Part 27 (1/2)

But well that Mardonius had deprecated the wrath of the monarch. Glaucon came with his head high, his manner almost arrogant. The mere fact that his boldness might cost him his life made him less bending than ever. He trod firmly upon the particular square of golden carpet at the foot of the dais which none, saving the king, the vizier, and the ”Six Princes,” could lawfully tread. He held his hands at his sides, firmly refusing to conceal them in his cloak, as court etiquette demanded. As he stood on the steps of the throne, he gave the glittering monarch the same familiar bow he might have awarded a friend he met in the Agora. Mardonius was troubled.

The supreme usher was horrified. The master-of-punishments, ever near his chief, gazed eagerly to see if Xerxes would not touch the audacious h.e.l.lene's girdle-a sign for prompt decapitation. Only the good nature of the king prevented a catastrophe, and Xerxes was moved by two motives, pleasure at meeting a fellow-mortal who could look him in the eye without servility or fear, delight at the beautiful features and figure of the Athenian. For an instant monarch and fugitive looked face to face, then Xerxes stretched out, not his hand, but the gold tip of his ivory baton.

Glaucon had wisdom enough to touch it,-a token that he was admitted to audience with the king.

”You are from Athens, beautiful h.e.l.lene,” spoke Xerxes, still admiring the stranger. ”I will question you. Let Mardonius interpret.”

”I have learned Persian, great sir,” interposed Glaucon, never waiting for the bow-bearer.

”You have done well,” rejoined the smiling monarch; ”yet better had you learned our Aryan manners of courtliness. No matter-you will learn them likewise in good time. Now tell me your name and parentage.”

”I am Glaucon, son of Conon, of the house of the Alcmaeonidae.”

”Great n.o.bles, Omnipotence,” interposed Mardonius, ”so far as n.o.bility can be reckoned among the Greeks.”

”I have yet to learn their genealogies,” remarked Xerxes, dryly; then he turned back to Glaucon. ”And do your parents yet live, and have you any brethren?” The question was a natural one for an Oriental. Glaucon's answer came with increased pride.

”I am a child of my parent's old age. My mother is dead. My father is feeble. I have no brethren. Two older brothers I had. One fell here at Sardis, when we Athenians sacked the city. One fell victorious at Marathon, while he burned a Persian s.h.i.+p. Therefore I am not ashamed of their fates.”

”Your tongue is bold, h.e.l.lene,” said the good-natured king; ”you are but a lame courtier. No matter. Tell me, nevertheless, why you churlishly refuse to do me reverence. Do you set yourself above all these princes of the Persians who bow before me?”

”Not so, great sir. But I was born at Athens, not at Susa. We h.e.l.lenes pray standing even to Zeus, stretching forth our hands and looking upward.

Can I honour the lord of all the satrapies above the highest G.o.d?”

”A nimble tongue you have, Athenian, though an unbending neck.” Xerxes sat and stroked his beard, pleased at the frank reply. ”Mardonius has told how you saved his and my sister's lives, and that you are an outlaw from Athens.”

”The last is all too true, great sir.”

”Which means you will not pray your G.o.ds too hard for my defeat? ha?”

Glaucon blushed, then looked up boldly.

”A Persian king, I know, loves truth-telling. I still love and pray for Athens, even if unknown enemies conspired against me.”

”Humph! You can learn our other virtues later. Are you blind to my power?

If so, I pity more than I blame you.”

”The king is kind,” returned Glaucon, putting by a part of his hauteur. ”I would not anger him. I only know he would rather have men say, 'Xerxes conquered a proud nation, hard to subdue,' than, 'He conquered a feeble race of whining slaves.' ”

”Excellent! In all save your vain confidence of victory, you seem wise beyond your youth. You are handsome. You are n.o.ble-”

”Very n.o.ble,” interposed Mardonius.

”And you saved the lives of Mardonius and Artazostra. Did you know their n.o.bility when you rescued them?”

”Not so. I would not let them drown like sheep.”

”The better, then. You acted without low motive of reward. Yet let the day never come when Xerxes is called 'ungrateful' for benefits done his servants. You shall come to love me by beholding my magnanimity. I will make you a Persian, despite your will. Have you seen battle?”