“thence what the lofty grave tragedians taught
in chorus or iambic, teachers best
of moral prudence, with delight received
in brief sententious precepts, while they treat
of fate, and chance, and change in human life.”
john milton.
the first rays of sunlight were gilding the pillared temples of the city as the procession for the eleusinian mysteries filed through the dipylon gate. it was the fifth day of celebration, the previous four having been spent at athens in listening to formal proclamations, taking vows, undergoing purification and being crowned with garlands as emblems of initiation. light were the hearts of the youths and maidens as with singing and dancing they wended their way carrying cists containing offerings to demeter and dionysus. at the head of the procession was carried a statue of the infant iacchos, a form of dionysus.
many of the female celebrants rode in carriages as the journey was a long fatiguing one despite the many stops made. zopyrus walked beside an open litter in which sat cleodice and eumetis.
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“my children,” said cleodice smiling, “these mystæ are celebrating your betrothal though they know it not! i regret so much that pasicles was unable to be with us, but he has invoked the blessing of hymen upon you. the nuptials will be solemnized immediately upon our return from eleusis.”
eumetis glanced shyly at the young man who strode beside the carriage. he had not looked well lately. there was something drawn and haggard about his features.
“i fear these days of initiation into the mysteries are proving too strenuous for you, zopyrus. you do not look yourself today,” said eumetis with concern.
“it is nothing,” replied zopyrus, “but i shall be glad when these rites are over.”
“for more reasons than one surely,” laughed cleodice. “i remember how impatient your father,” turning to her daughter, “was when it was necessary to wait till the close of the nemean games to celebrate our marriage.”
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zopyrus turned to survey the landscape which lay all green and gold about him. the familiarity of the scene at this point came to him as a shock. there to the right lay the olive-grove and there, he could mistake it not, was the same tree beneath whose gnarled branches he had laid his precious burden on that day which would live forever in his memory. again he seemed to feel the weight of her unconscious body; again he observed the beauty, winning seriousness and refinement of her features and yet once again he imagined he heard her ask if he were not a disguised greek soldier! it was with an effort that he forced these memories from him. a year had passed and he would probably never see her again. she must have perished during the months that followed the battle of salamis as many greeks had. it was folly, he resolved, to waste one’s life in vain regrets. he was about to take as his wife a chaste girl of excellent parentage, whose love was wholly his, and he would do his best to make her happy! as they passed the path to the southward where he and the maiden had turned to view the battle from the promontory, he turned his eyes resolutely to the anxious countenance of eumetis and smiled, seeking to forget that which would force itself uppermost in his consciousness. he partially succeeded, for the eyes of the maiden, so full of loving regard, gave him a promise of undying affection. he placed his hand over hers as it lay on the side of the carriage, then suddenly he stopped as if struck by an arrow.
upon his ears in solemn cadence fell again the hymn to dionysus, the pæan of joy which had miraculously saved greece. it was now being sung for the first time since that memorable event. every voice that helped to swell the triumphal song, thrilled with irrepressible ecstasy. only in the heart of one did sadness mingle with joy.
“what is the matter, zopyrus? you are ill! mother, stop a moment! i can walk as far as the fountain of kallichoros while zopyrus takes my seat in the carriage.”
zopyrus quickly gained control of his emotions.
“foolish girl,” he said with mock severity, “do you think i would ride while you walked? i assure you i am perfectly well. the fountain is just now in sight where we shall rest and enjoy a little jest and merry-making.”
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the voices and innumerable instruments which had filled the heavens with harmony ceased their music. vast masses of clouds which swept the sky, alternately unveiled and eclipsed the sun. a crisp breeze sprang from the sea, so that the mystæ proceeded along their way after a short stop, desirous of reaching the fountain of kallichoros before the storm which threatened should break. their hopes were more than realized. the sun peeped out from behind a cloud just as they reached eleusis by the sea, and shone directly above the gleaming temple to demeter. with its magic rays it lit up the whole sacred precinct. first were visible the propolæa and the small temple of pluto. to the left was the telesterion, a large covered building adjoining which was the sacred temple to the goddess demeter, where only those were admitted who had received full initiation.
“this is the sacred temple,” whispered cleodice who already assumed the office of mystagogue, “and beyond, where you see the waving field of corn, lies the rharian plain where demeter first sowed corn. still farther is the field called orgas, planted with trees consecrated to demeter and persephone.”
an official cried in a loud voice, “to the sea, ye mystæ.”
“you must undergo further purification,” said eumetis, “before you can proceed nearer the holy environs of the temple.”
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at this point cleodice and eumetis left zopyrus who was hurried on with others to the seashore and into the sea where the final purification took place. nearly opposite lay salamis, the view from this point differing but little from that which he had obtained from the promontory nearer athens.
the sun had set and the stars came out one by one. as he stood upon the sand and gazed toward the hazy outline of salamis, an ecstatic mood took possession of him. conscious of his own impotence, he sank upon his knees and lifted his eyes to the god who had saved greece, and who was manifest in all the wonders of nature around him.
soon he realized that the other mystæ, bearing flaming torches, were leaving the shore and repairing to the temple. as he hurried hither he met cleodice with a torch for him.
“we are going to the telesterion to hear the address of the hierophant,” she explained.
the flickering, reddish lights from hundreds of torches cast grotesque shadows and produced a weird effect as they entered the enormous hall and seated themselves upon the steps which surrounded the square floor on all sides. within this square many who had been in the procession from athens marched and sang with the lyre, the flute and the barbiton. upon their heads and around their shoulders rested garlands of interwoven flowers.
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the revelry ended at the appearance of four men from one of the six doors which were arranged in pairs on three sides of the hall. first in order came the sacred torch-bearer followed by the altar-priest who wore the insignia and carried the holy emblems for the service. immediately behind him came the hierophant whose duty it was to expound the truths to the newly initiated. this man, chosen in the prime of life, was selected from the aristocratic family of the eumolpidæ. his term would last till his death, for such was the custom regarding the election of this officer. in his footsteps followed a fourth figure, the sacred herald, who together with the altar-priest and torch-bearer, was chosen for life from the sacred family of ceryces, the family in which zopyrus could proudly claim membership.
a hush fell upon the assembly at the appearance of these venerable men. the hierophant with outstretched hands invoked the blessing of the mother goddess upon the celebrants. then in a well modulated voice he addressed his words to the newly initiated.
zopyrus sat as one in a trance, for the sentiment was similar to that of many utterances of his beloved friend aeschylus. his thoughts wandered for a moment to his poet friend and he wondered if he were faring well on his journey to the island of sicily. he was probably at this moment on the surface of the dark sea searching the far horizon for a first glimpse of fiery ætna, a favorite abode of demeter and her daughter persephone! this brought his thoughts back again to his immediate surroundings and he listened as the hierophant spoke:—
“when i look upon yonder green fields, i call upon the faithful to give thanks to demeter, that is, that active manifestation of the one through which the corn attains to its ripe maturity. whether we view the sun or the harvest, or contemplate with admiration the unity and harmony of the visible or invisible world, still it is always with the only, the all-embracing one we have to do, to whom we ourselves belong as those of his manifestations in which he places his self-consciousness.
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“the wonderful miracle of reviving vegetation, of the grain which dies in the ground and springs anew to life, illustrates man’s longing for a revival of his own life, and serves as an assurance of his hope of immortality.
“many of you sit before me fearful for the morrow, for you know not in the day or in the night what course fate has marked out for you. but think you that any part of the self-consciousness of this omnipotent god can sink into utter oblivion? i tell you that death is but a passing out of this life into a larger, fuller existence like unto the change which takes place in a kernel of corn when it is planted in the ground. what change does demeter work in that corn? what change will the one accomplish in you? in demeter you see explained the mysteries pertaining to the source of life. in persephone you behold life itself with its problems. their relation to each other is emblematic of man’s resurrection. we are here now to win the friendship of the mother and daughter that we may procure a blessing at their hands in the next existence.”
the hierophant withdrew, and the sacred herald announced that a mystery play would be enacted.
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aeschylus had hinted to zopyrus that the celebration consisted of “things said” and “things done.” the young man’s eyes were fixed in eager anticipation upon the clear space in the center of the great hall, around the sides of which were seated not less than three thousand spectators. the actors gained access to the pit by means of trap-doors which opened from below.
“the first scene,” whispered cleodice, “will represent persephone and some girl friends picking roses, lilies and hyacinths in the fields of enna in sicily.”
