“how oft when men are at the point of death
have they been merry!”
shakespeare.
after the defeat of the persians at salamis, xerxes retreated across the hellespont to asia, but mardonius was not so easily disheartened. with three hundred thousand men he wintered in thessaly making thorough preparations for a second attack upon athens the following summer. what was his utter amazement upon re-entering the city to find it completely deserted, its citizens having remained at salamis, troezen and aegina. thereupon he retreated to thebes in bœotia there to await the greek offensive which was to be strengthened by aid from the spartans.
on a certain evening in spring, ten months after the destruction of athens, zopyrus and his friend masistius, sat outside the entrance of the latter’s tent in the persian encampment near thebes. the night was cool for that time of the year, but the chill was warded off to some extent by a brightly blazing fire.
“what think you of this sumptuous feast to be given by the theban attaginus, on the morrow?” asked zopyrus.
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“i expect i shall enjoy the feast, but i do not admire the bœotians,” replied masistius. “they are unfaithful to their country’s cause, and above all things i loathe a traitor. of course our outward appearances must be those of friendship, for they are of inestimable service to the persian cause, but how different from the traitorous thebans was that little band of athenians who tried to defend their acropolis!”
zopyrus’ brow clouded at memory of that tragic scene. “by the way masistius, what became of the girl whom xerxes gave to artabazus when the latter was forced to surrender the maiden to whom i laid claim?”
masistius gazed silently into the bright flames and tossed a twig into the fire, watching it a moment before he spoke.
“her young life will be consumed just as that twig. she was taken away by artabazus and is now a captive in his harem.”
masistius paused a moment impressively, then he asked without even glancing in zopyrus’ direction: “and the other maiden, what of her? but that is a rude question,” he added, laying an affectionate hand upon the other’s shoulder. “i presume by now she is safe with her people.”
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zopyrus turned quickly and sought his companion’s gaze. “friend masistius,” he said, “i have kept locked within my breast these ten months, a secret, so precious that i hesitate to share it, and i would not do so were it not approaching the eve of battle, but to you who throughout this entire campaign, have been the only friend whose ideas of life coincide with mine, i will disclose that which i had not thought to reveal to mortal man. although my acquaintance with the maiden of whom you speak was of short duration, it was, nevertheless, long enough to convince me that i want her for my wife.”
the persian cavalryman expressed no little surprise at his friend’s disclosure.
“was the infatuation mutual?” he asked.
“if i possess any ability in interpreting a maiden’s thoughts through her eyes, my love is reciprocated,” said zopyrus, the color mounting to his temples.
“if that be the case,” spoke masistius heartily, “may ahura-mazdâo bring you together after we have conquered greece!”
“and if we cannot succeed in subduing the greeks?”
“then zeus may perform the act of reuniting you,” replied masistius somewhat bitterly.
the fire had by this time died down till only a few glowing embers remained. zopyrus rose to take his leave.
“farewell, masistius, till the feast. forget the confidences of the past hour. this love of mine can avail nothing.”
“of that i am not so sure, zopyrus. the vision of a certain beautiful young woman has kept up my courage that might otherwise have failed me.”
with a friendly hand-clasp, the two parted.
* * * * * * * *
the hall appropriated to the feast was part of the private home of the theban leader, attaginus. through a wide entrance at one side of the hall, the guests glimpsed a court, the floor of which was of variegated mosaic tiles forming intricate designs and patterns. in the center a marble fountain tossed up its silvery cooling spray. among the potted palms and ferns, birds of bright-colored plumage flitted about adding their sweet notes to that of cithera and flute. rarest flowers of every hue glowed from sculptured vases among the green foliage of the plants, and sweet spices burned in guilded tripods.
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within the hall the cedar-wood tables[3] groaned under the weight of gold and silver dishes filled with tasty viands. there were thrushes browned to a turn, fish, lentils, olive-oil, cheese, fruit, cakes baked in the shape of persian and greek soldiers, and many desserts and dainties to induce thirst for the wine which was to come later.
the astute attaginus had arranged his guests in such a manner that a bœotian and a persian occupied the same couch. in this way he hoped to stimulate the fraternal spirit between persian and greek. thus artabazus found himself occupying a couch with a theban cavalryman by the name of timegenidas, masistius discovered his companion to be a certain theban, asopodorus, while mardonius and attaginus were partners.
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zopyrus being an inferior officer to those mentioned, sat among others of equal rank with himself at an end of the hall. in spite of the revel and festivity about him, he labored in vain to throw off a sense of depression. to one of his nature it was impossible to forget the probable tragedies of the morrow in the carousal and merry-making of today. these men about him were trying to veil sorrow with levity; a thing that men have done for countless ages and probably always will; a last expiring effort to enjoy life while it is still in their possession; a desire to crowd out of consciousness the possibility of oblivion by a present rapturous delight in the reality of existence.
the greek who sat with zopyrus observed his nonchalance and endeavored to encourage conversation. he plied zopyrus with questions as to his native city, the details of the campaign from sardis to thessaly, until the persian was forced to make similar inquiries in regard to the bœotian, who he learned was a citizen of orchomenus, by the name of thersander.
at the close of the above mentioned courses servants entered and moved noiselessly about, putting wreaths on the heads and around the necks of the guests and pouring upon them sweet-scented ointments. at this point in the feast attaginus arose and all eyes were turned in his direction.
“we will appoint a symposiarch[4] by lot,” he explained, “so that greek and persian will be treated fairly.”
“i believe my companion here would make an excellent symposiarch,” said timegenidas, laughingly indicating artabazus. “i think he would be sparing in the use of water. am i right, my friend?”
“where wine, revelry and women, though the latter are sadly wanting here, are concerned,” said artabazus in a loud voice, “there i am willing to take a prominent part.”
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“i am sure you would prove an excellent symposiarch,” courteously replied the host, “but we will tonight follow the usual custom and cast lots for that service.”
the lot fell to masistius before whom the servants placed a large ornate mixing bowl upon a handsome golden salver. in accordance with his practice of moderation in all things, masistius used three parts of water to two of wine, much to the disgust of artabazus and a few others present.
“masistius,” called artabazus, “this may be the last wine we drink here on earth, so beware of mixing frog’s wine. make it strong enough for us to forget in it the threatening dangers of tomorrow. add some more of that which our host says comes from lesbos!”
the symposiarch ignored the latter’s remarks. his large, well-built frame, as he performed his task, attracted the attention of all the banqueters.
“if he attains such superb physique with three parts of water and two of wine, we can do no better than to follow his example,” said one.
“it is said there is none braver among the men of the cavalry,” remarked another.
to all this conversation, zopyrus was a silent listener. his eyes rested with fond approval upon the manly form of his friend masistius. he watched closely the frank, open countenance and was well pleased with the jovial, but at the same time, dignified demeanor. how would it fare with masistius on the morrow? of himself he did not think. he was presently aware that artabazus was addressing the banqueters generally.
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“you greeks actually do not seem to miss the presence of women at your banquets! now to me, for my tastes are so refined, the presence of feminine beauty adds a charm for which no amount of flowers, birds or music can substitute.”
the greek asopodorus now spoke, and his voice in contrast to the raucous accents of the persian, fell pleasingly upon the ears of the feasters. “we greeks believe in a unit of love in which love of beauty, of wealth, sensual love, intellectual love and many others are but earthly modifications of the true and the good. thus a love which satisfies the æsthetic can take as great delight in the manly strength of a youth’s body as in the graceful, softer lines of a woman’s form.”
“ah,” thought zopyrus, “many of these greeks think and feel as asopodorus. their adoration of loveliness in any form is their outstanding characteristic. they love the beauty of this earthly paradise in which they dwell, yet because they love power less, they are turning over their beautiful land to foreigners. if i had only been born a greek!”
he glanced at thersander. “i am half greek, and may the gods smite me if i do not look more greek than this fellow near me! if it were not for masistius whom i love as a brother, i believe i should not tolerate seeing this fair land over-run by such as artabazus and many another eastern despot.”
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although the wine was not strong enough to intoxicate if taken in moderation, the spirits of many of the guests were rising as the evening wore on, owing to excessive drinking. at length six girls, whose hair was entwined with daisies, appeared at the entrance to the court. each held a lyre and sang as she moved lightly on tip-toe between the tables. they were modestly attired so as not to offend the taste of the most fastidious, for attaginus was a conservative man and much respected in thebes.
“so much for your love of the æsthetic, attaginus,” laughed mardonius, winking at the theban. “in accordance with your theory why did you not have some handsome youths dance with the lyre?”
“because,” replied attaginus, “the male figure does not appear as well in a dance, but i could have put on a wrestling match that i think would well have pleased my guests.”
“the girls will prove far better entertainers,” said artabazus, who had overheard the conversation, “but why are their charms so hidden? they might better be a group of priestesses than dancers amid the revelry and loud clamor of a banquet!”
the evening wore on in this fashion, the feasters trying to out-rival one another in attracting the attention of the six damsels. when the singing and dancing were at an end and the maidens had disappeared, the conversation turned to the more serious matters of the approaching battle. mardonius spoke.
“the athenians will regret their refusal to form an alliance with us against the peleponnesians. remember thermopylæ, my friend and do not forget that salamis was a naval battle. athens’ powerful navy will avail her naught in the approaching conflict.”
“your great leader speaks most encouragingly, my friend,” said thersander addressing zopyrus, “wherefore are you so downcast?”
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zopyrus paused a moment before replying, then said in a voice low enough to be audible only to his companion:
“since you have now partaken with me at the same table, i desire to leave with you some memorial of my convictions: the rather in order that you may be yourself forewarned so as to take the best counsel for your own safety. do you see these persians here feasting, and did you observe the army which we left yonder encamped near the river? yet a little while, and out of all these you will behold but a few surviving!”
thersander replied. “surely you are bound to reveal this to mardonius and to his confidential advisers!”
but the persian rejoined. “my friend, man can not avert that which god has decreed to come. no one will believe the revelation, sure though it be. many of us persians know this well, and are here serving only under the bond of necessity. and truly this is the most hateful of all human suffering—to be full of knowledge and at the same time to have no power over any result.”
zopyrus was himself amazed at his own frank outburst. many times had he longed thus to express himself, and so he had revealed to thersander what he dared not to his friend masistius. the east was kindling into a glorious day as the banqueters took leave of their host, attaginus.
