第3章
作者:Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lyt | 字数:10747 字

’Whatabeautifulcup!’criedClodius,takinguponeoftransparentcrystal,thehandlesofwhichwerewroughtwithgems,andtwistedintheshapeofserpents,thefavoritefashionatPompeii。

’Thisring,’saidGlaucus,takingacostlyjewelfromthefirstjointofhisfingerandhangingitonthehandle,’givesitarichershow,andrendersitlessunworthyofthyacceptance,myClodius,onwhommaythegodsbestowhealthandfortune,longandofttocrownittothebrim!’

’Youaretoogenerous,Glaucus,’saidthegamester,handingthecuptohisslave;’butyourlovegivesitadoublevalue。’

’ThiscuptotheGraces!’saidPansa,andhethriceemptiedhiscalix。Theguestsfollowedhisexample。

’Wehaveappointednodirectortothefeast,’criedSallust。

’Letusthrowforhim,then,’saidClodius,rattlingthedice—box。

’Nay,’criedGlaucus,’nocoldandtritedirectorforus:nodictatorofthebanquet;norexconvivii。HavenottheRomansswornnevertoobeyaking?

Shallwebelessfreethanyourancestors?Ho!musicians,letushavethesongIcomposedtheothernight:ithasaverseonthissubject,"TheBacchichymnoftheHours"。’

ThemusiciansstrucktheirinstrumentstoawildIonicair,whiletheyoungestvoiceinthebandchantedforth,inGreekwords,asnumbers,thefollowingstrain:—

THEEVENINGHYMNOFTHEHOURS

I

"Throughthesummerday,throughthewearyday,Wehaveglidedlong;

ErewespeedtotheNightthroughherportalsgrey,Hailuswithsong!——

Withsong,withsong,Withabrightandjoyoussong;

SuchastheCretanmaid,Whilethetwilightmadeherbolder,Woke,highthroughtheivyshade,Whenthewine—godfirstconsoledher。

Fromthehush’d,low—breathingskies,Half—shutlook’dtheirstarryeyes,Andallaround,Withalovingsound,TheAEgeanwaveswerecreeping:

Onherlaplaythelynx’shead;

Wildthymewasherbridalbed;

Andayethrougheachtinyspace,Inthegreenvine’sgreenembraceTheFaunswereslilypeeping——

TheFauns,thepryingFauns——

Thearch,thelaughingFauns——

TheFaunswereslilypeeping!

II

FlaggingandfaintareweWithourceaselessflight,AnddullshallourjourneybeThroughtherealmofnight,Batheus,ObatheourwearywingsInthepurplewave,asitfreshlyspringsToyourcupsfromthefountoflight——

Fromthefountoflight——fromthefountoflight,Forthere,whenthesunhasgonedowninnight,Thereinthebowlwefindhim。

Thegrapeisthewellofthatsummersun,Orratherthestreamthathegazedupon,Tillheleftintruth,liketheThespianyouth,Hissoul,ashegazed,behindhim。

III

AcuptoJove,andacuptoLove,AndacuptothesonofMaia;

Andhonourwiththree,thebandzone—free,ThebandofthebrightAglaia。

ButsinceeverybudinthewreathofpleasureYeowetothesisterHours,Nostintedcups,inaformalmeasure,TheBromianlawmakesours。

Hehonorsusmostwhogivesusmost,Andboasts,withaBacchanal’shonestboast,Heneverwillcountthetreasure。

Fastlywefleet,thenseizeourwings,Andplungeusdeepinthesparklingsprings;

Andaye,aswerisewithadrippingplume,We’llscatterthesprayroundthegarland’sbloom;

Weglow——weglow,Behold,asthegirlsoftheEasternwaveBoreoncewithashouttothecrystalcaveTheprizeoftheMysianHylas,Evenso——evenso,WehavecaughttheyounggodinourwarmembraceWehurryhimoninourlaughingrace;

Wehurryhimon,withawhoopandsong,Thecloudyriversofnightalong——

Ho,ho!——wehavecaughtthee,Psilas!

Theguestsapplaudedloudly。Whenthepoetisyourhost,hisversesaresuretocharm。

’ThoroughlyGreek,’saidLepidus:’thewildness,force,andenergyofthattongue,itisimpossibletoimitateintheRomanpoetry。’

’Itis,indeed,agreatcontrast,’saidClodius,ironicallyatheart,thoughnotinappearance,’totheold—fashionedandtamesimplicityofthatodeofHoracewhichweheardbefore。TheairisbeautifullyIonic:thewordputsmeinmindofatoast——Companions,IgiveyouthebeautifulIone。’

’Ione!——thenameisGreek,’saidGlaucus,inasoftvoice。’Idrinkthehealthwithdelight。ButwhoisIone?’

’Ah!youhavebutjustcometoPompeii,oryouwoulddeserveostracismforyourignorance,’saidLepidus,conceitedly;’nottoknowIone,isnottoknowthechiefcharmofourcity。’

’Sheisofthemostrarebeauty,’saidPansa;’andwhatavoice!’

’Shecanfeedonlyonnightingales’tongues,’saidClodius。

’Nightingales’tongues!——beautifulthought!’sighedtheumbra。

’Enlightenme,Ibeseechyou,’saidGlaucus。

’Knowthen……’beganLepidus。

’Letmespeak,’criedClodius;’youdrawloutyourwordsasifyouspoketortoises。’

’Andyouspeakstones,’mutteredthecoxcombtohimself,ashefellbackdisdainfullyonhiscouch。

’Knowthen,myGlaucus,’saidClodius,’thatIoneisastrangerwhohasbutlatelycometoPompeii。ShesingslikeSappho,andhersongsareherowncomposing;andasforthetibia,andthecithara,andthelyre,IknownotinwhichshemostoutdoestheMuses。Herbeautyismostdazzling。Herhouseisperfect;suchtaste——suchgems——suchbronzes!Sheisrich,andgenerousassheisrich。’

’Herlovers,ofcourse,’saidGlaucus,’takecarethatshedoesnotstarve;

andmoneylightlywonisalwayslavishlyspent。’

’Herlovers——ah,thereistheenigma!——Ionehasbutonevice——sheischaste。

ShehasallPompeiiatherfeet,andshehasnolovers:shewillnotevenmarry。’

’Nolovers!’echoedGlaucus。

’No;shehasthesoulofVestalwiththegirdleofVenus。’

’Whatrefinedexpressions!’saidtheumbra。

’Amiracle!’criedGlaucus。’Canwenotseeher?’

’Iwilltakeyoutherethisevening,saidClodius;’meanwhile……’addedhe,oncemorerattlingthedice。

’Iamyours!’saidthecomplaisantGlaucus。’Pansa,turnyourface!’

LepidusandSallustplayedatoddandeven,andtheumbralookedon,whileGlaucusandClodiusbecamegraduallyabsorbedinthechancesofthedice。

’ByPollux!’criedGlaucus,’thisisthesecondtimeIhavethrownthecaniculae’(thelowestthrow)。

’NowVenusbefriendme!’saidClodius,rattlingtheboxforseveralmoments。

’OAlmaVenus——itisVenusherself!’ashethrewthehighestcast,namedfromthatgoddess——whomhewhowinsmoney,indeed,usuallypropitiates!

’Venusisungratefultome,’saidGlaucus,gaily;’Ihavealwayssacrificedonheraltar。’

’HewhoplayswithClodius,’whisperedLepidus,’willsoon,likePlautus’sCurculio,puthispalliumforthestakes。’

’PoorGlaucus!——heisasblindasFortuneherself,’repliedSallust,inthesametone。

’Iwillplaynomore,’saidGlaucus;’Ihavelostthirtysestertia。’

’Iamsorry……’beganClodius。

’Amiableman!’groanedtheumbra。

’Notatall!’exclaimedGlaucus;’thepleasureItakeinyourgaincompensatesthepainofmyloss。’

Theconversationnowgrewgeneralandanimated;thewinecirculatedmorefreely;andIoneoncemorebecamethesubjectofeulogytotheguestsofGlaucus。

’Insteadofoutwatchingthestars,letusvisitoneatwhosebeautythestarsgrowpale,’saidLepidus。

Clodius,whosawnochanceofrenewingthedice,secondedtheproposal;andGlaucus,thoughhecivillypressedhisgueststocontinuethebanquet,couldnotbutletthemseethathiscuriosityhadbeenexcitedbythepraisesofIone:theythereforeresolvedtoadjourn(all,atleast,butPansaandtheumbra)tothehouseofthefairGreek。Theydrank,therefore,tothehealthofGlaucusandofTitus——theyperformedtheirlastlibation——theyresumedtheirslippers——theydescendedthestairs——passedtheilluminedatrium——andwalkingunbittenoverthefiercedogpaintedonthethreshold,foundthemselvesbeneaththelightofthemoonjustrisen,inthelivelyandstillcrowdedstreetsofPompeii。

Theypassedthejewellers’quarter,sparklingwithlights,caughtandreflectedbythegemsdisplayedintheshops,andarrivedatlastatthedoorofIone。Thevestibuleblazedwithrowsoflamps;curtainsofembroideredpurplehungoneitherapertureofthetablinum,whosewallsandmosaicpavementglowedwiththerichestcolorsoftheartist;andundertheporticowhichsurroundedtheodorousviridariumtheyfoundIone,alreadysurroundedbyadoringandapplaudingguests!

’DidyousayshewasAthenian?’whisperedGlaucus,erehepassedintotheperistyle。

’No,sheisfromNeapolis。’

’Neapolis!’echoedGlaucus;andatthatmomentthegroup,dividingoneithersideofIone,gavetohisviewthatbright,thatnymph—likebeauty,whichformonthshadshonedownuponthewatersofhismemory。

ChapterIV

THETEMPLEOFISIS。ITSPRIEST。THECHARACTEROFARBACESDEVELOPSITSELF。

THEstoryreturnstotheEgyptian。WeleftArbacesupontheshoresofthenoondaysea,afterhehadpartedfromGlaucusandhiscompanion。Asheapproachedtothemorecrowdedpartofthebay,hepausedandgazeduponthatanimatedscenewithfoldedarms,andabittersmileuponhisdarkfeatures。

’Gulls,dupes,fools,thatyeare!’mutteredhetohimself;’whetherbusinessorpleasure,tradeorreligion,beyourpursuit,youareequallycheatedbythepassionsthatyeshouldrule!HowIcouldloatheyou,ifI

didnothate——yes,hate!GreekorRoman,itisfromus,fromthedarkloreofEgypt,thatyehavestolenthefirethatgivesyousouls。Yourknowledge——yourpoesy——yourlaws——yourarts——yourbarbarousmasteryofwar(allhowtameandmutilated,whencomparedwiththevastoriginal!)——yehavefilched,asaslavefilchesthefragmentsofthefeast,fromus!Andnow,yemimicsofamimic!——Romans,forsooth!themushroomherdofrobbers!yeareourmasters!thepyramidslookdownnomoreontheraceofRameses——theeaglecowersovertheserpentoftheNile。Ourmasters——no,notmine。Mysoul,bythepowerofitswisdom,controlsandchainsyou,thoughthefettersareunseen。Solongascraftcanmasterforce,solongasreligionhasacavefromwhichoraclescandupemankind,thewiseholdanempireoverearth。EvenfromyourvicesArbacesdistillshispleasures——pleasuresunprofanedbyvulgareyes——pleasuresvast,wealthy,inexhaustible,ofwhichyourenervateminds,intheirunimaginativesensuality,cannotconceiveordream!Plodon,plodon,foolsofambitionandofavarice!yourpettythirstforfascesandquaestorships,andallthemummeryofservilepower,provokesmylaughterandmyscorn。Mypowercanextendwherevermanbelieves。Irideoverthesoulsthatthepurpleveils。Thebesmayfall,Egyptbeaname;theworlditselffurnishesthesubjectsofArbaces。’

Thussaying,theEgyptianmovedslowlyon;and,enteringthetown,histallfiguretoweredabovethecrowdedthrongoftheforum,andswepttowardsthesmallbutgracefultempleconsecratedtoIsis。

Thatedificewasthenbutofrecenterection;theancienttemplehadbeenthrowndownintheearthquakesixteenyearsbefore,andthenewbuildinghadbecomeasmuchinvoguewiththeversatilePompeiansasanewchurchoranewpreachermaybewithus。TheoraclesofthegoddessatPompeiiwereindeedremarkable,notmoreforthemysteriouslanguageinwhichtheywereclothed,thanforthecreditwhichwasattachedtotheirmandatesandpredictions。Iftheywerenotdictatedbyadivinity,theywereframedatleastbyaprofoundknowledgeofmankind;theyappliedthemselvesexactlytothecircumstancesofindividuals,andmadeanotablecontrasttothevagueandloosegeneralitiesoftheirrivaltemples。AsArbacesnowarrivedattherailswhichseparatedtheprofanefromthesacredplace,acrowd,composedofallclasses,butespeciallyofthecommercial,collected,breathlessandreverential,beforethemanyaltarswhichroseintheopencourt。Inthewallsofthecella,elevatedonsevenstepsofParianmarble,variousstatuesstoodinniches,andthosewallswereornamentedwiththepomegranateconsecratedtoIsis。Anoblongpedestaloccupiedtheinteriorbuilding,onwhichstoodtwostatues,oneofIsis,anditscompanionrepresentedthesilentandmysticOrus。ButthebuildingcontainedmanyotherdeitiestogracethecourtoftheEgyptiandeity:herkindredandmany—titledBacchus,andtheCyprianVenus,aGreciandisguiseforherself,risingfromherbath,andthedog—headedAnubis,andtheoxApis,andvariousEgyptianidolsofuncouthformandunknownappellations。

ButwemustnotsupposethatamongthecitiesofMagnaGraecia,Isiswasworshippedwiththoseformsandceremonieswhichwereofrightherown。ThemongrelandmodernnationsoftheSouth,withamingledarroganceandignorance,confoundedtheworshipsofallclimesandages。AndtheprofoundmysteriesoftheNileweredegradedbyahundredmeretriciousandfrivolousadmixturesfromthecreedsofCephisusandofTibur。ThetempleofIsisinPompeiiwasservedbyRomanandGreekpriests,ignorantalikeofthelanguageandthecustomsofherancientvotaries;andthedescendantofthedreadEgyptiankings,beneaththeappearanceofreverentialawe,secretlylaughedtoscornthepunymummerieswhichimitatedthesolemnandtypicalworshipofhisburningclime。

Rangednowoneithersidethestepswasthesacrificialcrowd,arrayedinwhitegarments,whileatthesummitstoodtwooftheinferiorpriests,theoneholdingapalmbranch,theotheraslendersheafofcorn。Inthenarrowpassageinfrontthrongedthebystanders。

’Andwhat,’whisperedArbacestooneofthebystanders,whowasamerchantengagedintheAlexandriantrade,whichtradehadprobablyfirstintroducedinPompeiitheworshipoftheEgyptiangoddess——’whatoccasionnowassemblesyoubeforethealtarsofthevenerableIsis?Itseems,bythewhiterobesofthegroupbeforeme,thatasacrificeistoberendered;andbytheassemblyofthepriests,thatyearepreparedforsomeoracle。Towhatquestionisittovouchsafeareply?’

’Wearemerchants,’repliedthebystander(whowasnootherthanDiomed)inthesamevoice,’whoseektoknowthefateofourvessels,whichsailforAlexandriato—morrow。Weareabouttoofferupasacrificeandimploreananswerfromthegoddess。Iamnotoneofthosewhohavepetitionedthepriesttosacrifice,asyoumayseebymydress,butIhavesomeinterestinthesuccessofthefleet——byJupiter!yes。Ihaveaprettytrade,elsehowcouldIliveinthesehardtimes?

TheEgyptianrepliedgravely——’ThatthoughIsiswasproperlythegoddessofagriculture,shewasnolessthepatronofcommerce。’Thenturninghisheadtowardstheeast,Arbacesseemedabsorbedinsilentprayer。

Andnowinthecentreofthestepsappearedapriestrobedinwhitefromheadtofoot,theveilpartingoverthecrown;twonewpriestsrelievedthosehithertostationedateithercorner,beingnakedhalf—waydowntothebreast,andcovered,fortherest,inwhiteandlooserobes。Atthesametime,seatedatthebottomofthesteps,apriestcommencedasolemnairuponalongwind—instrumentofmusic。Half—waydownthestepsstoodanotherflamen,holdinginonehandthevotivewreath,intheotherawhitewand;

while,addingtothepicturesquesceneofthateasternceremony,thestatelyibis(birdsacredtotheEgyptianworship)lookedmutelydownfromthewallupontherite,orstalkedbesidethealtaratthebaseofthesteps。

Atthataltarnowstoodthesacrificialflamen。

ThecountenanceofArbacesseemedtoloseallitsrigidcalmwhilethearuspicesinspectedtheentrails,andtobeintentinpiousanxiety——torejoiceandbrightenasthesignsweredeclaredfavorable,andthefirebeganbrightandclearlytoconsumethesacredportionofthevictimamidstodorousofmyrrhandfrankincense。Itwasthenthatadeadsilencefelloverthewhisperingcrowd,andthepriestsgatheringroundthecella,anotherpriest,nakedsavebyacinctureroundthemiddle,rushedforward,anddancingwithwildgestures,imploredananswerfromthegoddess。Heceasedatlastinexhaustion,andalowmurmuringnoisewasheardwithinthebodyofthestatue:thricetheheadmoved,andthelipsparted,andthenahollowvoiceutteredthesemysticwords:

Therearewaveslikechargersthatmeetandglow,Therearegravesreadywroughtintherocksbelow,Onthebrowofthefuturethedangerslour,Butblestareyourbarksinthefearfulhour。

Thevoiceceased——thecrowdbreathedmorefreely——themerchantslookedateachother。’Nothingcanbemoreplain,’murmuredDiomed;’thereistobeastormatsea,asthereveryoftenisatthebeginningofautumn,butourvesselsaretobesaved。ObeneficentIsis!’

’Laudedeternallybethegoddess!’saidthemerchants:’whatcanbelessequivocalthanherprediction?’

Raisingonehandinsignofsilencetothepeople,fortheritesofIsisenjoinedwhattothelivelyPompeianswasanimpossiblesuspensefromtheuseofthevocalorgans,thechiefpriestpouredhislibationonthealtar,andafterashortconcludingprayertheceremonywasover,andthecongregationdismissed。Still,however,asthecrowddispersedthemselveshereandthere,theEgyptianlingeredbytherailing,andwhenthespacebecametolerablycleared,oneofthepriests,approachingit,salutedhimwithgreatappearanceoffriendlyfamiliarity。

Thecountenanceofthepriestwasremarkablyunprepossessing——hisshavenskullwassolowandnarrowinthefrontasnearlytoapproachtotheconformationofthatofanAfricansavage,saveonlytowardsthetemples,where,inthatorganstyledacquisitivenessbythepupilsofasciencemoderninname,butbestpracticallyknown(astheirsculptureteachesus)

amongsttheancients,twohugeandalmostpreternaturalprotuberancesyetmoredistortedtheunshapelyhead——aroundthebrowstheskinwaspuckeredintoawebofdeepandintricatewrinkles——theeyes,darkandsmall,rolledinamuddyandyelloworbit——thenose,shortyetcoarse,wasdistendedatthenostrilslikeasatyr’s——andthethickbutpallidlips,thehighcheek—bones,thelividandmotleyhuesthatstruggledthroughtheparchmentskin,completedacountenancewhichnonecouldbeholdwithoutrepugnance,andfewwithoutterroranddistrust:whateverthewishesofthemind,theanimalframewaswellfittedtoexecutethem;thewirymusclesofthethroat,thebroadchest,thenervoushandsandleangauntarms,whichwerebaredabovetheelbow,betokenedaformcapablealikeofgreatactiveexertionandpassiveendurance。

’Calenus,’saidtheEgyptiantothisfascinatingflamen,’youhaveimprovedthevoiceofthestatuemuchbyattendingtomysuggestion;andyourversesareexcellent。Alwaysprophesygoodfortune,unlessthereisanabsoluteimpossibilityofitsfulfilment。’

’Besides,’addedCalenus,’ifthestormdoescome,andifitdoesoverwhelmtheaccursedships,havewenotprophesiedit?andarethebarksnotblesttobeatrest?——forrestpraysthemarinerintheAEgeansea,oratleastsosaysHorace——canthemarinerbemoreatrestintheseathanwhenheisatthebottomofit?’

’Right,myCalenus;IwishApaecideswouldtakealessonfromyourwisdom。

ButIdesiretoconferwithyourelativetohimandtoothermatters:youcanadmitmeintooneofyourlesssacredapartments?’

’Assuredly,’repliedthepriest,leadingthewaytooneofthesmallchamberswhichsurroundedtheopengate。Heretheyseatedthemselvesbeforeasmalltablespreadwithdishescontainingfruitandeggs,andvariouscoldmeats,withvasesofexcellentwine,ofwhichwhilethecompanionspartook,acurtain,drawnacrosstheentranceopeningtothecourt,concealedthemfromview,butadmonishedthembythethinnessofthepartitiontospeaklow,ortospeaknosecrets:theychosetheformeralternative。

’Thouknowest,’saidArbaces,inavoicethatscarcelystirredtheair,sosoftandinwardwasitssound,’thatithaseverbeenmymaximtoattachmyselftotheyoung。FromtheirflexileandunformedmindsIcancarveoutmyfittesttools。Iweave——Iwarp——Imouldthematmywill。OfthemenI

makemerelyfollowersorservants;ofthewomen……’

’Mistresses,’saidCalenus,asalividgrindistortedhisungainlyfeatures。

’Yes,Idonotdisguiseit:womanisthemainobject,thegreatappetite,ofmysoul。Asyoufeedthevictimfortheslaughter,Ilovetorearthevotariesofmypleasure。Ilovetotrain,toripentheirminds——tounfoldthesweetblossomoftheirhiddenpassions,inordertopreparethefruittomytaste。Iloatheyourready—madeandripenedcourtesans;itisinthesoftandunconsciousprogressofinnocencetodesirethatIfindthetruecharmoflove;itisthusthatIdefysatiety;andbycontemplatingthefreshnessofothers,Isustainthefreshnessofmyownsensations。FromtheyoungheartsofmyvictimsIdrawtheingredientsofthecaldroninwhichI

re—youthmyself。Butenoughofthis:tothesubjectbeforeus。Youknow,then,thatinNeapolissometimesinceIencounteredIoneandApaecides,brotherandsister,thechildrenofAthenianswhohadsettledatNeapolis。

Thedeathoftheirparents,whoknewandesteemedme,constitutedmetheirguardian。Iwasnotunmindfulofthetrust。Theyouth,docileandmild,yieldedreadilytotheimpressionIsoughttostampuponhim。Nexttowoman,Ilovetheoldrecollectionsofmyancestralland;Ilovetokeepalive——topropagateondistantshores(whichhercoloniesperchanceyetpeople)herdarkandmysticcreeds。Itmaybe,thatitpleasesmetodeludemankind,whileIthusservethedeities。ToApaecidesItaughtthesolemnfaithofIsis。Iunfoldedtohimsomethingofthosesublimeallegorieswhicharecouchedbeneathherworship。Iexcitedinasoulpeculiarlyalivetoreligiousfervorthatenthusiasmwhichimaginationbegetsonfaith。I

haveplacedhimamongstyou:heisoneofyou。’

’Heisso,’saidCalenus:’butinthusstimulatinghisfaith,youhaverobbedhimofwisdom。Heishorror—struckthatheisnolongerduped:oursagedelusions,ourspeakingstatuesandsecretstaircasesdismayandrevolthim;hepines;hewastesaway;hemutterstohimself;herefusestoshareourceremonies。Hehasbeenknowntofrequentthecompanyofmensuspectedofadherencetothatnewandatheisticalcreedwhichdeniesallourgods,andtermsouroraclestheinspirationsofthatmalevolentspiritofwhicheasterntraditionspeaks。Ouroracles——alas!weknowwellwhoseinspirationstheyare!’

’ThisiswhatIfeared,’saidArbaces,musingly,’fromvariousreproacheshemademewhenIlastsawhim。Oflatehehathshunnedmysteps。Imustfindhim:Imustcontinuemylessons:ImustleadhimintotheadytumofWisdom。

Imustteachhimthattherearetwostagesofsanctity——thefirst,FAITH——thenext,DELUSION;theoneforthevulgar,thesecondforthesage。’

’Ineverpassedthroughthefirst,IsaidCalenus;’noryoueither,Ithink,myArbaces。’

’Youerr,’repliedtheEgyptian,gravely。’Ibelieveatthisday(notindeedthatwhichIteach,butthatwhichIteachnot)。NaturehasasanctityagainstwhichIcannot(norwouldI)steelconviction。Ibelieveinmineownknowledge,andthathasrevealedtome——butnomatter。Nowtoearthlierandmoreinvitingthemes。IfIthusfulfilledmyobjectwithApaecides,whatwasmydesignforIone?ThouknowestalreadyIintendherformyqueen——mybride——myheart’sIsis。NevertillIsawherknewIalltheloveofwhichmynatureiscapable。’

’IhearfromathousandlipsthatsheisasecondHelen,’saidCalenus;andhesmackedhisownlips,butwhetheratthewineoratthenotionitisnoteasytodecide。

’Yes,shehasabeautythatGreeceitselfneverexcelled,’resumedArbaces。

’Butthatisnotall:shehasasoulworthytomatchwithmine。Shehasageniusbeyondthatofwoman——keen——dazzling——bold。Poetryflowsspontaneoustoherlips:utterbutatruth,and,howeverintricateandprofound,hermindseizesandcommandsit。Herimaginationandherreasonarenotatwarwitheachother;theyharmonizeanddirecthercourseasthewindsandthewavesdirectsomeloftybark。Withthissheunitesadaringindependenceofthought;shecanstandaloneintheworld;shecanbebraveassheisgentle;thisisthenatureIhavesoughtallmylifeinwoman,andneverfoundtillnow。Ionemustbemine!InherIhaveadoublepassion;Iwishtoenjoyabeautyofspiritasofform。’

’Sheisnotyoursyet,then?’saidthepriest。

’No;shelovesme——butasafriend——shelovesmewithhermindonly。ShefanciesinmethepaltryvirtueswhichIhaveonlytheprofoundervirtuetodisdain。Butyoumustpursuewithmeherhistory。Thebrotherandsisterwereyoungandrich:Ioneisproudandambitious——proudofhergenius——themagicofherpoetry——thecharmofherconversation。Whenherbrotherleftme,andenteredyourtemple,inordertobenearhimsheremovedalsotoPompeii。Shehassufferedhertalentstobeknown。Shesummonscrowdstoherfeasts;hervoiceenchantsthem;herpoetrysubdues。ShedelightsinbeingthoughtthesuccessorofErinna。’

’OrofSappho?’