Prompting to worship, waking rapture’s tear,
Yes, rise, fair mount! the bright blue heavens to kiss,
Stoop not thy pride, august Acropolis!”
Nicholas Michell.
The city of Athens was seething1 with excitement, for the news had just been received that the Greek soldiers had been unable to hold the pass of Thermopylæ. The streets were filled with groups of agitated2 old men, women of all ages, and children, who seemed no longer capable of being controlled by reason. Weighted down by the burdens of their personal property they prepared to flee. But whither!
In the center of a group near the Areopagus, at the foot of the Acropolis on the north-west, were gathered about fifty men, women and children intently listening to the counsel of one to whom they turned at this time. He was a man of venerable countenance3, flowing beard, and wore a white chiton with a handsomely embroidered4 Greek border.
“My friends,” he was saying, “let us make haste to the top of the Acropolis, there to defend our temples and to seek refuge within the ‘wooden wall.’”
18
Some of his audience seemed inclined to take his admonition seriously, others hesitated as if in doubt. Presently a man whose personality was felt before he was actually visible came hurriedly into the group. He possessed5 a commanding bearing, noble face, an eye piercing and full of fire. There was decision in the swift gestures of his shapely hands. This man was Themistocles, the most powerful Athenian of his time. It was he who had persuaded his fellow-citizens to increase their navy at the time of the war with Aegina, and who sincerely believed that the future safety of his country lay with the ships which were now anchored in the bay of Salamis.
He approached with dignified6 air the terrified gathering7 of Greeks, and there was an imperious ring in his voice as he addressed the spokesman of the group.
“Kyrsilus, can you not persuade these people to come to the bay at once where some of the ships will conduct them safely to Salamis till all danger from this invasion is past?”
To his surprise the old man answered haughtily8. “I am trying to prevail upon these frightened people to seek refuge behind the ‘wooden wall’ as the Delphic oracle9 warned us.”
“The ‘wooden wall,’” shouted Themistocles, “is not the Pelasgic wall which surrounds the top of the Acropolis. It is a wall of ships, and by this means alone will the people of Athens find refuge. Come!” he cried turning away, “all who wish to live to see the accursed foreigners expelled forever from Greece, follow me to the protection of the ‘wooden wall!’”
19
“And all who are brave enough to defend their city,” cried the old man, still firm in his conviction, “follow me to the protection of the ‘wooden wall!’”
There was a division of opinion at the last moment, Themistocles winning nearly half of Kyrsilus’ former followers10.
Clinging tightly to Kyrsilus’ hand as they ascended11 the steps of the Acropolis was a young girl possessing exceptional charm of face and of personality. The usual clearness of her blue eyes was dimmed with tears, and the customary curve of her smiling lips had vanished. Upon her luxuriant brown hair the sun revealed gleams of gold. She was clad in a white garment which hung in graceful12 folds from her shoulders. Over this was slipped a kolpos plaited at the waist. Her neck and arms were bare except for a necklace and bracelets13 of silver. The white of her dress and ornaments14 brought out in favorable contrast the healthful pink of her youthful face.
“Dear Kyrsilus,” the girl was saying, “I shall think of you as my father while my own dear father is preparing to fight the Persians in the bay. He fought bravely at Marathon and I do not believe the gods will see him defeated at Salamis. My uncle too is in command of one of the ships!”
20
“It is possible that with such brave men as we possess on our side the victory will be ours,” said the elder, “but remember the words of the oracle at Delphi! Although there have been some differences of opinion as to the meaning of the words of the oracle, to me it is quite clear that our city should be defended from its sacred hill. I am not criticizing your father, nor Themistocles, nor others like them who seem sincere in their belief that our land will be saved by a battle upon the water. However your father left you in my care, and I shall do what I deem best for your safety.”
A faint smile flitted across the girl’s face. “Did it ever occur to you, Kyrsilus, that the words of the Delphic oracle are usually vague and ambiguous? Come, be frank, do we not all try to interpret its prophecies to our individual satisfactions? Take for instance Themistocles, whose one obsession15 ever since he has risen to a place of prominence16, has been to increase our navy. It is natural that he should desire to bring his beloved navy into use at the first possible opportunity. Then again let us consider you, dear Kyrsilus, and I mean no offense17 whatever. Your sister served many years as a priestess of Athena, performing her duties with others in the temple of Athena on this Acropolis. Then too you have lived in Athens longer than has Themistocles. The city itself and above all its templed hill, the very nucleus18 of Athens, are dearer to you than relatives of whom you now have none surviving.”
The old man looked sadly at the girl and turned his face away to hide a tear. He was deeply affected19 by her words and the sincerity20 of her manner, but he did not wish to betray his emotions.
21
With an effort at severity he said, “My daughter you do unwisely to ridicule21 the divine oracle of Apollo. The words it utters are not as you say ambiguous, but so fraught22 with significance that we mortals are incapable23 of full comprehension. We do our best to interpret the will of the god through his agents, and perhaps at best we can only guess what revelations he makes concerning the future. But it is unseemly in a maiden24 of your years to criticize our divine source of revelation.”
They were now at the top of a long flight of broad steps, and stood one hundred and fifty feet above the level of the city. In the distance through an atmosphere of unusual clarity they beheld25 to the south and east, isolated26 peaks which, though apparently27 devoid28 of vegetation, possessed a beauty of color and contour that was enchanting29. It was the time of the year when the Etesian winds came from across the blue Aegean and the whole fair land of Greece smiled under the magic touch of the goddess, Demeter.
The faithful band of Kyrsilus’ followers passed through the gateway30 of the Pelasgic wall and stood in front of a large rectangular building, the temple of Athene Polias[1]. Upon a pediment of this temple was a grotesque31 serpent in relief, painted and gilded32 to a dazzling brightness. Processions of priests and priestesses with conventional head-dress and stereotyped33 smile, formed a frieze34 which adorned35 the entablature. A figure in relief of Theseus carrying across his shoulders the Marathonian bull aroused in these, his supposed descendents, a renewed courage to protect their threatened city. They made ready for use what few weapons of defense36 they had among them, then retired37 to the temple to pray for the safety of Athens.
22
“My daughter,” said old Kyrsilus, “pray to Ares that our soldiers may be possessed of unusual valor38 and courage in the coming conflict, and pray to Athena that our generals may wisely direct the approaching battle.”
“Father Kyrsilus,” replied the maiden, “I always pray to one God! You may call Him Zeus if you wish, but He is all powerful and in His hands alone rests the fate of Greece.”
“Hush my child,” said the aged39 one, horrified40, “you will call down the wrath41 of the goddess in whose temple you now stand! Will you not pray to Athena?”
Before the girl could reply, a young cripple, who because of his affliction, had been unable to join his friends in the defense of his land, hobbled into the temple.
“They are coming, they are coming!” he cried pointing with trembling finger to the west. The refugees, looking in the direction indicated, beheld on the distant horizon a mass of purplish nimbus which as it gathered momentum42 gradually took the definite shape of a vast glittering array of horsemen and foot-soldiers. Petrified43 with terror they stood watching the approaching multitude, which swept relentlessly44 toward them, a great human deluge45!
23
“Quick! gather rocks and stones and pile them near the wall. The ascent46 is steep and few can attempt to scale it at a time. We can easily hold them back from the steps with these stones till our soldiers at Salamis return to our aid.” Kyrsilus forced an air of bravado47 to encourage his countrymen, but his heart sank as he beheld the barbarian48 host! For a brief space the maid’s doubt as to the wisdom of the oracle also took possession of him, but only for a moment. He thought, “When all else fails, Athena will protect her sanctuary49 and we can find refuge there.” Soon the oscillating wave of humanity was beneath them. A voice from below rang out clearly above the clash of weapons:
“I represent, O Athenians, one of the banished50 Peisistradi from this fair city. I beg of you, surrender your city to this world conqueror51 and save your holy places from pillage52!”
It was the resolute53 voice of Kyrsilus that replied; “Behind the ‘wooden wall’ will we defend our temples, and the gods of Greece will aid us!”
The answer seemed to amaze the Persians. Their officers drew aside and discussed the situation, arriving at their decision without unanimity54.
The cripple whose name was Philinus, was appointed sentinel since he was unable to lift the heavy rocks and stones. From a seat upon several boulders55 near the wall he could observe the movements of the Persians without being seen.
Many of the girls and women wept and prayed for themselves and for their fathers, brothers, husbands and sons now on the fleet. A few had lost loved ones at Thermopylæ. The maiden who had been with Kyrsilus showed remarkable56 self-control. To her the others now turned for strength and encouragement. One girl to whom she seemed especially dear, clung to her robe tenaciously57.
Kyrsilus approached his charge, and there was on his countenance an expression of mingled58 horror and compassion59.
24
“Persephone,” he said with trembling accents, “if a worse fate than death threatens you, and you can avail yourself of no weapon, better far fling yourself to the rocks below!”
The girl, Ladice, who clung tightly to Persephone’s hand wept bitterly, calling upon the names of all the gods and goddesses to protect her.
“Why are you so calm, Persephone?” she cried. “Do you not realize that this Acropolis may be our huge funeral pyre?”
“Yes I know that, Ladice, but I pray to one God, and I have a belief in a future existence beyond this one, so I am not afraid to die.”
“I too have not had the horror of death that is common to many, but not because of any thought of an existence continuing beyond this. The certainty of oblivion after a tumultuous life in this world of ours is reward enough for me. Surely the peace of nonexistence would be sufficient compensation.”
The smile on Persephone’s face was indicative of an inner knowledge out of which she derived60 supreme61 satisfaction and which was incomprehensible to Ladice.
An elderly man by the name of Moschion called excitedly from the gateway: “It will be necessary for all the women and girls who can, to help throw these stones upon the Persians who are climbing faster than we can prevent.”
25
Persephone and Ladice with others rushed to their task, rendering62 the needed assistance, though their fingers bled and their bodies, unused to such prolonged, strenuous63 labor64, ached to the point of complete exhaustion65. The additional help from the women turned the tide of fortune temporarily in their favor, and the Persians were forced to abandon their attack upon the well protected west side, but now they employed different tactics! They poured upon the wooden ramparts, arrows with burning tow attached to them and it was not long before the palisades were consigned66 to flames. Still the little group held its ground bravely, but Kyrsilus and Moschion at last sent the women into the temples where they soon joined them. Once within the sanctuary of the city’s patron goddess the frightened Greeks looked for a miracle, and indeed nothing short of a miracle could save them now! In this they were doomed67 to disappointment for the temple to Athena was the first to be reached by the hungry flames, and the frenzied68 Greeks were forced to abandon it for other smaller temples.
It was soon observed that Philinus was not with them. He had last been seen in prayer before the altar of Athena and doubtless there he had met his death! In unspoken terror all wondered who would be the next victim on the altar of oriental voracity69. The chapel70 of Aglaurus was farthest from the flames and to it the terror-stricken Greeks fled. Here for a time at least was safety and possible salvation71.
“Watch the north side now!” cried Kyrsilus, “The Persians may——” but the words froze on his lips, for there at the doorway72 stood fifteen or more of the besiegers, who had succeeded in scaling the precipitous northern side.
“To the rocks below, my daughter!” screamed Kyrsilus. “Do not forget my warning!”
26
An officer laid rough hands on the aged Moschion: “Old bald head, your time on earth is about up, anyway. You may as well journey on without delay. Old Charon is waiting to ferry you across the Styx.”
“Hold!” cried another voice, “I prefer to die first and not witness the end of these my followers.” It was Kyrsilus.
“As you wish,” cried the big Persian, “you are all to go anyway.”
The brave Kyrsilus knelt before his captor whose spear-head disappeared in his breast. His face was convulsed in the agony of death, but with his last faint breath he tried to speak to Persephone. “Perhaps you were right—about the oracle—to the rocks—below—”
Immediately following the tragic73 death of the leader the remaining men were killed and the rough floor of the little chapel became slippery with blood. A number of the women, following old Kyrsilus’ advice, flung themselves to certain death upon the ground below rather than fall into the hands of Xerxes’ soldiers.
It was Artabazus, one of the most insolent74 and rapacious75 of the king’s officers, who discovered Persephone and Ladice cowering76 in a remote corner.
“Oho, look what I have found here!” he laughed in a coarse loud voice. “Surely such a prize was worth that perilous77 climb.”
He took a step forward and seized Persephone roughly, but as he did so, he caught the eye of a young officer who had just arrived upon the scene together with Xerxes himself. The king took in the situation at a glance and his narrow eyes gleamed in approbation78.
“A brave soldier deserves a fair prize, Artabazus,” he said.
27
“One moment please!” It was the voice of the young officer Zopyrus. “Did you not, cousin Xerxes, promise me a choice of the fairest maidens79 of the kingdom? This land of Greece is now a part of your kingdom, O mighty80 conqueror, and out of it I choose the maiden whom Artabazus now holds.”
“It is all one with me,” cried the impatient monarch81, “Artabazus shall have the other maid.”
Zopyrus stepped forward and took the half unconscious form of the beautiful girl in his arms, and amid the coarse jests and ribaldry of the Persian soldiery, fled with his burden to the city below.
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1
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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2
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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4
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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6
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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7
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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8
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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9
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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10
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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11
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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13
bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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14
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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15
obsession
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| n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感) | |
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16
prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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17
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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18
nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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19
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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20
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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21
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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22
fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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23
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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24
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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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
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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29
enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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30
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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31
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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33
stereotyped
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| adj.(指形象、思想、人物等)模式化的 | |
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34
frieze
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| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
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35
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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38
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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41
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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42
momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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43
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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44
relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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46
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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47
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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48
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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49
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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50
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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52
pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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53
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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54
unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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55
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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56
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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57
tenaciously
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| 坚持地 | |
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58
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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59
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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60
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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61
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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62
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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63
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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64
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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65
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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66
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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67
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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68
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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69
voracity
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| n.贪食，贪婪 | |
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70
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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71
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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72
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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rapacious
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| adj.贪婪的，强夺的 | |
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cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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