Part 19 (1/2)

_T._ Why do you call it coming _up_? _C. thinks, then smiles, then_ ... We _always_ call it coming up to Dublin.

_T._ Well, but you always have a _reason_ for what you do ... what is your reason here? _C. is silent._

_T._ Come, come, Mr. Brown, I won't believe you don't know; I am sure you have a very good reason for saying you go up to Dublin, not _down_. _C.

thinks, then_ ... It is the capital.

_T._ Very well; now was Persia the capital? _C._ Yes.

_T._ Well ... no ... not exactly ... explain yourself; was Persia a city? _C._ A country.

_T._ That is right; well, but did you ever hear of Susa? _Now_, why did they speak of going _up_ to Persia? _C. is silent._

_T._ Because it was the seat of government; that was one reason. Persia was the seat of government; they went up because it was the seat of government. _C._ Because it was the seat of government.

_T._ Now where did they go up from? _C._ From Greece.

_T._ But where did this army a.s.semble? whence did it set out? _C. is silent._

_T._ It is mentioned in the first book; where did the troops _rendezvous_?

_C. is silent._

_T._ Open your book; now turn to Book I., chapter ii.; now tell me. _C._ Oh, at Sardis.

_T._ Very right: at Sardis; now where was Sardis? _C._ In Asia Minor?... no ... it's an island ... _a pause, then_ ... Sardinia.

_T._ In Asia Minor; the army set out from Asia Minor, and went on towards Persia; and therefore it is said to go _up_-because ... _C. is silent._

_T._ Because ... Persia ... _C._ Because Persia ...

_T._ Of course; because Persia held a sovereignty over Asia Minor. _C._ Yes.

_T._ Now do you know how and when Persia came to conquer and gain possession of Asia Minor? _C. is silent._

_T._ Was Persia in possession of many countries? _C. is silent._

_T._ Was Persia at the head of an empire? _C. is silent._

_T._ Who was Xerxes? _C._ Oh, Xerxes ... yes ... Xerxes; he invaded Greece; he flogged the sea.

_T._ Right; he flogged the sea: what sea? _C. is silent_.

_T._ Have you read any history of Persia?... what history? _C._ Grote, and Mitford.

_T._ Well, now, Mr. Brown, you can name some other reason why the Greeks spoke of going up to Persia? Do we talk of going _up_ or _down_ from the sea-coast? _C._ Up.

_T._ That is right; well, going from Asia Minor, would you go from the sea, or towards it? _C._ From.

_T._ What countries would you pa.s.s, going from the coast of Asia Minor to Persia? ... mention any of them. _C. is silent._