Poor dear Peregrine — or Proteus, as he loved to call himself — has quite come up to his namesake in Homer. We have seen him under many shapes: countless1 have been his transformations2 for glory’s sake; and now —’tis his last appearance — we see him in the shape of fire. So vast was his ambition. Yes, Cronius; all that is left of the best of men is a handful of ashes. It’s just like Empedocles; only with a difference. That philosopher would fain have sneaked3 into his crater4 unobserved: not so our high-souled friend. He bides5 his time till all Greece is mustered6 in full force — constructs a pyre of the largest dimensions — and jumps on top in the eyes of all the world, having briefly7 addressed the nation a few days before on the subject of his daring enterprise! I fancy I see you chuckling8 away at the old dotard; or rather I hear you blurting9 out the inevitable10 comments —’ Mere11 imbecility Mere clap-trap’— Mere . . .’ everything else that we are accustomed to attribute to these gentry12. But then you are far enough off to be comparatively safe: now I made my remarks before a vast audience, in the very moment of cremation13 (and before it for that matter), exciting thereby14 the indignation of all the old fool’s admirers, though there were a few who joined in the laugh against him. I can tell you, I was within an ace15 of being torn limb from limb by the Cynics, like Actaeon among the dogs, or his cousin Pentheus among the Maenads. — But I must sketch16 you the whole drama in detail. As to our author, I say nothing: you know the man, you know the sublime17 utterances18 that marked his earthly course, outvoicing Sophocles and Aeschylus.
Well, the first thing I did when I got to Elis was to take a turn in the gymnasium, listening the while to the discordant19 yells of some Cynic or other; — the usual platitudes20, you know; — ringing commendations of Virtue21 — indiscriminate slaughter22 of characters — finally, a peroration23 on the subject of Proteus. I must try and give you the exact words, as far as I can remember them; you will recognize the true Cynic yell, I’ll be bound; you have heard it before.
‘Proteus,’ he cried, ‘Proteus vain-glorious? Who dares name the word? Earth! Sun! Seas! Rivers! God of our fathers, Heracles! Was it for this that he suffered bondage24 in Syria? that he forgave his country a debt of a million odd? that he was cast out of Rome — he whose brilliance25 exceeds the Sun, fit rival of the Lord of Olympus? ’Tis his good will to depart from life by fire, and they call it vain-glory! What other end had Heracles? ’Twas the thunderbolt, methinks, that slew26 Asclepius, Dionysus 1? ’Twas in the crater that Empedocles sought death?’
Theagenes (our friend with the lungs) had got thus far, when I asked one of the bystanders what all this meant about ‘fire,’ and what Heracles and Empedocles had got to do with Proteus? —‘Proteus,’ he replied, ‘will shortly cremate27 himself, at the Olympic games.’—‘But how,’ I asked, ‘and why?’ He did his best to explain, but the Cynic went on bawling28, and it was quite out of the question to attend to anything else. I waited on to the end. It was one torrent29 of wild panegyric30 on Proteus. The sage31 of Sinope, Antisthenes his master — nay32, Socrates himself — none of them were so much as to be compared with him. Zeus was invited to contend for the preeminence34. Subsequently however it seemed advisable to leave the two on some sort of equality. ‘The world,’ he cried in conclusion, ‘has seen but two works of surpassing excellence35, the Olympian Zeus, and — Proteus. The one we owe to the creative genius of Phidias; the other is Nature’s handiwork. And now, this godlike statue departs from among mankind; borne upon wings of fire, he seeks the heavens, and leaves us desolate36.’ He had worked himself up into a state of perspiration37 over all this; and when it was over he was very absurd, and cried, and tore his hair — taking care not to pull too hard; and was finally taken away by some compassionate38 Cynics, sobbing40 violently all the time.
Well, after him, up jumped somebody else, before the crowd had time to disperse41; pouring his libation upon the glowing embers of the previous sacrifice. He commenced operations with a loud guffaw42 — there was no doubting its sincerity43 — after which he addressed us as follows. ‘Theagenes (Heaven forgive him!) concluded his vile44 rant45 with the tears of Heraclitus: I, on the other hand, propose to begin with the laughs of Democritus.’ Another hearty46 guffaw, in which most of us were fain to join. ‘One simply can’t help it,’ he remarked, pulling himself together, ‘when one hears such sad stuff talked, and sees old men practically standing47 on their heads for the public amusement — and all to keep their grubby little reputations alive! Now, if you want to know all about this “ statue “ which proposes to cremate itself, I’m your man. I have marked his career from the first, and followed his intellectual development; and I learnt a good deal from his fellow citizens, and others whose authority was unquestionable.
‘To begin then, this piece of perfect workmanship, straight from Nature’s mould, this type of true proportion, had barely come of age, when he was caught in adultery; in Armenia this was; he received a brisk drubbing for his pains, and finally made a jump of it from the roof, and so got off. His next exploit was the corruption48 of a handsome boy. This would have brought him before the Governor, by rights; but the parents were poor, and he bought them off to the tune49 of a hundred and twenty pounds. But perhaps it is hardly worth while mentioning trifles of this kind. Our clay, you see, is yet unwrought: the “perfect workmanship” is still to come. That business about his father makes rather good hearing: only you know all about that; — how the old fellow would hang on, though he was past sixty already, till Proteus could stand it no longer, and put a noose50 about his neck. Well, this began to be talked about; so he passed sentence of banishment51 on himself, and wandered about from place to place.
It was now that he came across the priests and scribes of the Christians53, in Palestine, and picked up their queer creed54. I can tell you, he pretty soon convinced them of his superiority; prophet, elder, ruler of the Synagogue — he was everything at once; expounded55 their books, commented on them, wrote books himself. They took him for a God, accepted his laws, and declared him their president. The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day — the distinguished56 personage who introduced their novel rites57, and was crucified on that account. Well, the end of it was that Proteus was arrested and thrown into prison. This was the very thing to lend an air to his favourite arts of clap-trap and wonder-working; he was now a made man. The Christians took it all very seriously: he was no sooner in prison, than they began trying every means to get him out again — but without success. Everything else that could be done for him they most devoutly58 did. They thought of nothing else. Orphans59 and ancient widows might be seen hanging about the prison from break of day. Their officials bribed60 the gaolers to let them sleep inside with him. Elegant dinners were conveyed in; their sacred writings were read; and our old friend Peregrine (as he was still called in those days) became for them “the modern Socrates.” In some of the Asiatic cities, too, the Christian52 communities put themselves to the expense of sending deputations, with offers of sympathy, assistance, and legal advice. The activity of these people, in dealing61 with any matter that affects their community, is something extraordinary; they spare no trouble, no expense. Peregrine, all this time, was making quite an income on the strength of his bondage; money came pouring in. You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal62 for all time, which explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on trust, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property. Now an adroit63, unscrupulous fellow, who has seen the world, has only to get among these simple souls, and his fortune is pretty soon made; he plays with them.
‘To return, however, to Peregrine. The governor of Syria perceived his mental warp64: “he must make a name, though he die for it:” now philosophy was the governor’s hobby; he discharged him — wouldn’t hear of his being punished — and Peregrine returned to Armenia. He found it too hot to hold him. He was threatened from all quarters with prosecutions65 for parricide66. Then again, the greater part of his property had disappeared in his absence: nothing was left but the land, which might be worth a matter of four thousand pounds. The whole estate, as the old man left it, would come perhaps to eight thousand. Theagenes was talking nonsense when he said a million odd. Why, the whole city, with its five nearest neighbours thrown in, men, cattle, and goods of every description, would never fetch that sum. — Meanwhile, indictments67 and accusations68 were brewing69: an attack might be looked for at any moment: as for the common people, they were in a state of furious indignation and grief at the foul70 butchery of a harmless old man; for so he was described. In these trying circumstances, observe the ingenuity71 and resource of the sagacious Proteus. He makes his appearance in the assembly: his hair (even in these early days) is long, his cloak is shabby; at his side is slung72 the philosopher’s wallet, his hand grasps the philosopher’s staff; truly a tragic73 figure, every inch of him. Thus equipped, he presents himself before the public, with the announcement that the property left him by his father of blessed memory is entirely74 at their disposal! Being a needy75 folk, with a keen eye to charity, they received the information with ready applause: “Here is true philosophy; true patriotism76; the spirit of Diogenes and Crates33 is here!” As for his enemies, they were dumb; and if any one did venture an allusion77 to parricide, he was promptly78 stoned.
‘Proteus now set out again on his wanderings. The Christians were meat and drink to him; under their protection he lacked nothing, and this luxurious79 state of things went on for some time. At last he got into trouble even with them; I suppose they caught him partaking of some of their forbidden meats. They would have nothing more to do with him, and he thought the best way out of his difficulties would be, to change his mind about that property, and try and get it back. He accordingly sent in a petition to the emperor, suing for its restitution80. But as the people of Parium sent up a deputation to remonstrate81, nothing came of it all; he was told that as he had been under no compulsion in making his dispositions82, he must abide83 by them.
‘Pilgrimage number three, to Egypt, to see Agathobulus. Here he went through a most interesting course of discipline: shaved half his head bare; anointed his face with mud; grossly exposed himself before a large concourse of spectators, as a practical illustration of “Stoic indifference”; received castigation84
with a birch rod; administered the same; and mystified the public with a number of still more extravagant85 follies86. Thus prepared, he took ship to Italy, and was scarcely on dry land again when he began abusing everybody, especially the Emperor, on whose indulgence and good nature he knew that he could safely rely. The Emperor, as you may suppose, was not greatly concerned at his invectives; and it was his theory that no one in the garb88 of philosophy should be called to account for his words, least of all a specialist in scandal. Proteus’s reputation throve upon neglect. The crack-brained philosopher became the cynosure89 of unsophisticated eyes; and he grew at last to be so unbearable90 that the city prefect judiciously91 expelled him: “we do not require philosophers of your school,” he explained. Even this made for his notoriety: he was in every one’s mouth as the philosopher who was banished92 for being too outspoken93, and saying what he thought. He took rank with Musonius, Dion, Epictetus, and others who have been in the same predicament.
‘Finally, Proteus arrives in Greece; and what does he do there? He makes himself offensive in Elis; he instigates94 Greece to revolt against Rome; he finds a man of enlarged views and established character 1, a public benefactor95 in general, and in particular the originator of the water-supply to Olympia, which saved that great assembly from perishing of thirst — and he has nothing but hard words for him; “Greece is demoralized,” he cries; “the spectators of the games should have done without water, ay, and died if need be,"— and so many of them would have done, from the violence of the epidemics96 then raging in consequence of the drought. And all the time Proteus was drinking of that very water! At this there was a general rush to stone him, which pretty nearly succeeded; it was all our magnanimous friend could do, for the time being, to find salvation97 at the altar of Zeus. He spent the four following years in composing a speech, which he delivered in public at the next Olympic games; it consisted of encomiums on the donor98 of the water-supply and explanations of his flight on the former occasion. But by this time people had lost all curiosity about him; his prestige was quite gone; everything fell flat, and he could devise no more novelties for the amazement99 of chance-comers, nor elicit100 the admiration101 and applause for which he had always so passionately102 longed. Hence this last bold venture of the funeral-pyre. So long ago as the last Olympic Games he published his intention of cremating103 himself at the next. That is what all this mystification is about, this digging of pits we hear of, and collecting of firewood; these glowing accounts of fortitude104 hereafter to be shown. Now, in the first place, it seems to me that a man has no business to run away from life: he ought to wait till his time comes. But if nothing else will serve, if positively105 he must away still there is no need of pyres and such-like solemn paraphernalia106: there are plenty of ways of dying without this; let him choose one of them, and have done with it. Or if a fiery107 end is so attractively Heraclean, what was to prevent his quietly selecting some well-wooded mountain top, and doing his cremation all by himself, with Theagenes or somebody to play Philoctetes to his Heracles? But no; he must roast in full concourse, at Olympia, as it might be on a stage; and, so help me Heracles, he is not far out, if justice is to be done on all parricides and unbelievers. Nay, if we look at it that way, this is but dilatory108 work: he might have been packed into Phalaris’s bull years ago, and he would have had no more than his deserts — a mouthful of flame and sudden death is too good for him. For by all I can learn burning is the quickest of deaths; a man has but to open his mouth, and all is over.
But I suppose what runs in his mind is the imposing109 spectacle of a man being burnt alive in the holy place, in which ordinary mortality may not so much as be buried. There was another man, once on a time, who wanted to be famous. I dare say you have heard of him. When he found there was no other way, he set fire to the temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Proteus’s design reminds me of that. The passion for fame must wholly possess him, body and soul. He says, of course, that it is all for the benefit of the human race — to teach them to scorn death, and to show fortitude in trying circumstances. Now I should just like to ask you a question; it is no use asking him. How would you like it, if the criminal classes were to profit by his lesson in fortitude, and learn to scorn death, and burning, and so on? You would not like it at all. Then how is Proteus going to draw the line? How is he going to improve the honest men, without hardening and encouraging the rogues110? Suppose it even to be practicable that none should be present at the spectacle but such as will make a good use of it. Again I ask: do you want your sons to conceive an ambition of this sort? Of course not. However, I need not have raised that point: not a soul, even among his own disciples111, will be caught by his enthusiasm. That is where I think Theagenes is so much to blame: in all else he is a zealous113 adherent114: yet when his master sets out “to be with Heracles,"— he stops behind, he won’t go! though it is but a single header into the flames, and in a moment endless felicity is his. It is not zeal112, to have the same kind of stick and coat and scrip as another man; any one can do that; it is both safe and easy. Zeal must appear in the end, in the consummation: let him get together his pyre of fig-tree faggots, as green as may be, and gasp115 out his last amid the smoke! For as to merely being burnt, Heracles and Asclepius have no monopoly there: temple-robbers and murderers may be seen experiencing the same fate in the ordinary course of law. Smoke is the only death, if you want to have it all to yourselves.
‘Besides, if Heracles really ever did anything so stupendous at all, he was driven to it by frenzy116; he was being consumed alive by the Centaur’s blood — so the play tells us. But what point is there in Proteus’s throwing himself into the fire? Ah, of course: he wants to set an example of fortitude, like the Brahmins, to whom Theagenes thought it necessary to corn-pare him. Well, I suppose there may be fools and empty-headed enthusiasts117 in India as elsewhere? Anyhow, he might stick to his models. The Brahmins never jump straight into the fire: Onesicritus, Alexander’s pilot, saw Calanus burn himself, and according to him, when the pyre has been got ready, they stand quietly roasting in front of it, and when they do get on top, there they sit, smouldering away in a dignified118 manner, never budging119 an inch. I see nothing so great in Proteus’s just jumping in and being swallowed by the flames. As likely as not he would jump out when he was half done; only, as I understand, he is taking care to have the pyre in a good deep hole.
‘Some say that he is beginning to think better of it; that he reports certain dreams, to the effect that Zeus will not suffer the holy place to be profaned120. Let him be easy on that score. I dare swear that not a God of them will have any objection to a rogue’s dying a rogue’s death. To be sure, he won’t easily get out of it now. His Cynic friends egg him on and thrust him pyre-wards; they keep his ambition aglow121; there shall be no flinching122, if they can help it! If Proteus would take a couple of them with him in the fatal leap, it would be the first good action he has ever performed.
‘Not even “Proteus” will serve now, they were saying: he has changed his name to Phoenix123; that Indian bird being credited with bringing a prolonged existence to an end upon a pyre. He tells strange tales too, and quotes oracles125 — guaranteed old — to the effect that he is to be a guardian126 spirit of the night. Evidently he has conceived a fancy for an altar, and looks to have his statue set up, all of gold. And upon my word it is as likely as not that among the simple vulgar will be found some to declare that Proteus has cured them of the ague, and that in the darkness they have met with the “guardian spirit of the night.” And as the ancient Proteus, the son of Zeus, the great original, had the gift of prophecy, I suppose these precious disciples of the modern one will be for getting up an oracle124 and a shrine127 upon the scene of cremation. Mark my words: we shall find we have got Protean128 priests of the scourge129; priests of the branding-iron; priests of some strange thing or other; or — who knows? — nocturnal rites in his honour, with a torchlight procession about the pyre. I heard but now, from a friend, of Theagenes’s producing a prophecy of the Sibyl on this subject: he quoted the very words:
What time the noblest of the Cynic host
Within the Thunderer’s court shall light a fire,
And leap into its midst, and thence ascend130
To great Olympus — then shall all mankind,
Who eat the furrow’s fruit, give honour due
To the Night-wanderer. His seat shall be
Hard by Hephaestus and lord Heracles.
That ’s the oracle that Theagenes says he heard from the Sibyl. Now I’ll give him one of Bacis’s on the same subject. Bacis speaks very much to the point as follows:
What time the Cynic many-named shall leap,
Stirred in his heart with mad desire for fame,
Into hot fire — then shall the Fox-dogs all,
His followers131, go hence as went the Wolf.
And him that shuns132 Hephaestus’ fiery might
Th’ Achaeans all shall straightway slay133 with stones;
Lest, cool in courage, he essay warm words,
Stuffing with gold of usury134 his scrip;
For in fair Patrae he hath thrice five talents.
What say you, friends? Can Bacis turn an oracle too, as well as the Sibyl? Apparently135 it is time for the esteemed136 followers of Proteus to select their spots for “evaporation,” as they call burning.’
A universal shout from the audience greeted this conclusion: ‘Away with them to the fire! ’tis all they are good for.’ The orator137 descended138, beaming.
But Nestor marked the uproar139 —
The shouts no sooner reached Theagenes’s ears, than he was back on the platform, bawling out all manner of scandal against the last speaker (I don’t know what this capital fellow was called). However, I left Theagenes there, bursting with indignation, and went off to see the games, as I heard the stewards140 were already on the course. So much for Elis.
On our arrival at Olympia, we found the vestibule full of people, all talking about Proteus. Some were inveighing141 against him, others commended his purpose; and most of them had come to blows about it when, just after the Heralds’ contest, in came Proteus himself, with a multitudinous escort, and gave us a speech, all about himself; — the life he had lived, the risks he had run, the trials he had undergone in the cause of philosophy. He had a great deal to say, but I heard very little of it; there was such a crowd. Presently I began to think I should be squeezed to death in the crush (I saw this actually happen to several people), so off I went, having had enough of this sophist in love with death, and his anticipatory142 epitaph. Thus much I heard, however. Upon a golden life he desired to set a golden crown. He had lived like Heracles: like Heracles he must die, and mingle143 with the upper air. ‘’Tis my aim,’ he continued, ‘to benefit mankind; to teach them how contemptible144 a thing is death. To this end, the world shall be my Philoctetes.’ The simpler souls among his audience wept, crying ‘Live, Proteus; live for Greece! ‘ Others were of sterner stuff, and expressed hearty approval of his determination. This discomposed the old man considerably145. His idea had been that they would never let him go near the pyre; that they would all cling about him and insist on his continuing a compulsory146 existence. He had the complexion147 of a corpse148 before: but this wholly unexpected blow of approbation149 made him turn several degrees paler: he trembled — and broke off.
Conceive my amusement! Pity it was impossible to feel for such morbid150 vanity: among all who have ever been afflicted151 with this scourge, Proteus stands pre-eminent. However, he had a fine following, and drank his fill of notoriety, as he gazed on the host of his admirers; poor man! he forgot that criminals on the way to the cross, or in the executioner’s hands, have a greater escort by far.
And now the games were over. They were the best I had ever; seen, though this makes my fourth visit to Olympia. In the general rush of departure, I got left behind, finding it impossible to procure152 a conveyance153.
After repeated postponements, Proteus had finally announced a late hour of the night for his exhibition. Accordingly, at about midnight I got up (I had found lodgings154 with a friend), and set out for Harpine; for here was the pyre, just two miles and a half from Olympia, going East along the racecourse. We found on arrival that the pyre had been placed in a hole, about six feet deep. To ensure speedy ignition, it had been composed chiefly of pine-torches, with brushwood stuffed in between.
As soon as the moon had risen — for her presence too was required at the glorious spectacle — Proteus advanced, in his usual costume, accompanied by the chiefs of the Cynics; conspicuous155 among them came the pride of Patrae, torch in hand; nobly qualified156 for the part he was to play. Proteus too had his torch. They drew near to the pyre, and kindled157 it at several points; as it contained nothing but torches and brushwood, a fine blaze was the result. Then Proteus — are you attending, Cronius? — Proteus threw aside his scrip, and cloak, and club —’ his club of Heracles — and stood before us in scrupulously158 unclean linen159. He demanded frankincense, to throw upon the fire; being supplied he first threw it on, then, turning to the South (another tragic touch, this of the South), he exclaimed: ‘Gods of my mother, Gods of my father, receive me with favour.’ And with these words he leapt into the pyre. There was nothing more to be seen, however; the towering mass of flames enveloped160 him completely.
Again, sweet sir, you smile over the conclusion of my tragedy. As for me, I saw nothing much in his appealing to his mother’s Gods, but when he included his father’s in the invocation, I laughed outright161; it reminded me of the parricide story. The Cynics stood dry-eyed about the pyre, gazing upon the flames in silent manifestation162 of their grief. At last, when I was half dead with suppressed laughter, I addressed them. ‘Intelligent sirs,’ I said, ‘let us go away. No pleasure is to be derived163 from seeing an old man roasted, and there is a horrible smell of burning. Are you waiting for some painter to come along and take a sketch of you, to match the pictures of Socrates in prison, with his companions at his side?’ They were very angry and abusive at first, and some took to their sticks: but when I threatened to pick a few of them up and throw them on to the fire to keep their master company, they quieted down and peace was restored.
Curious reflections were running in my mind, Cronius, as I made my way back. ‘How strange a thing is this same ambition!’ I said to myself; ‘’tis the one irresistible164 passion; irresistible to the noblest of mankind, as we account them — how much more to such as Proteus, whose wild, foolish life
may well end upon the pyre!’ At this point I met a number of people coming out to assist at the spectacle, thinking to find Proteus still alive; for among the various rumours165 of the preceding day, one had been, that before entering the fire he was to greet the rising sun, which to be sure is said to be the Brahmin practice. Most of them turned back when I told them that all was over; all but those enthusiasts who could not rest without seeing the identical spot, and snatching some relic166 from the flames. After this, you may be sure, my work was cut out for me: I had to tell them all about it, and to undergo a minute cross-examination from everybody. If it was some one I liked the look of, I confined myself to plain prose, as in the present narrative167: but for the benefit of the curious simple, I put in a few dramatic touches on my own account. No sooner had Proteus thrown himself upon the kindled pyre, than there was a tremendous earthquake, I informed them; the ground rumbled168 beneath us; and a vulture flew out from the midst of the flames, and away into the sky, exclaiming in human accents
‘I rise from Earth, I seek Olympus.’
They listened with amazement and shuddering169 reverence170. ‘Did the vulture fly East or West?’ they wanted to know. I answered whichever came uppermost.
On getting back to Olympia, I stopped to listen to an old man who was giving an account of these proceedings171; a credible172 witness, if ever there was one, to judge by his long beard and dignified appearance in general. He told us, among other things, that only a short time before, just after the cremation, Proteus had appeared to him in white raiment; and that he had now left him walking with serene173 countenance174 in the Colonnade175 of Echoes, crowned with olive; and on the top of all this he brought in the vulture, solemnly swore that he had seen it himself flying away from the pyre — my own vulture, which I had but just let fly, as a satire176 on crass177 stupidity!
Only think what work we shall have with him hereafter! Significant bees will settle on the spot; grasshoppers178 beyond calculation will chirrup; crows will perch179 there, as over Hesiod’s grave — and all the rest of it. As for statues, several, I know, are to be put up at once, by Elis and other places, to which, I understand, he had sent letters. These letters, they say, were dispatched to almost all cities of any importance: they contain certain exhortations180 and schemes of reform, as it were a legacy181. Certain of his followers were specially87 appointed by him for this service: Couriers to the Grave and Grand Deputies of the Shades were to be their titles.
Such was the end of this misguided man; one who, to give his character in a word, never to his last day suffered his gaze to rest on Truth; whose words, whose actions had but one aim — notoriety and vulgar applause. ’Twas the love of applause that drove him to the pyre, where applause could no longer reach his ears, nor gratify his vanity.
One anecdote182, and I have done; it will keep you in amusement for some time to come. I told you long ago, on my return from Syria, how I had come on the same ship with him from Troas, and what airs he put on during the voyage, and about the handsome youth whom he converted to Cynicism, by way of having an Alcibiades all of his own, and how he woke up one night in mid-ocean to find a storm breaking on us, and a heavy sea rolling, and how the superb philosopher, for whom Death had no terrors, was found wailing183 among the women. All that you know. But a short time before his death, about a week or so, he had a little too much for dinner, I suppose, and was taken ill in the night, and had a sharp attack of fever. Alexander was the physician called in to attend him, and it was from him I got the story. He said he found Proteus rolling on the ground, unable to endure the fever, and making passionate39 demands for water. Alexander said no to this: and he told him that if he really wanted to die, here was death, unbidden, at his very door; he had only to attend the summons; there was no need of a pyre. ‘No, no,’ says Proteus; ‘any one may die that way; there’s no distinction in it.’
So much for Alexander. I myself, not so long ago, saw Proteus with some irritant rubbed on his eyes to purge184 them of rheum. Evidently we are to infer that there is no admission for blear eyes in the kingdom of Aeacus. ’Twas as if a man on the way to be crucified were to concern himself about a sprained185 finger. Think if Democritus had seen all this! How would he have taken it? The laughing philosopher might have done justice to Proteus. I doubt, indeed, whether he ever had such a good excuse for his mirth.
Be that as it may, you, my friend, shall have your laugh; especially when you hear Proteus’s name mentioned with admiration.
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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7
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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8
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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9
blurting
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的现在分词 ) | |
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10
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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12
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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13
cremation
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| n.火葬，火化 | |
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14
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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15
ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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16
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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17
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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18
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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19
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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20
platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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21
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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22
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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23
peroration
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| n.（演说等之）结论 | |
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24
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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25
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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26
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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27
cremate
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| v.火葬，烧成灰 | |
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28
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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29
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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30
panegyric
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| n.颂词，颂扬 | |
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31
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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32
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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33
crates
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| n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱 | |
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34
preeminence
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| n.卓越,杰出 | |
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35
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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36
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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37
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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38
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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39
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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40
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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41
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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42
guffaw
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| n.哄笑；突然的大笑 | |
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43
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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44
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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45
rant
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| v.咆哮；怒吼；n.大话；粗野的话 | |
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46
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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47
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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48
corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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49
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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50
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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51
banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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52
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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53
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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54
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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55
expounded
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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57
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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58
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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59
orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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60
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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61
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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62
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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63
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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64
warp
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| vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见 | |
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65
prosecutions
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| 起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事 | |
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66
parricide
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| n.杀父母；杀亲罪 | |
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67
indictments
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| n.（制度、社会等的）衰败迹象( indictment的名词复数 )；刑事起诉书；公诉书；控告 | |
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68
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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69
brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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70
foul
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|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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71
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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72
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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73
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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74
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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75
needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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76
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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77
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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78
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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79
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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80
restitution
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| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
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81
remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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82
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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83
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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84
castigation
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| n.申斥，强烈反对 | |
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85
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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86
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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87
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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88
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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89
cynosure
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| n.焦点 | |
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90
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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91
judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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92
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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94
instigates
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| n.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的名词复数 )v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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95
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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96
epidemics
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| n．流行病 | |
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97
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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98
donor
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| n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体 | |
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99
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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100
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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101
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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102
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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103
cremating
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| v.火葬，火化（尸体）( cremate的现在分词 ) | |
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104
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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105
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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106
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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107
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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108
dilatory
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| adj.迟缓的，不慌不忙的 | |
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109
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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110
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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111
disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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112
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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113
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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114
adherent
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| n.信徒，追随者，拥护者 | |
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115
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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116
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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117
enthusiasts
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| n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 ) | |
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118
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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119
budging
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| v.（使）稍微移动( budge的现在分词 )；（使）改变主意，（使）让步 | |
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120
profaned
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| v.不敬( profane的过去式和过去分词 )；亵渎，玷污 | |
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121
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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122
flinching
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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123
phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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124
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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125
oracles
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| 神示所( oracle的名词复数 )； 神谕； 圣贤； 哲人 | |
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126
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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127
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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128
protean
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| adj.反复无常的；变化自如的 | |
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129
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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130
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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131
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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132
shuns
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的第三人称单数 ) | |
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133
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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134
usury
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| n.高利贷 | |
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135
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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136
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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137
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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138
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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139
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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140
stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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141
inveighing
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| v.猛烈抨击，痛骂，谩骂( inveigh的现在分词 ) | |
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142
anticipatory
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| adj.预想的，预期的 | |
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143
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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144
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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145
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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146
compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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147
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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148
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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149
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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150
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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151
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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152
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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153
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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154
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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155
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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157
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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158
scrupulously
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| adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地 | |
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159
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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160
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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161
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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162
manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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163
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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164
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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165
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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166
relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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167
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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168
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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169
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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170
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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171
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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172
credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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173
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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174
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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175
colonnade
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| n.柱廊 | |
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176
satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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177
crass
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| adj.愚钝的，粗糙的；彻底的 | |
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178
grasshoppers
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| n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的 | |
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179
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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180
exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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181
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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182
anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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183
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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184
purge
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| n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁 | |
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185
sprained
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| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
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