按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was making signs for him to be quiet。 Dead silence prevailed in the
theatre； broken at last by the strains of heroic music。
The play began。 The soldiers left their tents； and were preparing to
depart； when a prodigy occurreda cloud covered the summit of the
funeral pile。 Then the cloud rolled away； and the ghost of Achilles
appeared； clad in golden armour。 Extending his arms towards the
warriors； he seemed to say to them； 〃What！ do you depart； children of
Danaos？ do you return to the land I shall never behold again； and
leave my tomb without any offerings？〃 Already the principal Greek
chieftains pressed to the foot of the pile。 Acamas； the son of
Theseus； old Nestor； Agamemnon； bearing a sceptre and with a fillet on
his brow； gazed at the prodigy。 Pyrrhus； the young son of Achilles；
was prostrate in the dust。 Ulysses； recognisable by the cap which
covered his curly hair； showed by his gestures that he acquiesced in
the demand of the hero's shade。 He argued with Agamemnon； and their
words might be easily guessed
〃Achilles；〃 said the King of Ithaca； 〃is worthy to be honoured by us；
for he died gloriously for Hellas。 He demands that the daughter of
Priam； the virgin Polyxena； should be immolated on his tomb。 Greeks！
appease the manes of the hero； and let the son of Peleus rejoice in
Hades。〃
But the king of kings replied
〃Spare the Trojan virgins we have torn from the altars。 Sufficient
misfortunes have already fallen on the illustrious race of Priam。〃
He spoke thus because he shared the couch of the sister of Polyxena；
and the wise Ulysses reproached him for preferring the couch of
Cassandra to the lance of Achilles。
The Greeks showed they shared the opinion of Ulysses； by loudly
clashing their weapons。 The death of Polyxena was resolved on； and the
appeased shade of Achilles vanished。 The musicsometimes wild and
sometimes plaintivefollowed the thoughts of the personages in the
drama。 The spectators burst into applause。
Paphnutius； who applied divine truth to everything murmured
〃This fable shows how cruel the worshippers of false gods were。〃
〃All religions breed crimes；〃 replied the Epicurean。 〃Happily； a
Greek； who was divinely wise； has freed men from foolish terrors of
the unknown〃
Just at that moment； Hecuba； her white hair dishevelled； her robe
tattered； came out of the tent in which she was kept captive。 A long
sigh went up from the audience； when her woeful figure appeared。
Hecuba had been warned by a prophetic dream； and lamented her
daughter's fate and her own。 Ulysses approached her； and asked her to
give up Polyxena。 The old mother tore her hair； dug her nails into her
cheeks； and kissed the hands of the cruel chieftain； who； with
unpitying calmness； seemed to say
〃Be wise； Hecuba； and yield to necessity。 There are amongst us many
old mothers who weep for their children； now sleeping under the pines
of Ida。〃
And Hecuba； formerly queen of the most flourishing city in Asia； and
now a slave； bowed her unhappy head in the dust。
Then the curtain in front of one of the tents was raised； and the
virgin Polyxena appeared。 A tremor passed through all the spectators。
They had recognised Thais。 Paphnutius saw again the woman he had come
to seek。 With her white arm she held above her head the heavy curtain。
Motionless as a splendid statue； she stood； with a look of pride and
resignation in her violet eyes； and her resplendent beauty made a
shudder of commiseration pass through all who beheld her。
A murmur of applause uprose； and Paphnutius； his soul agitated； and
pressing both hands to his heart； sighed
〃Why； O my God； hast thou given this power to one of Thy creatures？〃
Dorion was not so disturbed。 He said
〃Certainly the atoms； which have momentarily met together to form this
woman； present a combination which is agreeable to the eye。 But that
is but a freak of nature； and the atoms know not what they do。 They
will some day separate with the same indifference as they came
together。 Where are now the atoms which formed Lais or Cleopatra？ I
must confess that women are sometimes beautiful。 But they are liable
to grievous afflictions； and disgusting inconveniences。 That is patent
to all thinking men； though the vulgar pay no attention to it。 And
women inspire love； though it is absurd and ridiculous to love them。〃
Such were the thoughts of the philosopher and the ascetic as they
gazed on Thais。 They neither of them noticed Hecuba； who turned to her
daughter； and seemed to say by her gestures
〃Try to soften the cruel Ulysses。 Employ your tears； your beauty； and
your youth。〃
Thaisor rather Polyxena herselflet fall the curtain of the tent。
She made a step forward； and all hearts were conquered。 And when； with
firm but light steps； she advanced towards Ulysses； her rhythmic
movements； which were accompanied by the sound of flutes； created in
all present such happy visions； that it seemed as though she were the
divine centre of all the harmonies of the world。 All eyes were bent on
her； the other actors were obscured by her effulgence； and were not
noticed。 The play continued； however。
The prudent son of Laertes turned away his head； and hid his hand
under his mantle； in order to avoid the looks and kisses of the
suppliant。 The virgin made a sign to him to fear nothing。 Her tranquil
gaze said
〃I follow you； Ulysses； and bow to necessitybecause I wish to die。
Daughter of Priam； and sister of Hector； my couch； which was once
worthy of Kings； shall never receive a foreign master。 Freely do I
quit the light of day。〃
Hecuba； lying motionless in the dust； suddenly rose and enfolded her
daughter in a last despairing embrace。 Polyxena gently； but
resolutely； removed the old arms which held her。 She seemed to say
〃Do not expose yourself； mother； to the fury of your master。 Do not
wait until he drags you ignominiously on the ground in tearing me from
your arms。 Better； O well…beloved mother； to give me your wrinkled
hand； and bend your hollow cheeks to my lips。〃
The face of Thais looked beautiful in its grief。 The crowd felt
grateful to her for showing them the forms and passions of life
endowed with superhuman grace； and Paphnutius pardoned her present
splendour on account of her coming humility； and glorified himself in
advance for the saint he was about to give to heaven。
The drama neared its end。 Hecuba fell as though dead； and Polyxena；
led by Ulysses； advanced towards the tomb； which was surrounded by the
chief warriors。 A dirge was sung as she mounted the funeral pile； on
the summit of which the son of Achilles poured out libations from a
gold cup to the manes of the hero。 When the sacrificing priests
stretched out their arms to seize her； she made a sign that she wished
to die free and unbound； as befitted the daughter of so many kings。
Then； tearing aside her robe； she bared her bosom to the blow。
Pyrrhus； turning away his head； plunged his sword into her heart； and
by a skilful trick； the blood gushed forth over the dazzling white
breast of the virgin； who； with head thrown back； and her eyes
swimming in the horrors of death； fell with grace and modesty。
Whilst the warriors en