“The Macedonian has not yet come, has he?” she asked.
“Madam,” replied Charidemus, “the king arrived this afternoon.”
“And to-morrow the governor of the city will present him with the list of the property and persons left here by King Darius. This will be compared with the list already made by Parmenio.”
“But my name may not be in it,” she eagerly interposed.
[174]
“Madam,” said Manasseh, “do not flatter yourself with such a hope. The widow of the man who commanded the Great King’s forces is far too important a person to be forgotten. You may depend upon it that there is no one in the whole kingdom, except, it may be, the wife and child of Darius himself, whom the king is more bent3 on getting into his possession than the widow of Memnon the Rhodian.”
“It is so, madam,” broke in Charidemus; “nay, I know that your name is in Parmenio’s list, for Philotas his son showed it me. I entreat4 you to act without delay. You should have seen the king on his first arrival. To-night it is impossible. But go to-morrow, as early as may be, before he sees the list—and he begins business betimes—that you may still seem to have given yourself up of your own accord.”
Barsiné made no answer, but paced up and down the room in uncontrollable agitation5. At last she addressed the Macedonian.
“Madam,” replied Charidemus, “I have seen him at times when men show their real selves—at the banquet and in the battle-field.”
“And he is merciful and generous? Strong he is and valiant7, I know. My Memnon used to say that he had not his match in the world, and he had seen him fight. But he is one, you say, who can have compassion8 also, who can pity the suppliant9?”
[175]
“Madam,” said the young man, “I believe from my heart that he is.”
“Then I will go to him; I will throw myself at his feet; I will implore10 his compassion for myself and my children.”
“There shall be no need for you to do so, lady,” said a voice from the other end of the room.
At the same time the tapestry11 that covered another door was moved apart, and Alexander himself stood before them. He was unarmed, except for a light cuirass of richly gilded12 steel and a sword. His head was uncovered; his hair, which he wore long after the fashion of the heroic age, fell in golden curls about his neck. His face, with lustrous13 deep-blue eyes, features chiselled14 after the purest Greek type, and fair complexion15 just now flushed with a delicate rose, was of a beauty singularly attractive.
So unexpected, so startling was the sight that Manasseh and his young companion could only stare in mute astonishment16. Charidemus, as became his soldierly instincts and habits, was the first to recover his self-possession. He stood at attention, and saluted17. Barsiné covered her face with her hands.
Alexander gazed at the scene with a smile, enjoying, one may believe, with a certain satisfaction the astonishment that his appearance had caused. After a brief silence he spoke18 again. “I thank you, venerable sir,” he began, addressing himself to Manasseh, “for the words of truth that you have uttered, and[176] the admirable advice that you have given to the Lady Barsiné. It is true that there is no one in the whole kingdom of Persia whom Alexander is more anxious to secure than the widow of Memnon the Rhodian. Nor could you have given her better advice than that she should surrender herself to me of her own free will. And you, my young friend,” he went on, turning to Charidemus, “you I thank most heartily19 for the praises that you have bestowed20 on my clemency21. The gods grant that I may always be not less worthy22 of them than I hope I am this day. And now, lady, after that these gentlemen have spoken, as I trust, so truly of me, let me speak for myself. But, first, will you permit me to be seated?”
Barsiné murmured a half-audible assent23, and the king took a chair opposite to the couch on which she was reclining, and signed to the Jew and Charidemus that they should seat themselves. They did so, first respectfully withdrawing to the further end of the room.
The king went on: “Lady; you have never heard of me—save, it may be, from Manasseh and Charidemus here—but as of an enemy, though I trust you have heard no evil; let me now speak as a friend. Your husband fought against me; it was not the will of the gods that he should succeed. Therefore they first blinded the eyes of King Darius so that he could not see the wisdom of his counsel;[177] and then they shortened his days. Had he lived I could not have been here to-day. But would it have been well that he should succeed? He was a Greek, but he fought for Persia. Think you that he wished in his heart that the Persian should triumph over Greece, should be lord of Athens and Sparta, of Delphi and Olympia? I do not forget, lady, that you are Persian by birth. Yes, but you are Greek in soul, and you know in your heart that if one of the two must rule it must be the Greek. But, believe me, I do not come to conquer, I come to unite. Persians and Greeks are brothers, and, if the gods grant me my wish, they shall be one nation of freemen with me for their chief. That your king never could have been, nor, I may say, any Greek before me.
“This is my plan and hope; and now, lady, for the part that you can take in completing and fulfilling it. I shall say it in a word. Be my wife.”
“I am abrupt25 and hasty,” said Alexander, “kings must need be so when they court. It were a happier lot for me, if I were one who could win for himself, if it might be, by such means as lovers use, the heart of one so beautiful and so wise. Still I would have you look on me as one who asks rather than commands. What say you, most beautiful of women?”
[178]
“Let that be my care,” said Alexander, “I know of none so worthy. It is only you that have the right to question my choice.”
To say that Barsiné was overwhelmed by the situation in which she found herself is to say but a small part of the truth. She had been so much occupied with the thought of whether or no she should appeal to Alexander’s compassion, that the idea of what might be the result of her appeal had scarcely crossed her mind. If she had been conscious of any definite hope, it was that she might be allowed to hide herself in some retirement27, where she might educate her son. And now what a destiny was put at his feet! To be the wife of the conqueror28 of Asia! for who could doubt that he would be this? She was confused, but it was not the confusion of dismay. She was not a broken-hearted widow whose heart was in her husband’s grave; and though she had really loved her Memnon, as indeed he was worthy to be loved, life was not over for her. And what a life seemed to be opening before her! And yet it was so sudden! And the wooing was so imperious!
“My lord,” she began, “your commands——”
“Said I not,” broke in the king, “that I did not command, that I asked? Now, listen to me. You are free; you shall do what you will. If you wish to depart, depart you shall; and I will do my best to provide safely and well for you and yours. But[179] you must think of others. There is your son. Though I come of the race of Neoptolemus, I am not of his temper; I could not hurl29 a young Scamandrius from the wall,[48] however many the comrades whom his father had slain30. Not so; I will deal with him as it is fit that I should deal with Memnon’s son. He shall learn to be like his father in my camp. And your niece Clearista” (Alexander, as has been said before, had the faculty31 of knowing everything), “we must find some more suitable home for her. Perhaps our good friend Manasseh here can think of such. And now, farewell; I shall come again, lady, and ask my answer.”
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1
augur
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| n.占卦师；v.占卦 | |
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2
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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3
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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4
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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6
hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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7
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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8
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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9
suppliant
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| adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者 | |
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10
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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11
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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12
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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13
lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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14
chiselled
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| adj.凿过的，凿光的； （文章等）精心雕琢的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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15
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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16
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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17
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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18
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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19
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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20
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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22
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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23
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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25
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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26
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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29
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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30
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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31
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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32
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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