Heroes of Ancient Greece: a story of the days of Socrates, the Athenian

Front matter

■ HEROES OF ANCIENT GREECE 'As his mother's voice ceased speaking her farewell, the elder stranger left his side, and returning to Androclea, bowed in graceful reverence.' — Heroes of Ancient Greece, p. 13. Frontispiece. HEROES OF ANCIENT GREECE: A STORY OF THE DAYS OF SOCRATES THE ATHENIAN. BY ELLEN PALMER, )/ AUTHOR OF "THE FISHERMEN OF GALILEE," " CHRISTMAS AT THE BEACON," "NONNA," "THE STANDARD-BEARER," ETC. WILLIAM P. NIMMO. LONDON: 14 KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND; AND EDINBURGH. 1876. EDINBURGH I PRINTED BY m'fARLANE AND ERSKINE (late Schenck &* M' Far lane), ST JAMES SQUARE.

Preface

"r^s^ N gathering together some of the memories '■?'.■*• ;4i °'" Socrates, which have been preserved by his pupils, Xenophon and Plato, I have endeavoured also to present a picture of "Living Greece," as it existed during the later years of the illustrious Athenian sage. " The children also of Judah, and the children of Jerusalem, have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border." These and other words of prophetic warning, against the sins of the Phœnician cities Tyre and Sidon, were uttered some three hundred years before the battle of Salamis ; they must be my authority for the introduction of Asahel into Athens. As the " Standard-Bearer " was written to illustrate the position of the Christian Church, when in the first

PREFACE.

. VI throes of its emancipation from heathenism, and to point out some of the blessings for which we are in debted to the sanctions of Christian law, so has this book been written as an attempt to illustrate the position of " The Church Expectant," during the sway of Grecian Art, Heroism, and Philosophy ; when cap tives and exiles preserved that true light of Revela tion, which enkindles all who approach it with holiness, truth, love, and that Righteousness, for lack of which, to use the words of Byron : " Rome decayed, and Athens strews the plain, And Tyre's proud piers lie shattered on the main." CONTENTS. PAGE

Chapter I

The Thalamos — Asahel — The Herb-Garden — Hygeia — The Wanderers — Farewell, . . . . I -14

Chapter II

Sparta — Nausicaa — The Eastern Veil — Herodotus — The Hebrew Captive — Platæa — The Guest-Friend — The Herbalist — The Heart of Greece — Hyllus — The Pythoness, 1 5-37

Chapter III

The Eurotas — Spartan Outposts — True Friendship — Athenian Injustice — Androclea — The Redeemer — Spartan Youth — The Reciter — The Skias — Timotheus — Nausicaa — The Ægis of Athena — Opis — Farewell to Sparta, ........ 3S-66

Chapter IV

Sunrise — The Everlasting Father— Attica — Attic Hospitality — Sparta or Athens — Hebrew Melody — An Anxious Mother — Desolations of War — A First Sight of Athens — Asahel's Letter 67-SS

Chapter V

Athens and Sparta — A Blessing — The Parthenon — The Agora — The Thracian Dance — Euthydemus — Socrates — The Glory of Athens — Neptune Unveiled — "Iron Sharpeneth Iron " — Faith, . . . . S9-111

Chapter IX

Ring Agis — The Allied Camp — Dion's Banquet — The Sibyl of Theseus — The Song of Hyllus — Terms of Surrender — Love me, Love my Dog — Thetis — Victor and Vanquished — National Sins, . . . 167-1S8

Chapter X

Exile — Contemplation — Artemis or Hera — Self-Service — Immortal Love — The Isles of Greece — Whence art Thou? — Compensation — Unransomed — Resurrection — Glaucus — Salem — Teaching of Prophecy — Reunion — Athena Promachus, 1S9-219

CHAPTER XL

The Death of Theramenes — Sunrise — Bridal Preparations — Herds and Herdsmen — Restoration — Triumph of Apollo — The Bride — The Bridal — Home — A Father's Heart, ........ 220-239

Chapter XII

A Wounded Heart — The Sacred Ship— Return from Exile — Socrates Impeached — Self- Examination — A Spartan Noble — Athena Assailed — The Victim — Judged by Works — Time's Verdict, ..... 240-259

Chapter XIII

Bountiful Earth — Harvesting — Explanations — Victorious — The Herald — The Laws in Hades — Euchidas — The True Light — Harmony — Church Expectant, . 260-2S0 HEROES OF ANCIENT GREECE.

Chapter I

" Clime of the unforgotten brave, Whose land from plain to mountain cave Was freedom's home, or glory's grave. " -Byron. 'y^SATHER more than four hundred years before t^le Christian Era, the sun of a bright t^-^Q autumnal day was shining into the large low-roofed thalamos of a substantial country villa in Attica. The radiant beams shone brightly upon the glistening veil of a lovely maiden, who was busily engaged in examining the workmanship of a rich piece of embroidery in the loom which stood upon one side of the room. At length the silence of the room was broken. " Come, my Thetis, come ! and help me to decide. Shall I fill up this foreground A A STOR Y OF ANCIENT GREECE. with a field of flowers, or shall I picture our pet doves sipping water from the fountain ? With what design shall I fill up this vacant space?"

" Fill it up with roses, With roses, red and white ; Fill it up with eagles, With vulture, crow, or kite. " " It will be all one to Cimon, my beloved Penelope. He will care nothing for the design, but will weigh it by the minutest hair balance to find out its value. If it weigh less than his favourite Persian robe, he will honour you with a message by his favourite slave, and a nosegay gathered by his own hands. Should it prove too weighty for his taste, however, he will buy a pennyworth of nettles in the Agora, and send them to you by some old crone, as a thank-offering for your year's labour. My own darling Penelope, why do you spoil your beautiful eyes over work which you well know Cimon will never prize as he should ?" As the younger sister spoke, she threw her arms round the elder. "You do not understand Cimon, my Thetis.

You are too young to appreciate his lofty intellect. But see, my question is answered. I must emblazon that lovely dove. Pet him, my Thetis, while I sketch him in that position." Softly untwining her arms, Thetis advanced to the pet dove which had flown in through the open window, and alighting upon the loom, was now busily engaged THE THALAMOS. 3 in cooing over the radiance of colour upon the silken robe it contained. Thetis spoke to the pet in gentle murmuring tones, while her sister lightly sketched out the form of the lovely bird upon her work. When the sketch was completed, the young girl opened an alabaster cruse of perfume ; and sprinkling the liquid lightly over the plumage of the bird, she took it upon her hand, repeating the operation until its feathers were drenched with the fragrant liquid ; then lightly shaking it from her wrist, said gaily, " Fly, birdie ; fly to my mother ! and refresh her with the odours of Elysium."

The bird, which seemed to understand every word spoken, immediately flew to the upper end of the thalamos, where a noble-looking matron reclined upon a crimson-cushioned, carved ivory divan. The bird hovered over the head of the lady, fluttering his wings softly as he did so, and thus scattering the ex quisite perfume in a soft refreshing shower. " Many thanks, my little Thetis. The sun shines so fiercely that I am grateful for your perfume." " You need me to fan you again, my mother," was the reply, but the words were scarcely spoken when the lively speaker, who had approached the window, cried out in an altered tone, "Fly, Thratta, fly, summon the men. Here comes Lysippus down the hill side ; he has two strangers with him, as well as our own men; and look, they have a deer, and a burden of other game.

Oh, leaden-footed Thratta, fly," she cried, to the slaves at the other end of the room. A STOR Y OF ANCLENT GREECE. 4 The excitement of Thetis soon brought her mother and sister to the window, where, looking out, they saw displayed one of the loveliest landscapes in Greece. Bright in the west, instinct with living beauty, lay the blue waters of the Gulf of Ægina, while far away rose the purple mountains of northern Greece. Nearer home a gentle acclivity rose from the other side of the valley which the house overlooked. This hill, crowned with myrtles and laurels, was clothed almost to its feet by carefully-tended orchards and vineyards. The boughs of the trees were laden with luscious fruit, while the long festoons of vines were trained over every graceful support which the art of Greek gardeners could suggest.

The rich clusters of purple and white grapes clothing the hill side, the glistening of the transparent stream in the valley, the pure sapphire sky overhead, formed a lovely picture for the eye to rest upon, but the mother's eye saw only her youngest son, whose quick eyes had already discov ered her at the window, and who was now waving his bow in triumph, now pointing to the splendid deer hanging over the back of his horse, and again racing down the hill impetuously with his two splendid dogs. In less than a quarter of an hour the young hunter was standing in the outer court of the house eagerly displaying his spoils to his mother and sisters, who had descended from the thalamos to welcome him. " It is a noble stag, and your father will rejoice over your skill when he hears of it, my bright boy," said ASAILEL. 5 the mother gently, " but you have not yet introduced your companions."

"Forgive me, I forgot," said the youth quickly; then turning' round, he led forward the elder of the two strangers. " Redeem my promise for me, dear mother, and, if you care for me, show gratitude to Asahel, who is, it seems, herb-gatherer for Menares of Athens. I had shot my stag, but he was still so swift of foot that neither Hipponicus nor I could have secured him alone. Our good friend here saw him in full flight with the arrow in his side, and secured him before we could possibly have reached him ; and I have promised them a peep into your herb-garden, with any spare slips of herbs which your bounty may bestow for their ready help to me, my mother." " I thank you for your kindness to my son," said the lady courteously ; " but as you have already come far out of your road, you will rest and refresh yourself with food, I hope, before you gather such herbs as you may care to have from my store."

" Your son, in his desire to show gratitude for a very trifling service, soon discovered what would be very acceptable to me, lady, for there are few herbal ists in Attica who have not heard of the Lady Andro clea's garden. We cannot linger, since we have a long journey before us; but I shall be very grateful if you permit us to view some of your treasures." The speaker was a man about forty years of age, tall, erect, and of a singularly composed manner. His complexion was of a light olive, his eyes black, but ANCLE NT GREECE. 6 his features at once marked him out as an alien ; a large, prominent, and slightly-hooked nose proved him to be of no Hellenic race. " You must not tempt me to outrage the sacred demands of hospitality," said Androclea. " Rest here for a short time with your son ; my servants shall bring you food, and when you have refreshed your selves, you must, if you please, come to me in the flower-garden, where I shall be glad of your opinion concerning some rare herbs which my husband has procured for me from Italy.

You seem to know me ! " the lady continued, " and if so, you must know that I have long made herbs and their medical vir tues my study. I am therefore always glad to meet with any one who can help me to fresh knowledge." " There is no study more interesting than the study of the works of the Almighty Creator," replied the stranger. " Yet I have not hitherto met with any lady in Greece, who cared to devote her time to it ; while in my own country many noble matrons love to study the knowledge gained by the wisest of our native kings." " Ah ! you are from some tyrant state ? " said Androclea, inquiringly. " From no tyrant state, lady," said the stranger. " The glory of our kingdom has passed away, yet was it — while it lasted — the glory of the noblest freedom upon earth." The lip of the strong man quivered as he spoke, and Androclea, turning towards the son, saw the eyes of the youth flashing with suppressed THE HERE-GARDEN. 7 emotion.

The lady felt that she had touched some tender chord, and, with a simple apology, turned to Thetis and bade her hasten the coming of the refresh ments ; then with a few courteous words she left her guests with Lysippus, and, as she passed on into her flower-garden, bade him see to the comfort of his friends, before bringing them to her in the garden. The flower-garden into which Androclea entered was one which would have excited feelings of admira tion in the breast of even the most highly cultivated English gardener. So scrupulously was it kept that an air of perfect purity and peace pervaded every nook. There, clumps of noble trees fenced off the eastern winds and glaring sun. Here lonely glades bloomed with bright blossoms, and filled the air with perfume. The verdure was refreshed by running streamlets issuing from several fountains, each of which was guarded by its presiding Naiad, sculptured with rare art from the pure white marble of Penteli cus.

Androclea passed beds of blooming roses, lilies, geraniums, and those myriad flowers which were so carefully cultivated in Greece for festal garlands, as well as for their native beauty and odour. Then passing through an avenue of acacia she entered a sort of paddock, very carefully shaded upon one side by a fence of ilex, while on the other it rose in sharp acclivities or sloped down to the banks of a clear mountain stream. This space was the garden specially devoted by Androclea to the cultivation of beneficent herbs ; and ANC LE NT GREECE. here in soil specially prepared for each, flourished the rarest, as well as the most common, of all the herbs known to the Grecian herbalist of the day. There grew the native Attic thyme, valerian, hemlock, and melilot, once so highly valued for their qualities re ceived from the pure air and porous soil of Attica, that they were regular articles of export to other lands ; while the Arcadian liquorice-vetch, celebrated all-heal, and other exotic plants, were planted in spots carefully prepared for their reception.

The lady passed on among the fresh, health-inspiring herbs, and at length seated herself upon a rustic bench beneath a plane-tree. There the air was filled with pure incense from spikenard and rosemary, from cytisus and vervains. The bank of the little stream was brilliant with various coloured pansies, and other violets ; while beds of saffron and iris filled the lower grounds with radiance, and the air was filled with music from colonies of sweet singing birds in the surrounding trees. Exactly opposite to the seat upon which Androclea was seated stood a fair statue of Hygeia, and before it a small altar. Through her marble veil the calm, majestic features of the goddess could be clearly dis cerned, and the eyes of Androclea were soon raised in devout reverence to the beloved face. At length the lady arose ; and plucking a few sprigs from some of her rarest plants, wove them with dexterous fingers into a garland, with which she encircled the goblet in the hand of the statue, saying reverently while she did so : HYGELA. 9 " Let others weave a crown for Mars, Or bind the brows of Bacchus bright, My hands shall twine a wreath for thee, Hygeia, sprung from heavenly light.

O raise thy veil, disclose thy love, Teach me the wisdom I adore. " A slight rustling caused the lady to turn quickly, when she found Thetis with the strangers standing by her side. " I did not intend to interrupt your devotions, my mother." " Nay, Thetis, you have not interrupted. I was but raising my oft -repeated prayer. I have finished." Then turning to the herb-gatherers, the lady said, " To you as men the divine Æsculapius appears un veiled ; but to our weaker apprehensions, Hygeia but reveals herself through a veil, yet I believe that I at least love her none the less for this. Though her veil be of marble, so also is the rugged crust of the beautiful earth ; yet as there are times when I per ceive the glory of the radiant goddess gleaming clearly through her veil, so also do I sometimes perceive, in fuller light, the marvellous beauty and power of those secrets which, imprisoned and veiled by the rugged earth, yet force their way upwards, and blossom for our benefit in these simple herbs with which the earth has crowned herself.

It seems to me that when our bodies become diseased by their separation from the source of life, they are healed, and renewed by returning once more to the simple gifts of our bountiful mother, and the veiled Hygeia is our guide A STOR Y OF ANC LE NT GREECE. to the mystic treasury. Surely of all the deities, Hygeia is the most merciful, the most adorable." During this speech of Androclea' s, a strange change passed over the face of the stranger. At first he listened with eyes averted from the statue, and closely fixed upon the ground. As the lady proceeded, how ever, he raised his eyes, and fixed them upon her face ; and having thus looked upon that pure, noble, spiritual face, it would have been strange if they had not rested there in admiration. Gradually, however, the stranger followed the direction of the matron's eyes, and looked up to the fair white marble statue, so exquisite in its perfection of artistic workmanship, where the simple, clear-eyed womanly face looked through the marvellous texture of her marble veil straight into the eyes of her worshipper.

In one hand she held the mystic serpent, in the other the health-inspiring bowl. When Androclea ceased speak ing, the stranger stood silent for a few moments, then spoke, " Lady, your speech sounds to me as the voice of one who tells some midnight dream. For me, there is but one Lord and giver of life, health, strength, and all other good gifts, even the Eternal Uncreated, who made the heaven and the earth, and who revealed His holy law unto my fathers." The strangers bowed their heads reverently when the name of their God was thus mentioned, so that not one thought of any irreverence could be imputed to them ; yet their words sounded very strangely in the ears of Androclea. THE WANDERERS. 11 " I do not understand you," she said. " Is it pos sible that you belong to some barbarous race to whom the beneficent Hygeia is unknown ?

" The stranger raised his head proudly : " Lady, one thousand years before Solon or Lycurgus were born, centuries before Hesiod taught or Homer sung, my forefathers had conquered some of the most civilised nations in the world, nations whose brazen statues and pictures might have equalled even yours. We had a code of written laws nearly one thousand years before Solon and Lycurgus strove to bestow the same blessing upon you. Ours indeed were divine, pro ceeding audibly from the Divinity, while yours were but the faint copies, the fruits of expediency. And as to barbarism, while your greatest poet, Homer, was celebrating the deeds of a hundred petty kings, our sovereigns ruled over a country which, in its prime, stretched from the shores of the Mediterranean far away to the river Euphrates, while our inspired sing ers and prophets penned hymns of grateful adora tion to the one holy God, which you, lady, I feel assured, would love to hear.

Forgive me if I have spoken ungraciously, lady." " Nay, rather forgive me," said Androclea, sweetly, " I spoke but in ignorance. I know nothing of those eastern lands from which so many strangers visit our shores. To me they are all connected with the bar baric Persian, and the merciless invasion of our beloved Hellas by his savage hordes. You, then, are not connected with the Persian ? " ANCLE NT GREECE. " No, lady, save as an unwilling tributary. The conquerors of my beloved country were in their turn enslaved by the Persian Cyrus, and thus we are subject to the power which you Greeks repulsed. Alas, alas, the destruction of our liberty was but the natural result of our desertion from our God and His holy law. This is, however, a theme of no interest to you, lady, and you were kind enough to promise us a few spare cuttings from some of your rare herbs.

We must not detain you by our private sorrows." The faces of his auditors seemed to assure the stranger that the narration of his history would be far from unwelcome, but the evident pain from which he had spoken of his native land forbade any return to the subject ; so turning at once to her beds of herbs, An droclea pointed out with no little pride her rare and valuable collection, and was amply rewarded by the evident pleasure the stranger took in the careful rear ing and healthy appearance of the exotics. There bloomed rare spikenard from the Ligurian Alps, the Sardinian seseli, famed for its sedative power over an aching tooth; Italian hyssop and madder, the per fumed Illyrian iris, Macedonian rue, rha from the shores of the Black Sea ; and, amid a hundred other varieties, one carefully cultured stood out pre-eminent.

This was the marvellous Æthiopis, transplanted from Mount Ida, in the Troad, and used by enchanters to open locks, and stay the course of rivers. Even in an English country-house, the visit of one who understands and sympathises with the object in FARE WELL. 13 which we are interested is always a welcome event ; but in Attica, at that time partly in possession of the hostile power, it was doubly so. Androclea kept her guests far on into the evening, and pressed them to remain all night. " If you pursue your journey so late," she said, " you are sure to encounter some of the marauding Spartan host from Decelea; and re member you have rare treasures now in your wallet." " The herb-gatherer is sacred in Greece," replied the stranger; "and if it were not so, I have a talis man which would restrain the cupidity of the boldest of robbers from the camp of King Agis."

"Then remember," replied the lady, "that you have promised to visit me upon your return, and dis play your spoils from the Arcadian hills ; and since you will persist in going, I suppose that I must ' speed my parting guest.' May you travel under the protection of Ceres herself; may Diana give you free pass age through her woods and forests ; and may the bountiful Hygeia unveil the fairest treasures of earth for your inspection." The setting sun brightened the delicate white veil which hung from the head of the noble lady, forming a radiant halo, as she stood between her two lovely daughters to bid the strangers farewell. Lysippus was preparing to show his guests the nearest path to Eleusis, when, to his surprise, as his mother's voice ceased speaking her farewell, the elder stranger left his side, and returning to Androclea, bowed in graceful reverence, then kissing the hem of her purple ANC LE NT GREECE. stole, he spoke once more.

" Lady, may the God of, my fathers, the only One whose protection I seek, guard you and yours for evermore. May His holy angels watch over you, and keep you true in your love for His marvellous works; and may He in His own good time reveal Himself to your faithful eyes !" Before Androclea or her children recovered from their surprise, the strangers were almost out of sight.

Chapter II

" Is Sparta blest, and these desiring eyes View my friend's son ? " — Homer, Pope's translation. SfpflsfBOUT a week after the events narrated in the f ; S last chapter, the two herb-gatherers were g^*?l travelling upon the road which led from the Isthmus to Arcadia and the picturesque city of Sparta. When they approached the banks of the Eurotas they changed their route, and, instead of entering the city by the bridge Babyx, they followed the course of the river until they at length approached the defile which terminated the ancient street Skias ; here two temples stood, one dedicated to Ares the Destroyer, the other to Æsculapius the Healer; and towards the pre cincts of this latter temple the strangers approached, with the confident air of those who are entering upon well-known paths, and with the cheerfulness of those who feel assured of a hospitable reception at the end of their journey.

The city of Sparta was perhaps more strongly forti fied by nature than any other in Greece. Surrounded A STORY OF ANCLENT GREECE. by rugged mountains, and enclosed by the confluence of its two rivers, the Tiasa and the Eurotas, the five villages, or rather small cities, set apart for the five Laconian tribes, were united by four principal streets, and one common government. Thus securely built upon the gentle acclivities and slopes of her mountain girded valley, Spartan patriotism might be excused the boast, " Sparta needs no walls." The part of the city towards which the herb gatherers were approaching was not within the river boundary; it stood outside the sacred Eurotas, and the noise and hurry of the populous city scarcely reached its seclusion. The hills around were covered with vineyards irrigated with the greatest care ; farms well cultivated by the industrious Helots gave an air of comfort to the scene, wherever the marshy banks of the river permitted any cultivation.

In the im mediate neighbourhood of the temple a change be came apparent ; villas and more stately buildings appeared, the residences of the more wealthy citizens; and at length gaining the street itself, the strangers passed on unquestioned, until the houses once more became far apart ; and at last leaving the high road altogether, they ascended the rocky eminence which rose above the temple of Æsculapius, and opened a gate which led them into a small plantation. Passing through this, they entered a lovely flower-garden, in which stood a small well-built mansion, evidently ancient; the architecture was simple and unpretending, yet well fitted to withstand the fierce heat of a SPARTA. 17 Spartan summer, or the biting cold of the winter. The strangers who entered the garden so unceremoni ously, had no need to announce themselves, for the master of the house was seated upon a bench outside reading, and when they approached, he at once started to his feet with a cry of joyful welcome !

" Asahel ! and you never sent me word that you were coming." " Our journey was suddenly arranged, I had no time to send you word, but trusted to finding you at home. If you had not been here, I should have visited you upon my return from Arcadia." " Thanks, ten thousand thanks, my friend ; but who is this ? " " Only my little Gershom, grown up to be a staff for my old age." " What, that Gershom ! Nay then, Asahel, my friend, we are old men, and must now join in the chorus of the elders : ' We have been.' It is no longer, ' I am,' or ' I will be,' but alas ! ' I have been.' And you, Gershom, what is your ' Will be ?' " The youth looked up with a bright sunny smile in his deep eyes, while he answered in the true Laconic fashion : " Whatever ye can do or tell, I hope one day to do as well." " Welcome to Sparta, dear boy ; you have not for gotten old friends or old pastimes, I see.

But do come into the house, you must be famishing, I am sure." The room into which Hyllus led his guests was B A STORY OF ANCLENT GREECE. 18 much better furnished than most Spartan dwellings, and displayed far more of the ancient luxury which reigned supreme under Menelaos and Helen, than the bare severity which Lycurgus had introduced. A rich Asiatic carpet covered the centre of the floor, curtains of crimson silk hung round the open door, which served as a window ; many curious tripods and tables, some of carved ivory, were placed round the apartment, and upon some of these stood vases not only of Greek workmanship, but of that rare Eastern and Etruscan porcelain, only found in those days in the houses of those who had travelled beyond Sparta, and whose rank and authority enabled them to defy the censorship, which proscribed foreign luxuries — a censorship very lightly executed in those days, when Sparta, by her close alliance with Persia, was gradually swerving more and more from the rigid dis cipline which had lasted over four hundred years.