No More Learning

[14] He swore, however, by the Pythian Apollo, by Diana, by
Venus herself, and the Loves, that he would conform himself in every
instance to the will of Chariclea. These and other solemn vows having
been mutually taken under the auspices of the gods, I made what haste I
could to Charicles.

"I found his house full of tumult and grief, his servants having
already informed him of the rape of his daughter; his friends flocking
round him with useless consolation, and equally useless advice; himself
in tears, and totally at a loss what to do. I called out with a loud
voice, 'Knaves that you are, how long will you stand here stupid and
undetermined, as if your misfortunes had taken away your senses? Why
do you not arm instantly, pursue and take the ravishers, and revenge
the injuries you have received? ' 'It will be to no purpose,' replied
Charicles, in a languid tone; 'I see that all this is come upon me by
the wrath of heaven; the gods foretold to me that I should be deprived
of what I held most dear, since the time that I entered unseasonably
into the temple, and saw what it was not lawful for me to behold. [15]
Yet there is no reason why we should not contend, in this instance,
even against a calamity, though sent by the deities, if we knew whom
we have to pursue, and who have brought this misfortune upon us. ' 'We
do know them,' said I; 'it is Theagenes, whom you made so much of and
introduced to me, and his companions. Perhaps you may find some of them
still about the city, who may have loitered here this evening. Arise,
therefore, and call the people to council. '

"What I desired was done: the magistrates sent the herald about, to
convoke an assembly by the sound of trumpet. The people presently came
together, and a night meeting was held in the theatre. Charicles drew
tears of compassion from all, when he appeared in the midst in mourning
garments, with dust upon his face and head, and thus began:

"'Delphians, you may perhaps imagine that I have called together this
meeting, and am now addressing it solely on account of my own great
calamities; but that is not entirely the case. I suffer indeed what is
worse than death. I am left deserted, afflicted by the gods, my house
desolate, and deprived of that sweet conversation which I preferred to
all the pleasures in the world; yet hope, and the self-conceit common
to us, still sustains me, and promises me that I shall again recover my
daughter. But I am moved with indignation at the affront which has been
offered to the city, which I hope to see punished even before my own
wrongs are redressed, unless the Thessalian striplings have taken away
from us our free spirit, and just regard for our country and its gods;
for what can be more shameful than that a few youths, dancers forsooth,
and followers of an embassy, should trample under their feet the laws
and authority of the first city in Greece, and should ravish from: the
temple of Apollo its chiefest ornament, Chariclea, alas! the delight
of my eyes; How obstinate and implacable towards me has been the anger
of the gods! The life of my own daughter, as you know, was extinguished
with the light of her nuptial torches. Grief for her death brought
her mother soon to the grave, and drove me from my country; but, when
I found Chariclea, I felt myself consoled; she became my life, the
hope of succession in my family, my sweet anchor, I may say, my only
comfort. Of all these this sudden storm has bereft me, and that at the
most unlucky time possible, as if I were to be the scorn and sport of
fate, just when preparations were making for her marriage, and you were
all informed of it. '

"While he was speaking, and indulging himself in lamentations, the
chief magistrate Hegesias interrupted and stopped him. 'Let Charicles,
fellow-citizens,' said he, 'lament hereafter at his leisure; but let
not us be so hurried away, and affected by concern for his misfortunes,
as to neglect opportunity, which in all things is of great moment, and
particularly in military affairs. [16] There is some hope that we may
overtake the ravishers if we follow them instantly, for the delay which
must take place on our part will naturally make them less speedy in
their march: but if we spend our time in womanish bewailings, and by
our delays give them an opportunity to escape, what remains but that
we shall become a common laughing-stock, the laughing-stock of youths,
whom the moment we have taken we should nail to so many crosses, and
render their names, and even their families, infamous? This we may
easily effect, if we endeavour to rouse the indignation of their
countrymen against them, and interdict their descendants, and as many
of themselves as may happen to escape, from ever being present at this
annual ceremonial and sacrifice to the Manes of their hero; the expense
of which we defray out of our public treasury. ' The people approved
what he advised, and ratified it by their decree. 'Enact, also,' said
he, 'if you please, that the priestess shall never in future appear to
the armed runners; for, as I conjecture, it was the sight of her at
that time which inflamed Theagenes, and excited in him the impious
design of carrying her off; it is desirable, therefore, to guard
against anything which may give occasion to such an attempt for the
time to come. '

"When this also was unanimously agreed to, Hegesias gave the signal
to march, the trumpet sounded, the theatre was abandoned for war, and
there was a general rush from the assembly for the fight. Not only
the robust and mature followed him, but children and youths likewise,
supplying with their zeal the place of age; women, also, with a spirit
superior to their strength, snatching what arms they could meet with,
tried in vain to keep up with them, and, by the fruitless attempt,
were obliged to confess the weakness of their sex. You might see old
men struggling with their age, their mind dragging on their body, and
indignant at their physical weakness, because of the vigour of their
minds. The whole city, in short, felt so deeply the loss of Chariclea,
that, without waiting for day, and moved by a common impulse, it poured
forth in pursuit of her ravishers. "


[Footnote 1: It would seem that Chariclea stood with her palm and torch
at the end of the course the contenders were to take. ]

[Footnote 2: Iliad, B. xxi. ]

[Footnote 3: Il. xiii. 636.

"All pleasures breed satiety, sweet sleep,
Soft dalliance, music, and the grateful dance. "--Cowper.
]

[Footnote 4:

----"Honoratum si forte reponis Achillem,
Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer,
Jura neget sibi nata, nihil non arroget armis. "--Hor. A. P. 121.
]

[Footnote 5: Il. xvi. 21. ]

[Footnote 6: Γράμμασιν Αἰθιοπικoῖς oὐ δημοτικoῖς 'αλλά Βασιλικοῖς.
"This distinction," observes a reviewer, "between the royal and popular
system of hieroglyphics, as well as the etiquette of inscribing the
title of the king within a circle or oval, is borrowed from the
monuments of Egypt. "]

[Footnote 7: Tasso, c. xii. 21-40, as is well known, has introduced the
story of Chariclea under the name of Clorinda:--

"D'una pietosa istoria e di devote
Figure la sua stanza era dipinta,
Vergine bianca il bel volto, e le gote
Vermiglia, è quivi presso un drago avvinta.
. . . . . .
Ingravida frattanto, ed espon fuori
(E tu fosti colei) candida figlia. "
]

[Footnote 8: The effect of Jacob's rods will suggest itself to the
recollection of the reader. Gen. xxx. 37-41. ]

[Footnote 9: Δίθψ παντάρβη την σφενδόνην καθιέρωμενον. ]

[Footnote 10:

"His hands are tiny, but afar they throw,
E'en down to Dis and Acheron below.
. . . . . .
Small is his bow, his arrow small to sight,
But to Jove's court it wings its ready flight. "
Chapman's Trs. of Moschus.
]

[Footnote 11: ἲυγγα. Properly the bird called the "wryneck. " It was
sacred to Venus, and much used in love incantations, especially to
recall the alienated affections of a beloved object. It was employed
fastened to a wheel, by turning which, the effect was supposed to be
produced. It also means the magical wheel itself. --Hickie's Theocritus,
see Theoc. Idyll. 11. ]

[Footnote 12: Mr. Hobhouse's description of the dance of the Albanians
affords an illustration of the above. "They danced round the blaze to
their own songs with astonishing energy--one of them which detained
them more than an hour, had for the burden--'Robbers all at Parga!
Robbers all at Parga! ' and as they roared out this stave, they whirled
round the fire, dropped and rebounded from their knees, and again
whirled round as the chorus was again repeated. "--Notes to Childe
Harold, c. xi. 71. ]

[Footnote 13:

----Hic, hic ponite lucida
Funalia, et vectes et arcus
Oppositis foribus minaces. --Hor. Od. iii. xxvi. 6.
]

[Footnote 14:

"I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow,
By his best arrow with the golden head,
By the simplicity of Venus' doves,
By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,
By all the vows that ever men have broke,
In number more than ever woman spoke. "
Midsummer Night's Dream.
]

[Footnote 15: Charicles does not farther explain the nature of his
offence but the ancient thought that even an accidental, involuntary
intrusion into any ceremonies or mysteries at which it was not lawful
for the intruder to be present, was always followed by some punishment.
Quartilla in Petronius says, "Neque enim quisquam impunè quod non
licuit aspexit. "

"Inscia quod crimen viderunt lumina, plector,
Peccatumque oculos est habuisse, meum! "--Ovid.
]

[Footnote 16: See the fine Chorus in the Œdipus Coloneus,--the subject
being the pursuit after the daughters of Œdipus, carried off by Creon,
1045-1100. ]




BOOK V.


"How the city of Delphos succeeded in their pursuit, I had no
opportunity of learning; their being thus engaged, however, gave me
an excellent opportunity for the flight which I meditated. Taking,
therefore, my young companions, I led them down to the sea, and put
them aboard the Phœnician vessel, which was just ready to set sail,
for day now beginning to break, the merchants thought they had kept
the promise they had made, of waiting for me a day and a night. Seeing
us however appear, they received us with great joy, and immediately
proceeded out of the harbour, at first using their oars, then a
moderate breeze rising from the land, and a gentle swell of the
sea[1]caressing as it were the stern of our ship, they hoisted sail,
and committed the vessel to the wind.

"We passed with rapidity the Cirrhæan gulf, the promontory of
Parnassus, the Ætolian and Calydonian rocks, and the Oxian isles,
_sharp_[2] both in name and figure, and the sea of Zacynthus began to
appear as the sun sank towards the west. But why am I thus tedious? Why
do I forget you and myself, and, by extending my narration, embark you
upon a boundless ocean? Let us stop here a while, and both of us take
a little rest; for though I know you are a very patient hearer, and
strive excellently against sleep, yet I have prosecuted the account of
my troubles to so unseasonable an hour, that I think you at last begin
to give in. My age, too, and the remembrance of my sufferings, weigh
down my spirits, and require repose. "

"Stop then, Father," replied Cnemon, "not on my account, for I could
attend untired to your story many days and nights; it is to me as the
siren's strains; but I have for some time heard a tumult and noise in
the house; I was rather alarmed at it, but my great desire to hear the
remainder of your discourse prevented me from interrupting you. "

"I was not sensible of it," said Calasiris, "owing, I suppose, partly
to the dulness of my hearing, the common malady of age, and partly to
my being intent on what I was saying. But I fancy the stir you hear is
occasioned by the return of Nausicles, the master of the house; I am
impatient to know how he has succeeded. "--"In every thing as I could
wish, my dear Calasiris," said Nausicles, who entered at that moment.
"I know how solicitous you were for my success, and how your best
wishes accompanied me. I have many proofs of your good will towards
me, and among others the words which I have just heard you uttering.
But who is this stranger? "--"A Greek," said Calasiris; "what farther
regards him you shall hear another time; but pray relate to us your
success, that we may be partakers in your joy. " "You shall hear all
in the morning," replied Nausicles: "at present let it suffice you
to know, that I have obtained a fairer Thisbe than ever; for myself,
wearied with cares and fatigues, I must now take a little repose. "
Having said this, he retired to rest.

Cnemon was struct at hearing the name of Thisbe; racking his mind
with anxiety, he passed a sleepless night, nor could he at intervals
restrain his sighs and groans, which at last awakened Calasiris, who
lay near, from a sound sleep. The old man, raising himself upon his
elbow, asked him what was the matter with him, and why he vented his
complaints in that almost frantic manner. "Is it not enough to drive me
mad," replied Cnemon, "when I hear that Thisbe is alive? "--"And who is
this Thisbe? " said Calasiris, "and how came you acquainted with her?
and why are you disturbed at supposing her to be alive? "--"You shall
hear at large," returned the other, "when I relate to you my story; at
present I will only tell you that I saw her dead with these eyes, and
buried her with my own hands among the buccaneers. " "Take some rest
now," said the old man; "this mystery will soon be cleared up. "--"I
cannot sleep," he said; "do you repose yourself if you will; I shall
die if I do not find out, and that immediately, under what mistake
Nausicles is labouring; or whether among the Egyptians alone the dead
come to life again. " Calasiris smiled at his impatience, and betook
himself again to sleep.

But Cnemon arose, and, going out of his chamber, encountered all
those difficulties which it was probable a stranger would meet with,
who wanders at night, and in the dark, in an unknown house; but he
struggled with them all, such was his horror of Thisbe, and his anxiety
to clear away the apprehensions which were raised in his mind by what
fell from Nausicles. After passing and repassing many times, without
knowing it, the same passages, at last he heard the soft voice of a
woman lamenting, like a vernal nightingale pouring out her melancholy
notes at eventide. [3] Led by the sound, he advanced towards the
apartment; and putting his ear to the division of the folding doors, he
listened, and heard her thus lamenting:--

"What an unhappy fate is mine! I thought I had escaped from the hands
of the robbers, and avoided a cruel death. I flattered myself that I
should pass the remainder of my life with my beloved; wandering indeed,
and in foreign lands, but with him it would have been sweet; and every
difficulty would have been supportable. But my evil genius is not yet
satisfied; he gave me a glance of hope, and has plunged me afresh in
despair. I hoped I had escaped servitude, and am again a slave; a
prison, and am still confined. I was kept in an island, and surrounded
with darkness; my situation is not now very different, indeed,
perhaps rather worse, for he who was able and willing to console me
is separated from me. The Pirates' cave which I yesterday inhabited,
seemed indeed an avenue to the shades below; more like a charnel
house than a dwelling; but his presence in whom I delighted made it
pleasant; for he lamented my fate living, and shed tears over me when
he thought me dead. Now I am deprived of every comfort; he who partook
of and lessened the burden of my misfortunes is ravished from me; and
I, deserted and a captive, am exposed alone to the assaults of cruel
fortune; and endure to live only because I have a glimmering of hope
that my beloved still survives. But where, Ο delight of my soul, are
you? What fate has awaited you? Are you also forced to be a slave--you,
whose spirit is so free, and impatient of all slavery except that of
love? Oh, may your life be safe, at least; and may you, though late,
see again your Thisbe! for so, however unwilling, you must call me. "

When Cnemon heard this, he could no longer restrain himself, or have
patience to listen to what was to follow; but guessing from what he had
already heard, and particularly from what was last uttered, that the
complainer could be no other than Thisbe, he was ready to fall into
a swoon at the very doors; he composed himself, however, as well as
he was able, and fearing lest he should be discovered by any one (for
morning now approached, and the cock had twice crowed), he hurried back
with a tottering pace.

Now his foot stumbled; now he fell against the wall, and now against
the lintels of the door; sometimes he struck his head against utensils
hanging from the ceiling; at last, with much difficulty, and after
many wanderings, he reached his own apartment, and threw himself upon
the bed. His body trembled, and his teeth chattered, and it might have
become a very serious matter had not Calasiris, alarmed at the disorder
in which he returned, come to his assistance, and soothed and comforted
him. When he came a little to himself, he inquired into the cause of it.

"I am undone," exclaimed Cnemon; "that wretch Thisbe is really alive;"
and having said this, he sank down again and fainted away.

Calasiris having with much ado recovered him, attempted to cheer his
mind. Some envious demon, who makes human affairs his sport, was no
doubt practising his illusions upon Cnemon, not suffering him to enjoy
his good fortune unalloyed with trouble; but making that which was
afterwards to be the cause of his greatest pleasure wear at first the
appearance of calamity: either because such is the perverse disposition
of those beings, or because human nature cannot admit pure and unmixed
joy. Cnemon, at this very time, was flying from her whom he above all
things desired to meet, and frightened at that which would have been to
him the most pleasing of sights; for the lady who was thus lamenting
was not Thisbe but Chariclea. The train of accidents which brought her
into the house of Nausicles was as follows:--

After Thyamis was taken prisoner, the island set on fire, and its
pirate inhabitants expelled, Thermuthis, his lieutenant, and Cnemon
crossed over the lake in the morning to make inquiries after Thyamis.
What happened on their expedition, has been before related. Theagenes
and Chariclea were left alone in the cave, and esteemed what was to
prove only an excess of calamity, a great present blessing; since now
for the first time, being left alone, and freed from every intruding
eye, they indulged themselves in unrestrained embraces and endearments;
and forgetting all the world, and clinging together as though forming
but one body, they enjoyed the first fruits of pure and virgin love;
warm tears were mingled with their chaste kisses; chaste I say, for
if at any time human nature was about to prevail on Theagenes he was
checked by Chariclea, and put in mind of his oath; nor was it difficult
to bring him back within due bounds, for though not proof against pure
love, he was superior to mere sensual desire. But when at length they
called to mind that this was a time for consultation they ceased their
dalliance, and Theagenes began as follows:--

"That we may spend our lives together, my dearest Chariclea, and obtain
at last that union which we prefer to every earthly blessing, and for
the sake of which we have undergone so much, is my fervent prayer,
and may the gods of Greece grant it! But since every thing human is
fluctuating, and subject to change, since we have suffered much, and
have yet much to hope, as we have appointed to meet Cnemon at Chemmis,
and are uncertain what fortunes may await us there, and, in fine, as
the country to which all our wishes tend is at a great distance, let
us agree upon some token by which we may secretly hold communication
when present; and, if at any time separated, may trace out each other
in absence; for a token between friends is an excellent companion in a
wanderer's journey, and may often be the means of again bringing them
together. "

Chariclea was pleased with the proposal; and they agreed, if they were
divided, to write upon any temple, noted statue, bust of Mercury,[4]
or boundary-stone, Theagenes the word Pythicus, and Chariclea Pythias;
whether they were gone to the right or the left; to what city, town,
or people; and the day and hour of their writing. If they met in any
circumstances, or under any disguise, they depended upon their mutual
affection to discover one another, which they were certain no time
could efface, or even lessen. Chariclea, however, showed him the
ring which had been exposed with her, and Theagenes exhibited a scar
made upon his knee by a wild boar. They agreed on a watch-word: she,
_lampas_ (a lamp), he, _phoinix_ (a palm-tree). Having made these
arrangements, they again embraced each other, and again wept, pouring
out their tears as libations, and using kisses as oaths.

At last they went out of the cave, touching none of the treasures it
contained, thinking riches obtained by plunder an abomination. They
selected, however, some of the richest jewels which they themselves had
brought from Delphi, and which the pirates had taken from them, and
prepared for their journey. Chariclea changed her dress, packing up in
a bundle her necklace, her crown, and sacred garments; and, the better
to conceal them, put over them things of less value. She gave the bow
and quiver (the emblems of the god under whom he served) to Theagenes
to bear: to him a pleasant burden.

They now approached the lake, and were preparing to get into a boat,
when they saw a company of armed men passing over toward the island.
Rendered dizzy by the sight, they stood for some time astounded, as
if deprived of all feeling by the continued assaults of unwearied
evil fortune. At last, however, and just as the men were landing,
Chariclea proposed to retire again into the cave, and endeavour to
conceal themselves there; and was running towards it, when Theagenes
stopped her, and exclaimed, "Why should we vainly endeavour to fly from
that fate which pursues us every where? Let us yield to our fortune,
and meet it with fortitude: what besides should we gain but unending
troubles, a wandering life, and still renewed assaults of the evil
genius who mocks and persecutes us? Have you not experienced how he has
added, with savage eagerness, the assaults of pirates to exile, and
worse perils by land to those we suffered by sea; how he terrified us
first with fightings, afterwards threw us into the hands of buccaneers,
detained us some time in captivity, then left us solitary and deserted,
just gave us a prospect of flight and freedom, and now sends ruffians
to destroy us; plays off his warfare against us and our fortunes, and
gives them the appearance of a continually shifting scene, and sadly
varied drama? Let us put an end then to the tragedy, and give ourselves
up to those who are prepared for our destruction, lest the continued
pressure and increase of our misfortunes oblige us, at last, to lay
violent hands upon ourselves. "

Chariclea did not entirely agree with all which her lover in his
passion said. She admitted the justice of his expostulations with
fortune, but could not see the propriety of giving themselves up into
the hands of the armed men. It was not certain that they meant to
destroy them; the evil genius who pursued them would not, perhaps,
be kind enough to put so quick an end to their miseries; he probably
reserved them to experience the hardships of servitude; and was it not
worse than death to be exposed to the insults and indignities of the
barbarians? "Let us endeavour, therefore," said she, "by all means in
our power to avoid this fate. We may, from past experience, have some
hopes of success: we have frequently, already, escaped from dangers
which appeared inevitable. "

"Let us do as you please," said Theagenes; and followed her,
unwillingly, as she led the way. They could not, however, escape in
safety to the cave; for while they were looking only at the enemy in
front, they were not aware of another troop which had landed on a
different part of the island, and which was taking them from behind,
as in a net. [5] They were now utterly confounded, and stood still,
Chariclea keeping close by Theagenes, so that if they were to die they
might die together. Some of the men who approached were just preparing
to strike; but when the youthful pair, looking up, flashed upon them
the full splendour of their beauty, their hearts failed them, and
their hands grew slack; for the arm even of a barbarian reverences
the beautiful, and the fiercest eye grows milder before a lovely
countenance. They took them prisoners, therefore, and conducted them
to their leader, anxious to lay before him the first and fairest of
the spoils. It was the only booty, however, which they were likely
to obtain, for they could find nothing else, after the strictest
search throughout the island. Everything on the surface of it had been
destroyed by the late conflagration. They were ignorant of the cave
and its contents. They proceeded then towards their commander: he was
Mithranes, commandant to Oroondates, viceroy of Egypt, under the Great
King, whom Nausicles (as has been said) had induced, by a great sum of
money, to make this expedition into the island in search of Thisbe.
Upon the approach of Theagenes and Chariclea, Nausicles, with the
quick-sighted craft of a merchant, started forward, and running up,
exclaimed, "This is indeed Thisbe, the very Thisbe ravished from me by
those villain pirates, but restored by your kindness, Mithranes, and by
the gods. " He then caught hold of Chariclea, and seemed in an ecstacy
of joy; at the same time he spoke to her privately in Greek, in a low
voice, and bid her, if she valued her life, pretend that her name was
Thisbe.

This scheme succeeded. Chariclea, pleased at hearing her native
language, and flattering herself with the hopes of comfort and
assistance from the man who spoke it, did as he bid her; and when
Mithranes asked her her name, said it was Thisbe. Nausicles then ran
up to Mithranes, kissed his head, flattered the barbarian's vanity,
extolled his good fortune, and congratulated him that, besides his
many other exploits, this expedition had had such good success. He,
cajoled by these praises, and really believing the truth of what was
said (being deceived by the name), though smitten with the beauty
of the maiden, which shone out under a sorry garb, like the moon[6]
from beneath a cloud; yet, confounded by the quickness of Nausicles's
manœuvres, and having no time given to his fickle mind for change of
purpose, said, "Take, then, this maiden, whom my arms have recovered
for you;" and so saying, he delivered her into his hands, unwillingly
and frequently looking back upon her, as if he would not have parted
with her had he not thought himself pledged, by the reward he had
received, to give her up. "But as for her companion," he added,
pointing to Theagenes, "he shall be my prize. Let him follow me under
a guard; he shall be sent to Babylon: with such a figure as his, he
will become the service of the great king. " And having thus signified
his pleasure, they passed over the lake, and were separated from each
other. Nausicles took the road to Chemmis, with Chariclea; Mithranes
visited some other towns which were under his command, and very soon
sent Theagenes to Oroondates, who was then at Memphis, accompanied with
the following letter:--

"Mithranes, Commandant, to the Viceroy Oroondates.

"I have taken prisoner a Grecian youth of too noble an appearance to
continue in my service, and worthy to appear before, and serve only,
the Great King. I send him to you, that you may offer him to our
common master, as a great and inestimable present, such a one as the
royal court has never yet beheld, and probably never will again.
"

Scarcely had the day dawned when eager curiosity carried Calasiris
and Cnemon to the apartment of Nausicles, to inquire farther into
his adventures. He told them all that I have related: how he arrived
at the island; how he found it deserted; the deceit he had put upon
Mithranes, in passing off another maiden upon him for Thisbe; he was
better pleased, he said, with his present prize than if he had really
found Thisbe; there was no more comparison between their several
beauties than between a mortal and a goddess; hers was unrivalled, it
was impossible for him to express how beautiful she was; but, as she
was under his roof, they might satisfy themselves with their own eyes.
When they heard this, they began to suspect a little of the truth, and
besought him to send for her immediately, as knowing that words could
not do justice to her personal appearance.

When she was introduced (with downcast eyes, and her face veiled to
her forehead), and Nausicles had besought her to be of good cheer,
she looked up a little, and saw (beyond her hopes), and was seen by,
her unexpected friends. Immediately a sudden cry was heard from all.
These exclamations burst out at once, "My father! "--"My daughter!
Chariclea herself! and not Cnemon's Thisbe. " Nausicles stood mute with
astonishment when he saw Calasiris embracing Chariclea, and weeping for
joy. He wondered what this could be which had the air of a recognition
on the stage, when Calasiris ran to him, and embracing him, cried out,
"Ο best of men, may the gods shower on you every blessing you desire,
as you have been the preserver of my daughter, and have restored to
my longing eyes the delight of my life. But, my child, my Chariclea!
where have you left Theagenes? " She wept at the question, and, pausing
a little, said, "He who delivered me to this gentleman, whoever he may
be, has led him away captive. " Calasiris besought Nausicles to discover
to him all he knew about Theagenes; under whose power he now was; and
whither they had taken him.

The merchant gave him all the information he was able, conceiving this
to be the pair about whom he had frequently heard the old man speak,
and whom he knew he was seeking in sorrow. He added, that he feared his
intelligence would not be of much service to persons in their humble
circumstances; he doubted, indeed, whether any sum of money would
induce Mithranes to part with the youth. "We are rich enough," said
Chariclea softly to Calasiris; "promise him as much as you please; I
have preserved the necklace which you know of, and have it with me. "
Calasiris recovered his spirits at hearing this; but not choosing
to let Nausicles into the secret of their wealth, replied, "My good
Nausicles, the wise man is never poor; he measures his desires by his
possessions, and receives from those who abound what it is honourable
for him to ask. Tell us then where the person is who has Theagenes in
his power; the divine goodness will not be wanting to us, but will
supply us with as much as is sufficient to satisfy the avarice of this
Persian. "

Nausicles smiled incredulously. "I shall," said he, "be persuaded that
you can suddenly grow rich, as by a miracle, when you have first paid
down to me a ransom for this maiden; you know that riches have as many
charms for a merchant as for a Persian. "--"I know it," replied the
old man, "and you shall have a ransom. But why do you not anticipate
my wishes, and, with your customary benevolence, offer, of your own
accord, to restore my daughter? Must I be forced to entreat it of
you? "--"You shall have her on proper terms," said the merchant. "I do
not grudge you her; but now (as I am going to sacrifice) let us join in
supplication to the gods, and pray that they would increase my wealth,
and bestow some on you. "--"Spare your ridicule," replied Calasiris,
"and be not incredulous; make preparations for the sacrifice, and we
will attend you when everything is ready. "

Nausicles agreed to this, and soon after sent a message to his guests
to desire their presence. They obeyed cheerfully, having before
concerted what they were to do. The men accompanied Nausicles to
the altar, with many others who were invited, for it was a public
sacrifice. Chariclea went with the merchant's daughter and some other
females, whose encouragements and entreaties had prevailed upon her to
be present at the ceremony; and they would hardly have persuaded her
had she not secretly pleased herself with the thought of taking this
opportunity to pour out her vows and prayers for Theagenes.

They came to the temple of Mercury (for him, as the god of gain and
merchants, Nausicles particularly worshipped); and when the sacred
rites were performed, Calasiris inspected the entrails of a victim,
and changing his countenance according as they portended joyful or
adverse events, at last stretched out his hand, (murmuring certain
words) and pretending to take something from among the ashes, presented
a ring of great value to Nausicles, which he had brought with him for
that purpose: "And here," said he, "the gods, by my hands, offer you
this as a ransom for Chariclea. "

The ring[7] was a perfect marvel, both for material and workmanship.
The circle was of electrum, within the bezil[8] was an Ethiopian
amethyst, of the size of a maiden's eye, finer much than those of Spain
or Britain; for these latter have a dullish tinge of purple, like a
rose just bursting from its bud, and beginning to redden under the
sun's beams; whereas the Ethiopian amethyst shines with a deeper and
more sparkling lustre; if you turn it about it scatters its rays on all
sides, not dulling but lighting up the sight.

They are besides of much greater virtue than the western ones; they
do not belie their name,[9] but will really keep those who wear them
sober amid great excesses. This property is common to all the Indian
and Ethiopian stones: but that which Calasiris now gave Nausicles far
surpassed them. It was carved with wonderful art, and represented
a shepherd tending his sheep. He sat upon a rock, gently elevated
from the ground, surveying his flock, and distributing them[10] into
different pastures by the various notes of his pipe; they seemed to
obey, and to feed as the sound directed them. You would say that they
had golden fleeces, the natural blush of the amethyst, without the
aid of art, casting a glow upon their backs. Here you might observe
the frolics of the little lambs; some climbing up the ascent, others
gambolling around the shepherd, converted the rock into a pastoral
theatre. Some wantoning in the flame of the gem as in the sun, just
touched in bounding the rocky surface; others, older and more bold,
seemed as if they would overleap the circle; but here art had hindered
them, and surrounded the jewel in the rock with the golden bezil. The
rock was not counterfeit, but real; the artist, to represent it, had
inclosed the edges of the stone, and was not put to the trouble of
feigning what in reality existed. Such then was the ring.

Nausicles was struck at the seeming miracle, and delighted with the
beauty of the gem, which he esteemed to be of more value than all he
was worth. --"I was but jesting," said he, "my dear Calasiris, when I
talked of a ransom for your daughter; my design was to restore her
to you freely; and without price; but since, as they say, the gifts
of the gods are not to be refused, I accept this jewel which is sent
from heaven; persuaded that it is a present from Mercury, the best of
deities, who has furnished you with it through the fire, and indeed
you see how it sparkles itself with flames: besides, I think that the
pleasantest and most lawful gain is that which, without impoverishing
the giver, enriches the receiver. "

Having said this, he took the ring, and proceeded with the rest of the
company to an entertainment; the women by themselves, in the interior
of the temple; the men in the vestibule. When they had satisfied their
appetite, and the board was crowned with cups, they sang a suitable[11]
hymn to Bacchus, and poured out libations to him; the women sang a
hymn of thanksgiving to Ceres. Chariclea, retiring from the rest,
occupied with her own thoughts, prayed for the health and safe return
of Theagenes.

And now, the company being warmed with wine, and rife with mirth,
Nausicles, holding out a goblet of pure water, said, "Good Calasiris,
let us offer this to the nymphs, the sober nymphs your deities, who
have no sympathy with Bacchus, and are nymphs in very deed; but if you
will entertain us with such a relation as we wish to hear, it will be
more pleasant to us than even our flowing bowls. You see the women
have already risen from the table, and are amusing themselves with
dancing; but neither dancing nor music will be so pleasant to us as
the narrative of your wanderings, if you will favour us with it. You
have often excused yourself from the task on account of the troubles
with which you were overwhelmed, and the lowness of your spirits;
but there cannot be a more proper time for it than the present, when
everything contributes to remove the one and to raise the other. You
have recovered your daughter, and have hopes of recovering your son;
especially if you do not affront me, by deferring your story any
longer. "

"Now may all good attend you, Nausicles," said Cnemon, putting in
his word; "who, although you have provided all manner of music for
our recreation, are willing to forego such delights (leaving them
to ordinary minds), and to listen to higher and mysterious matters,
seasoned with a divine interest. You show judgment in coupling together
the deities, Mercury and Bacchus, thus mingling the pleasures of
discourse with those of wine. Though I admire the whole order of this
splendid sacrifice, yet I know nothing which will render the god of
eloquence more propitious, than if this good old man will contribute
his narrative[12] to the rest of the entertainment. "

Calasiris obeyed, as well to oblige Cnemon, as to conciliate the favour
of Nausicles, whose[13] services he foresaw he should have occasion
for, and entered upon his story. He began with what he had already
related to Cnemon; he was now, however, less minute, and entirely
passed over some matters which he did not choose Nausicles to know; and
when he had proceeded to the point where he had before left off,[14] he
went on as follows:

"As the wind was at first very favourable to us, the fugitives from
Delphi began to flatter themselves with the hopes of a prosperous
voyage; but when we got into the straits of Calydon,[15] the swell
and rolling of the waves alarmed them not a little;" here Cnemon,
interrupting, begged him to explain, if he could, the cause of that
agitation. "The Ionian sea," continued Calasiris, "from being wide
beyond, is there contracted, and pours itself, by a narrow channel,
into the Crissæan gulf; whence, hastening to mingle its waters with
the Ægean, it is stopped and thrown back again by the Isthmus of
Peloponnesus; which is opposed, probably, as a rampart by divine
providence, lest it should overflow the opposite land: and a greater
reflux being occasioned in the strait than in the rest of the gulf,
from the encounter of the advancing and retreating tides the waves,
owing to this repercussion, boil, swell, and break in tumult one
over the other. " This explanation was received with the applause and
approbation of all; and the old man continued his narration.

"Having passed the strait, and lost sight of the Oxian[16] Isles, we
thought we discovered the promontory of Zacynthus, which rose on our
sight like an obscure cloud, and the pilot gave orders to furl the
sails. We inquired why he slackened the vessel's speed, when we had a
prosperous wind: 'Because,' said he, 'if we continue to sail at the
rate we do at present, we shall arrive off the island about the first
watch of the night; and I fear lest, in the darkness, we may strike
upon some of the rocks which abound under the sea on that coast: it is
better therefore for us to keep out at sea all night, carrying only so
much sail as may suffice to bring us under the island in the morning. '
This was the opinion of the pilot: however we made land sooner than he
expected, and cast anchor at Zacynthus just as the sun rose.

"The inhabitants of the port, which was not far distant from the city,
flocked together at our arrival, as to an unusual spectacle. They
admired the construction of our vessel, framed with regard both to size
and beauty; and from thence formed an idea of the skill and industry of
the Phœnicians. Still more did they wonder at our uncommon good fortune
in having had so prosperous a passage, in the midst of winter, and at
the setting of the Pleiades.

"Almost all the ship's company, while the vessel was being moored,
hurried off to the city to buy what things they wanted. I strolled
about in search of a lodging, somewhere on the shore, for the pilot had
told me that we should probably winter at Zacynthus: to remain on board
the ship would have been very inconvenient, because of the noisy crew,
and our fugitives could not be so well concealed in the city as their
situation required.

"When I had walked a little way, I saw an old fisherman sitting
before his door, and mending his nets. I approached and addressed
him--'Can you inform me, my good friend,' said I, 'where I can hire a
lodging? '--'It was broken,' said he, 'near yonder promontory, having
caught upon a rock. '--'This was not what I inquired,' said I; 'but you
would do me a kind office if you will either receive me into your own
house, or show me another where I may be taken in. '--'It was not I who
did it, I warrant you,' said he; 'I was not in the boat; old age has
not yet so dulled the faculties of Tyrrhenus. It was the fault of the
lubberly boys which occasioned this mishap, who, from ignorance of the
reefs, spread their nets in the wrong place. '

"Perceiving now that he was hard of hearing, I bawled out at the top
of my voice, 'Good day to you! Can you show us, who are strangers, a
place where we may find lodging? '--'The same to you,' answered he.
'You may, if you please, lodge with me; unless, perhaps, you are one
of those who require a great many beds and chambers, and have a large
number of servants with you. ' Upon my saying: 'I have only two children
with myself,'--'A very good number,' he replied, 'for you will find
my family consist of only one more. I have two sons who live with me;
their elder brothers are married and settled by themselves; I have,
besides, the nurse of my children, for their mother has been some time
dead; wherefore, good sir, do not hesitate, nor doubt that we shall
receive gladly one whose first aspect is venerable and prepossessing. '
I accepted his offer: and when I returned afterwards with Theagenes and
Chariclea, the old fisherman received us with great cordiality, and
assigned us the warmest and most convenient part of his habitation.

"The beginning of the winter passed here not unpleasantly. We lived
together in the day time: at night we separated. Chariclea slept in one
apartment, with the nurse, I in another, with Theagenes, and Tyrrhenus
in a third, with his children. Our table was in common, and well
supplied; the old man furnished it abundantly with provision from the
sea. We frequently amused our leisure by assisting him in fishing,
in which art he was very skilful, and had tackle for it in abundance,
and suited for every season. [17] The coast was convenient for placing
his nets, and abounded with fish, so that most people attributed his
success in his occupation to his good fortune alone, which was in
part, however, owing to his skill. Thus, for some time, we lived in
peace; but it is not permitted to the unhappy to be long at ease; nor
could the charms of Chariclea, even in this solitude, be exempt from
disturbance.

"The Tyrian merchant, that victor in the Pythian games, with whom we
sailed, was very annoying to me; he took every opportunity of pressing
me with earnestness, as a father, to grant him Chariclea in marriage.
He vaunted his family and his fortune. He said that the vessel in which
we sailed was entirely his property; and the greatest part of her
cargo, which consisted of gold, precious stones, and silk. He crowned
all these, and many other recommendations of himself, with his victory
in Greece, which he thought reflected no small lustre upon him. I
objected my present poverty, and that I could never bring myself to
dispose of my daughter in a foreign country, and at such a distance
from Egypt. 'Talk not of poverty,' he would reply; 'I shall esteem the
gift of Chariclea's hand more than a portion of a thousand talents.
Wherever she is, I shall look upon that place as my country; I am ready
to change my destined course to Carthage, and sail with you wherever
you please. '

"When, after some time, I saw the Phœnician relax nothing of
his importunity, but that he grew more urgent every day in his
solicitations, I determined to flatter him with fallacious hopes, lest
he should offer some violence to us in the island, and promised I would
do everything which he wished when we arrived in Egypt. But I had no
sooner thus quieted him a little, than a new wave of trouble came
rolling in upon me. [18]

"Old Tyrrhenus accosted me one day as I was wandering in a retired part
of the coast. 'My good Calasiris,' said he, 'Neptune is my witness,
and all the gods, that I regard you as my brother, and your children
as my own. I am come to discover to you a gathering danger which will
occasion you great uneasiness, but which I cannot, with any regard
to the laws of hospitality, conceal from one who lodges under my
roof, and which it concerns you much to be acquainted with. A nest of
pirates, concealed under the side of yonder promontory, are lying in
wait for your Phœnician vessel. They are continually on the watch for
your sailing out of port. I caution you, therefore, to beware, and to
consider what you have to do; for it is on your account, or rather, as
I suspect, on account of your daughter, that they have conceived this
audacious design, which they are but too well prepared for. '

"'May the gods reward you,' said I, 'for your kind information; but, my
dear Tyrrhenus, how did you obtain, your intelligence? '--'My trade,' he
answered, 'makes me acquainted with these men; I take fish to them, for
which they pay me a better price than others; and yesterday, as I was
taking up my nets on the shore, Trachinus, the captain of the pirates,
came and asked me if I knew when the Phœnicians intended to set sail.
I, suspecting his intent, replied, that indeed I did not exactly know,
but I supposed that it would be early in the spring. "Does the fair
maiden, who lodges at your house, sail with them? "--"I really don't
know," said I. "But why are you so curious? "--"Because I love her to
distraction," he returned. "I did so at first sight. I never saw a form
comparable to hers; and yet my eyes have been used to beauty, and I
have had in my power some of the most charming captives of all nations. "

"'I wished to draw him on a little, that I might get acquainted with
his design. "Why," said I, "should you attack the Phœnicians; cannot
you take her away from my house without bloodshed, and before they
embark? "--"The regard I have for you," he returned, "prevents me from
doing this. There is a sense of honour even among pirates towards
friends and acquaintances. If I were to carry off the strangers from
your house, it might bring you into some trouble; they would probably
be required at your hands. Besides, by waiting for them at sea, I
obtain two ends: I may make myself master of a rich vessel, as well as
of the maid I love. One of these I must necessarily give up, if I make
the attempt by land; neither would it be without danger so near the
city: the inhabitants would soon become acquainted with my enterprize,
and pursuit would be immediate. " I praised his prudence, and left him.
I now discover to you the design of these villains, and beseech you to
adopt means for the preservation of yourself and your children. '

"Having heard this, I went away in great trouble, and revolving various
thoughts in my mind, when I met, by accident, with my Tyrian merchant.
He talked to me on the old subject, and gave me occasion to try him on
a scheme which just then struck me. I related to him just as much of
the fisherman's discovery as I thought proper. I told him that one of
the inhabitants of Zacynthus, who was too powerful for him to resist,
had a design to carry off Chariclea. 'For my part,' I added, 'I had
much rather give her to you, as well on account of our acquaintance as
of your opulent condition; and, above all, because you have promised to
settle in our country after your marriage; if, therefore, you have this
alliance much at heart, we must sail from hence in all haste, before
we are prevented, and violence is offered. ' He was much pleased at
hearing me talk in this manner. 'You are much in the right, my father,'
he said; and, approaching, kissed my head, and asked me when I would
have him to set sail, for though the sea was at this season hardly
navigable, yet we might make some other port, and so, escaping from
the snares laid for us here, might wait with patience the approach of
spring. --'If,' I replied, 'my wishes have weight with you, I would sail
this very night. '--'Be it so,' said he, and went away.

"I returned home. I said nothing to Tyrrhenus; but I told my children
that, at the close of the day, they must embark again on board the
vessel. They wondered at this sudden order, and asked the reason of it.
I excused myself from explaining it then; but said, it was absolutely
necessary that it should be obeyed.

"After a moderate supper I retired to rest; but I had no sooner
fallen asleep, than an old man[19] seemed to appear to me, in a dream:
withered and lean, in other respects, but showing, from the muscular
appearance of his knees, the marks of former strength. He had a helmet
on his head; his countenance was intelligent and shrewd, and he seemed
to drag one thigh after him, as if it had been wounded. He approached
me, and said with a sarcastic smile,--'Do you alone treat me with
contempt? All those who have sailed by Cephalene, have been desirous
to visit my habitation, and to contemplate my glory; you only seem
to despise me, and have not given me so much as a common salutation,
though you dwell in my neighbourhood. But you shall soon suffer
for this negligence; and shall experience the same calamities, and
encounter the same enemies, both by sea and land, which I have done.
But address the maiden you have with you in the name of my consort; she
salutes her, as she is a great patroness of chastity, and foretells
her, at last, a fortunate issue to all her troubles. '

"I started up, trembling, at the vision. Theagenes asked what ailed me.
'We shall be too late,' said I, 'for the ship is sailing out of port;
it is this thought which has disturbed and awakened me; but do you get
up and collect our baggage, and I will go and see for Chariclea. ' She
appeared at my first summons: Tyrrhenus, too, got up, and inquired what
we were about. 'What we are doing,' said I, 'is by your advice; we are
endeavouring to escape from those who are lying in wait for us; and
may the gods preserve and reward you for all your goodness to us: but
do you add this to all the favours you have already bestowed upon us;
pass, I pray you, into Ithaca, and sacrifice for us to Ulysses, and
beseech him to moderate the anger which he has conceived against us,
and signified to me this night in a dream. ' He promised he would do so,
and accompanied us to the ship, shedding tears abundantly, and wishing
us a prosperous voyage, and all sorts of happiness. In short, as soon
as the morning star appeared, we set sail, much against the will of the
crew, who were with difficulty persuaded by the Tyrian merchant, when
they were told, that it was in order to escape from a pirate, who lay
in wait for them. He knew that what they thought a fiction, was the
sober truth.

"We encountered adverse winds, a swelling sea, and almost continual
tempests; we lost one[20] of our rudders; had our yard-arms much
injured, and were in imminent danger of perishing, when we reached a
promontory of Crete: here we determined to stay a few days, to repair
our vessel and refresh ourselves. We did so, and fixed for putting
again to sea the first day of the new moon, after her conjunction with
the sun.

"We set sail, with a gentle south-west wind, directing our course
towards Africa, which our pilot used all his endeavours to reach as
soon as he could; for he said he had for some time observed a vessel
hovering at a distance, which he took for a pirate. 'Ever since we left
Crete,' says he, 'she has followed us; she steers the same course,
and without doubt it is by design, not accident; for I have often
changed my track, on purpose to see if she would do the same, and she
has always invariably done so. ' A great part of the crew were alarmed
at this intelligence, and began to exhort each other to prepare for
defence; others neglected it, and said it was a very common thing for
small ships to follow in the wake of larger ones, for the sake of being
directed in their way.

"While they were thus disputing, evening[21] approached; the wind
slackened gradually, breathed gently on the sails and now made them
flutter a little, but hardly swelled them at all. At length it subsided
into a dead calm, setting with the sun, or retiring, as I may say, to
give advantage to our pursuers; for while there was a fresh gale our
ship, spreading more canvas, far out-sailed them; but when the wind
dropped, when the sea was smooth, and we were driven to make use of our
oars, this light and small vessel soon came up with our large and heavy
one. When they came near, one of the crew, an inhabitant of Zacynthus,
cried out: 'We are undone, this is a pirate crew: I am well acquainted
with the ship of Trachinus. '

"We were thunderstruck at this intelligence, and, in the midst of a
sea calm, our vessel shook with a tempest of confusion; it was full of
tumult, lamentation, and hurrying up and down. Some ran into the hold;
others encouraged one another to resist and fight; a third party were
for getting into the boat, and so attempting an escape. While they were
thus in confusion, and mutually hindering each other, the approach of
danger put an end to their disputes, and every one seized upon the
weapon which was nearest to him.

"Chariclea and myself, embracing Theagenes, were hardly able to
restrain his ardent spirit which was boiling for the fight; she
assuring him that death should not separate them; but that the same
sword which wounded him, should put an end to her life. I, as soon as
I knew that it was Trachinus who pursued us, began to consider how
best to promote our future safety. The pirates coming close up with
us, crossed our course, and being very desirous of taking us, did not
use their arms; but rowing round us, prevented our farther progress,
like besiegers wishing to make us surrender upon terms. 'Fools,' they
cried out, 'why are you so mad as to make a show of defence against so
superior a force? drawing upon yourselves certain destruction! We are
as yet disposed to treat you kindly; you may even now, if you please,
get into your boats, and save your lives. '

"So long as a bloodless war was waged, the Phœnicians were bold enough
and refused to quit the vessel. But when one of the pirates, more
daring than his fellows, leapt into the ship, and began to cut at
them right and left with his sword, and they became sensible that the
matter was now serious, and that wounds and blood must settle it, they
repented of their boldness, fell at their enemies' feet, begged for
quarter, and promised to do whatever they were ordered.

"The pirates, although they had already begun the fight, and though the
sight of blood commonly whets the angry passions, yet, at the command
of Trachinus, unexpectedly spared the supplicants. A truce ensued, but
a truce more dreadful, perhaps, than battle: it had the name of peace,
but war would have been scarcely less grievous. The conditions of it
were, that every man should quit the ship, with a single garment, and
death was denounced against any one who should violate these terms. But
life, it seems, is preferred by mankind before all other things; and
the Tyrians (robbed as they were of their ship and wealth), as if they
had gained rather than lost, contended with each other who should be
the first to leap into the boat and so preserve their lives.

"When we came into his presence, according to command, Trachinus,
taking Chariclea by the hand said; 'We wage not war against you, my
charmer; although the hostilities are undertaken on your account. I
have all along been following you, ever since you left Zacynthus,
despising for your sake the sea and danger; be of good cheer, then, I
will make you mistress, with myself, of all these riches. ' It is the
part of prudence to seize upon the opportunity. So she, remembering
some of my instructions, smoothed her brow, which this sudden storm had
ruffled, and composed her countenance to winning smiles. --'I give the
gods thanks,' says she, 'for inspiring you with merciful sentiments
towards us; but if you would win, and keep my confidence, give me this
first mark of your goodwill--preserve to me my brother and my father,
and do not order them to quit the ship, for I cannot live without
them;' and with this she fell at his feet, and embraced his knees. [22]

"Trachinus, thrilling with pleasure at her touch, that he might enjoy
it the longer, purposely delayed granting her request. At last, melted
by her tears, and subdued by her looks, he raised her up, and said--'I
grant your prayer, as to your brother with pleasure, he seems a youth
of spirit and may help us in our trade; but as for the old man, who is
but useless lumber, if I preserve him, it is only out of great regard
to your entreaties. '

"While this was passing the sun set, and the dusk of twilight
surrounded us; the sea began to swell on a sudden, whether on account
of the change of season, or the will of fortune, I know not; the
sound of rising wind was heard. In a moment it swept down upon the
sea, in stormy gusts, and filled the hearts of the pirates with
tumult and apprehension; for they were overtaken with it after they
had left their own bark, and had got on board our ship for the sake
of plunder; this, from its size, they were unused to, and unable to
manage: their[23] seamanship was all extemporised and self-taught,
each for himself, boldly exercised some department of his art. Some
furled the sails, others clumsily pulled the ropes; one bungler ran
to the prow,[24] another attempted to manage the tiller at the stern;
so that we were in imminent danger, not so much from the fury of the
storm, which was not yet very violent, as from the ignorance and
unskilfulness of the sailors and pilot, who as long as there was any
glimmering of light, made a show of resisting the tempest; but, when
darkness overshadowed us, totally gave the matter up. The waves now
burst over us, and we were in peril of going to the bottom, when some
of the pirates made an attempt to get again on board of their own bark,
but were hindered and stopped by the rage of the increasing tempest,
and by the exhortations of Trachinus; who told them, that if they
would preserve the ship on board of which they were, together with its
wealth, they might buy a thousand such boats as their own. At length
they cut the cable by which it was kept in tow, maintaining that it
might be the cause of a fresh storm to them, and that by so doing he
provided for their future security; for if they should touch at any
port, bringing an empty bark with them, an inquiry would naturally
be made as to its crew. His comrades approved of what he had done,
and found him to have shown his sense in two respects; for they felt
the ship a good deal eased after the bark was turned adrift, but the
tempest was by no means appeased; they were still tossed by wave[25]
following upon wave, the vessel suffered much injury, and was in great
danger. Having with difficulty weathered the night, we drove all the
next day, and towards the end of it made land, near the Heracleotic
mouth of the Nile, and, against our wills, disembarked on the coast
of Egypt. Our companions were full of joy; we were overcome with
grief, and we felt ill-will to Neptune for our preservation--we should
have preferred a death free from insult at sea, to a more dreadful
expectation on land, and a continual exposure to the lawless wills
of the pirates. They began to act in accordance with their nature
on landing; for, proposing to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to
Neptune, they brought Tyrian wine, and other requisites for the
ceremony, out of the ship; and sent some of their comrades with store
of money into the country, to buy up cattle, bidding them pay whatever
price was asked. As soon as these returned with a whole herd of sheep
and swine, the pirates who had stayed behind immediately set fire to a
pile, sacrificed the victims, and prepared the feast.

"Trachinus took an opportunity of leading me aside, and thus addressed
me;--'Father, I have betrothed your daughter to myself; and am
preparing to celebrate the marriage this very day, combining the most
delightsome festival with this sacrifice to the gods. That you may
partake cheerfully of the approaching entertainment, and that you may
inform your daughter, who, I hope, will receive the intimation with
joy, I give you this previous notice of my intentions; not that I want
your consent to put them in execution; my power is a pledge for the
performance of my will: but I have thought it fitting and auspicious
to receive a willing bride from the hands of a parent, who shall have
before apprised and persuaded her. '

"I pretended approval of what he said, and gave thanks to the gods who
had destined my daughter to the honour of being his spouse; and then
retiring, I began to consider what I could do in this conjuncture. I
soon returned, and besought him that the nuptials might be celebrated
with greater pomp and circumstance than he seemed to hint at--that he
would assign the vessel as a bridal chamber for Chariclea; that he
would give orders that none might enter or disturb her there, that she
might have time to get ready her wedding dress, and make other needful
preparations for the ceremony; for it would be most unseemly, that she,
whose family was illustrious, and wealth considerable; and above all,
she who was about to be the bride of Trachinus, should not have what
preparation and ornament the present occasion would permit; although
the shortness of the notice, and inconvenience of the place, would not
allow the celebration of the nuptials with that splendour which was
befitting their station.

"Trachinus was overjoyed at hearing me talk in this manner; and
said he would, with the greatest pleasure, order everything as I
desired. In consequence of this, he gave strict directions that no one
should approach the ship after they had taken everything out of it
they wanted. They conveyed out tables, cups, carpets, canopies--the
works[26] of Tyrian and Sidonian hands, and every requisite for
ministering to and adorning a feast. They carried in disorder upon
their shoulders, heaps of rich furniture and utensils, collected
with great care and parsimony, but now destined to be defiled by the
licentiousness of a tumultuous entertainment. I took Theagenes, and
went to Chariclea; we found her weeping. 'You are accustomed, my
daughter,' said I, 'to these reverses, and yet you lament as if they
were new to you. Has any fresh misfortune happened? '

"'Everything is unfortunate,' she replied; 'above all, the fatal
passion of Trachinus, which there is now but too much reason to
fear, both from his circumstances and opportunities, that he will
soon attempt to gratify. Unexpected success inflames the desires
of a licentious mind; but he shall have reason to rue his detested
love.