, and soon overtook Charicles.
" Who art thou ? " asked the youth, retreating back a step.
" A slave, as you see," was the reply, " and one who may be of service to you. You seem interested in Cleobule's fate,
eh? " " " What business is that of yours ?
retorted Charicles ; but his blush was more than a sufficient answer for the slave.
"It is not indifferent to you," he proceeded, "whether Sophilos or Sosilas be the heir. "
254 THE FORGED WILL.
" Very possibly ; but wherefore these inquiries ? what is this to you, sirrah ? "
" More than you think," rejoined the slave. " What shall be my reward"if I hand you the proof that one of the two wills
is a forgery ? "
" You ! a miserable slave !
" The slave is often acquainted with his master's most secret
exclaimed the youth, astonished.
dealings," answered the other. " Come now, what's to be my reward ? " *
" Freedom, which is your rightful due for the discovery of such a crime. "
"Good," replied the slave, "but the freedman must have the means wherewith to live. "
" That also shall you have : five minae are yours, if you speak the truth. "
"Thy name is Charicles," said the slave; "no one hears your promise, but I'll trust you. My master is Sosilas, and they call me Molon. " He opened a small "bag, and pulled something out of it with a mysterious air. See, here is the signet," said he, " with which the forged will was sealed. " He took some wax, wetted it, and impressed the seal thereon. " That is the device of Polycles, an eagle clawing a snake ; you will be the eagle. " He related how he had witnessed the forgery through a crack in the door ; how a rustling he had made was near betraying him ; and how Sosilas, in his haste to bundle up the things, had unwittingly let the false stamp drop on the coverlet. "Now then," said he, "haven't I kept my word? "
" By the gods ! and so will I," cried Charicles, almost be side himself with wonder and joy. " Not five — no — ten minae shalt thou"have. And now to Sophilos with all speed. "
"No ! said the slave, "Itrust toyou. Do you go by your self, and have me called when you have need of me. " . . .
In addition to the slave's statement, and the production of the forged signet, another decisive proof had been obtained. With his usual circumspection and prudence, Polycles had, during his stay at iEdepsos, deposited a third copy of the will in the hands of a respectable man there. Of course this also testified against Sosilas ; and the forgery he had committed was now so manifest, that he might congratulate himself on the magnanimity of Sophilos in not proceeding against him.
THE GOLDEN MEAN. 255
THE GOLDEN MEAN. By ARISTOTLE.
(From the "Ethics. ")
[Aristotle, the greatest name in the history of philosophy, was born at Stageira, Macedonia, B. C. 384, of a line of able physicians ; his father was the friend and physician of King Philip's father. Early orphaned, and trained for the family profession, at eighteen he went to Athens to study philosophy ; on Plato's return from Syracuse, three years later, Aristotle became his pupil, and remained such for the seventeen years of Plato's life, teaching rhetoric, also in rivalry with Isocrates. On Plato's death, he went to the court of his old pupil Hermeias, now chief by conquest of Atarneus, opposite Lesbos. Three years after, Hermeias was slain by treachery ; Aristotle escaped to Mitylene with and married Hermeias' daughter. Two years later, b. c. 342, Philip invited him to Macedon to educate his son Alexander, then thirteen. In 334, when Alexander invaded Asia, he returned to Athens, and opened a school of phi losophy in the Peripatos, or covered walk of the Lyceum. After the death of Alexander in 323, Aristotle was prosecuted for impiety, like Socrates ; he fled to Chalcis in Euboea, and died in 322. His writings comprised 146 volumes
(100 now lost), and systematized all the knowledge of antiquity. Of his extant works, the chief are his "Logic,""— a science he practically created, — "Eth ics," "Politics," "Poetics," and Rhetoric. "]
Liberality and Illiberalitt.
Let us next speak of liberality. Now it appears to be a mean on the subject of possessions ; for the liberal man is praised, not for matters which relate to war, nor for those in which the temperate character is exhibited, nor yet for his judgment, but in respect to the giving and receiving of prop erty; and more in giving than receiving. But by property we mean everything of which the value is measured by money. Now, the excess and defect on the subject of property are prodigality and illiberality : the term illiberality we always attach to those who are more anxious than they ought about money ; but that of prodigality we sometimes use in a com plex sense, and attach it to intemperate people, — for we call those who are incontinent, and profuse in their expenditure for purposes of intemperance, prodigal ; therefore they seem to be the most wicked, for they have many vices at once. Now, they are not properly so called, for the meaning of the word prodigal is the man who has one single vice, namely, that of wasting his fortune ; for the man who is ruined by his own means is prodigal, and the waste of property appears
256 THE GOLDEN MEAN.
to be a sort of ruining one's self, since life is supported by means of property. This is the sense, therefore, that we attach to prodigality. But it is possible to make a good and bad use of everything which has use. Now, money is one of the useful things ; and that man makes the best use of every thing who possesses the virtue which relates to it : therefore he who possesses the virtue that relates to money will make the best use of it, and the possessor of it is the liberal man.
But spending and giving seem to be the use of money, and receiving and taking care of it are more properly the method of acquiring it : hence it is more the part of the liberal man to give to proper objects than to receive from proper persons, or to abstain from receiving from improper persons; for it belongs more to the virtue of liberality to do than to receive good, and to do what is honorable than to abstain from doing what is disgraceful. And it is clear that doing what is good and honorable belongs to giving, and that receiving good and abstaining from doing what is disgraceful belongs to receiv ing; and thanks are bestowed on the giver, and not on him who abstains from receiving, and praise still more so ; and abstaining from receiving is more easy than giving, for men are less disposed to give what is their own than not to take what belongs to another; and givers are called liberal, while those who abstain from receiving are not praised for liberality, but nevertheless they are praised for justice ; but those who receive are not praised at all. But liberal men are more beloved than any others, for they are useful, and their use fulness consists in giving.
But actions according to virtue are honorable, and are done for the sake of the honorable : the liberal man, therefore, will give for the sake of the honorable, and will give properly, for he will give to proper objects, in proper quantities, at proper times: and his giving will have all the other qualifications of right giving, and he will do this pleasantly and without pain ; for that which is done according to virtue is pleasant, or without pain, and by no means annoying to the doer. But he who gives to improper objects, and not for the sake of the honorable, is not to be called liberal, but something else ; nor yet he who gives with pain, for he would prefer the money to the performance of an honorable action, and this is not the part of a liberal man. Nor yet will the liberal man receive from improper persons, for such receiving is not characteristic
THE GOLDEN MEAN. 257
of him who estimates things at their proper value ; nor would he be fond of asking, for it is not like a benefactor readily to allow himself to be benefited : but he will receive from proper sources, for instance from his own possessions, not because it is honorable, but because it is necessary in order that he may have something to give; nor will he be careless of his own fortune, because he hopes by means of it to be of use to others ; nor will he give at random to anybody, in order that he may have something to give to proper objects and in cases where it is honorable to do so.
It is characteristic of the liberal man to be profuse and lavish in giving, so as to leave but little for himself ; for it is characteristic of him not to look to his own interest. But the term liberality is applied in proportion to a man's fortune, for the liberal consists not in the quantity of the things given, but in the habit of the giver ; and this habit gives according to the means of the giver. And there is nothing to hinder the man whose gifts are smaller being more liberal, provided he gives from smaller means. But those who have not been the makers of their own fortune, but have received it by inheritance, are thought to be more liberal, for they are inexperienced in want, and all men love their own productions most, as parents and poets. But it is not easy for the liberal man to be rich, since he is not apt to receive or to take care of money, but rather to give it away, and to be careless of it for its own sake, and only to care for it for the sake of giving away. And for this reason people upbraid fortune, because those who are most deserving of wealth are the least wealthy. But this happens not without reason, for it is impossible for a man to have money who takes no pains about getting as the case in other things.
Yet the liberal man will not give to improper persons, nor at improper times, and so forth, for he did, he would cease to act with liberality; and he were to spend money upon these things, he would have none to spend upon proper objects, —for, as has been observed, the man who spends according to his means, and upon proper objects, liberal, but he who
in the excess prodigal. For this reason we do not call kings prodigal, for does not appear easy to exceed the greatness of their possessions in gifts and expenditure.
Liberality, therefore, being middle state on the subject of
giving and receiving money, the liberal man will give and vol. nr. — 17
it is
a
is
if
is
if
it, is
258 THE GOLDEN MEAN.
expend upon proper objects, and in proper quantities, in small and great matters alike, and this he will do with pleasure ; and he will receive from proper sources, and in proper quantities : for since the virtue of liberality is a mean state, it both giving and receiving, he will in both cases act as he ought ; for proper receiving is naturally consequent upon proper giving, and im proper receiving is the contrary. Habits, therefore, which are naturally consequent upon each other are produced together in the same person, but those that are contrary clearly cannot. But if it should happen to the liberal man to spend in a manner inconsistent with propriety and what is honorable, he will feel pain, but only moderately and as he ought ; for it is character istic of virtue to feel pleasure and pain at proper objects, and in a proper manner. And the liberal man is ready to share his money with others ; for, from his setting no value on it, he is liable to be dealt with unjustly, and he is more annoyed at not spending anything that he ought to have spent, than pained at having spent what he ought not. But the prodigal man even in these cases acts wrongly, for he neither feels pleasure nor pain, where he ought nor as he ought.
But we have said that prodigality and illiberality are the excess and the defect, and that they are conversant with two things, giving and receiving, for we include spending under giving. Prodigality, therefore, exceeds in giving and not receiving, and falls short in receiving ; but illiberality is defi cient in giving, but excessive in receiving, but only in cases of small expenditure. Both the characteristics of prodigal ity, therefore, are seldom found in the same person ; for it is not easy for a person who receives from nobody to give to everybody, for their means soon fail private persons who give, and these are the very persons who seem to be prodigal. This character now would seem considerably better than the illiberal one ; for he is easily to be cured by age and by want, and is able to arrive at the mean : for he has the qualifications of the liberal man ; for he both gives and abstains from receiving, but in neither instance as he ought, nor well.
