In chorus or iambic, teachers best
Of moral prudence1, with delight received
In brief sententious precepts2, while they treat
Of fate, and chance, and change in human life.”
John Milton.
The first rays of sunlight were gilding3 the pillared temples of the city as the procession for the Eleusinian Mysteries filed through the Dipylon Gate. It was the fifth day of celebration, the previous four having been spent at Athens in listening to formal proclamations, taking vows4, undergoing purification and being crowned with garlands as emblems5 of initiation6. Light were the hearts of the youths and maidens8 as with singing and dancing they wended their way carrying cists containing offerings to Demeter and Dionysus. At the head of the procession was carried a statue of the infant Iacchos, a form of Dionysus.
Many of the female celebrants rode in carriages as the journey was a long fatiguing9 one despite the many stops made. Zopyrus walked beside an open litter in which sat Cleodice and Eumetis.
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“My children,” said Cleodice smiling, “these mystæ are celebrating your betrothal10 though they know it not! I regret so much that Pasicles was unable to be with us, but he has invoked11 the blessing12 of Hymen upon you. The nuptials13 will be solemnized immediately upon our return from Eleusis.”
Eumetis glanced shyly at the young man who strode beside the carriage. He had not looked well lately. There was something drawn15 and haggard about his features.
“I fear these days of initiation into the Mysteries are proving too strenuous16 for you, Zopyrus. You do not look yourself today,” said Eumetis with concern.
“It is nothing,” replied Zopyrus, “but I shall be glad when these rites17 are over.”
“For more reasons than one surely,” laughed Cleodice. “I remember how impatient your father,” turning to her daughter, “was when it was necessary to wait till the close of the Nemean games to celebrate our marriage.”
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Zopyrus turned to survey the landscape which lay all green and gold about him. The familiarity of the scene at this point came to him as a shock. There to the right lay the olive-grove and there, he could mistake it not, was the same tree beneath whose gnarled branches he had laid his precious burden on that day which would live forever in his memory. Again he seemed to feel the weight of her unconscious body; again he observed the beauty, winning seriousness and refinement18 of her features and yet once again he imagined he heard her ask if he were not a disguised Greek soldier! It was with an effort that he forced these memories from him. A year had passed and he would probably never see her again. She must have perished during the months that followed the battle of Salamis as many Greeks had. It was folly19, he resolved, to waste one’s life in vain regrets. He was about to take as his wife a chaste20 girl of excellent parentage, whose love was wholly his, and he would do his best to make her happy! As they passed the path to the southward where he and the maiden7 had turned to view the battle from the promontory21, he turned his eyes resolutely22 to the anxious countenance23 of Eumetis and smiled, seeking to forget that which would force itself uppermost in his consciousness. He partially24 succeeded, for the eyes of the maiden, so full of loving regard, gave him a promise of undying affection. He placed his hand over hers as it lay on the side of the carriage, then suddenly he stopped as if struck by an arrow.
Upon his ears in solemn cadence25 fell again the hymn26 to Dionysus, the pæan of joy which had miraculously27 saved Greece. It was now being sung for the first time since that memorable28 event. Every voice that helped to swell29 the triumphal song, thrilled with irrepressible ecstasy30. Only in the heart of one did sadness mingle31 with joy.
“What is the matter, Zopyrus? You are ill! Mother, stop a moment! I can walk as far as the fountain of Kallichoros while Zopyrus takes my seat in the carriage.”
Zopyrus quickly gained control of his emotions.
“Foolish girl,” he said with mock severity, “do you think I would ride while you walked? I assure you I am perfectly32 well. The fountain is just now in sight where we shall rest and enjoy a little jest and merry-making.”
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The voices and innumerable instruments which had filled the heavens with harmony ceased their music. Vast masses of clouds which swept the sky, alternately unveiled and eclipsed the sun. A crisp breeze sprang from the sea, so that the mystæ proceeded along their way after a short stop, desirous of reaching the Fountain of Kallichoros before the storm which threatened should break. Their hopes were more than realized. The sun peeped out from behind a cloud just as they reached Eleusis by the sea, and shone directly above the gleaming temple to Demeter. With its magic rays it lit up the whole sacred precinct. First were visible the propolæa and the small temple of Pluto33. To the left was the Telesterion, a large covered building adjoining which was the sacred temple to the goddess Demeter, where only those were admitted who had received full initiation.
“This is the sacred temple,” whispered Cleodice who already assumed the office of mystagogue, “and beyond, where you see the waving field of corn, lies the Rharian Plain where Demeter first sowed corn. Still farther is the field called Orgas, planted with trees consecrated34 to Demeter and Persephone.”
An official cried in a loud voice, “To the sea, ye Mystæ.”
“You must undergo further purification,” said Eumetis, “before you can proceed nearer the holy environs of the temple.”
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At this point Cleodice and Eumetis left Zopyrus who was hurried on with others to the seashore and into the sea where the final purification took place. Nearly opposite lay Salamis, the view from this point differing but little from that which he had obtained from the promontory nearer Athens.
The sun had set and the stars came out one by one. As he stood upon the sand and gazed toward the hazy35 outline of Salamis, an ecstatic mood took possession of him. Conscious of his own impotence, he sank upon his knees and lifted his eyes to the God who had saved Greece, and who was manifest in all the wonders of nature around him.
Soon he realized that the other mystæ, bearing flaming torches, were leaving the shore and repairing to the temple. As he hurried hither he met Cleodice with a torch for him.
“We are going to the Telesterion to hear the address of the hierophant,” she explained.
The flickering36, reddish lights from hundreds of torches cast grotesque37 shadows and produced a weird38 effect as they entered the enormous hall and seated themselves upon the steps which surrounded the square floor on all sides. Within this square many who had been in the procession from Athens marched and sang with the lyre, the flute39 and the barbiton. Upon their heads and around their shoulders rested garlands of interwoven flowers.
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The revelry ended at the appearance of four men from one of the six doors which were arranged in pairs on three sides of the hall. First in order came the sacred torch-bearer followed by the altar-priest who wore the insignia and carried the holy emblems for the service. Immediately behind him came the hierophant whose duty it was to expound40 the truths to the newly initiated41. This man, chosen in the prime of life, was selected from the aristocratic family of the Eumolpidæ. His term would last till his death, for such was the custom regarding the election of this officer. In his footsteps followed a fourth figure, the sacred herald42, who together with the altar-priest and torch-bearer, was chosen for life from the sacred family of Ceryces, the family in which Zopyrus could proudly claim membership.
A hush43 fell upon the assembly at the appearance of these venerable men. The hierophant with outstretched hands invoked the blessing of the Mother goddess upon the celebrants. Then in a well modulated44 voice he addressed his words to the newly initiated.
Zopyrus sat as one in a trance, for the sentiment was similar to that of many utterances45 of his beloved friend Aeschylus. His thoughts wandered for a moment to his poet friend and he wondered if he were faring well on his journey to the island of Sicily. He was probably at this moment on the surface of the dark sea searching the far horizon for a first glimpse of fiery46 Ætna, a favorite abode47 of Demeter and her daughter Persephone! This brought his thoughts back again to his immediate14 surroundings and he listened as the hierophant spoke:—
“When I look upon yonder green fields, I call upon the faithful to give thanks to Demeter, that is, that active manifestation48 of the One through which the corn attains49 to its ripe maturity50. Whether we view the sun or the harvest, or contemplate51 with admiration52 the unity53 and harmony of the visible or invisible world, still it is always with the Only, the All-embracing One we have to do, to Whom we ourselves belong as those of His manifestations54 in which He places His self-consciousness.
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“The wonderful miracle of reviving vegetation, of the grain which dies in the ground and springs anew to life, illustrates55 man’s longing56 for a revival57 of his own life, and serves as an assurance of his hope of immortality58.
“Many of you sit before me fearful for the morrow, for you know not in the day or in the night what course fate has marked out for you. But think you that any part of the self-consciousness of this omnipotent59 God can sink into utter oblivion? I tell you that death is but a passing out of this life into a larger, fuller existence like unto the change which takes place in a kernel60 of corn when it is planted in the ground. What change does Demeter work in that corn? What change will the One accomplish in you? In Demeter you see explained the mysteries pertaining61 to the source of life. In Persephone you behold62 life itself with its problems. Their relation to each other is emblematic63 of man’s resurrection. We are here now to win the friendship of the Mother and Daughter that we may procure64 a blessing at their hands in the next existence.”
The hierophant withdrew, and the sacred herald announced that a mystery play would be enacted65.
135
Aeschylus had hinted to Zopyrus that the celebration consisted of “things said” and “things done.” The young man’s eyes were fixed66 in eager anticipation67 upon the clear space in the center of the Great Hall, around the sides of which were seated not less than three thousand spectators. The actors gained access to the pit by means of trap-doors which opened from below.
“The first scene,” whispered Cleodice, “will represent Persephone and some girl friends picking roses, lilies and hyacinths in the fields of Enna in Sicily.”
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1
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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emblems
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| n.象征，标记( emblem的名词复数 ) | |
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initiation
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| n.开始 | |
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7
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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8
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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9
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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12
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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14
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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16
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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17
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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18
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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19
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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20
chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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22
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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23
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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24
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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26
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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31
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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33
Pluto
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| n.冥王星 | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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35
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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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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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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flute
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| n.长笛；v.吹笛 | |
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40
expound
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| v.详述；解释；阐述 | |
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41
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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42
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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43
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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44
modulated
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| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
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45
utterances
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| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
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46
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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47
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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48
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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49
attains
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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50
maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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51
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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52
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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53
unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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54
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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55
illustrates
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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56
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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57
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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58
immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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59
omnipotent
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| adj.全能的，万能的 | |
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60
kernel
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| n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心 | |
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61
pertaining
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| 与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to) | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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emblematic
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| adj.象征的，可当标志的；象征性 | |
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64
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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