And fought together and together died,
Under earth-barrows now are laid at rest,
Their chance thrice glorious, and their fate thrice-blest.
No tears for them, but memory’s loving gaze;
For them no pity, but proud hymns1 of praise.”
Simonides.
Like a great crawling serpent, the army of Xerxes, augmented2 by the cowardly Thessalians, wound its circuitous3 and perilous4 way from Trachis; first ascending5 the gorge6 of the river Asopus and the hill called Anopæa, then crossing the pitch-dark, oak-covered crest7 of Oeta. Its venomous head was the treasonable Greek, dressed as a Persian foot-soldier. Many were the woes8 of that nocturnal journey! Soldiers tripping over fallen branches and entangled9 in the undergrowth were trampled10 to death. Some were pressed into the treacherous11 morass12, but the malignant13 monster, heedless of this sloughing14, crept on toward its goal which was the town of Alpeni at the east end of the pass.
11
But the small army of the Greeks was not destined15 to suffer such a complete surprise as Xerxes had hoped, for the revengeful Tyrastiadas, limping painfully as a result of his forty lashes17, had succeeded in deserting and had apprised18 Leonidas of the startling fact that the Persians were coming across the pass. The Spartan19 king sent a Phocian guard of one thousand men to prevent the enemy from crossing the summit of Oeta, but this guard was speedily overwhelmed by the Persians who were under the leadership of Hydarnes. The next morning shortly after sunrise, the Persian hordes20 descended21 upon the Greeks. The sun was reflected with dazzling brilliancy from thousands of breast-plates, spears, shields and helmets, and upon the ears of the heroic sons of Hellas fell the deafening22 war-cry from myriads23 of throats.
A suffocating24 sensation seized Zopyrus as he beheld25 the mere26 handful of Greeks bravely awaiting certain death at the hands of a pitiless foe27, but to turn back was now impossible. Strange that he could in fancy so easily picture himself as one of that brave minority, awaiting inevitable28 death! To his own sorrow he had not infrequently lamented29 the faculty30 which he possessed31 of seeing the praiseworthy aspect of an enemy’s view-point. It was this attribute of leniency32 toward the opinions of his fellow-men that was especially irritating to the intolerant Xerxes. In the mind of the latter all men were divided into two great classes; subjects and enemies. To Zopyrus all men seemed friends unless by their own initiative they proved themselves otherwise. It was extremely painful to him to see these brave Greeks meet this great crisis unflinchingly. It was humanly impossible for this mere handful of men to stem the tide of the onrushing Persians.
12
To us at this day and age it is apparent that these men did not sacrifice their manhood in vain. The result of any noble act is never lost. In some way and at some time it brings a result as satisfactory as that desired in the hearts of the original heroes themselves. Such a result was destined to come to Greece after the bones of Thermopylæ’s warriors33 had long mingled34 with the dust.
Zopyrus was swept on by the barbarian35 host. A shower of missiles diminished the number of Greeks and soon the enemy was upon them and the battle continued with spear and sword. Zopyrus received a slight wound on the left shoulder, the Greek inflicting36 the injury snatching away his spear. Zopyrus quickly unsheathed his sword, pressing his opponent to closer combat as a better chance for self defense37. The two fought long over the bodies of Persian and Greek who now lay in inevitable amity38 beside their once ruthless foe. At length the Greek who was little more than a boy, weakened perceptibly and in an unguarded moment Zopyrus’ sword disappeared up to the hilt. As the lad fell his helmet rolled off revealing a countenance39 of incomparable beauty; deep-set eyes, brows that nearly met above a straight nose, refined mouth and a contour of cheek and chin that was flawless. All this was revealed to Zopyrus in a second’s time, but it left an indelible impression on his mind. As he pressed on he felt that the horrors of war were crazing him, and his soul cried out against the awful brutality40 of it.
13
With the slaughter41 of the three hundred the gateway42 to central Greece had now been forcibly opened and Xerxes in imitation of his father’s avenging43 words, cried out, “Remember the Athenians.” A journey of about six days lay between the oriental despot and his ultimate goal, the city of Athens, so with prancing44 steeds, waving plumes45, glittering arms and triumphant46 shouts, the Asiatic legions resumed their deleterious course.
The morning of the third day found the army within sight of Mt. Parnassus. With rapt gaze Zopyrus beheld the softest sculpture of cliff and peak against a cerulean sky. Upon yonder lofty summit dwelt the Muses47, those daughters of Zeus who preside over the æsthetic and intellectual aspirations49 of man. It seemed to Zopyrus that surely now but one Muse48, Melpomene, occupied that pinnacle50, and with mournful gaze beheld the invasion of this fairest of lands.
In accordance with the order of Xerxes all faces were turned in the direction of Delphi, in spite of a report that the oracle51 of Delphi had prophesied52 that Apollo would protect his sanctuary53. Through a gorge at the foot of Mt. Parnassus might Melpomene have seen the multitudes of Asiatic troops pursue their nefarious54 journey. Suddenly peal55 after peal of thunder reverberated56 from the apparent calm of a mid-summer sky. Then great crags from the mountain were loosened and rolled down upon the army which fled in wild terror, abandoning its attempt to plunder57 Delphi. So did Apollo protect his shrine58! But fortune did not so favor the citizens of Thespiæ and Platæa in Bœotia both of which were ravaged59 and those citizens who would not join the Persian forces were put to death.
14
At length on the fifth day the army camped at night-fall outside of Athens. It was a beautiful intense dark blue Athenian night in which heaven’s vault60 seemed to blaze with innumerable jewels. Zopyrus sat at the door of his tent deep in his own thoughts. An army during its marches and battles must think, talk and act as one being, and that one subservient61 to its leader, but who shall say in the stillness of evening each living entity62 which comprises that vast unit shall not have his individual dreams, and those thoughts which render him distinct from every other living being? And Zopyrus as he sat in the darkness, thought of Athens and of his mother. What would she think if she knew he was approaching Attica’s stronghold as a plunderer63 and devastator64! Conflicting emotions surged within his soul. Once again it seemed to him that he was in the far off Hermus valley, strolling by the little stream of Pactolus, and by his side was the austere65 Artaphernes whose stern visage was turned toward him with an expression of paternal66 rebuke67. The vision faded leaving him troubled and sore at heart.
That night Zopyrus had a dream. It seemed to him that his father appeared and beckoned68 silently to him to follow and that he wonderingly rose and obeyed. When they were out in the open, Artaphernes, who Zopyrus noticed was fully16 armed, pointed69 with his sabre toward Athens and repeated the memorable70 words of Darius, “Remember the Athenians.” Suddenly the shade of his mother appeared to the right. She stood holding on her arm a scroll71 of papyrus72, and while Zopyrus looked she pointed with it in the same direction as that indicated by the sabre of his father and behold73, as Zopyrus turned he saw a beautiful city with numerous buildings of white marble, and in the center a temple-crowned hill. In the streets were many busy people hurrying to and fro. Some talked from the temple steps while the populace listened, some vied with each other in various physical sports and others sold the produce of the soil in the bustling74 marketplace, but whatever their occupation, they represented a happy and contented75 democracy.
15
Marveling at this vision, Zopyrus turned to his father and noticed that the sabre now pointed to the east. Following the direction of its keen blade with reluctant eyes, Zopyrus beheld another city more gorgeous, but totally lacking in the refined beauty which characterized the city which lay to the west. The buildings of this eastern city possessed a massiveness and grandeur76 that inspired in the beholder77 a profound awe78. Upon the throne in the magnificent palace, and surrounded by a court retinue79, sat a tyrant80 to whom all bowed in servility. On the streets the people moved and worked en masse. There was no individuality, no differentiation81, for these people were victims of an oriental despotism.
When Zopyrus opened his eyes the palace and the toiling82 people had vanished and so likewise had the vision of the peaceful republic. The Persian father and Greek mother no longer stood before him. The youth knew that this dream represented the Persian and the Greek at war within himself for the supremacy83.
When morning broke, the camp was astir at an early hour for this was to be the day of days! Zopyrus was awakened84 by the stamping and neighing of horses, the rattle85 of arms and the jocular voices of his comrades.
16
“Wake up, Zopyrus!” cried a friendly voice. Zopyrus saw his friend Masistius leaning over him.
“Xerxes bids us avenge86 the burning of Sardis today,” continued Masistius. “His words to all his officers this morning are, ‘Remember the Athenians!’”
“His advice to me is quite unnecessary,” replied Zopyrus, “for I can not forget them.”
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1
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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8
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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9
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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12
morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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13
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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14
sloughing
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| v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的现在分词 )；舍弃；除掉；摒弃 | |
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15
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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17
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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18
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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19
spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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20
hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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21
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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22
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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23
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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24
suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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25
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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26
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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27
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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28
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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29
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
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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31
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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32
leniency
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| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
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33
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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34
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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35
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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36
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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37
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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38
amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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39
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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40
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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41
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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42
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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43
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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44
prancing
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
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45
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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46
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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47
muses
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的第三人称单数 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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48
muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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49
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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50
pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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51
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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52
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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54
nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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55
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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56
reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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57
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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58
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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59
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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60
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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61
subservient
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| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
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62
entity
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| n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物 | |
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63
plunderer
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| 掠夺者 | |
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64
devastator
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| n.蹂躏者，破坏者 | |
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65
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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66
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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67
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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68
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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70
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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71
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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72
papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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73
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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75
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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76
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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77
beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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78
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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79
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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80
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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81
differentiation
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| n.区别，区分 | |
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82
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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83
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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84
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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85
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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86
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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