A Victor of Salamis

had kissed him; Themistocles had gripped his hand; Democrates had called "Zeus prosper you!" Simonides had vowed that he was already hunting for the metres of a t

uoit-throw. Do not be troubled. In

his backers are recalling their bets. But he hopes to wi

rl the javelin. Your

throw about a Hellene, or be buried in the disgrace to which his ungenerous people consigned the vanquished. But, in the words of his day, "he knew himself" and his own powers. From the day he quitted boyhood he had never met the

I will win glory for them all

he older of the pair, whispered confidently that "when he had known Master Glaucon

half mina staked on him, too." Then from the tents a

Thebes, come

pidaurus, com

parta, come

his hands. Each t

nour, good friends!

as husky. This was the greatest ordeal of his favourite pup

Athens, come

ad only in his coat of glistering oil. Scolus of Thasos and M?rocles of Mantinea joined the other four athletes; t

s, "pretty girl," "pretty pullet," from the serried host of the Laconians along the left side of the stadium; but an answering salvo, "Dog of Cerberus!" bawled by the Athenian crowds opposite, and winged at Lycon, returned the taunts with usury. As the champions approached the judges' stand a procession of full twenty pipers, attended by as many fair boys in flowing white, marched from the farther end of the stadium to meet them. The boys bore cymbals and tambours; the pipers struck up a brisk marching note in the rugged Dorian mode. The boys' lithe bodies swa

cry, "We are Hellenes all; though of many a city, the same f

eidon the migh

th and the ha

?g? and Hel

the honours high

rd of the mett

d of swift ship

ide us, dread pri

omeland, thy su

nd or by cla

way-god to shi

smoke of a thou

everent glad

announced that now, on the third day of the games, came the final and most honoured contest: the pentathlon, the fivefold struggle, with the crown to him who conquered thrice. He proclaimed the names of the six rivals, their cities, their ancestry, and how they had compli

to contend, and have made oath that they are purified or innoc

asily. Scolus the Thasian-youngest of the six-was pale, and cast nervous glances at the towering bulk of

are extremely handsome. If fine look

ust caught Cimon and Democrates in t

Still, be advised. I wouldn't

clear eye seemed now to be wandering

't complain that you've lacked warning, wh

ian's face; there was a slight deepening of the ligh

nded, dear Spartan,"

ke you silent, smiling men! Yo

changed all the uproar to a silence in which one might hear the wind m

ant were set a pair of bronze dumb-bells. The six were arrayed upon the mound with a clear reach of sand before. The master-herald proclaimed

e champion was as calm as his friends were nervous. The stadium had grown oppressively still; then broke into along "ah!" Twenty thousand sprang up together as Scolus the Thasian leaped. His partisans cheered, while he rose

, then flung out upon the sands far beyond the Thasian. He rose, shook off the dust, and returned to the moun

dust hid him from view. When it settled, every Laconian was roaring with delight. He had passed beyond Glaucon. M?rocles of Mantinea sprang last and badly. The second round was almost as the first; although

of Athens is second. Scolus of Thasos leaps

enced Thasian marched disconsolately t

the herald; "each contestant throws three quoit

entary lull he trumpeted thro

olden thoughts of Eleusis;

on hands. Democrates, next him, was gazing at Glaucon, as if the athlete were mad

tle rise in the sand, near the judges' pulpit. To each was brought a bronze qu

tting together fell on one another's necks in sheer joy. But the rapture ended quickly. Lycon flung second. His vast strength could now tell to the uttermost. He was proud to display it. Thrice he hurled. Thrice his discus sped out as far as ever man had seen a quoit fly in Hellas. Not even Gl

n of [pg 38]Athens is second. Ctesias of Epid

e face shining out amid the thousands of gazers

eaty he answered by no sign. As he and the Spartan sto

ugh and to spare to be second, with Lycon

t closing of the Athenian's lips, and deepeni

bold! The herald is calling for the javel

him raise his arm and lift his glorious head yet higher. Glaucon in turn saw Cimon sink into his seat. "He wakes!" was the appeased mutter passing from the son of Miltiades and running along

this combat was too delicate an art for his ungainly hands. Twice the missile lodged in the rim of the shield; [pg 39]once it sprang beyond upon the sand. M?rocles, who followed, surpassed him. Amyntas was hardly worse. Glaucon came last,

of Mantinea is second. Amyntas of Thebes is poorest an

themselves, had begun to pin their hopes on the beautiful son of Conon. There was a steely glin

he does not do Glaucon a misch

they come to

the Athenian. But now le

eft their pulpit and took post at either end of a line marked on the sand. Each held the end of a taut rope. The contestants drew lots from an urn for the place nearest the lower turning goal,-no trifling advantage. A favouring god gave M?rocles the first; Lycon was s

ion. Glaucon knew that the stranger was looking from him to Lycon, from Lycon back to himself, m

e so close they could catch the Eastern

Athenian the wish became an omen of good. For some unknown cause the incident of the Oriental lad he rescued and the mysterious gi

se save the tawny track, flashed from Glaucon's

e lower goal the Mantinean heedlessly risked a dash. His foot slipped on the sands. He recovered; but like arrows his rivals passed him. At the goal the inevitable happened. Lycon, with the shorter turn, swung quickest. He

on of Con

tor; Sparta i

tinean,-stil

r Athenian, the turn, and

the dust had settled, while on his head fell the breath of him behind." Again at the lower goal the Mantinean was panting wearily in the rear. Again Lycon led, a

bound the great arm of the Spartan flew out with its knotted fist. A deadly stroke, and shunned by a hair's-breadth; but it was shunned. The senior president called angrily to the herald; but none heard his words in the rending din. The twain shot up the track elbow to elb

nd. M?rocles of Mantinea drops from the contest. Glaucon and L

The last wagers were recorded on the tablets by nervous styluses. The readiest tongues ceased to chatter. Thousands of wistful eyes turned from the elegant form of the Athenian to the burly form of the Spartan. Every outward chance, so many an anxious heart told itself, favoured the oft-victorious giant; but then,-and here came reason for a true Hellene,-"the gods could not suffer so f

he hottest battle is still before," said h

s if never more at ease; and Pytheas drew back ha

fellow-trainer, "all is w

president proclaimed the rules of the wrestling,-two casts out of t

d earn it. Had that blow in the foot-race struck home, I wo

ly nod was th

asunder and in sight of all the thousands. The heralds stood, crossing their myrtle

red, S

es

ed, Ath

es

n shed glory

he great arms of the Spartan twine around the Athenian's chest in fair grapple, but even as Lycon strove with all his bull-like might to lift and throw, Glaucon's slim hand glided down beneath his opponent's thigh. Twice the Spartan put forth all his powers. Those nearest watched the veins of the athletes swell and heard their hard muscles crack. The

the homage in silence. A little flush was on his forehead. His arms and [pg 44]shoulders were very re

s," rang his shout

the trainer that no trick would conquer Lycon this second time; and Glaucon the Fair might be nearer the fields

tling the attack had been impetuous, it was now painfully deliberate. When the heralds' wands fell, the two crept like mighty cats across the narrow sands, frames bent, hands outstretched, watching from t

before the clasp could tighten, and in the melée Glaucon's other hand passed beneath Lycon's thigh. The two seemed deadlocked. For a moment they grinned face to face, almost close enough to bite each other's lips. But breath was too precious for curses. The Spartan flung his ponderous weight downward. A slip in the gliding sand woul

ty him! Lycon is wearing him down," moaned Pytheas, be

Hades; all demigods, heroes, satyrs, were invoked for them. They were besought to conquer in the name of parents, friends, and native la

d on him with steadfast, unweakening eyes. The president was just bidding the heralds, "Pluck them asunder and declare a tie!" when the stadium gave a shrill long shout. Lycon had turned to his final resource. Reckless of his own hurt, he dashed his iron forehead against the Athenian's, as bull charges bull. Twice and

Gray Eyes! For the glory of

ard as might Prometheus's unchained. They saw the fingers of the Spartan unclasp. They saw his bloody face upturned and torn with he

confusion a dirty Plat?an. Democrates seemed lost in the whirlpool, and came with greetings later. Perhaps he had stopped to watch that Oriental who had given Glau

* *

panted up to the Athenian watch by Mount Icar

-He co

et-place. In Athens, archons, generals, and elders were accompanying Conon to the [pg 47]Acropolis to give thanks to Athena. Conon had forgotten how he had disowned his son. Another beacon glittered from the Acropolis. Another flashed from the lordly cres

ours us all! Glaucon the Fortu

g

g

OK

OW OF TH

g

g