A Victor of Salamis

wo other men were walking, so deep in talk that they hardly heeded how many made respectful way for them, or how many greeted them. The taller and

nd eloquent. His brown beard and hair were trimmed short to reveal a clear olive face-hardly regular, but expressive and tinged with an extrem

d ravine, half covered by scanty stubble. The forehead was low. The eyes, gray and wise, twinkled from tufted eyebrows. The long gray hair was tied about his forehead

end aid; if Xerxes has trouble in provisioning his army, not merely ca

hall

tworthy. The Egyptian sailors hate the Ph?n

ess, Them

m of Hellas. Still a battle must be risked. If we quit ourselves

?-his Troy

and earth to have your Ephors and Council somewhat more for

ill

d to statecraft. We were speaking abo

result. Scores of men, and those not the most aristocratic, were running pell-mell whither so many had thronged already. In the confusion scant rever

table whereon he showed his wares. Among the dozen odd persons pressing about the booth his eye singled out a slight, handsome bo

s; but a score of bystanders seized the fugitive and dragged him back to the Sicyonian, whose order to "search!" would have been promptly obeyed; but at this instant he stumbled over the miss

ing; "he dropped the lamp when he was detected! Hav

y man within hearing. The unfortunate lad was seized again and

ou get that outlandish dress and gold-laced turban? Confess, con

He struggled vainly; tears started to his eyes. Then he committed a blunder. Not attempting a protest, h

grip. "Hark you, friends, it's plain as day. Dexippus of Corinth has a Syria

he prisoner's outcries were drowned. He would have been swept off

in clear Attic. "Release this lad. I kno

, ill-pleased at the interruption of an Atheni

lux-it's Glauco

trength. A face of fine regularity, a chiselled profile, smooth cheeks, deep blue eyes, a crown of closely cropped auburn hair, a chin neither weak nor stern, a skin burnt brown by the sun of the wr

e lad!" he

ans yielded. The Oriental pressed against his pr

ur good looks. Our Lycon will mar them all to-morrow. Here's Dexippus's slave or e

ized the Spartan's arm, and with lightning dexterity laid the busybody fla

ens! Vengeance, men of

er upon the athlete. He was hidden a moment in the rush of flapping gowns and tossing arms. Then like a rock out of the angry sea shone his golden head, as he shook off the attack. Two men were

Athens,

boughs for clubs. The athlete, centre of all this din, stood smiling, with his glorious head held high, his eyes a

ing a dirk. Everything promised broken heads, and perhaps blood, when Leonidas [pg 15]and his friend,-by laying about them with their stave

rtan let their arms drop and stood sheepish and silent. Themistocles instantly stepped forward and held u

I saw all that befell. It is only an unlucky misunderstandi

a riot the ruin of his eve

ntal was not Dexippus's slave, and Xerxes does not need such boys for spies. I am certain Glaucon would not

erybody's attention; most of the company streamed away to follow the flower-decked chariots and c

ughed Themistocles; "had we not chanced

indled; "the shock, the striving, the putting one's own [pg 16]

are me fighting one against ten! But what god possessed you t

aw the lad beset and knew he was not Dexippus's sla

for a sly-eyed Oriental

the commotion-had di

ed to Leonidas. "Well, very noble king of Sparta, you were asking to see Glaucon and jud

, ran his eyes over the athlete from hea

pre

id. Themistocles threw up

r hero beautiful as brave? Does not Ho

right arm near the shoulder. The muscles cracked. Glaucon did not wince. The king dropped th

tood face to face, hand locked in hand, while Glaucon's forehead grew redder, not with blushing

, again; then, to Them

companions the stiffest of nods and deliberately turned on his heel. Speech was too precious coi

con. Grind

, despite overweening hopes, at the manly beauty yet modesty of the athlete, and being a m

entured the athlete; "but I am sure h

truly desired to ask a question. Is it not a great delight to

contradict you-very rude. If 'y

ofound than ever, the Cean cut short. "Heracles! if my tongue wounds you, lo! it's clapped back in its sheath; I'll be revenged in an ode of fifty ia

ds, noble Simonides," said the athlete,

' to such as you. It's we graybeards that Ty

, if not too terrible,' just to ward off the god's jealousy of too great prosperity. In all things, save my father's anger,

fession on first acquaintance. "Yes, bu

know. I

re's no worse dinner before a contest than o

mean," correct

because there is Hermione. But make this day-

d to Simonides, the statesman hastened after Leonidas, leaving the th

n to grind the bones of the champion

s of the nobility in Hellas; "first, Lycon is of the rival kingly hous

'?" interrupted Democrates, promptly

f Miltiades; "honest Hellenes should not even be blown upo

l hands; "let the Medes, the Persians, and their war wait. For me the only war is the pentath

wn bright world, sufficient to himself. May Zeus never send stor

* *

dy-servant, came running to his mas

t this only a moment since

set at two min?. Nothing betrayed the identity of the giver save a slip of papyrus written in Greek

let on high, admirin

iental [pg 20]was not ungrateful. But what 'sl

was wrong yet again. Who knows if a stranger

Democrates, almost peevishly; but Glauc

will shine rarely on Hermione's arm." The mention of that lady called forth new protests from Cimon, but

g