Chapter 23

Thersander here interrupted him, "It is needless to examine any one by torture, as was formerly proposed. I offer two challenges: one to this wife of mine, Melitta; the other to the pretended daughter of this ambassador, who is lawfully my slave." He then read aloud; "I Thersander challenge Melitta and Leucippe (such I understand is the strumpet's name) to submit to the following ordeal:—If the former, as she asserts, has had no intercourse with this stranger during the period of my absence, let her go unto the sacred fountain of the Styx, declare her innocence upon oath, and then stand acquitted of any further guilt. Let the latter, if free-born and no longer a maiden, remain my slave, for the temple of the goddess affords sanctuary to slaves alone; if, on the other hand, she asserts herself to be a virgin, let her be shut into the cave of the syrinx." We immediately accepted this challenge, being already aware that it would be made.

Melitta, likewise conscious that nothing improper had taken place during the actual absence of Thersander, said, "I accept the challenge; and will here add, that during the period referred to I had criminal intercourse with no one, whether foreigner or citizen; and I will ask you," addressing Thersander, "to what penalty will you submit, provided the charge prove groundless and calumnious?"—"I will submit to whatever the law decrees," was his reply. The court then broke up, the following day being appointed for the respective ordeals referred to in the challenge. The following is the legend of the Stygian fountain:—

"There was once a beauteous maiden, named Rhodopis, whose supreme delight was in the chase. She was swift of foot, unerring in her aim; she wore a head-band, had her robe girt up to the knee, and her hair short, after the fashion of men. Diana met her, bestowed many commendations on her, and made her her companion in the chase. The maiden bound herself by oath to observe perpetual virginity, to avoid the company of men, and never to humiliate herself by submitting to amorous indulgence.[21]Venus overheard the oath, and was incensed at it, and determined to punish the damsel for her presumption. There happened to be a youth of Ephesus, named Euthynicus, as much distinguished among men for beauty as Rhodopis was among those of her own sex. He was as ardently devoted to the chase as the maiden, and like her was averse to the delights of love. One day when Diana was absent, Venus contrived to make the game which they were following run in the same direction; then addressing her archer son, she said, 'Do you see yon frigid and unloving pair, enemies to us and to our mysteries? The maiden has even gone the length of registering an oath against me! Do you see them both following a hind? Join the chase, and begin by making an example of the maiden;—your arrows never miss.' Both at the same moment bend their bows,—she against the hind, but Cupid against her,—and both hit the mark, but the successful huntress herself becomes a victim; her arrow pierces the shoulder of the deer, but Cupid's shaft penetrates her heart, and the result of the wound was love for Euthynicus. Cupid then aims a shaft at him, and with the same effect. For a time they stand and gaze upon each other; their eyes are fascinated; they cannot turn away;[22]gradually their inward wounds become inflamed; the fire kindles,[23]and love urges their steps to the cavern where now the fountain flows, and there they violate their oath.[24]Diana soon after saw Venus laughing, and readily comprehended what had taken place, and as a punishment changed the maiden into a fountain, upon the spot where her chastity was lost. For this reason, when any female is suspected of impurity, she is made to step into the fountain, which is shallow, reaching only to midleg, and then it is that the ordeal takes place. The oath declarative of chastity is written on a tablet, and suspended from her neck; if truly sworn, the fountain remains unmoved; if falsely taken, it swells and rages, rises to her neck, and flows over the tablet."

Next morning a great concourse assembled, and at the head came Thersander, with a confident expression of countenance, and looking at us with a contemptuous smile. Leucippe was attired in a sacred robe of fine white linen, reaching to the feet and girded about her waist; round her head she had a purple fillet, and her feet were bare. She entered the cavern with an air of becoming modesty. Upon seeing her disappear within, I was overcome by agitation, and said mentally, "I doubt not your chastity, dearest Leucippe, but I am afraid of Pan; he is a virgin-loving god, and for aught I know, you may become a second syrinx. His former mistress easily escaped him, for her course lay over an open plain; whereas you are shut up within doors, and so blockaded that flight is out of the question, however much you may wish to fly. Ο Pan! be thou propitious; do not violate the statutes of the place, which we have religiously observed; grant that Leucippe may again return to us a virgin; remember thy compact with Diana, and do no injury to the maiden." While talking to myself in this manner, sounds of music proceeded from the cavern, more ravishingly sweet, I was assured, than had been heard on any former occasion: the doors were immediately opened, and when Leucippe sprang forth, the multitude shouted with delight, and vented execrations upon Thersander. What my own feelings were, I cannot pretend to describe. After gaining this first signal triumph, we left the spot, and proceeded to the place which was to be the scene of the remaining ordeal, the people following again to behold the spectacle. Everything was in readiness, the tablet was suspended to Melitta's neck, and she descended into the shallow fountain with a smiling countenance. No change was perceptible in the water, which remained perfectly still, and did not in the slightest degree exceed its usual depth, and at the expiration of the allotted time the president came forward, and taking Melitta by the hand, conducted her out of the fountain. Thersander, already twice defeated, and surely anticipating a third defeat, took to his heels and fled to his own house, fearing that the people would, in their fury, stone him. His apprehensions were well founded, for some young men were seen at a distance dragging Sosthenes along; two of them were Melitta's kinsmen, and the others were servants, whom she had despatched in quest of him. Thersander had caught sight of him, and feeling sure that when put to the torture he would confess everything, he secretly left the city, as soon as night came on. Sosthenes was committed to prison by order of the magistrates, and we returned triumphant upon every point, and accompanied by the shouts and good wishes of the people.

Next morning they whose business it was[25]conducted Sosthenes before the magistrates. Aware that he was about to be put to the question, he made a full confession of everything, stating how far Thersander had been the prime agent, and how far he had himself assisted in carrying out his schemes! nor did he omit to repeat the conversation which had taken place between his master and him before the cottage-door. He was sent back to prison there to await his sentence, and a decree of banishment was pronounced against Thersander. When this business was concluded, we again returned to the hospitable dwelling of the priest, and while at supper resumed the subject of our former conversation, mutually relating any incidents which had previously been omitted. Leucippe, now that the purity of her character was fully established, no longer stood in awe of her father, but took pleasure in narrating the events which had befallen her. When she came to that part of her story which referred to Pharos and the pirates, I requested her to give us every particular about them, and especially to explain the riddle of the severed head, as this alone was wanting to complete the history of her adventures. "The recital will interest us all," I said, "especially your father."

"The unhappy female to whom you allude," replied Leucippe, "was one of that class who sell their charms for money. She was inveigled on board, under pretence of becoming the wife of a sea captain, and remained there in ignorance of the real cause for which she had been brought, passing her time in the company of one of the pirates, who pretended to have a passion for her. When I was seized, they placed me, as you saw, in a boat, and rowed off with all their might; and afterwards when they perceived that the vessel despatched in pursuit was gaining upon them, they stripped the wretched woman of her clothes, which they put on me, making her dress herself in mine; then placing her at the stern in sight of the pursuers, they cut off her head and cast the body overboard, doing the same with the head, when the pursuit was given up. Whether she had been brought on board for the above purpose, or in order to be sold, as they afterwards told me, I cannot say; certain it is that she was put to death by way of eluding the pursuers, the pirates imagining that I should fetch more money as a slave than she would do. It was this determination on their part which earned his just reward for Chæreas, who had suggested the murder of the female in place of me. The pirates refused to let him retain exclusive possession of me, saying that on his account one woman had already been lost to them, who would have been a source of gain. They proposed, therefore, that I should be sold to make up the loss, and that the money should be equally divided. He replied in an angry and threatening manner, asserting his prior claims, and reminding them of their compact, and that I had been carried off, not in order to be sold, but to be his mistress. Upon this, one of the pirates came behind him, and dealt him his measure of justice by striking off his head and flinging his body into the sea,—a worthy requital of his perfidious conduct towards me.

"After two days' sail, the pirates put in at some place, the name of which I do not know, where they sold me to a merchant who used to traffic with them, and from his hands I passed into the possession of Sosthenes."

"My children," said Sostratus, when Leucippe had concluded, "I will now relate what has happened to Calligone, for it is but fair that I should contribute my share to the conversation."[26]Upon hearing my sister's name mentioned, I became all attention, and said, "Prithee, sir, proceed; I shall rejoice to hear that she is still alive." He commenced by repeating what has already been mentioned respecting Callisthenes, the oracle given to the Byzantians, the sacred embassy sent to Tyre, and the stratagem for carrying off Calligone. He went on to say: "Callisthenes discovered during the voyage that she was not my daughter; but although matters had thus turned out quite contrary to his intentions, he conceived a strong passion for his fair captive, and throwing himself at her knees: 'Lady,' he said, 'do not imagine that I am a corsair or a villain; I am of good birth, and second in rank to none in Byzantium. It is Love who has compelled me to turn pirate, and to employ this stratagem against you. Deign, therefore, to consider me your slave from this day forth. I offer you my hand in marriage. You shall have for your dowry more wealth than your father would have bestowed upon you, and you shall preserve your maiden state so long as you may please.'

"By means of these, and other insinuating words, he brought her to look favourably upon him, for he was handsome in person and possessed a flow of persuasive language. Upon arriving at Byzantium he had a deed drawn up assigning her an ample dowry; he then proceeded to make other preparations, purchased for her splendid dresses, jewellery and ornaments, in short, whatsoever was required for the wardrobe and toilette of a lady of rank and wealth. Having done this, he abstained from soliciting her virtue, and in fulfilment of his promise allowed her to remain a maiden, and thus he gradually won her affections. In a short time, quite a wonderful alteration took place in the young man; he became conciliatory in manner, and prudent and orderly in his mode of living; he shewed respect by rising up before his elders,[27]and was the first courteously to salute any whom he met; his former indiscriminate profusion, which had been mere lavish prodigality, now became wisely directed liberality, choosing for its objects those who were suffering from poverty and required assistance.

"All who remembered his former and dissolute course of life were amazed at this sudden change. He shewed me the most marked attention, and I could not help loving him and attributing his former conduct more to an excess of open-heartedness than to any actual vicious propensities, and I called to mind the case of Themistocles, who after a youth spent in licentiousness, in after life excelled all his countrymen in soundness of judgment and many virtues.[28]I really felt sorry at having repulsed him, when he was a suitor for my daughter's hand, he treated me with so much respect, giving me the title of father, and escorting me[29]whenever I had occasion to go through the forum. He likewise took great interest in military exercises, especially in what related to the cavalry department; he had always been fond of horses, but hitherto merely to indulge his love of amusement and his luxurious tastes; yet though actuated by no higher motives, he had been unconsciously fostering the seeds of skill and courage; and eventually his chief ambition was to distinguish himself by valour and ability in the field. He contributed largely from his own private resources the expenses of the war, and was elected my colleague in command, in which position he shewed me a still greater degree of attention and deference. When at length, victory declared itself on our side, through the visible intervention of the deity,[30]we returned to Byzantium, and it was decreed, that the public thanks of the State should be conveyed to Hercules and Diana, for which purpose he was to proceed to Tyre, while I was despatched to this city. Before setting out Callisthenes took me by the hand and related every particular respecting Calligone. 'Father,' he said, 'the impetuosity of youth led me away in the first instance; but in the course which since then, I have pursued, deliberate choice and principle have influenced my actions. I have scrupulously respected the maiden's honour, during a time of war and confusion when men are generally least inclined to deny themselves the indulgence of their desires. My intention is now to conduct her to her father's house, at Tyre; and then to claim her for my bride, at her father's hand, in accordance with the law.[31]I have made an ample settlement upon her, and shall consider myself most fortunate, if he grants my suit; if, on the contrary, I meet with a repulse he will receive back his daughter as pure as when she left his home.'

"I will now read you a friendly letter, which—feeling anxious that the marriage should be concluded—I addressed to my brother, before the termination of the war, in which I mentioned the rank of Callisthenes, and bore testimony to his good birth, the honourable position which he had attained, and his eminent services in the field. If we gain our cause in the new trial[32]moved by Thersander, I propose, first of all to sail to Byzantium, and afterwards to proceed to Tyre."

Clinias came to us next day, with the intelligence that Thersander had secretly left the city, that his object in appealing from the recent decision was but a pretext to gain time, and that he had no intention of following up the case. After waiting three days, the period appointed for taking fresh proceedings,[33]we appeared before the President, and having satisfactorily proved by reference to the statutes, that Thersander had no longer any legal ground against us, we embarked and enjoyed a favourable voyage to Byzantium, where our long-desired nuptials took place. A short time after, we sailed to Tyre, which we reached two days after the arrival of Callisthenes, and where I found my father preparing to celebrate my sister's wedding on the following day. We were present on the occasion, and assisted at the religious ceremonial, offering up our united prayers that both our marriages might be crowned with happiness; and we arranged, after wintering at Ephesus, to proceed to Byzantium in the spring.

[1]τρίδουλος, a slave through three generations."ἐὸν τρίτης ἐγὼ μητρὸς φανῶ τριδουλος."Soph. Œd. Tyr. 1054.

[1]τρίδουλος, a slave through three generations.

"ἐὸν τρίτης ἐγὼ μητρὸς φανῶ τριδουλος."Soph. Œd. Tyr. 1054.

[2]ἐv τοῖς τῆς αὐλαίας χωρίοις. In temples, curtains served more especially to veil the statue of the divinity:—"Dum velis candentibua reductis in diversum, Deæ venerabilem conspectum apprecamur."—Apul. Met. xi.

[3]"ἤκουσιν ἐς γῆν κυανέαν Συμπληγάδαπλάτῃ φυγόντες δίπτυχοι νεaνίaιθεᾷ φίλον πρόσφαγμα καὶ θντήριονΆρτἐμιδι."—Iph. in Tauris, 230.

[3]

"ἤκουσιν ἐς γῆν κυανέαν Συμπληγάδαπλάτῃ φυγόντες δίπτυχοι νεaνίaιθεᾷ φίλον πρόσφαγμα καὶ θντήριονΆρτἐμιδι."—Iph. in Tauris, 230.

[4]"Tu lene tormentum ingenio admovesPlerumque duro; tu sapientiumCuras et arcanam jocosoConsilium retegis Lyæo."—Hor. iii.; Od. xxi. 1.

[4]

"Tu lene tormentum ingenio admovesPlerumque duro; tu sapientiumCuras et arcanam jocosoConsilium retegis Lyæo."—Hor. iii.; Od. xxi. 1.

[5]τὴν πρὸς Μελίττην αἰδώ.

[6]"If a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given her for a covering."—1 Cor. xi. 15.Apuleius, Met. B. ii. has a remarkable passage illustrative of the indispensableness of a fine head of hair to constitute perfect female beauty. "Si cujuslibet eximiæ pulcherrimæque feminæ caput capillo spoliaveris et faciem nativâ specie nudaveris, licet illa cœlo dejecta, mari edita, fluctibus educata, licet, inquam Venus ipsa fuerit, licet omni Gratiarum choro stipata, et toto Cupidinum populo comitata et baltheo suo cincta, cinnama fragrans et balsama rorans, calva processerit, placere non poterit nec Vulcano suo."

[6]"If a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given her for a covering."—1 Cor. xi. 15.

Apuleius, Met. B. ii. has a remarkable passage illustrative of the indispensableness of a fine head of hair to constitute perfect female beauty. "Si cujuslibet eximiæ pulcherrimæque feminæ caput capillo spoliaveris et faciem nativâ specie nudaveris, licet illa cœlo dejecta, mari edita, fluctibus educata, licet, inquam Venus ipsa fuerit, licet omni Gratiarum choro stipata, et toto Cupidinum populo comitata et baltheo suo cincta, cinnama fragrans et balsama rorans, calva processerit, placere non poterit nec Vulcano suo."

[7]See the beginning of B. iv. where Diana enjoins upon Leucippe the preservation of her chastity.

[8]ὁ τῆς Ἀθηνᾰς αἰλὸς.

[9]μεταπηδᾶ—χορεύει.

[10]Throughout this description of the syrinx, the Greek text is very corrupt: "locus graviter afflictus," is the expression of Jacobs, who gives four closely printed octavo pages of notes, to elucidate its difficulties. The translator has endeavoured to give, what (after a comparison of the notes) appeared to him the true sense.

[11]See the same legend, towards the end of Longus, B. ii.

[12]τoῦ τόπου πνεῦμα ἔχοντος μουσικὸν εἰς τὸν σύριγγα ταμιεῖον.

[13]"sorbitio—dira cicutæ."—Persius, S. iv. 2.

[14]By the Roman law, a woman convicted of adultery was mulcted in half her dowry (dos) and the third part of her property (bona), and banished to some miserable island, such as Seriphos.—Dict. of Grk. and Rom. Antiq.

[15]δίκην δεδωκὼς οὐ δέδωκε.

[16]Here and elsewhere in the address of the worthy priest of Diana occur equivoques, which, owing, to the genius of the English language and a regard for decency are incapable of and unfit for translation. The commentators illustrate the passage referred to in this note by an epigram of Martial, iii. 80."De nulli quereris, nulli maledicis, Apici;Rumor ait, linguæ te tamen esse malæ."

"De nulli quereris, nulli maledicis, Apici;Rumor ait, linguæ te tamen esse malæ."

[17]eἰς ἀσέλγειαν ἀκονᾷ.

[18]πάντα ἑαυτοῦ γίνεται, δήμος, βουλή, πρόεδρος, στρατηγός.

[19]Among the Greeks legal proceedings terminated at sunset; nor could decrees of the senate, among the Romans, be passed after that time; hence we find as terms of reproach: "Senatus consultavespertina," in Cicero; and "advocati nocturni" in Petronius.

[20]πόρνος:—the word given as a translation, is found in "Troilus and Cressida."

[21]"... she'll not be hitWith Cupid's arrow,...And, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd,From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'dShe will not stay the siege of loving terms,Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes."Romeo and Juliet.

[21]

"... she'll not be hitWith Cupid's arrow,...And, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd,From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'dShe will not stay the siege of loving terms,Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes."Romeo and Juliet.

[22]The reader will call to mind the "love at first sight" of Theagenes and Chariclea, so well described in the Third Book of the Ethiopics.

[23]"For, oh, Love's bow,Shoots buck and doe;The shaft confounds,Not that it wounds,But tickles still the sore."Troilus and Cressida.

[23]

"For, oh, Love's bow,Shoots buck and doe;The shaft confounds,Not that it wounds,But tickles still the sore."Troilus and Cressida.

[24]Compare Æneid, B. iv. 115-126.

[25]ὁι τἂύτην ἔχοντες τἠν πίστιν.

[26]ἵνα μὴ ἀσυμβολήσω μυθολογίας παντάπασι.

[27]"Credebant hoc grande nefas et morte piandumSi juvenis vetulo non adsurrexerat."—Juv. xiii. 54.

[27]

"Credebant hoc grande nefas et morte piandumSi juvenis vetulo non adsurrexerat."—Juv. xiii. 54.

[28]"Omnium postea Graii sanguinis virorum clarissimus extitit."—Val. Max. vi. 15. 2.

[29]ἐδορυφόρει—"quod honoris causâ fiebat a clientibus."—Jacobs.

[30]The appearance of Diana is mentioned in B. vii.

[31]The law referred to in B. ii.

[32]ἢν τὴν ἔφεσιν ἀγωνισώμεθα.Ἔφεσις, an appeal in order to obtain a new trial, vide Dict. of Greek and Rom. Antiq. p. 62.Jacobs observes that the original is here probably imperfect, no previous mention having been made of a new trial.—&c.

[32]ἢν τὴν ἔφεσιν ἀγωνισώμεθα.

Ἔφεσις, an appeal in order to obtain a new trial, vide Dict. of Greek and Rom. Antiq. p. 62.

Jacobs observes that the original is here probably imperfect, no previous mention having been made of a new trial.—&c.

[33]προθεσμία. The term limited for bringing actions and prosecutions at Athens.—Dict. of Greek and Roman Antiq. p. 797.

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