A 
 
 STORIES 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 GREEK TRAGEDIANS 
 
 REV. ALFRED J. CHURCH, M.A. 
 
 Head Master of King Edward's School, Retford 
 
 AUTHOR OF "SMOKIES FROM HOMER," AND "STORIES FROM VIRGIL' 
 
 WITH TWENTY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS 
 FROM DESIGNS BY FLAXxMAN AND OTHERS 
 
 SEELEY, JACKSON, & HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET 
 LONDON. MDCCCLXXX 
 
 All Riirhts reserved 
 
asoW^T OM^^M«€l- &«iM^rml^*=»W*^ 
 
 V#«^ 
 
 X;N\VIN brothers, printers, CHILWORTH and LONDON. 
 

 5^0 mji S0US, 
 
 ALFRED, xMAURICE, HERBERT, 
 RICHARD, EDWARD; HARALD, 
 
 Z\)\^ §00ll 
 IS DEDICATED. 
 
 IVj2B''./®30 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I HAVE added to the *' Story of the Seven 
 Chiefs against Thebes" the description of the 
 single combat between Eteocles and Polynices, 
 which occurs in the Phoenissce of Euripides. 
 Some changes have been made in the " Story 
 of Ion" to make it more suitable for the pur- 
 pose of this book. Throughout the Stories 
 compression and omission have been freely 
 used. I can only ask the indulgence of such 
 of my readers as may be familiar with the 
 great originals of which I have gi^ven these 
 pale and ineffectual copies. 
 
 Retford, 
 
 October ii, 1879. 
 
l^ 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE STORY OF THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS I 
 
 THE STORY OF THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA ... 23 
 
 THE STORY OF THE DEATH OF HERCULES 45 
 
 THE STORY OF THE SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES 63 
 
 THE STORY OF ANTIGONE 80 
 
 THE STORY OF IPHIGENIA IN AULIS 98 
 
 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, OR THE BOW OF HERCULES II6 
 
 THE STORY OF THE DEATH OF AGAMEMNON ... 1 39 
 
 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES 1 58 
 THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR THE LOOSING OF 
 
 ORESTES 186 
 
 THE STORY OF IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS ... I98 
 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, OR THE BATTLE OF 
 
 SALAMIS 219 
 
 THE STORY OF ION 237 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 THE CHARIOT OF ZEUS Frontispiece. 
 
 PELIAS SENDING FORTH JASON P. 24 
 
 THE FIRE-BREATHING BULLS 26 
 
 THE BURNING WOOL 56 
 
 HERCULES ON MOUNT CETA 60 
 
 <EDIPUS AND THE SPHINX 64 
 
 THE OATH OF THE SEVEN CHIEFS 66 
 
 THE DEAD BROTHERS 78 
 
 ANTIGONE AND THE BODY OF POLYNICES 88 
 
 THE REPENTANCE OF NEOPTOLEMUS 1 36 
 
 ^'THE empty joy that DWELLS IN THE DREAMS OF 
 
 THE NIGHT" 146 
 
 THE RETURN OF AGAMEMNON 150 
 
 THE MURDER OF AGAMEMNON I $6 
 
 ELECTRA AND ORESTES I58 
 
 ORESTES AT THE TOMB OF HIS FATHER 160 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PACK 
 
 CHARIOT RACE ; I/O 
 
 THE BIRTHDAY GIFTS OF PHCEBUS 1 86 
 
 ORESTES SUPPLIANT TO APOLLO 1 88 
 
 THE FURIES DEPARTING 1 96 
 
 ORESTES AND THE FURIES 200 
 
 IPHIGENIA AND ORESTES 204 
 
 OFFERINGS TO THE DEAD 2ia 
 
 ATOSSA'S DREAM 224 
 
 THE HORSES OF THE MORNING 225 
 
THE STORY OF THE LOVE 
 OF ALCESTIS. 
 
 AscLEPius, the son of Apollo, being a mighty 
 physician, raised men from the dead. But 
 Zeus was wroth that a man should have such 
 power, and so make of no effect the ordinance of 
 the Gods. Wherefore he smote Ascleplus with 
 a thunderbolt and slew him. And when Apollo 
 knew this, he slew the Cyclopes that had 
 made the thunderbolts for his father Zeus, for 
 men say that they make them on their forges 
 that are In the mountain of Etna. But Zeus 
 suffered not this deed to go unpunished, but 
 passed this sentence on his son Apolfe, that he 
 should serve a mortal man for the space of a 
 whole year. Wherefore, for all that he was a 
 god, he kept the sheep of Admetus, who was the 
 Prince of Pherae in Thessaly. And Admetus 
 knew not that he was a god ; but, nevertheless, 
 being a just man, dealt truly with him. And it 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 came to pass after this that Admetus was sick 
 unto death. But Apollo gained this grace for 
 him of the Fates (which order life and death for 
 men), that he should live, if only he could find 
 some one who should be willing to die in his 
 stead. And he went to all his kinsmen and 
 friends and asked this thing of them, but found 
 no one that was willing so to die ; only Alcestis 
 his wife was willing. 
 
 And when the day was come on the which 
 It was appointed for her to die. Death came that 
 he might fetch her. And when he was come, 
 he found Apollo walking to and fro before the 
 palace of King Admetus, having his bow in his 
 hand. And when Death saw him, he said — 
 
 " What doest thou here, Apollo ? Is it not 
 enough for thee to have kept Admetus from his 
 doom ? Dost thou keep watch and ward over 
 this woman with thine arrows and thy bow ? " 
 
 '* Fear not," the god made answer, '' I have 
 justice on my side." 
 
 "If thou hast justice, what need of thy bow V 
 
 " 'Tis my wont to carry it." 
 
 *' Ay, and it is thy wont to help this house 
 beyond all right and law.'* 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 
 
 '' Nay, but I was troubled at the sorrows of 
 one that I loved, and helped him." 
 
 ** I know thy cunning speech and fair ways ; 
 but this woman thou shalt not take from me." 
 
 '' But consider ; thou canst but have one life. 
 Wilt thou not take another in her stead ? '' 
 
 *' Her and no other will I have, for my 
 honour is the greater when I take the young." 
 
 *' I know thy temper, hated both of Gods and 
 of men. But there cometh a guest to this house, 
 whom Eurystheus sendeth to the snowy plains 
 of Thrace, to fetch the horses of Lycurgus. 
 Haply he shall persuade thee against thy will." 
 
 ** Say what thou wilt ; it shall avail nothing. 
 And now I go to cut off a lock of her hair, 
 for I take these firstfruits of them that die." 
 
 In the meantime, within the palace, Alcestis 
 prepared herself for death. And first she 
 washed her body with pure water irom the 
 river, and then she took from her coffer of 
 cedar her fairest apparel, and adorned herself 
 therewith. Then, being so arrayed, she stood 
 before the hearth and prayed, saying, '' O 
 Queen Here, behold ! I depart this day. Do 
 thou therefore keep my children, giv^ing to this 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 one a noble husband and to that a lovinof wife." 
 And all the altars that were in the house she 
 visited in like manner, crowning them with 
 myrtle leaves and praying at them. Nor did 
 she weep at all, or groan, or grow pale. But 
 at the last, when she came to her chamber, she 
 cast herself upon the bed and kissed it, crying, 
 *' I hate thee not, though I die for thee, giving 
 myself for my husband. And thee another wife 
 shall possess, not more true than I am, but, 
 maybe, more fortunate ! " And after she had 
 left the chamber, she turned to it again and 
 again with many tears. And all the while her 
 children clung to her garments, and she took 
 them up in her arms, the one first and then the 
 other, and kissed them. And all the servants 
 that were in the house bewailed their mistress, 
 nor did she fail to reach her hand to each of 
 them, greeting him. There was not one of 
 them so vile but she spake to him and was 
 spoken to again. 
 
 After this, when the hour was now come when 
 she must die, she cried to her husband (for he 
 held her in his arms, as if he would have stayed 
 her that she should not depart), " I see the boat 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 
 
 of the dead, and Charon standing with his hand 
 upon the pole, who calleth me, saying, * Hasten; 
 thou delayest us ; ' and then again, ' A winged 
 messenger of the dead looketh at me from 
 under his dark eyebrows, and would lead me 
 away. Dost thou not see him ? ' " Then after 
 this she seemed now ready to die, yet again 
 she gathered strength, and said to the King, 
 '' Listen, and I will tell thee before I die 
 what I would have thee do. Thou knowest 
 how I have given my life for thy life. For 
 when I might have lived, and had for my 
 husband any prince of Thessaly that I would, 
 and dwelt here in wealth and royal state, yet 
 could I not endure to be widowed of thee and 
 that thy children should be fatherless. There- 
 fore I spared not myself, though thy father and 
 she that bare thee betrayed thee. But the 
 Gods have ordered all this after jheir own 
 pleasure. So be it. Do thou therefore make 
 this recompense, which indeed thou owest to 
 me, for what will not a man give for his life ? 
 Thou lovest these children even as I love 
 them. Suffer them then to be rulers in this 
 house, and bring not a step-mother over them 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 who shall hate them and deal with them un- 
 kindly. A son, indeed, hath a tower of strength 
 in his father. But, O my daughter, how shall 
 it fare with thee, for thy mother v;ill not give 
 thee in marriage, nor be with thee, comforting 
 thee in thy travail of children, when a mother 
 most showeth kindness and love. And now 
 farewell, for I die this day. And thou, too, 
 farewell, my husband. Thou losest a true wife, 
 and ye, too, my children, a true mother." 
 
 Then Admetus made answer, *' Fear not, it 
 
 shall be as thou wilt. I could not find other 
 
 wife fair and well born and true as thou. 
 
 Never more shall I gather revellers in my 
 
 palace, or crown my head with garlands, or 
 
 hearken to the voice of music. Never shall I 
 
 touch the harp or sing to the Libyan flute. And 
 
 some cunning craftsman shall make an image 
 
 fashioned like unto thee, and this I will hold in 
 
 my arms and think of thee. Cold comfort indeed, 
 
 yet that shall ease somewhat of the burden of 
 
 my soul. But oh! that I had the voice and 
 
 melody of Orpheus, for then had I gone down 
 
 to Hell and persuaded the Queen thereof or 
 
 her husband with my song to let thee go ; nor 
 
THE LOVE^OF ALCESTIS. 
 
 would the watch-dog of Pluto, nor Charon that 
 ferrleth the dead, have hindered me but that I 
 had brought thee to the light. But do thou 
 wait for me there, for there will I dwell with 
 thee ; and when I die they shall lay me by thy 
 side, for never was wife so true as thou." 
 
 Then said Alcestis, " Take these children as 
 a gift from me, and be as a mother to them." 
 
 " O me ! " he cried, " what shall I do, being 
 bereaved of thee ? " 
 
 And she said, " Time will comfort thee ; the 
 dead are as nothing." 
 
 But he said, '' Nay, but let me depart with 
 thee." 
 
 But the Queen made answer, " 'Tis enough 
 that I die in thy stead." 
 
 And when she had thus spoken she gave up 
 the ghost. 
 
 Then the King said to the old mea that were 
 gathered together to comfort him, " I will see 
 to this burial. And do ye sing a hymn as is 
 meet to the god of the dead. And to all my 
 people I make this decree : that they mourn for 
 this woman, and clothe themselves in black, and 
 shave their heads, and that such as have horses 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 cut off their manes, and that there be not heard 
 in the city the voice of the flute or the sound 
 of the harp for the space of twelve months." 
 
 Then the old men sang the hymn as they had 
 been bidden. And when they had finished, it 
 befell that Hercules, who was on a journey, 
 came to the palace and asked whether King 
 Admetus was sojourning there. 
 
 And the old men answered, " 'Tis even so, 
 Hercules. But what, I pray thee, bringeth thee 
 to this land ? " 
 
 *' I am bound on an errand for King Eurys- 
 theus ; even to bring back to him horses of 
 King Diomed." 
 
 ** How wilt thou do this ? Dost thou not 
 know this Diomed } " 
 
 " I know nought of him, nor of his land." 
 
 '' Thou wilt not master him or his horses 
 without blows." 
 
 " Even so, yet I may not refuse the tasks 
 that are set to me." 
 
 " Thou art resolved then to do this thing or 
 to die ? " 
 
 "Ay; and this is not the first race that I 
 have run." 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 
 
 '' Thou wilt not easily bridle these horses." 
 
 " Why not ? They breathe not fire from 
 their nostrils." 
 
 " No, but they devour the flesh of men." 
 
 " What sayest thou ? This is the food of 
 wild beasts, not of horses." 
 
 '* Yet 'tis true. Thou wilt see their mangers 
 foul with blood." 
 
 " And the master of these steeds, whose son 
 is he ?" 
 
 '* He is son of Ares, lord of the land of 
 Thrace." 
 
 " Now this is a strange fate and a hard that 
 maketh me fight ever with the sons of Ares, 
 with Lycaon first, and with Cycnus next, and 
 now with this King Diomed. But none shall 
 ever see the son of Alcmena trembling before 
 an enemy." 
 
 And now King Admetus came forth from the 
 palace. And when the two had greeted one 
 another, Hercules would fain know why the 
 Kinof had shaven his hair as one that mourned 
 for the dead. And the King answered that he 
 was about to bury that day one that was dear 
 to him. 
 
lo THE STORY OF 
 
 And when Hercules inquired yet further who 
 this might be, the King said that his children 
 were well, and his father also, and his mother. 
 But of his wife he answered so that Hercules 
 understood not that he spake of her. For 
 he said that she was a stranger by blood, yet 
 near in friendship, and that she had dwelt in 
 his house, having been left an orphan of her 
 father. Nevertheless Hercules would have de- 
 parted and found entertainment elsewhere, for 
 he would not be troublesome to his host. But 
 the King suffered him not. And to the servant 
 that stood by he said, " Take thou this guest to 
 the guest-chamber ; and see that they that have 
 charge of these matters set abundance of food 
 before him. And take care that ye shut the 
 doors between the chambers and the palace ; 
 for It is not meet that the guest at his meal 
 should hear the cry of them that mourn." 
 
 And when the old men would know why 
 the King, having so great a trouble upon him, 
 yet entertained a guest, he made answer, 
 " Would ye have commended me the more if 
 I had caused him to depart from this house and 
 this city ? For my sorrow had not been one 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS, 
 
 whit the less, and I had lost the praise of 
 hospitality. And a right worthy host is he to 
 me if ever I chance to visit the land of Argos." 
 
 And now they had finished all things for the 
 burying of Alcestis, when the old man Pheres, 
 the father of the King, approached, and servants 
 came with him bearing robes and crowns and 
 other adornments wherewith to do honour to 
 the dead. And when he was come over against 
 the bier whereon they had laid the dead woman, 
 he spake to the King, saying, " I am come to 
 mourn with thee, my son, for thou hast lost a 
 noble wife. Only thou must endure, though this 
 Indeed Is a hard thing. But take these adorn- 
 ments, for it is meet that she should be honoured 
 who died for thee, and for me also, that I should 
 not go down to the grave childless." And to the 
 dead he said, " Fare thou well, noble wife, that 
 hast kept this house from falling. »May It be 
 well with thee in the dwellings of the dead ! " 
 
 But the King answered him in great wrath, 
 '' I did not bid thee to this burial, nor shall this 
 dead woman be adorned with gifts of thine. 
 Who art thou that thou shouldest bewail her '^ 
 Surely thou art not father of mine. For being 
 
12 THE STORY OF 
 
 come to extreme old age, yet thou wouldst not 
 die for thy son, but sufferedst this woman, being 
 a stranger in blood, to die for me. Her therefore 
 I count father and mother also. Yet this had 
 been a noble deed for thee, seeing that the span 
 of life that was left to thee was short. And I 
 too had not been left to live out my days thus 
 miserably, being bereaved of her whom I loved. 
 Hast thou not had all happiness, thus having 
 lived in kingly power from youth to age ? And 
 thou wouldst have left a son to come after thee, 
 that thy house should not be spoiled by thine 
 enemies. Have I not always done due re- 
 verence to thee and to my mother ? And, lo ! 
 this is the recompense that ye make me. Where- 
 fore I say to thee, make haste 'and raise other 
 sons who may nourish thee in thy old age, and 
 pay thee due honour when thou art dead, for I 
 will not bury thee. To thee I am dead." 
 
 Then the old man spake, ** Thinkest thou 
 that thou art driving some Lydian and Phrygian 
 slave that hath been bought with money, and 
 forgettest that I am a freeborn man of Thessaly, 
 as my father was freeborn before me ? I reared 
 thee to rule this house after me ; but to die for 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 13 
 
 thee, that I owed thee not. This is no custom 
 among the Greeks that a father should die for 
 his son. To thyself thou livest or diest. All 
 that was thy due thou hast received of me ; 
 the kingdom over many people, and, in due 
 time, broad lands which I also received of my 
 father. How have I wronged thee ? Of what 
 have I defrauded thee ^ I ask thee not to die 
 for me ; and I die not for thee. Thou lovest 
 to behold this light. Thinkest thou that thy 
 father loveth it not ? For the years of the 
 dead are very long ; but the days of the living 
 are short yet sweet withal. But I say to thee 
 that thou hast fled from thy fate in shameless 
 fashion, and hast slain this woman. Yea, a 
 woman hath vanquished thee, and yet thou 
 chargest cowardice against me. In truth, 'tis a 
 wise device of thine that thou mayest live for 
 ever, if marrying many times, tho^ canst still 
 persuade thy wife to die for thee. Be silent 
 then, for shame's sake ; and if thou lovest life, 
 remember that others love it also." 
 
 So King Admetus and his father reproached 
 each other with many unseemly words. And 
 when the old man had departed, they carried 
 forth Alcestis to her burial. 
 
14 THE STORY OF 
 
 But when they that bare the body had de- 
 parted, there came in the old man that had the 
 charge of the guest-chambers, and spake, saying, 
 " I have seen many guests that have come from 
 all the lands under the sun to this palace of 
 Admetus, but never have I given entertainment 
 to such evil guest as this. For first, knowing 
 that my lord was in sore trouble and sorrow, he 
 forbore not to enter these gates. And then 
 he took his entertainment in most unseemly 
 fashion ; for if he lacked aught he would call 
 loudly for it ; and then, taking a great cup 
 wreathed with leaves of ivy In his hands, he 
 drank great draughts of red wine untempered 
 with water. And when the fire of the wine had 
 warmed him, he crowned his head with myrtle 
 boughs, and sang In the vilest fashion. Then 
 might one hear two melodies, this fellow's songs, 
 which he sang without thought for the troubles 
 of my lord, and the lamentation wherewith we 
 servants lamented our mistress. But we suf- 
 fered not this stranger to see our tears, for so 
 my lord had commanded. Surely this is a 
 grievous thing that I must entertain this 
 stranger, who surely Is some thief or robber. 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 15 
 
 And meanwhile they have taken my mistress 
 to her grave, and I followed not after her, nor 
 reached my hand to her, that was as a mother 
 to all that dwell in this place." 
 
 When the man had so spoken, Hercules came 
 forth from the guest-chamber, crowned with 
 myrtle, having his face flushed with wine. And 
 he cried to the servant, saying, '* Ho, there ! 
 why lookest thou so solemn and full of care '^ 
 Thou shouldst not scowl on thy guest after this 
 fashion, being full of some sorrow that concerns 
 thee not nearly. Come hither, and I will teach 
 thee to be wiser. Knowest thou what manner 
 of thing the life of a man is ? I trow not. 
 Hearken therefore. There is not a man who 
 knoweth what a day may bring forth. There- 
 fore I say to thee : Make glad thy heart ; eat, 
 drink, count the day that now is to be thine own, 
 but all else to be doubtful. As for all other 
 things, let them be, and hearken to my words. 
 Put away this great grief that lieth upon thee, 
 and enter into this chamber, and drink with me. 
 Right soon shall the tinkling of the wine as it 
 falleth into the cup ease thee of these gloomy 
 thoughts. As thou art a man, be wise after the 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 fashion of a man ; for to them that are of a 
 gloomy countenance, Hfe, if only I judge rightly, 
 is not life but trouble only." 
 
 Then the servant answered, " All this I 
 know ; but we have fared so ill in this house 
 that mirth and laughter ill beseem us." 
 
 *' But they tell me that this dead woman was 
 a stranger. Why shouldst thou be so troubled, 
 seeing that they who rule this house yet live." 
 
 '* How sayest thou that they live ? Thou 
 knowest not what trouble we endure." 
 
 " I know it, unless thy lord strangely deceived 
 me." 
 
 *' My lord is given to hospitality." 
 
 " And should it hinder him that there is some 
 stranger dead in the house 1 " 
 
 "A stranger, sayest thou? 'Tis passing 
 strange to call her thus." 
 
 '' Hath thy lord then suffered some sorrow- 
 that he told me not ? " 
 
 " Even so, or I had not loathed to see thee at 
 thy revels. Thou seest this shaven hair and 
 these black robes." 
 
 ** What then ? who is dead '^, One of thy 
 lord's children, or the old man his father ? " 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 
 
 '* Stranger, 'tis the wife of Admetus that is 
 dead." 
 
 '' What sayest thou ? And yet he gave me 
 entertainment ?" 
 
 *'Yea, for he would not, for shame, turn thee 
 from his house." 
 
 "O miserable man, what a helpmeet thou 
 hast lost !" 
 
 "" Ay, and we are all lost with her." 
 
 *' Well I knew It ; for I saw the tears in his 
 eyes, and his head shaven, and his sorrowful 
 regard ; but he deceived me, saying that the 
 dead woman was a stranger. Therefore did 
 I enter the doors and make merry, and crown 
 myself with garlands, not knowing what had 
 befallen my host. But come, tell me ; where 
 doth he bury her ? Where shall I find her ? " 
 
 " Follow straight along the road that leadeth 
 to Larlssa, and thou wilt see her tomb in the 
 outskirts of the city." 
 
 • Then said Hercules to himself, ** O my heart, 
 thou hast dared many great deeds before this 
 day ; and now most of all must I show my- 
 self a true son of Zeus. Now will I save this 
 dead woman Alcestls, and give her back to her 
 
 3 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 husband, and make due recompense to Admetus. 
 I will go, therefore, and watch for this black- 
 robed king, even Death. Methinks I shall find 
 him nigh unto the tomb, drinking the blood of 
 the sacrifices. There will I lie in wait for him, 
 and run upon him, and throw my arms about 
 him, nor shall any one deliver him out of my 
 hands, till he have given up to me this woman. 
 But if it chance that I find him not there, and 
 he come not to the feast of blood, I will go down 
 to the Queen of Hell, to the land where the 
 sun shineth not, and beg her of the Queen ; 
 and doubtless she will give her to me, that I 
 may give her to her husband. For right nobly 
 did he entertain me, and drave me not from 
 his house, for all that he had been stricken by 
 such sorrow. Is there a man in Thessaly, nay 
 in the whole land of Greece, that is such a 
 lover of hospitality ? I trow not. Noble is he, 
 and he shall know that he is no ill friend to 
 whom he hath done this thing." 
 
 So he went his way. And when he was gone, 
 Admetus came back from the burying of his 
 wife, a great company following him, of whom 
 the elders sought to comfort him in his sorrow. 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 19 
 
 And when he was come to the gates of his 
 palace he cried, '' How shall I enter thee ? how 
 shall I dwell In thee ? Once I came within thy 
 gates with many pine-torches from Pelion, and 
 the merry noise of the marriage song, holding 
 in my hand the hand of her that is dead ; and 
 after us followed a troop that magnified her and 
 me, so noble a pair we were. And now with 
 wailing instead of marriage songs, and garments 
 of black for white wedding robes, I go to my 
 desolate couch." 
 
 But while he yet lingered before the palace 
 Hercules came back, leading with'him a woman 
 that was covered with a veil. And when he 
 saw the King he said, " I hold It well to speak 
 freely to one that is a friend, and that a man 
 should not hide a grudge in his heart. Hear 
 me, therefore. Though I was worthy to be 
 counted thy friend, yet thou sald^t not that thy 
 wife lay dead In thy house, but suffered me 
 to feast and make merry. For this, therefore, 
 I blame thee. And now I will tell thee why 
 I am returned. I pray thee, keep this woman 
 against the day when I shall come back from 
 the land of Thrace, bringing the horses of 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 King Diomed. And if it should fare ill with 
 me, let her abide here and serve thee. Not 
 without toil came she into my hands. I found 
 as I went upon my way that certain men had 
 ordered contests for wrestlers and runners, and 
 the like. Now for them that had the pre- 
 eminence in lesser things there were horses for 
 prizes ; and for the greater, as wrestling and 
 boxing, a reward of oxen, to which was added 
 this woman. And now I would have thee keep 
 her, for which thing, haply, thou wilt one day 
 thank me." 
 
 To this the King answered, "" I thought no 
 slight when I hid this truth from thee. Only 
 it would have been for me sorrow upon sorrow 
 if thou hadst gone to the house of another. 
 But as for this woman, I would have thee ask 
 this thing of some prince of Thessaly that hath 
 not suffered such grief as I. In Pherae here 
 thou hast many friends ; but I could not look 
 upon her without tears. Add not then this new 
 trouble. And also how could she, being young, 
 abide in my house, for young I judge her to 
 be ? And of a truth, lady, thou art very like 
 in shape and stature to my Alcestis that is 
 
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 21 
 
 dead. I pray you, take her from my sight, for 
 
 she troubleth my heart, and my tears run over 
 
 with beholding her." 
 
 Then said Hercules, " Would I had such 
 
 strength that I could bring back thy wife from 
 
 the dwellings of the dead, and put her in thy 
 
 hands." 
 
 *' I know thy good will, but what profiteth it ^ 
 
 No man may bring back the dead." 
 
 " Well, time will soften thy grief, which yet 
 
 is new." 
 
 " Yea, if by time thou meanest death." 
 
 " But a new wife will comfort thee." 
 
 " Hold thy peace ; such a thing cometh not 
 
 into my thoughts." 
 
 '' What } wilt thou always keep this widowed 
 
 state ? " 
 
 '' Never shall woman more be wife of mine." 
 
 '' What will this profit her th^t is dead ? " 
 
 '' I know not, yet had I sooner die than be 
 
 false to her." 
 
 '' Yet I would have thee take this woman into 
 
 thy house." 
 
 " Ask it not of me, I entreat thee, by thy 
 
 father Zeus." 
 
22 THE STORY OF THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. 
 
 " Thou wilt lose much if thou wilt not do it." 
 
 "And if I do it I shall break my heart." 
 
 " Haply some day thou wilt thank me ; only 
 
 be persuaded." 
 
 "Be it so : they shall take the woman into 
 
 the house." 
 
 " I would not have thee entrust her to thy 
 
 servants." 
 
 "If thou so thinkest, lead her in thyself." 
 *' Nay, but I would give her into thy hands." 
 " I touch her not, but my house she may 
 
 enter." 
 
 " Tis only to thy hand I entrust her." 
 
 " O King, thou compellest me to this against 
 
 my will." 
 
 " Stretch forth thy hand and touch her." 
 
 " I touch her as I would touch the Gorgon's 
 
 head." 
 
 " Hast thou hold of her ?" 
 
 " I have hold." 
 
 " Then keep her safe, and say that the son 
 
 of Zeus is a noble friend. See if she be like 
 
 thy wife ; and change thy sorrow for joy." 
 And when the King looked, lo ! the veiled 
 
 woman was Alcestis his wife. 
 
THE STORY OF 
 THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 
 
 Jason, being of right the prince of lolcos In the 
 land of Thessaly, came back to his kingdom. 
 But PeHas, who had now for many years taken 
 it for himself, spake him fair, and persuaded 
 him that he should go on some adventure, and 
 find glory and renown for himself, and so re- 
 turn ; and he sware that afterwards he would 
 peaceably give up the kingdom. Now in the 
 land of Colchis, which lieth to the east of the 
 sea which men call the Hospitable Sea, there 
 was kept a great treasure, eveo^ the fleece of a 
 great ram, which had been sacrificed there in 
 time past. A marvellous beast was this ram, for 
 it had flown through the air to Colchis from the 
 land of Greece ; and its fleece was of pure gold. 
 So Jason gathered together many valiant men, 
 sons of gods and heroes, such as were Her- 
 
24 THE STORY OF 
 
 cules the son of Zeus, and Castor and Pollux, 
 the twin brethren, and Calais and Zethus, that 
 were sons to the North Wind, and Orpheus, 
 that was the sweetest singer of all the dwellers 
 upon earth. And they built for themselves a 
 ship, and called its name the Argo, and so set 
 sail, that they might bring back the fleece of 
 gold to the land of Greece, to which, indeed, it 
 rightfully belonged. Now when Jason and his 
 fellows were come to Colchis, they asked the 
 fleece of the King of the country. And he said 
 that he would give it to them ; only Jason must 
 first yoke certain bulls that breathed fire from 
 their nostrils, and slay a great dragon. But the 
 Princess Medea saw Jason, and loved him, and 
 purposed in her heart that she would help him. 
 And being a great witch, and knowing all 
 manner of drugs and enchantments, she gave 
 him an ointment which kept all that anointed 
 themselves with it so that they took no harm in 
 battle with man or beast. But first Jason had 
 promised, swearing to her a great oath, that 
 she should be his wife, and that he would take 
 her with him to the land of Greece, and that he 
 would be faithful unto her to his life's end. So 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA, 25 
 
 when he and his companions had yoked the 
 bulls, and slain the dragon, and carried away 
 the fleece, they took Medea with them in the 
 ship, and so departed. But when Jason was 
 come to the land of lolcos, Pelias was not 
 willing to keep his promise that he would 
 give the kingdom to him/l Whereupon Medea 
 devised this thing against him. She took a 
 ram, and cut him in pieces, and f boiled his 
 flesh in water, putting herbs into the caldron, 
 and saying divers enchantments over it ; and, 
 lo ! the beast came forth vouncr, thouofh it had 
 been very old. Then she said to the daughters 
 of Pelias, " Ye see this ram, how he was old, 
 and I have made him young by boiling him in 
 water. Do ye so likewise to your father, and 
 I will help you with drugs and enchantments, 
 as I did with the ram." But she lied unto 
 them, and helped them not. So' King Pelias 
 died, being slain by his daughters, when they 
 thought to make him young. But the people 
 of the land were very wroth withj^Medea and 
 with Jason her husband, and suffered them not 
 to dwell there any more. So they came and 
 dwelt in the land of Corinth. Now when they 
 
26 THE STORY OF 
 
 had abode there many days, the heart of Jason 
 was turned away from his wife, and he was 
 minded to put her away from him, and to 
 take to himself another wife, even Glauce, who 
 was daughter to Creon, the King of the city. 
 
 Now, when this thing was told to Medea, at 
 first she went through the house raging like a 
 lioness that is bereaved of her whelps, and crying 
 out to the Gods that they should smite this false 
 husband that had sworn to her and had broken 
 his oath, and affirming that she herself would 
 take vengeance on him. And they that had 
 the charge of her children kept them from her, 
 lest she should do some mischief. But when 
 her first fury was spent, she came forth from 
 her house, and spake to certain women of 
 Corinth of her acquaintance, that were gathered 
 together to comfort her, and said, '' I am come, 
 my friends, to excuse myself to you. Ye know 
 this sudden trouble that hath undone me, and 
 the exceeding great wickedness of my husband. 
 Surely we women are of all creatures that 
 breathe the most miserable. For we must take 
 husbands to rule over us, and how shall we 
 know whether they be good or bad ? Of a 
 
THE FIRE-BREATHING BULLS. 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA, 
 
 truth, a woman should have the gift of dlvina- 
 nation, that she may know what manner of man 
 he Is to whom she jolneth herself, seeing that he 
 is a stranger to her and unknown. If Indeed 
 she find one that is worthy, It Is well with her ; 
 but \i not, then had she better die. For a man, 
 if he be troubled at home, goeth abroad, and 
 holdeth converse with his friends and equals of 
 age, and Is comforted. But with a woman it is 
 not so ; for she hath only the life that is at 
 home. But why do I compare myself with 
 you .^ for ye dwell in your own land, and have 
 parents and kinsfolk and friends ; but I am 
 desolate and without a country, and am wronged 
 by this man that hath stolen me from a strange 
 land ; nor have I mother, or brother, or kins- 
 man, who may help me in my need. This 
 thing, therefore, I would ask of you ; that if I can 
 contrive any device by which I rnay have ven- 
 geance on my husband, and on him that giveth 
 his daughter to him, and on the girl, ye keep 
 silence. And vengeance I will have ; for though 
 a woman have not courage, nor dare to look 
 upon the sword, yet if she be wronged in her 
 love, there is nothing fiercer than she." 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 Then the women said, "We will keep silence 
 as thou biddest us, for 'tis right that thou 
 shouldest have vengeance on thy husband. 
 But see ! here cometh King Creon, doubtless 
 with some new purpose." 
 
 And the King said, " Hear this, Medea. I 
 bid thee depart out of this land, and thy 
 children with thee. And I am come myself to 
 execute this word, for I depart not again to my 
 own house till I have cast thee forth from my 
 borders." 
 
 Then Medea made answer, " Now am I 
 altogether undone. But tell me, my lord, why 
 dost thou drive me out of thy land ? " 
 
 " Because I fear thee, lest thou should do 
 some harm beyond all remedy to me and to 
 my house. For I know that thou art wise, and 
 hast knowledge of many curious arts ; and 
 besides, I hear that thou hast threatened 
 grievous hurt against all that are concerned 
 with this new marriage." 
 
 But Medea answered, '' O my lord, this 
 report of craft and wisdom hath wrought me 
 harm not this day only, but many times ! 
 Truly it is not well that a man should teach 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 29 
 
 his children to be wise, for they gain thereby 
 no profit, but hatred only. But as for me, my 
 lord, my wisdom Is but a small thing; nor is 
 there cause why thou shouldest fear me. For 
 who am I that I should transgress against a 
 king ? Nor Indeed hast thou done me wTong. 
 My husband. Indeed, I hate ; but thou hast 
 given thy daughter as it pleased thee. The 
 Gods grant that it may be well with thee and 
 thine ! Only suffer me to dwell in this land." 
 
 But the King would not, though she entreated 
 him with many words. Only at the last he 
 yielded this to her, that she might abide for one 
 day and contrive some refuge for her children ; 
 '* but," he said, " If thou tarry after this, thou 
 and thy children, thou shalt surely die." 
 
 Then he went his way, and Medea said to 
 the women that stood by, '' That at least is 
 well ; be ye sure that there is evil to come for 
 the bridegroom and the bride in this new mar- 
 riage, and for their kin. Think ye that I had 
 flattered this man but that I thought to gain 
 somewhat thereby ? Surely I had not touched 
 his hand, no, nor spoken to him. And now — 
 fool that he is — he hath given me this day, and 
 
30 THE STORY OF 
 
 when he might have driven me from the land, 
 he suffereth me to tarry. Verily he shall die 
 for it, he and his daughter and this new bride- 
 groom. But how shall I contrive it ? Shall I 
 put fire to the dwelling of the bride, or make 
 my way by stealth into her chamber and slay 
 her ? Yet if I be found so doing, I shall perish, 
 and my enemies will laugh me to scorn. Nay, 
 let me work by poison, as is my wont. Well, 
 and if they die, what then ? What city will 
 receive me ? what friend shall give me protec- 
 tion ? I know not. I will tarry awhile, and if 
 some help appear, I will work my end with 
 guile ; but if not, I will take my sword and slay 
 them that I hate, though I die. For by Hecate, 
 whom I reverence most of all the Gods, no man 
 shall vex my heart and prosper. Therefore, 
 Medea, fear not ; use all thy counsel and craft. 
 Shall the race of Sisyphus, shall Jason, laugh 
 thee to scorn that art of the race of the Sun ? " 
 
 When she had ended these words, there 
 came Jason telling her that she did not well to 
 be thus angry, and that she had brought upon 
 herself this trouble of banishment by idle words 
 against the rulers of the land ; but that never- 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 31 
 
 theless he would have a care for her, and see 
 that she wanted nothing needful. But when 
 Medea heard him so speak, she burst out upon 
 him in great fury, calling to mind how she had 
 saved him once again from the bulls that 
 breathed fire from their nostrils and from the 
 great dragon that guarded the fleece of gold, 
 and how she had done the old man Pelias to 
 death for his sake ; '' and now," she said, 
 '' whither shall I go ? who will receive me ? for 
 I have made enemies of my kinsfolk on account 
 of thee, and now thou forsakest me. O Zeus ! 
 why can we discern false money from the true, 
 but as for men, when we would know which is 
 the good and which the bad, there is no mark 
 by which we may know them ? " 
 
 But to this Jason answered that if she had 
 saved him in time past, she had done it of 
 necessity, being compelled by love ; and that 
 he had made her a full recompense, taking her 
 from a barbarous land to the land of Greece, 
 where men lived by law and not by the will of 
 the stronger, and causing her to be highly 
 reputed of for wisdom among the people of the 
 land. " And as to this marriage," he said, " for 
 
32 THE STORY OF 
 
 which thou blamest me, I have made it in 
 prudence and in care for thee and for thy 
 children. For being an exile in this city, what 
 could I do better than marry the daughter of the 
 King ? Nor is my heart turned from thee or 
 from thy children. Only I have made provi- 
 sion against poverty, and that I might rear my 
 sons in such fashion as befitted their birth. 
 And now if thou needest aught in thy banish- 
 ment, speak ; for I would give thee provision 
 without grudging, and also commend thee to 
 such friends as I have." 
 
 " Keep thy. gifts and thy friends," she said, 
 " to thyself There is no profit in that which 
 cometh from such hands as thine." 
 
 So Jason went his way ; and when he was 
 departed there came ^geus, King of Athens, 
 who had been on a journey to inquire of the 
 god at Delphi, for he was childless, and would 
 fain have a son born to him. But he under- 
 stood not[^what the god had answered, and was 
 now on his way to King Pittheus of Trcezen, 
 a man learned in such matters, that he might 
 interpret the thing to him. And when he saw 
 that Medea had been weeping, he would know 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 33 
 
 what ailed her. Then she told him how her 
 husband was false to her, marrying a new wife, 
 even the daughter of the king of the land, and 
 how she was on the point to be banished, and 
 her children with her. And when she saw that 
 these things displeased King ^geus, she said — 
 
 ** Now, my lord, I beseech thee to have pity 
 on me, nor suffer me to wander homeless 
 and friendless, but receive me into thy house. 
 So may the Gods grant thee thy desire that 
 thou mayest have a son to reign after thee. 
 And indeed I have such knowledge in these 
 matters that I can help thee myself" 
 
 Then said King ^geus, " I am willing to 
 do thee this service both for right's sake and 
 because of the hope of children which thou 
 promisest to me. Only I may not take thee 
 with me from this land. But if thou comest 
 to me thou shalt be safe, nor will I give thee 
 up to any man." 
 
 Then said Medea, "• It is well, and I trust 
 thee. And yet, for I am weak and my enemies 
 are strong, I would fain bind thee by an oath." 
 
 To this the King answered, " Lady, thou art 
 prudent, and I refuse not the oath ; for being 
 
 4 
 
34 THE STORY OF 
 
 SO bound, I shall have wherewith to answer 
 thine enemies, if they seek thee from me. By 
 what Gods shall I swear ? " 
 
 " Swear by the Earth and by the Sun, who was 
 the father of my father, and by all the Gods, 
 that thou wilt not banish me from thy land, nor 
 give me up to my enemies seeking me." 
 
 And King ^geus sware a great oath, by the 
 Earth, and by the Sun, and by all the Gods, that 
 he would not banish her, nor give her up ; and 
 so departed. 
 
 Then said Medea, ** Now shall my counsels 
 prosper ; for this man hath given me that which 
 I needed, even a refuge in the city of Athens. 
 Now, therefore, hear what I will do. I will 
 send one of my servants to Jason, and bid 
 him come to me, and wiP speak softly to 
 him, confessing that he hath done wisely 
 in making this marriage with the daughter of 
 King Creon. And I will ask of him that 
 my children may remain in the land. And 
 I will send them with a gift to this Kings 
 daughter, even a robe and a crown. But when 
 she shall deck herself with them, she shall 
 perish, so deadly are the poisons with which I 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 35 
 
 shall anoint them. But very grievous is the 
 deed that I must do when this shall have been 
 accomplished. For after this I must slay my 
 children. Nor shall any man deliver them out 
 of my hand. Thus will I destroy the whole 
 house of Jason, and so depart from the land. 
 A very evil deed it is ; but I cannot endure to 
 be laughed to scorn by my enemies. And yet 
 what profiteth it me to live ? For I have no 
 country or home or refuge from trouble. I did 
 evil leaving my father's house to follow this 
 Greek. But verily he shall pay me to the very 
 uttermost. For his children he shall see no 
 more, and his bride shall perish miserably. 
 Wherefore let no man henceforth think me to 
 be weak or feeble." 
 
 And when the women would have turned her 
 from her purpose, saying that so doing she would 
 be the most miserable of womep, she would not 
 hearken, thinking only how she might best 
 wound the heart of her husband. 
 
 Meanwhile a servant had carried the message 
 to Jason. And when he was come, she said 
 that she had repented of her anger against 
 him, and that now he seemed to her to have 
 
36 THE STORY OF 
 
 done wisely, strengthening himself and his 
 house by this marriage ; and she prayed him 
 that he would pardon her, being a woman and 
 weak. And then she called to her children 
 that they should come forth from the house, and 
 take their father by his hand, for that her anger 
 had ceased, and there was peace between them. 
 
 And Jason praised her that she had so 
 
 changed her thoughts ; and to his children he 
 
 5aid, *' Be sure, my sons, that your father hath 
 
 counselled wisely for you. Live, you shall yet 
 
 .be the first in this land of Corinth." 
 
 And as he spake these words, he perceived 
 -.^hat Medea wept, and said, ''Why weepest 
 thou ? " 
 
 And she answered, ''Women are always 
 ready with tears for their children. I bare them ; 
 and when thou saidst to them ' Live,' I doubted 
 whether this might be. But listen. Doubtless 
 it is well that I depart from this land, both for 
 me and for you. But as for these children, 
 wilt thou not persuade the King that he suffer 
 them to dwell here ? " 
 
 '* I know not whether I shall persuade him ; 
 but I will endeavour." 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 37 
 
 '' Ask thy wife to intercede for these children, 
 that they be not banished from this land." 
 
 " Even so. With her doubtless I shall pre- 
 vail, if she be like to other women." 
 
 " I will help thee in this, sending her gifts so 
 fair that there could be found nothing more 
 beautiful on the earth — a robe exceeding fine 
 and a crown of gold. These shall my children 
 bear to her. So shall she be the happiest of 
 women, having such a husband as thou art, and 
 this adornment which the Sun, my grandsire, 
 gave to his descendants after him that the}^ 
 should possess it." 
 
 Then she turned herself to her children, and 
 said, " Take these caskets in your hands, my 
 sons, and take them to the new bride, the King's 
 daughter." 
 
 " But why wilt thou empty thy hands ? Are 
 there not, thinkest thou, robes enough and gold 
 enough in the treasure of the King ? Keep 
 them for thyself. She will make more account 
 of me than of thy gifts." 
 
 " Nay, not so. Is it not said that even the 
 Gods are persuaded by gifts, and that gold is 
 mightier than ten thousand speeches ? Go, 
 
38 THE STORY OF 
 
 then, my children, to the King's palace. Seek 
 your father's new wife, and fall down before her, 
 and beseech her, giving her these adornments, 
 that ye be not banished from the land." 
 
 So the two boys went to the palace bearing 
 the gifts. And all the servants of Jason that 
 were therein rejoiced to see them, thinking that 
 Medea had put away her anger against her hus- 
 band. And they kissed their hands and their 
 heads ; and one led them into the chambers of the 
 women, to the King's daughter. And she, who 
 before sat looking with much love upon Jason, 
 when she saw the boys, turned her head from 
 them in anger. 
 
 But Jason soothed her, saying, *'Be not angry 
 with thy friends, but love them whom thy hus- 
 band loveth, and take the gifts which they 
 bring, and persuade thy father for my sake 
 that he banish them not." 
 
 And when she saw the gifts, she changed her 
 thoughts, and consented to his words. And in 
 a very brief space she took the robe and clothed 
 herself with it, and put the crown upon her 
 head, and ordered her hair, looking in the glass 
 and smiling at the image of herself. And then 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 39 
 
 she rose from her seat, and walked through the 
 house, stepping daintily, and often regarding 
 herself. 
 
 But then befell a dreadful thing; for she 
 grew pale, and trembled, and had well-nigh 
 fallen upon the ground, scarce struggling to her 
 chair. 
 
 And an old woman that was of her attend- 
 ants set up a great cry, thinking that Pan or 
 some other god had smitten her. But when she 
 saw that she foamed at her mouth, and that her 
 eyes rolled, and that there was no blood left in 
 her, she ran to tell Jason of the matter, and 
 another hastened to the King's chamber. 
 
 And then there came upon the maiden a 
 greater woe than at the first, for there came 
 forth a marvellous stream of fire from the 
 crown of gold that was about her head, and all 
 the while the robe devoured her flesh. Then 
 she rose from her seat, and ran through the 
 house, tossing her hair, and seeking to cast 
 away the crown. But this she could not, for 
 it clung to her very closely. And at the last, 
 she fell dead upon the ground, sorely disfigured 
 so that none but her father only had known 
 
40 THE STORY OF 
 
 her. And all feared to touch her, lest they should 
 be devoured also of the fire. 
 
 But when the King was come, he cast himself 
 upon the dead body, saying, " O my child ! 
 what God hath so smitten thee ? Why hast 
 thou left me In my old age ? " 
 
 And when he would have lifted himself, the 
 robe held him fast, and he could not, though he 
 struggled sorely. So he also died ; and the 
 two, father and daughter, lay together dead 
 upon the ground. 
 
 Now In the meanwhile the old man that had 
 the charge of the boys led them back to the 
 house of the mother, and bade her rejoice, for 
 that they were released from the sentence of 
 banishment, and that some day she should also 
 return by their means. 
 
 But the woman wept and answered doubtfully. 
 Then she bade him go into the house and pre- 
 pare for the lads what they might need for the 
 day. And when he was departed she said, " O 
 my sons, I go to a strange land and shall not 
 see you come to fair estate and fortune ; nor 
 shall I make preparations for your marriage 
 when you have grown to manhood. Vainly did 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA, 41 
 
 I bear you with pangs of travail ; vainly did I 
 rear you ; vainly did I hope that ye should 
 cherish me in my old age, and lay me out for my 
 burial. O my children, why do ye so regard 
 me ? Why do ye laugh at me that shall never 
 laugh again ? Nay, I cannot do the deed. When 
 I see the eyes of my children how bright they 
 are, I cannot do it. And yet shall my enemies 
 triumph over me and laugh me to scorn ? Not 
 so ; I will dare it all." And she bade her chil- 
 dren go into the house. But after a space she 
 spake again, " O my heart, do not this deed. 
 Spare my children ! They will gladden thee in 
 the land of thy banishment." And then again, 
 after a space, ** But no, it is otherwise ordained, 
 and there is no escape. And I know that by 
 this time the King's daughter hath the robe 
 \ipon her and the crown about her head, and 
 what I do I must do quickly." 
 
 Then she called to the boys again and said, 
 " O my children ! give me your right hands. 
 O hands and mouths that I love, and faces fair 
 exceedingly. Be ye happy — but not here. All 
 that is here your father hath taken from you. 
 O dear regard, O soft, soft flesh, O sweet, sweet 
 
42 THE STORY OF 
 
 breath of my children ! Go, my children, go ; I 
 cannot look upon your faces any more." 
 
 And now there came a messenger from the 
 Kings palace and told her all that had there 
 befallen. But when she heard it she knew that 
 the time was come, and went into the house. 
 
 And the women that stood without heard a 
 terrible cry from the children as they sought to 
 flee from their mother and could not. And 
 w^hile they doubted whether they should not 
 hasten within and, it might be, deliver them 
 from their mother, came Jason to the gate and 
 said to them, " Tell me, ladies, is Medea in this 
 place, or hath she fled ? Verily she must hide 
 herself in the earth, or mount into the air, if she 
 would not suffer due punishment for that which 
 she hath done to the King and to his daughter. 
 But of her I think not so much as of her 
 children. For I would save them, lest the kins- 
 men of the dead do them some harm, seeking 
 vengeance for the bloody deed of their mother." 
 
 Then the women answered, " O Jason, thou 
 knowest not the truth, or thou wouldst not speak 
 such words." 
 
 " How so ? Would she kill me also ?" 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA. 43 
 
 ** Thy children are dead, slain by the hand of 
 their mother." 
 
 " Dead are they ? When did she slay them ? " 
 
 " If thou wilt open the gates thou wilt see the 
 dead corpses of thy children." 
 
 But when he battered at the gates^ and cried 
 out that they should open to him, he heard a 
 voice from above, and saw Medea borne in a 
 chariot, with winged dragons for horses, who 
 cried to him, '' Why seekest thou the dead and 
 me that slew them ? Trouble not thyself. If 
 thou wantest aught of me, say on, but thou shalt 
 never touch me with thy hand. For this chariot, 
 which my father the Sun hath given me, shalt 
 deliver me out of thy hands." 
 
 Then Jason cried, "Thou art an accursed 
 woman, that hast slain thy own children with 
 the sword, and yet darest to look upon the earth 
 and the sun. What madness was it that I 
 brought thee from thy own country to this land 
 of Greece, for thou didst betray thy father and 
 slay thy brother with the sword, and now thou 
 hast killed thine own children, to avenge what 
 thou deemest thine own wrong. No woman art 
 thou, but a lioness or monster of the sea." 
 
44 THE VENGEANCE OF MEDEA, 
 
 And to these things she answered, *' Call me 
 what thou wilt, lioness or monster of the sea ; 
 but this I know, that I have pierced thy heart. 
 And as for thy children, thou shalt not touch 
 them or see them any more ; for I will bear them 
 to the grove of Here and bury them there, lest 
 some enemy should break up their tomb and do 
 them some dishonour. And I myself go to the 
 land of Attica, where I shall dwell with King 
 ^geus, the son of Pandion. And as for thee, 
 thou shalt perish miserably, for a beam from the 
 ship Argo shall smite thee on the head. So 
 shalt thou die." 
 
 Thus was the vengeance of Medea accom- 
 plished. 
 
THE STORY OF THE DEATH OF 
 HERCULES. 
 
 CEneus, who was king of the city of Pleuroii 
 in the land of ^tolia, had a fair daughter, 
 Deianeira by name. Now the maiden was 
 sought in marriage by the god of the river 
 Achelolis ; but she loved him not, for he was 
 strange and terrible to look at. Sometimes he 
 had the shape of a great dragon with scales, 
 and sometimes he had the shape of a man, only 
 that his head was the head of a bull, and streams 
 of water flowed down from his beard. But it 
 came to pass that HerculeS, who was stronger 
 than all the men that dwelt upon the earth, 
 coming to the city of Pleuron, saw the maiden 
 and loved her, and would have her to wife. 
 And when she told him, saying that the river- 
 god Achelolis sought her in marriage, he bade 
 
46 THE STORY OF 
 
 her be of good courage, for that he would 
 vanquish the creature in battle, so that it should 
 not trouble her any more. Which thing he did, 
 for when the river-god came, after his custom, 
 Hercules did battle with him, and came nigh to 
 strangling him, and brake off one of his horns. 
 And the maiden looked on while the two fought 
 together, and was well pleased that Hercules 
 prevailed. King CEneus also was glad, and 
 willingly gave her to him to wife. So after a 
 while he departed with her unto his own country. 
 And as they journeyed they came to the river 
 Evenus. Now on the banks of this river there 
 dwelt one Nessus, a centaur. (These centaurs 
 had heads as the heads of men, but their bodies 
 were like horses' bodies; and they were a 
 savage race and a lawless.) This Nessus was 
 wont to carry travellers across the river, which 
 indeed was very broad and deep. And when 
 he saw Deianeira that she was very fair, he 
 would have taken her from her husband ; but 
 Hercules drew his bow and smote him with an 
 arrow. 
 
 Now when Nessus knew that he should die 
 of his wound — for neither man nor beast lived 
 
THE DEATH OF HERCULES. 47 
 
 that was wounded of these arrows — he thought 
 in his wicked heart that he would be avenged 
 on this man that had slain him. Whereupon 
 he said to the woman, "■ Behold I die. But first 
 I would give thee a gift. Take of the blood 
 that Cometh from this wound, and it shall come 
 to pass that if the love of thy husband fail thee, 
 thou shalt take of this blood and smear it on a 
 garment, and give him the garment to wear, 
 and he shall love thee again as at the first." 
 
 So the woman took of the blood and kept it 
 by her. And it came to pass after a time that 
 the two went to the city of Trachis and dwelt 
 there. Now Trachis is in the land of Thessaly, 
 near unto the springs of CEta. And Hercules 
 loved his wife, and she dwelt in peace and 
 happiness, only that he sojourned not long at 
 home, but wandered over the face of the earth, 
 doing many wonderful works at the command- 
 ment of Eurystheus, his brodier. For the Gods 
 had made Eurystheus to be master over him, 
 for all that he was so strong. Now for the 
 most part this troubled not his wife overmuch ; 
 for he departed from his house as one who 
 counted it certain that he should return thereto. 
 
48 THE STORY OF 
 
 But at the last this was not so. For he left a 
 tablet wherein were written many things such 
 as a man writeth who is about to die. For he 
 had ordered therein the portion which his wife 
 should have as her right of marriage, and how 
 his possessions should be divided among his 
 children. Also he wrote therein a certain space 
 of time, even a year and three months, for when 
 that was come to an end, he said, he must 
 either be dead or have finished happily all his 
 labours, and so be at peace continually. And 
 this he had heard as an oracle from the 
 doves that dwell in the oaks of Dodona. And 
 when this time was well-nigh come to an end, 
 Deianeira, being in great fear, told the matter to 
 Hyllus, her son. And even as she had ended, 
 there came a messenger, saying, " Hall, lady ! 
 Put thy trouble from thee. The son of Alcmena 
 lives and is well. This I heard from Lichas the 
 herald ; and hearing it I hastened to thee with- 
 out delay, hoping that so I might please thee." 
 
 " But," said the Queen, "why cometh not the 
 herald himself ? " 
 
 " Because all the people stand about hlrn, 
 asking him questions, and hinder him." 
 
THE DEATH OF HERCULES. 49 
 
 And not a long while after the herald came ; 
 and the name of the man was LIchas. And 
 when the Queen saw him she cried, " What news 
 hast thou of my husband ? Is he yet alive ?" 
 
 " Yea," said the herald, *' he is alive and in 
 good health." 
 
 *' And where didst thou leave him ? In some 
 country of the Greeks, or among barbarians ? " 
 
 " I left him in the land of Eubcea, where he 
 ordereth a sacrifice to Zeus." 
 
 *' Payeth he thus some vow, or did some- 
 oracle command it ? " 
 
 "He payeth a vow. And this vow he made 
 before he took with his spear the city of these 
 women whom thou seest." 
 
 *' And who are these ? For they are very^ 
 piteous to behold." 
 
 " These he led captive when he destroyed 
 the city of King Eurytus." 
 
 " And hath the taking of the city so long 
 delayed him ? For I have not seen him for the 
 space of a year and three months." 
 
 " Not so. The most of this time he was a 
 slave in the land of Lydia. For he was sold 
 to Omphale, who is Queen of that land, and 
 
 5 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 served her. And how this came about I will 
 tell thee. Thy husband sojourned In the house 
 of King Eurytus, who had been long time his 
 friend. But the King dealt ill with him, and 
 spake to him unfriendly. For first he said that 
 Hercules could not excel his sons in shootlnof 
 with the bow, for all that he had arrows that 
 missed not their aim. And next he reviled him, 
 for that he was but a slave who served a free 
 man, even King Eurystheus, his brother. And 
 at the last, at a banquet, when Hercules was 
 overcome with wine, the King cast him forth. 
 Wherefore Hercules, being very wroth, slew the 
 man. For the King came to the land of TIryns, 
 looking for certain horses, and Hercules caught 
 him unawares, having his thoughts one way and 
 his eyes another, and cast him down from the 
 cliff that he died. Then Zeus was very wroth 
 because he had slain him by craft, as he had 
 never slain any man before, and caused that he 
 should be sold for a year as a bond-slave to 
 Queen Omphale. And when the year was 
 ended, and Hercules was free, he vowed a vow 
 that he would destroy this city from which there 
 had come to him this disgrace ; which vow he 
 
777^ DEA TH OF HERCULES. 5 1 
 
 accomplished. And these women whom thou 
 seest are the captives of his spear. And as for 
 himself, be sure that thou wilt see him in no 
 long space." 
 
 When Lichas had thus spoken, the Queen 
 looked upon the captives, and had compassion 
 on them, praying to the Gods that such an evil 
 thing might not befall her children, or if, haply, 
 it should befall them, she might be dead before. 
 And seeing that there was one among them who 
 surpassed the others in beauty, being tall and 
 fair exceedingly, as if she were the daughter of 
 a king, she would fain know who she was ; and 
 when the woman answered not a word, she 
 would have the herald tell her. But he made 
 as if he knew nothing at all ; only that she 
 seemed to be well born, and that from the first 
 she had spoken nothing, but wept continually. 
 And the Queen pitied her, and said that they 
 should not trouble her, but take her into the 
 palace and deal kindly with her, lest she should 
 have sorrow upon sorrow. 
 
 But Lichas having departed for a space, the 
 messenger that came at the first would have 
 speech of the Queen alone. And when she had 
 
52 THE STORY OF 
 
 dismissed all the people, he told her that LIchas 
 had not spoken truly, saying that he knew not 
 who was this stranger, for that she was the 
 daughter of King Eurytus, lole by name, and 
 that indeed for love of her Hercules had taken 
 the city. 
 
 And when the Queen heard this she was sore 
 troubled, fearing lest the heart of her husband 
 should now have been turned from her. But 
 first she would know the certainty of the matter. 
 So when LIchas came, being now about to 
 depart, and Inquired what he should say, as from 
 the Queen, to Hercules, she said to him, '* LIchas, 
 art thou one that loveth the truth ? " 
 
 " Yea, by Zeus ! " said he, " If so be that I 
 know It." 
 
 "Tell me, then, who is this woman whom 
 thou hast brought ? " 
 
 " A woman of Euboea ; but of what lineage I 
 know not." 
 
 " Look thou here. Knowest thou who It Is 
 to whom thou speakest ? " 
 
 '' Yea, I know it ; to Queen Deianeira, daugh- 
 ter of CEneus and wife to Hercules, and my 
 mistress." 
 
THE DEATH OF HERCULES. 53 
 
 *' Thou sayest that I am thy mistress. What 
 should be done to thee if thou be found doing 
 wrong to me ?" 
 
 " What wrong ? What meanest thou ? But 
 this Is idle talk, and I had best depart." 
 
 '' Thou departest not till I shall have Inquired 
 somewhat further of thee." 
 
 So the Queen commanded that they should 
 bring the messenger who had set forth the 
 whole matter to her. And when the man was 
 come, and had told what he knew, and the 
 Queen also spake fair, as bearing no wrath 
 against her husband, LIchas made confession 
 that the thing was indeed as the man had said, 
 and that the woman was lole, daughter of King 
 Eurytus. 
 
 Then the Queen took counsel with her com- 
 panions, maidens that dwelt In the city of 
 Trachis, and told them how she had a charm 
 with her, the blood of Nessus the Centaur; and 
 that Nessus had given it to her In old time 
 because she was the last whom he carried over 
 the river Evenus ; and that It would win back 
 for her the love of her husband. So she called 
 LIchas, the herald, and said to him that he 
 
54 THE STORY OF 
 
 must do a certain thing for her. And he an- 
 swered, *' What IS it, lady ? Already I have 
 lingered too long." 
 
 And she said, " Take now this robe, which 
 thou seest to be fair and well woven, and carry 
 it as a gift from me to my husband. And say 
 to him from me that he suffer no man to wear 
 it before him, and that the light of the sun 
 touch it not, no, nor the light of a fire, till he 
 himself shall clothe himself with it on a day on 
 which he doeth sacrifice to the Gods. And say 
 that I made this vow, if he should come back 
 from this journey, that I would array him in this 
 robe, wherein to do sacrifice. And that he 
 may know thee to be a true messenger from 
 me, take with thee this seal." 
 
 And Lichas said, " So surely as I know the 
 craft of Hermes, who is the god of heralds, I 
 will do this thing according to thy bidding." 
 
 Now the Queen had anointed the fair gar- 
 ment which she sent with the blood of Nessus 
 the Centaur, that when her husband should 
 clothe himself with it, his heart might be turned 
 to her as at the first. 
 
 So Lichas the herald departed, bearing the 
 
THE DEATH OF HERCULES. 55 
 
 robe. But after no long time the Queen ran 
 forth from the palace in great fear, wringing 
 her hands, and crying to the maidens, her 
 companions, that she was sore afraid lest in 
 ignorance she had done some great mischief. 
 And when they would know the cause of her 
 grief and fear, she spake, saying, '' A very mar- 
 vellous and terrible thing hath befallen me. 
 There was a morsel of sheep's wool which I 
 dipped Into the charm, even the blood of the 
 Centaur, that I might anoint therewith the robe 
 which ye saw me send to my husband. Now, 
 this morsel of wool hath perished altogether. 
 But that ye may understand this thing the 
 better, I will set It forth to you at length. 
 Know then that I have not forgotten aught of 
 the things which the Centaur commanded me 
 when he gave me this charm, but have kept 
 them In my heart, even as if they were written 
 on bronze. Now he b^de me keep the thing 
 where neither light of the siin nor fire might 
 touch it. And this have I done ; and when I 
 anointed the robe, I anointed it in secret, In a 
 certain dark place in the palace ; but the morsel 
 of wool wherewith I anointed It I threw, not 
 
56 THE STORY OF 
 
 heeding, into the sunshine. And, lo ! it hath 
 wasted till it is like unto dust which falleth 
 when a man saweth wood. And from the earth 
 whereon it lay there arise great bubbles of foam, 
 like to the bubbles which arise when men pour 
 into the vats the juice of the vine. And now 
 I know not what I should say ; for indeed, 
 though I thought not so of the matter before, 
 it seemeth not a thinof to be believed that this 
 Centaur should wish well to the man that slew 
 him. Haply he deceived me, that he might 
 work him woe. For I know that this is a very 
 deadly poison, seeing that Chiron also suffered 
 grievously by reason of it, albeit he was a god. 
 Now if this be so, as I fear, then have I, and I 
 only, slain my husband." 
 
 And she had scarce finished these words 
 when Hyllus her son came in great haste; 
 and when he saw her, he cried, " O my mother ! 
 would that I had found thee dead, or that thou 
 wert not my mother, or that thou wert of a 
 better mind than I know thee to be of" 
 
 But she said, " What have I done, my son, 
 that thou so abhorrest me ?" 
 
 *' This day thou hast done my father to 
 death." 
 
THE BURNING WOOL. 
 
THE DEATH OF HERCULES. 57 
 
 *' What sayest thou ? Who told thee this 
 horrible thing that thou bringest against me ?" 
 
 '' I saw it with mine own eyes. And if thou 
 wilt hear the whole matter, hearken. My 
 father, having taken with his spear the city of 
 Eurytus, went to a certain place hard by the 
 sea, that he might offer sacrifices to Zeus, ac- 
 cording to his vow. And even as he was about 
 to begin, there came Lichas the herald bringing 
 thy gift, the deadly robe. And he put it upon 
 him as thou badest, and slew the beasts for the 
 sacrifice, even twelve oxen chosen out of the 
 prey, and one hundred other beasts. And for a 
 while he did worship to the Gods with a glad 
 heart, rejoicing in the beauty of his apparel. 
 But when the fire grew hot, and the sweat came 
 out upon his skin, the robe clung about him as 
 though one had fitted it to him by art, and 
 there went a great pang oi pain through him, 
 even as the sting of a serpent. And then 
 he called to Lichas the herald, and would fain 
 know for what end he had brought this accursed 
 raiment. And when the wretch said that it was 
 thy gift, he caught him by the foot, and cast 
 him on a rock that was in the sea hard by, and 
 
58 THE STORY OF 
 
 all his brains were scattered upon it. And all 
 the people groaned to see this thing, that the 
 man perished so miserably, and that such mad- 
 ness wrought in thy husband. Nor did any 
 one dare to draw near to him, for he threw 
 himself now into the air, and now upon the 
 ground, so fierce was the pain ; and all the 
 rocks about sounded again with his groaning. 
 But after a while he spied me where I stood 
 waiting in the crowd, and called to me, and 
 said, ' Come hither, my son ; fly not from me in 
 my trouble, even if it needs be that thou die 
 with me. But take me, and set me where no 
 man may see me ; but above all carry me from 
 this land, that I die not here/ Whereupon we 
 laid him in the hold of a ship, and brought him 
 to this place, where thou w^ilt see him soon, 
 either newly dead or on the point to die. This 
 is what thou hast done, my mother ; for thou 
 hast slain thy husband, such a man as thou 
 shalt never more see upon this earth." 
 
 And when the Queen heard this, she spake 
 not a word, but hasted Into the palace, and ran 
 through it like unto one that is smitten with 
 madness. And at the last she entered the 
 
THE DEATH OF HERCULES. 59 
 
 chamber of Hercules, and sat down In the 
 midst and wept piteously, saying, *' O my 
 marriage-bed, where never more I shall lie, 
 farewell ! " And as she spake she loosed the 
 golden brooch that was upon her heart, and 
 bared all her left side ; and before any could 
 hinder her — for her nurse had seen what she 
 did, and had run to fetch her son — she took 
 a two-edged sword and smote herself to the 
 heart, and so fell dead. And as she fell there 
 came her son, that now knew from them of the 
 household how she had been deceived of that 
 evil beast the Centaur, and fell upon her with 
 many tears and cries, saying that now he was 
 bereaved both of father and of mother in one 
 day. 
 
 But while he lamented, there came men bear- 
 ing Hercules in a litter. He was asleep, for 
 the pain had left him for a space, and the old 
 man that was guide to fhe company was earnest 
 with Hyllus that he should not wake his father. 
 Nevertheless, Hercules heard the young man's 
 voice, and his sleep left him. Then he cried 
 aloud in his agony, complaining to Zeus that he 
 had suffered such a torment to come upon him, 
 
6o THE STORY OF 
 
 and reproaching- them that stood by that they 
 gave him not a sword wherewith he might 
 make an end to his pain. But most of all he 
 cursed his wife that she had wrought him such 
 woe, saying to Hyllus — 
 
 ** See now, my son, how that this treacherous 
 woman hath worked such pain to me as I have 
 never endured before In all the earth, through 
 which, as thou knowest, I have journeyed, 
 cleansing it from all manner of monsters. And 
 now thou seest how I, who have subdued all 
 things, weep and cry as doth a girl. And these 
 hands and arms, with which I slew the Hon that 
 wasted the land of Nemea and the great dragon 
 of Lerna, and dragged Into the light the three- 
 headed dog that guardeth the gate of hell, see 
 how these, which no man yet hath vanquished 
 in fight, are wasted and consumed with the fire. 
 But there is one thing which they shall yet do, 
 for I will slay her that wrought this deed." 
 
 Then Hyllus made answer, " My father, 
 suffer me to speak, for I have that to tell thee 
 of my mother which thou shouldest hear." 
 
 " Speak on ; but beware that thou show not 
 thyself vile, excusing her." 
 
THE DEATH OF HERCULES, 6i 
 
 " She is dead." 
 
 '' Who slew her ? This is a strange thing 
 thou tellest." 
 
 " She slew herself with her own hand." 
 
 " 'Tis ill done. Would that I had slain her 
 myself!" 
 
 ** Thy heart will be changed towards her 
 when thou hearest all." 
 
 " This is strange indeed ; but say on." 
 
 *' All that she did she did with good intent." 
 
 ** With good intent, thou wicked boy, when 
 she slew her husband ? " 
 
 *' She sought to keep thy love, fearing that 
 thy heart was turned to another." 
 
 " And who of the men of Trachls is so cun- 
 ning in leechcraft ? " 
 
 *' The Centaur Nessus gave her the poison 
 long since, saying that she might thus win back 
 thy love." 
 
 And when Hercules heard this he cried aloud, 
 *' Then is my doom come ; for long since it was 
 prophesied to me that I should not die by the 
 hand of any living creature, but by one that 
 dwelt in the region of the dead. And now this 
 Centaur, whom I slew long ago, hath slain me 
 
62 THE DEATH OF HERCULES. 
 
 in turn. And now, my son, hearken unto me. 
 Thou knowest the hill of GEta. Carry me 
 thither thyself, taking also such of thy friends 
 as thou wilt have with thee. And build there a 
 great pile of oak and wild olive, and lay me 
 thereon, and set fire thereto. And take heed 
 that thou shed no tear nor utter a cry, but work 
 this deed in silence, if, indeed, thou art my true 
 son : and if thou doest not so, my curse shall 
 be upon thee for ever." 
 
 And Hyllus vowed that he would do this 
 thing, only that he could not set fire to the pile 
 with his own hand. So they bare Hercules to 
 the top of the hill of GEta, and built a great pile 
 of wood, and laid him thereon. And Philoc- 
 tetes, who was of the companions of Hyllus, 
 set fire to the pile. For which deed Hercules 
 gave to him his bow and the arrows that missed 
 not their aim. And the tale of this bow, and 
 how it fared with him that had it, may be read 
 in the story of Philoctetes. 
 
THE STORY OF THE 
 SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 
 
 It befell in times past that the Gods, being- 
 angry with the inhabitants of Thebes, sent into 
 their land a very noisome beast which men 
 called the Sphinx. Now this beast had the 
 face and breast of a very fair woman, but the 
 feet and claws of a lion ; and it was wont 
 to ask a riddle of such as encountered It ; and 
 such as answered not aright it would tear and 
 devour. Now when it had laid waste the land 
 many days, there chanced to come to Thebes 
 one QEdipus, who had fled from the city of 
 Corinth that he might escape the doom which 
 the Gods had spoken a*galnst him. And the 
 men of the place told him of the Sphinx, how 
 she cruelly devoured the people, and that he 
 who should deliver them from her should have 
 the kingdom. So CEdlpus, being very bold, 
 and also ready of wit, went forth to meet the 
 
64 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 monster. And when she saw him she spake, 
 saying — 
 
 " Read me this riddle right, or die : 
 What liveth there beneath the sky, 
 Four-footed creature that doth choose 
 Now three feet and now twain to use, 
 And still more feebly o'er the plain 
 Walketh with three feet than with twain ? " 
 
 And CEdipus made reply — 
 
 " 'Tis man, who in life's early day 
 Four-footed cravvleth on his way ; 
 When time hath made his strength complete. 
 Upright his form and twain his feet ; 
 When age hath bowed him to the ground 
 A third foot in his staff is found." 
 
 And when the Sphinx found that her riddle was 
 answered, she cast herself from a high rock and 
 perished. Now for a while CEdipus reigned in 
 great power and glory ; but afterwards his doom 
 came upon him, so that in his madness he 
 put out his own eyes. Then his two sons cast 
 him into prison, and took his kingdom, making 
 agreement between themselves that each should 
 reign for the space of one year. And the 
 elder of the two, whose name was Eteocles, 
 first had the kingdom ; but when his year was 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 65 
 
 come to an end, he would not abide by his 
 promise, but kept that which he should have 
 given up, and drave out his younger brother 
 from the city. Then the younger, whose name 
 was Polynlces, fled to Argos, to King Adrastus. 
 And after a while he married the daughter of the 
 King, who made a covenant with him that he 
 would bring him back with a high hand to 
 Thebes, and set him on the throne of his father. 
 Then the King sent messengers to certain of 
 the princes of Greece, entreating that they 
 would help in this matter. And of these some 
 would not, but others hearkened to his words, so 
 that a great army was gathered together and 
 followed the King and Polynlces to make war 
 against Thebes. So they came and pitched 
 their camp over against the city. And after that 
 they had fought against it many days, and yet 
 had prevailed nothing, Adrastus held a council 
 of the chiefs, and It was agreed that next day, 
 early In the morning, they should assault the 
 city with all their might. And when the morn- 
 ing was come, the chiefs were gathered together, 
 being seven In number. And first of all they 
 slew a bull, and caught the blood of the beast 
 
 6 
 
66 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 in the hollow of a shield, into which they 
 dipped their hands, and sware a great oath 
 that they would take the city of Thebes or die. 
 And having sworn, they hung upon the chariot 
 of Adrastus what should be memorials of them, 
 each for his own father and mother, all weeping 
 the while. After this they cast lots for the 
 places which they should take, for there were 
 seven gates to the city, that each chief might 
 assault a gate. 
 
 But their purpose was known to the King 
 Eteocles, for he had heard the whole matter 
 from Tiresias, the wise seer, who told before- 
 hand all that should come to pass, discovering it 
 from the voice of birds, for being blind he could 
 not judge from their flight, or from the tokens 
 of fire, as other soothsayers are wont. Where- 
 fore the King gathered together all that could 
 bear arms, even youths not grown, and old 
 men that were waxed feeble with age, and 
 bade them fight for the land, for ''she," he 
 said, '* gave you birth and reared you, and now 
 asketh that ye help her in this her need. 
 And though hitherto we have fared well in 
 this war, know ye for certain, for Tiresias the 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 67 
 
 soothsayer hath said it, that there cometh a 
 great danger this day upon the city. Where- 
 fore haste ye to the battlements, and to the 
 towers that are upon the walls, and take your 
 stand in the gates, and be of good courage, and 
 quit you like men." 
 
 And as he made an end of speaking there 
 ran in one who declared that even now the 
 enemy was about to assault the city. And 
 after him came a troop of maidens of Thebes, 
 crying out that the enemy had come forth from 
 the camp, and that they heard the tramp of 
 many feet upon the earth, and the rattling of 
 shields, and the noise of many spears. And 
 they lifted up their voices to the Gods that 
 they should help the city, to Ares, the god of 
 the golden helmet, that he should defend the 
 land which in truth was his from old time, and 
 to Father Zeus, and to Pallas, who was the 
 daughter of Zeus, and to Poseidon, the great 
 ruler of the sea, and to Aphrodite the Fair, for 
 that she was the mother of their race, and to 
 Apollo, the wolf-king, that he would be as a 
 devouring wolf to the enemy, and to Artemis, 
 that she should bend her bow against them, and 
 
68 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 to Here, the Queen of heaven, even to all the 
 dwellers In Olympus, that they should defend 
 the city, and save it. 
 
 But the King was very wroth when he heard 
 this outcry, and cried, " Think ye to make bold 
 the hearts of our men by these lamentations ? 
 Now may the Gods save me from this race of 
 women ; for if they be bold no man can endure 
 their insolence, and if they be afraid they vex 
 both their home and their country. Even so now 
 do ye help them that are without and trouble 
 your own people. But hearken to this. He that 
 heareth not my command, be he man or woman, 
 the people shall stone him. Speak I plainly '^, " 
 
 *'But, O son of CEdlpus," the maidens made 
 reply, *' we hear the rolling of the chariot wheels, 
 and the rattling of the axles, and the jingling of 
 the bridle reins." 
 
 '' What then ? " said the King, *' If the ship 
 labour In the sea, and the helmsman leave the 
 helm and fly to the prow that he may pray 
 before the Image, doeth he well ? " 
 
 " Nay, blame us not that we came to beseech 
 the Gods when we heard the hailstorm of war 
 rattling on the gates." 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 69 
 
 " 'Tis well," cried the King, '' yet men say that 
 the Gods leave the city that is at the point to 
 fall. And mark ye this, that safety is the child 
 of obedience. But as for duty, 'tis for men to 
 do sacrifice to the Gods, and for women to keep 
 silence and to abide at home." 
 
 But the maidens made reply, *' ' Tis the Gods 
 who keep this city, nor do they transgress who 
 reverence them." 
 
 *'Yea, but let them reverence them in due 
 order. And now hearken to me. Keep ye 
 silence. And when I have made my prayer, 
 raise ye a joyful shout that shall gladden the 
 hearts of our friends and put away all fear from 
 them. And to the Gods that keep this city I 
 vow that if they give us victory in this war I 
 will sacrifice to them sheep and oxen, and will 
 hang up in their houses the spoils of the enemy. 
 And now, ye maidens, do ye also make your 
 prayers, but not with vain clamour. And I 
 will choose seven men, being myself the seventh, 
 who shall meet the seven that come against the 
 gates of our city." 
 
 Then the King departed, and the maidens 
 made their prayer after this fashion : " My 
 
70 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 heart feareth as a dove feareth the serpent for 
 her young ones, so cruelly doth the enemy come 
 about this city to destroy it ! Shall ye find 
 elsewhere as fair a land, ye Gods, if ye suffer this 
 to be laid waste, or streams as sweet ? Help 
 us then, for indeed it is a grievous thing when 
 men take a city, for the women, old and young, 
 are dragged by the hair, and the men are slain 
 with the sword, and there is slaughter and 
 burning, while they that plunder cry each man 
 to his comrade, and the fruits of the earth are 
 wasted upon the ground ; nor is there any hope 
 but in death." 
 
 And as they made an end, the King came 
 back, and at the same time a messenger bring- 
 ing tidings of the battle, how the seven chiefs 
 had ranged themselves each against a gate of 
 the city. And the man's story was this. 
 
 " First Tydeus, the ^tolian, standeth in great 
 fury at the gate of Proetus. Very wroth is he 
 because the soothsayer, Amphiaraiis, suffereth 
 him not to cross the Ismenus, for that the 
 omens promise not victory. A triple crest he 
 hath, and there are bells of bronze under his 
 shield which ring terribly. And on his shield 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 71 
 
 he hath this device: the heaven studded with 
 stars, and in the midst the mightiest of the stars, 
 the eye of night, even the moon. Whom, O 
 King, will thou set against this man ? " 
 
 Then the King made reply, '* I tremble not 
 at any man's adorning, and a device woundeth 
 not. And, indeed, as for the night that thou 
 tellest to be on his shield, haply it signifieth the 
 night of death that shall fall upon his eyes. 
 Over against him will I set the son of Astacus, 
 a brave man and a modest. Also he is of the 
 race of the Dragon's Teeth, and men call him 
 Melanippus." 
 
 And the messenger said, ** Heaven send him 
 good fortune ! At the gate of Electra standeth 
 Capaneus, a man of great stature, and his 
 boastings are above all measure, for he crieth 
 out that he will destroy this city whether the 
 Gods will or no, and that Zeus with his thunder 
 shall not stay him, fof that the thunder is but as 
 the sun at noon. And on his shield he hath a 
 man bearing a torch, and these words, * I will 
 BURN THIS CITY.' Who now shall stand against 
 this boaster and fear not ? " 
 
 Then the King said, "■ His boastings I heed 
 
72 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 not. They shall turn to his own destruction. 
 For as he sendeth out swelling words against 
 Zeus, so shall Zeus send against him the 
 thunder, smiting him, but not of a truth as the 
 sun smiteth. Him shall Polyphantus encounter, 
 a valiant man and dear to Queen Artemis." 
 
 "He that is set against the gate of Neis is 
 called Eteoclus by name. He driveth a chariot 
 with four horses, in whose nostrils are pipes 
 making a whistling noise, after the fashion of 
 barbarians. And on his shield he hath this de- 
 vice : a man mounting a ladder that is set against 
 a tower upon a wall, and with it these words, 
 ' Not Ares' self shall drive me hence.' See 
 that thou set a fit warrior against him." 
 
 " Megareus, son of Creon, of the race of the 
 Dragon, shall fight against him, who will not 
 leave the gate for any whistling noise of horses ; 
 for either he will die as a brave man dieth for 
 his country, or will take a double spoil, even 
 this boaster and him also that he beareth upon 
 his shield." 
 
 ^' At the next gate to this, even the gate of 
 Athene, standeth Hippomedon. A great shield 
 and a terrible he hath, and on it this device, 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES, j^ 
 
 which no mean workman hath wrought : Typhon 
 breathing out a great blast of black smoke, and 
 all about It serpents twined together. And the 
 man also Is terrible as his shield, and seemeth 
 to be inspired of Ares. Whom wilt thou set 
 against this man, O King } " 
 
 ** First shall Pallas stand against him and drive 
 him from this city, even as bird driveth a snake 
 from her young ones. And next I have set 
 Hyperbius, son of CEneus, to encounter him, 
 being Inferior neither in form nor courage, nor 
 yet in skill of arms, and also dear to Hermes. 
 Enemies shall they be, bearing also on their 
 shields gods that are enemies, for HIppo- 
 medon hath Typhon, but Hyperbius hath 
 Zeus ; and even as Zeus prevailed over Typhon, 
 so also shall Hyperbius prevail over this 
 man." 
 
 " So be It, O King. Know also that at the 
 north gate Is set Parthenopaeus the Arcadian. 
 Very young is he, and fair also to behold, and 
 his mother was the huntress Atalanta. This 
 man sweareth by his spear, which he holdeth to 
 be better than all gods whatsoever, that he 
 will lay waste this city. And on his shield he 
 
74 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 beareth a device, the Sphinx, which holdeth 
 in her claws one of the sons of Cadmus." 
 
 "Against this Arcadian will I set Actor, 
 brother to Hyperbius, no boaster but a man of 
 deeds, who will not let this hateful monster, the 
 Sphinx, pass thus into the city ; but will rather 
 make it ill content to have come hither, so 
 many and fierce blows shall he deal it." 
 
 " Hear now of the sixth amons: the chiefs, the 
 wise soothsayer, Amphiaraiis. Ill pleased is 
 he with these things, for against Tydeus he 
 uttereth many reproaches, that he is an evil 
 counsellor to Argos and to King Adrastus, 
 stirring up strife and slaughter. And to thy 
 brother also he speaketh in like fashion, saying, 
 ' Is this a thing that the Gods love, and that 
 men shall praise in the days to come, that thou 
 bringest a host of strangers to lay waste the city 
 of thy fathers ? Shall this land, if thou sub- 
 duest it by the spear of the enemy, ever make 
 alliance with thee .^ As for me I shall fall in 
 this land, for am I not a seer ? Be it so. I 
 shall not die without honour ! ' No device hath 
 this man on his shield, for he seeketh not to 
 seem, but to be in very deed most excellent. 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 75 
 
 Thou must need send some wise man to stand 
 against him." 
 
 "It is an ill fate that bringeth a just man into 
 company with the wicked. And of a truth 
 there is not a worse thing upon the earth than 
 ill companionship, wherein the sowing is mad- 
 ness and the harvest is death. For thus a god- 
 fearing man being on shipboard with godless 
 companions perisheth with them ; and one that 
 is righteous, if he dwell in one city with the 
 wicked, is destroyed with the same destruction. 
 So shall it fare with this Amphiaraiis ; for 
 though he be a good man and righteous, and 
 that feareth God, yet shall he perish because he 
 beareth these boasters company. And I think 
 that he will not come near to the gates, so well 
 knoweth he what shall befall him. Yet have I 
 set Lasthenes to stand against him, young in 
 years but old in counsel, very keen of eye, and 
 swift of hand to cast his javelin from under his 
 shield." 
 
 '' And now, O king ! hear how thy brother 
 beareth himself, for he it is who standeth yonder 
 at the seventh gate. For he crieth aloud that 
 he will climb upon the wall and slay thee, even 
 
76 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 though he die with thee, or drive thee forth 
 into banishment, even as thou, he saith, hast 
 driven him. And on his shield there is this 
 device : a woman leading- an armed man, and 
 while she leadeth him, she saith, ' I am Justice, 
 
 AND I WILL BRING BACK THIS MAN TO THE KING- 
 DOM WHICH IS HIS OF RIGHT.' " 
 
 But when the King heard this he brake forth 
 in much fury, '' Now will the curse of this house 
 be fulfilled to the uttermost. Yet must I not 
 bewail myself, lest there should fall upon us 
 an evil that is yet greater than this. And as 
 for this Polynices, thinketh he that signs and 
 devices will give him that which he coveteth ? 
 Thinketh he that Justice is on his side ? Nay, 
 but from the day that he came forth frorn the 
 womb he hath had no converse with her, neither 
 will she stand by him this day. I will fight 
 against him. Who more fit than I ? Bring 
 forth my armour that I may make ready." 
 
 And though the maidens entreated with 
 many words that he would not do this thing, 
 but leave the place to some other of the chiefs, 
 saying that there was no healing or remedy for 
 a brother's blood shed in such fashion, he 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 77 
 
 would not hearken, but armed himself and went 
 forth to the battle. Thus ever doth the mad- 
 ness of men work out to the full the curses of 
 the Gods. 
 
 Then the battle grew fierce about the wall, 
 and the men of Thebes prevailed. For when 
 Parthenopseus, the Arcadian, fell like a whirl- 
 wind upon the gate that was over against him, 
 Actor the Theban smote him on the head with 
 a great stone, and brake his head, so that he 
 fell dead upon the ground. And when Capa- 
 neus assaulted the city, crying that not even 
 the Gods should stay him, there came upon him 
 the wrath which he defied ; for when he had 
 mounted the ladder and was now about to leap 
 upon the battlements, Zeus smote him with the 
 thunderbolt, and there was no life left in him, 
 so fierce was the burning heat of the lightning. 
 But the chiefest fight was between the two 
 brothers ; and thi^, indeed, the two armies 
 stood apart to see. For the two came together 
 in an open space before the gates ; and first 
 Polynices prayed to Here, for she was the 
 goddess of the great city of Argos, which had 
 helped him in this enterprise, and Eteocles 
 
78 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 prayed to Pallas of the Golden Shield, whose 
 temple stood hard by. Then they crouched, 
 each covered with his shield, and holding- his 
 spear in his hand, if by chance his enemy 
 should give occasion to smite him ; and if one 
 showed so much as an eye above the rim of his 
 shield the other would strike at him. But after 
 a while King Eteocles slipped upon a stone 
 that was under his foot, and uncovered his leg, 
 at which straightway Polynices took aim with 
 his spear, piercing the skin. And the men of 
 Argos shouted to see it. But so doing he laid 
 his own shoulder bare, and King Eteocles gave 
 him a wound in the breast ; and then the men of 
 Thebes shouted for joy. But he brake his 
 spear in striking, and would have fared ill: but 
 that with a great stone he smote the spear of 
 Polynices, and brake this also in the middle* 
 And now were the two equal, for each had lost 
 his spear. So they drew their swords and came 
 yet closer together. But Eteocles used a device 
 which he had learnt in the land of Thessaly ; 
 for he drew his left foot back, as if he would have 
 ceased from the battle, and then of a sudden 
 moved the right forward ; and so smiting side- 
 
SEVEN CHIEFS AGAINST THEBES. 79 
 
 ways, drave his sword right through the body 
 of Polynices. But when thinking that he had 
 slain him he set his weapons in the earth, and 
 began to spoil him of his arms, the other, for 
 he yet breathed a little, laid his hand upon his 
 sword, and though he had scarce strength to 
 smite, yet gave the King a mortal blow, so that 
 the two lay dead together on the plain. And 
 the men of Thebes lifted up the bodies of the 
 dead, and bare them both into the city. 
 
 So was the doom of the house of CEdipus 
 accomplished ; and yet not all, as shall be told 
 in the story of Antigone, who was the sister of 
 these two. 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 When the two brothers, the sons of King 
 GEdipus, had fallen each by the hand of the 
 other, the kingdom fell to Creon their uncle. 
 For not only was he the next of kin to the dead, 
 but also the people held him in great honour 
 because his son Menoeceus had offered himself 
 with a willing heart that he might deliver his 
 city from captivity. Now when Creon was 
 come to the throne, he made a proclamation 
 about the two Princes, commanding that they 
 should bury Eteocles with all honour, seeing 
 that he died as beseemed a good man and 
 a brave, doing battle for his country, that it 
 should not be delivered into the hands of the 
 enemy ; but as for Polynices he bade them leave 
 his body to be devoured by the fowls of the air 
 and the beasts of the field, because he had 
 joined himself to the enemy, and would have 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 8i 
 
 beaten down the walls of the city, and burned 
 the temples of the Gods wdth fire, and led the 
 people captive. Also he commanded that if any 
 man should break this decree he should suffer 
 death by stoning. 
 
 Now Antigone, who was sister to the two 
 Princes, heard that the decree had gone forth, 
 and chancing to meet her sister Ismene before 
 the gates of the palace, spake to her, saying, " O 
 my sister, hast thou heard this decree that the 
 King hath put forth concerning our brethren that 
 are dead ? " 
 
 Then Ismene made answer, " I have heard 
 nothing, my sister, only that we are bereaved of 
 both of our brethren in one day, and that the 
 army of the Argives is departed in this night that 
 is now past. So much I know, but no more." 
 
 " Hearken then. King Creon hath made a 
 proclamation that they shall bury Eteocles with 
 all honour ; but that f olynices shall lie unburied, 
 that the birds of the air and the beasts of the 
 field may devour him ; and that whosoever shall 
 break this decree shall suffer death by stoning." 
 
 ** But if it be so, my sister, how can we avail 
 to change it ? " 
 
 7 
 
82 THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 " Think whether or no thou wilt share with 
 me the doing of this deed." 
 
 " What deed ? What meanest thou ? " 
 
 " To pay due honour to this dead corpse." 
 
 " What ? Wilt thou bury him when the King 
 hath forbidden it ? " 
 
 *' Yea, for he is my brother and also thine, 
 though, perchance, thou wouldst not have it so. 
 And I will not play him false." 
 
 " O my sister, wilt thou do this when Creon 
 hath forbidden it ? " 
 
 ** Why should he stand between me and 
 mine ? " 
 
 " But think now what sorrows are come upon 
 our house. For our father perished miserably, 
 having first put out his own eyes;. and our 
 mother hanged herself with her own hands ; and 
 our two brothers fell in one day, each by the 
 other's spear ; and now we two only are left. 
 And shall we not fall into a worse destruction 
 than any, if we transgress these commands of 
 the King. Think, too, that we are women and 
 not men, and must of necessity obey them that 
 are stronger. Wherefore, as for me, I will 
 pray the dead to pardon me, seeing that I am 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 83 
 
 thus constrained ; but I will obey them that 
 rule." 
 
 " I advise thee not, and, If thou thinkest thus, 
 I would not have thee for helper. But know 
 that I will bury my brother, nor could I better 
 die than for doing such a deed. For as he loved 
 me, so also do I love him greatly. And shall 
 not I do pleasure to the dead rather than to 
 the living, seeing that I shall abide with the dead 
 for ever ? But thou, if thou wilt, do dishonour 
 to the laws of the Gods." 
 
 " I dishonour them not. Only I cannot set 
 myself against the powers that be." 
 
 '' So be it : but I will bury my brother." 
 
 *' O my sister, how I fear for thee ! " 
 
 " Fear for thyself. Thine own lot needeth all 
 thy care." 
 
 " Thou wilt at least keep thy counsel, nor tell 
 the thing to any man." 
 
 ** Not so : hide h not. I shall scorn thee 
 more If thou proclaim it not aloud to all." 
 
 So Antigone departed ; and after a while 
 came to the same place King Creon, clad in his 
 royal robes, and with his sceptre in his hand, and 
 set forth his counsel to the elders who were 
 
84 THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 assembled, how he had dealt with the two 
 Princes according to their deserving, giving all 
 honour to him that loved his country, and cast- 
 ing forth the other unburied. And he bade 
 them take care that this decree should be kept, 
 saying that he had also appointed certain men 
 to watch the dead body. 
 
 But he had scarcely left speaking, when there 
 came one of these same watchers and said, 
 ** I have not come hither in haste, O King, nay, 
 I doubted much, while I was yet on the way, 
 whether I should not turn again. For now I 
 thought, ' Fool, why goest thou where thou 
 shalt suffer for it ; ' and then again, ' Fool, the 
 King will hear the matter elsewhere, and then 
 how wilt thou fare.'^' But at the last! came 
 as I had purposed, for I know that nothing 
 may happen to me contrary to fate." 
 
 ** But say," said the King, " what troubles 
 thee so much ? " 
 
 " First hear my case. I did not the thing, 
 and know not who did it, and it were a grievous 
 wrong should I fall into trouble for such a cause." 
 
 " Thou makest a long preface, excusing thy- 
 self, but yet hast, as I judge, something to tell." 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 85 
 
 " Fear, my lord, ever causeth delay." 
 
 " Wilt thou not speak out thy news and then 
 begone ? " 
 
 *' I will speak it. Know then that some man 
 hath thrown dust upon this dead corpse, and 
 done besides such things as are needful." 
 
 " What sayest thou ? Who hath dared to do 
 this deed 1 " 
 
 " That I know not, for there was no mark as 
 of spade or pick-axe ; nor was the earth broken, 
 nor had waggon passed thereon. We were sore 
 dismayed when the watchman showed the thing 
 to us ; for the body we could not see. Buried 
 indeed it was not, but rather covered with dust. 
 Nor was there any sign as of wild beast or of 
 dog that had torn it. Then there arose a con- 
 tention among us, each blaming the other, and 
 accusing his fellows, and himself denying that 
 he had done the deed or was privy to it. And 
 doubtless we had falTen to blows but that one 
 spake a word which made us all tremble for 
 fear, knowing that it must be as he said. For 
 he said that the thing must be told to thee, and 
 in no wise hidden. So we drew lots, and by 
 evil chance the lot fell upon me. Wherefore I 
 
86 THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 am here, not willingly, for no man loveth him 
 that bringeth ill tidings." 
 
 Then said the chief of the old men, '' Consider, 
 O King, for haply this thing Is from the Gods." 
 
 But the King cried, '' Thinkest thou that the 
 Gods care for such an one as this dead man, who 
 would have burnt their temples with fire, and 
 laid waste the land which they love, and set at 
 naught the laws ? Not so. But there are men 
 In this city who have long time had ill will to 
 me, not bowing their necks to my yoke ; and 
 they have persuaded these fellows with money 
 to do this thing. Surely there never was so 
 evil a thing as money, which maketh cities into 
 ruinous heaps, and banisheth men from their 
 houses, and turneth their thoughts from good 
 unto evil. But as for them that have done this 
 deed for hire, of a truth they shall not escape, 
 for I say to thee, fellow, if ye bring not here 
 before my eyes the man that did this thing, I 
 will hang you up alive. So shall ye learn that 
 ill gains bring no profit to a man." 
 
 So the guard departed ; but as he went he 
 said to himself, ^' Now may the Gods grant that 
 the man be found ; but however this may be. 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. Zj 
 
 thou shalt not see me come again on such errand 
 as this, for even now have I escaped beyond all 
 hope." Notwithstanding, after a space he came 
 back with one of his fellows ; and they brought 
 with them the maiden Antigone, with her hands 
 bound together. And it chanced that at the 
 same time King Creon came forth from the 
 palace. Then the guard set forth the thing to 
 him, saying, '' We cleared aw^ay the dust from 
 the dead body, and sat watching it. And when 
 it was now noon, and the sun was at his height, 
 there came a whirlwind over the plain, driving 
 a great cloud of dust. And when this had 
 passed, we looked, and lo ! this maiden whom 
 we have brought hither stood by the dead 
 corpse. And when she saw that it lay bare as 
 before, she sent up an exceeding bitter cry, even 
 as a bird whose young ones have been taken 
 from the nest. Then she cursed them that had 
 done this deSd ; and brought dust and sprinkled 
 it upon the dead man, and poured water upon 
 him three times. Then we ran and laid hold 
 upon her, and accused her that she had done 
 this deed ; and she denied it not. But as for me, 
 'tis well to have escaped from death, but it is ill 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 to bring friends into the same. Yet I hold that 
 there is nothing dearer to a man than his Hfe." 
 
 Then said the King to Antigone, '' Tell me in 
 a word, didst thou know my decree ? " 
 
 " I knew it. Was it not plainly declared ? " 
 '' How daredst thou to transgress the laws ? " 
 *' Zeus made not such laws, nor Justice that 
 dwelleth with the Gods below. I judged not that 
 thy decrees had such authority that a man should 
 transgress for them the unwritten sure command- 
 ments of the Gods. For these, indeed, are not 
 of to-day or yesterday, but they live for ever, 
 and their beginning no man knoweth. Should I, 
 for fear of thee, be found guilty against them ? 
 That I should die I knew. Why not ? All 
 men must die. And if I die before my time, 
 what loss } He who liveth among many sor- 
 rows, even as I have lived, counteth it gain to 
 die. But had 1 left my own mother s son un- 
 buried, this had been loss indeed." 
 
 Then said the King, '' Such stubborn thoughts 
 have a speedy fall, and are shivered even as the 
 iron that hath been made hard in the furnace. 
 And as for this woman and her sister — for I 
 judge her sister to have had a part in this matter 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 89 
 
 — though they were nearer to me than all my 
 kindred, yet shall they not escape the doom of 
 death. Wherefore let some one bring the other 
 woman hither." 
 
 And while they went to fetch the maiden 
 Ismene, Antigone said to the King, ''Is it not 
 enough for thee to slay me ? What need to 
 say more ? For thy words please me not nor 
 mine thee. Yet what nobler thing could I have 
 done than to bury my own mother s son ? And 
 so would all men say but fear shutteth their 
 mouths." 
 
 '' Nay," said the King, " none of the children 
 of Cadmus thinketh thus, but thou only. But, 
 hold, was not he that fell in battle with this 
 man thy brother also .^" 
 
 " Yes, truly, my brother he was." 
 
 " And dost thou not dishonour him when thou 
 honourest his enemy ? " 
 
 '* The dead man would not say It, could he 
 speak." 
 
 '' Shall then the wicked have like honour with 
 the good 1 " 
 
 "How knowest thou but that such honour 
 pleaseth the Gods below '^. " 
 
90 THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 " I have no love for them I hate, though they 
 be dead." 
 
 '' Of hating I know nothing ; 'tis enough for 
 me to love." 
 
 ''If thou wilt love, go love the dead. But 
 while I live no woman shall rule me." 
 
 Then those that had been sent to fetch the 
 maiden Ismene brought her forth from the 
 palace. And when the King accused her that 
 she had been privy to the deed she denied not, 
 but would have shared one lot with her sister. 
 But Antigone turned from her, saying, "■ Not 
 so ; thou hast no part or lot in the matter. 
 For thou hast chosen life, and I have chosen 
 death ; and even so shall it be." And when Is- 
 mene saw that she prevailed nothing with her 
 sister, she turned to the King and said, ** Wilt 
 thou slay the bride of thy son ? " 
 
 ''Aye," said he, "there are other brides to win ! " 
 
 " But none," she made reply, " that accord so 
 well with him." 
 
 " I will have no evil wives for my sons," said 
 the King. 
 
 Then cried Antigone, " O Haemon, whom I 
 love, how thy father wrongeth thee ! " 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 91 
 
 Then the King bade the guards lead the two 
 into the palace. But scarcely had they gone 
 when there came to the place the Prince Hae- 
 mon, the King's son, who was betrothed to the 
 maiden Antigone. And when the King saw 
 him, he said, " Art thou content, my son, with 
 thy father's judgment ? " 
 
 And the young man answered, " My father, 
 I would follow thy counsels in all things." 
 
 Then said the King, *' 'Tis well spoken, my 
 son. This is a thing to be desired, that a man 
 should have obedient children. But if it be other- 
 wise with a man, he hath gotten great trouble 
 for himself, and maketh sport for them that 
 hate him. And now as to this matter. There 
 is nought worse than an evil wife. Wherefore 
 I say, let this damsel wed a bridegroom among 
 the dead. For since I have found her, alone 
 of all this people, breaking my decree, surely 
 she shall die. Nor shall it profit her to claim 
 kinship with me, for he that would rule a city 
 must first deal justly with his own kindred. 
 And as for obedience, this it is that maketh a 
 city to stand both in peace and in war ! " 
 
 To this the Prince Haemon made answer, 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 *' What thou say est, my father, I do not judge. 
 Yet bethink thee, that I see and hear on thy 
 behalf what is hidden from thee. For common 
 men cannot abide thy look if they say that 
 which pleaseth thee not. Yet do I hear it in 
 secret. Know then that all the city mourneth 
 for this maiden, saying that she dieth wrongfully 
 for a very noble deed, in that she buried her 
 brother. And 'tis well, my father, not to be 
 wholly set on thy own thoughts, but to listen to 
 the counsels of others." 
 
 '* Nay," said the King ; '' shall I be taught by 
 such an one as thou ? " 
 
 '' I pray thee regard my words, if they be 
 well, and not my years." 
 
 " Can it be well to honour them that trans- 
 gress ? And hath not this woman transgressed ? " 
 
 '' The people of this city judgeth not so." 
 
 " The people, sayest thou ? Is it for them to 
 rule, or for me ? " 
 
 '-' No city is the possession of one man only." 
 
 So the two answered one the other, and their 
 anger waxed hot. And at the last the King 
 cried, '' Bring this accursed woman, and slay her 
 before his eyes." 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 93 
 
 And the Prince answered, " That thou shalt 
 never do. And know this also, that thou shalt 
 never see my face again." 
 
 So he went away in a rage ; and the old men 
 would have appeased the Kings wrath, but he 
 would not hearken to them, but said that the 
 two maidens should die. " Wilt thou then slay 
 them both ? " said the old men. 
 
 '''Tis well said," the King made answer. '' Her 
 that meddled not with the matter I harm not." 
 
 " And how wilt thou deal with the other ? " 
 
 *' There is a desolate place, and there I will 
 shut her up alive in a sepulchre ; yet giving her 
 so much of food as shall quit us of guilt In the 
 matter, for I would not have the city defiled. 
 There let her persuade Death, whom she loveth 
 so much, that he harm her not." 
 
 So the guards led Antigone away to shut her 
 up alive in the sepulchre. But scarcely had 
 they departed when there came the old prophet 
 TIresias, seeking the King. Blind he was, so 
 that a boy led him by the hand ; but the Gods 
 had given him to see things to come. And 
 when the King saw him he asked, "What seekest 
 thou, wisest of men ? " 
 
94 THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 Then the prophet answered, "Hearken, O 
 King, and I will tell thee. I sat in my seat, 
 after my custom, in the place whither all manner 
 of birds resort. And as I sat I heard a cry of 
 birds that I knew not, very strange and full of 
 wrath. And I knew that they tare and slew 
 each other, for I heard the fierce flapping of 
 their wings. And being afraid, I made inquiry 
 about the fire, how it burned upon the altars. 
 And this boy, for as I am a guide to others 
 so he guideth me, told me that it shone not 
 at all, but smouldered and was dull, and that 
 the flesh which was burnt upon the altar 
 spluttered in the flame, and wasted away into 
 corruption and filthiness. And now I tell thee, 
 O King, that the city is troubled by thy ill 
 counsels. For the dogs and the birds of the 
 air tear the flesh of this dead son of GEdipus, 
 whom thou sufferest not to have due burial, 
   and carry it to the altars, polluting them there- 
 with. Wherefore the Gods receive not from us 
 prayer or sacrifice ; and the cry of the birds 
 hath an evil sound, for they are full of the 
 flesh of a man. Therefore I bid thee be wise 
 in time. For all men may err; but he that 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 95 
 
 keepeth not his folly, but repenteth, doeth well ; 
 but stubbornness cometh to great trouble." 
 
 Then the King answered, " Old man, I know 
 the race of prophets full well, how ye sell your 
 art for gold. But, make thy trade as thou wilt, 
 this man shall not have burial ; yea, though the 
 eagles of Zeus carry his flesh to their master s 
 throne in heaven, he shall not have it." 
 
 And when the prophet spake again, entreating 
 him, and waraing, the King answered him after 
 the same fashion, that he spake not honestly, but 
 had sold his art for money. But at the last the 
 prophet spake in great wrath, saying, '' Know, 
 O King, that before many days shall pass, thou 
 shalt pay a life for a life, even one of thine own 
 children, for them with whom thou hast dealt un- 
 righteously, shutting up the living with the dead, 
 and keeping the dead from them to whom they 
 belong. Therefore the Furies lie in wait for 
 thee, and thou shalt see whether or no I speak 
 these things for money. For there shall be 
 mourning and lamentation in thine own house ; 
 and against thy people shall be stirred up all 
 the cities, whose sons thou hast made to lie un- 
 buried. And now, my child, lead me home, and 
 
96 THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 
 
 let this man rage against them that are younger 
 than I." 
 
 So the prophet departed, and the old men 
 were sore afraid, and said, *' He hath spoken 
 terrible things, O King ; nor ever since these 
 gray hairs were black have we known him say 
 that which was false." 
 
 " Even so," said the King, ''and I am troubled 
 in heart, and yet am loath to depart from my 
 purpose." 
 
 " King Creon," said the old men, " thou 
 needest good counsel." 
 
 '* What, then, would ye have done ? " 
 
 " Set free the maiden from the sepulchre, and 
 give this dead man burial." 
 
 Then the King cried to his people that they 
 should bring bars wherewith to loosen the doors 
 of the sepulchre, and hasted with them to the 
 place. But coming on their way to the body 
 of Prince Polynices, they took it up, and washed 
 it, and buried that which remained of it, and 
 raised over the ashes a great mound of earth. 
 And this being done, they drew near to the 
 place of the sepulchre ; and as they approached, 
 the King heard within a very piteous voice, and 
 
THE STORY OF ANTIGONE. 97 
 
 knew It for the voice of his son. Then he 
 bade his attendants loose the door with all 
 speed ; and when they had loosed it, they be- 
 held within a very piteous sight. For the 
 maiden Antigone had hanged herself by the 
 girdle of linen which she wore, and the young 
 man Prince Haemon stood with his arms about 
 her dead corpse, embracing it. And when the 
 King saw him, he cried to him to come forth ; 
 but the Prince glared fiercely upon him, and 
 answered him not a word, but drew his two- 
 edged sword. Then the King, thinking that 
 his son was minded in his madness to slay him, 
 leapt back, but the Prince drave the sword into 
 his own heart, and fell forward on the earth, still 
 holding the dead maiden in his arms. And 
 when they brought the tidings of these things 
 to Queen Eurydlce, that was the wife of King 
 Creon and mother to the Prince, she could not 
 endure the grief, being thus bereaved of her 
 children, but laid hold of a sword, and slew her- 
 self therewith. 
 
 So the house of King Creon was left desolate 
 unto him that day, because he despised the or- 
 dinances of the Gods. 
 
 8 
 
THE STORY OF IPHIGENIA IN 
 AULIS. 
 
 King Agamemnon sat in his tent at Aulls, 
 where the army of the Greeks was gathered 
 together, being about to sail against the great 
 city of Troy. And it was now past midnight ; 
 but the King slept not, for he was careful and 
 troubled about many things. And he had a 
 lamp before him, and in his hand a tablet of 
 pine wood, whereon he wrote. But he seemed 
 not to remain in the same mind about that 
 which he wrote ; for now he would blot out the 
 letters, and then would write them again ; and 
 now he fastened the seal upon the tablet and 
 then brake it. And as he did this he wept, and 
 was like to a man distracted. But after a while 
 he called to an old man, his attendant (the man 
 had been given in time past by Tyndareus to 
 his daughter, Queen. Clytaemnestra), and said — 
 
THE STORY OF IPHIGENIA IN AULIS. 99 
 
 " Old man, thou knowest how Calchas the 
 soothsayer bade me offer for a sacrifice to 
 Artemis, who is goddess of this place, my 
 daughter Iphigenia, saying that so only should 
 the army have a prosperous voyage from this 
 place to Troy, and should take the city and 
 destroy it ; and how when I heard these words 
 I bade Talthybius the herald go throughout 
 the army and bid them depart, every man to 
 his own country, for that I would not do this 
 thing; and how my brother, King Menelalis, 
 persuaded me so that I consented to it. Now% 
 therefore, hearken to this, for what I am about 
 to tell thee three men only know, namely, 
 Calchas the soothsayer, and Menelalis, and 
 Ulysses, King of Ithaca. I wrote a letter to 
 my wife the Queen, that she should send her 
 daughter to this place, that she might be mar- 
 ried to King Achilles; and I magnified the 
 man to her, saying that he would in no wise 
 sail with us unless I would give him my 
 daughter in marriage. But now I have 
 changed my purpose, and have written another 
 letter after this fashion, as I will now set forth 
 to thee, — * Daughter of Leda, SE^^D not thy 
 
lOO THE STORY OF 
 
 CHILD TO THE . D OF EUBCEA, FOR I WILL 
 GIVE HER IN MARRIAGE AT ANOTHER TIME.*" 
 
 ** Aye," said the old man, *' but how wilt thou 
 deal with King Achilles ? Will he not be 
 wroth, hearing that he hath been cheated of 
 his wife ? " 
 
 " Not so," answered the King, "for we have 
 indeed used his name, but he knoweth nothing 
 of this marriage. And now make haste. Sit not 
 thou down by any fountain in the woods, and 
 suffer not thine eyes to sleep. And beware 
 lest the chariot bearing the Queen and her 
 daughter pass thee where the roads divide. 
 And see that thou keep the seal upon this 
 letter unbroken." 
 
 So the old man departed with the letter. 
 But scarcely had he left the tent when King 
 Menelalis spied him and laid hands on him, 
 taking the letter and breaking the seal. And 
 the old man cried out — 
 
 '' Help, my lord ; here is one hath taken thy 
 letter!" 
 
 Then King Agamemnon came forth from his 
 tent, saying, *' What meaneth this uproar and 
 disputing that I hear ? " 
 
IPHIGENIA IN AULIS. loi 
 
 And Menelalis answered?- jSeest thou this 
 letter that I hold In my hand ? " 
 
 " I see it : it is mine. Give it to me." 
 
 " I give it not till I have read that which is 
 written therein to all the army of the Greeks." 
 
 " Where didst thou find it ? " 
 
 *' I found it while I waited for thy daughter 
 till she should come to the camp." 
 
 *' What hast thou to do with that ? May I 
 not rule my own household ? " 
 
 Then Menelalis reproached his brother be- 
 cause he did not continue in one mind. " For 
 first," he said, *' before thou wast chosen captain 
 of the host, thou wast all things to all men, 
 greeting every man courteously, and taking 
 him by the hand, and talking with him, and 
 leaving thy doors open to any that would 
 enter ; but afterwards, being now chosen, thou 
 wast haughty and hard of access. And next, 
 tvhen this trouble came upon the army, and 
 thou wast sore afraid lest thou shouldst lose 
 thy office, and so miss renown, didst thou not 
 hearken to Calchas the soothsayer, and promise 
 thy daughter for sacrifice, and send for her to the 
 camp, making pretence of giving her in marriage 
 
I02 THE STORY OF 
 
 to Achilles ? And now thou art gone back from 
 thy word. Surely this Is an evil day for Greece, 
 that is troubled because thou wantest wisdom." 
 
 Then answered King Agamemnon, *' What 
 is thy quarrel with me ? Why blamest thou 
 me If thou couldst not rule thy wife ? And 
 now to win back this woman, because forsooth 
 she is fair, thou castest aside both reason and 
 honour. And I, if I had an ill purpose, and 
 now have changed it for that which is wiser, 
 dost thou charge me with folly ? Let them 
 that sware the oath to Tyndareus go with thee 
 on this errand. Why should I slay my child, 
 and work for myself sorrow and remorse with- 
 out end that thou mayest have vengeance for 
 thy wicked wife ? " 
 
 Then Menelaiis turned away in a rage, cry- 
 ing, *' Betray me if thou wilt. I will betake 
 myself to other counsels and other friends." 
 
 But even as he spake there came a mes- 
 senger, saying, *' King Agamemnon, I am come, 
 as thou badest me, with thy daughter Iphlgenia. 
 Also her mother, Queen Clytaemnestra, is come, 
 bringing with her her little son, Orestes. And 
 now they are resting themselves and their 
 
IPHIGENIA IN AULIS. 103 
 
 horses by the side of a spring, for indeed the 
 way is long and weary. And all the army is 
 gathered about them, to see them and greet 
 them. And men question much wherefore they 
 are come, saying, * Doth the King make a 
 marriage for his daughter ; or hath he sent 
 for her, desiring to see her ? ' But I know 
 thy purpose, my lord ; wherefore we will dance 
 and shout and make merry, for this is a happy 
 day for the maiden." 
 
 But the King Agamemnon was sore dis- 
 mayed when he knew that the Queen was come, 
 and spake to himself, " Now what shall I say to 
 my wife ? For that she is rightly come to the 
 marriage of her daughter who can deny ? But 
 what will she say when she knoweth my purpose } 
 And of the maiden, what shall I say ? Un- 
 happy maiden whose bridegroom shall be death ! 
 For she will cry to me, ' Wilt thou kill me, my 
 ^father ? ' And the little Orestes will wail, not 
 knowing what he doeth, seeing he is but a babe. 
 Cursed be Paris, who hath wrought this woe ! " 
 
 And now King Menelalis came back, saying 
 that it repented him of what he had said, '' For 
 why should thy child die for me ? What hath 
 
I04 THE STORY OF 
 
 she to do with Helen ? Let the army be 
 scattered, so that this wrong be not done." 
 
 Then said King Agamemnon, "But how 
 shall I escape from this strait ? For the whole 
 host will compel me to this deed ? " 
 
 " Not so," said King Menelaiis, " if thou wilt 
 send back the maiden to Argos." 
 
 " But what shall that profit," said the King ; 
 *' for Calchas will cause the matter to be known, 
 or Ulysses, saying that I have failed of my pro- 
 mise ; and if I fly to Argos, they will come and 
 destroy my city and lay waste my land. Woe 
 is me ! in what a strait am I set ! But take 
 thou care, my brother, that Clytaemnestra hear 
 nothing of these things." 
 
 And when he had ended speaking, the Queen 
 herself came unto the tent, riding in a chariot, 
 having her daughter by her side. And she bade 
 one of the attendants take out with care the 
 caskets which she had brought for her daughter, 
 and bade others help her daughter to alight, 
 and herself also, and to a fourth she said that 
 he should take the young Orestes. Then 
 Iphigenia greeted her father, saying, '' Thou 
 hast done well to send for me, my father." 
 
IPHIGENIA IN AULIS, 105 
 
 " 'TIs true and yet not true, my child." 
 
 ** Thou lookest not well pleased to see me, 
 my father." 
 
 ** He that is a King and commandeth a host 
 hath many cares." 
 
 " Put away thy cares awhile, and give thyself 
 to me." 
 
 '' I am glad beyond measure to see thee." 
 
 " Glad art thou ? Then why dost thou 
 weep ?" 
 
 **' I weep because thou must be long time 
 absent from me." 
 
 " Perish all these fightings and troubles !" 
 
 " They will cause many to perish, and me 
 most miserably of all." 
 
 *' Art thou going a long journey from me, my 
 father?" 
 
 ''Aye, and thou also hast a journey to 
 make." 
 * *' Must I make it alone, or with my mother ?" 
 
 " Alone ; neither father nor mother may be 
 with thee." 
 
 " Sendest thou me to dwell elsewhere ?" 
 
 " Hold thy peace : such things are not for 
 maidens to inquire." 
 
io6 THE STORY OF 
 
 *' Well, my father, order matters with the 
 Phrygians, and then make haste to return." 
 ** I must first make a sacrifice to the Gods." 
 '' 'Tis well. The Gods should have due 
 honour." 
 
 '' Aye, and thou wilt stand close to the altar." 
 " Shall I lead the dances, my father ?" 
 '* O my child, how I envy thee, that thou 
 knowest nought ! And now go into the tent ; 
 but first kiss me, and give me thy hand, for 
 thou shalt be parted from thy father for many 
 days." 
 
 And when she was gone within, he cried, "O 
 fair bosom and very lovely cheeks and yellow 
 hair of my child 1 O city of Priam, what woe thou 
 bringest on me ! But I must say no more." 
 
 Then he turned to the Queen, and excused 
 himself that he wept when he should rather 
 have rejoiced for the marriage of his daughter. 
 And when the Queen would know of the estate 
 of the bridegroom, he told her that his name 
 was Achilles, and that he was the son of Peleus 
 by his wife Thetis, the daughter of Nereus of 
 the sea, and that he dwelt in Phthla. And 
 when she inquired of the time of the marriage, 
 
IPHIGENIA IN A U US. 107 
 
 he said that It should be in the same moon, on 
 the first lucky day ; and as to the place, that it 
 must be where the bridegroom was sojourning, 
 that is to say, in the camp. ''And I," said 
 the King, "will give the maiden to her hus- 
 band." 
 
 " But where," answered the Queen, " is it 
 your pleasure that I should be ? " 
 
 " Thou must return to Argos, and care for 
 the maidens there." 
 
 " Sayest thou that I must return ? Who 
 then will hold up the torch for the bride ? " 
 
 " I will do that which is needful. For it is 
 not seemly that thou shouldst be present where 
 the whole army is gathered together." 
 
 " Aye, but it is seemly that a mother should 
 give her daughter in marriage.". 
 
 " But the maidens at home should not be left 
 alone." 
 
 " They are well kept in their chambers." 
 
 "Be persuaded, lady." 
 
 " Not so : thou shalt order that which is 
 without the house, but I that which is within." 
 
 But now came Achilles, to tell the King that 
 the army was growing Impatient, saying that. 
 
io8 THE STORY OF 
 
 unless they might sail speedily to Troy, they 
 would return each man to his home. And 
 when the Queen heard his name — for he had 
 said to the attendant, " Tell thy master that 
 Achilles, the son of Peleus, would speak with 
 him " — she came forth from the tent and greeted 
 him, and bade him give her his right hand. 
 And when the young man was ashamed (for it 
 was not counted a seemly thing that men should 
 speak with women) she said — 
 
 *' But why art thou ashamed, seeing that thou 
 art about to marry my daughter ? " 
 
 And he answered. " What sayest thou, lady ? 
 I cannot speak for wonder at thy words." 
 
 " Often men are ashamed when they see new 
 friends, and the talk is of marriage." 
 
 " But, lady, I never was suitor for thy 
 daughter. Nor have the sons of Atreus said 
 aught to me of the matter." 
 
 But the Queen was beyond measure as- 
 tonished, and cried, *' Now this is shameful in- 
 deed, that I should seek a bridegroom for my 
 daucrhter in such fashion." 
 
 But when Achilles would have departed, to 
 inquire of the King what this thing might 
 
IPHIGENIA IN AULIS. 109 
 
 mean, the old man that had at the first carried 
 the letter came forth, and bade him stay. And 
 when he had assurance that he should receive 
 no harm for what he should tell them, he 
 unfolded the whole matter. And when the 
 Queen had heard It, she cried to Achilles, *' O 
 son of Thetis of the sea ! help me now In this 
 strait, and help this maiden that hath been 
 called thy bride, though this Indeed be false. 
 'Twill be a shame to thee if such wrong be 
 done under thy name ; for It Is thy name that 
 hath undone us. Nor have I any altar to 
 which I may flee, nor any friend but thee only 
 in this army." 
 
 Then Achilles made answer, *' Lady, I learnt 
 from Chiron, who was the most righteous of 
 men, to be true and honest. And If the sons of 
 Atreus govern according to right, I obey them ; 
 and if not, not. Know, then, that thy daughter, 
 seeing that she hath been given, though but In 
 word only, to me, shall not be slain by her 
 father. For if she so die, then shall my name 
 be brought to great dishonour, seeing that 
 through It thou hast been persuaded to come 
 with her to this place. This sword shall see 
 
no THE STORY OF 
 
 right soon whether any one will dare to take 
 this maiden from me." 
 
 And now King Agamemnon came forth, say- 
 ing that all things were ready for the marriage, 
 and that they waited for the maiden, not know- 
 ing that the whole matter had been revealed to 
 the Queen. Then she said — 
 
 " Tell me now, dost thou purpose to slay thy 
 daughter and mine ?" And when he was silent, 
 not knowing, indeed, what to say, she re- 
 proached him with many words, that she had 
 been a loving and faithful w4fe to him, for 
 which he made her an ill recompense slaying 
 her child. 
 
 And when she had made an end of speak- 
 ing, the maiden came forth from the tent, 
 holding the young child Orestes in her arms, 
 and cast herself upon her knees before her 
 father, and besought him, saying, " I would, my 
 father, that I had the voice of Orpheus, who 
 made even the rocks to follow him, that I might 
 persuade thee ; but now all that I have I give, 
 even these tears. O my father, I am thy child ; 
 slay me not before my time. This light is 
 sweet to look upon. Drive me not from it to 
 
IPHIGENIA IN A ULIS. 1 1 1 
 
 the land of darkness. I was the first to call 
 thee father ; and the first to whom thou didst 
 say ' my child.' And thou wouldst say to me, 
 * Some day, my child, I shall see thee a happy 
 wife in the home of a rich husband.' And I 
 would answer, ' And I will receive thee with all 
 love when thou art old, and pay thee back for 
 all the benefits thou hast done unto me.' This 
 I indeed remember, but thou forgettest ; for 
 thou art ready to slay me. Do it not, I beseech 
 thee, by Pelops thy grandsire, and Atreus thy 
 father, and this my mother, who travailed in 
 childbirth of me, and now travaileth again in 
 her sorrow. And thou, O my brother, though 
 thou art but a babe, help me. Weep with me ; 
 beseech thy father that he slay not thy sister. 
 O my father, though he be silent, yet, in- 
 deed, he beseecheth thee. For his sake, there- 
 fore, yea, and for mine own, have pity upon me, 
 and slay me not." 
 
 But the King was sore distracted, knowing 
 not what he should say or do, for a terrible 
 necessity was upon him, seeing that the army 
 could not make their journey to Troy unless 
 this deed should first be done. And while he 
 
12 THE STORY OF 
 
 doubted came Achilles, saying that there was a 
 horrible tumult in the camp, the men crying out 
 that the maiden must be sacrificed, and that 
 when he would have stayed them from their 
 purpose, the people had stoned him with stones, 
 and that his own Myrmidons helped him not ; 
 but rather were the first to assail him. Never- 
 theless, he said that he would fight for the 
 maiden, even to the utmost ; and that there 
 were faithful men who would stand with him 
 and help him. But when the maiden heard 
 these words, she stood forth and said, "Hearken 
 to me, my mother. Be not wroth with my 
 father, for we cannot fight against fate. Also 
 we must take thought that this young man 
 suffer not, for his help will avail nought, and 
 he himself will perish. Therefore I am resolved 
 to die ; for all Greece looketh to me ; for with- 
 out me the ships cannot make their voyage, nor 
 the city of Troy be taken. Thou didst bear 
 me, my mother, not for thyself only, but for 
 this whole people. Wherefore I will give myself 
 for them. Offer me for an offering ; and let the 
 Greeks take the city of Troy, for this shall be 
 my memorial for ever.'' 
 
IPHIGENIA IN A ULIS. 1 1 3 
 
 Then said Achilles, ** Lady, I should count 
 myself most happy if the Gods would grant thee 
 tobem y wife. For I love thee well, when I 
 see thee how noble thou art. And if thou wilt, 
 I will carry thee to my home. And I doubt 
 not that I shall save thee, though all the men 
 of Greece be against me." 
 
 But the maiden answered, "What I say, I 
 say with full purpose. Nor will I that any man 
 should die for me, but rather will I save this 
 land of Greece." 
 
 And Achilles said, '* If this be thy will, lady, 
 I cannot say nay, for it is a noble thing that 
 thou doest." 
 
 Nor was the maiden turned from her purpose 
 though her mother besought her with many 
 tears. So they that were appointed led her to 
 the grove of Artemis, where there was built 
 an altar, and the whole army of the Greeks 
 gathered about it. But when the King saw 
 her going to her death he covered his face with 
 his mantle ; but she stood by him, and said, ** I 
 give my body with a willing heart to die for my 
 country and for the whole land of Greece. I 
 pray the Gods that ye may prosper, and win the 
 
 9 
 
114 THE STORY OF 
 
 victory in this war, and come back safe to your 
 homes. And now let no man touch me, for I 
 will offer my neck to the sword with a good 
 heart." 
 
 And all men marvelled to see the maiden 
 of what a good courage she was. Then the 
 herald Talthybius stood in the midst and com- 
 manded silence to the people ; and Calchas 
 the soothsayer put a garland about her head, 
 and drew a sharp knife from his sheath. And 
 all the army stood regarding the maiden and 
 the priest and the altar. 
 
 Then there befell a marvellous thing. For 
 Calchas struck with his knife, for the sound of 
 the stroke all men heard, but the maiden was 
 not there. Whither she had gone no one knew ; 
 but in her stead there lay gasping a great 
 hind, and all the altar was red with the blood 
 thereof. 
 
 And Calchas said, '' See ye this, men of 
 Greece, how the goddess hath provided this 
 offering in the place of the maiden, for she 
 w^ould not that her altar should be defiled with 
 innocent blood. Be of good courage, therefore, 
 and depart every man to his ship, for this day 
 
IPHIGENIA IN A ULIS. 1 1 5 
 
 ye shall sail across the sea to the land of 
 Troy." 
 
 But how it fared with the maiden may be 
 read in the story of *' Iphigenia among the 
 Taurians." 
 

 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, OR 
 THE BOW OF HERCULES. 
 
 Prince Phlloctetes, who reigned in Methone, 
 which is in the land of Thessaly, sailed with the 
 other Princes of Greece to make war against the 
 great city of Troy. For he also had been one 
 of the suitors of Helen the Fair, and had bound 
 himself with a great oath that he would avenge 
 her and her husband, whomsoever she should 
 choose, on any man that should dare to do her 
 wrong. Now Philoctetes had been companion 
 to Hercules in many of his labours, and also 
 had been with him when he died upon Mount 
 iEta. For which cause Hercules gave him the 
 bow and the arrows which he bare, having 
 received them at the first from Apollo. A very 
 mighty bow it was, shooting arrows so as none 
 other could do, and the arrows were sure dealers 
 of death, for they had been dipped in the blood 
 
THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES. 117 
 
 of the great dragon of Lerna, and the wounds 
 which they made no physician might heal. But 
 it chanced that the Prince, being on his voyage 
 to Troy, landed at the island of Chrysa, where 
 there was an altar of Athene, the goddess of the 
 place, and, desiring to show the altar to his com- 
 panions, he approached it too nearly ; whereupon 
 the serpent that guarded It, lest it should be 
 profaned, bit him In the foot. The wound 
 was very sore and could not be healed, but tor- 
 mented him day and night with grievous pains, 
 making him groan and cry aloud. And when 
 men were troubled with his complainings, and 
 also with the noisome stench of his wound, the 
 chiefs took counsel together, and it seemed good 
 to the sons of Atreus, King Agamemnon and 
 King Menelaus, who were the leaders of the 
 host, that he should be left alone on the island 
 of Lemnos. This matter they committed to 
 Ulysses, who did according to their bidding. 
 But when the Greeks had laid siege to the city 
 of Troy, nigh upon ten years, they remembered 
 Prince Philoctetes and how they had dealt with 
 him. For now the great Achilles was dead, 
 having been slain by Prince Paris with an arrow 
 
Ii8 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 in the Scsean Gate, when he was ready to break 
 into the city ; and the soothsayers affirmed that 
 the Greeks should not have their wish upon 
 Troy, till they should bring against it the great 
 archer to whom they had done wrong. Then the 
 chiefs took counsel together, and chose Ulysses, 
 who was crafty beyond all other men, to accom- 
 plish this matter, and with him they sent Neo- 
 ptolemus, the son of Achilles, who excelled in 
 strength, even as his father had done. 
 
 Now when these two were landed upon the 
 island, Ulysses led the way to the place where in 
 time past he had left Philoctetes. A cave it was 
 in the cliff, with two mouths to it, of which the 
 one looked to the east and the other to the west, 
 so that in winter time a man might see the sun 
 and be warm, but in summer the wind blew 
 through it, bringing coolness and sleep, and a 
 little below was a spring of fair water to drink. 
 Then said Ulysses to Neoptolemus, " Go and 
 spy out the place, and see whether or no the man 
 be there." 
 
 And the Prince went up and looked into the 
 cave, and found that it was empty, but that there 
 were signs of one who dwelt there, a bed of 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 119 
 
 leaves, and a cup of wood, very rudely fashioned, 
 and pieces of wood for kindling fires, and also, a 
 very piteous sight, the rags wherewith the sick 
 man was wont to dress his wound. And when 
 he had told what he saw, Ulysses said, '' That the 
 man dwelleth here is manifest ; nor can he be far 
 away, for how can one that is wounded travel 
 far ? Doubtless he is gone to some place whither 
 the birds resort to slay them, or, haply, to find 
 some herb wherewith to assuage his pain. But 
 do thou set one who will wait for his coming, for 
 it would fare ill with me should he find me." 
 
 And when the watch had been set Ulysses said 
 again, *' I will tell what it is needful for thee to say 
 and do. Only thou must be bold, son of Achilles, 
 and that not only with thy hand, but in heart also, 
 if what I shall now unfold to thee shall seem new 
 or strange. Hearken then: when the man shall 
 ask thee who thou art and whence thou comest, 
 thou shalt answer him that thou art the son of 
 Achilles, and that thou hast left the host of the 
 Greeks, because they had done thee great wrong, 
 for that, having prayed thee to come as not being 
 able to take the great city of Troy without thee, 
 yet they would not deliver to thee the arms of 
 
I20 THE STORY OF FHILOCTETES, 
 
 thy father Achilles, but gave them to Ulysses. 
 And here thou mayest speak against me all kinds 
 of evil, for such words will not trouble me, but if 
 thou accomplish not this thing thou wilt trouble 
 the whole host of the Greeks. For know that 
 without this man's bow thou canst not take the 
 city of Troy ; know also that thou only canst 
 approach him without peril, not being of the 
 number of those who sailed with him at the first. 
 And if it please thee not to get the bow by 
 stealth, for this indeed thou must do — and I know 
 thee to be one that loveth not to speak falsely or 
 to contrive deceit — yet bethink thee that victory 
 is sweet. Be thou bold to-day, and we will be 
 righteous to-morrow." 
 
 Then the Prince made reply, *''Tis not in me, 
 son of Laertes, to work by craft and guile, neither 
 was it in my father before me. I am ready to 
 carry off this man with a strong arm ; and how, 
 being a cripple, shall he stand against us ? but 
 deceit I will not use. And though I should be 
 loath to fall thee In this our common enterprise, 
 yet were this better than to prevail by fraud." 
 
 Then said Ulysses, *' And I, too, in my youth 
 would do all things by the hand and not by the 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 121 
 
 tongue; but now I know that the tongue hath 
 alone the mastery." 
 
 And the Prince replied, " But thou biddest me 
 speak the thing that is false." 
 
 " I bid thee prevail over Philoctetes by craft." 
 
 *' But why may I not persuade him, or even 
 constrain him by force?" 
 
 *' To persuasion he will not hearken, and force 
 thou mayest not use, for he hath arrows that deal 
 death without escape." 
 
 " But is it not a base thing for a man to lie ? " 
 
 *' Surely not, if a lie save him." 
 
 *' Tell me what is the gain to me if this man 
 come to Troy." 
 
 "Without this bow and these arrows Troy 
 falleth not. For though it is the pleasure of the 
 Gods that thou take the city, yet canst not thou 
 take it without these, nor indeed these without 
 thee." 
 
 And when the Prince had mused a while, he 
 said, " If this be so with the arms, I must needs 
 get them." 
 
 Then Ulysses said, '' Do this, and thou shalt 
 gain a double honour." 
 
 And the Prince said, " What meanest thou 
 
122 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 by thy ' double honour ' ? Tell me, and I refuse 
 no more." 
 
 *' The praise of wisdom and of courage also." 
 
 '' Be it so : I will do this deed, nor count it 
 shame." 
 
 *''Tis well," said Ulysses, "and now I will 
 despatch this watcher to the ship, whom I will 
 send again In pilot's disguise if thou desire, 
 and it seems needful. Also I myself will depart, 
 and may Hermes, the god of craft, and Athene, 
 who ever is with me, cause us to prevail." 
 
 After a while Philoctetes came up the path 
 to the cave, very slowly, and with many groans. 
 And when he saw the strangers (for now some 
 of the ship's crew were with Prince Neoptole- 
 mus) he cried, '' Who are ye that are come to 
 this Inhospitable land ? Greeks I know you to 
 be by your garb ; but tell me more." 
 
 And when the Prince had told his name and 
 lineage, and that he was sailing from Troy, 
 Philoctetes cried, '' Sayest thou from Troy ? 
 Yet surely thou didst not sail with us In the 
 
 beo-I 
 
 t> 
 
 innmg. 
 
 "What?" cried the Prince. " Hadst thou 
 then a share In this matter of Troy ? " 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 123 
 
 And Philoctetes made reply, '* Knowest thou 
 not whom thou seest ? Hast thou not heard 
 the story of my sorrows ? " And when he 
 heard that the young man knew nothing of 
 these things : *' Surely this is sorrow upon 
 sorrow if no report of my state hath come to the 
 land of Greece, and I lie here alone, and my 
 disease groweth upon me, but my enemies 
 laugh and keep silence ! " And then he told his 
 name and fortunes, and how the Greeks had left 
 him on the shore while he slept, and how it was 
 the tenth year of his sojourning in the island. 
 '' For know," he said, '' that it is without haven 
 or anchorage, and no man cometh hither of 
 his free will ; and if any come unwilling, as 
 indeed it doth sometimes chance, they speak 
 soft words to me and give me, haply, some 
 meat ; but when I make suit to them that they 
 carry me to my home, they will not. And this 
 wrong the sons of Atreus and Ulysses have 
 worked against me ; for which may the Gods 
 who dwell in Olympus make them equal recom- 
 pense." 
 
 *' And I," said the Prince, " am no lover of 
 these men. For when Achilles was dead " 
 
124 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 " How sayest thou ? Is- the son of Peleus 
 dead?" 
 
 *'Yea ; but it was the hand of a God and not 
 of a man that slew him." 
 
 " A mighty warrior slain by a mighty foe ! 
 But say on." 
 
 " Ulysses, and Phoenix who was my sire's 
 foster-father, came in a ship to fetch me ; and 
 when I was come to the camp they even greeted 
 me kindly, and sware that it was Achilles' self 
 they saw, so like was I to my sire. And, my 
 mourning ended, I sought the sons of Atreus 
 and asked of them the arms of my father, but 
 they made answer that they had given them to 
 Ulysses ; and Ulysses, chancing to be there, 
 affirmed that they had done well, seeing that he 
 had saved them from the enemy. And when I 
 could prevail nothing, I sailed away in great 
 wrath." 
 
 " 'Tis even," Philoctetes made reply, " as I 
 should have judged of them. But I marvel that 
 the Greater Ajax endured to see such doings." 
 
 " Ah ! but he was already dead." 
 
 *' This is grievous news. And how fares old 
 Nestor of Pylos?" 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 121; 
 
 " But ill, for his eldest born, Antilochus, is 
 dead," 
 
 " I could have spared any rather than these 
 two, Ajax and Antilochus. But Patroclus, 
 where was he when thy father died ? " 
 
 ''He was already slain. For 'tis ever thus 
 that war taketh the true man and leaveth the 
 false. But of these things I have had enough 
 and more than enough. Henceforth my island 
 of Scyros, though it be rocky and small, shall 
 content me. And now, Prince Philoctetes, I go, 
 for the wind favours us, and we must take the 
 occasion which the Gods give us." 
 
 And when Philoctetes knew that Neoptole- 
 mus was about to depart, he besought him with 
 many prayers that he would take him also on 
 his ship ; for the voyage, he said, would not be 
 of more than a single day. *' Put me," he said, 
 " where thou wilt, in forecastle, or hold, or 
 stern, and set me on shore even as it may seem 
 best to thee. Only take me from this place." 
 And the sailors also made entreaty to the Prince 
 that he would do so ; and he, after a while, 
 made as if he consented to their prayers. 
 
 But while Philoctetes was yet thanking him 
 
126 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 and his companions, there came two men to the 
 cave, of whom one was a sailor in the Prince's 
 ship, and the other a merchant. And the 
 merchant said that he was saiHng from Troy to 
 his home, and that chancing to come to the 
 island, and knowing that the Prince was there, 
 he judged it well to tell him his news ; 'twas 
 briefly this, that Phoenix and the sons of 
 Theseus had sailed, having orders from the 
 sons of Atreus that they should bring the 
 Prince back ; and also that Ulysses and Dio- 
 med were gone on another errand, even to 
 fetch some one of whom the rulers had need. 
 And when the Prince would know who he 
 might be, the merchant bade him say who it 
 was standing near, and when he heard that 
 it was Philoctetes, he cried, '' Haste thee to 
 thy ship, son of Achilles, for this is the very 
 man whom the two are coming to fetch. Haply 
 thou hast not heard what befell at Troy. 
 There is a certain Helenus, son of King Priam, 
 and a famous soothsayer. Him Ulysses, the 
 man of craft, took a prisoner, and brought into 
 the assembly of Greeks ; and the man prophe- 
 sied to them that they should never take the 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 127 
 
 city of Troy, unless they should bring thither 
 the Prince Philoctetes from the island whereon 
 he dwelt. And Ulysses said, ' If I bring not the 
 man, whether willing or unwilling, then cut off 
 my head.'" 
 
 And when Philoctetes heard this his anger 
 was very great, and he became yet more eager 
 to depart. But first he must go into the cave 
 and fetch such things as he needed, herbs with 
 which he was wont to soothe the pains of his 
 wounds, and all the furniture of his bow. And 
 when he spake of the bow, the Prince asked 
 whether it was indeed the famous bow of 
 Hercules that he carried in his hand, and would 
 fain, he said, touch it, if only it were lawful so 
 to do. And Philoctetes answered, "Yes, thou 
 shalt touch it and handle it, which, indeed, no 
 other man hath ever done, for thou hast done a 
 good deed to me, and it was for a good deed 
 that I myself also received it." 
 
 But when they would have gone towards the 
 ship, the pangs of his wound came upon Phi- 
 loctetes. And then at first he cried, saying, 
 that it was well with him ; but at the last, he 
 could endure no more, and cried to the Prince 
 
128 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 that he should draw his sword and smite off the 
 foot, nor heed if he should slay him ; only he 
 would be rid of the pain. And then he bade 
 him take the bow and keep it for him while he 
 slept, for that sleep came ever upon him after 
 these great pains. Only he must keep it well, 
 especially if those two, Ulysses and Diomed, 
 should chance to come in the meanwhile. And 
 when the Prince had promised this, Philoctetes 
 gave him the bow, saying, " Take it, my son, 
 and pray to the jealous Gods that it bring not 
 sorrow to thee as it hath brought sorrow to me, 
 and to him that was its master before me." 
 
 And after a while the sick man slept. And 
 the Prince, with the sailors that were his com- 
 panions, watched by him the while. 
 
 But when the sailors would have had the 
 Prince depart, seeing that he had now the great 
 bow and the arrows, for whose sake he had 
 come, he would not, for they would be of no 
 avail, he said, without the archer himself. And in 
 no long space of time the sick man woke. Right 
 glad was he to see that the strangers had not 
 departed, for, indeed, he had scarce hoped that 
 this might be. Therefore commending the 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 119 
 
 young man much for his courage and loving 
 kindness, he would have him help him straight- 
 way to the ship, that his pain having now ceased 
 awhile, they might be ready to depart without 
 delay. So they went, but the Prince was sorely 
 troubled in his mind and cried, "■ Now what 
 shall I do ? " and " now am I at my wits' end 
 so that even words fail me." At which words, 
 indeed, Phlloctetes was grieved, thinking that It 
 repented the Prince of his purpose, so that he 
 said, '' Doth the trouble of my disease then 
 hinder thee from taking me In thy ship 1 " 
 
 Then said the Prince, ''All is trouble when a 
 man leaveth his nature to do things that are 
 not fitting." 
 
 And Phlloctetes made answer, "• Nay, Is not 
 this a fitting thing, seeing of what sire thou art 
 the son, to help a brave man In his trouble ?" 
 
 '* Can I endure to be so base," said the Prince, 
 '* hiding that which I should declare, and speak- 
 ing the thing that Is false ? " And while Phlloc- 
 tetes still doubted whether he repented not of 
 his purpose, he cried aloud, '* I will hide the 
 thing no longer. Thou shalt sail with me 
 to Troy." 
 
 10 
 
I30 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 " What sayest thou ? " 
 
 '* I say that thou shalt be dehvered from these 
 pains, and shalt prevail together with me over 
 the great city of Troy." 
 
 " What treachery is this ? What hast thou 
 done to me ? Give me back the bow." 
 
 " Nay, that I cannot do, for I am under au- 
 hority, and must needs obey." 
 
 And when Philoctetes heard these words, he 
 cried with a very piteous voice, " What a marvel 
 of wickedness thou art that hast done this thing. 
 Art thou not ashamed to work such wrong to a 
 suppliant ? Give me my bow, for it is my life. 
 But I speak in vain, for he goeth away and 
 heedeth me not. Hear me then, ye waters and 
 cliffs, and ye beasts of the field, who have been 
 long time my wonted company, for I have none 
 else to hearken to me. Hear what the son of 
 Achilles hath done to me. For he sware that 
 he would carry me to my home, and lo! he 
 taketh me to Troy. And he gave me the right 
 hand of fellowship, and now he robbeth me of 
 the bow, the sacred bow of Hercules. Nay — 
 for I will make trial of him once more — give 
 back this thing to me and be thy true self. 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 
 
 What sayest thou ? Nothing ? Then am I 
 undone. O cavern of the rock wherein I have 
 dwelt, behold how desolate I am ! Never more 
 shall I slay with my arrows bird of the air or 
 beast of the field ; but that which I hunted 
 shall pursue me, and that on which I fed shall 
 devour me." 
 
 And the Prince was cut to the heart when he 
 heard these words, hating the thing which he 
 had done, and cursing the day on which he had 
 come from Scyros to the plains of Troy. Then 
 turning himself to the sailors, he asked what he 
 should do, and was even about to give back 
 the bow^, when Ulysses, who was close at hand, 
 watching what should be done, ran forth crying 
 that he should hold his hand. 
 
 Then said Philoctetes, " Is this Ulysses that 
 I see ? Then am I undone." 
 
 " 'Tis even so : and as for what thou askest 
 of this youth, that he should give back the bow, 
 he shall not do it ; but rather thou shalt sail 
 with us to Troy ; and if thou art not willing, 
 these that stand by shall take thee by force." 
 
 " Lord of fire, that rulest this land of Lemnos, 
 hearest thou this ? " 
 
132 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 " Nay, 'tis Zeus that is master here, and Zeus 
 hath commanded this deed." 
 
 " What lies are these ? Thou makest the 
 Gods false as thyself." 
 
 *' Not so. They are true and I also. But 
 this journey thou must take." 
 
 " Methinks I am a slave, and not freeborn, 
 that thou talkest thus." 
 
 *' Thou art peer to the bravest, and with them 
 shalt take the great city of Troy." 
 
 '' Never ; I had sooner cast myself down from 
 this cliff." 
 
 Then Ulysses cried to the men that they 
 should lay hold on him ; and this they straight- 
 way did. Then Philoctetes in many words re- 
 proached him with all the wrongs that he had 
 done ; how at the first he had caused him to be 
 left on this island, and now had stolen his arms, 
 not with his own hands, indeed, but with craft 
 and deceit, serving himself of a simple youth, 
 who knew not but to do as he was bidden. And 
 he prayed to the Gods that they would avenge 
 him on all that had done him wrong, and chiefly 
 on this man Ulysses. 
 
 Then Ulysses made reply, *' I can be all things 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 133 
 
 as occasion serveth ; such as thou sayest, if need 
 be ; and yet no man more pious if the time call 
 for goodness and justice. One thing only I 
 must needs do, and that is to prevail. Yet 
 here I will yield to thee. Thou wilt not go ; 
 so be it. Loose him ! We need thee not, having 
 these arms of thine. Teucer is with us, an 
 archer not one whit less skilful than thou. And 
 now I leave thee to this Lemnos of thine. May 
 be this bow shall bring me the honour which 
 thou refusest." 
 
 When he had thus spoken he departed, and 
 the Prince Neoptolemus with him. Only the 
 Prince gave permission to the sailors that they 
 should tarry with the sick man till it was time 
 to make ready for the voyage. 
 
 Then Philoctetes bewailed himself, crying to 
 his bow, '' O my bow, my beloved, that they 
 have wrested from my hands, surely, if thou 
 knowest aught, thou grievest to see that the man 
 who was the comrade of Hercules will never 
 hold thee more, but that base hands will grasp 
 thee, mixing thee with all manner of deceit." 
 And then again he called to the birds of the air 
 and the beasts of the field, that they should not 
 
134 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 fly from him any more, seeing that he had now 
 no help against them, but should come and 
 avenge themselves upon him and devour him. 
 And still the sailors would have comforted him. 
 Also they sought to persuade him that he should 
 listen to the chiefs ; but he would not, crying 
 that the lightning should smite him before he 
 would go to Troy and help them that had done 
 him such wrong. And at the last he cried 
 that they should give him a spear or a sword, 
 that he might be rid of his life. 
 
 But while they thus talked together, the Prince 
 came back like one that is in haste, with Ulysses 
 following him, who cried, *' Wherefore turnest 
 thou back ? " 
 
 " To undo what I did amiss." 
 
 *' How sayest thou ? When didst thou thus ?'* 
 
 •'* When I listened to thee, and used deceit to 
 a brave man." 
 
 " What wilt thou then ? (I fear me much 
 what this fool may do.)" 
 
 '' I will give back this bow and these arrows 
 to him from whom I took them by craft." 
 
 " That shalt thou not do." 
 
 *' But who shall hinder me ? " 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 135 
 
 ** That will I, and all the sons of the Greeks 
 with me." 
 
 '' This is idle talk for a wise man as thou 
 art " 
 
 ''Seest thou this sword whereto I lay my 
 hand?" 
 
 "If thou talkest of swords, thou shalt see 
 right soon that I also have a sword." 
 
 "Well — I let thee alone. To the host will 
 I tell this matter ; they shall judge thee." 
 
 " Now thou speakest well ; be ever as wise ; 
 so shalt thou keep thy foot out of trouble." 
 
 Then the Prince called to Philoctetes, who, 
 being loosed by the sailors, had hidden himself 
 in the cave, and asked of him again whether he 
 were willing to sail with him,/ or were resolved 
 to abide in the island. 
 
 And when the man had denied that he would 
 go, and had begun again to call down a curse 
 on the sons of Atreus, and on Ulysses, and on 
 the Prince himself, then the Prince bade him 
 stay his speech, and gave him back the bow 
 and the arrows. 
 
 And when Ulysses, seeing this deed, was 
 very wroth, and threatened vengeance, Philoc- 
 
136 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES, 
 
 tetes put an arrow to the string, and drew the 
 bow to the full, and would have shot at the 
 man, but the Prince stayed his hand. 
 
 And then again the Prince was urgent with 
 him that he should cease from his anger, and 
 should sail with him to Troy, saying that there 
 he should be healed by the great physician, the 
 son of Asclepius, and should also win great glory 
 by taking the city, and that right soon ; for that 
 the soothsayer Helenus had declared that It 
 was the will of the Gods that the city of Troy 
 should be taken that same summer. 
 
 But for all this he prevailed nothing ; for 
 Philoctetes was obstinate that he would not go 
 to Troy, nor do any pleasure to the chiefs who 
 had done him such wrong. But he would that 
 the Prince should fulfil the promise which he 
 had made, that he would carry him in his ship 
 to his own country. And this the Prince said 
 that he would do. 
 
 And now the two were about to depart to the 
 ship, when lo ! there appeared in the air above 
 their heads the great Hercules. Very wonder- 
 ful was he to behold, with bright raiment, and 
 a great glory shining from his face, even as the 
 
OR THE BOW OF HERCULES. 137 
 
 everlasting Gods beheld him with whom he 
 dwelt in the palace of Olympus. And Hercules 
 spake, saying —   
 
 '' Go not yet, son of Poeas, before thou 
 hearest what I shall say to thee. For 'tis Her- 
 cules whom thou seest and hearest ; and I am 
 come from my dwelling in heaven to declare to 
 thee the will of Zeus. Know then that even 
 as I attained to this blessedness after much toil, 
 so shall it be with thee. For thou shalt go to 
 the land of Troy ; and first thou shalt be healed 
 of thy grievous sickness, and afterwards thou 
 shalt slay Paris with thine arrows, and shalt 
 take the city of Troy, whereof thou shalt carry 
 the spoils to thy home, even to Poeas thy father, 
 having received from thy fellows the foremost 
 prize for valour. But remember that all that 
 thou winnest in this warfare thou must take as 
 an offering to my tomb. And to thee, son of 
 Achilles, I say ; thou canst not take the city of 
 Troy without this man, nor he without thee. 
 Whereof, as two lions that consort together, 
 guard ye each other. And I will send Asclepius 
 to heal him of his sickness ; for it is the will of 
 the Gods that Troy should yet again be taken 
 
138 THE STORY OF PHILOCTETES. 
 
 by my bow. And remember this, when ye lay 
 waste the land, to have the Gods and that which 
 belongeth to them in reverence." 
 
 Then said Philoctetes, " O my master, whom 
 I have long desired to hear and see, I will do 
 as thou sayest." 
 
 And the Prince also gave his consent. 
 
 Then Philoctetes bade farewell to the Island 
 In these words — 
 
 *' Home that hast watched with me, farewell ! 
 
 And nymphs that haunt the springs or dwell 
 
 In seaward meadows, and the roar 
 
 Of waves that break upon the shore ; 
 
 Where often, through the cavern's mouth. 
 
 The drifting of the rainy South 
 
 Hath coldly drenched me as I lay ; 
 
 And Hermes' hill, whence many a day, 
 
 When anguish seized me, to my cry 
 
 Hoarse-sounding echo made reply. 
 
 O fountains of the land, and thou, 
 
 Pool of the Wolf, I leave you now ; 
 
 Beyond all hope I leave thy strand, 
 
 O Lemnos, sea-encircled land ! 
 
 Grant me with favouring winds to go 
 
 Whither the mighty Fates command. 
 
 And this dear company of friends, 
 
 And mastering Powers who shape our ends 
 
 To issues fairer than we know." 
 
THE STORY OF THE DEATH OF 
 AGAMEMNON. 
 
 On the roof of King Agamemnon's palace in 
 Argos a watchman sat watching. So had he 
 sat, night after night, through a whole year, nor 
 was there one of the stars of heaven which 
 he had not seen to rise and set. And as he 
 watched, his eyes were fixed ever on the north, 
 looking for the signal of fire which should bring 
 good tidings to the Queen and to all A rgos. For 
 now the great city of Troy was tottering to its 
 fall, and the ten years' toil was coming to an end. 
 And lo! even as it drew towards morning, 
 there was a light in the sky that was not the 
 light of the sun, and the man cried aloud, 
 "Now blessed be this light that I have watched 
 for, seeing that it bringeth good tidings to this 
 land. I will straightway to the Queen that 
 she send the news about the city. And may 
 
I40 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 the Gods grant that I join hand to hand with 
 my master when he cometh back to his home, 
 wherein if there be aught that is ill-ordered, 
 who am I that I should speak thereof? Let the 
 walls cry out, if they will, only I will keep 
 silence." 
 
 Then he made haste and told the Queen, 
 who sent messengers throughout Argos, bid- 
 ding that men should burn thank-offerings of 
 incense on every altar. Also she would that 
 the old men, who were the chiefs and coun- 
 sellors of the city, should be gathered together 
 to the palace, that they might know the truth 
 of the matter. And while they waited for the 
 Queen, they talked much of what had been in 
 days gone by, in the beginning of the ten 
 years' war, when King Agamemnon, with King 
 Menelatis, who was his brother, sailed from 
 that very land of Argos, seeking vengeance for 
 Queen Helen. And one said, '' Remember ye 
 not what we saw when the army set forth from 
 the city ? how upon the right hand as they 
 marched there appeared two eagles, one black 
 altogether and the other with feathers of white 
 in him, that devoured a hare big with young 
 
DEA TH OF A G AM EM NO N. 141 
 
 ones ? and how Calchas, the soothsayer, Inter- 
 preted the thing, saying, * The eagles are the 
 two kings ; and as these have devoured the 
 hare, so shall the kings devour the city of Troy 
 together with her children ! Only we must 
 needs pray that there come not wrath upon the 
 army. For Queen Artemis loveth not these 
 winged dogs of her father Zeus, even the eagles. 
 And if her anger be kindled against us, we 
 shall not turn it away save by an evil sacrifice, 
 from which also shall spring great wrath in the 
 time to come. Therefore may Apollo help us, 
 who is the healer of all evils.' So spake Calchas, 
 the soothsayer, knowing indeed that Queen 
 Artemis was wroth with King Agamemnon, 
 for that he had hunted and slain, even in her 
 own grove, a beautiful hart which she loved." 
 
 Then said another of the elders, "Nor 
 indeed did the wrath of the goddess tarry. For 
 when the army was gathered together in Aulis 
 she caused that the winds blew ever from the 
 north and hindered the ships from their 
 voyage, so that the men were pinched with 
 hunger and wasted with disease. Then said 
 Calchas, the soothsayer, * This is the thing 
 
142 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 whereof I spake : the goddess asketh the sacri- 
 fice that thou knowest of.' But when the kings 
 heard this, they wept, and smote with their 
 sceptres upon the ground. And King Aga- 
 memnon said, * How shall I do this thing, and 
 slay my own daughter, even Iphigenia, who 
 is the joy and beauty of my dwelling ? Yet 
 it were base to be false to them that have 
 trusted me to be their leader in this war. 
 Therefore the Gods shall have their will.' 
 Thus he hardened his heart to the evil work ; 
 nor did the chiefs have pity on her for all 
 that she was young and fair exceedingly. So 
 when the priests had ended their prayers, 
 her father bade the ministers take her as she 
 lay with her robes about her, and lift her up on 
 the altar, even as men lift a kid which they 
 slay for sacrifice, putting a bridle upon her lips, 
 that she should not cry aloud. Then she let 
 fall to the earth her saffron veil, being fair to 
 see as a very lovely picture, and smote all that 
 stood by with a look exceeding piteous : yea, 
 and would fain have spoken to them, for often 
 had they heard her voice when she sang in the 
 guest-hall of her father. But of the end what 
 
DEATH OF AGAMEMNON. 143 
 
 need to speak ? Who knoweth it not ? For 
 indeed the counsels of Calchas were fulfilled." 
 
 While they talked these things one to another 
 the Queen Clytsemnestra came forth from the 
 palace, and they asked her, " Hast thou heard 
 good news, O Queen, that thou biddest them 
 burn incense on the altars ? " 
 
 '' Good news, indeed," she said, " for the 
 Greeks have taken the great city of Troy." 
 
 And when they doubted if this could be so, 
 and would know when the thing had happened, 
 and how she had heard it so speedily, she set 
 the matter forth to them, as the king had 
 ordered it. '' For first," she said, '' they made 
 a great fire on Mount Ida, which is over Troy ; 
 and from Ida the light passed to the island of 
 Lemnos, and from Lemnos to the mountain of 
 Athos. But Athos sent it on southward across 
 the sea, on a path of gold like the sunshine, 
 even to Makistus in Eubcea, and Makistus to 
 Messapius, and Messapius, kindling a great pile 
 of heath, sent it, bright as is the moon, across 
 the plain of the Asopus to the cliffs of Cithaeron. 
 And from Cithaeron it travelled, brighter than 
 before, by the lake Gorgopis to the hill of -^gip- 
 
U4 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 lanctus, which looketh down upon the Saronic 
 gulf, and hence to Arachnetis, which Is hard by 
 the city. Thus hath the King sent the tidings 
 to me." 
 
 " Tell us more," said the old men, '' for we 
 can scarcely believe this thing." 
 
 *' Of a truth," said the Queen, " this day the 
 Greeks possess the city of Troy, wherein, I 
 trow, are many things which ill agree. For 
 women are making lamentation for husbands 
 and brothers slain with the sword, while the 
 conquerors feast and live softly, being quit 
 of hunger and cold and watchlngs. Only let 
 them do honour to the gods of the city, nor lay 
 hands greedy of gain on that which Is holy. 
 So shall they have a safe return. But If they 
 anger the Gods, haply there shall come upon 
 them the vengeance of them that are slain.'* 
 
 Then the Queen departed, and the old men 
 spake again among themselves. "Now are the 
 sinners, the men of Troy, caught In the net of 
 destruction ! Long since did Zeus bend the bow 
 and make it ready against the transgressor, and 
 now hath the arrow sped to the mark ! Evil 
 was the day when Paris shamed the table of 
 
DEATH OF AGAMEMNON. 145 
 
 his host, Stealing the wife of his bosom ! Evil 
 the hour when she went, as one that goeth 
 lightly and carelessly, through the gates of 
 Troy, and brought with her the dowry of 
 destruction and death. Sorrow she left behind 
 her in her home ; the desolate couch and the 
 empty hall, for here, the grace of the shapely 
 statues mocked her husband's grief with the 
 stony stare of their loveless eyes, and there, 
 but the empty joy remained that dwells in the 
 dreams of the night. Aye ! and a sorrow 
 she left that was greater than this. For the 
 heroes went forth from the land of Greece, 
 valiant and wise and true ; and lo ! all that 
 Ares, the changer, but not of money, sendeth 
 back is a handful of ashes shut in an urn of 
 brass ! Therefore there is wrath in the city 
 against the sons of Atreus, the leaders of the 
 host ; nor does the vengeance of the Gods 
 forget the shedder of blood." 
 
 But while they talked thus among them- 
 selves, some yet doubting whether the thing 
 were true, cried one of them, '' Now shall we 
 know the certainty of this matter, for here 
 Cometh a herald with leaves of olive on his 
 
 II 
 
146 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 head, and he hath dust on his garments and 
 mire on his feet, as one who cometh from a 
 journey." 
 
 Then the herald, whose name was Tal- 
 thybius, came to the place where they had 
 assembled, and when he had saluted Zeus 
 and Apollo, whom, having been an enemy at 
 Troy, he would fain have as friend, and 
 Hermes, who was the god of his heralds' craft, 
 he said, " Know ye all that King Agamemnon 
 hath come, having, by the help of Zeus, exe- 
 cuted judgment to the full against Troy and 
 her children, for the evil which they wrought 
 against the Gods and against this land." 
 
 Then he told the elders what things they 
 had suffered, first on sea, being crowded 
 together on shipboard ; and then on land, 
 having their lodging near to the walls of their 
 enemies, and under the open^^canopy of heaven, 
 being drenched with rains and dews, and frozen 
 with snows from Mount Ida, and burnt with the 
 sun in the windless days of summer. " But now," 
 he said, " these things are past and gone. And 
 we will nail the spoils of Troy in the temples of 
 the Gods, to be a memorial for them that shall 
 
DEATH OF AGAMEMNON. 147 
 
 come after. But let the people rejoice, and 
 praise their King and his captains." 
 
 Then came forth Queen Clytsemnestra, and 
 said, *' Mark ye who doubted, how that all 
 things are even as I said. And now, herald, 
 go tell thy lord that I wait to receive him with 
 all honour ; wherefore let him come with what 
 speed he may ; so shall he find a faithful 
 guardian in his house who hath kept true watch 
 and ward over all that he left behind, for this is 
 the boast I make, both true and well beseeming 
 a noble dame." 
 
 Then said the chief of the elders, " Listen to 
 her, herald, for her words a;re fair. But tell 
 me now, hath Menelalis had safe return ? " 
 
 " Would," said he, " I had some better thing 
 to tell ! But what profiteth it to deceive? 
 Truly, the man, together with his ship, is van- 
 ished out of our sight." 
 
 ** Sailed he then before you ?" said the elder, 
 "or was he parted from you in a storm V 
 
 *' 'Twas even so," answered the herald. 
 
 *'And did men judge of him as living or 
 dead?" 
 
 " That indeed, no man knoweth, but only 
 
148 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 the sun who seeth all things. But hearken, I 
 will declare the whole matter. There went out 
 wrath from heaven against us. For after we had 
 set sail, the waves rose high in the night, and 
 the fierce winds from the north dashed our ships 
 one against another, so that when the morning 
 came, lo ! the sea was covered with bodies of 
 men and wrecks. But the ship of the King 
 suffered not, for the hand of a god, I trow, and 
 not of a man, held the helm. But be of good 
 cheer. For doubtless they too think of us 
 as of those that have perished, even as we of 
 them. And as for Menelatis, be assured that he 
 will yet return, for the will of Zeus is not that 
 this house should perish." 
 
 Then said one of the old men, ''Rightly they 
 named her Helen, for like /^^//hath she devoured 
 men and ships, aye, and this great city of Troy. 
 I have heard tell how a man reared a lion's cub 
 in his house. Very pleasant was he at the first, 
 for the children played with him, and he made 
 sport for the old ; but when he grew he showed 
 the temper of his race, and filled the house with 
 blood. Even so came Helen, smiling and fair, 
 to Troy, and now behold the end ! But here 
 
DEA TH OF A GAMEMNON. 1 49 
 
 cometh King Agamemnon. Let us greet him 
 in fitting fashion." 
 
 And as he spake the King came near to the 
 doors of the palace, sitting in a chariot drawn 
 by mules ; and by him sat Cassandra, who was 
 daughter to King Priam, having been given to 
 him by the princes when they divided the spoil 
 of Troy. And when the King had saluted the 
 Gods, giving them thanks that they had helped 
 him to take vengeance on the men of Troy, and 
 had also set forth his purpose to order all 
 things in a regular assembly if anything had 
 been done amiss in his absence, there came 
 forth the Queen to greet him, saying, *' I am not 
 ashamed, men of Argos, to confess that with 
 great gladness of heart I receive my husband. 
 For truly it is an evil lot for a woman when she 
 sitteth alone in her house, hearing continually 
 rumours and tidings of misfortune. Verily had 
 my lord here been wounded as oft as fame re- 
 lated this thing of him, these same wounds had 
 been more in number than the meshes of a net; 
 and had he died as often as men reported him 
 dead, three bodies such as the story telleth 
 Geryon to have had, had not sufficed him. 
 
I50 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 Hence it is, O King, that our son Orestes is 
 not here, for I sent him to Strophius the Phocian, 
 who is, as thou knowest, an ancient friend of 
 our house, fearing, if aught should befall thee at 
 Troy, lest some tumult of the people should 
 work harm also unto him. Scant truly and light 
 have been my slumbers, and with many tears 
 have I watched for thee. And now thou art 
 come what shall I say ? Truly this man is to 
 me as the strong pillar of a roof, as an only 
 child to a father, as land seen beyond all hope 
 by sailors, after much toil at sea, as a clear 
 shining after storm, as a fountain springing forth 
 to one that journeyeth in a thirsty land. And 
 now, my lord, I would that thou step from thy 
 car, not setting thy foot upon the earth, seeing 
 that it hath trampled upon the great city of 
 Troy. Why linger ye, ye maids ? Strew the 
 pathway with carpeting of purple ! '* 
 
 And King Agamemnon made answer, '* Truly, 
 daughter of Leda, thy speech hath been even 
 as my absence, exceeding long. But why 
 dost thou pamper me with luxury, or make 
 my goings hateful to the Gods, strewing this 
 purple under my feet ? It is not well, me- 
 
DEATH OF AGAMEMNON. 
 
 1^1 
 
 thinks, that a man should trample on such 
 wealth." 
 
 ''Nay," said the Queen, "be content. Think- 
 est thou that Priam would not have walked on 
 purple if perchance he had been the conqueror ?' 
 
 And after they had talked awhile, she pre- 
 vailed, only the King bade them loose the san- 
 dals from under his feet, thinking it shame to 
 waste the substance of his house. Also he gave 
 commandment that they should deal very kindly 
 with the strange woman that had ridden with him 
 in his chariot, for that the Gods have a favour 
 unto them that use their victory with mercy. 
 And when he had said these things he went 
 into the palace, the Queen leading the way. 
 
 Then one of the elders said, " There is a 
 nameless fear in my heart ; and when I should 
 rejoice for the return of the King and the host, 
 a voice of boding riseth to my lips. If a man 
 be wealthy above measure, let him fling over- 
 board a part, and so escape shipwreck of his 
 house. But blood that hath been spilt upon the 
 earth, what charmer can bring back ? Did not 
 Zeus slay the man who raised the dead ? For 
 a while 'twere best to be silent." 
 
152 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 Then the Queen came forth from the palace, 
 and bade Cassandra descend from the car and 
 enter the gates. For why, she said, should she 
 struggle against fate which made her to be a 
 slave ? Happy indeed was the lot which had 
 brought her to a house of ancient wealth. 'Twas 
 the newly rich that used harshness to their slaves. 
 But her persuasion availed nothing with the 
 maiden, for she sat and made no answer ; and 
 though the old men joined their counsel to the 
 same end, she moved not nor spake. But when 
 the Queen was departed again Into the palace, she 
 began to cry aloud, like unto one that was pos- 
 sessed, that there came a smell from the house, 
 as the smell of a slaughter-house, and that she saw 
 the shapes of children who had been cruelly mur- 
 dered ; and then, that another crime was now 
 about to be wrought, a bath made ready, and an 
 entanellnof robe, and a double-headed axe lifted 
 to strike. And then she spake of herself, that 
 the doom was upon her, and that the King had 
 brought her to die with him, and that she should 
 fall even as the city of her father had fallen. But 
 after awhile her fury abated, and she began to 
 speak plainly. And first she told the elders how 
 
DEA TH OF A GAMEMNON. 153 
 
 it came to pass that she had this gift of prophecy, 
 that she could see what had been, as indeed she 
 had spoken of ancient wickedness that had been 
 done in the house, and also could tell beforehand 
 what should come hereafter. For that Apollo 
 had loved her, and had given her this art ; but, 
 because she had deceived him, he had added 
 thereto this curse, that no one should believe 
 her even speaking truth. And then she told 
 them that the old crimes of the house should 
 end in yet another crime ; that there was one in 
 the house, a woman to look at, but in truth a 
 very Scylla, a monster of the sea. And at the 
 last she declared plainly that they should see 
 the King Agamemnon lying dead. But the 
 curse was upon her, and they believed her not. 
 And then crying out that she saw a lioness that 
 had taken a wolf to be her paramour, she cast 
 away the tokens of prophecy that she carried, 
 the staff from her hand, and the necklace from 
 about her neck. And when she had done this 
 she went to the palace gates, knowing that she 
 went to her death. But first she said that there 
 should come an avenger who should execute 
 veneeance for his father that had been slain 
 
154 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 and also for her. And when she was arrived at 
 the door of the palace, at the first she started 
 back, for the smell of blood smote her in the 
 face ; but then she took heart again and passed 
 on. Only first she turned and said, " O Sun, 
 whose light I see now for the last time, grant 
 that the hand that taketh vengeance for the 
 King may take it also for the slave- woman 
 whom they slay — a conquest, in good sooth, right 
 easy to be made." 
 
 But while the old men doubted what these 
 things might mean, saying that no man could 
 trust in prosperous fortune, if the King, who 
 had won such a victory over the city of Troy, 
 should himself perish, there came a dreadful 
 voice from within, crying out, *' Woe is me ! 
 I am smitten with a mortal blow ! " And while 
 they doubted, it came again, crying, *'Woe 
 again ! I am smitten with a second blow ! " 
 Then they debated what were best to do ; and 
 one would have them call to the citizens for 
 help, and another that they should rush into 
 the palace ; and some doubted whether aught 
 might now avail. And lo ! the great doors of 
 the palace were thrown back, and there ap- 
 
DEATH OF AGAMEMNON. 155 
 
 peared a dreadful sight — two dead bodies, 
 covered each with a veil, and the Queen, with 
 an axe in her hand, standing beside them, who 
 said — 
 
 " I spake before words fitting the time, and 
 now I am not ashamed to speak that which is 
 contrary to them. For this is in truth an old 
 purpose that I have executed. Yea, from the 
 day that he shed the innocent blood, even the 
 blood of Iphigenia, my daughter, it hath been 
 in my hearjt to slay him. I threw a net about 
 him, whence there was no escape, entangling 
 his limbs in a royal robe. Twice I smote him ; 
 twice he groaned, stretching out his limbs in 
 death; aye, and a third blow I added — my 
 offering of thanks to the Ruler of the dead. 
 Right glad was I when the blood spirted on 
 me ; glad as the seed when the increase-giving 
 rain cometh down from the sky.'* 
 
 Then the old men, the counsellors of the 
 city, cried shame upon her that she had done 
 so foul a deed, saying that the people should 
 curse her and cast her out. But she was not 
 one whit fearful or ashamed, saying that he 
 whom she had slain was a man of blood, and 
 
156 THE STORY OF THE 
 
 unfaithful, and that he had suffered a just pun- 
 ishment together with his paramour. And 
 when they made lamentation over the King 
 that he had been treacherously slain, she said, 
 " Think not that I am this dead man's wife, as 
 indeed I seem to be; rather am I the avenger 
 that executeth judgment for the ancient evils of 
 this house." 
 
 And when they cried, "O my King, who 
 shall do thee due honour at thy burial, and 
 speak thy praise, and weep for thee.'^" she made 
 reply, " Trouble not yourselves with these 
 things. As I slew him so will I bury him. 
 And though many tears follow him not from his 
 house, yet doubtless when he cometh to the 
 dwellings of the dead, Iphigenia, his daughter, 
 whom he loved, will meet him, and throw her 
 arms about him, and kiss him, so dear a father 
 he was to her." 
 
 And while they talked thus with each other, 
 there came forward the Prince ^gisthus, with 
 his guard about him, boasting that now the 
 wrongs of his father Thyestes were avenged. 
 Then again the strife of words grew fierce, for the 
 counsellors reproached the Prince that he was 
 
DEA TH OF A GAMEMNON. 1 57 
 
 treacherous, having bound himself with a false 
 woman against his lord the King ; and cowardly 
 also and base, in that he had not dared to do 
 this deed himself, but had left it to the hands 
 of another ; also they prophesied that Orestes 
 should come and execute the just judgment of 
 the Gods on them that had slain his father. 
 And the Prince endured not to hear such words, 
 but threatened bonds and imprisonment. So 
 had strife nearly begun, for ^gisthus called to 
 his guards, and the counsellors would fain have 
 roused the citizens, but the Queen, for indeed 
 she would that the shedding of blood should 
 have an end, spake and soothed the anger of 
 the Prince, saying, " Heed not what these bab- 
 blers say. Thou and I are rulers in this place, 
 aye, and will order all things aright." 
 
 So the two lived together for a while In great 
 pride and joy. But the blood cried against 
 them from the ground, and the Gods forgat 
 them not. 
 
THE STORY OF ELECTRA, OR 
 THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 
 
 When King Agamemnon was slain by his 
 wicked wife Clytsemnestra, the boy Orestes 
 his son had perished also by the hands of his 
 mother, but that his sister Electra took him 
 and delivered him out of the hands of them 
 that would have slain him. And having saved 
 him, she sent him to the house of Strophius the 
 Phocian, who was a friend to the house of the 
 King, her father. And here Orestes abode till 
 he was of age and strength to fulfil the law. 
 For the law of the land was that, if a man should 
 be foully slain, his son should avenge him on 
 him that had done this wrong. Also the youth 
 sought counsel of Apollo at his oracle of Delphi, 
 and the god answered him that he should 
 avenge the blood of his father even upon her 
 
THE STORY OF ELECTRA. 159 
 
 that bare him. Therefore, being now grown to 
 manhood, he came to the city of Argos, having 
 disguised himself that no man might know him. 
 And he had with him Pylades that was the son 
 of Strophius. Now these two loved each other 
 exceedingly, so that men spake of them in after 
 time as famous among friends. Also there came 
 with Orestes an old man, a slave that had waited 
 on him from a boy. Now the three had devised 
 a story wherewith they might deceive the Queen 
 and her husband ; and being thus prepared they 
 came into the city at dawn. 
 
 Then the old man spake, saying, " Son of 
 Agamemnon, thou seest the city which thou 
 hast long desired to see. There is the grove 
 of lo, whom the gad-fly drave over the earth, 
 and there on the left hand the temple of Here, 
 which all men know, and before us the palace 
 of the children of Pelops, a house of many 
 woes, from which I carried thee forth in time 
 past, when thy mother would have slain thee. 
 But now we must take counsel and that speedily, 
 for the sun is risen and hath wakened the 
 birds, and we must be ready before that men 
 come forth to their work." 
 
i6o THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 Then Orestes made reply, "'Tis well said, 
 old man. Hearken then to what I purpose. 
 And first know that when I would hear from 
 Apollo at his oracle In Delphi how I should 
 best avenge my father, he bade me trust neither 
 in shield nor spear, but accomplish the deed by 
 craft. Do thou then go when occasion shall 
 offer into the palace, and spy out the things that 
 are therein. For they will not know thee who 
 thou art, so changed art thou. And thou shalt 
 tell them such a tale about me as shall surely 
 deceive them. And we meanwhile will do 
 honour to the spirit of my father at his grave, 
 offering hair that has been shorn from my head 
 and drink offerings, and afterwards will return 
 and accomplish what shall remain to be done." 
 
 And when he had so spoken, he prayed, " O 
 my country and ye gods of the land, help me, 
 and thou house of my father which I have come 
 at the bidding of the Gods to cleanse from the 
 guilt of blood." 
 
 Then the old man said, " I hear the voice of 
 some one that groans." And Orestes made 
 answer, " Doubtless it is my sister Electra. 
 Shall we stay and listen to her .'^ " " Not so," 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES, i6i 
 
 said the old man, " let us do our business with- 
 out delay." So they departed. 
 
 And then came forth Electra, making great 
 lamentation for her father, and praying that the 
 Gods would speedily send her brother Orestes 
 to avenge him. And with her was a company of 
 the daughters of Argos, who sought to comfort 
 her, saying that it was idle to make such weep- 
 ing and moaning for the dead ; and that others 
 also were in like case with her ; and that she 
 should have patience, for that time would bring 
 punishment on the evildoers. Also they would 
 have her curb her tongue, seeing how she an- 
 gered those that had the rule in her house. 
 
 And then Electra unfolded her grief to them, 
 saying, '' I pray you, daughters of Argos, that 
 ye think no evil of me as of one that altogether 
 wanteth wisdom and patience. For what woman 
 of the better sort would not do even as I ? For 
 think how I am constrained to live with them 
 that slew my father ; and that every day I see 
 this base ^gisthus sitting upon that which was 
 his throne, and wearing the selfsame robes ; and 
 how he is husband to this mother of mine, if 
 indeed she be a mother who can stoop to such 
 
 12 
 
i62 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 vlleness. And know that every month on the 
 day on which she slew my father she maketh 
 festival and offereth sacrifice to the Gods. And 
 all this am I constrained to see, weeping in 
 secret, for Indeed it is not permitted to me pub- 
 licly to show such sorrow as my heart desire th. 
 Ofttimes Indeed this woman mocketh me, and 
 would know why I sorrow more than others, 
 seeine that others also have lost their fathers. 
 But sometimes, if It so chance that she hear from 
 some one that Orestes prepareth to come back 
 to this land, she is furious above measure, and 
 rageth as a wild beast ; and her husband, this 
 coward that maketh war against women, stirreth 
 up her fury against me. And still do I look for 
 Orestes when he shall come; but he tarrieth 
 long, and in the meantime I perish with sorrow 
 and trouble." 
 
 Then the daughters of Argos, when they had 
 made inquiry and heard that ^gisthus was 
 absent and that they could speak more freely of 
 these matters, would fain know whether she had 
 heard news of her brother Orestes, and bade 
 her be of good heart concerning him. But as 
 they spake together, the sister of Electra, 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 163 
 
 Chrysothemis, came forth with offerings for 
 the tomb of her father in her hand, and other 
 maidens followed hen Now these two were dif- 
 ferent one from the other, for Electra was full of 
 courage, and would have no peace with those 
 whom she hated, and sought not to hide what 
 was in her heart, but Chrysothemis was fearful, 
 and would live peaceably with them that she loved 
 not, and would speak them fair. And now, when 
 Electra saw her sister come forth, she brake out 
 against her with many angry words, saying that 
 she did ill to choose the part of a mother who had 
 done such wickedness, and to forget her father ; 
 and that it was a base thing in her to live softly 
 and at ease, consorting with the evildoers. 
 
 And when the Argive maidens would have 
 made peace between them, Chrysothemis an- 
 swered, " These words are not strange to me ; 
 nor should I take note of them, but that I have 
 heard of a great trouble that is ready to fall 
 upon my sister here, and stay her complaints 
 even for ever." 
 
 " Nay, what is this ?" said Electra. " Speakest 
 thou of trouble greater than that which I now 
 endure ? " 
 
i64 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 "Surely," the other made reply, "for they 
 will send thee far hence, and shut thee up 
 where thou shalt never more see the light of 
 the sun, if thou stayest not these complaints." 
 
 But Electra did not fear one whit to hear 
 these things, but waxed fiercer in her anger. 
 And, after a while, as the strife ceased not be- 
 tween them, Chrysothemis would have gone 
 on her way. And when Electra perceived this, 
 she asked her for what purpose and whither 
 she was carrying these offerings to the dead. 
 
 And Chrysothemis made reply that she 
 was carrying them at the bidding of her 
 mother to the tomb of King xA^gamemnon. 
 For that the Queen was in much fear, having 
 :seen a vision in the night which had sorely 
 troubled her; and that the vision was this. 
 The King her husband, whom she slew, seemed 
 to bear her company, even as he had done in 
 time past. And he took the sceptre which he 
 had been wont to carry, and which ^gisthus 
 carried after him, and planted it in the earth ; 
 and there sprang from it a very flourishing 
 branch, by which the whole land of Mycenae 
 was overshadowed. " So much," she said, " I 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 165 
 
 heard her say, v/hen she told her dream to the 
 Hght of the day ; but more I know not, save 
 that she sendeth me to make these offerings, 
 by reason of her fear." 
 
 Then Electra answered, " Nay, my sister; lay 
 not aught of these things upon our father's 
 tomb, for they would be an abomination to 
 him ; but scatter them to the winds, or cover 
 them with earth. So let them be kept for her, 
 when she shall die. And surely, but that she 
 is the most shameless of women, she had not 
 sought to pay this honour to him whom she 
 slew so foully. Thinketh she to atone in such 
 sort for the blood that she hath shed ? Not so. 
 Put these things away ; but thou and I will lay 
 upon this tomb hair from thy head and from 
 mine ; small gifts, in truth, yet what we have. 
 And do thou pray to our father that he will 
 help us even where he dwelleth below the 
 earth, and also that Orestes may come speedily, 
 and set his foot upon the necks of them that 
 hate us." 
 
 This Chrysothemis promised that she would 
 do, and so departed. And in a short space 
 came forth the Queen Clytaemnestra, and, find- 
 
iu6 THE STORY OF ELECT RA, 
 
 ing her daughter Electra without the gate of 
 the palace, was very wroth, saying that King 
 ^gisthus had forbidden her to do this thing, 
 and that it was not well that, he being absent, 
 she should take no account of her mother. 
 
 ** But now," she said, " let us reason together. 
 Thou speakest ill of me, because I slew thy 
 father. 'Tis even so. I deny it not. But 
 mark, Justice slew him, not I only ; and thou 
 shouldest be on the side of Justice. He slew 
 thy sister, sacrificing her to the Gods, as no 
 other Greek had done. For what cause did 
 he slay her ? ' For the sake of the Greeks,' 
 thou wilt say. But what had the Greeks to do 
 with child of mine .^ Or was it for the sake of 
 King Menelalis his brother ? But had not 
 Menelalis two children, and should not one of 
 these have the rather died, seeing of what 
 father and mother they came, even of those for 
 whose sake the Greeks waged this war ? Had 
 Death, thinkest thou, desire for my children 
 rather than for his ? Or had this accursed 
 father no care for my children, but only for the 
 children of his brother ? Surely this was the 
 deed of a foolish and wicked man. Aye, I say 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 167 
 
 it, whatever thou mayest think, and so would 
 say she who died, could she take voice and 
 speak." 
 
 Then said Electra, *' If thou permittest, I 
 would say somewhat for him and for her." 
 
 And the Queen answered, " Say on. Didst 
 thou always speak in such mood, thou wert not 
 so ill to hear.'* 
 
 Then Electra spake : *' Thou sayest, ' I slew 
 thy father.' 'Tis enough. Worse thou couldst 
 not say, whether 'twere justly done or no. But 
 of justice thou hadst never a thought. 'Twas 
 the ill persuasion of him with whom thou now 
 consortest that urged thee to this deed. And 
 as for my sister, thou knowest well that my 
 father slew a stag in the grove of Artemis, and 
 boasted himself of the deed, and that the god- 
 dess was wroth with him, and hindered the 
 voyage of the Greeks ; and that for this cause my 
 father slew his daughter, knowing that other- 
 wise the ships could sail neither to Troy nor 
 homewards. Yea, he slew her, sorely against 
 his will, for the people's sake, and for nought 
 else. But consider whether this that thou 
 sayest be not altogether a pretence. Art thou 
 
1 68 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 not wife to him that was thy fellow in this 
 deed ? Callest thou this taking- vengeance for 
 thy daughter that was slain ? And thy children 
 — art thou a mother to them ? What ill do not 
 I suffer at thy hand and the hand of thy 
 partner ? And Orestes, whom I barely saved 
 from thy hand, liveth he not in exile ? Surely, 
 whatsoever it be that thou chargest against him, 
 thou hast no cause to be ashamed of me." 
 
 Then the two spake many bitter words to 
 each other ; and at the last, when Electra held 
 her peace, the Queen prayed to the Gods, and 
 made her offerings to the tomb. And first she 
 addressed herself to Phoebus : '' O Phoebus, 
 hear that which is In my heart ; for to say the 
 thing aloud I dare not, seeing that I am not 
 among friends. But of the dreams that I saw 
 this night past, grant that the good be accom- 
 plished and the evil be turned away to my 
 enemies ; and that I be not cast down from the 
 wealth wherein I now live ; and that I may 
 wield this sceptre of the son of Atreus which 
 now I have, and may have the company of my 
 friends, even as now, and the love of my chil- 
 dren, if so be that they love their mother." 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 169 
 
 And while she thus spake, the old man came 
 In, and would fain know whether that which he 
 saw was the palace of Atreus. And when he 
 heard that it was, he asked whether the lady 
 whom he saw was the Queen. And hearing 
 this also, he spake, " Lady, I have good tidings 
 for thee and King ^gisthus." 
 
 *' First tell me who thou art." 
 
 '' I come from Phanoteus of Phocis : I bring 
 great news." 
 
 " Tell me ; for the man is a friend, and the 
 tidings, I doubt not, good." 
 
 '' I will say it in one word — Orestes Is dead." 
 
 And when Electra heard this, she brake forth 
 Into a great cry, saying that she was undone. 
 But the Queen said, '' What ? What sayest 
 thou ? Heed not this woman." 
 
 And the man said, " I told thee, and tell thee 
 yet again, that Orestes Is dead." 
 
 And again Electra brake forth into a cry ; but 
 the Queen bade her hold her peace, and would 
 have the stranger tell the story. And the man 
 said — 
 
 "He came to Delphi, whither the Greeks 
 greatly resort, purposing to contend in the 
 
I70 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 games of the Pythian Apollo. And first there 
 was a race of runners on foot ; and for this he 
 came forward, and passing all that ran with 
 him so won the prize. Nor indeed did I ever 
 see such a man ; for there was not one contest 
 in which he had not the pre-eminence. Very 
 fair was he to look upon, and his name, he 
 said, was Orestes of Argos, and he was the 
 son of that Agamemnon who in days past was 
 captain of the host of the Greeks at Troy. But 
 when the Gods are minded to destroy a man, 
 who is so strong that he can escape ? It fell 
 out then that on the next day at sunset there 
 was proclaimed a race of chariots, to which there 
 came one man from Achaia, and from Sparta 
 one, and two from Barca in Africa. After these 
 came Orestes, being the fifth, with horses of 
 Thessaly. And the sixth was a man of ^tolla, 
 with bay horses, and the seventh a man of 
 Magnesia in Thessaly, and the eighth was a 
 man of CEnea, whose horses were white, and 
 the ninth from Athens, a city which, they say, 
 was builded of Gods, and a Boeotian was the 
 tenth. First the heralds shook lots for each in 
 a helmet, and each man had his place accord- 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 171 
 
 ing as his lot came forth. And after this the 
 trumpet sounded, and the horses leapt forward, 
 while the men shouted to them and shook the 
 reins, and spared not the goad. Great was the 
 noise, and the dust rose up like a cloud from 
 the plain. And on the backs of the charioteers 
 and on the wheels of them that went before 
 came the foam from the horses that followed, 
 so close did they lie together. And Orestes, 
 when he came to the pillar where the chariots 
 turned, drave so that his wheel wellnigh touched 
 it, and slackened the rein for the right horse, 
 and pressed on that which was on the left. 
 So far no mishap had befallen the chariots, but 
 all had fared well. But here the steeds of the 
 man of GEnea, being very hard to hold, brake 
 from their course, and drave against the side 
 of one of the chariots from Barca. And now 
 they had ended six courses, and were about to 
 begin the seventh. But with this beginning 
 of trouble went all things wrong, for one drave 
 against another till all the plain of Crissa w^as 
 covered with broken chariots as the sea with 
 shipwrecks. But the man of Athens was very 
 skilful in driving, and, when he saw the begin- 
 
172 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 ning of confusion, he drew his horses aside and 
 held back, and so escaped without damage. 
 Now Orestes was the hindermost of all, trust- 
 ing to what he should do at the end ; and when 
 he saw that only the man of Athens was left, 
 he shouted to his horses and made haste to 
 come up with him. Then the two drave to- 
 gether, having their chariots equal, and first 
 one showed somewhat in the front and then 
 the other. And for eleven courses of the twelve 
 all went well with Orestes ; but as he was round- 
 ing the pillar for the last time, he loosed the 
 left rein and knew not that he loosed it over- 
 much, and smote against the pillar and brake 
 his axle in the midst, and so was thrown out of 
 his chariot ; but the reins were tangled about 
 him and held him. And all the people cried 
 aloud when they saw the young man dragged 
 over the plain. But at last they that had driven 
 the other chariots hardly stayed the horses, and 
 loosed him. Covered with blood was he and 
 sorely mangled, that none could have known 
 him. And we burnt his body ; and certain 
 Phocians, whom the Prince hath sent for this 
 purpose, bring that which remaineth of him, 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 173 
 
 being but a few ashes In an urn of brass, for all 
 he was so tall and strong. This is a sad tale 
 for thee to hear ; but for us who saw it never 
 was anything in this world more grievous." 
 
 Then the Queen said, '' Shall I say that this 
 hath happened ill or well ? or that it is an 
 evil thing, yet profitable to me ? Surely it is 
 grievous that I find safety in the death of my 
 own kindred." 
 
 ** What troubleth thee, lady, in these news ? " 
 said the false messenger. 
 
 "'Tis a dreadful thing to be a mother. 
 Whatever wrong she suffereth she cannot hurt 
 him whom she bare." 
 
 " Then," said he, *' it seemeth that I have 
 come in vain." 
 
 " Not so," the Queen made answer, '' if thou 
 showest proof that Orestes is dead. For he 
 hath long been a stranger to me, and when he 
 departed hence he knew me not, being very 
 young ; and of late, accusing me of the blood of 
 his father, he hath made dreadful threats against 
 me, so that I could not sleep in peace day or 
 night. And now this day I am quit of this 
 fear that wasted my very life." 
 
174 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 Then the Queen and the false messenger 
 went into the palace ; and when they were gone 
 Electra cried, saying, " See here, forsooth, a 
 mother that weepeth and mourneth for her 
 son ! O my Orestes, how utterly hast thou 
 undone me ! For now all the hope I had is 
 gone that thou wouldst come and avenge my 
 father. Whither can I go, for thou and he are 
 gone ? Must I be as a slave among them that 
 slew my father ? This gate at least I will 
 enter no more. If I weary them, let them slay 
 me, if they will ; I should count it a grace so 
 to die." 
 
 And the maidens of Argos bewailed the dead 
 brother with her. But in the midst of their 
 lamentations came Chrysothemis in great joy, 
 saying, " O my sister, I bring thee good tidings 
 that will give thee ease from thy sorrows ! " 
 
 "What ease, when they are past all remedy ?" 
 
 " Orestes is here. Know this as surely as 
 thou now seest me before thee." 
 
 '* Surely thou art mad, and laughest at thy 
 woes and mine." 
 
 ** Not so. By the hearth of my fathers I 
 swear it. Orestes is here." 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 175 
 
 *' Who told thee this tale that thou bellevest 
 so strangely ? " 
 
 *' 'TIs from proofs that I saw with mine own 
 eyes, and not another's, that I believe. Listen, 
 therefore. When I came to the tomb of my 
 father, I saw on the top of the pillar offerings 
 of milk that had been newly poured, and gar- 
 lands of all manner of flowers. And marvelling 
 much at this, I looked to see if any man was at 
 hand ; and seeing none, I drew near ; and on 
 the tomb I espied a lock of hair newly cut ; and 
 as soon as I espied it I knew that it was a 
 token of Orestes, dearest of men in all the 
 world to thee and me. And as I touched it I 
 held my tongue from all words that might do 
 hurt, and my eyes were filled with tears. And 
 now think whose should this be but his ? Who 
 should do this but thou or I ; and I did not, nor 
 thou, who canst not go so far from this house ; 
 and my mother is not wont to do such things. 
 'Tis Orestes surely. And now sorrow hath 
 passed away, and all things will be well." 
 
 *' Nay," Electra made answer, "I pity thee for 
 thy folly." 
 
 " Do not my tidings please thee ? " 
 
176 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 " I know not why thou talkest so wildly." 
 
 ** But may I not believe that which I have 
 seen with mine own eyes ? " 
 
 '' O my sister, he Is dead ! Look not to him 
 for help any more." 
 
 " But stay. From whom didst thou learn 
 this ? " 
 
 " From one who was at hand when he 
 perished." 
 
 '' Where Is he ? This Is passing strange. 
 Whose then could be these offerings on the 
 tomb ? " 
 
 *' Some one hath put them for a remembrance 
 of the dead Orestes." 
 
 '' Woe Is me, and I made haste with the good 
 tidings, as I thought, and knew not what new 
 trouble worse than the old had fallen upon us." 
 
 Then said Electra, " Hear now what I purpose. 
 Thou knowest that we are utterly bereaved of 
 friends, for Death hath devoured them all. Now, 
 while Orestes yet lived and was prosperous, I 
 hoped that he would come to avenge our father's 
 death. But now that he is dead, I look to thee, 
 that thou shouldest make common cause with 
 me and w^ork this vengeance on them that slew 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 177 
 
 him. Canst thou endure that we should Hve de- 
 prived of the wealth that was our father's ; and 
 also that we should grow old unmated ? For 
 know that a husband thou shalt never have, for 
 indeed ^gisthus is not unwise that he should 
 suffer children to be born of thee or me to be 
 a manifest damage to himself. But if thou wilt 
 hearken to me, first thou wilt do that which is 
 fitting to thy father and brother that are dead ; 
 and next thou wilt win great renown, and be 
 married to a noble mate, for all men are wont 
 to regard that which is worthy. And surely in 
 days to come some man, citizen or stranger^ 
 that seeth us will say, * Look, my friends, at these 
 sisters, for they wrought deliverance for the 
 house of their father, and spared not their own 
 lives, but slew their enemies in the day of their 
 prosperity. These must we love and reverence ; 
 these on feast days, and when the city is 
 gathered together, must we honour by reason of 
 their courage.' Wherefore, my sister, be of good 
 heart. Be bold for thy father's sake and for thy 
 brother's, for mine also and for thine, that we 
 may be delivered from these troubles. For to 
 them of noble breeding to live basely is a shame." 
 
 13 
 
178 THE STORY OF ELECT RA, 
 
 But Chrysothemis made answer, " O my 
 sister, how didst thou find such daring purpose 
 as this, making ready thyself as for fight, and 
 calHng me to follow ? K no west thou not that 
 thou art a woman and no man, and that thou 
 art weaker than thine enemies, and that their 
 good luck ever increaseth and ours groweth less 
 and less ? And what will it profit us if we get 
 great renown, yet die in shameful fashion ? And 
 yet to die I think not such loss, but to wish to 
 die and not attain to it, suffering torture or bonds. 
 Keep thy anger within bounds. What thou hast 
 said I will count as unsaid. Only yield to them 
 that are stronger." 
 
 And after many words, Electra urging her 
 sister to this deed and the other excusing herself, 
 the two parted in great anger. And Chrysothemis 
 went into the palace, but Electra abode where 
 she was. And to her, after a while, came 
 Orestes, but disguised that no man might know 
 him, and asked the Argive maidens that stood 
 by, whether the house that he beheld was the 
 palace of King ^Egisthus, and when he heard 
 that it was so, he bade them tell the King that 
 certain Phocian strangers were come seeking 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 179 
 
 him. But when Electra heard it, she said, 
 ** Comest thou with proof of this 111 news that 
 we have heard ? " 
 
 And Orestes made answer, " I know not what 
 news thou speakest of, but the old man, 
 Strophlus, the Phocian, bade me bring tidings 
 of Orestes." 
 
 " What are thy tidings, though I tremble to 
 hear them ? " 
 
 *' We are come bringing all that remaineth of 
 him in this urn." 
 
 And when Electra saw It she cried that they 
 should give the urn into her hands ; and Orestes 
 bade them do so. And she took it and said, 
 " O Orestes, that wast dearer to me than all men 
 else, how different Is this coming of thine to that 
 which I had hoped ! Lovely wert thou when I 
 sent thee from this house, and now I hold thee 
 In my hands and thou art naught. Would to 
 the Gods thou hadst died that day when thy 
 father was slain ; for now thou art dead, an exile, 
 and In the land of strangers, and I paid thee no 
 office of kindness nor took thy ashes from the 
 funeral lire ; but this did strangers for thee, and 
 now thou comest a handful of ashes in a little 
 
i8o THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 urn. Woe is me for the wasted pains of nurture 
 and the toil wherewith out of a willing heart I 
 tended thee ! For thy mother loved thee not 
 more than I, nor was any one but I thy nurse. 
 And now all this hath departed. My father is 
 dead, and thou art dead, and my enemies laugh 
 me to scorn, and thy mother that is no mother is 
 mad with joy. Let me die with thee, for 'tis the 
 dead alone whom I see to be quit of pain." 
 
 But while she so spake Orestes was much 
 troubled in heart and knew not what to do. 
 But at the last he said, '* Is this the Princess 
 Electra whom I see ? " 
 
 And she answered, " Even so, and very ill she 
 fareth." 
 
 Then he looked upon her again and said 
 to himself, '' What a noble lady is this, and in 
 what ungodly fashion hath she been afflicted ! " 
 
 And when Electra would know why he was 
 so troubled, he said, '' It paineth me to see thee 
 excelling all women in sorrow." 
 
 "Nay," she said, " thou seest but a small part 
 of my sorrows." 
 
 ** Hast thou, then, yet worse to bear than 
 these ? " 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. i8i 
 
 *' Yea, for I live with them that are murderers." 
 ** Whom sayest thou they murdered ? " 
 *' They murdered my father — and I am con- 
 strained to serve them." 
 
 *' Who constralneth thee ? " 
 " A mother that Is no mother." 
 '* And Is there none that can help thee ? " 
 ** None, for him that was my helper thou 
 bringest In this urn. But why pitlest thou me 
 as doth no other man ? Art thou, perchance, a 
 kinsman ? " 
 
 " Put down this urn and I will tell thee." 
 ** Nay, stranger, take this not from me, for It 
 holds all that Is dearest to me." 
 
 " Speak not such idle words : thy sorrow is 
 without cause." 
 
 "Sayest thou 'without cause' when my brother 
 Is dead ? " 
 
 *' Thou dost 111 to speak thus of thy brother." 
 *' Doth the dead then think so lightly of me?" 
 " No man thinketh lightly of thee ; yet with 
 these ashes thou hast no concern." 
 
 ** How so, if this Is the body of my Orestes?" 
 " Here is no true body, only one that Is 
 feigned." 
 
1 82 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 *' Unhappy man ! where, then, is his tomb ?" 
 
 *' He hath none — what need hath the living of 
 a tomb ?" 
 
 " Liveth he, then ?" 
 
 *'Yea, if I am alive." 
 
 ''Art thou, then, he?" 
 
 " Yea ; look at this my father's seal, and say 
 whether I speak truly." 
 
 And when she saw the seal, she knew that it 
 was her fathers, and that this stranger was 
 indeed Orestes. And she cried aloud for joy, 
 and embraced him. Then, after the two had 
 talked together for a very brief space, Orestes 
 said, "Tell me not how ill thy mother hath 
 done, nor how ^gisthus hath wasted the 
 substance of my house ; but rather instruct 
 me in this : shall I do this thing secretly 
 or openly? Take heed also lest thy mother 
 see thee bear a joyful face, and so take 
 
 warnmg. 
 
 And Electra made answer, ''As for this 
 present, know that ^gisthus is absent, and that 
 the Oueen is alone. Therefore do as thou 
 deemest best. And as for me, be sure that I 
 shall not cease from tears ; for the old sorrow is 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 183 
 
 inveterate in me ; and also, now that I have 
 seen thee, I weep for joy." 
 
 But while they talked together came the old 
 man In haste, and rebuked them that they so spent 
 the time ; and to Orestes he said that no one 
 knew him who he was, but that all deemed him 
 dead, and that he must make haste and do the 
 deed ; for that now the Queen was alone, nor 
 was there any man in the palace. 
 
 And Orestes, having prayed to the Gods, 
 and especially to Apollo, who indeed had 
 bidden him do this work, went into the palace. 
 And at the first Electra went with him, but 
 afterwards hastened out, to keep watch, lest 
 perchance King ^gisthus should return. So 
 she and the women waited without and listened. 
 And after a while there came a cry, '' O my son, 
 my son, have pity on thy mother." And 
 Electra said, " Aye, but thou hadst no pity on 
 him, or on the father that begat him." And 
 then again a cry, " Woe is me ! I am smitten." 
 And Electra said, '' Smite, if thou canst, a dou- 
 ble blow." And then the voice came a third 
 time, " I am smitten again." But Electra made 
 reply, " Would that ^glsthus were smitten 
 
1 84 THE STORY OF ELECTRA, 
 
 with thee!" After this Orestes came forth, 
 with his sword dripping with blood. And when 
 the women asked him how it fared in the palace, 
 he answered, " All is well, if only Apollo hath 
 spoken the thing that is true." 
 
 But as he spake King ^gisthus came back, 
 asking, *' Where be these strangers from Phocis 
 that are come, telling how Prince Orestes hath 
 come by his death in a chariot race ?" 
 
 And Electra made answer that they were 
 within. Then ^gisthus cried, " Open the 
 gates, and let all men of Argos and of Mycenae 
 see the body ; and if perchance any man hath 
 been lifted up with vain hopes, let him look 
 upon Orestes that he is dead, and so submit 
 himself to me." 
 
 Then the gate was opened, and there 
 appeared a dead body, lying covered with a 
 sheet. And ^gisthus said, " Take the cover- 
 ing from off his face ; for he is my kinsman, 
 and should not miss due mourning from me." 
 
 But Orestes answered, '' Take it thyself ; for 
 this dead body is thine, not mine." 
 
 Then said ^Egisthus, " Thou speakest well : 
 if the Queen be within the palace, bid her come." 
 
OR THE RETURN OF ORESTES. 185 
 
 And Orestes said, " She is near thee ; look 
 not elsewhere." And when ^gisthus lifted the 
 covering, lo ! it was the Queen who lay dead. 
 Then he knew the whole matter, and turned to 
 the stranger saying, " Thou must be Orestes." 
 
 *''Tis even so," cried Orestes. "And now 
 go into the palace." 
 
 " But why slayest thou me in darkness, if 
 this deed be just ?" 
 
 " I slay thee where thou didst slay him that 
 is dead." 
 
 So he drave him before him into the palace, 
 and slew him there. Thus the blood of Kinof 
 Agamemnon was avenged. 
 
THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR 
 THE LOOSING OF ORESTES. 
 
 The gift of prophecy Earth had at the first, 
 and after her Themis ; and after her Phoebe, 
 who was of the race of the Titans, and Phoebe 
 gave it to Apollo — who is also called Phoebus — 
 at his birth. Now Apollo had a great temple and 
 famous upon the hill of Delphi, to which men 
 were wont to resort from all the earth, seeking 
 counsel and knowledge of the things that should 
 come to pass hereafter. And It came to pass 
 on a day that the priestess — for the temple was 
 served by a woman, whom men called Pythia — 
 when she went into the shrine, after her custom, 
 In the morning, saw therein a dreadful sight. 
 For by the very seat of the God there sat a 
 man, a suppliant, whose hands were dripping 
 with blood, and he bare a bloody sword, and on 
 his head there was a garland of olive leaves, 
 
 I 
 
THE STORY OF THE FURIES. 187 
 
 cunningly twined with snow-white wool. And 
 behind there sat a strange company of women 
 sleeping, if indeed they could be called women, 
 that were more hideous than the Gorgons, on 
 which if a man looks he Is turned to stone, or 
 the Harpies, of which they say that they have 
 the faces of women and the bodies of vultures. 
 Now this man was Orestes, and the blood that 
 was upon his hands was the blood of his mother 
 Clytsemnestra, whom he slew, taking vengeance 
 for his father King Agamemnon, and the 
 women were the Furies, who pursue them that 
 shed the blood of kindred, and torment them 
 even unto death. But the priestess when she 
 saw this sight fell down for fear and crawled 
 forth from the temple. And when she was gone 
 there appeared Apollo himself. Now Apollo 
 had counselled Orestes that he should slay his 
 mother, and so avenge his father's blood that 
 had been shed. And now he spake, saying, 
 " Fear not, I will not betray thee, but will keep 
 to thee to the end. But now thou must flee 
 from this place ; and know that these, the hate- 
 ful ones, with whom neither God nor man nor 
 beast consorts, will pursue thee both over the 
 
1 88 THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR 
 
 sea and over the land ; but do thou not grow 
 weary or faint, but haste to the city of Pallas, 
 and sit in the temple of the goddess, throwing 
 thy arms about the image, and there will I con- 
 trive that which shall] loose thee from this 
 guilt." 
 
 And when the God had said this, he bade his 
 brother Hermes (for he also stood near) to 
 guide the man by the way in which he should 
 
 go. 
 
 So Orestes went his way. And straightway, 
 when he w^as gone, rose up the spirit of Queen 
 Clytaemnestra, clad In garments of black, and on 
 her neck was the wound w^here her son smote 
 her. And the spirit spake to the Furies, for these 
 were yet fast asleep, saying, " Sleep ye ? What 
 profit is there in them that sleep ? Shamefully 
 do ye dishonour me among the dead ; for they 
 whom I slew reproach me, and my cause, though 
 I was slain by my own son, no one taketh in 
 hand. Do ye not mind with what offerings, 
 with what midnight sacrifices upon the hearth 
 in old time I honoured you, and now, while ye 
 sleep, this wretch hath escaped from the net." 
 
 Then they began to stir and rouse them- 
 

THE LOOSING OF ORESTES. 189 
 
 selves, the spirit still goading them with angry 
 words till they were now fully awake and ready 
 to pursue. Then there appeared the God 
 Apollo with his silver bow in his hand, and 
 cried, " Depart from this place, ye accursed 
 ones. Depart with all speed, lest an arrow 
 leap forth from this string and smite you so 
 that ye vomit forth the blood of men that ye 
 have drunk. This is no fit halting-place for 
 you ; in the habitations of cruelty is your best 
 abode, or in some lion's den, dripping with 
 blood, not, verily, where men come to hear the 
 oracles of truth. Depart ye, therefore, with all 
 speed." 
 
 *' Nay," said they ; ''hear. King Apollo, what 
 we would say. For thou art verily guilty of 
 this matter." 
 
 " How so ? So much thou mayest say." 
 ** Thou badest this stranger slay his mother." 
 '*' I bade him take vengeance for his father's 
 blood." 
 
 "And thou wast ready to answer for this 
 deed ? " 
 
 " I bade him come for succour to this shrine." 
 " Yet they who attend him please thee not } " 
 
I90 THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR 
 
 " No, for It fitteth not that they should ap- 
 proach this place." 
 
 '' Yet 'tis our appointed task to follow him 
 that slayeth his mother." 
 
 *' And what if a wife slay her husband ? " 
 
 '' Between wife and husband there is no 
 kindred blood." 
 
 " Thou dost dishonour, saying this, to great 
 Here that Is wife to Zeus, and to all love, than 
 which there Is nothing dearer to men." 
 
 " Yet will I hunt this man to the death, for 
 the blood of his mother drives me on." 
 
 " And I will help him and save him." 
 
 But in the meantime Orestes fled with all 
 speed to the city of Athens, and came to the 
 temple of Athene, and sat clasping the Image of 
 the goddess, and cried to her that he was come 
 at the bidding of Apollo, and was ready to abide 
 her judgment. But the Furies followed hard 
 upon him, having tracked him as a dog tracks 
 a fawn that hath been wounded, by the blood. 
 And when they were come and had found him 
 in the temple, they cried that it was of no avail 
 that he sought the help of the Gods, for that 
 the blood of his mother that had been shed 
 
THE LOOSING OF ORESTES. 191 
 
 cried against him from the ground, and that 
 they would drink his blood, and waste him, and 
 drive him a living man among the dead, that 
 all men might shun to do such deeds in time to 
 come. 
 
 Then said Orestes, *^ I have learnt in many 
 troubles both how to be silent and how to 
 speak. And now I speak as a wise man biddeth 
 me. For lo ! the stain of blood that is upon 
 my hand groweth pale, and the defilement is 
 cleansed away. Therefore, I call to Athene that 
 is Queen of this land, to help me, wherever she 
 be ; for though she be far, yet being a goddess, 
 she can hear my voice. And helping me, she 
 shall gain me, and my people, and my land to 
 be friends to her and to her people for ever." 
 
 But not the less did the Furies cry out against 
 him that he was accursed and given over to 
 them as a prey ; for that they were appointed 
 of the Gods to execute vengeance upon evil- 
 doers, of whom he was the chief, seeing that he 
 had slain the mother that bare him. 
 
 But while they thus cried out against him, 
 there appeared the Goddess Athene, very fair to 
 see, with the spear of gold in her hand ; and she 
 
192 THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR 
 
 spake, saying, " From the banks of Scamander 
 am I come, for I heard the cry of one that 
 called upon my name. And now I would fain 
 know what meaneth all this that I see. Who 
 art thou, stranger, that sittest clasping this 
 image ? And who are ye that are so strange 
 of aspect, being like neither to the Gods nor 
 to the daughters of men ? " 
 
 Then the Furies made answer, " We will tell 
 thee the matter shortly, daughter of Zeus. We 
 are the children of Night, and we are called the 
 Curses, and our office is to drive the murderer 
 from his home." 
 
 Then said the goddess, ** And whither do ye 
 drive him ? " 
 
 " We drive him to the land where no joy 
 abideth." 
 
 '' And why do ye pursue this man ? " 
 '' Because he dared to slay his mother." 
 '' Did aught compel him to this deed } " 
 " What should compel a man to such wicked- 
 ness ? " 
 
 " There are two stories to be told, and I 
 have heard but one." 
 
 And when they had thus talked together for 
 
THE LOOSING OF ORESTES. 193 
 
 a while the Furies said that they would abide 
 by the judgment of the goddess. Whereupon 
 she turned herself to Orestes, and bade him set 
 forth his case ; who he was, and what deed he had 
 done. To which he made this answer : '* I am 
 a man of Argos, and my sire, King Agamem- 
 non, thou knowest well ; for he was ruler of 
 the host of the Greeks, and by his hands thou 
 madest the great city of Troy to be no city. 
 Now this man perished in a most unrighteous 
 fashion, when he was returned to his home, for 
 my mother, having an evil heart, slew him 
 foully in the bath. And I, coming back to my 
 country, from which in time past I had fled, slew 
 her that bare me. This I deny not. Yea, I 
 slew her, taking vengeance for my father. And 
 in this matter Apollo hath a common share with 
 me, for he said that great woes should pierce 
 my heart if I recompensed not them that had 
 done this deed. But do thou judge this mat- 
 ter ; for with thy judgment, whatsoever it be, I 
 will be content." 
 
 Then the goddess said, '' This is a hard 
 matter to judge ; for thou, Orestes, art come 
 as a suppliant to this house, being innocent of 
 
 14 
 
194 THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR 
 
 guilt, and I may not reject thee. And yet these 
 have a suit which may not lightly be dismissed ; 
 for haply, if they fail of that which they seek, they 
 will send a wasting disease upon this land and 
 consume it. But seeing that this great matter 
 has fallen to me to deal with, I will do this. 
 Judges will I choose, binding them with an oath, 
 and they shall judge in all cases, whensoever 
 one man hath slain another. And this will I 
 stablish for all time to come. Do you, there- 
 fore, call witnesses and proofs with oaths for 
 confirmation thereof. And I will choose such 
 as are worthiest among my citizens, righteous 
 men, who will have regard unto their oath, 
 and they shall judge this matter." 
 
 So they went all of them to the hill of Ares, 
 where the cause should be judged. And twelve 
 men that were worthiest in the city sat on the seat 
 of judgment, and Athene came forth and said 
 to the herald that stood by, '' Blow the trumpet, 
 that the people keep silence, and that this cause 
 may be tried justly, as is meet." 
 
 Then came forth Apollo. And when the 
 Furies saw him they cried, " What hast thou to 
 do with this matter, King Apollo ? " 
 
THE LOOSING OF ORESTES. 195 
 
 And he said, " As a witness am I come, for I 
 commanded this man to do this deed." 
 
 Then Athene commanded that the Furies 
 should speak the first, being the accusers. So 
 they began, saying to Orestes, ''Answer what we 
 shall ask thee. Didst thou slay thy mother ? " 
 
 '' I slew her. This I deny not." 
 
 "■ How didst thou slay her ?" 
 
 '' I drew my sword, and smote her on the 
 neck." 
 
 " Who counselled thee to this deed ? " 
 
 " Apollo counselled me ; therefore I fear not ; 
 also my father shall help me from the tomb." 
 
 " Shall the dead help thee that didst slay thy 
 mother ? " 
 
 '* Yea, for she also had slain her husband. Say, 
 why did ye not pursue her while she lived ? " 
 
 '' Because she was not akin to him she slew." 
 
 " Not akin ? then was I not akin to her. But 
 do thou bear witness, King Apollo." 
 
 Then said Apollo, " I am a prophet, and lie 
 not. Never have I spoken about man or woman 
 or city save as my Father Zeus gave me to 
 speak." 
 
 Then said the Furies, " How sayest thou ? 
 
196 THE STORY OF THE FURIES, OR 
 
 that Zeus gave this command that this man 
 should slay his mother ? " 
 
 '' 'Twas even so. For think how basely this 
 woman slew her husband, his father. For she 
 smote him not with an arrow, as might some 
 Amazon, but when he was come back from the 
 war, full of honour, in the bath she entangled him, 
 wrapping a robe about him, and so slew him. 
 Wherefore this man did righteously, taking ven- 
 ofeance for the blood that was shed. And as for 
 this kinship that ye say is between a man and 
 his mother, hearken to this. Had Pallas here 
 a mother ? Nay, for no womb bare her, seeing 
 that she came from the head of Zeus her father." 
 
 Then said Athene, "It is enough. Judges, 
 judge ye this cause, doing justice therein. But 
 first hear the statute that I make establish- 
 ing this court. On this hill did the Amazons in 
 old time build their fortress when they waged 
 war with King Theseus and the men of this 
 land ; and hence it is called the hill of Ares, who 
 is the god of war. And here do I make this as 
 an ordinance for ever, that it may be a bulwark 
 to this land ; that judges may sit herein, keen 
 to avenge the wrong, not blinding their eyes 
 
THE LOOSING OF ORESTES. 197 
 
 with gifts, but doing true judgment and justice 
 between man and man. And now rise, ye 
 judges, from your place, and take these pebbles 
 in your hand, and vote according to right, not 
 forgetting your oath." 
 
 So the judges rose up from their place and 
 dropped the pebbles into the urns, Apollo on 
 the one side and the Furies on the other urging 
 them with many promises and threats. And at 
 the last Athene stood up and said, " 'Tis for me 
 to give the casting vote ; and I give it to 
 Orestes. For I myself was not born of a 
 mother ; wherefore I am on the father s side. 
 And I care not to avenge the death of a woman 
 that slew her husband, the ruler of her house. 
 Now, if the votes be equal, Orestes is free. Take 
 the pebbles from the urns, ye to whom this 
 office is given. And see that ye do it justly 
 and well, that no wrone be done." 
 
 So they that were appointed to this took the 
 pebbles forth from the urns and counted them. 
 And lo ! the votes were equal on this side and 
 on that. And Athene stood forth and said, 
 *' The man is free." 
 
 Thus was accomplished the loosing of Orestes. 
 
THE STORY OF IPHIGENIA AMONG 
 THE TAURIANS. 
 
 It has been told in the story of King Aga- 
 memnon that the Goddess Artemis, being wroth 
 with him because he had slain a hart which she 
 loved, suffered not the ships of the Greeks to 
 sail till he had offered his daughter Iphlgenia 
 for a sacrifice. But when the King consented, 
 and all things had been made ready for slaying 
 the maiden, the goddess would not that her 
 blood should be shed, but put a fair hind In her 
 place, and carried away the maiden to the land of 
 the Taurlans, where she had a temple and an 
 altar. Now on this altar the King of the land was 
 wont to sacrifice any stranger, being Greek by 
 nation, who was driven by stress of weather to 
 the place, for none went thither willingly. And 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 199 
 
 the name of the King was Thoas, which signi- 
 fieth in the Greek tongue, " swift of foot." 
 
 Now when the maiden had been there many 
 years she dreamed a dream. And in the dream 
 she seemed to have departed from the land of 
 the Taurians and to dwell in the city of Argos, 
 wherein she had been born. And as she slept 
 in the women's chamber there befell a great 
 earthquake, and cast to the ground the palace 
 of her fathers, so that there was left one pillar 
 only which stood upright. And as she looked 
 on this pillar, yellow hair seemed to grow upon 
 it as the hair of a man, and it spake with a man's 
 voice. And she did to it as she was wont to do 
 to the strangers that were sacrificed upon the 
 altar, purifying it with water, and weeping the 
 while. And the interpretation of the dream she 
 judged to be that her brother Orestes was dead, 
 for that male children are the pillars of a house, 
 and that he only was left to the house of her 
 father. 
 
 Now it chanced that at this same time 
 Orestes, with Pylades that was his friend, came 
 in a ship to the land of the Taurians. And the 
 cause of his coming was this. After that he 
 
THE STORY OF 
 
 had slain his mother, taking vengeance for the 
 death of King Agamemnon his father, the Furies 
 pursued him. Then Apollo, who had com- 
 manded him to do this deed, bade him go to the 
 land of Athens that he might be judged. And 
 when he had been judged and loosed, yet the 
 Furies left him not. Wherefore Apollo com- 
 manded that he should sail to the land of the 
 Taurians and carry there the image of Artemis 
 and bring it to the land of the Athenians, and that 
 after this he should have rest. Now when the 
 two were come to the place, they saw the altar 
 that it was red with the blood of them that had 
 been slain thereon. And Orestes doubted how 
 they might accomplish the things for the which 
 he was come, for the walls of the temple were 
 high, and the gates not easy to be broken 
 through. Therefore he would have fled to the 
 ship, but Pylades consented not, seeing that 
 they were not wont to go back from that to 
 which they had set their hand, but counselled 
 that they should hide themselves during the day 
 in a cave that was hard by the seashore, not 
 near to the ship, lest search should be made for 
 them, and that by night they should creep into 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 201 
 
 the temple by a space that there was between 
 the pillars, and carry off the image, and so 
 depart. 
 
 So they hid themselves in a cavern by the 
 sea. But it chanced that certain herdsmen were 
 feeding their oxen in pastures hard by the shore ; 
 one of these, coming near to the cavern, spied 
 the young men as they sat therein, and stealing 
 back to his fellows, said, *' See ye not them that 
 sit yonder. Surely they are Gods ; " for they 
 were exceeding tall and fair to look upon. And 
 some began to pray to them, thinking that they 
 might be the Twin Brethren or of the sons of 
 Nereus. But another laughed and said, '' Not 
 so ; these are shipwrecked men, who hide them- 
 selves, knowing that it is our custom to sacrifice 
 strangers to our Gods." To him the others gave 
 consent, and said that they should take the men 
 prisoners that they might be sacrificed to the 
 Gods. 
 
 But while they delayed, Orestes ran forth 
 from the cave, for the madness was come upon 
 him, crying out, " Pylades, seest thou not that 
 dragon from hell ; and that who wDuld kill me 
 with the serpents of her mouth, and this again 
 
202 THE STORY OF 
 
 that breatheth out fire, holding my mother in 
 her arms to cast her upon me ? " And first he 
 bellowed as a bull and then howled as a dog, 
 for the Furies, he said, did so. But the herds- 
 men, when they saw this, gathered together in 
 great fear and sat down. But when Orestes 
 drew his sword and leapt, as a lion might leap, 
 into the midst of the herd, slaying the beasts 
 (for he thought in his madness that he was con- 
 tending with the Furies), then the herdsmen, 
 blowing on shells, called to the people of the 
 land ; for they feared the young men, so strong 
 they seemed and valiant. And when no small 
 number was gathered together, they began to 
 cast stones and javelins at the two. And now 
 the madness of Orestes began to abate, and 
 Pylades tended him carefully, wiping away the 
 foam from his mouth, and holding his garments 
 before him that he should not be wounded by 
 the stones. But when Orestes came to himself, 
 and beheld in what straits they were, he groaned 
 aloud and cried, *' We must die, O Pylades, only 
 let us die as befitteth brave men. Draw thy 
 sword and follow me." And the people of the 
 land dared not to stand before them ; yet while 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 203 
 
 some fled, others would cast stones at them. 
 For all that no man wounded them. But at 
 the last, coming about them with a great mul- 
 titude, they smote the swords out of their hands 
 with stones, and so bound them and took them 
 to King Thoas. And the King commanded 
 that they should be taken to the temple, that 
 the priestess might deal with them according 
 to the custom of the place. 
 
 So they brought the young men bound to 
 the temple. Now the name of the one they 
 knew, for they had heard his companion call 
 to him, but the name of the other they knew 
 not. And when Iphigenia saw them, she bade 
 the people loose their bonds, for that being 
 holy to the goddess they were free. And then 
 — for she took the two for brothers — she asked 
 them, saying, " Who is your mother, and your 
 father, and your sister, if a sister you have ? 
 She will be bereaved of noble brothers this 
 day. And whence come ye ? " 
 
 To her Orestes answered, ''What meanest 
 thou, lady, by lamenting in this fashion over 
 us ? I hold it folly in him who must die that 
 he should bemoan himself. Pity us not ; we 
 
204 THE STORY OF 
 
 know what manner of sacrifices ye have in this 
 land." 
 
 '* Tell me now, which of ye two is called 
 Pylades?" 
 
 " Not I, but this my companion." 
 
 " Of what city in the land of Greece are ye ? 
 And are ye brothers born of one mother ? " 
 
 " Brothers we are, but in friendship, not in 
 blood;' 
 
 " And what is thy name ? " 
 
 " That I tell thee not. Thou hast power 
 over my body, but not over my name." 
 
 *' Wilt thou not tell me thy country .^ " 
 
 And when he told her that his country was 
 Argos, she asked him many things, as about 
 Troy, and Helen, and Calchas the prophet, and 
 Ulysses ; and at last she said, " And Achilles, 
 son of Thetis of the sea, is he yet alive ? " 
 
 '' He is dead, and his marriage that was made 
 at Aulis is of no effect." 
 
 '' A false marriage it was, as some know full 
 well." 
 
 *' Who art thou that inquirest thus about 
 matters in Greece .^ " 
 
 ** I am of the land of Greece, and was 
 
 \ 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 205 
 
 brought thence yet being a child. But there 
 was a certain Agamemnon, son of Atreus, what 
 of him ? " 
 
 " I know not. Lady, leave all talk of him." 
 
 " Say not so ; but do me a pleasure, and tell 
 me." 
 
 '' He is dead." 
 
 *' Woe is me ! How died he ? " 
 
 " What meaneth thy sorrow ? Art thou of 
 his kindred ? " 
 
 'Tis a pity to think how great he was, and 
 now he hath perished." 
 
 " He was slain in a most miserable fashion by 
 a woman. But ask no more." 
 
 " Only this one thing. Is his wife yet alive?" 
 
 '* Nay ; for the son whom she bare slew her, 
 taking vengeance for his father." 
 
 " A dreadful deed, but righteous withal." 
 
 " Righteous indeed he is, but the Gods love 
 him not." 
 
 '*And did the King leave any other child 
 behind him ? " 
 
 '' One daughter, Electra by name." 
 
 '' And is his son yet alive '^. " 
 
 " He is alive, but no man more miserable." 
 
2o6 THE STORY OF 
 
 Now when Iphigenla heard that he wasaHve, 
 and knew that she had been deceived by the 
 dreams which she had dreamt, she conceived a 
 thought In her heart, and said to Orestes, 
 " Hearken now, for I have somewhat to say to 
 thee that shall bring profit both to thee and to 
 me. Wilt thou, if I save tfiee from this death, 
 carry tidings of me to Argos to my friends, and 
 bear a tablet from me to them ? For such a 
 tablet I have with me, which one who was 
 brought captive to this place wrote for me, 
 pitying me, for he knew that I caused not his 
 death, but the law of the goddess in this place. 
 Nor have I yet found a man who should carry 
 this thing to Argos. But thou, I judge, art of 
 noble birth, and knowest the city and those 
 with whom I would have communication. Take 
 then this tablet, and thy life as a reward ; and 
 let this man be sacrificed to the goddess." 
 
 Then Orestes made answer, " Thou hast said 
 well, lady, save in one thing only. That this 
 man should be sacrificed in my stead pleaseth 
 me not at all. For I am he that brought this 
 voyage to pass ; and this man came with me 
 that he might help me in my troubles. Where- 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 207 
 
 fore It would be a grievous wrong that he 
 should suffer In my stead and I escape. Give 
 then the tablet to him. He shall take It to the 
 city of Argos, and thou shalt have what thou wilt. 
 But as for me, let them slay me, If they will." 
 
 " 'TIs well spoken, young man. Thou art 
 come, I know, of a noble stock. The Gods 
 grant that my brother — for I have a brother, 
 though he be far hence — may be such as thou. 
 It shall be as thou wilt. This man shall depart 
 with the tablet, and thou shalt die." 
 
 Then Orestes would know the manner of the 
 death by which he must die. And she told 
 him that she slew not the victims with her own 
 hand, but that there were ministers In the 
 temple appointed to this office, she preparing 
 them for sacrifice beforehand. Also she said 
 that his body would be burned with fire. 
 
 And when Orestes had wished that the hand 
 of his sister might pay due honour to him in 
 his death, she said, *' This may not be, for she 
 is far away from this strange land. But yet, 
 seeing that thou art a man of Argos, I myself 
 will adorn thy tomb, and pour oil of olives and 
 honey on thy ashes." Then she departed, that 
 
loS THE STORY OF 
 
 she might fetch the tablet from her dwelling, 
 bidding the attendants keep the young men fast, 
 but without bonds. 
 
 But when she was gone, Orestes said to 
 Pylades, '' Pylades, what thinkest thou ? Who 
 is this maiden ? She had great knowledge of 
 things in Troy and Argos, and of Calchas the 
 wise soothsayer, and of Achilles and the rest. 
 And she made lamentation over King Agamem- 
 non. She must be of Argfos." 
 
 And Pylades answered, '' This I cannot say ; 
 all men have knowledge of what befell the 
 King. But hearken to this. It were shame 
 to me to live if thou diest. I sailed with thee, 
 and will die with thee. For otherwise men will 
 account lightly of me both in Argos and in 
 Phocis, which is my own land, thinking that 
 I betrayed thee, or basely slew thee, that I 
 might have thy kingdom, marrying thy sister, 
 who shall inherit it in thy stead. Not so : I 
 will die with thee, and my body shall be burnt 
 together with thine." 
 
 But Orestes answered, " I must bear my own 
 troubles. This indeed would be a shameful 
 thing, that when thou seekest to help me, I 
 
IFHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 209 
 
 should destroy thee. But as for me, seeing- 
 how the Gods deal with me, it is well that 
 I should die. Thou, indeed, art happy, and 
 thy house is blessed ; but my house is accursed. 
 Go, therefore, and my sister, whom I have 
 given thee to wife, shall bear thee children, 
 and the house of my father shall not perish. 
 And I charge thee that when thou art safe re- 
 turned to the city of Argos, thou do these 
 things. First, thou shalt build a tomb for me, 
 and my sister shall make an offering there of 
 her hair and of her tears also. And tell her 
 that I died, slain by a woman of Argos, that 
 offered me as an offering to her gods ; and I 
 charge thee that thou leave not my sister, but 
 be faithful to her. And now farewell, true 
 friend and companion in my toils ; for indeed 
 I die, and Phoebus hath lied unto me, pro- 
 phesying falsely." 
 
 And Pylades sware to him that he would 
 build him a tomb, and be a true husband to his 
 sister. After this Iphigenia came forth, holding 
 a tablet in her hand. And she said, '' Here is 
 the tablet of which I spake. But I fear lest he 
 to whom I shall give it shall haply take no ac- 
 
 15 
 
2IO THE STORY OF 
 
 count of it when he is returned to the land. 
 Therefore I would fain bind him with an oath 
 that he will deliver it to them that should have 
 it in the city of Argos." And Orestes consented, 
 saying that she also should bind herself with an 
 oath that she would deliver one of the two from 
 death. So she sware by Artemis that she would 
 persuade the King, and deliver Pylades from 
 death. And Pylades sware on his part by Zeus, 
 the father of heaven, that he would give the 
 tablet to those whom it should concern. And 
 having sworn it, he said, *' But what if a storm 
 overtake me, and the tablet be lost, and I only 
 be saved ?" 
 
 *' I will tell thee what hath been written in 
 the tablet ; and if it perish, thou shalt tell them 
 again ; but if not, then thou shalt give it as I 
 shall bid thee." 
 
 '' And to whom shall I give it ?" 
 
 " Thou shalt give it to Orestes, son of Aga- 
 memnon. And that which is written therein is 
 
 this : * I THAT WAS SACRIFICED IN AuLIS, EVEN 
 
 Iphigenia, who am alive and yet dead to my 
 
 own people, bid thee 
 
 But when Orestes heard this, he brake in, 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 211 
 
 " Where Is this Iphigenia ? Hath the dead 
 come back among the living ? " 
 
 " Thou seest her In me. But Interrupt 
 me not. * I bid thee fetch me before I die 
 TO Argos from a strange land, taking me 
 
 FROM THE ALTAR THAT IS RED WITH THE 
 BLOOD OF STRANGERS, WHEREAT I SERVE.* And 
 
 If Orestes ask by what means I am alive, thou 
 shalt say that Artemis put a hind In my stead, 
 and that the priest, thinking that he smote me 
 with the knife, slew the beast, and that the 
 goddess brought me to this land." 
 
 Then said Pylades, ** My oath Is easy to 
 keep. Orestes, take thou this tablet from thy 
 sister." 
 
 Then Orestes embraced his sister, crying — 
 for she turned from him, not knowing what she 
 should think — " O my sister, turn not from me ; 
 for I am thy brother whom thou didst not 
 think to see." 
 
 And when she yet doubted, he told her of 
 certain things by which she might know him to 
 be Orestes — how that she had woven a tapes- 
 try wherein was set forth the strife between 
 Atreus and Thyestes concerning the golden 
 
212 THE STORY OF 
 
 lamb ; and that she had given a lock of her 
 hair at Aulls to be a memorial of her ; and that 
 there was laid In her chamber at Argos the 
 ancient spear of Pelops, her father's grandsire, 
 with which he slew Qinomatls, and won HIppo- 
 damia to be his wife. 
 
 And when she heard this, she knew that he 
 was Indeed Orestes, whom, being an infant and 
 the latest born of his mother, she had in time 
 past held in her arms. But when the two had 
 talked together for a space, rejoicing over each 
 other, and telling the things that had befallen 
 them, Pylades said, ** Greetings of friends after 
 long parting are well ; but we must needs con- 
 sider how best we shall escape from this land of 
 the barbarians/' 
 
 But Iphlgenia answered, ''Yet nothing shall 
 hinder me from knowing how fareth my sister 
 Electra." 
 
 "She Is married," said Orestes, "to this 
 Pylades whom thou seest." 
 
 " And of what country Is he, and who Is his 
 father?" 
 
 " His father Is Strophlus the Phoclan ; and 
 he is a kinsman, for his mother was the 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 213 
 
 daughter of Atreus, and a friend also such 
 as none other Is to me." 
 
 Then Orestes set forth to his sister the cause 
 of his coming to the land of the Taurians. And 
 he said, *' Now help me In this, my sister, that 
 we may bear away the Image of the goddess ; 
 for so doing I shall be quit of my madness, and 
 thou wilt be brought to thy native country, and 
 the house of thy father shall prosper. But If 
 we do it not, then shall we perish altogether." 
 
 And Iphigenia doubted much how this thing 
 might be done. But at the last she said, " I have 
 a device whereby I shall compass the matter. I 
 will say that thou art come hither, having mur- 
 dered thy mother, and that thou canst not be 
 offered for a sacrifice till thou art purified with 
 the water of the sea. Also that thou hast 
 touched the image, and that this also must be 
 purified in like manner. And the image I 
 myself will bear to the sea ; for, Indeed, I only 
 may touch it with my hands. And of this 
 Pylades also I will say that he is polluted in 
 like manner with thee. So shall we three win 
 our way to the ship. And that this be ready it 
 will be thy care to provide." 
 
214 THE STORY OF 
 
 And when she had so said, she prayed to 
 Artemis : '' Great goddess, that didst bring me 
 safe in days past from AuHs, bring me now also, 
 and these that are with me, safe to the land of 
 Greece, so that men may count thy brother 
 Apollo to be a true prophet. Nor shouldst 
 thou be unwilling to depart from this barbarous 
 land, and to dwell in the fair city of Athens." 
 
 After this came King Thoas, inquiring 
 whether they had offered the strangers for 
 sacrifice, and had duly burnt their bodies with 
 fire. To him Iphigenia made answer, *' These 
 were unclean sacrifices that thou broughtest 
 to me, O King." 
 
 " How didst thou learn this ? " 
 
 *' The image of the goddess turned upon her 
 place of her own accord, and covered also her 
 face with her hands." 
 
 " What wickedness, then, had these strangers 
 wrought ? " 
 
 " They slew their mother, and had been 
 banished therefore from the land of Greece." 
 
 '' O monstrous ! Such deeds we barba- 
 rians never do. And now what dost thou 
 purpose ?" 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 215 
 
 '' We must purify these strangers before we 
 offer them for a sacrifice." 
 
 "With water from the river, or in the sea ? " 
 
 ** In the sea. The sea cleanseth away all 
 that is evil among men." - 
 
 " Well, thou hast it here, by the very walls of 
 the temple." 
 
 " Aye, but I must seek a place apart from 
 men." 
 
 "So be it ; go where thou wilt ; I would not 
 look on things forbidden." 
 
 '' The image also must be purified." 
 
 ** Surely, if the pollution from these mur- 
 derers of their mother hath touched it. This 
 is well thought of in thee." 
 
 Then she instructed the King that he should 
 bring the strangers out of the temple, having 
 first bound them and veiled their heads. Also 
 that certain of his guards should go with her, 
 but that all the people of the city should be 
 straitly commanded to stay within doors, that 
 so they might not be defiled ; and that he him- 
 self should abide in the temple, and purify it 
 with fire, covering his head with his gar- 
 ments when the strangers should pass by. 
 
2i6 THE STORY OF 
 
 ''And be not troubled," she said, '' if I seem to 
 be long doing these things." 
 
 " Take what time thou wilt," he said, '* so that 
 thou do all things in order." 
 
 So certain of the King's guards brought the 
 two young men from out of the temple, and 
 Iphigenia led them towards the place where the 
 ship of Orestes lay at anchor. But when they 
 were come near to the shore, she bade them 
 halt nor come over near, for that she had that 
 to do in which they must have no part. And 
 she took the chain wherewith the young men 
 were bound in her hands, and set up a strange 
 song as of one that sought enchantments. And 
 after that the guard sat where she bade them 
 for a long time, they began to fear lest the 
 strangers should have slain the priestess, and so 
 fled. Yet they moved not, fearing to see that 
 which was forbidden. But at the last with one 
 consent they rose up. And when they were come 
 to the sea, they saw the ship trimmed to set forth, 
 and fifty sailors on the benches having oars in their 
 hands ready for rowing ; and the two young men 
 were standing unbound upon the shore near to 
 the stern. And other sailors were dragging the 
 
IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS. 217 
 
 ship by the cable to the shore that the young 
 men might embark. Then the guards laid hold 
 of the rudder, and sought to take it from his 
 place, crying, '' Who are ye that carry away 
 priestesses and the images of our gods ? '* 
 Then Orestes said, " I am Orestes, and I carry 
 away my sister." But the guards laid hold of 
 Iphigenia ; and when the sailors saw this they 
 leapt from the ship ; and neither the one nor the 
 other had swords in their hands, but they fought 
 with their fists and their feet also. And the sailors 
 being strong and skilful, the King's men were 
 driven back sorely bruised and wounded. And 
 when they fled to a bank that was hard by and 
 cast stones at the ship, the archers standing on 
 the stern shot at them with arrows. Then — for 
 his sister feared to come further — Orestes leapt 
 into the sea, and raised her upon his shoulder 
 and so lifted her into the ship, and the image of 
 the goddess with her. And Pylades cried, 
 " Lay hold of your oars, ye sailors, and smite 
 the sea, for we have that for the which we came 
 to this land." So the sailors rowed with all 
 their might ; and while the ship was in the 
 harbour it went well with them, but when it 
 
2i8 THE STORY OF IPHIGENIA. 
 
 was come to the open sea a great wave took it, 
 for a violent wind blew against it, and drave it 
 backwards to the shore. 
 
 And one of the guards when he saw this ran 
 to King Thoas and told him, and the King 
 made haste and sent messengers mounted upon 
 horses, to call the men of the land that they 
 might do battle with Orestes and his comrade. 
 But while he was yet sending them there ap- 
 peared in the air above his head the Goddess 
 Athene, who spake, saying, "Cease, King Thoas, 
 from pursuing this man and his companions ; 
 for he hath come hither on this errand by the 
 command of Apollo ; and I have persuaded 
 Poseidon that he make the sea smooth for him 
 to depart." 
 
 And King Thoas answered, *' It shall be as 
 thou wilt, O goddess ; and though Orestes hath 
 borne away his sister and the image, I dismiss 
 my anger, for who can fight against the 
 Gods ? " 
 
 So Orestes departed and came to his own 
 country and dwelt in peace, being set free from 
 his madness, according to the word of Apollo. 
 
 I 
 
THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, OR 
 THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS. 
 
 Xerxes, King of Persia, made war against the 
 men of Greece, being desirous to have them for 
 his servants. For being a man of a haughty 
 soul, he thought to make the whole world sub- 
 ject to him ; and against the men of Greece he 
 had especial wrath, seeing that in the days of 
 Kine Darius his father the Persians had fled 
 before them. Wherefore he gathered together 
 a great army from all parts of his dominions, 
 every tribe and nation that there was in the 
 whole land of the East, Indians, and Arabs, 
 and such as dwelt in the plain country of Asia, 
 having waggons for their houses, and Egyp- 
 tians, and men from the upper parts of Libya. 
 But the chief strength of his army was of the 
 Medes and Persians, that were his own people. 
 And for sailors he had Phoenicians, dwellers in 
 
220 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 Tyre and Sidon, and in the coasts thereof. 
 Also many Greeks with him, such as inhabited 
 the cities of Asia that are near to the Greek 
 sea, and the islands which are neighbours to 
 them. But these loved him not, hating to fight 
 against their brethren, but were constrained to 
 join with him by fear. And when these were 
 gathered together, being as the sand that is on 
 the seashore for multitude, he marched into 
 the land of Greece ; and the ships also, being 
 in number a thousand and more, sailed along 
 as near as might be to the army, that there 
 might be no escape for the Greeks either by 
 land or sea. 
 
 But when the King had been gone now many 
 days, and there came no tidings of him and the 
 army, the old men, counsellors and princes, to 
 whom had been committed the care of the 
 realm while he should be absent, were gathered 
 together before the palace in Susa, the royal 
 city. Not a little troubled were they in mind, 
 for the whole strength of the land was gone to 
 the war. '' Invincible," they said, " is the host 
 of the Persians, and the people is valiant ; but 
 yet what man that is mortal can escape from 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF S A LA MIS. 221 
 
 the craft of the Gods, when they lure him to 
 his ruin ? Who Is so nimble of foot that he can 
 spring out of the net which they lay for his 
 feet ? Now of old the Persians fought ever 
 upon the land, but now have they ventured 
 where the waves of the sea grow white with the 
 wind ; and my heart is sore afraid, lest there 
 come evil news that the city of Susa is emptied 
 of her men. Then should there be heard great 
 walling of women ; and the fine linen of the 
 daughters of Persia, who even now sit at home 
 alone, would be rent for grief. But come, let 
 us sit and take counsel together, for our need is 
 sore, and reckon the chances which of the two 
 hath prevailed — the Persian bow or the spear 
 of Greece." 
 
 But while they thus spake together there 
 came forth to them from within the palace 
 Queen Atossa, borne in a litter. And the old 
 men did obeisance to her, bowing their heads 
 to the ground. (Now Queen Atossa had been 
 wife to Darius, and was the mother of King 
 Xerxes.) And when they had greeted her, she 
 told them for what cause she had come forth 
 from the palace, for that she" feared greatly lest 
 
222 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 the wealth which King Darius had gathered 
 together should be overset. " For I know not," 
 she said, '' which is the worse thing, store of 
 wealth without manhood, or lack of riches to 
 them that are strong." 
 
 Then the old men bade her speak on, for that 
 they would give her with all willingness such 
 counsel as they could. After this the Queen set 
 forth the matter to them, saying — 
 
 '' I have been visited with many dreams and 
 visions of the night since the day when King 
 Xerxes my son departed hence with his army, 
 purposing to subdue the men of Greece ; but 
 never have I seen vision so clear as that which 
 I beheld in this night that is last past. I saw 
 two women, clothed with fair garments, the one 
 being clad in Persian apparel, and the other in 
 that which Grecian women use to wear. Very 
 tall were they, above the stature of women in 
 these days, and fair, so that no man might 
 blame their beauty. Sisters also were they of 
 the same race ; but the one dwelt in the land of 
 the Greeks, and the other in the land of Asia. 
 Between these two there arose a strife ; and my 
 son took and soothed them, and would have 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF SALAMI S. 
 
 yoked them to his chariot. Then she that wore 
 the Persian garb was quiet and obedient to the 
 bit ; but the other fought against him, and tare 
 with her hands the trappings of the chariot, and 
 brake the yoke in the midst, so that my son fell 
 upon the ground ; and when he was fallen, lo ! 
 his father Darius stood over him, pitying him. 
 This was my dream ; and when I had risen and 
 washed my hands in the running stream, I went 
 to the altar, that I might offer incense to the 
 Gods that avert evil from men ; and there I 
 saw an eagle fleeing to the altar of Phoebus, and 
 a kite pursued after him, and flew upon him, 
 and tare his head with his claws ; nor did the 
 eagle aught but yield himself up to his adver- 
 sary. Now these are fearful things for me to 
 see and also for you to hear. But remember 
 that if my son shall prosper, all men will do 
 him honour; and if he shall fail, yet shall he 
 give account to no man, but be still ruler of 
 this land.'* 
 
 To this the chief of the old men made 
 answer, '' O lady, we would counsel thee first to 
 ask the Gods that they turn away all evils, and 
 bring to pass all that is good ; and next to 
 
224 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 make offerings to Earth and to the dead, and 
 specially to thy husband King Darius, whom 
 thou sawest in visions of the night, that he may 
 send blessings from below to thy son, and turn 
 away all trouble into darkness and nothingness." 
 
 ** This will I do," said the Queen, '' so soon 
 as I shall have gone back to the palace. But 
 first I would hear certain things of you. Tell 
 me, my friends, in what land is this Athens of 
 which they speak ? " 
 
 "It is far to the west," the old men made 
 reply, '' towards the setting of the sun." 
 
 " And why did my son seek to subdue this 
 city t 
 
 '' Because he knew that If he prevailed against 
 it all Greece should be subject unto him." 
 
 '' Hath it, then, so many men that draw the 
 sword ? " 
 
 *' Such an army It hath as hath wrought great 
 damaofe to the Medes." 
 
 " And hath It aught else, as wealth suf- 
 ficient ?" 
 
 " There is a spring of silver, a treasure hid in 
 their earth." 
 
 " Do the men make war with bows ?" 
 
I 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS. 225 
 
 " Not SO ; they have spears for close fighting 
 and shields." 
 
 '^ And who Is master of their army ?" 
 
 '' They are not slaves or subjects to any 
 man/' 
 
 " How, then, can they abide the onset of the 
 Persians ?" 
 
 *' Nay, but so well they abide it that they 
 slew a great army of King Darius." 
 
 '' What thou sayest is ill to hear for the 
 mothers of them that are gone." 
 
 And when the Queen had thus spoken, the 
 counsellors espied a man of Persia running to 
 them with all speed, and knew that he bare 
 tidings from the hosts, whether good or evil. And 
 when the man was come, he cried out, " O land 
 of Persia, abode of proud wealth, how are thy 
 riches destroyed, and the flower of thy strength 
 perished ! 'Tis an ill task to bring such tidings, 
 yet I am constrained to tell all our trouble. O 
 men of Persia, the whole army of our land 
 hath perished." 
 
 Then the old men cried out, bewailing them- 
 selves that they had lived to see this day. And 
 the messenger told them how he had himself 
 
 16 
 
226 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 seen this great trouble befall the Persians, and 
 had not heard It from others, and that It was at 
 Salamis that the army had perished, and the 
 city of Athens that had been chief among their 
 enemies, the old men breaking in upon his 
 story as he spake with their lamentations. But 
 after a while the Queen Atossa stood forward, 
 saying, " For a while I was dumb, for the trouble 
 that I heard suffered me not to speak. But we 
 must bear what the Gods send. Tell me, 
 therefore, who is yet alive ? and for whom 
 must we make lamentation ? " 
 
 *' Know, O Queen," said the messenger, 
 '' that thy son. King Xerxes, is yet alive." 
 
 And the Queen cried, " What thou sayest is 
 as light after darkness to me ; but say on." 
 
 And when the messenger had told the names 
 of many chiefs that had perished, the Queen 
 said, ** Come, let us hear the whole matter from 
 the beginning. How many in number were 
 the ships of the Greeks that they dared to meet 
 the Persians in battle array ? " 
 
 Then the man made reply, ** In numbers, 
 indeed, they might not compare with us ; for 
 the Greeks had three hundred ships in all, and 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS. 227 
 
 ten besides that were chosen for their swiftness ; 
 but King Xerxes, as thou knowest, had a 
 thousand, and of ships excelling in speed two 
 hundred and seven. Of a truth, we wanted 
 not for strength ; but some God hath destroyed 
 our host, weighing us against our enemies in 
 deceitful balances." 
 
 And the Queen made reply, " 'Tis even so : 
 the Gods preserve the city of Pallas." 
 
 ''Yea," said the man, "Athens Is safe, though 
 it be laid waste with fire ; for the city that hath 
 true men hath a sure defence." 
 
 *' But say," said the Queen, ''who began 
 this battle of ships ? Did the Greeks begin, or 
 my son, trusting in the greatness of his host ? " 
 
 Then the messenger answered, " Some evil 
 demon set on foot all this trouble. For there 
 came a man from the army of the Athenians to 
 King Xerxes, saying that when night should 
 come the Greeks would not abide in their 
 place, but, taking with haste to their ships, 
 would fly as best they could, and so save their 
 lives. And he straightway, not knowing that 
 the man lied, and that the Gods were jealous 
 of him, made a proclamation to all the captains, 
 
228 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 ' So soon as the sun be set upon the earth and 
 the heavens dark, order your ships in three 
 companies, and keep the channels this way and 
 that, and compass about the whole island of 
 Salamis ; for if by any means the Greeks 
 escape, know that ye shall pay your lives for 
 their lives.' This commandment did he give 
 in his pride, not knowing what should come to 
 pass. Whereupon all the people in due order 
 made provision of meat and fitted their oars to 
 the rowlocks ; and when night was come, every 
 man-at-arms embarked upon the ships. And 
 the word of the command passed from line to 
 line, and they sailed each to his appointed place. 
 They then watched the channels all the night, 
 yet nowhere was there seen any stir among the 
 Greeks as of men that would fly by stealth. 
 And when the fiery chariot of the Sun was seen 
 in heaven, the Greeks set up with one accord a 
 great shout, to which the echo from the rocks of 
 the island made reply ; and the Persians were 
 troubled, knowing that they had been de- 
 ceived, for the Greeks shouted not as men 
 that were afraid. And after this there came 
 the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud, and 
 
^ 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS. ■z2() 
 
 then, when the word was given, the dash of 
 many oars that struck the water together, and, 
 clearly heard above all, the sound of many 
 voices, saying, 'Rise, children of the Greeks; 
 
 SET FREE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR CHILDREN AND 
 YOUR WIVES, AND THE HOUSES OF YOUR GODS, AND 
 THE SEPULCHRES OF YOUR FOREFATHERS. NoW 
 MUST YE FIGHT FOR ALL THAT YE HOLD DEAR.' 
 
 And from us there came a great tumult of Persian 
 speech, and the battle began, ship striking against 
 ship. And a ship of the Greeks led the way, 
 breaking off all the forepart of a ship of Phoe- 
 nicia. For a while, indeed, the Persian fleet 
 bare up ; but seeing that there were many 
 crowded together in narrow space, and that 
 they could not help one another, they began 
 to smite their prows together, and to break the 
 oars one of the other. And the ships of the 
 Greeks in a circle round about them drave 
 against them right skilfully ; and many hulls 
 were overset, till a man could not see the sea, 
 so full was it of wrecks and of bodies of dead 
 men, with which also all the shores and rocks 
 were filled. Then did all the fleet of the 
 Persians take to flight without order, and our 
 
230 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 enemies with oars and pieces of wreck smote 
 us, as men smite tunnies or a shoal of other 
 fish ; and there went up a dreadful cry, till 
 the darkness fell and they ceased from pur- 
 suing. But all the evils that befell us I could 
 not tell, no, not in ten days ; only be sure of 
 this, that never before in one day died such a 
 multitude of men." 
 
 Then the Queen said, " 'Tis surely a great 
 sea of troubles that hath broken upon our 
 race." 
 
 But the messenger made reply, '' Listen yet 
 again, for I have yet more to tell. There is 
 an island over against Salamis, small, not easy 
 of approach to ships. Hither the King, thy 
 son, sent the chosen men of his army, being in 
 the vigour of their age, and noble of birth, 
 and faithful to himself. For it was in his mind 
 that they should slay such of the Greeks as 
 should seek to save themselves out of the 
 ships, and should help any of his own people 
 that might be in need. But he judged ill of 
 what should come to pass. For when the ships 
 of the Greeks had prevailed as I have said, 
 certain of their host clad themselves in arms, and 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF SAL A MIS. 231 
 
 leapt out of the ships on to the island, which 
 they circled about so that the Persians knew 
 not whither they should turn. And many were 
 smitten down with stones, and many with 
 arrows, till at the last the men of Greece, making 
 an onslaught together, slew them with their 
 swords so that there was not a man left alive. 
 Which thing when the King beheld, for he sat 
 on a hill nigh unto the shore of the sea, whence 
 he could regard the whole army, he uttered a 
 great cry, and rent his garments, and bade his 
 army that was on the land fly with all speed." 
 
 And when the Queen heard these things 
 she said, '' O my son, ill hast thou avenged 
 thyself on this city of Athens ! But tell me, 
 messenger, what befell them that escaped from 
 the battle ? " 
 
 " As for the ships," he said, " O Queen, such 
 as perished not in the bay fled without order, 
 the wind favouring them. But of the army 
 many indeed perished of thirst in the land of 
 Boeotia, and the rest departed with all speed 
 through the land of Phocis and the coasts of 
 Doris till we came to the region of Thessaly, 
 being in sore straits for food. And here also 
 
232 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 many perished of hunger and thirst ; but such 
 as were left came into the land of Macedonia, and 
 thence to the coasts of Thrace, even to the great 
 river of Strymon. And there the Gods caused 
 that there should be a frost out of season, so that 
 the riverwas covered with ice in one night ; which 
 marvel when we beheld we worshipped the 
 Gods, yea, such as had said before in their hearts 
 that there were no Gods. And when our prayers 
 were ended we crossed over ; and with such as 
 crossed before the sun was risen high upon the 
 earth, it w^as well ; for as the day grew towards 
 noon, the ice was melted in the midst of the 
 river, and the people fell through, one upon the 
 other, and perished miserably, so that he might 
 be counted happiest that died most speedily. 
 But such as remained fled across the plains of 
 Thrace with much toil and trouble, and are 
 now come to our homes, being but a very few 
 out of many." 
 
 Then said the Queen. " Truly my dream is 
 fulfilled to the utmost. But now let us do what 
 we may. For the past no man may change ; 
 but for the future we may take thought. Where- 
 fore I will offer incense to the Gods and to the 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS. 233 
 
 dead ; and do you take faithful counsel together, 
 and If the King my son should come before I 
 be returned, comfort him and bring him to the 
 palace, lest a yet worse thing befall us." 
 
 Then the Queen departed ; and the old men 
 made lamentation for the dead, and bewailed 
 themselves for the trouble that had befallen the 
 land of Persia. But after a while she returned, 
 walking on her feet and In sober array, for she 
 would put away all pride and pomp, knowing 
 that the Gods were wroth with the land and its 
 rulers. And she brought with her such things 
 as men are wont to offer to the dead — milk and 
 honey, and pure water from a fountain, and pure 
 juice of a wild vine ; also the fruit of the olive 
 and garlands of flowers; and she bade the old 
 men sing a hymn to the dead, and call up the 
 spirit of King Darius, while she offered her 
 offerings to them that bear rule In hell. 
 
 So the old men chanted their hymn. To 
 Earth they cried and to Hermes that they would 
 send up the spirit of King Darius ; also to the 
 King himself they cried, that he would come and 
 give them counsel in their need. 
 
 And after awhile the spirit of the King rose 
 
234 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 up from his sepulchre, having a royal crown 
 upon his head, and a purple robe about him, 
 and sandals of saffron upon his feet. And the 
 spirit spake, saying, " What trouble Is this that 
 seemeth to have come upon the land ? For my 
 wife standeth near to my tomb with offerings ; 
 and ye have called me with the cries that raise the 
 dead. Of a truth this is a hard journey to take ; 
 for they that bear rule below are more ready to 
 take than to give back. Yet am I come, for I 
 have power among them. Yet hasten, for my 
 time is short. Tell me, what trouble hath come 
 upon the land of Persia ? " 
 
 But the old men could not answer him for 
 fear. Whereupon he turned him to the Queen, 
 and said, '' My wife that was in time past, cease 
 awhile from these lamentations and tell me what 
 hath befallen this land." 
 
 And when she had told him all, he said, 
 " Truly the Gods have brought speedy fulfil- 
 ment to the oracles, which I had hoped might 
 yet be delayed for many years. But what mad- 
 ness was this in Xerxes my son ! Much do I 
 fear lest our wealth be the prey of the spoiler." 
 
 Then the Queen made reply, *' O my lord, 
 
OR THE BATTLE OF S A LAM IS. 
 
 Xerxes hath been taught by evil counsellors ; 
 for they told him that thou didst win great wealth 
 for thy country by thy spear, but that he sat 
 Idly at home ; wherefore he planned this thing 
 that hath now had so ill an end." 
 
 With this the old men, taking heart, would 
 know of the King what counsel he gave them 
 for the time to come. And he said, " Take heed 
 that ye make not war again upon these men of 
 Greece." And when they doubted whether they 
 might not yet prevail, he said, '* Listen, for ye 
 know not yet all that shall be. When the King, 
 my son, departed, he took not with him his 
 whole army, but left behind him many chosen 
 men of war in the land of Boeotia by the river 
 w^sopus. And for these there is a grievous 
 fate In store. For they shall suffer punishment 
 for all that they have done against Gods and 
 men, seeing that they spared not the temples of 
 the Gods, but threw down their altars, and brake 
 their images in pieces. Wherefore they shall 
 perish miserably, for the spear of the Greeks 
 shall slay them In the land of Plataea. For the 
 Gods will not that a man should have thoughts 
 that are above the measure of a man. Also full- 
 
236 THE STORY OF THE PERSIANS, 
 
 flowered insolence groweth to the fruit of destruc- 
 tions, and men reap from it a harvest of many 
 tears. Do ye then bear Athens and the land of 
 Greece in mind, and let no man, despising what 
 is his and coveting another man's goods, so bring 
 great wealth to ruin. For Zeus is ever ready to 
 punish them that think more highly than they • 
 ought to think, and taketh a stern account. 
 Wherefore do ye instruct the King with coun- 
 sels that he cease to sin against the Gods in 
 the pride of his heart. And do thou that art his 
 mother go to thy house, and take from it such 
 apparel as is seemly, and go to meet thy son, for 
 the many rents that he hath made for grief gape 
 in his garments about him. Comfort him also 
 with gentle words ; for I know that 'tis thy voice 
 only that he will hear. And to you old men, 
 farewell ; and live happily while ye may, for 
 there is no profit of wealth in the grave whither 
 ye go." 
 
 And with these words the spirit of King 
 Darius departed. 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 In the temple of Apollo at Delphi there dwelt a 
 fair youth, whose name was Ion. Tall he was 
 and comely, like to the son of a King, but of his 
 birth no man knew anything ; for he had been 
 laid, being yet a babe, at the door of the temple, 
 and the priestess had brought him up for her 
 son. So he had served the God from a child, 
 being fed from the altar and from the gifts of 
 the strangers that were wont to resort to the 
 place. Now it was the lad's custom to rise 
 early in the morning and to sweep the temple 
 with boughs of bay, and to sprinkle it with 
 water from the fountain of Castalia. Also he 
 was wont to keep the birds from the temple — 
 for they would come from the woods of Parnas- 
 sus hard by, eagles, and swans, and others — 
 lest they should settle on the pinnacles or defile 
 the altar with their prey. And for this end he 
 
238 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 carried arrows and a bow, slaying the birds if 
 need was, but rather seeking to frighten them 
 away, for he knew that some carried messages 
 from the Gods to mortal men, and warned them 
 of things to come, even as did Apollo that was 
 his master. 
 
 Now it befell on a day, when he had done 
 his office in the temple, that there drew near to 
 the doors a company of women. Maidens they 
 were from the land of Attica, and they had come 
 with Crelisa, who was Queen of the country. 
 And first they marvelled at the graved work 
 that was on the doors and in the porch, for some 
 cunnine w^orkmen had wrouo^ht thereon Hercules 
 slaying the great dragon of Lerna, and lolatis 
 standlne with a torch to sear that which he cut 
 with his knife. Also Bellerophon was to be 
 seen on a horse with wings, slaying theChimaera ; 
 and Pallas fighting against the Sons of Earth, 
 with the thunderbolt of her father Zeus and the 
 shield of the Gorgon head. And when they had 
 made an end of seeing these things came the 
 Queen Crelisa herself and had speech with Ion. 
 And she told him that she was the daughter of 
 Erechtheus, King of Athens, and that she was 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 239 
 
 married to Xuthus, a Prince from the island of 
 Pelops. And when Ion would know how it had 
 come to pass that Xuthus, being a stranger and 
 a foreigner, had received her that was a Princess 
 of the land in marriage, she said that the 
 Prince had fought for the men of Athens against 
 the land of Euboea, and had subdued it, and so 
 had won for himself this reward. Also when 
 the youth would know for what end she had 
 come to the oracles of Delphi, she said that she 
 had come because having been long married 
 she was yet childless, and that her husband also 
 was with her, and that he was even then mak- 
 ing inquiry about this same matter in the cave 
 of Trophonius. For there also was an oracle 
 giving answers to men about things to come. 
 Then the Queen asked Ion of his estate, and 
 heard from him that the priestess of Apollo had 
 brought him up, having found him laid at the 
 door of the temple. 
 
 After these things came King Xuthus him- 
 self, who, after he had greeted the Queen, said 
 that Trophonius would not indeed go before the 
 answer of Apollo, yet promised this, that he 
 should not go to his home childless. So the 
 
240 THE STORY OF JOX. 
 
 two went together into the shrine that they 
 might inquire yet further of the matter ; and Ion 
 abode without, meditating much on the things 
 which these strangers had said. 
 
 But after a while the King came forth In 
 great joy, and when he saw the youth Ion 
 standing without the shrine, he caught him by 
 the hand, and would have thrown his arms 
 about him, but the youth drew back, thinking 
 that the God had smitten him with madness, and 
 even would have drawn his bow against him. 
 Then the King set forth to him the answer that 
 Apollo had given him. For the God had said, 
 '' Thou art not childless as thou thinkest, but the 
 father of a fair son. And thy son is he whom 
 first thou shalt meet going forth from my shrine." 
 *' And now," said the King, *'thou art he whom 
 first I meet coming forth, and I claim thee to 
 be my son." And when Ion would know how 
 this might be, the King said that in days past, 
 before he had married the Princess Crelisa, being 
 young and foolish, he had taken to wife a maiden 
 of low degree In this very city of Delphi, and 
 that if she had borne him a son — for that he 
 knew not, having left her long since — the child 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 241 
 
 would bear such age as Ion. And when Ion 
 heard this he was glad, for he had feared lest 
 haply he should be found to be the son of some 
 slave. Only he said to himself, " O my dear 
 mother, shall I ever see thee ? For now do I 
 long more than ever to look upon thee ; but 
 haply thou art dead and this may never be." 
 
 And the maidens of Athens standing by 
 heard the talk between the two, and said, " It 
 is well for the people that the royal house should 
 prosper. Yet it had pleased us well that our 
 lady the Queen should have hope of offspring, 
 and that the house of Erechtheus should not be 
 left without an heir." 
 
 Then said the King to Ion, " My son. It is 
 well both with thee and me, for I have found 
 that which I most desired and thou also. And 
 as to that which thou now sayest about thy 
 mother, haply, if only we have patience, this 
 also shall be as thou wouldst have it. But now 
 I would have thee leave the temple of Apollo 
 and this thy subsistence of alms, and come with 
 me to the great city of Athens, where thou 
 shalt have great wealth, and In due time this 
 sceptre that I hold. But why art thou silent 
 
 17 
 
242 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 and castest thine eyes to the ground ? Suddenly 
 art thou changed from joy to sorrow, and the 
 heart of thy father misglveth him." 
 
 Then spoke Ion, saying, '* My father, the 
 aspect of many things changeth according as a 
 man seeth them, whether it be near or afar off 
 Right glad was I to find a father in thee ; but 
 as to what else thou sayest, hearken to me. 
 Men say that the Athenians are a people that 
 have dwelt In the land from the beginning. 
 Wherefore I shall have among them a double 
 reproach, being both basely born and also a 
 foreigner. And if I come to high place in the 
 state, they that are beneath me shall hate me, 
 seeing that men love not those that are above 
 them. Also those that are of high account 
 among the citizens shall have much jealousy 
 against me, for such men have ever great enmity 
 against their rivals. Think also of thy house, 
 how matters shall stand there. For before, thy 
 wife the Queen shared with thee this reproach 
 of childlessness, but now will she stand alone 
 and bear her sorrow by herself How then shall 
 she not hate me when she seeth me at thy right 
 hand ? And so shalt thou either for love of her 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 243 
 
 go back from what thou hast promised to me, 
 or else, seeking my profit, shalt trouble thine 
 own house. For thou knowest what deadly 
 deeds with the sword and with poison women 
 holding themselves to be wronged have wrought 
 against their husbands. And of a truth, my 
 father, I hold that thy wife, seeing that she 
 groweth old without hope of children, is most 
 miserable among women. And then as to king- 
 ship, I count that this is more pleasant to regard 
 from afar than to possess ; for how can he be 
 happy who liveth in daily fear of death ? And 
 if thou sayest that great store of wealth out- 
 welgheth all other things, and that it is pleasant 
 to be rich, I hold otherwise. I would have 
 neither poverty nor riches, but to live quietly 
 and without trouble. For listen, my father, to the 
 good things that I have had in this place — that 
 which all men count dear, even leisure ; and such 
 labour as I did, not toilsome, and to be free from 
 all ill company, and to be constant in prayers 
 to the Gods, or in talk with men, ever consort- 
 ing with new company among such as came to 
 inquire of the god. Surely, my father, this life 
 is better than that which thou promisest to me." 
 
244 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 '*My son," the King made answer, ''learn to 
 take the good which the Gods have provided for 
 thee. First, then, I will bring thee to the feast 
 which I purpose to hold in this place as though 
 thou wert a stranger. And afterwards I will take 
 thee to the city of Athens, yet not declaring at 
 the first thy birth, for I would not vex my wife 
 with my good luck, seeing that she is yet child- 
 less. Only in time I will work with her that thou 
 shalt bear rule in the land with her good will. 
 And now call such of thy friends as thou wilt 
 to the feast, for thou must even bid farewell to 
 this city of Delphi." 
 
 And Ion made answer, '' Let it be so; only 
 if I find not my mother, my life is nothing 
 worth." 
 
 And to the maidens the King said, '' Take 
 heed that ye keep silence on these matters, or 
 ye shall surely die." 
 
 But they were much troubled in heart for 
 their mistress that she should be childless, while 
 the King her husband had found a son. Also 
 they doubted much whether they should not tell 
 the Queen the things which they had heard. 
 
 And now there was seen to come near to the 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 245 
 
 shrine an old man who had in days past been 
 servant to King Erechtheus ; and when the 
 Queen saw him, she reached her hand to him, 
 and helped him to climb the steps of the temple, 
 for he was very feeble with age. And when 
 he was come to the top, the Queen turned her 
 to the maidens that stood by and inquired of 
 them whether they knew aught of the answer 
 which the God had given to her husband in the 
 matter of his childlessness. But they were loath 
 to make answer, remembering that the King 
 had bidden them to be silent under pain of 
 death ; but at the last, for the thing pleased 
 them not, both for pity of their mistress and 
 also for hatred that a stranger should be King- 
 in Athens, they said, " O lady, thou must never 
 hold a child in thy arms or nurse a babe at thy 
 breast." And when the old man asked — for 
 the Queen was distraught with griefs whether 
 the King also shared this trouble, they said, 
 '' Not so, old man ; to him Apollo giveth a 
 son." 
 
 " How so ? " said he ; " is this son yet to be 
 born, or doth he live already ? " 
 
 "He is a youth full grown. For the God 
 
246 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 said, ' He whom thou shalt first meet, coming 
 forth from this shrine, is thy son.' And know, 
 lady, that this youth Is he who is wont to serve in 
 this shrine, with whom thou talkedst at the first. 
 But more than this I know not ; only that thy 
 husband Is gone without thy knowledge to hold 
 a great feast, and that the lad sitteth thereat in 
 much honour." 
 
 And when the old man heard these things 
 he waxed wroth and said, " Lady, there is trea- 
 chery In this matter. We are betrayed by thy 
 husband, and of fixed purpose set at naught, 
 that he may drive us out of the house of thy 
 father. King Erechtheus. And this I say not 
 because I hate thy husband, but that I love 
 thee more. Hearken, then, to my words. He 
 came a stranger to the city of Athens, and took 
 thee to wife, and had with thee the inheritance of 
 thy father s kingdom ; and when he found thee 
 childless, he was not content to bear this reproach 
 with thee, but wedded secretly some slave 
 woman, and gave the child whom she bare to him 
 to some citizen of Delphi to rear for him. And 
 the child grew up, as thou knowest, a minister in 
 the temple of Apollo. And when thy husband 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 2^7 
 
 knew that he was come to full age he devised 
 this device that thou and he should come to this 
 place, and make inquiry of the god, whether 
 there might be any remedy for thy childlessness. 
 And now thou wilt suffer the foulest wrong, for 
 he will bring this son of a bondwoman to be 
 lord in thy house. Wherefore I give thee this 
 counsel. Devise some device, and be it with 
 the sword or with poison, or with whatever thou 
 wilt, slay thy husband and his son, or they shall 
 surely slay thee. For if thou spare them thou 
 wilt surely die. For if there be two enemies 
 under one roof, it must needs be that the one 
 perish. And now, if thou wilt, I will do this 
 deed for thee, and slay them at the feast which 
 he prepareth ; for I have had sustenance in the 
 house of thy father to this day, for which I 
 would fain make this return." 
 
 Then the Queen and the old man talked 
 together about the matter. And when he would 
 have had her slay her husband, she refused, 
 saying that she could not do the deed, for that 
 she thought of the time when he was faithful 
 and loving to her. But when he would have 
 her execute vengeance on the youth, she con- 
 
248 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 sented. Only she doubted how this might be 
 done. Then the old man cried, ''Arm thine 
 attendants with the sword and slay him." 
 
 " Aye," said the Queen, " and I would lead 
 them myself ; but where shall I slay him ? " 
 
 " Slay him," said the old man, '' in the tent 
 where he feasteth his friends." 
 
 " Nay," answered the Queen, *' the deed would 
 be too manifest ; the hands also of slaves are 
 ever feeble." 
 
 *' Then the old man cried in a rage, " I see thou 
 playest the coward. Take counsel for thyself." 
 
 Then said the Queen, '' I have a plan in my 
 heart that is both crafty and sure. Listen now, 
 and I will unfold it to thee. Thou knowest how 
 in time past the Giants that were the sons of 
 Earth made war against the Gods in the plain 
 of Phlegra ; and that Earth, seeking to help her 
 children, brought forth the Gorgon ; and that 
 Pallas, the daughter of Zeus, slew the mxonster. 
 Know then that Pallas gave to Ericthonius, who 
 was the first King of the land of Attica, being 
 sprung from the earth, two drops of the blood of 
 the Gorgon, whereof the one hath the power to 
 kill whomsoever it shall touch, and the other to 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 249 
 
 heal all manner of diseases. And these she 
 shut in gold to keep them ; and Ericthonius 
 gave them to King Erechtheus my father, and he, 
 when he died, gave them to me. And I carry 
 them in a bracelet on my wrist. And thou shalt 
 take the one that worketh death, and with it 
 thou shalt slay this youth." 
 
 "'Tis well thought," the old man made an- 
 swer ; '' but where shall I do the deed '^. " 
 
 *' In Athens," said the Queen, '* when he shall 
 have come to my house." 
 
 But the old man said, " That is not well ; for 
 thou wilt have the repute of the deed, even if 
 thou slay him not. Slay him rather in this place, 
 where thou shalt be more likely to deceive thy 
 husband, for it must not be that he know it." 
 
 When the Queen heard this she said, ^* Hear, 
 then, what thou must do. Go to the place where 
 my husband maketh a sacrifice and a feast fol- 
 lowing. And when the guests are even now 
 ready to cease from their feasting and make 
 libations to the Gods, drop his drop of death 
 into the cup of him who would lord it over my 
 house. Of a surety if it pass his throat he shall 
 never come to the city of Athens." 
 
250 THE STORY OF ION, 
 
 So the old man went on his errand, and as he 
 went he said to himself, " Old foot of mine, do 
 this thy business as though thou wert young. 
 Thou hast to help the house of thy master 
 against an enemy. Let them that are happy 
 talk of piety ; he that would work his adversary 
 woe must take no account of laws." 
 
 But meanwhile Xuthus had bidden the youth 
 Ion have a care for the feast, for that he himself 
 had yet sacrifice to make, at which he might 
 haply tarry long time. Wherefore Ion set up 
 a great tent on poles, looking neither wholly to 
 the south nor to the west, but between the two. 
 And the tent he made foursquare, being of a 
 hundred feet each way, for he purposed to call 
 the whole people of Delphi to the feast. Then 
 he took curtains from the treasure-house to 
 cover it within, very marvellous to behold; 
 for on them was wrought the Heaven with all 
 the gathering of the stars, and the Sun driving 
 his chariot to the west, and dark-robed Night, 
 with the stars following her, the Pleiades, and 
 Orion with his sword, and the Bear turning 
 about the Pole, and the bright circle of the Moon ; 
 and on the other side the Morning chasing the 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 251 
 
 Stars. Also there were tapestries from foreign 
 land, ships fighting with ships, and strange 
 shapes, half men half beasts, and the hunting of 
 stags and lions. 
 
 But in the midst of the tent great bowls were 
 set for wine ; and a herald bade all the men of 
 Delphi to the feast. But when they had had 
 enough of eating and drinking, the old man, 
 the servant of the Queen, came forward ; and 
 all men laughed to see him how busy he 
 was. For he took the water that should have 
 been mixed with the wine and used it for the 
 washing of hands, and burnt the incense, and 
 took upon himself the ordering of the cups. 
 And after a while he said, " Take away those 
 cups, and bring greater that we may be merry." 
 So they brought great cups of gold and silver. 
 And the old man took one that was more beau- 
 tiful than the rest, and filled it to the brim and 
 gave it to the youth Ion, as though he would do 
 him great honour ; but he dropped into it the 
 deadly drop. Only no man saw the thing that 
 he did. But when they were all about to drink, 
 some one spake an evil word to his neighbour, 
 and Ion heard it, and having full knowledge of 
 
252 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 augury, held it to be of ill omen, and bade them 
 fill another bowl ; and that every one should pour 
 out upon the ground that which was in his cup. 
 And on this there came down a flight of doves, 
 for such dwelt in the temple of Apollo without 
 fear, and sipped of the wine that had been 
 poured forth. And all the rest drank and 
 suffered no harm ; but that which had settled 
 where the youth Ion had poured out from his 
 cup shook and reeled and screamed aloud, 
 and so died, being sorely rent with the pangs of 
 death. And when the youth saw this he cried, 
 *' Who is it that hath plotted my death ? Tell 
 me, old man, for thou gavest me the cup." 
 And he leapt over the table and laid hands on 
 him. And at last the old man, being sorely 
 pressed, unfolded the whole matter. Then Ion 
 gathered all the Princes of Delphi together, and 
 told them that the strange woman, the daughter 
 of Erechtheus, had plotted his death by poison. 
 And the sentence of the Princes was that she 
 should be cast down from the rock on which 
 their city w^as built, because she had sought to 
 slay with poison the minister of the god. 
 
 Then one who had seen the whole matter 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 253 
 
 from the beginning to the end, ran with all 
 speed and told it to the Queen ; and she, when 
 she heard it, and that the officers of the people 
 were coming to lay hands on her, fled to the 
 altar of Apollo, and sat upon it in the place 
 whereon the sacrifice was laid ; for they that 
 flee to the altar are sacred, and It is a sin against 
 the god if any man touch them. But in a 
 short space came Ion with a troop of armed 
 men, breathing out threats and fury against the 
 Queen. And when he saw her he said, " What 
 a viper is this that thou hast brought forth, land 
 of Attica ! Worse is she than the drop of 
 Gorgon's blood wherewith she would have slain 
 me. Seize her that she may be thrown from 
 the rock. 'Tis well for me that I set not foot 
 in her house in Athens ; for then had she 
 caught me in a net, and I had surely died. But 
 now the altar of Apollo shall not save her." 
 
 And he bade the men drag her from the holy 
 place. But even as he spake came in the 
 Pythia, the priestess. And when Ion had 
 greeted her, asking her whether she knew how 
 this woman had sought to slay him, she 
 answered that she knew it, but that he too 
 
254 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 was fierce above measure, and that he must 
 not defile with blood the house whereto he 
 went in the city of Athens. And when he 
 was loath to listen to her, she said, '' Seest 
 thou this that I hold in my hand ? " Now 
 what she held was a basket with tufts of wool 
 about it. " This is that In which I found 
 thee, long ago, a new-born babe. And Apollo 
 hath laid It upon me not to say aught of this 
 before, but now to give it Into thy hands. Take 
 it, therefore, for the swaddling clothes wherein 
 thou wast wrapped are within, and find out for 
 thyself of what race thou art. And now, fare- 
 well ; for I love thee as a mother loveth her 
 child." 
 
 Then Ion said to himself, '' This Is a sorrow- 
 ful thing to see, this basket in which my mother 
 laid me long since, putting me away from her 
 in secret, so that I have grown up as one with- 
 out a name in this temple. The god hath dealt 
 kindly with me, yet hath my fortune and the 
 fortune of my mother been but ill. And w^hat 
 if I find that I am the son of some bondwoman. 
 It was better to know nought than to know this. 
 But I may not fight against the will of the god ; 
 
THE STORY OF ION. ' 255 
 
 wherefore I will open it and hear my past what- 
 ever it be." 
 
 So he opened the basket, and marvelled that 
 it was not wasted with time, and that there was 
 no decay upon that which was within. But 
 when the Queen saw the basket, she knew it. 
 and leapt from where she sat upon the altar, and 
 told him all that was in her heart, that in time 
 past, before she was wedded to King Xuthus, 
 she had borne a son to Apollo, and had laid the 
 babe in this basket, and with him swaddling 
 clothes of things which she had woven with her 
 own hands, and "■ Thou," she said, " art my son, 
 whom I see after this long time." 
 
 And when the young man doubted whether 
 this was so, the Queen told him the pattern of 
 the clothes ; that there was one which she had 
 woven being yet a girl, not finished with skill, 
 but like rather to the task of one that learns, and 
 that there w^as wrought upon it the head of the 
 Gorgon, and that it was fringed about with snakes, 
 like to Pallas's shield, the segis. Also she said 
 that there were necklaces wrought like to the 
 scales of a snake, and a wreath of olive besides, 
 as befitted the child of a daughter of Athens. 
 
256 THE STORY OF ION. 
 
 Then Ion knew that the Queen was his 
 mother ; yet was he sore perplexed, for the 
 god had given him as a son to King Xuthus, 
 nor did he doubt but that the god ever speakethj 
 that which is true. Then he said that he would! 
 himself inquire of Apollo. But as he turned to 
 go, lo ! a great brightness in the air, and the| 
 shape as of one of the dwellers in heaven. And! 
 when he was afraid, and would have fled withi 
 the Queen, there came a voice, saying, '' Flee 
 not, for I am a friend and not an enemy. I am 
 Pallas, and I come from King Apollo with a 
 message to this youth and to the Queen. To 
 Ion he saith, * Thou art my son, whom this 
 woman bare to me in time past.' And to the 
 Queen, ' Take this thy son with thee to the 
 city of Athens, and set him on the throne of thy 
 father, for it is meet that he, being of the race 
 of Erechtheus, should sit thereon. And know 
 that he shall become a great nation, and that 
 his children in time to come shall dwell in the 
 islands of the sea, and in the lands that border 
 thereon, and that they shall be called lonians 
 after his name. Know also that thou shalt bear 
 children to Xuthus — Dorus and ^olus— and 
 
THE STORY OF ION. 257 
 
 that these also shall become fathers of 
 nations.' " 
 
 And when the goddess had thus spoken she 
 departed ; and the two, Ion and Queen Cretisa, 
 with King Xuthus also, went to their home in 
 great joy and peace. 
 
 LNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM IRESS, CHIL\VORTH AND I.ONEON. 
 18 
 
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