Part 22 (1/2)
On a rock, amid the roaring water, Lies Ca.s.siopea's gentle daughter.
Milza had just begun to sing, ”Bold Perseus comes,” when she perceived a servant crossing the court, and deemed it prudent to retire in silence.
She carefully preserved the leaf, and immediately after her return hastened to the apartment of Phoenarete, to obtain an explanation. That matron, like most Grecian women, was ignorant of her own written language. The leaf was accordingly placed in a vessel of water, to preserve its freshness until Clinias returned from the Prytaneum. He easily distinguished the name of Pandaenus joined with his own; and having heard the particulars of the story, had no difficulty in understanding that Milza was directed to apply to them for a.s.sistance.
He readily promised to intercede with his profligate kinsman, and immediately sent messengers in search of Pandaenus.
Geta awaited intelligence with extreme impatience. He was grateful for many an act of kindness from Eudora; and he could not forget that she had been the cherished favourite of his beloved and generous master.
At night, Clinias returned from a conference with Alcibiades, in which the latter denied all knowledge of Eudora; and it seemed hazardous to inst.i.tute legal inquiries into the conduct of a man so powerful and so popular, without further evidence than had yet been obtained. Pandaenus could not be found. At the house where he usually resided, no information could be obtained, except that he went out on the preceding evening, and had not returned as usual.
During that night, and part of the following day, the two faithful attendants remained in a state of melancholy indecision. At last, Geta said, ”I will go once more in search of Pandaenus; and if he has not yet returned, I have resolved what to do. To-day I saw one of the slaves of Artaphernes buying olives; and he said he must have the very best, because his master was to give a feast to-night. Among other guests, he spoke of Alcibiades; and he is one that is always sure to stay late at his wine. While he is feasting, I will go to Salamis. His steward often bought anchovies of me at Phalerum. He is a countryman of mine; and I know he is as avaricious as an Odomantian. I think money will bribe him to carry a message to Eudora, and to place a ladder near the outer wall for her escape. He is intrusted with all the keys, and can do it if he will. And if he can get gold enough by it, I believe he will trust Hermes to help him settle with his master, as he has done many a time before this. I will be in readiness at the Triton's Cove, and bring her back to Athens as fast as oars can fly.”
”Do so, dear Geta,” replied Milza; ”but disguise yourself from the other servants, and take with you the robe and veil that I wear to market.
Then if Eudora could only walk a little more like a fish-woman, she might pa.s.s very well. But be sure you do not pay the steward till you have her at the boat's edge; for he that will play false games with his master, may do the same by you.”
Necessary arrangements were speedily made. Geta resolved to offer the earnings of his whole life as a bribe, rather than intrust the secret of his bold expedition to any of the household of Clinias; and Milza, fearful that their own store would not prove a sufficient temptation, brought forth a sum of money found in Eudora's apartment, together with a valuable necklace, which had been a birth-day present from Phidias.
It was past midnight when three figures emerged from the shadow of the high wall surrounding the mansion of Alcibiades, and with cautious haste proceeded toward the cove. Before they could arrive at the beach, a large and gaily-trimmed boat was seen approaching the sh.o.r.e, from the direction of the Piraeus. It was flaming with torches; and a band of musicians poured out upon the undulating waters a rich flood of melody, rendered more distinct and soft by the liquid element over which it floated. One of the fugitives immediately turned, and disappeared within the walls they had left; the other two concealed themselves in a thick grove, the darkness of which was deepened by the glare of torches along its borders. A man richly dressed, with several fillets on his head, and crowned with a garland of violets, ivy, and myrtle, stepped from the boat, supported by the arm of a slave. His countenance was flushed with wine, and as he reeled along, he sung aloud:
”Have I told you all my flames, 'Mong the amorous Syrian dames?
Have I numbered every one Glowing under Egypt's sun!
Or the nymphs, who, blus.h.i.+ng sweet, Deck the shrine of Love in Crete-- Where the G.o.d, with festal play, Holds eternal holiday?”
”Castor and Polydeuces!” whispered Geta, ”there goes Alcibiades. He has returned from his wine earlier than usual; but so blinded by the merry G.o.d, that he would not have known us, if we had faced the glare of his torches.”
”Oh, hasten! hasten!” said Eudora, weeping and trembling, as she spoke.
”I beseech you do not let a moment be lost.”
As Alcibiades and his train disappeared, they left the grove, and hurried toward their boat; keeping as much as possible within the shadow of the trees. They reached the cove in safety, and Geta rowed with unwonted energy; but he was single-handed, and Salamis was many stadia from Athens. Long before he arrived at the place were he had been accustomed to land, they heard the sound of distant oars plied with furious rapidity.
They landed, and with the utmost haste proceeded toward the city.
Eudora, fearful of being overtaken, implored Geta to seek refuge behind the pillars of Poseidon's temple. Carefully concealing themselves in the dense shadow, they remained without speaking, and almost without breathing, until their pursuers had pa.s.sed by. The moment these were out of hearing, they quitted their hiding-place, and walked swiftly along the Piraeus. Intense fear imparted a degree of strength, which the maiden, under other circ.u.mstances, would have hardly deemed it possible to exert. She did not for a moment relax her speed, until they came within sight of the Areopagus, and heard noisy shouts, apparently not far distant. Eudora, sinking with fatigue and terror, entreated Geta not to attempt any approach to the house of Clinias, where her enemies would certainly be lying in wait for them. With uncertain steps they proceeded toward the great Gate of the Acropolis, until the helpless maiden, frightened at the approaching noise, stopped suddenly, and burst into a flood of tears.
”There is one place of safety, if you have courage to try it,” said Geta: ”We are nearly under the Propylaea; and close beside us is the grotto of Creusa. Few dare to enter it in the day-time, and no profane steps will venture to pa.s.s the threshold after nightfall; for it is said the G.o.ds often visit it, and fill it with strange sights and sounds.
Shall we enter?”
It was a windy night, and the clouds that occasionally pa.s.sed over the face of the moon gave the earth a dreary aspect. The high wall under which they stood seemed to frown gloomily upon them, and the long flight of white marble steps, leading from the Propylaea, looked cold and cheerless beneath the fitful gleamings of the moon.
Eudora hesitated, and looked timidly around; but as the sound of riotous voices came nearer, she seized Geta's arm, and exclaimed, in hurried accents, ”The G.o.ds protect me! Let us enter.”
Within the grotto, all was total darkness. Having groped their way a short distance from the entrance, they found a large rock, on which they seated themselves. The voices approached nearer, and their discordant revelry had an awful sound amid the echoes of the grotto.
These gradually died away in the distance, and were heard no more.
When all was perfectly still, Eudora, in whispered accents, informed Geta that she had been seized, as she stooped to gather flowers within sight of her own dwelling. Two men suddenly started up from behind a wall, and one covered her mouth, while the other bound her hands. They made a signal to a third, who came with two attendants and a curtained chariot, in which she was immediately conveyed to a solitary place on the seash.o.r.e, and thence to Salamis. Two men sat beside her, and held her fast, so as to prevent any possibility of communication with the few people pa.s.sing at that early hour.
Arrived at the place of destination, she was shut up in a large apartment, luxuriously furnished. Alcibiades soon visited her, with an affectation of the most scrupulous respect, urging the plea of ardent love as an excuse for his proceedings.
Aware that she was completely in his power, she concealed her indignation and contempt, and allowed him to indulge the hope that her affections might be obtained, if she were entirely convinced of his wish to atone for the treachery and violence with which she had been treated.