"
"You a virgin forsooth!
"You a virgin forsooth!
Scriptori Erotici Graeci
.
.
"health in the human frame,
Is pleasant, besides being true love's essence. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 32: See Lucan, B. vi. 605, &c. ]
[Footnote 33: See the anecdote of Lais and Xenocrates. Anthon's
Classical Dict. ]
[Footnote 34: διαῤῥεύσασαν. ]
[Footnote 35:
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast,
Man never is, but always to be blest. "--Pope.
]
[Footnote 36: The text here is very corrupt in the Greek; the sense
given is in accordance with Jacobs. ]
[Footnote 37:
"Old Lambro pass'd unseen a private gate,
And stood within his hall at eventide;
Meanwhile the lady and her lover sate
At wassail in their beauty and their pride;
An ivory inlaid table spread with state
Before them, and fair slaves on every side;
Gems, gold, and silver, form'd the service mostly,
Mother of pearl and coral the less costly. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 38: εἴσω τοῦ χιτωνίσχου προσδεδμένην ἐκ τῶν τῆς ὀθόνης
θνσάνων--See Dict. of Grk. and Rom. Antiq. , p. 422, under the article
_Fimbriæ_. ]
[Footnote 39: ἀνδρόγυνε καὶ κάλλούς βάσκανε. The sense of βάσκανος
is thus given by Jacobs:--"Qui insitâ vi invidiæ, pulchritudinis
efficaciam debilitat aut destruit. "]
[Footnote 40:
"Her anger pitch'd into a lower tune,
Perhaps the fault of her soft sex and age;
Her wish was but to 'kill, kill, kill,' like Lear's,
And then her thirst of blood was quench'd in tears. "
Byron.
]
[Footnote 41:
. . . "has nullo perdere possum
Nec prohibere modo, simul ac vaga luna decorum
Protulit os, quin ossa legant, herbasque nocentes. "
Hor. S. i. 8, 20.
]
[Footnote 42:
"And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Never durst poet touch a pen to write,
Until his ink were temper'd with love's sighs;
Ο! then his lines would ravish savage ears,
And plant in tyrants mild humanity. "--Love's Labour Lost.
]
[Footnote 43: Venue and Cupid were supposed to be irritated against
those who shewed insensibility to their influence:--
"Ingratam Veneri pone superbiam. "
Hor. Od. iii. 10. 9.
]
[Footnote 44: αὐτουργὸς γὰρ ὁ ἔρως καὶ αὑτοσχέδιος σοφιστῆς, a passage
parallel to one in B. i. , αὐτοδίδακτος γὰρ ἐστίν ὁ θεὸς. ]
BOOK VI.
When at length, I had sufficiently eased Melitta's pains, I said to
her, "How do you mean to provide for my escape and to perform your
promises as to Leucippe? "--"Be in no anxiety respecting her," was the
reply, "look upon her as already restored to your embrace; but put on
my clothes and conceal your face in my robe; Melantho will conduct
you to the door, there you will find a young man who has orders from
me to guide you to the house where Clinias and Satyrus await you, and
whither Leucippe will shortly come. " While giving me these directions,
she dressed me so as to resemble her in appearance; then kissing me,
she said, "You look handsomer than ever in this attire, and remind me
of a picture of Achilles[1] which I once saw. Fare you well, dearest,
preserve this dress as a memorial of me, and leave me your own, that
I may sometimes put it on and fancy myself in your embrace;" she then
gave me a hundred gold pieces, and called Melantho, a trusty servant,
who was watching at the door, told her what to do, and ordered her to
return, as soon as she had let me out. Thus disguised I slipped out
of the room, the keeper, upon receiving a sign from Melantho, taking
me for his mistress and making way; passing through an unfrequented
part of the house I reached a back door, where I was received by the
person whom Melitta had appointed to be there; he was a freedman who
had accompanied us on our voyage from Alexandria, and with whom I had
already been intimate.
Upon her return, Melantho found the keeper preparing to secure the
room for the night, she desired him to open the door, and going in,
informed her mistress of my escape; Melitta called in the keeper, who
seeing the right bird flown and another in his place,[2] was struck
dumb with astonishment: "I did not employ this artifice," said she,
"from believing you unwilling to favour Clitopho's escape, but because
I wished to give you the means of clearing yourself from blame in the
opinion of Thersander. Here are ten gold pieces; if you choose to
remain here, you are to regard them as a present from Clitopho, if you
prefer getting out of the way they will help you on your journey. "
"Mistress," replied the keeper, whose name was Pasio, "I am ready to
follow your suggestion. " It was agreed, that the man should go away and
remain in concealment until Thersander's anger had subsided, and he and
his wife were again upon good terms. Upon leaving the house, my usual
ill fortune overtook me; and interwove a new incident in the drama of
my life. Whom should I encounter but Thersander! who persuaded by his
friend not to sleep away from his wife, was returning home.
It happened to be the festival of Diana, the streets were full of
drunken fellows, and all night long crowds of people continued
traversing the public square. I had hoped to encounter no other danger
but this, but I was mistaken, peril of a worse kind was still in store
for me. Sosthenes, the purchaser of Leucippe, whom Melitta had turned
out of his office, no sooner heard of his master's return, than he not
only continued to act as bailiff, but determined to revenge himself
upon Melitta. He began by informing against me, acquainting his master
with all which had taken place; he then invented a very plausible
story above Leucippe, for finding he could not enjoy her himself he
determined to play pimp to his master, and by that means to alienate
him from his wife. --"Master," said he, "I have purchased a maiden of
incredible beauty; words will not do her justice, to form a just idea
of her you must see her; I have been keeping her purposely for you; for
I heard that you were alive and fully believed the fact, but did not
choose to make it public, in order that you might have clear proof of
my mistress's guilt, and not be made the laughing stock of a foreigner
and worthless libertine; my mistress took her out of my hands yesterday
and thinks of giving her her freedom, but Fortune has reserved for you
the possession of this rare beauty; she has been sent for some reason
or other into the country, where she now remains, and where with your
leave I will secure her until your arrival. "
Thersander approved of his scheme and bid him put it into execution;
accordingly Sosthenes proceeded to the farm, and finding out the
cottage where Leucippe was to pass the night, he ordered two of the
labourers to entice away the maids, who had accompanied her, under
pretence of having something to say to them in private; he then went
accompanied by two others, to the cottage where Leucippe was now
alone, seized her and having stopped her mouth, carried her off to a
lone habitation, where setting her down, he said, "Maiden, I am the
bearer of great good fortune to you, and I hope that you will not
forget me, in your prosperity; be under no alarm at having been carried
off, no injury is intended you, it will be the means of obtaining my
master for your admirer. " Leucippe could not utter a word, so much
was she overcome by the sense of the unexpected calamity. Sosthenes
hurrying back informed Thersander of what he had done, again, extolling
Leucippe's beauty to the skies; he was on the point of returning home,
but inflamed by the description, and having his mind filled with such a
lovely vision,[3] he determined at once to pay a visit to the maiden as
the festival was still on foot, and the distance not more than half a
mile. It was when on his way thither, that disguised in Melitta's dress
I came directly upon him. Sosthenes was the first to recognize me;
"Here comes the rake-hell himself," exclaimed he, "masquerading it, in
my mistress's clothes! "
The young man, my guide, who was a little in advance hearing this,
took to his heels in a fright without giving me any previous warning.
I was immediately seized by the pair, and the noise made by Thersander
drew together a number of the revellers, when he became louder than
ever in his charges, heaping upon me all manner of abuse,[4] calling
me a lecher, a cut-purse, and I know not what besides; in the end I
was dragged to the public prison, thrust in, and a charge of _Crim.
Con. _[5] entered against me. The disgrace of a prison and the abuse
gave me little or no concern, for as my marriage with Melitta had
been public, I felt confident of being able to refute the charge of
adultery; all my anxiety arose from not having actually recovered
my Leucippe, for the mind is naturally inclined to be a "prophet of
ill,"[6] our predictions of good are seldom realized. In the present
case I augured nothing favourable for Leucippe, and was a prey to fears
and suspicions of every kind.
Thersander, after having had me locked up, continued on his way, and
upon his arrival found Leucippe lying upon the ground and brooding
over what Sosthenes had said. Grief and fear were plainly depicted
upon her countenance; indeed I consider it quite a mistake to say that
the mind is invisible, it may be seen distinctly reflected on the face
as in a mirror; in seasons of happiness joy sparkles in the eyes;
in the time of sorrow the countenance is overcast[7] and reveals the
inward feelings. A light was burning in the cottage; upon hearing the
door open, Leucippe raised her eyes for a moment and then cast them
down again. It is in the eyes that beauty has its seat, and Thersander
having caught a momentary glimpse of the beauty which (rapid as
lightning) flashed from hers, was at once on fire with love, and waited
spell bound, in hopes of her raising them again; but when she continued
to gaze upon the ground, he said, "Fair maiden, why waste the light
of thine eyes upon the earth, why not look up and let them dart fresh
light into mine? "
Upon hearing his voice, Leucippe burst into tears, and appeared even
more charming than before,[8] for tears give permanency and increased
expression to the eyes, either rendering them more disagreeable, or
improving them if pleasing, for in that case the dark iris, fading
into a lighter hue, resembles, when moistened with tears, the head of
a gently-bubbling fount; the white and black growing in brilliancy
from the moisture which floats over the surface, assume the mingled
shades of the violet and narcissus, and the eye appears as smiling
through the tears which are confined within its lids. Such was the
case with Leucippe; her tears made her appear beautiful even in grief;
and if after trickling down they had congealed, the world would have
seen a species of amber hitherto unknown. [9] The sight of her charms,
heightened as they were by her grief, inflamed Thersander; his own eyes
filled with moisture. Tears naturally awaken feelings of compassion,
especially a woman's tears, and the more so in proportion to the
copiousness with which they fall; and when she who weeps is beautiful
and he who beholds her is enamoured, he cannot avoid following her
example; the magic of her charms, which is chiefly in her eyes,
extends its influence to him; her beauty penetrates into his soul, her
tears draw forth his own, he might dry them, but he purposely abstains
from doing so, for he would fain have them attract the notice of the
fair one; he even checks any motion of his eyelids, lest they should
fall before the time, sympathetic tears being the strongest proof of
love. This was the case with Thersander, he shed tears partly because
grief has really in it something which is infectious, partly that he
might appear to sympathize with Leucippe's sorrow. "Pay her every
attention which her state of mind requires," said he in an under tone
to Sosthenes; "however unwillingly I will leave her for the present
for fear of annoying her; when she is more composed I will pay her
another visit. Maiden," added he, addressing her, "cheer up, I will
soon find means to dry those tears of yours;" and whispering to
Sosthenes, "remember," said he, "that you promote my suit, and come to
me to-morrow morning," with which words he left the cottage.
While these things were taking place, Melitta had lost no time in
sending a young man into the country, who was to bid Leucippe return
without delay, as she had no longer any need of ingredients for a
philtre. Upon his arrival, he found the female servants in great
trouble seeking for her everywhere, he therefore at once came back
and informed his mistress of what had taken place. Melitta, upon
learning that Leucippe had disappeared, and that I had been committed
to prison, was thrown into violent agitation: though ignorant of the
whole truth her suspicions fell upon Sosthenes, and being determined to
ascertain by means of Thersander where Leucippe was, she had recourse
to subtlety, combining with it a show of truth. Upon Thersander coming
home and shouting out, "So you have got your paramour set free and have
smuggled him out of the town;--why did you not accompany him? why stop
here? why not take yourself off, and see how he looks now that he is in
'durance vile? '"--"What paramour? " replied Melitta with the greatest
composure. "What delusion are you labouring under? --If you will only
calm your passion and listen to me, I will very soon explain the truth;
all I wish for on your part, is candour; forget any slanderous reports
which you have heard, let reason take the place of anger and listen to
what I have to say. --This young man is neither my paramour nor yet my
husband; he is a native of Phœnicia, and belongs to one of the first
families in Tyre; he was so unfortunate as to suffer shipwreck and lost
everything which he possessed. Upon hearing of his misfortunes I took
compassion upon him (remembering what had befallen you), and received
him into my house.
"'Thersander,' said I, mentally, 'may perhaps be wandering about
himself, some tender hearted female may have taken pity upon him;
nay, if as report says, he has perished, I will shew kindness to all
who have experienced the perils of the sea! ' Many are the shipwrecked
passengers to whom I have shewn hospitality, to many a corpse washed
up by the waves have I here given burial; if I saw so much as a
plank from a vessel borne to land, I drew it up on shore, 'for,' I
said, 'it may have belonged to the ship in which Thersander sailed! '
This young man was one of the last who was rescued from a watery
grave, and in treating him with kindness, I was in fact honouring
you. Like you, dearest, he had encountered the perils of the deep;
in him therefore, I was paying regard to the impersonation of your
sufferings. You have now had laid before you the motives by which I
have been influenced. --I may add, that he was in great sorrow for his
wife; he had believed her dead, but she was still alive, and, as he
was informed, in the power of Sosthenes our bailiff. The report proved
true, for upon proceeding into the country we found her there. It is
in your power to test the truth of what I say, you can bring before
you both Sosthenes and the female of whom I speak; if you can convict
me of falsehood, then call me an adultress. " Melitta spoke, all along,
as if in ignorance of Leucippe's disappearance, reserving to herself
the power--should Thersander wish to ascertain the truth--of bringing
forward the maid-servants who had accompanied Leucippe, and who could
solemnly declare that the maiden was nowhere to be found. Her motive
was to persuade Thersander of her own innocence, and it was for this
purpose that she urged him to bring forward Leucippe. To give yet
greater colour to her artful words, "Dearest husband," she added,
"during the time that we lived together, you have never discovered
any blot in my character, neither shall you do so now. [10] The report,
at present raised against me, has arisen from people being ignorant of
the cause which induced me to shew kindness to this young man; rumour
has been busy in your case, also; for you, recollect, were reported to
have perished. Now rumour and calumny are two kindred evils, and the
former may be called the daughter of the latter. Calumny is sharper
than any sword--more burning than any fire, more pernicious than any
Siren, while rumour is more fluid than water, swifter than the wind,
fleeter than any wing of bird. [11] No sooner has calumny shot forth
a poisoned word than it flies like an arrow and wounds, even in his
absence, him against whom it is directed; while whosoever hears this
word is readily persuaded, feels his anger kindled, and turns all its
violence against the victim. On the other hand, rumour the offspring of
this shot, flows onward like a torrent, and floods the ears of every
listener; words, like wind, speeding it on its course, and,--to use
another similitude--the wings of the human tongue bearing it aloft and
enabling it to cleave the air. [12] These are the foes against whom I
have to contend, they have gained the mastery over your mind, and have
closed your ears against my words. " Here she paused, and taking his
hand endeavoured to kiss it; her plan was not without success, for
Thersander became more calm, influenced by the plausibility of her
speech, and finding the account given of Leucippe to harmonize with
what he had heard from Sosthenes. His suspicions gave way, however,
only in part, for jealousy when once it has gained entrance into the
mind, is hard to be got rid of. The intelligence that the maiden was my
wife annoyed him greatly, and increased his animosity towards me; and
saying that he should enquire into the truth of what he had heard, he
retired to rest alone. --Melitta, on her part was very much distressed
at being unable to perform her promise. Meanwhile Sosthenes after the
departure of Thersander (whom he had encouraged with hopes of speedy
success) again went in to Leucippe, and assuming a joyful countenance,
"Everything is going on satisfactorily Lacæna," said he, "Thersander
is deeply enamoured of you, and very probably will make you his wife;
this success is entirely owing to me, for I have extolled your beauty
to the skies, and his mind sees and thinks of you alone. Dry your tears
therefore, maiden, rise from the ground, sacrifice to Venus on account
of your good fortune, and do not forget how much you owe to me. " "May
as much happiness befall you as you have just announced to me," was her
reply. Sosthenes, believing that she spoke sincerely and not in irony,
proceeded in a friendly tone and manner: "I will tell you moreover who
Thersander is; he is the husband of Melitta whom you lately saw, his
family is one of the first in Ionia, his wealth is even greater than
his birth, but it is surpassed by his kindness of disposition. I need
not dwell upon his age, for you have seen that he is still young and
handsome, two qualities especially acceptable to women. "
Leucippe could no longer endure listening to such nonsense: "Wicked
wretch! " she exclaimed, "how much longer do you mean to pollute my
ears? What is Thersander to me? Let his beauty delight his wife, his
riches benefit his country, and his good qualities be of service to
those who need them. What matters it to me, if he be nobler in birth
than Codrus, and surpass Crœsus in his wealth? For what purpose should
you enumerate another man's good qualities to me? Thersander shall
receive my praise, when he ceases wishing to do violence to another's
wife. " Upon this, changing to a serious air, "Are you jesting, maiden? "
he asked. "What have I to do with jesting? " was her reply. "Leave
me to my own adverse fortune and evil genius; I know full well that
I have fallen into the power of villains. " "You must be incurably
crazed," said Sosthenes, "to talk thus. Is it like being in the power
of villains, to have the offer made to you of wealth, marriage, and
a luxurious life; to receive for your husband one so favoured by the
gods, that they have actually snatched him from the jaws of death? "
And then he gave an account of the shipwreck, magnifying Thersander's
escape, and making of it a greater wonder than of Arion and his
Dolphin. [13]
When he had finished his marvellous tale, and still Leucippe made no
reply, "You had better consult your own interest," he resumed, "and
not talk in this fashion to Thersander, lest you should provoke one
who is actually amiable; for when once kindled, his anger knows no
bounds. Kindness of heart, when it meets with a due return, increases,
but when slighted, it soon changes into angry feelings; and then the
desire of taking vengeance is proportioned to the previous willingness
of doing good. " Leaving Leucippe for a time, we will now speak of some
of the other characters in this tale. When Clinias and Satyrus learned
from Melitta that I had been incarcerated they immediately came to
the prison, desirous of sharing my captivity; the jailor, however,
would not consent, but bid them at once be gone, and though sorely
disappointed there was no alternative. They left me, therefore, after I
had enjoined them to bring me tidings of Leucippe in the morning; and I
remained alone, thinking of Melitta's promise, and racked by feelings
of mingled fear and hope.
The next day Sosthenes proceeded according to his appointment to
Thersander, and my friends returned to me. Thersander eagerly
inquired whether any favourable impression had been made upon
Leucippe; Sosthenes replied evasively, "She raises objections against
receiving you, but I scarcely believe her to be sincere in what she
says; I rather suspect that she fears you may desert her and expose
her to shame, after once enjoying her. " "Let her dismiss all such
apprehensions," replied Thersander; "my feelings of love towards her
are so ardent, that they will end only with my life. [14] One thing
alone gives me uneasiness; I am very anxious to know for certain
whether, as Melitta told me, she is the wife of the young man. " Thus
discoursing they came to the cottage where Leucippe was confined; when
near the door they stopped and listened and could hear her speaking to
herself in a mournful voice. "Alas! alas! Clitopho, you know not where
I am and in what place I am detained; neither am I acquainted with your
present condition; and this mutual ignorance augments our mutual grief.
Can Thersander have surprised you in his house? Can you have suffered
any cruel treatment at his hands? Often have I longed to question
Sosthenes about you, but I was at a loss what reason to assign; if I
spoke of you as my husband, I feared that by provoking the resentment
of Thersander, I might produce evil consequences to yourself; if I
inquired after you as after a mere stranger, it might have been said
why do women meddle with what in no way concerns them? Often has my
tongue been on the point of speaking but has refused its office. Often
have I ended by saying to myself, 'Dear Clitopho, faithful husband of
thy Leucippe, thou who couldst share the couch of another woman, yet
without enjoying her, though I, in my jealousy doubted thy fidelity,
could I indeed behold thee again, after so long an interval, and yet
not snatch a single kiss! ' What if Thersander comes again to question
me? Shall I throw off all disguise, and disclose the plain unvarnished
truth? Suppose not, Thersander, that I am a sorry slave; I am daughter
of the Byzantian Commandant, wife of one foremost in rank among the
Tyrians. I am no Thessalian, neither am I called Lacæna. No! this is
the invention of pirate violence; my very name has been stolen from
me! I am in reality the wife of Clitopho, a native of Byzantium, the
daughter of Sostratus and Panthea. But, alas! Thersander would give no
credit to my words, or, if he did, my freedom of speech might be the
cause of injury to my best beloved! What then? I will again assume the
mask--and again my name shall be Lacæna! " Thersander, retiring a little
from the door, said to Sosthenes, "Did you hear those words of hers,
unworthy of belief, indeed, as to their tenour, but full of the spirit
of love, and breathing grief and self reproach? This adulterous rival
of mine supplants me everywhere; the villain must surely be a sorcerer;
Melitta loves, Leucippe doats upon him;--would that I were Clitopho! "
"You must not show a faint heart, master," replied Sosthenes; "you
should go in at once and plead your suit; she loves this worthless
fellow, it is true; but only because she has received addresses from
no one else; you have but to insinuate yourself into her good graces,
and your superior personal appearance will speedily gain the day and
banish him from her heart. A new lover soon drives out the old. Women
love the individual while present and remember him when absent until
another is found to take, his place; then he is soon blotted from their
recollection. " Thersander now felt emboldened, for one readily believes
words which flatter with a prospect of success; and desire, by dwelling
upon its object, is sure to beget sanguine hope. After waiting a short
time therefore, that he might not seem to have overheard her works,
he put on what he hoped would appear an engaging air, and entered the
cottage.
The sight of Leucippe inflamed his mind; she appeared more charming
then ever, and her presence acted as fuel to the fire of love which had
been burning in his breast all night. He with difficulty restrained
himself from at once folding her in his arms, and sitting down beside
her, began to talk of various unconnected trifles, as lovers are wont
to do when in the company of their mistresses. At such times the
soul is centred upon the object of its love, reason no longer guides
their speech, and the tongue mechanically utters words. [15] In the
course of his address, he put his arm round her neck with the view of
kissing her, and she aware of his intention hung down her head upon
her bosom; he used all his endeavours to raise her face, and she with
equal perseverance continued to conceal it the more and more; when
this mutual struggle had continued for some time, Thersander, under
the influence of amorous obstinacy, slipped his left hand under her
chin, and seizing her hair with his right, compelled her to raise her
head. When at length, he gave over, either from succeeding in his
object, or failing, or from being weary of the sport, Leucippe said to
him indignantly, "Your conduct is unfitting and ungentlemanly, though
fit enough for the slave Sosthenes; the master and his man are worthy
of each other; but spare yourself any farther trouble, you will never
succeed unless you become a second Clitopho. "
Distracted between anger and desire, Thersander was at a loss what
to do. These passions are like two fires in the soul; they differ
in nature, but resemble each other in intensity; the former urges
to hatred, the latter to love; the sources also of their respective
flames are near to one another, anger having its seat in the heart,[16]
the liver being the abode of love. [17] When, therefore, a person is
attacked by these two passions, his soul becomes the scales in which
the intensity of either flame is weighed. Each tries to depress its
respective scale, and love, when it obtains its object is generally
successful; but should it be slighted, then it summons its neighbour,
anger, to its aid, and both of them combine their flame. When once
anger has gained the mastery, and has driven love from its seat, being
implacable by nature, instead of assisting it to gain its end, it
rules like a tyrant, and will not allow it (however anxious) to become
reconciled with its beloved. Pressed down by the weight of anger, love
is no longer free, and vainly endeavours to recover its dominion, and
so is compelled to hate what once it doated upon. But, again, when the
tempest of anger has reached its height, and its fury has frothed away,
it becomes weary from satiety, and its efforts cease; then love, armed
by desire, revives, comes to the rescue, and attacks anger sleeping
on his post; and calling to mind the injuries done to the beloved
during its frenzy, it grieves and sues for pardon, and invites to
reconciliation, and promises to make amends in future. If after this
it meets with full success, then it continues to be all smiles and
gentleness; but if again repulsed and scorned, then its old neighbour,
anger, is once more called in, who revives his slumbering fires, and
regains his former power. Thersander, so long as he was buoyed up with
hopes of succeeding in his suit, had been Leucippe's humble servant;
but when he found all his expectations dashed to the ground, love gave
way to wrath, and he smote her upon the face. "Wretched slave! " he
exclaimed, "I have heard your love-sick lamentations, and know all;
instead of taking it as a compliment that I should speak to you, and
regarding a kiss from your master as an honour, you must, forsooth,
coquet and give yourself airs;[18] for my part, I believe you to be a
strumpet, for an adulterer is your love! However, since you refuse to
accept me as a lover, you shall feel my power as a master. "
Leucippe meekly replied, "Use me as harshly as you please; I will
submit to everything except the loss of chastity," and turning to
Sosthenes, "you can bear witness to my powers of endurance; for I have
received at your hands harder measure even than this! " Ashamed at
having his conduct brought to light, "This wench," said he, "deserves
to be flayed with the scourge and to be put upon the rack, in order to
teach her better manners towards her master. "
"By all means follow his advice! " resumed Leucippe to Thersander, "he
gives good counsel; do the worst which your malice can suggest;--extend
my hands upon the wheel;[19] bare my back to the scourge; burn my
body in the fire;[20] smite off my head with the sword; it will be a
novel sight to see one weak woman contend against all your tortures,
victorious against all! You brand Clitopho as an adulterer, and yet you
yourself would commit adultery! Have you no reverence for your tutelary
goddess Diana? [21] Would you ravish a virgin in the very city sacred
to a virgin? Ο goddess, why do not thy shafts avenge the insult?
"
"You a virgin forsooth! " replied Thersander, contemptuously; "you who
passed whole days and nights among the pirates! Prythee were they
eunuchs, or given only to platonic love, or were they blind? "--"Ask
Sosthenes," said she, "whether or not I preserved my chastity against
his attempts; none of the freebooters behaved to me so brutally as you
have done; it is you who deserve the name of pirate, since you feel no
shame in perpetrating deeds which they abstained from[22] doing. You
little think how your unblushing cruelty will redound hereafter to my
praise; you may kill me in your fury, and my encomium will be this:
'Leucippe preserved her chastity despite of buccaneers, despite of
Chæreas, despite of Sosthenes, and crown of all (for this would be but
trifling commendation), she remained chaste despite even of Thersander,
more lascivious than the most lustful pirate; and he who could not
despoil her of her honour, robbed her of her life. ' Again, therefore,
I say, bring into action all your engines and implements of torture,
and employ the aid of Sosthenes, your right trusty counsellor. I stand
before you a feeble woman, naked and alone, having but one weapon of
defence, my free spirit,[23] which is proof against sword and fire and
scourge. Burn me, if you will; you shall find that there be things over
which even the fire is powerless! "
[Footnote 1: The allusion is to Achilles disguised in female attire
among the daughters of Lycomedes. See Statius, "Achilleis. "
"And now being femininely all array'd.
With some small aid from scissors, paint, and tweezers,
He looked in almost all respects a maid. "--Byron.
See Herod. iv. 146, where the Minyeans escape from confinement by a
similar device of their wives. ]
[Footnote 2: τὴν ἔλαφον ἀντὶ παρθένου, a proverb alluding to Diana
substituting a stag in the place of Iphigenia when on the point of
being sacrificed at Aulis--
"λέγ' οὕνεκ' ἔλαφον ἀντιδοῦσα μου θεἁ
"Αρτεμις, ἔσωσε μ', ἣν ἔθυσ' ἐμὸς πατήρ. "--Iph. in Taur. 783.
]
[Footnote 3:
"Nam si abest quod ames, præsto simulacra tamen sunt
Illius. "--Lucret. iv. 1055.
]
[Footnote 4: ῥητά καὶ ἄῤῥητα βοῶν. ]
[Footnote 5: ἔγκλημα μοιχείας ἐπιφέρων. ]
[Footnote 6:
"Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new
Solace in her return, so long delay'd;
Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,
Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt. "
Milton, P. L. ii. 843.
"Τίπτε μοι τόδ' ἐμπ'έδως
δεὶμα προστατήριον
καρδίας τερασκόπου πότᾶται. "--Æsch. Ag. 944.
]
[Footnote 7: "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow
of the heart, the spirit is broken. "--Prov. xv. 13. ]
[Footnote 8:
"As pearls from diamonds dropt. In brief, sorrow
Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all
Could so become it. "--Shakspeare.
]
[Footnote 9:
"Inde fluunt lacrymæ, stillataque sole rigescunt
De ramis electra novis. "--Ovid. Met. ii. 864.
]
[Footnote 10:
"And she, although her manners shew'd no rigour,
Was deem'd a woman of the strictest principle,
So much as to be thought almost invincible. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 11:
"Fama, malum, quo non aliud velocius ullum;
Mobilitate viget, viresque acquirit eundo. "
Virg. Æn. iv. 174.
]
[Footnote 12:
"Open your ears; for which of you will stop
The vent of hearing, when loud Rumour speaks;
I, from the Orient to the drooping West,
Making the wind my posthorse, still unfold
The acts commenced on this ball of earth;
Upon my tongues continued slanders ride:
The which in every language I pronounce,
Stuffing the ears of men with false reports. "
Introduction to 2nd part of Henry IV.
]
[Footnote 13: See Herod. i. 23, 24. ]
[Footnote 14:
"Wax to receive and marble to retain.
He was a lover of the good old school,
Who still become more constant as they cool. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 15:
"And on the thought my words broke forth.
All incoherent as they were. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 16:
"Κἀμοι προσέστη καρδίας κλνδώνιον
χολῆς. "--Æsch. Choe. 183.
]
[Footnote 17:
"Quum tibi flagrans amor,
. . . . . .
Sæviet circa jecur ulcerosum. "
Hor. I, Od. xxv. 13.
]
[Footnote 18: "αλλὰ καὶ ἀκκίζῃ καὶ σχηματίζῃ πρὸς άπόνοιαν. "]
[Footnote 19:
"ἐπὶ τοῦ τροχοῦ γὰρ δεῖ σ'ἐκἕι στρεβλούμενον
εἰπεῖν ἅ πεπανούργηκας. "
Aristoph. Plut. 875. See also Virg. Æn. vi. 616.
]
[Footnote 20: The allusion is to the fire placed under the revolving
wheel, by which the sufferer was slowly roasted. A reference to this
species of torture will be found in ch. 50 of Tertullian's Apology. ]
[Footnote 21: "Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there, that knoweth not
how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess
Diana? "--Acts xix. 35. ]
[Footnote 22:
"Harpers have sung and poets told,
That he, in fury uncontrolled,
The shaggy monarch of the wood
Before a virgin fair and good
Hath pacified his savage mood;
But passions in the human frame
Oft put the lion's rage to shame. "--Scott.
]
[Footnote 23:
"Eternal spirit of the chainless mind!
Brightest in dungeons, Liberty! "--Byron.
]
BOOK VII.
The scornful reproaches of Leucippe stirred up a tumult of conflicting
passions in Thersander's mind; he was incensed by her taunts, vexed at
his ill success, and perplexed how to secure the accomplishment of his
desires. Without saying another word he rushed out of the house to give
vent to the storm and tempest of his soul. [1] Shortly after, having
conferred with Sosthenes, he went to the jailor, and endeavoured to
persuade him to administer a dose of poison to me; this, however, the
jailor refused to do, his predecessor having suffered death for taking
off a prisoner in this manner. Failing in this, he obtained his consent
to introduce a man (who was to pass for a criminal) into my cell, under
pretence of wishing to extract some secrets out of me through him. The
man had been previously tutored by Thersander, and was casually to
introduce Leucippe's name, and to say that she had been murdered by
the contrivance of Melitta. Thersander's object in persuading me of
her death was to hinder me (in case I obtained a verdict of acquittal)
from instituting any further search for her recovery, and the name
of Melitta was introduced in order that, after learning Leucippe's
death, I might not entertain any thoughts of marrying her, and so by
settling at Ephesus might interrupt Thersander in the prosecution of
his schemes, but on the contrary, might be induced to quit the city
without delay, from hatred to Melitta for having contrived the death of
my beloved.
As soon as this fellow came near me, he began to play his appointed
part, and with a knavish groan[2] exclaimed, "Alackaday! what a
miserable thing is life! There is no keeping out of trouble! It
stands a man in no stead to be honest! Some cross accident is sure to
overtake him! Would I could have guessed the character of my fellow
traveller, and what work he had been engaged in! " This, and much more
of the same sort, he said speaking to himself, craftily endeavouring
to attract my attention, and to make me inquire what it was that ailed
him. He did not succeed, however, for I was sufficiently taken up with
my own troubles, and he went on with his groans and ejaculations. At
length--for the unfortunate take pleasure in listening to another's
griefs, finding in it a kind of medicine for their sorrows--one of
the prisoners asked, "What trick has the jade Fortune been playing
you? I suspect that, like myself, she has laid you up in limbo without
deserving it. " He then proceeded to tell his own story, giving an
account of what had brought him into prison; and having finished,
requested the other to favour him with the particulars of his own
misfortune. He of course readily complied.
"I left the city yesterday," said he, "to go towards Smyrna, and had
proceeded about half a mile, when I was joined by a young man out
of the country. He saluted me, and after walking with me for a few
minutes, inquired whither I was going. I told him, and he said that
luckily his road lay in the same direction, so that we proceeded in
company, and entered into conversation. Stopping at an inn, we ordered
dinner, and presently four men came in and did the same. Instead of
eating, however, they continued watching us, and making signs to one
another. I plainly enough saw that we were the objects of their notice,
but was wholly at a loss to understand the meaning of their gestures.
My companion gradually turned very pale, left off eating, and at last
began to tremble all over. Instantly they sprang up, seized, and
bound us; one of them also dealt him a violent blow upon the face;
upon which, as if he had been already on the rack, and even without a
question being asked him he cried out, 'I admit having killed the girl!
Melitta, Thersander's wife, hired me to do the deed, and gave me a
hundred gold pieces for my trouble; here they are every one--take them
for yourselves; and for heaven's sake let me off! '"
Upon hearing these names I started as if stung, and turning to him,
"Who is Melitta? " I asked. --"She is a lady of the first rank in this
city," was his reply. "She took a fancy to a young man, said to be a
native of Tyre; he found a favourite wench of his (whom he had given
up for lost), among the number of Melitta's slaves, and she, moved
by jealousy, had the girl seized by the fellow whom ill luck made my
fellow-traveller, and he, in obedience to Melitta's orders, has made
away with her. --But to return to my own story. I, who had never seen
the man before, nor had dealings with him of any kind, was dragged
along with him, bound, as an accomplice in his crime; but what is
harder than all, they had not gone far, before, for the sake of his
hundred pieces, they let him go, but kept me in custody and carried me
before the judge. "
Upon hearing this chapter of accidents, I neither uttered a sound nor
shed a tear, for both voice and tears refused their office, but a
general trembling seized me, my heart sunk within me, and I felt as at
the point of death. After a time, recovering in some degree from the
stupor which his words had caused, "How did the ruffian despatch her? "
I asked, "and what has become of her body? " But having now performed
the business for which he was employed, by stimulating my curiosity,
he became obstinately silent, and I could extract nothing more from
him. In answer to my repeated questions, "Do you think," said he, at
length, "that I had a hand in the murder? The man told me he had killed
her; he said nothing of the place and manner of her death. " Tears now
came to my relief, and I gave full vent to my sorrow. It is with mental
wounds as with bodily hurts; when one has been stricken in body some
time elapses before the livid bruise, the result of the blow is seen;
and so also any one who has been pierced by the sharp tusk of a boar,
looks for the wound, but without immediately discovering it, owing to
its being deeply seated; but presently a white line is perceived, the
precursor of the blood, which speedily begins to flow; in like manner,
no sooner have bitter tidings been announced, than they pierce the
soul, but the suddenness of the stroke prevents the wound from being
visible at once, and the tooth of sorrow must for some space have
gnawed the heart ere a vent is found for tears, which are to the mind
what blood is to the body.
It was thus with me; the arrows of grief inflicted an instant wound,
but their result was imperceptible until the soul had leisure to vent
itself in tears and lamentations. Then, indeed, I exclaimed, "What evil
genius has deluded me with this brief gleam of joy, and has shewn me
my Leucippe only to lay a foundation for fresh calamities? All that
has been allowed me was to see her, and I have not been permitted to
satiate even the sense of sight! My pleasure has, indeed, been like
the baseless fabric of a dream. Ο my Leucippe, how often hast thou
been lost to me? Am I never to cease from tears and lamentations? Is
one death perpetually to succeed another? On former occasions Fortune
has been merely jesting with me, but now she is in earnest! In those
former imaginary deaths of thine, some consolation, at least, was
afforded me, for thy body, wholly or in part, was left at my disposal!
But now thou art snatched away both in soul and body! Twice hast thou
escaped the pirates, but Melitta, more foul than any pirate, has had
thee done to death. And I, impious and unholy that I am, have actually
kissed thy murderess, have been enfolded in her accursed embrace, and
she has anticipated thee in receiving from me the offerings of Love! "
While thus plunged in grief, Clinias came to visit me. I related every
particular to him, and declared my determination of putting an end to
my existence. He did all in his power to console me. "Consider," he
said, "how often she has died and come to life again; who knows but
what she may do the same on this occasion also? Why be in such haste to
kill yourself? You will have abundant leisure when the tidings of her
death have been positively confirmed. "
"This is mere trifling," I replied; "there is small need of
confirmation; my resolve is fixed, and I have decided upon a manner of
death which will not permit even the hated Melitta to escape unscathed.
Listen to my plan:--In case of being summoned into court[3] it was my
intention to plead not guilty. I have now changed my determination, and
shall plead guilty, confessing the intrigue between Melitta and myself,
and saying that we mutually planned Leucippe's death; by this means
she will suffer the punishment which is her due, and I shall quit
this life which I so much detest. "--"Talk not thus," replied he; "can
you endure to die under the base imputation of being a murderer, and,
what is more, the murderer of Leucippe? "--"Nothing is base," replied
I, "by which we can wreak vengeance upon our enemies. "[4] While we
were engaged in argument, the fellow who had communicated the tidings
of the fictitious maiden was removed, upon pretence of being taken
before the magistrate to undergo an examination. Clinias and Satyrus
exerted themselves, but ineffectually, in order to persuade me to
alter my resolution; and on the same day they removed into lodgings,
so as to be no longer under the roof of Melitta's foster-brother.
The following day the case came on; Thersander had a great muster[5]
of friends and partisans, and had engaged ten advocates; and Melitta
had been equally on the alert in preparing for her defence. When the
counsel on either side had finished speaking, I asked leave to address
the court, and said, "All those who have been exerting their eloquence,
either for Thersander or for Melitta, have been giving utterance to
sheer nonsense; I will reveal the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth. I was once passionately in love with a female of Byzantium
named Leucippe; she was carried off by pirates, and I had reason to
believe that she was dead. Meeting with Melitta in Egypt, we formed a
connexion, and after some time we travelled together to this city, and
Leucippe, whom I just now mentioned, was found working as a slave upon
Thersander's estate, under his bailiff, Sosthenes. By what means he
obtained possession of a free-born female, and what were his dealings
with the pirates I leave it to you to guess.
"Melitta, finding that I had recovered my former mistress, became
apprehensive of her regaining her influence over my affections,
and contrived a plan for putting her to death. I entered into her
schemes,--for what avails it to conceal the truth? --having received
a promise that she would settle all her property upon me; a man was
found, who, for the reward of a hundred gold pieces, undertook the
business. When the deed was done, he fled, and is now somewhere in
concealment. As for myself, Love was not long in taking vengeance upon
my cruelty. No sooner did I hear of the murder being perpetrated, than
I bitterly repented of what had taken place, and all my former fondness
revived. For this reason I have determined to turn evidence against
myself, in order that you may send me whither she is gone to whom I am
still so deeply attached. Life is intolerable to one who, in addition
to being a murderer, loves her of whose death he has been the cause. "
Every one in court was utterly astounded at the unexpected tenour of
my speech, especially Melitta. The advocates of Thersander already
claimed a triumph,[6] while those engaged in Melitta's behalf anxiously
questioned her as to the truth of what I had said. She was in great
confusion; denied some points, virtually admitted others, confessed to
having known Leucippe, and indeed confirmed most of what I had said,
with the exception of the murder. This general agreement on her part
with the facts advanced by me, created a suspicion against her, even
in the minds of her own counsel, and they were at a loss what line
of defence to adopt on her behalf. At this critical juncture, while
the court was being a scene of great clamour, Clinias came forward
and requested to be heard, for "Remember," said he, "a man's life is
now in jeopardy. " Obtaining permission to speak, "Men of Ephesus! " he
began, (his eyes filling with tears,) "do not precipitately condemn
to die one who eagerly longs for death, the natural refuge of the
unfortunate. He has been calumniating himself, and has taken upon him
the guilt of others. Let me briefly acquaint you with what has befallen
him. What he has said respecting his mistress, her being carried off
by pirates, about Sosthenes, and other circumstances which happened
before the pretended murder, are strictly true. The young woman has
undoubtedly disappeared; but whether she is still alive, or has been
made away with, it is impossible to say; one thing is certain, that
Sosthenes conceived a passion for her, that he used her cruelly for
not consenting to his desires, and that he was leagued with pirates.
My friend believing her to be murdered, is disgusted with life, and
has, therefore invented this charge against himself; he has already
confessed with his own mouth that he is anxious to die owing to grief
at the loss which he has sustained. Consider, I pray you, whether it
is likely that one who is really a murderer would be so desirous of
dying with his victim, and would feel life so insupportable. When do
we ever find murderers so tender-hearted, and hatred so compassionate?
In the name of the gods, therefore, do not believe his words; do not
condemn to death a man who is much more deserving of commiseration than
of punishment. If, as he says, he really planned this murder, let him
bring forward the hired assassin; let him declare what has become of
the body. If neither the one nor the other can be produced, how can
any belief be attached to such a murder? 'I was in love with Melitta,'
he says, 'and therefore I caused Leucippe to be killed! ' How comes
he to implicate Melitta, the object of his affection, and to be so
desirous of dying for Leucippe, whose death he compassed? Is it usual
for persons to hate the object of their love, and to love the object of
their hatred? Is it not much more probable that in such circumstances
he would have denied the crime (even had it been brought home to him)
in order to save his mistress, instead of throwing away his own life
afterwards, owing to a vain regret for her loss?
Is pleasant, besides being true love's essence. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 32: See Lucan, B. vi. 605, &c. ]
[Footnote 33: See the anecdote of Lais and Xenocrates. Anthon's
Classical Dict. ]
[Footnote 34: διαῤῥεύσασαν. ]
[Footnote 35:
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast,
Man never is, but always to be blest. "--Pope.
]
[Footnote 36: The text here is very corrupt in the Greek; the sense
given is in accordance with Jacobs. ]
[Footnote 37:
"Old Lambro pass'd unseen a private gate,
And stood within his hall at eventide;
Meanwhile the lady and her lover sate
At wassail in their beauty and their pride;
An ivory inlaid table spread with state
Before them, and fair slaves on every side;
Gems, gold, and silver, form'd the service mostly,
Mother of pearl and coral the less costly. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 38: εἴσω τοῦ χιτωνίσχου προσδεδμένην ἐκ τῶν τῆς ὀθόνης
θνσάνων--See Dict. of Grk. and Rom. Antiq. , p. 422, under the article
_Fimbriæ_. ]
[Footnote 39: ἀνδρόγυνε καὶ κάλλούς βάσκανε. The sense of βάσκανος
is thus given by Jacobs:--"Qui insitâ vi invidiæ, pulchritudinis
efficaciam debilitat aut destruit. "]
[Footnote 40:
"Her anger pitch'd into a lower tune,
Perhaps the fault of her soft sex and age;
Her wish was but to 'kill, kill, kill,' like Lear's,
And then her thirst of blood was quench'd in tears. "
Byron.
]
[Footnote 41:
. . . "has nullo perdere possum
Nec prohibere modo, simul ac vaga luna decorum
Protulit os, quin ossa legant, herbasque nocentes. "
Hor. S. i. 8, 20.
]
[Footnote 42:
"And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Never durst poet touch a pen to write,
Until his ink were temper'd with love's sighs;
Ο! then his lines would ravish savage ears,
And plant in tyrants mild humanity. "--Love's Labour Lost.
]
[Footnote 43: Venue and Cupid were supposed to be irritated against
those who shewed insensibility to their influence:--
"Ingratam Veneri pone superbiam. "
Hor. Od. iii. 10. 9.
]
[Footnote 44: αὐτουργὸς γὰρ ὁ ἔρως καὶ αὑτοσχέδιος σοφιστῆς, a passage
parallel to one in B. i. , αὐτοδίδακτος γὰρ ἐστίν ὁ θεὸς. ]
BOOK VI.
When at length, I had sufficiently eased Melitta's pains, I said to
her, "How do you mean to provide for my escape and to perform your
promises as to Leucippe? "--"Be in no anxiety respecting her," was the
reply, "look upon her as already restored to your embrace; but put on
my clothes and conceal your face in my robe; Melantho will conduct
you to the door, there you will find a young man who has orders from
me to guide you to the house where Clinias and Satyrus await you, and
whither Leucippe will shortly come. " While giving me these directions,
she dressed me so as to resemble her in appearance; then kissing me,
she said, "You look handsomer than ever in this attire, and remind me
of a picture of Achilles[1] which I once saw. Fare you well, dearest,
preserve this dress as a memorial of me, and leave me your own, that
I may sometimes put it on and fancy myself in your embrace;" she then
gave me a hundred gold pieces, and called Melantho, a trusty servant,
who was watching at the door, told her what to do, and ordered her to
return, as soon as she had let me out. Thus disguised I slipped out
of the room, the keeper, upon receiving a sign from Melantho, taking
me for his mistress and making way; passing through an unfrequented
part of the house I reached a back door, where I was received by the
person whom Melitta had appointed to be there; he was a freedman who
had accompanied us on our voyage from Alexandria, and with whom I had
already been intimate.
Upon her return, Melantho found the keeper preparing to secure the
room for the night, she desired him to open the door, and going in,
informed her mistress of my escape; Melitta called in the keeper, who
seeing the right bird flown and another in his place,[2] was struck
dumb with astonishment: "I did not employ this artifice," said she,
"from believing you unwilling to favour Clitopho's escape, but because
I wished to give you the means of clearing yourself from blame in the
opinion of Thersander. Here are ten gold pieces; if you choose to
remain here, you are to regard them as a present from Clitopho, if you
prefer getting out of the way they will help you on your journey. "
"Mistress," replied the keeper, whose name was Pasio, "I am ready to
follow your suggestion. " It was agreed, that the man should go away and
remain in concealment until Thersander's anger had subsided, and he and
his wife were again upon good terms. Upon leaving the house, my usual
ill fortune overtook me; and interwove a new incident in the drama of
my life. Whom should I encounter but Thersander! who persuaded by his
friend not to sleep away from his wife, was returning home.
It happened to be the festival of Diana, the streets were full of
drunken fellows, and all night long crowds of people continued
traversing the public square. I had hoped to encounter no other danger
but this, but I was mistaken, peril of a worse kind was still in store
for me. Sosthenes, the purchaser of Leucippe, whom Melitta had turned
out of his office, no sooner heard of his master's return, than he not
only continued to act as bailiff, but determined to revenge himself
upon Melitta. He began by informing against me, acquainting his master
with all which had taken place; he then invented a very plausible
story above Leucippe, for finding he could not enjoy her himself he
determined to play pimp to his master, and by that means to alienate
him from his wife. --"Master," said he, "I have purchased a maiden of
incredible beauty; words will not do her justice, to form a just idea
of her you must see her; I have been keeping her purposely for you; for
I heard that you were alive and fully believed the fact, but did not
choose to make it public, in order that you might have clear proof of
my mistress's guilt, and not be made the laughing stock of a foreigner
and worthless libertine; my mistress took her out of my hands yesterday
and thinks of giving her her freedom, but Fortune has reserved for you
the possession of this rare beauty; she has been sent for some reason
or other into the country, where she now remains, and where with your
leave I will secure her until your arrival. "
Thersander approved of his scheme and bid him put it into execution;
accordingly Sosthenes proceeded to the farm, and finding out the
cottage where Leucippe was to pass the night, he ordered two of the
labourers to entice away the maids, who had accompanied her, under
pretence of having something to say to them in private; he then went
accompanied by two others, to the cottage where Leucippe was now
alone, seized her and having stopped her mouth, carried her off to a
lone habitation, where setting her down, he said, "Maiden, I am the
bearer of great good fortune to you, and I hope that you will not
forget me, in your prosperity; be under no alarm at having been carried
off, no injury is intended you, it will be the means of obtaining my
master for your admirer. " Leucippe could not utter a word, so much
was she overcome by the sense of the unexpected calamity. Sosthenes
hurrying back informed Thersander of what he had done, again, extolling
Leucippe's beauty to the skies; he was on the point of returning home,
but inflamed by the description, and having his mind filled with such a
lovely vision,[3] he determined at once to pay a visit to the maiden as
the festival was still on foot, and the distance not more than half a
mile. It was when on his way thither, that disguised in Melitta's dress
I came directly upon him. Sosthenes was the first to recognize me;
"Here comes the rake-hell himself," exclaimed he, "masquerading it, in
my mistress's clothes! "
The young man, my guide, who was a little in advance hearing this,
took to his heels in a fright without giving me any previous warning.
I was immediately seized by the pair, and the noise made by Thersander
drew together a number of the revellers, when he became louder than
ever in his charges, heaping upon me all manner of abuse,[4] calling
me a lecher, a cut-purse, and I know not what besides; in the end I
was dragged to the public prison, thrust in, and a charge of _Crim.
Con. _[5] entered against me. The disgrace of a prison and the abuse
gave me little or no concern, for as my marriage with Melitta had
been public, I felt confident of being able to refute the charge of
adultery; all my anxiety arose from not having actually recovered
my Leucippe, for the mind is naturally inclined to be a "prophet of
ill,"[6] our predictions of good are seldom realized. In the present
case I augured nothing favourable for Leucippe, and was a prey to fears
and suspicions of every kind.
Thersander, after having had me locked up, continued on his way, and
upon his arrival found Leucippe lying upon the ground and brooding
over what Sosthenes had said. Grief and fear were plainly depicted
upon her countenance; indeed I consider it quite a mistake to say that
the mind is invisible, it may be seen distinctly reflected on the face
as in a mirror; in seasons of happiness joy sparkles in the eyes;
in the time of sorrow the countenance is overcast[7] and reveals the
inward feelings. A light was burning in the cottage; upon hearing the
door open, Leucippe raised her eyes for a moment and then cast them
down again. It is in the eyes that beauty has its seat, and Thersander
having caught a momentary glimpse of the beauty which (rapid as
lightning) flashed from hers, was at once on fire with love, and waited
spell bound, in hopes of her raising them again; but when she continued
to gaze upon the ground, he said, "Fair maiden, why waste the light
of thine eyes upon the earth, why not look up and let them dart fresh
light into mine? "
Upon hearing his voice, Leucippe burst into tears, and appeared even
more charming than before,[8] for tears give permanency and increased
expression to the eyes, either rendering them more disagreeable, or
improving them if pleasing, for in that case the dark iris, fading
into a lighter hue, resembles, when moistened with tears, the head of
a gently-bubbling fount; the white and black growing in brilliancy
from the moisture which floats over the surface, assume the mingled
shades of the violet and narcissus, and the eye appears as smiling
through the tears which are confined within its lids. Such was the
case with Leucippe; her tears made her appear beautiful even in grief;
and if after trickling down they had congealed, the world would have
seen a species of amber hitherto unknown. [9] The sight of her charms,
heightened as they were by her grief, inflamed Thersander; his own eyes
filled with moisture. Tears naturally awaken feelings of compassion,
especially a woman's tears, and the more so in proportion to the
copiousness with which they fall; and when she who weeps is beautiful
and he who beholds her is enamoured, he cannot avoid following her
example; the magic of her charms, which is chiefly in her eyes,
extends its influence to him; her beauty penetrates into his soul, her
tears draw forth his own, he might dry them, but he purposely abstains
from doing so, for he would fain have them attract the notice of the
fair one; he even checks any motion of his eyelids, lest they should
fall before the time, sympathetic tears being the strongest proof of
love. This was the case with Thersander, he shed tears partly because
grief has really in it something which is infectious, partly that he
might appear to sympathize with Leucippe's sorrow. "Pay her every
attention which her state of mind requires," said he in an under tone
to Sosthenes; "however unwillingly I will leave her for the present
for fear of annoying her; when she is more composed I will pay her
another visit. Maiden," added he, addressing her, "cheer up, I will
soon find means to dry those tears of yours;" and whispering to
Sosthenes, "remember," said he, "that you promote my suit, and come to
me to-morrow morning," with which words he left the cottage.
While these things were taking place, Melitta had lost no time in
sending a young man into the country, who was to bid Leucippe return
without delay, as she had no longer any need of ingredients for a
philtre. Upon his arrival, he found the female servants in great
trouble seeking for her everywhere, he therefore at once came back
and informed his mistress of what had taken place. Melitta, upon
learning that Leucippe had disappeared, and that I had been committed
to prison, was thrown into violent agitation: though ignorant of the
whole truth her suspicions fell upon Sosthenes, and being determined to
ascertain by means of Thersander where Leucippe was, she had recourse
to subtlety, combining with it a show of truth. Upon Thersander coming
home and shouting out, "So you have got your paramour set free and have
smuggled him out of the town;--why did you not accompany him? why stop
here? why not take yourself off, and see how he looks now that he is in
'durance vile? '"--"What paramour? " replied Melitta with the greatest
composure. "What delusion are you labouring under? --If you will only
calm your passion and listen to me, I will very soon explain the truth;
all I wish for on your part, is candour; forget any slanderous reports
which you have heard, let reason take the place of anger and listen to
what I have to say. --This young man is neither my paramour nor yet my
husband; he is a native of Phœnicia, and belongs to one of the first
families in Tyre; he was so unfortunate as to suffer shipwreck and lost
everything which he possessed. Upon hearing of his misfortunes I took
compassion upon him (remembering what had befallen you), and received
him into my house.
"'Thersander,' said I, mentally, 'may perhaps be wandering about
himself, some tender hearted female may have taken pity upon him;
nay, if as report says, he has perished, I will shew kindness to all
who have experienced the perils of the sea! ' Many are the shipwrecked
passengers to whom I have shewn hospitality, to many a corpse washed
up by the waves have I here given burial; if I saw so much as a
plank from a vessel borne to land, I drew it up on shore, 'for,' I
said, 'it may have belonged to the ship in which Thersander sailed! '
This young man was one of the last who was rescued from a watery
grave, and in treating him with kindness, I was in fact honouring
you. Like you, dearest, he had encountered the perils of the deep;
in him therefore, I was paying regard to the impersonation of your
sufferings. You have now had laid before you the motives by which I
have been influenced. --I may add, that he was in great sorrow for his
wife; he had believed her dead, but she was still alive, and, as he
was informed, in the power of Sosthenes our bailiff. The report proved
true, for upon proceeding into the country we found her there. It is
in your power to test the truth of what I say, you can bring before
you both Sosthenes and the female of whom I speak; if you can convict
me of falsehood, then call me an adultress. " Melitta spoke, all along,
as if in ignorance of Leucippe's disappearance, reserving to herself
the power--should Thersander wish to ascertain the truth--of bringing
forward the maid-servants who had accompanied Leucippe, and who could
solemnly declare that the maiden was nowhere to be found. Her motive
was to persuade Thersander of her own innocence, and it was for this
purpose that she urged him to bring forward Leucippe. To give yet
greater colour to her artful words, "Dearest husband," she added,
"during the time that we lived together, you have never discovered
any blot in my character, neither shall you do so now. [10] The report,
at present raised against me, has arisen from people being ignorant of
the cause which induced me to shew kindness to this young man; rumour
has been busy in your case, also; for you, recollect, were reported to
have perished. Now rumour and calumny are two kindred evils, and the
former may be called the daughter of the latter. Calumny is sharper
than any sword--more burning than any fire, more pernicious than any
Siren, while rumour is more fluid than water, swifter than the wind,
fleeter than any wing of bird. [11] No sooner has calumny shot forth
a poisoned word than it flies like an arrow and wounds, even in his
absence, him against whom it is directed; while whosoever hears this
word is readily persuaded, feels his anger kindled, and turns all its
violence against the victim. On the other hand, rumour the offspring of
this shot, flows onward like a torrent, and floods the ears of every
listener; words, like wind, speeding it on its course, and,--to use
another similitude--the wings of the human tongue bearing it aloft and
enabling it to cleave the air. [12] These are the foes against whom I
have to contend, they have gained the mastery over your mind, and have
closed your ears against my words. " Here she paused, and taking his
hand endeavoured to kiss it; her plan was not without success, for
Thersander became more calm, influenced by the plausibility of her
speech, and finding the account given of Leucippe to harmonize with
what he had heard from Sosthenes. His suspicions gave way, however,
only in part, for jealousy when once it has gained entrance into the
mind, is hard to be got rid of. The intelligence that the maiden was my
wife annoyed him greatly, and increased his animosity towards me; and
saying that he should enquire into the truth of what he had heard, he
retired to rest alone. --Melitta, on her part was very much distressed
at being unable to perform her promise. Meanwhile Sosthenes after the
departure of Thersander (whom he had encouraged with hopes of speedy
success) again went in to Leucippe, and assuming a joyful countenance,
"Everything is going on satisfactorily Lacæna," said he, "Thersander
is deeply enamoured of you, and very probably will make you his wife;
this success is entirely owing to me, for I have extolled your beauty
to the skies, and his mind sees and thinks of you alone. Dry your tears
therefore, maiden, rise from the ground, sacrifice to Venus on account
of your good fortune, and do not forget how much you owe to me. " "May
as much happiness befall you as you have just announced to me," was her
reply. Sosthenes, believing that she spoke sincerely and not in irony,
proceeded in a friendly tone and manner: "I will tell you moreover who
Thersander is; he is the husband of Melitta whom you lately saw, his
family is one of the first in Ionia, his wealth is even greater than
his birth, but it is surpassed by his kindness of disposition. I need
not dwell upon his age, for you have seen that he is still young and
handsome, two qualities especially acceptable to women. "
Leucippe could no longer endure listening to such nonsense: "Wicked
wretch! " she exclaimed, "how much longer do you mean to pollute my
ears? What is Thersander to me? Let his beauty delight his wife, his
riches benefit his country, and his good qualities be of service to
those who need them. What matters it to me, if he be nobler in birth
than Codrus, and surpass Crœsus in his wealth? For what purpose should
you enumerate another man's good qualities to me? Thersander shall
receive my praise, when he ceases wishing to do violence to another's
wife. " Upon this, changing to a serious air, "Are you jesting, maiden? "
he asked. "What have I to do with jesting? " was her reply. "Leave
me to my own adverse fortune and evil genius; I know full well that
I have fallen into the power of villains. " "You must be incurably
crazed," said Sosthenes, "to talk thus. Is it like being in the power
of villains, to have the offer made to you of wealth, marriage, and
a luxurious life; to receive for your husband one so favoured by the
gods, that they have actually snatched him from the jaws of death? "
And then he gave an account of the shipwreck, magnifying Thersander's
escape, and making of it a greater wonder than of Arion and his
Dolphin. [13]
When he had finished his marvellous tale, and still Leucippe made no
reply, "You had better consult your own interest," he resumed, "and
not talk in this fashion to Thersander, lest you should provoke one
who is actually amiable; for when once kindled, his anger knows no
bounds. Kindness of heart, when it meets with a due return, increases,
but when slighted, it soon changes into angry feelings; and then the
desire of taking vengeance is proportioned to the previous willingness
of doing good. " Leaving Leucippe for a time, we will now speak of some
of the other characters in this tale. When Clinias and Satyrus learned
from Melitta that I had been incarcerated they immediately came to
the prison, desirous of sharing my captivity; the jailor, however,
would not consent, but bid them at once be gone, and though sorely
disappointed there was no alternative. They left me, therefore, after I
had enjoined them to bring me tidings of Leucippe in the morning; and I
remained alone, thinking of Melitta's promise, and racked by feelings
of mingled fear and hope.
The next day Sosthenes proceeded according to his appointment to
Thersander, and my friends returned to me. Thersander eagerly
inquired whether any favourable impression had been made upon
Leucippe; Sosthenes replied evasively, "She raises objections against
receiving you, but I scarcely believe her to be sincere in what she
says; I rather suspect that she fears you may desert her and expose
her to shame, after once enjoying her. " "Let her dismiss all such
apprehensions," replied Thersander; "my feelings of love towards her
are so ardent, that they will end only with my life. [14] One thing
alone gives me uneasiness; I am very anxious to know for certain
whether, as Melitta told me, she is the wife of the young man. " Thus
discoursing they came to the cottage where Leucippe was confined; when
near the door they stopped and listened and could hear her speaking to
herself in a mournful voice. "Alas! alas! Clitopho, you know not where
I am and in what place I am detained; neither am I acquainted with your
present condition; and this mutual ignorance augments our mutual grief.
Can Thersander have surprised you in his house? Can you have suffered
any cruel treatment at his hands? Often have I longed to question
Sosthenes about you, but I was at a loss what reason to assign; if I
spoke of you as my husband, I feared that by provoking the resentment
of Thersander, I might produce evil consequences to yourself; if I
inquired after you as after a mere stranger, it might have been said
why do women meddle with what in no way concerns them? Often has my
tongue been on the point of speaking but has refused its office. Often
have I ended by saying to myself, 'Dear Clitopho, faithful husband of
thy Leucippe, thou who couldst share the couch of another woman, yet
without enjoying her, though I, in my jealousy doubted thy fidelity,
could I indeed behold thee again, after so long an interval, and yet
not snatch a single kiss! ' What if Thersander comes again to question
me? Shall I throw off all disguise, and disclose the plain unvarnished
truth? Suppose not, Thersander, that I am a sorry slave; I am daughter
of the Byzantian Commandant, wife of one foremost in rank among the
Tyrians. I am no Thessalian, neither am I called Lacæna. No! this is
the invention of pirate violence; my very name has been stolen from
me! I am in reality the wife of Clitopho, a native of Byzantium, the
daughter of Sostratus and Panthea. But, alas! Thersander would give no
credit to my words, or, if he did, my freedom of speech might be the
cause of injury to my best beloved! What then? I will again assume the
mask--and again my name shall be Lacæna! " Thersander, retiring a little
from the door, said to Sosthenes, "Did you hear those words of hers,
unworthy of belief, indeed, as to their tenour, but full of the spirit
of love, and breathing grief and self reproach? This adulterous rival
of mine supplants me everywhere; the villain must surely be a sorcerer;
Melitta loves, Leucippe doats upon him;--would that I were Clitopho! "
"You must not show a faint heart, master," replied Sosthenes; "you
should go in at once and plead your suit; she loves this worthless
fellow, it is true; but only because she has received addresses from
no one else; you have but to insinuate yourself into her good graces,
and your superior personal appearance will speedily gain the day and
banish him from her heart. A new lover soon drives out the old. Women
love the individual while present and remember him when absent until
another is found to take, his place; then he is soon blotted from their
recollection. " Thersander now felt emboldened, for one readily believes
words which flatter with a prospect of success; and desire, by dwelling
upon its object, is sure to beget sanguine hope. After waiting a short
time therefore, that he might not seem to have overheard her works,
he put on what he hoped would appear an engaging air, and entered the
cottage.
The sight of Leucippe inflamed his mind; she appeared more charming
then ever, and her presence acted as fuel to the fire of love which had
been burning in his breast all night. He with difficulty restrained
himself from at once folding her in his arms, and sitting down beside
her, began to talk of various unconnected trifles, as lovers are wont
to do when in the company of their mistresses. At such times the
soul is centred upon the object of its love, reason no longer guides
their speech, and the tongue mechanically utters words. [15] In the
course of his address, he put his arm round her neck with the view of
kissing her, and she aware of his intention hung down her head upon
her bosom; he used all his endeavours to raise her face, and she with
equal perseverance continued to conceal it the more and more; when
this mutual struggle had continued for some time, Thersander, under
the influence of amorous obstinacy, slipped his left hand under her
chin, and seizing her hair with his right, compelled her to raise her
head. When at length, he gave over, either from succeeding in his
object, or failing, or from being weary of the sport, Leucippe said to
him indignantly, "Your conduct is unfitting and ungentlemanly, though
fit enough for the slave Sosthenes; the master and his man are worthy
of each other; but spare yourself any farther trouble, you will never
succeed unless you become a second Clitopho. "
Distracted between anger and desire, Thersander was at a loss what
to do. These passions are like two fires in the soul; they differ
in nature, but resemble each other in intensity; the former urges
to hatred, the latter to love; the sources also of their respective
flames are near to one another, anger having its seat in the heart,[16]
the liver being the abode of love. [17] When, therefore, a person is
attacked by these two passions, his soul becomes the scales in which
the intensity of either flame is weighed. Each tries to depress its
respective scale, and love, when it obtains its object is generally
successful; but should it be slighted, then it summons its neighbour,
anger, to its aid, and both of them combine their flame. When once
anger has gained the mastery, and has driven love from its seat, being
implacable by nature, instead of assisting it to gain its end, it
rules like a tyrant, and will not allow it (however anxious) to become
reconciled with its beloved. Pressed down by the weight of anger, love
is no longer free, and vainly endeavours to recover its dominion, and
so is compelled to hate what once it doated upon. But, again, when the
tempest of anger has reached its height, and its fury has frothed away,
it becomes weary from satiety, and its efforts cease; then love, armed
by desire, revives, comes to the rescue, and attacks anger sleeping
on his post; and calling to mind the injuries done to the beloved
during its frenzy, it grieves and sues for pardon, and invites to
reconciliation, and promises to make amends in future. If after this
it meets with full success, then it continues to be all smiles and
gentleness; but if again repulsed and scorned, then its old neighbour,
anger, is once more called in, who revives his slumbering fires, and
regains his former power. Thersander, so long as he was buoyed up with
hopes of succeeding in his suit, had been Leucippe's humble servant;
but when he found all his expectations dashed to the ground, love gave
way to wrath, and he smote her upon the face. "Wretched slave! " he
exclaimed, "I have heard your love-sick lamentations, and know all;
instead of taking it as a compliment that I should speak to you, and
regarding a kiss from your master as an honour, you must, forsooth,
coquet and give yourself airs;[18] for my part, I believe you to be a
strumpet, for an adulterer is your love! However, since you refuse to
accept me as a lover, you shall feel my power as a master. "
Leucippe meekly replied, "Use me as harshly as you please; I will
submit to everything except the loss of chastity," and turning to
Sosthenes, "you can bear witness to my powers of endurance; for I have
received at your hands harder measure even than this! " Ashamed at
having his conduct brought to light, "This wench," said he, "deserves
to be flayed with the scourge and to be put upon the rack, in order to
teach her better manners towards her master. "
"By all means follow his advice! " resumed Leucippe to Thersander, "he
gives good counsel; do the worst which your malice can suggest;--extend
my hands upon the wheel;[19] bare my back to the scourge; burn my
body in the fire;[20] smite off my head with the sword; it will be a
novel sight to see one weak woman contend against all your tortures,
victorious against all! You brand Clitopho as an adulterer, and yet you
yourself would commit adultery! Have you no reverence for your tutelary
goddess Diana? [21] Would you ravish a virgin in the very city sacred
to a virgin? Ο goddess, why do not thy shafts avenge the insult?
"
"You a virgin forsooth! " replied Thersander, contemptuously; "you who
passed whole days and nights among the pirates! Prythee were they
eunuchs, or given only to platonic love, or were they blind? "--"Ask
Sosthenes," said she, "whether or not I preserved my chastity against
his attempts; none of the freebooters behaved to me so brutally as you
have done; it is you who deserve the name of pirate, since you feel no
shame in perpetrating deeds which they abstained from[22] doing. You
little think how your unblushing cruelty will redound hereafter to my
praise; you may kill me in your fury, and my encomium will be this:
'Leucippe preserved her chastity despite of buccaneers, despite of
Chæreas, despite of Sosthenes, and crown of all (for this would be but
trifling commendation), she remained chaste despite even of Thersander,
more lascivious than the most lustful pirate; and he who could not
despoil her of her honour, robbed her of her life. ' Again, therefore,
I say, bring into action all your engines and implements of torture,
and employ the aid of Sosthenes, your right trusty counsellor. I stand
before you a feeble woman, naked and alone, having but one weapon of
defence, my free spirit,[23] which is proof against sword and fire and
scourge. Burn me, if you will; you shall find that there be things over
which even the fire is powerless! "
[Footnote 1: The allusion is to Achilles disguised in female attire
among the daughters of Lycomedes. See Statius, "Achilleis. "
"And now being femininely all array'd.
With some small aid from scissors, paint, and tweezers,
He looked in almost all respects a maid. "--Byron.
See Herod. iv. 146, where the Minyeans escape from confinement by a
similar device of their wives. ]
[Footnote 2: τὴν ἔλαφον ἀντὶ παρθένου, a proverb alluding to Diana
substituting a stag in the place of Iphigenia when on the point of
being sacrificed at Aulis--
"λέγ' οὕνεκ' ἔλαφον ἀντιδοῦσα μου θεἁ
"Αρτεμις, ἔσωσε μ', ἣν ἔθυσ' ἐμὸς πατήρ. "--Iph. in Taur. 783.
]
[Footnote 3:
"Nam si abest quod ames, præsto simulacra tamen sunt
Illius. "--Lucret. iv. 1055.
]
[Footnote 4: ῥητά καὶ ἄῤῥητα βοῶν. ]
[Footnote 5: ἔγκλημα μοιχείας ἐπιφέρων. ]
[Footnote 6:
"Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new
Solace in her return, so long delay'd;
Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,
Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt. "
Milton, P. L. ii. 843.
"Τίπτε μοι τόδ' ἐμπ'έδως
δεὶμα προστατήριον
καρδίας τερασκόπου πότᾶται. "--Æsch. Ag. 944.
]
[Footnote 7: "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow
of the heart, the spirit is broken. "--Prov. xv. 13. ]
[Footnote 8:
"As pearls from diamonds dropt. In brief, sorrow
Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all
Could so become it. "--Shakspeare.
]
[Footnote 9:
"Inde fluunt lacrymæ, stillataque sole rigescunt
De ramis electra novis. "--Ovid. Met. ii. 864.
]
[Footnote 10:
"And she, although her manners shew'd no rigour,
Was deem'd a woman of the strictest principle,
So much as to be thought almost invincible. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 11:
"Fama, malum, quo non aliud velocius ullum;
Mobilitate viget, viresque acquirit eundo. "
Virg. Æn. iv. 174.
]
[Footnote 12:
"Open your ears; for which of you will stop
The vent of hearing, when loud Rumour speaks;
I, from the Orient to the drooping West,
Making the wind my posthorse, still unfold
The acts commenced on this ball of earth;
Upon my tongues continued slanders ride:
The which in every language I pronounce,
Stuffing the ears of men with false reports. "
Introduction to 2nd part of Henry IV.
]
[Footnote 13: See Herod. i. 23, 24. ]
[Footnote 14:
"Wax to receive and marble to retain.
He was a lover of the good old school,
Who still become more constant as they cool. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 15:
"And on the thought my words broke forth.
All incoherent as they were. "--Byron.
]
[Footnote 16:
"Κἀμοι προσέστη καρδίας κλνδώνιον
χολῆς. "--Æsch. Choe. 183.
]
[Footnote 17:
"Quum tibi flagrans amor,
. . . . . .
Sæviet circa jecur ulcerosum. "
Hor. I, Od. xxv. 13.
]
[Footnote 18: "αλλὰ καὶ ἀκκίζῃ καὶ σχηματίζῃ πρὸς άπόνοιαν. "]
[Footnote 19:
"ἐπὶ τοῦ τροχοῦ γὰρ δεῖ σ'ἐκἕι στρεβλούμενον
εἰπεῖν ἅ πεπανούργηκας. "
Aristoph. Plut. 875. See also Virg. Æn. vi. 616.
]
[Footnote 20: The allusion is to the fire placed under the revolving
wheel, by which the sufferer was slowly roasted. A reference to this
species of torture will be found in ch. 50 of Tertullian's Apology. ]
[Footnote 21: "Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there, that knoweth not
how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess
Diana? "--Acts xix. 35. ]
[Footnote 22:
"Harpers have sung and poets told,
That he, in fury uncontrolled,
The shaggy monarch of the wood
Before a virgin fair and good
Hath pacified his savage mood;
But passions in the human frame
Oft put the lion's rage to shame. "--Scott.
]
[Footnote 23:
"Eternal spirit of the chainless mind!
Brightest in dungeons, Liberty! "--Byron.
]
BOOK VII.
The scornful reproaches of Leucippe stirred up a tumult of conflicting
passions in Thersander's mind; he was incensed by her taunts, vexed at
his ill success, and perplexed how to secure the accomplishment of his
desires. Without saying another word he rushed out of the house to give
vent to the storm and tempest of his soul. [1] Shortly after, having
conferred with Sosthenes, he went to the jailor, and endeavoured to
persuade him to administer a dose of poison to me; this, however, the
jailor refused to do, his predecessor having suffered death for taking
off a prisoner in this manner. Failing in this, he obtained his consent
to introduce a man (who was to pass for a criminal) into my cell, under
pretence of wishing to extract some secrets out of me through him. The
man had been previously tutored by Thersander, and was casually to
introduce Leucippe's name, and to say that she had been murdered by
the contrivance of Melitta. Thersander's object in persuading me of
her death was to hinder me (in case I obtained a verdict of acquittal)
from instituting any further search for her recovery, and the name
of Melitta was introduced in order that, after learning Leucippe's
death, I might not entertain any thoughts of marrying her, and so by
settling at Ephesus might interrupt Thersander in the prosecution of
his schemes, but on the contrary, might be induced to quit the city
without delay, from hatred to Melitta for having contrived the death of
my beloved.
As soon as this fellow came near me, he began to play his appointed
part, and with a knavish groan[2] exclaimed, "Alackaday! what a
miserable thing is life! There is no keeping out of trouble! It
stands a man in no stead to be honest! Some cross accident is sure to
overtake him! Would I could have guessed the character of my fellow
traveller, and what work he had been engaged in! " This, and much more
of the same sort, he said speaking to himself, craftily endeavouring
to attract my attention, and to make me inquire what it was that ailed
him. He did not succeed, however, for I was sufficiently taken up with
my own troubles, and he went on with his groans and ejaculations. At
length--for the unfortunate take pleasure in listening to another's
griefs, finding in it a kind of medicine for their sorrows--one of
the prisoners asked, "What trick has the jade Fortune been playing
you? I suspect that, like myself, she has laid you up in limbo without
deserving it. " He then proceeded to tell his own story, giving an
account of what had brought him into prison; and having finished,
requested the other to favour him with the particulars of his own
misfortune. He of course readily complied.
"I left the city yesterday," said he, "to go towards Smyrna, and had
proceeded about half a mile, when I was joined by a young man out
of the country. He saluted me, and after walking with me for a few
minutes, inquired whither I was going. I told him, and he said that
luckily his road lay in the same direction, so that we proceeded in
company, and entered into conversation. Stopping at an inn, we ordered
dinner, and presently four men came in and did the same. Instead of
eating, however, they continued watching us, and making signs to one
another. I plainly enough saw that we were the objects of their notice,
but was wholly at a loss to understand the meaning of their gestures.
My companion gradually turned very pale, left off eating, and at last
began to tremble all over. Instantly they sprang up, seized, and
bound us; one of them also dealt him a violent blow upon the face;
upon which, as if he had been already on the rack, and even without a
question being asked him he cried out, 'I admit having killed the girl!
Melitta, Thersander's wife, hired me to do the deed, and gave me a
hundred gold pieces for my trouble; here they are every one--take them
for yourselves; and for heaven's sake let me off! '"
Upon hearing these names I started as if stung, and turning to him,
"Who is Melitta? " I asked. --"She is a lady of the first rank in this
city," was his reply. "She took a fancy to a young man, said to be a
native of Tyre; he found a favourite wench of his (whom he had given
up for lost), among the number of Melitta's slaves, and she, moved
by jealousy, had the girl seized by the fellow whom ill luck made my
fellow-traveller, and he, in obedience to Melitta's orders, has made
away with her. --But to return to my own story. I, who had never seen
the man before, nor had dealings with him of any kind, was dragged
along with him, bound, as an accomplice in his crime; but what is
harder than all, they had not gone far, before, for the sake of his
hundred pieces, they let him go, but kept me in custody and carried me
before the judge. "
Upon hearing this chapter of accidents, I neither uttered a sound nor
shed a tear, for both voice and tears refused their office, but a
general trembling seized me, my heart sunk within me, and I felt as at
the point of death. After a time, recovering in some degree from the
stupor which his words had caused, "How did the ruffian despatch her? "
I asked, "and what has become of her body? " But having now performed
the business for which he was employed, by stimulating my curiosity,
he became obstinately silent, and I could extract nothing more from
him. In answer to my repeated questions, "Do you think," said he, at
length, "that I had a hand in the murder? The man told me he had killed
her; he said nothing of the place and manner of her death. " Tears now
came to my relief, and I gave full vent to my sorrow. It is with mental
wounds as with bodily hurts; when one has been stricken in body some
time elapses before the livid bruise, the result of the blow is seen;
and so also any one who has been pierced by the sharp tusk of a boar,
looks for the wound, but without immediately discovering it, owing to
its being deeply seated; but presently a white line is perceived, the
precursor of the blood, which speedily begins to flow; in like manner,
no sooner have bitter tidings been announced, than they pierce the
soul, but the suddenness of the stroke prevents the wound from being
visible at once, and the tooth of sorrow must for some space have
gnawed the heart ere a vent is found for tears, which are to the mind
what blood is to the body.
It was thus with me; the arrows of grief inflicted an instant wound,
but their result was imperceptible until the soul had leisure to vent
itself in tears and lamentations. Then, indeed, I exclaimed, "What evil
genius has deluded me with this brief gleam of joy, and has shewn me
my Leucippe only to lay a foundation for fresh calamities? All that
has been allowed me was to see her, and I have not been permitted to
satiate even the sense of sight! My pleasure has, indeed, been like
the baseless fabric of a dream. Ο my Leucippe, how often hast thou
been lost to me? Am I never to cease from tears and lamentations? Is
one death perpetually to succeed another? On former occasions Fortune
has been merely jesting with me, but now she is in earnest! In those
former imaginary deaths of thine, some consolation, at least, was
afforded me, for thy body, wholly or in part, was left at my disposal!
But now thou art snatched away both in soul and body! Twice hast thou
escaped the pirates, but Melitta, more foul than any pirate, has had
thee done to death. And I, impious and unholy that I am, have actually
kissed thy murderess, have been enfolded in her accursed embrace, and
she has anticipated thee in receiving from me the offerings of Love! "
While thus plunged in grief, Clinias came to visit me. I related every
particular to him, and declared my determination of putting an end to
my existence. He did all in his power to console me. "Consider," he
said, "how often she has died and come to life again; who knows but
what she may do the same on this occasion also? Why be in such haste to
kill yourself? You will have abundant leisure when the tidings of her
death have been positively confirmed. "
"This is mere trifling," I replied; "there is small need of
confirmation; my resolve is fixed, and I have decided upon a manner of
death which will not permit even the hated Melitta to escape unscathed.
Listen to my plan:--In case of being summoned into court[3] it was my
intention to plead not guilty. I have now changed my determination, and
shall plead guilty, confessing the intrigue between Melitta and myself,
and saying that we mutually planned Leucippe's death; by this means
she will suffer the punishment which is her due, and I shall quit
this life which I so much detest. "--"Talk not thus," replied he; "can
you endure to die under the base imputation of being a murderer, and,
what is more, the murderer of Leucippe? "--"Nothing is base," replied
I, "by which we can wreak vengeance upon our enemies. "[4] While we
were engaged in argument, the fellow who had communicated the tidings
of the fictitious maiden was removed, upon pretence of being taken
before the magistrate to undergo an examination. Clinias and Satyrus
exerted themselves, but ineffectually, in order to persuade me to
alter my resolution; and on the same day they removed into lodgings,
so as to be no longer under the roof of Melitta's foster-brother.
The following day the case came on; Thersander had a great muster[5]
of friends and partisans, and had engaged ten advocates; and Melitta
had been equally on the alert in preparing for her defence. When the
counsel on either side had finished speaking, I asked leave to address
the court, and said, "All those who have been exerting their eloquence,
either for Thersander or for Melitta, have been giving utterance to
sheer nonsense; I will reveal the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth. I was once passionately in love with a female of Byzantium
named Leucippe; she was carried off by pirates, and I had reason to
believe that she was dead. Meeting with Melitta in Egypt, we formed a
connexion, and after some time we travelled together to this city, and
Leucippe, whom I just now mentioned, was found working as a slave upon
Thersander's estate, under his bailiff, Sosthenes. By what means he
obtained possession of a free-born female, and what were his dealings
with the pirates I leave it to you to guess.
"Melitta, finding that I had recovered my former mistress, became
apprehensive of her regaining her influence over my affections,
and contrived a plan for putting her to death. I entered into her
schemes,--for what avails it to conceal the truth? --having received
a promise that she would settle all her property upon me; a man was
found, who, for the reward of a hundred gold pieces, undertook the
business. When the deed was done, he fled, and is now somewhere in
concealment. As for myself, Love was not long in taking vengeance upon
my cruelty. No sooner did I hear of the murder being perpetrated, than
I bitterly repented of what had taken place, and all my former fondness
revived. For this reason I have determined to turn evidence against
myself, in order that you may send me whither she is gone to whom I am
still so deeply attached. Life is intolerable to one who, in addition
to being a murderer, loves her of whose death he has been the cause. "
Every one in court was utterly astounded at the unexpected tenour of
my speech, especially Melitta. The advocates of Thersander already
claimed a triumph,[6] while those engaged in Melitta's behalf anxiously
questioned her as to the truth of what I had said. She was in great
confusion; denied some points, virtually admitted others, confessed to
having known Leucippe, and indeed confirmed most of what I had said,
with the exception of the murder. This general agreement on her part
with the facts advanced by me, created a suspicion against her, even
in the minds of her own counsel, and they were at a loss what line
of defence to adopt on her behalf. At this critical juncture, while
the court was being a scene of great clamour, Clinias came forward
and requested to be heard, for "Remember," said he, "a man's life is
now in jeopardy. " Obtaining permission to speak, "Men of Ephesus! " he
began, (his eyes filling with tears,) "do not precipitately condemn
to die one who eagerly longs for death, the natural refuge of the
unfortunate. He has been calumniating himself, and has taken upon him
the guilt of others. Let me briefly acquaint you with what has befallen
him. What he has said respecting his mistress, her being carried off
by pirates, about Sosthenes, and other circumstances which happened
before the pretended murder, are strictly true. The young woman has
undoubtedly disappeared; but whether she is still alive, or has been
made away with, it is impossible to say; one thing is certain, that
Sosthenes conceived a passion for her, that he used her cruelly for
not consenting to his desires, and that he was leagued with pirates.
My friend believing her to be murdered, is disgusted with life, and
has, therefore invented this charge against himself; he has already
confessed with his own mouth that he is anxious to die owing to grief
at the loss which he has sustained. Consider, I pray you, whether it
is likely that one who is really a murderer would be so desirous of
dying with his victim, and would feel life so insupportable. When do
we ever find murderers so tender-hearted, and hatred so compassionate?
In the name of the gods, therefore, do not believe his words; do not
condemn to death a man who is much more deserving of commiseration than
of punishment. If, as he says, he really planned this murder, let him
bring forward the hired assassin; let him declare what has become of
the body. If neither the one nor the other can be produced, how can
any belief be attached to such a murder? 'I was in love with Melitta,'
he says, 'and therefore I caused Leucippe to be killed! ' How comes
he to implicate Melitta, the object of his affection, and to be so
desirous of dying for Leucippe, whose death he compassed? Is it usual
for persons to hate the object of their love, and to love the object of
their hatred? Is it not much more probable that in such circumstances
he would have denied the crime (even had it been brought home to him)
in order to save his mistress, instead of throwing away his own life
afterwards, owing to a vain regret for her loss?
