"Upon learning that Leucippe was taken captive," said Satyrus, taking up the narrative, "I felt sincere regret on her behalf, and urged Menelaus by all means to save her; some good genius came to our assistance; the day before the sacrifice we were sitting by the sea-shore, overcome with grief and considering what steps were to be taken. Some of the buccaneers espying a vessel which had got out of her course from ignorance of the coast, hurried down to attack her; the crew endeavoured to put out to sea, but being too late they prepared for resistance.
"There happened to be among them a stage-player or reciter of Homeric poetry.[28]Arming himself and the rest after the manner of the heroes of the Iliad, they offered a brave resistance, but being at last overpowered by a number of the pirate boats, their vessel was sunk and themselves were slaughtered. It chanced that after this a chest floated on shore unperceived by the buccaneers; Menelaus getting it into a retired spot opened it, supposing it might contain something valuable; among the contents were a cloak and a sword with a hilt five palms in length, the blade of which was not so long: while Menelaus was carelessly handling it, the blade flew out and became equal to the hilt in length, and a different movement reduced it, to its former dimensions; the ill-fated owner had no doubt been accustomed to use it upon the stage for the infliction of mimic wounds. I immediately said to Menelaus, 'if only you will now give proof of your courage, the deity will second us, and we shall be able to preserve the maiden without being discovered by the buccaneers. We will get a sheepskin, one of the softest and most flexible which can be procured, this we will sew into the shape of a bag, corresponding in size with the human stomach, and after filling it with entrails and blood, we will secure the opening; having done this, we will fasten it upon the maiden's body, and by throwing over her a robe bound by a girdle and other fastenings we can easily conceal the artifice. The nature of the oracle given to the pirates and the construction of the sword, are both strongly in our favour: the oracle commands that the maiden when adorned for sacrifice is to be ripped open through her dress; and as for the sword, you see how artfully it is contrived; if you press it against the human body, the blade flies into the hilt as into a scabbard, while all the time it will appear to the beholders to have been run into the body; on the present occasion just enough of the blade will remain out to cut open the false stomach as soon as the hilt reaches the sheepskin, and when withdrawn from the wound, the portion of the sword contained within the hilt will immediately fly out, so that it will appear to the spectator that the whole of the weapon was really plunged into the maiden. The pirates will not discover the deceit, for as I before said, the skin will be concealed by the dress put over it, and the entrails will immediately protrude from the gash which it has made; these we shall place upon the altar, and as no one is to approach the body, we shall be able to place it in the coffin. You remember the pirate-captain telling you that you were expected to display some proof of courage; now is the time to go to him and to make the offer.'
"I followed up my words by many entreaties, invoking Jove the hospitable, and reminding Menelaus of our having eaten at the same board[29]and suffered the same perils of shipwreck. The worthy and true hearted man replied, 'The undertaking is arduous, but one ought to be prepared to die in the sake of a friend,[30]and death in such a cause is sweet.' I then expressed my belief that Clitopho was still alive, for the maiden had mentioned to me his being left behind, among the other prisoners, in addition to which the buccaneers who had fled, brought word to their captain, that all the captives had contrived to escape into the enemy's ranks during the engagement. 'You will therefore,' I added, 'be doing him a very great kindness and will also be the means of delivering this unhappy maiden out of her misfortunes.' I succeeded in persuading him, and Fortune favoured us in our undertaking. While I was busied in preparing what was needed for our contrivance, Menelaus proceeded to the buccaneers to make the proposal already mentioned. The chief, by a lucky chance, anticipated him, and said, 'We have a law, that new comers[31]amongst us, should first begin the sacrifice, especially when a human victim is to be offered; be ready therefore against to-morrow; your slave also must take part in the solemnity.'—'We will endeavour,' replied Menelaus, 'to show ourselves not inferior to any among yourselves.'—'Remember,' added the pirate-chief, 'that it will be for you to dress and arrange the maiden in the best manner for consummating the sacrifice.'[32]Afterwards, when alone, we took the opportunity of fitting out Leucippe in the manner before related, bidding her have no fear, and carefully instructing her what to do, enjoining her to remain quiet in the coffin, if necessary, the whole day, but when an opportunity offered to seek safety by flying to the encampment; having given her these directions we led her to the altar: what afterwards occurred you already know."
While listening to this narrative, I was overwhelmed by a variety of feelings, and did not know how sufficiently to express my deep gratitude to Menelaus; I however adopted the most common method, and throwing myself at his feet, I embraced his knees and worshipped him as a god, my heart thrilling with delight. Being now easy concerning Leucippe, "What," I inquired, "has become of Clinias?" "The last time I saw him," replied Menelaus, "was when he was clinging to the yard after the shipwreck; what afterwards became of him I cannot tell."
Upon hearing this, I could not repress a cry of grief in the midst of my joy; no doubt some malignant genius envied me the possession of pure and unalloyed happiness; for this cause doubtless, he whom next to Leucippe I most valued, was especially selected as a victim by the sea, that not only his soul might perish,[33]but that he might lose the rights of sepulture. Oh, ruthless ocean, thus to curtail the full measure of thy mercy towards us!
There being nothing to detain us longer, we all repaired to the encampment, and passed the rest of the night in my tent; nor was it long before the adventure became known. At daybreak, conducting Menelaus to the commander, I related every particular; Charmides was highly pleased, and expressed himself in the most friendly terms towards him. He next inquired what the strength of the enemy amounted to. Menelaus replied, "That the whole place was full of desperate men, and that the buccaneers numbered perhaps ten thousand men."
"Our five thousand," said Charmides, "will be a match for twenty thousand such as they are: besides which two thousand men will shortly arrive from the troops who garrison the Delta and Heliopolis." While he was still speaking, a boy came in and said that an express had come from the camp in the Delta, to announce that the expected reinforcement would not arrive for five days; the incursions of the buccaneers in that quarter had been repressed indeed, but when the troops were on the point of marching, the sacred[34]bird, bearing the sepulchre of his father, had appeared among them, and on this account the march must be delayed during the period mentioned.
"And pray," inquired I, "what bird is this which is treated with such respect? What sepulchre is it which he carries with him?"—"He is called the Phœnix," was the reply; "and is a native of Ethiopia; he is about the size of the peacock, but superior to him in beauty; his plumage is bedropt with gold and purple,[35]and he boasts of being descended from the sun, a claim which is borne out by the appearance of his head, which is crowned by a splendid circle, the very image of that orb.[36]The hues are mingled rose and azure, and the disposition of the feathers represent the rays. He belongs to the Ethiopians during his life, but the Egyptians possess him after he is dead. He is very long lived,[37]and upon his decease; his son bears him to the Nile, having first prepared his sepulchre in the following manner. Taking a mass of the most fragrant myrrh, sufficient for the purpose, he excavates the centre with his beak, and the hollow becomes a receptacle for the dead; then closing up the aperture with earth, he soars aloft and carries this fruit of his pious labour to the Nile. A flight of other birds attends him,[38]as a guard of honour, and he resembles a monarch making a progress. He never deviates from the place of his destination, the city of the sun, which is the resting-place of the departed bird; upon arriving there he stations himself upon an elevated spot, and awaits the arrival of the minister of religion. Presently an Egyptian priest comes forth from the sanctuary, bearing a book containing a picture of the bird, in order that he may judge whether it be genuine. The phœnix, aware of this, opens the receptacle, and exhibiting the body, makes intercession for its interment;[39]after which it is received by the sons of the priest and buried; thus, as I have already observed, this bird is an Ethiopian during his lifetime, but makes his grave with the Egyptians."
[1]περιάγειν τὴν κεραίαν. Two ropes hung from the horns of the antenna or yard, the use of which was to turn it round as the wind veered, so as to keep the sail opposite the wind. See a cut at p. 52 of the Greek and Rom. Antiq."Cornua velatarum obvertimus antennarum."—Æn. iii. 549."At sunset they began to take in sail,For the sky showed it would come on to blow,And carry away, perhaps, a mast or so."—Byron.
[1]περιάγειν τὴν κεραίαν. Two ropes hung from the horns of the antenna or yard, the use of which was to turn it round as the wind veered, so as to keep the sail opposite the wind. See a cut at p. 52 of the Greek and Rom. Antiq.
"Cornua velatarum obvertimus antennarum."—Æn. iii. 549.
"At sunset they began to take in sail,For the sky showed it would come on to blow,And carry away, perhaps, a mast or so."—Byron.
[2]In the original the movements of the passengers are described by the words δἰαυλος and δρόμος δολιχὸς, expressions referring to the stadium, where the runners turned round the goal and came back to the starting-place.
[2]In the original the movements of the passengers are described by the words δἰαυλος and δρόμος δολιχὸς, expressions referring to the stadium, where the runners turned round the goal and came back to the starting-place.
[3]"The high wind made the treble, and as bassThe hoarse harsh waves kept time."—Byron.
[3]
"The high wind made the treble, and as bassThe hoarse harsh waves kept time."—Byron.
[4]γέῥῤα; these appear to mean the παραῤῥύματα, made of skins and wicker-work, raised above the edge of the vessel, and intended as a protection against high waves, &c.—See Dict. Grk. and Rom. Antiq.
[4]γέῥῤα; these appear to mean the παραῤῥύματα, made of skins and wicker-work, raised above the edge of the vessel, and intended as a protection against high waves, &c.—See Dict. Grk. and Rom. Antiq.
[5]"Tollimur in cœlum curvato gurgite; et iidemSubductâ ad manes imos descendimus undâ."Virg. Æn. iii. 564.
[5]
"Tollimur in cœlum curvato gurgite; et iidemSubductâ ad manes imos descendimus undâ."Virg. Æn. iii. 564.
[6]"Strange sounds of wailing, blasphemy, devotion,Clamour'd in chorus to the roaring ocean."—Byron.
[6]
"Strange sounds of wailing, blasphemy, devotion,Clamour'd in chorus to the roaring ocean."—Byron.
[7]"O Lord! methought what pain it was to drown!What dreadful noise of water in mine ears!What sights of ugly death within mine eyes!. . . . . .... often did I striveTo yield the ghost, but still the envious floodKept in my soul, and would not let it forthTo seek the empty, vast, and wand'ring air,But smother'd it within my panting bulk,Which almost burst to belch it in the sea."Shaksp. Richard III.
[7]
"O Lord! methought what pain it was to drown!What dreadful noise of water in mine ears!What sights of ugly death within mine eyes!. . . . . .... often did I striveTo yield the ghost, but still the envious floodKept in my soul, and would not let it forthTo seek the empty, vast, and wand'ring air,But smother'd it within my panting bulk,Which almost burst to belch it in the sea."Shaksp. Richard III.
[8]So named from Mount Casius near Pelusium, where he had a temple.
[8]So named from Mount Casius near Pelusium, where he had a temple.
[9]"It seems likely that the productivity of nature was symbolized by the fruit, remarkable as it was for the number of seeds it contained."—Note in Blakesley's Herod., vii. 41.
[9]"It seems likely that the productivity of nature was symbolized by the fruit, remarkable as it was for the number of seeds it contained."—Note in Blakesley's Herod., vii. 41.
[10]κατὰ τὸν οπισθόδομον.
[10]κατὰ τὸν οπισθόδομον.
[11]μαστούς τ'ἔδειξε, στέρνα, θ' ὡς ἀγάλματοςκάλλιστα.—Eurip. Hec. 560.
[11]
μαστούς τ'ἔδειξε, στέρνα, θ' ὡς ἀγάλματοςκάλλιστα.—Eurip. Hec. 560.
[12]αὐτoσκέδιος τάφος.
[12]αὐτoσκέδιος τάφος.
[13]ἐκόσμησεν εὐμόρφῳ φόβῳ.
[13]ἐκόσμησεν εὐμόρφῳ φόβῳ.
[14]Tatius is supposed to mean the silkworm, which he calls πτηνός, from its changing into a butterfly."Quid nemora Æthiopum molli canentia lanâVelleraque ut foliis depectant Seres."—Virg. G. ii. 120.In the 10th Book of the Ethiopics, the productions of the silkworm are called "ἀραχνίων νήματα καὶ ὑφάσματα."
[14]Tatius is supposed to mean the silkworm, which he calls πτηνός, from its changing into a butterfly.
"Quid nemora Æthiopum molli canentia lanâVelleraque ut foliis depectant Seres."—Virg. G. ii. 120.
In the 10th Book of the Ethiopics, the productions of the silkworm are called "ἀραχνίων νήματα καὶ ὑφάσματα."
[15]To put on Pluto's helmet was a proverb for becoming invisible. See Hom. Il. v. 844. In Crabbe's "Parish Register" the coat is made to serve the same purpose:—-"His shoes of swiftness on his feet he placed,Hiscoatof darkness on his loins he brac'd,His sword of sharpness in his hand he took."
[15]To put on Pluto's helmet was a proverb for becoming invisible. See Hom. Il. v. 844. In Crabbe's "Parish Register" the coat is made to serve the same purpose:—-
"His shoes of swiftness on his feet he placed,Hiscoatof darkness on his loins he brac'd,His sword of sharpness in his hand he took."
[16]"... rostroque immanis vultur obuncoImmortale jecur tandens, fœcundaque pœnisViscera, rimaturque epulis, habitaque sub altoPectore."—Æn. vi. 697.
[16]
"... rostroque immanis vultur obuncoImmortale jecur tandens, fœcundaque pœnisViscera, rimaturque epulis, habitaque sub altoPectore."—Æn. vi. 697.
[17]εἰs τους δακτύλους ἀποξύνεται.
[17]εἰs τους δακτύλους ἀποξύνεται.
[18]"Then seizing fast the reed, he drew the barbHome to his bow, the bowstring to his breast,And when the horn was rounded to an archHe twang'd it."—Homer, Il. iv. 123.
[18]
"Then seizing fast the reed, he drew the barbHome to his bow, the bowstring to his breast,And when the horn was rounded to an archHe twang'd it."—Homer, Il. iv. 123.
[19]By comparing the description of the piratical haunt called the Pasturage (in the 1st Bk. of the Ethiopics) with that here given us of the personal appearance of the pirates, together with the account of their stronghold at the end of the 4th Book, we are enabled to form a good idea of the Egyptian βουκόλοι or buccaneers, and of their way of life.
[19]By comparing the description of the piratical haunt called the Pasturage (in the 1st Bk. of the Ethiopics) with that here given us of the personal appearance of the pirates, together with the account of their stronghold at the end of the 4th Book, we are enabled to form a good idea of the Egyptian βουκόλοι or buccaneers, and of their way of life.
[20]τὸν θρῆνον ὀρχἠσομαι.
[20]τὸν θρῆνον ὀρχἠσομαι.
[21]νυμφαγωγός. Tatius probably used the term with reference to Leucippe being taken to the pirate-chief. The strict sense of the word will be found at p. 599 of Greek and Roman Antiquities.
[21]νυμφαγωγός. Tatius probably used the term with reference to Leucippe being taken to the pirate-chief. The strict sense of the word will be found at p. 599 of Greek and Roman Antiquities.
[22]"Curæ leves loquuntur; ingentes stupent."—Sen. Hipp. A. 2. S. iii.
[22]"Curæ leves loquuntur; ingentes stupent."—Sen. Hipp. A. 2. S. iii.
[23]In the Second Book of the "Ethiopics," the author remarks on this peculiarity of the Buccaneers:—"βονκόλοι γὰρ ἅλλα τε πρὸς το φοβερώτερον φαίνεσθαι, καὶ δὴ καὶ τὴν κόμην εἰς ὀφρὺν ἕλκουσι καὶ σοβοῦσι τῶν ὥμων ἐπιβαίνουσαν."
[23]In the Second Book of the "Ethiopics," the author remarks on this peculiarity of the Buccaneers:—"βονκόλοι γὰρ ἅλλα τε πρὸς το φοβερώτερον φαίνεσθαι, καὶ δὴ καὶ τὴν κόμην εἰς ὀφρὺν ἕλκουσι καὶ σοβοῦσι τῶν ὥμων ἐπιβαίνουσαν."
[24]In Xen. Cyrop. ii. 3. 17, there is an account of a sham fight, where half the soldiers pelt with clods, the other half armed with canes.
[24]In Xen. Cyrop. ii. 3. 17, there is an account of a sham fight, where half the soldiers pelt with clods, the other half armed with canes.
[25].... "I did consent,And often did beguile her of her tears,When I did speak of some distressful strokeThat my youth suffer'd. My story being done,She gave me for my pains a world of sighs.. . . . . .She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'dAnd I lov'd her that she did pity them."—Shaksp. Othello.
[25]
.... "I did consent,And often did beguile her of her tears,When I did speak of some distressful strokeThat my youth suffer'd. My story being done,She gave me for my pains a world of sighs.. . . . . .She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'dAnd I lov'd her that she did pity them."—Shaksp. Othello.
[26]"Post terga juvenum nobiles revocat manus,Et mœsta vittâ capita purpureâ ligat;Non thura desunt, non sacer Bacchi liquor.. . . . . .Ipse—sacerdos—ipse funestâ preceLetale carmenore violentocanit."Sen. Thyestes. iv. 686.
[26]
"Post terga juvenum nobiles revocat manus,Et mœsta vittâ capita purpureâ ligat;Non thura desunt, non sacer Bacchi liquor.. . . . . .Ipse—sacerdos—ipse funestâ preceLetale carmenore violentocanit."Sen. Thyestes. iv. 686.
[27].... "Magne regnator Deum.Tam lentus audis scelera? tam lentus videsEcquando sævâ fulmen emittes manu,Si nunc serenum est?"—Sen. Hipp. 671.
[27]
.... "Magne regnator Deum.Tam lentus audis scelera? tam lentus videsEcquando sævâ fulmen emittes manu,Si nunc serenum est?"—Sen. Hipp. 671.
[28]ῥαψωδός—one of a class of persons who got their living by reciting the poems of Homer, and who is here represented as accoutreing himself and the others in character.
[28]ῥαψωδός—one of a class of persons who got their living by reciting the poems of Homer, and who is here represented as accoutreing himself and the others in character.
[29]Tὸ ὁμοτράπεζου—to have eaten at the same table, was considered an inviolable obligation to friendship; and ἅλα καὶ τράπεζαν πάραβαίνειν, to transgress the salt and the table; or in other words to break the laws of hospitality and to injure those by whom they had been entertained, was considered one of the greatest crimes.—Robinson's Antiq. of Greece.
[29]Tὸ ὁμοτράπεζου—to have eaten at the same table, was considered an inviolable obligation to friendship; and ἅλα καὶ τράπεζαν πάραβαίνειν, to transgress the salt and the table; or in other words to break the laws of hospitality and to injure those by whom they had been entertained, was considered one of the greatest crimes.—Robinson's Antiq. of Greece.
[30]"Thy friend put in thy bosome;.... . . . . .If cause require, thou art his sacrifice."George Herbert.
[30]
"Thy friend put in thy bosome;.... . . . . .If cause require, thou art his sacrifice."George Herbert.
[31]τοὺς πρωτομὐστ ας.
[31]τοὺς πρωτομὐστ ας.
[32]πρὸς τὴν ἀνατομήν.
[32]πρὸς τὴν ἀνατομήν.
[33]This passage may be illustrated by one which occurs in B. v. "It is said that the souls of those who have found a watery grave do not descend to Hades, but wander about the surface of the waves." Death by shipwreck, where the body was swallowed up by the deep, was especially dreaded by the ancients, since without burial of the body, the soul could not be admitted into the Elysian Fields.—See Ovid, Trist. i. 2, 61. Virg. Æn. vi. 325, 330.
[33]This passage may be illustrated by one which occurs in B. v. "It is said that the souls of those who have found a watery grave do not descend to Hades, but wander about the surface of the waves." Death by shipwreck, where the body was swallowed up by the deep, was especially dreaded by the ancients, since without burial of the body, the soul could not be admitted into the Elysian Fields.—See Ovid, Trist. i. 2, 61. Virg. Æn. vi. 325, 330.
[34]Compare the description of the Phœnix with those in Tacitus, Annal. vi. 28, and in Herod. ii. 73, where see a note in Blakesley's edit. The object of which is to show that by the Phœnix is meant a secular period.
[34]Compare the description of the Phœnix with those in Tacitus, Annal. vi. 28, and in Herod. ii. 73, where see a note in Blakesley's edit. The object of which is to show that by the Phœnix is meant a secular period.
[35]Pliny says, "Auri fulgore circà colla, cetera purpureus, cæruleam roseis caudam pennis distinguentibus."—Η. N. x. 2.
[35]Pliny says, "Auri fulgore circà colla, cetera purpureus, cæruleam roseis caudam pennis distinguentibus."—Η. N. x. 2.
[36]"Æquatur toto capiti radiata coronaPhœbei referens, verticis alta decus."Auctor Carm. incert.
[36]
"Æquatur toto capiti radiata coronaPhœbei referens, verticis alta decus."Auctor Carm. incert.
[37]Five hundred years according to Herodotus, according to other writers 1560 years.
[37]Five hundred years according to Herodotus, according to other writers 1560 years.
[38]"Multo cæterarum volucrum comitatu novam faciem mirantium."—Tac. Ann. vi. 28.
[38]"Multo cæterarum volucrum comitatu novam faciem mirantium."—Tac. Ann. vi. 28.
[39]καὶ ἐστι ἐπιτάφιος σοφιστής.
[39]καὶ ἐστι ἐπιτάφιος σοφιστής.
Upon hearing of the preparations made by the buccaneers, and of the march of the reinforcements being postponed, Charmides resolved upon returning to his former quarters, and there to await their arrival. A lodging was assigned by him to Leucippe and me at a little distance. No sooner had I entered it, than taking her in my arms, I endeavoured to accomplish my wishes; she would not consent however, upon which I said to her: "Do you not observe how many strange and unforeseen accidents befall us; first we are shipwrecked, then we come into the hands of pirates, and next you are exposed to be sacrificed, and to undergo a cruel death. Fortune has just now lulled the storm, let us, therefore, take advantage of the opportunity, before any yet severer calamity overtakes us."
"It is not lawful for me to consent now," was her reply; "for while I was bewailing myself at the prospect of being sacrificed, the goddess Diana appeared to me in a dream and said: 'Weep not, maiden, thou shalt not die; I will protect thee, and thou must remain a virgin until I conduct thee to thine husband, who shall be Clitopho, and no one else.'"
Upon hearing this circumstance, I was very much annoyed at the delay, but yet rejoiced at the prospect of future happiness opened to me; and her mention of the dream reminded me of something similar which had happened to myself. I thought that during the preceding night I saw the temple of Venus, and could discern the statue of the goddess within; upon approaching it with the design of offering up my prayers, the doors were suddenly closed, and while standing there in a state of disappointment, a female strongly resembling the statue of the goddess appeared to me and said: "It is not permitted thee to enter the temple now; but if thou wilt wait for a short period, I will not only open to thee its doors, but will constitute thee my priest." I related this dream to Leucippe, and although my attempts upon her chastity were not repeated, I could not get over my feelings of vexation.
An occurrence which just then took place gave Charmides an opportunity of seeing Leucippe and conceiving a passion for her. Some person had captured a very curious river animal, called by the Egyptians the Nile-horse, and in truth he resembles that animal in his belly and legs, except that he has cloven hoofs;[1]his size is equal to that of the largest ox; he has a short tail, which as well as his body, is devoid of hair; his head is large and round, with cheeks like those of a horse; his nostrils are widely expanded and breathe out sparks, as it were, of fiery vapours;[2]he has an immense under-jaw, which opens to nearly the length of his head, and it is garnished with canine teeth like those of a horse in shape and position, but three times as large. We were invited to see this creature, and looked at it with great interest; but the eyes of the commander were rivetted upon Leucippe, of whom he immediately became enamoured.
In order to detain us there the longer, and by this means to feast his own eyes, he entered upon a lengthy description of the animal, its nature and habits, and the manner in which it is captured; that it is so voracious as to eat up a whole field of corn, and is taken by employing the following stratagem. Having found out his usual haunt, the hunters dig a deep pit, which they cover with reeds and earth, underneath is placed a wooden chest with open doors which reach to the top of the pit. The animal in passing over the spot at once falls into the chest as into a cave, when the hunters, who have been on the watch, immediately close the doors, and in this manner secure their prey. It would be in vain to attempt capturing him by force; for not only is he very powerful, but has a hide so hard and thick[3]as to render him proof against any wounds; he may be called the Egyptian elephant, and in strength comes next to the elephant of India.
"Have you ever seen an elephant?" inquired Menelaus. "I have," replied Charmides, "and have conversed with persons well acquainted with the peculiarity attending its birth."
I here remarked that the animal was known to me only having seen a picture of it. "Well, then," continued he, "I will give you an account of it; for we have abundance of leisure. The time of gestation with the female is ten years,[4]so that when she brings forth her calf he is already old. To this cause we may, in my opinion, attribute his great bulk, his unrivalled strength, and his longevity; for he is said to live longer than Hesiod's crow.[5]His jaw may be said to resemble the head of an ox, for it appears to have two horns; these, however, are the curved tusks of the animal, between them projects his trunk, resembling a trumpet in appearance and size, which is very convenient for taking up his accustomed food or any other edible; anything of this description he seizes with it, and bending it inwards, conveys it to his mouth; but if unsuited for his palate, he turns round his trunk, and extending it upwards delivers the article to the Ethiopian master, who sits upon him as a rider does on a horse, and whom he caresses and also fears, obeying his voice, and submitting to be beaten with an iron axe. I remember once seeing a strange sight, a Greek inserted his head into the mouth of the animal, which with expanded jaws continued to breathe upon him. As you may imagine, I was not a little struck with the boldness of the man and the good-nature of the elephant. The man told me that he had given the beast a fee for breathing upon him, that his breath was almost equal to Indian spices, and was a sovereign specific against the head-ache. It appears that the elephant is aware of his medical skill, and will not open his mouth for nothing, but like a self-conceited physician, asks for his fee beforehand; upon receiving it he becomes all complaisance, expands his jaws, and keeps his mouth open as long as the patient pleases, knowing that he has received a consideration for his breath."
"How comes so ill-favoured an animal to have so fragrant a breath?" I asked. "From the nature of the food upon which he feeds," said Charmides. "The country of the Indians is near the sun; they first behold the rising of that deity, they feel his hottest rays, and from his influence their skin acquires its hue.[6]Now there is in Greece a dark-coloured flower, which among the Indians is not a flower but a leaf, like those which are seen on any tree; in that land it conceals its fragrance, and is therefore in little estimation; either it does not care for celebrity among its countrymen, or else it grudges them its sweetness; but if only it leave that country and be transplanted, it opens its secret treasure-house, instead of a leaf becomes a flower, and clothes itself with perfume. The Indians call this the black rose, and it is as common a food for the elephant as among us grass is for oxen; and from feeding upon it, almost from its birth, the animal exhales the fragrance of his food, and his breath becomes a fount of sweets."[7]
When Charmides had ended his dissertation and we were departed, he not long after—for whoever burns with the fire of love cannot endure delay—sent for Menelaus, and taking his hand, thus addressed him:—"Your conduct to Clitopho shows you to be a sincere friend, nor shall you have to complain of want of friendship upon my part. I have a favour to request which it is easy for you to grant, and by granting it you will preserve my life. Know that I am desperately smitten with Leucippe; you must heal the wound; she is in your debt for having saved her.[8]Now I will give you fifty gold pieces for the good service which I require, and she herself shall receive as many as she pleases."
"Keep your gold," replied Menelaus, "for those who make a traffic of their favours; you have already received me into your friendship, and it shall be my endeavour to promote your wishes."
Immediately afterwards he came to me and related the whole matter. After deliberating what course to adopt, dissimulation appeared most feasible, since it would have been dangerous to give him an absolute refusal, for fear of his employing violence, and it was wholly out of our power to escape, surrounded as we were by the buccaneers in one direction, and by his troops on the other.
Returning to Charmides after a short interval, Menelaus said:—"Your object is accomplished. At first the maiden gave a downright refusal, but at length, upon my redoubling my entreaties and reminding her of her debt of gratitude towards me, she consented; stipulating, however, for a few days' delay until we can reach Alexandria; for this place being a mere village, everything becomes known, and there are many eyes upon us."
"You fix a long postponement to your favour," said Charmides. "Who can think of deferring his wishes in time of war? With an engagement before him, and so many ways of death, how can the soldier tell whether his life will be spared? If you will prevail on Fortune to guarantee my safety, I will wait. Consider that I am about to fight these buccaneers, and all the while a war of a different kind is raging in my soul; a warrior armed with bow and arrow, is committing havoc there; I feel myself vanquished; I am full of wounds; prithee send for the leech with speed, for the danger presses. I shall have to carry fire and sword among the enemy, but love has already kindled his torch to my destruction; extinguish this flame, I beseech, good Menelaus; it will be a fair omen to join in love before we join in battle; let Venus, therefore, herald me on my way to Mars."
"But you do not consider," rejoined Menelaus, "how difficult it is to avoid discovery from her intended husband, who is so enamoured of her."—"Oh! as for Clitopho, we can easily get him out of the way," said Charmides.
Seeing him so firmly bent upon his purpose, Menelaus began to have fears for my safety, and suddenly he thought himself of a fresh excuse. "If you must know her real motive for this delay, it is that her monthly sickness is upon her, consequently she must abstain from sexual intercourse."—"In that case," said the other, "I will wait three or four days, which will be quite sufficient; but in the meanwhile she can, at any rate, come and talk to me. I can hear her voice, press her hand, and touch her person, and kiss her lips. Her indisposition need be no impediment to this."
When Menelaus told this to me, I exclaimed, that I would sooner die than have Leucippe bestow her lips upon another. "A kiss," I said, "is the best part of love; the moment of actual enjoyment is soon over, and brings with it satiety,[9]and is indeed worth nothing if we take away the kissing. A kiss need have no limit to its duration; it never cloys, it is always new.[10]Three things, excellent in their nature, proceed from the mouth, the breath, the voice, and last of all, the kiss, of which the lips are the instruments, but the seat of pleasure is in the soul. Believe me, Menelaus, for my troubles compel me to reveal the secret,[11]these are the only favours which I have received from Leucippe; she is a woman only as having been kissed by me; in all other respects she is still a virgin. I will not put up with the loss of them; I will not have my kisses adulterously dallied with."[12]
"If such be the case," said Menelaus, "we must speedily resolve upon some plan; one who is in love (like Charmides) as long as he has a hope of success will wait and feed on expectation, but if driven to despair, his love changes into hate and urges him to take vengeance upon the obstacle to his desires; and supposing he has the power to do this with impunity, the very fact of being free from fear deepens his resentment and urges him on to his revenge." In the midst of our deliberation some one hastily entered, and informed us that Leucippe while walking about had suddenly fallen down, and lay there wildly rolling her eyes. We hurried to her, and finding her still lying on the ground, we asked what ailed her? No sooner did she see me, than starting up and glaring fiercely from her blood-shot eyes, she struck me with violence upon the face, and when Menelaus endeavoured to support her, she proceeded to kick his shins. Perceiving that she was labouring under frenzy, we seized her by main force and endeavoured to overpower her, she on her part resisted, and in her struggles was at no pains to hide what women generally wish to keep concealed. So great was the disturbance that at length the commander himself came in, and witnessed what was going on. At first he was suspicious of some fraud contrived against himself, and looked sternly upon Menelaus; but seeing the truth, he became moved by feelings of compassion.
Meanwhile cords were brought and the unhappy maiden was bound; upon seeing her hands confined in this manner, I besought Menelaus (all but a few having left the tent) to set her arms at liberty; "her tender arms," I said, "cannot endure this harsh treatment; leave me with her alone; my arms shall be her fetters, and she may exhaust her frenzy upon, me: why, indeed, should I wish to live, since Leucippe no longer knows me? How can I behold her lying thus bound, and though having the power, shew no desire to release her? Has Fortune delivered us from the hands of buccaneers only that she may fall a prey to madness? Unhappy that we are, when will our condition change? We escape dangers at home only to be overtaken by the shipwreck; saved from the fury of the sea and freed from pirates, we were reserved for the present visitation—madness! Even shouldst thou recover thy senses, dearest, I fear lest the evil genius may have something worse in store! Who can be pronounced more unhappy than ourselves, who have cause to dread even what bears the appearance of good fortune! Let Fortune, however, again make us her sport, provided only I can see thee restored to health and sense!" Menelaus and those present did all they could to comfort me, saying that such maladies were not lasting, and were very common in the hot season of youth; at such a time the young blood, heated by the vigour of the body, runs boiling through the veins, and overflowing the brain drowns the powers of reason; the proper course, therefore, would be to have medical advice.
Menelaus went to the commander without delay, and requested that the physician belonging to the troops might be called in. Charmides readily complied, for a lover delights in granting favours. After visiting her, he said, "we must make her sleep in order to subdue the paroxysm of her disease; for sleep is the medicine of every sickness,[13]and afterwards we will have recourse to other means." Before leaving her, he gave us a portion of some drug, about the size of a pea, which was to be dissolved in oil and rubbed upon the top of her head, saying that he would shortly bring a pill to act upon her bowels. We followed his directions, and after her head had been rubbed for a short time, she fell asleep, and slept till morning. I sat by her bed side all night in tears, and when I saw the cords which still confined her hands, I could not help exclaiming, "Dearest Leucippe, bondage is still thy portion; not even in sleep is liberty allowed thee! What images, I wonder, are now passing before thy mind? Does sense attend upon thy sleep? or do thy dreams also partake of frenzy?" Upon waking she uttered some incoherent words. Soon after the physician came and administered the other medicine.
Just at this time pressing orders arrived from the Viceroy of Egypt urging the commander to lead his men against the enemy. The troops were immediately mustered with their officers, and appeared on the ground in marching order, when, after giving them the watchword, he dismissed them to their quarters for the night, and next morning led them out to battle.
I will now describe the nature of the district against which they marched. The Nile flows in an unbroken stream from Egyptian Thebes as far as Memphis, when it throws out a small branch. Where the wide part of the river terminates, stands the village Cercasorum[14]; there the country becomes intersected by three streams; two flowing respectively to the right and left; the other continuing its onward course traverses the district called the Delta; none of these streams flow uninterruptedly to the sea, but upon reaching different cities separate into various branches, all of them larger than any Grecian rivers; its waters nevertheless are not enfeebled and rendered useless by the many divisions in their course; they bear vessels upon their surface; they are used for drinking, and contribute to fertilize the land. The mighty Nile is all in all to the Egyptians, both land and river, and sea and lake, and a singular spectacle it is to see in juxtaposition the ship and the mattock, the oar and the plough, the rudder and the hook,[15]sailors' cabins and labourers' huts, a resort for fishes and a resting-place for oxen; where but lately a ship sailed, is seen a cultivated plain, and anon the cultivated plain becomes a watery space; for the Nile periodically comes and goes, and the Egyptians count the days and anxiously await the inundation, while the river on his part keeps to his appointed time, regulates the rising of his waters, and never exposes himself to the imputation of unpunctuality. Then comes the rivalry between the land and water; each exerts its power against the other; the water strives to flood the land, and the land does its endeavour to absorb the fertilizing water; in the end, conquest can be assigned to neither, but both may claim the victory, for each is co-extensive with the other. In the pasturage which is the resort of the buccaneers, a quantity of water is at all times found, for even when the Nile retires, the lakes formed by its inundation continue filled with watery mud; over these the inhabitants can either wade on foot or pass in boats, each of which will contain one person; any other kind would be imbedded in the mud, but those which they employ are so light[16]as to require very little water, and should none be found they take them on their backs, and proceed on foot until they arrive at more. These lakes, which I have mentioned, are dotted over with islets, some of them uninhabited, but abounding in papyrus reeds, between the intervals of which there is only room for a man to stand, while the space above is overarched by the summits of the leaves; it is in these places that the buccaneers assemble, and secretly concert their plans, masked by these reeds as by a fort. Some of the islets have huts upon them, presenting the appearance of a rudely constructed town, which serve as the dwellings of the pirates. One of them, more remarkable than the other for its extent and for the number of its huts, was called Nicochis, and here it was that the main body of the freebooters was collected; confiding in their numbers, and in the strength of their position, the place being entirely insulated by lagoons, except for a narrow causeway the eighth of a mile long and seventy feet wide. As soon as they were aware of the commander's approach, they had recourse to the following stratagem:—mustering all the old men, they equipped them as suppliants, with palm branches, commanding the most able-bodied among the youth to follow, armed with swords and shields. The old men were to hold aloft their suppliant branches, the foliage of which would serve to conceal those in the rear,[17]who, by way of farther precaution, were directed to stoop and trail their spears along the ground.
In case the commander yielded to the old men's supplications, the others were to make no hostile movements; if, on the contrary, he should reject their entreaties, they were to invite him to their city, with the offer of there surrendering themselves up to death; if he agreed to follow them, upon arriving at the middle of the narrow causeway, the old men, at a preconcerted signal, were to throw away their branches and make their escape, while the others were to make an assault with might and main. They proceeded to execute these directions, and upon approaching the commander, entreated him to reverence their old age and suppliant branches, and to take pity upon their town; they offered him a present of a hundred talents of silver for himself, together with an hundred hostages, to be forwarded by him to the seat of goverment.[18]
They were quite sincere in making these proposals, and would have fulfilled them faithfully had he consented; upon his refusal, "We must then," said they, "submit to our destiny; at least grant us this one favour: do not put us to death at a distance from our town, conduct us to our 'fatherland,' to our hearths and homes, and there let us find our grave. We ourselves are ready to lead the way!" Upon hearing these words, Charmides laid aside his dispositions for battle, and ordered his forces to follow leisurely. The buccaneers had meanwhile posted some scouts at a distance, who were to watch the movements of the enemy, and who, when they had reached the causeway, were to let out the waters upon them. The canals which issue from the branches of the Nile have high banks, to hinder the river from flooding the land before the time, and when the fields require watering, a portion of the bank is cut through. Now there was a long and wide canal behind the town which we are speaking of; those who were stationed for the purpose cut through the banks as soon as they saw the enemy approaching, and in a moment the old men fled, the others charged with their spears, on rolled the waters rising higher and higher, the causeway was flooded, and all around became a sea.
The buccaneers at the first onset speared the foremost of the enemy, together with their commander, who were taken by surprise, and therefore quite unprepared, and it is difficult to describe the various ways in which the others perished. Some fell before they could even handle their weapons; some before they could offer any resistance; for to see their assailants and to receive their own death-wound was simultaneous; others were slain before they could see the hand which slew them; some overcome by terror, remained motionless awaiting death; others upon attempting to move were taken off their legs by the force of the stream, while others again, who had betaken themselves to flight, were carried along and drowned in the deep part of the lagoons, where the water was above their heads; those even who were upon land had water up to their middles, which, by turning aside their shields, exposed their bodies to the enemy. The difficulty of knowing what was land and what was not, retarded many, and was the cause of their being taken prisoners; while others supposing themselves still on land came into deep water and were drowned; here were to be seen mishaps and wrecks of an unwonted kind,—a land engagement on the water, and a wreck upon the land.[19]
The buccaneers were greatly elated by their success, and attributed their victory not to fraud but to their own valour; for among the Egyptians their fear degenerates into abject cowardice, and their courage mounts to rashness; in this respect they are always in extremes, and are wholly subject either to the excess or the defect. Ten days had now passed and Leucippe was no better; upon one occasion while asleep she cried out in a frenzied manner, "Gorgias, it is thou who hast driven me mad!"[20]I told Menelaus of this in the morning, and began to consider whether there was any one in the village of that name. We were just going out, when a young man met and accosted me, saying, "I am come to save you and your wife." Perfectly astounded, and thinking that his coming was providential, "Are you Gorgias?" I inquired.—"No," replied he, "my name is Chæreas; Gorgias is the cause of all the mischief." I felt a thrill run through me, as I asked, "What mischief do you mean? Who is Gorgias? Some deity betrayed his name to me last night; be you an interpreter of the announcement."
"Gorgias," he resumed, "was an Egyptian soldier; he is now no more, having been slain by the buccaneers. He conceived a passion for your wife, and being well acquainted with the nature of drugs, he compounded a love philtre which he persuaded your Egyptian servant to mix with Leucippe's drink; he neglected to dilute the potion, so that instead of producing love it brought on madness. I was informed of all this yesterday by Gorgias' servant, who accompanied his master against the buccaneers, and who seems to have been specially preserved by Fortune for your sake. He asks four pieces of gold for effecting your wife's recovery, having, as he says, a drug which will counteract the effects of that which has been administered." "All blessings attend you for this good service!" I exclaimed; "pray bring the man here of whom you speak."
No sooner was he departed on this errand, than going in to the Egyptian, I struck him repeatedly about the head with my clenched fist, saying at every blow, "What was it which you gave Leucippe? What is it which has caused her madness?" The fellow in his fright confessed everything, confirming what Chæreas had already said; upon which we thrust him into prison, and there kept him. By this time Chæreas had returned, bringing the man with him. "Here are your four gold pieces as the reward for your seasonable information; but before you proceed to do anything, hear my opinion. As this lady's illness has been caused by swallowing a drug, I cannot but think it dangerous to administer more physic while the stomach is already under the influence of medicine; tell me, therefore, what are the ingredients in your proposed remedy, and compound it in my presence; upon these conditions I will give you four more gold pieces." "Your apprehensions are reasonable," he replied; "but the ingredients in my medicine are all common and fit for human food, and I will myself swallow the same quantity which I give the lady." After specifying the various ingredients, he sent some one out to procure them; and as soon as they were brought, he pounded them together in our presence, made two draughts of them, saying, "one of them I will drink off, the other is for the lady; it will make her sleep all night, and in the morning she will awake quite recovered." He then swallowed the draught, and ordered the other to be taken at night. "I must now go and lie down," he said, "under the influence of the medicine." With these words he left us, having received the stipulated sum, and with the assurance of the additional reward being paid him, if Leucippe should recover. When the hour arrived for administering the draught, I poured it out, and thus addressed it:
"Offspring of the Earth, gift of Æsculapius, may the promises made of thee be verified; shew thyself propitious and preserve my beloved; subdue the power of that ruthless potion." Thus having entered into a kind of compact with the medicine, I kissed the cup and give it to Leucippe. She soon fell into a profound sleep, and while sitting beside her I said to her, as if she could still hear me, "Wilt thou really recover thy senses? Wilt thou know me again? Shall I hear that dear voice of thine? Give some token in thy sleep, as yesternight thou didst concerning Gorgias; happier are thy sleeping than thy waking hours; frenzy is thy portion when awake, but thou art inspired by Wisdom when asleep."
At length my words and thoughts were interrupted by the anxiously-expected break of day, and I heard Leucippe's voice calling me by name. Instantly I hurried to her side, and inquired how she felt; she appeared to have no knowledge of what had passed, and seeing that her hands were bound, expressed surprise, and inquired who had tied them. Finding her restored to her right mind, I undid the knots in great agitation, through excess of joy, and then related to her all particulars. She blushed upon learning what had passed, and almost believed herself to be still committing the same extravagance; but my assurances gradually soothed and restored her to herself. Gladly did I pay the man the sum which had been promised him, and fortunately our finances[21]were in safety, for Satyrus had our money about his person[22]at the time when we were shipwrecked, and neither he nor Menelaus had been plundered by the buccaneers. While what I have been relating took place, a much more powerful force arrived from the seat of government, which succeeded in completely destroying the pirate settlement.
As the river was now freed from any dangers on the part of these marauders, we prepared to sail for Alexandria, accompanied by Chæreas, for whom we had conceived a friendship on account of the discovery which he had made to us about the potion. He was a native of the Isle of Pharos, and his calling that of a fisherman; he had served in a naval expedition against the buccaneers, and at its termination had been discharged. The river which, owing to the depredations of the pirates, had for a long time been deserted, was now crowded with vessels; and a pleasant thing it was to hear the songs of the sailors and the mirth of the passengers, and to see so many craft passing up and down. Our voyage was like a continuous festival, and the river itself seemed to be keeping holiday.[23]I for the first time drank some of the Nile water, without any admixture of wine, being desirous to test its sweetness,—and wine, I may remark, always spoils the flavour of water. Having filled a transparent crystal glass, the liquid vied with, nay, surpassed it in brightness. It was sweet to the taste, and had an agreeable coldness, whereas some of the Grecian rivers are so very cold as to be injurious to the health. On this account the Egyptians have no fear in drinking its water, and stand in no need of wine.[24]Their way of drinking struck me as being curious. They do not draw up the water in a bucket, neither do they use any other cup than that which Nature has supplied,—their hand; when any one is thirsty he stoops over the side of the vessel, and, receiving the water in the hollow of his hand, jerks it upwards with such dexterity, that it is received into the open mouth, and not a drop is lost.
The Nile produces another monster, more noted for strength than even the river-horse, I mean the crocodile.[25]His shape is between that of a fish and a large animal. His length from head to tail is great, and out of proportion to his breadth; his skin is rough with scales; the surface of his back hard and of a black colour, while the belly is white. He has four legs, which bend in an oblique direction, like those of the land tortoise; his tail is long and thick, forming a solid mass, and differing from that of other animals in being the continuation of the spine, and therefore a constituent part of the body, and on the top it is set with sharp spines, like the teeth of a saw. It serves the crocodile for an implement with which to capture his prey; he strikes with it against his antagonist, and a single stroke will inflict several wounds. His head grows directly out of his shoulders in one line, for Nature has concealed his neck.[26] The most formidable part about him are his jaws, which open to an immense extent; so long as they remain closed they form a head, but when expanded to take in its prey, they become all mouth; (the animal, I may observe, moves only the upper jaw) for so great is their expansion that it reaches to the shoulders and to the orifice of the stomach. He has many teeth, which are disposed in long rows: they are said to equal the days of the year in number. Were you to see the animal on land, you would not suppose him to be possessed of so much strength, judging from his size.