(Like figures round a sculptured vase)
The accent of some mythic song,
Now hurled3, a Baccic group along.”
Aubrey de Vere.
The sun was scarcely an hour above the horizon when seven skiffs in festive4 regalia left the harbor of Piræus southward bound. Six of them were filled with youths and maidens5 bedecked with flowers. Across the serene7 blue where scarcely a ripple8 was perceptible, the voices of the merry-makers floated, returning in echoes from the temples of marble, gleaming white on the naked promontories9. The seventh boat was laden10 with goats intended as sacrificial offerings to the god Dionysus at his temple on the island of Naxos.
Ephialtes and Persephone, accompanied by Agne, whom Persephone has insisted upon taking as chaperone, were seated in the foremost vessel11. Persephone sat at the prow12 gazing out across the waters. Her tunic13 and skirt were of pale blue trimmed with golden brocade of an intricate pattern. Her brown-gold hair lay in waves over her temples which were encircled by a plain gold band from which hung a chaplet of sapphires14, lying on her forehead.
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To Ephialtes she had never appeared more beautiful. He thought of the evening that they had glided15 in this manner off Salamis. He intended to ask her the same question, hoping she had long since forgotten the request she had made of him. He turned frequently with ill-concealed annoyance16 toward Agne who sat at Persephone’s left. Ephialtes felt that now as in the Mystery drama they were Hades, Ceres and Persephone; that Ceres strove to keep her daughter under her protection, and like Hades he desired to snatch her from the maternal17 arms and keep her for his own. He did not know that Agne’s advice had been favorable to his suit. Had he been acquainted with this fact he might have been more tolerant of the older woman.
As the afternoon wore on, a light breeze stirred the waters into wavelets which gently lapped the shores of various islands of the Cyclades which they passed; islands filled with sanctuaries18 and fanes of white marble which gleamed ghost-like in the gathering19 dusk. At length the moon loomed20 colossal21 beyond the island of Paros, throwing up contours into misty22 and spectral23 relief, and softening24 all things with its touch of silver.
The festive boats passed Paros, with its temple to Poseidon, the occupants gazing ahead in eager anticipation25 till the rocky promontories of Naxos arose darkly from the pathway of phosphorescence, then with one impulse from every throat burst the hymn26 to Dionysus. Nearer and nearer came the celebrants, loftier grew the cliffs of the island and louder echoed the pæan until at last the boats drew up one by one in a sheltered cove27.
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Dense28 foliage29 grew close to the steep pathway, the ascent30 of which was facilitated by steps cut in the soil or formed naturally by the exposed roots of trees. Through the branches the newcomers could see the lights, twinkling as people passed to and fro—then the white columns and the pleasing proportions of the temple came into view.
Persephone, Ephialtes and Agne were the first arrivals of the first boat, and made their way unhindered to the temple which they entered, mingling31 with the delirious32 throng33 whose acclamations rang through the great hall. It seemed to the arrivals from Athens that every inhabitant of Naxos was here celebrating.
A great gong silenced the sound of talking and laughter after all the Athenians had arrived. A curtain at the end of the cella dropped revealing the image of the god of wine and revelry and immediately a hymn of praise was sung following which the sacrifice of a goat was consummated34 at the feet of the idol35.
Night was turned into day, wine flowed freely and many a youth’s spirits rose in proportion to the amount of wine he imbibed36. To all this revelry Persephone and Agne were horrified37 witnesses. They had heard that Dionysus was worshipped with much rejoicing, especially at his temple at Naxos, but they had not had occasion to realize to what depths his worshippers sometimes fell. The two women looked furtively38 about seeking some way in which they might escape unobserved to the boats where for a few drachmas a couple of rowers would take them back to the mainland. They crouched39 near a pillar watching with increasing terror, wine-filled creatures who caroused40 around them. Many a youth lounged upon a couch or the flower-strewn floor, his head in some fair one’s lap.
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Ephialtes made his way with unsteady step to where the two women cowered41. The Greek blood which ran in his veins42 preserved his grace even in drunkenness. Laughingly he held toward each a goblet43 of sparkling wine which they declined. In provocation44 he accidentally spilled the contents of the cup proffered45 to Persephone. For an instant he stood dismayed watching the blood-like liquid as it flowed over the marble floor, then with frenzied46 determination, he forced between the lips of Agne the wine contained in the other goblet, after which he stood swaying unsteadily with folded arms, a sinister47 smile curling his handsome lips. Persephone determined48 to flee but she did not want to leave Agne at the mercies of the drunken brutes49 around them.
“Come, come, Agne,” she whispered wildly, “You and I never dreamed what would be the nature of this celebration—oh, Agne!”
The older woman made an attempt to answer and even to rise to her feet, but in vain! In another instant she sank in a pitiful heap, apparently50 lifeless. Persephone’s temples throbbed51 with angry passion as she turned toward Ephialtes.
“There was a narcotic52 in that wine! I am glad mine was spilled.”
“There was no drug in yours, Persephone. I did not bring you here to put you to sleep. It is a living maiden6 I want!” cried the young Greek passionately53.
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He lurched toward her to take her in his arms, but she eluded54 his grasp and he found himself embracing the fluted55 pillar near which she had sat. A chance observer roared with laughter, and calling to his companions cried, “A king of revelers here, my friends. What say you to crowning him as Bacchus? Down with the god of stone and up with one of flesh and blood!”
So saying he and his male companions ran to the throne where the stone Dionysus sat. With unnatural56 strength due to the freeness of their imbibing57, they tore the god from his throne and forced the half reluctant Ephialtes upon it. The wreath of grape leaves which had adorned58 the head of Dionysus, was rudely snatched from it and placed upon the young man’s curls.
After Ephialtes was ceremoniously enthroned, someone cried out, “where is Ariadne? Bacchus must have his Ariadne! Where did she go? Bring her back!”
This appeal was answered by a rapturous shout, and several youths started in pursuit, returning shortly, dragging Persephone with them.
“Bacchus shows good taste,” cried one. “She is surely a rival of the maiden whom Theseus deserted59 on these very shores!”
“Up with her,” cried another, “she must occupy the throne with him. She shall be his queen.”
“That she shall!” cried Ephialtes, his courage returning as he beheld60 the beautiful frightened face of the girl whom he loved.
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He stooped from the throne and lifted in his arms the form of the now unconscious girl. Across her marble-white forehead strands61 of loosened hair streamed. The soft blue light from the circlet of sapphires which lay on her cold brow, contrasted strangely with the ruddy brilliance62 of a ruby63 clasp which adorned the hair of Ephialtes above his passion-flushed countenance64. He received a goblet of wine which had been proffered to him and put it to the lips of the fainting maiden. The draught65 brought her back to consciousness, and she gazed dazedly66 about, then suddenly the horror of her situation came upon her. With an agonized67 cry she rose to flee but was seized roughly by Ephialtes who, impassioned, leaned over her, covering her face and throat with burning kisses.
点击收听单词发音
1 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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2 attic | |
n.顶楼,屋顶室 | |
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3 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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4 festive | |
adj.欢宴的,节日的 | |
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5 maidens | |
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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6 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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7 serene | |
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 | |
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8 ripple | |
n.涟波,涟漪,波纹,粗钢梳;vt.使...起涟漪,使起波纹; vi.呈波浪状,起伏前进 | |
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9 promontories | |
n.岬,隆起,海角( promontory的名词复数 ) | |
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10 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
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11 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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12 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
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13 tunic | |
n.束腰外衣 | |
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14 sapphires | |
n.蓝宝石,钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 );蔚蓝色 | |
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15 glided | |
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
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16 annoyance | |
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼 | |
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17 maternal | |
adj.母亲的,母亲般的,母系的,母方的 | |
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18 sanctuaries | |
n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 );庇护;圣所;庇护所 | |
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19 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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20 loomed | |
v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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21 colossal | |
adj.异常的,庞大的 | |
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22 misty | |
adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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23 spectral | |
adj.幽灵的,鬼魂的 | |
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24 softening | |
变软,软化 | |
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25 anticipation | |
n.预期,预料,期望 | |
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26 hymn | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌 | |
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27 cove | |
n.小海湾,小峡谷 | |
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28 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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29 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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30 ascent | |
n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高 | |
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31 mingling | |
adj.混合的 | |
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32 delirious | |
adj.不省人事的,神智昏迷的 | |
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33 throng | |
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集 | |
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34 consummated | |
v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 );使完美;完婚;(婚礼后的)圆房 | |
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35 idol | |
n.偶像,红人,宠儿 | |
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36 imbibed | |
v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 );喝;吸取;吸气 | |
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37 horrified | |
a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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38 furtively | |
adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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39 crouched | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 caroused | |
v.痛饮,闹饮欢宴( carouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41 cowered | |
v.畏缩,抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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42 veins | |
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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43 goblet | |
n.高脚酒杯 | |
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44 provocation | |
n.激怒,刺激,挑拨,挑衅的事物,激怒的原因 | |
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45 proffered | |
v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46 frenzied | |
a.激怒的;疯狂的 | |
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47 sinister | |
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的 | |
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48 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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49 brutes | |
兽( brute的名词复数 ); 畜生; 残酷无情的人; 兽性 | |
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50 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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51 throbbed | |
抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 ); (心脏、脉搏等)跳动 | |
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52 narcotic | |
n.麻醉药,镇静剂;adj.麻醉的,催眠的 | |
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53 passionately | |
ad.热烈地,激烈地 | |
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54 eluded | |
v.(尤指机敏地)避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 );逃避;躲避;使达不到 | |
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55 fluted | |
a.有凹槽的 | |
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56 unnatural | |
adj.不自然的;反常的 | |
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57 imbibing | |
v.吸收( imbibe的现在分词 );喝;吸取;吸气 | |
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58 adorned | |
[计]被修饰的 | |
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59 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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60 beheld | |
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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61 strands | |
n.(线、绳、金属线、毛发等的)股( strand的名词复数 );缕;海洋、湖或河的)岸;(观点、计划、故事等的)部份v.使滞留,使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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62 brilliance | |
n.光辉,辉煌,壮丽,(卓越的)才华,才智 | |
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63 ruby | |
n.红宝石,红宝石色 | |
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64 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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65 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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66 dazedly | |
头昏眼花地,眼花缭乱地,茫然地 | |
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67 agonized | |
v.使(极度)痛苦,折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 );苦斗;苦苦思索;感到极度痛苦 | |
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