A Victor of Salamis Part 31

But Hermione was caring for none of these things. Her hands were busy with the swaddling clothes. Her thoughts only for that wicker cradle which swung betwixt the pillars, where Hermippus's house looked toward Salamis.

CHAPTER XIX

THE COMMANDMENT OF XERXES

It is easy to praise the blessings of peace. Still easier to paint the horrors of war,-and yet war will remain for all time the greatest game at which human wits can play. For in it every form of courage, physical and moral, and every talent are called into being. If war at once develops the b.e.s.t.i.a.l, it also develops as promptly the heroic. Alone of human activities it demands a brute's strength, an iron will, a serpent's intellect, a lion's courage-all in one. And of him who has these things in justest measure, history writes, "He conquered." It was because Mardonius seemed to possess all these, to foresee everything, to surmount everything, that Glaucon despaired for the fate of h.e.l.las, even more than when he beheld the crus.h.i.+ng armaments of the Persian.

Yet for long it seemed as if the host would march even to Athens without battle, without invoking Mardonius's skill. The king crossed Thrace and Macedonia, meeting only trembling hospitality from the cities along his route. At Doriscus he had held a review of his army, and smiled when the fawning scribes told how one million seven hundred thousand foot and eighty thousand horse followed his banners.(8) Every fugitive and spy from southern h.e.l.las told how the hearts of the stanchest patriots were sinking, how everywhere save in Athens and Sparta loud voices urged the sending of "earth and water,"-tokens of submission to the irresistible king. At the pa.s.s of Tempe covering Thessaly, Glaucon, who knew the hopes of Themistocles, had been certain the h.e.l.lenes would make a stand. Rumour had it that ten thousand Greek infantry were indeed there, and ready for battle. But the outlaw's expectations were utterly shattered. To the disgust of the Persian lords, who dearly loved brisk fighting, it was soon told how the cowardly h.e.l.lenes had fled by s.h.i.+p, leaving the rich plains of Thessaly bare to the invader.

Thus was blasted Glaucon's last hope. h.e.l.las was doomed. He almost looked to see Themistocles coming as amba.s.sador to bring the homage of Athens.

Since his old life seemed closed to the outlaw, he allowed Mardonius to have his will with him,-to teach him to act, speak, think, as an Oriental.

He even bowed himself low before the king, an act rewarded by being commanded one evening to play at dice with majesty itself. Xerxes was actually gracious enough to let his new subject win from him three handsome Syrian slave-boys.

"You h.e.l.lenes are becoming wise," announced the monarch one day, when the Locrian envoys came with their earth and water. "If you can learn to speak the truth, you will equal even the virtues of the Aryans."

"Your Majesty has not found me a liar," rejoined the Athenian, warmly.

"You gather our virtues apace. I must consider how I can reward you by promotion."

"The king is overwhelmingly generous. Already I fear many of his servants mutter that I am promoted beyond all desert."

"Mutter? mutter against you?" The king's eyes flashed ominously. "By Mazda, it is against me, then, who advanced you! Hearken, Otanes,"-he addressed the general of the Persian footmen, who stood near by,-"who are the disobedient slaves who question my advancement of Prexaspes?"

The general-he had been the loudest grumbler-bowed and kissed the carpet.

"None, your Eternity; on the contrary, there is not one Aryan in the host who does not rejoice the king has found so n.o.ble an object for his G.o.dlike bounty."

"You hear, Prexaspes," said Xerxes, mollified. "I am glad, for the man who questions my wisdom touching your advancement must be impaled. To-morrow is my birthday, you will not fail to sit with the other great lords at the banquet."

"The king overpowers me with his goodness."

"Do not fail to deserve it. Mardonius is always praising you. Consider also how much better it is to depend on a gracious king than on the clamour of the fickle mob that rules in your helpless cities!"

The next morning was the royal birthday. The army, pitched in the fertile plain by Thessalian Larissa, feasted on the abundance at hand. The king distributed huge largesses of money. All day long he sat in his palace-like tent, receiving congratulations from even the lowest of his followers, and bound in turn not to reject any reasonable pet.i.tion. The Magi sacrificed blooded stallions and rare spices to Mithra the "Lord of Wide Pastures," to Vohu-Manu the "Holy Councillor," and all their other angels, desiring them to bless the arms of the king.

The "Perfect Banquet" of the birthday came in the evening. It hardly differed from the feast at Sardis. The royal pavilion had its poles plated with silver, the tapestries were green and purple, the couches were spread with gorgeous coverlets. Only the drinking was more moderate, the ceremonial less rigid. The fortunate guests devoured dainties reserved for the special use of royalty: the flour of the bread was from a.s.sos, the wine from Helbon, the water to dilute the wine had come in silver flasks from the Choaspes by Susa. The king even distributed the special unguent of lion's fat and palm wine which no subject, unpermitted, could use and shun the death penalty.

Then at the end certain of the fairest of the women came and danced unveiled before the king-this one night when they might show forth their beauty. And last of all danced Roxana. She danced alone; a diaphanous drapery of pink Egyptian cotton blew around her as an evening cloud. From her black hair shone the diamond coronet. To the sensuous swing of the music she wound in and out before the king and his admiring lords, advancing, retreating, rising, swaying, a paragon of agility and grace, feet, body, hands, weaving their charm together. When at the end she fell on her knees before the king, demanding whether she had done well, the applause shook the pavilion. The king looked down on her, smiling.

"Rise, sister of Mardonius. All Eran rejoices in you to-night. And on this evening whose request can I fail to grant? Whose can I grant more gladly than yours? Speak; you shall have it, though it be for half my kingdoms."

The dancer arose, but hung down her flas.h.i.+ng coronal. Her blush was enchanting. She stood silent, while the good-humoured king smiled down on her, till Artazostra came from her seat by Mardonius and whispered in her ear. Every neck in the crowded pavilion was craned as Artazostra spoke to Xerxes.

"May it please my royal brother, this is the word of Roxana. 'I love my brother Mardonius; nevertheless, contrary to the Persian custom, he keeps me now to my nineteenth year unwedded. If now I have found favour in the sight of the king, let him command Mardonius to give me to some n.o.ble youth who shall do me honour by the valiant deeds and the true service he shall render unto my Lord.' "

"A fair pet.i.tion! Let the king grant it!" shouted twenty; while others more wise whispered, "This was not done without foreknowledge by Mardonius."

Xerxes smiled benignantly and rubbed his nose with the lion's fat while deliberating.

"An evil precedent, lady, an evil precedent when women demand husbands and do not wait for their fathers' or brothers' good pleasure. But I have promised. The word of the king is not to be broken. Daughter of Gobryas, your pet.i.tion is granted. Come hither, Mardonius,"-the bow-bearer approached the throne,-"you have heard the bold desire of your sister, and my answer. I must command you to bestow on her a husband."

The bow-bearer bowed obediently.

"I hear the word of the king, and all his mandates are good. This is no meet time for marriage festivities, when the Lord of the World and all the Aryan power goes forth to war. Yet as soon as the impious rebels amongst the h.e.l.lenes shall be subdued, I will rejoice to bestow my sister upon whatsoever fortunate servant the king may deign to honour."

"You hear him, lady,"-the royal features a.s.sumed a grin, which was reflected throughout the pavilion. "A husband you shall have, but Mardonius shall be revenged. Your fate is in my hands. And shall not I,-guardian of the households of my empire,-give a warning to all bold maidens against lifting their wills too proudly, or presuming upon an overindulgent king? What then shall be just punishment?" The king bent his head, still rubbing his nose, and trying to persuade all about that he was meditating.

"Bardas, satrap of Sogandia, is old; he has but one eye; they say he beats his eleven wives daily with a whip of rhinoceros hide. It would be just if I gave him this woman also in marriage. What think you, Hydarnes?"

"If your Eternity bestows this woman on Bardas, every husband and father in all your kingdoms will applaud your act," smiled the commander.

The threatened lady fell again on her knees, outstretching her hands and beseeching mercy,-never a more charming picture of misery and contrition.

"You tremble, lady," went on the sovran, "and justly. It were better for my empire if my heart were less hard. After all, you danced so elegantly that I must be mollified. There is the young Prince Zophyrus, son of Datis the general,-he has only five wives already. True, he is usually the worse for wine, is not handsome, and killed one of his women not long since because she did not sing to please him. Yes-you shall have Zophyrus-he will surely rule you-"

"Mercy, not Zophyrus, gracious Lord," pleaded the abject Egyptian.

The king looked down on her, with a broader grin than ever.

"You are very hard to please. I ought to punish your wilfulness by some dreadful doom. Do not cry out again. I will not hear you. My decision is fixed. Mardonius shall bestow you in marriage to a man who is not even a Persian by birth, who one year since was a disobedient rebel against my power, who even now contemns and despises many of the good customs of the Aryans. Hark, then, to his name. When h.e.l.las is conquered, I command that Mardonius wed you to the Lord Prexaspes."

The king broke into an uproarious laugh, a signal for the thousand loyal subjects within the great pavilion to roar with laughter also. In the confusion following Artazostra and Roxana disappeared. Fifty hands dragged the appointed bridegroom to the king, showering on him all manner of congratulations. Xerxes's act was a plain proof that he was adopting the beautiful h.e.l.lene as one of his personal favourites,-a post of influence and honour not to be despised by a vizier. What "Prexaspes" said when he thanked the king was drowned in the tumult of laughing and cheering. The monarch, delighted to play the gracious G.o.d, roared his injunctions to the Athenian so loud that above the din they heard him.

"You will bridle her well, Prexaspes. I know them-those Egyptian fillies!

They need a hard curb and the lash at times. Beware the tyranny of your own harem. I would not have the satrapies know how certain bright eyes in the seraglio can make the son of Darius play the fool. There is nothing more dangerous than women. It will take all your courage to master them. A hard task lies before you. I have given you one wife, but you know our good Persian custom-five, ten, or twenty. Take the score, I order you.

Then in twelve years you'll be receiving the prize a Persian king bestows every summer on the father of the most children!"

And following this broad hint, the king held his sides with laughter again, a mirth which it is needless to say was echoed and reechoed till it seemed it could not cease. Only a few ventured to mutter under breath: "The h.e.l.lene will have a subsatrapy in the East before the season is over and a treasure of five thousand talents! Mithra wither the upstart!"

The summer was waning when the host moved southward from Larissa, for mere numbers had made progress slow, and despite Mardonius's providence the question of commissariat sometimes became difficult. Now at last, leaving behind Thrace and Macedonia, the army began to enter Greece itself. As it fared across the teeming plains of Thessaly, it met only welcome from the inhabitants and submissions from fresh emba.s.sies. Report came from the fleet-keeping pace with the land army along the coasts-that nowhere had the weak squadrons of the Greeks adventured a stand. Daily the smile of the Lord of the World grew more complacent, as his "table-companions" told him: "The rumour of your Eternity's advent stupefies the miserable h.e.l.lenes. Like Atar, the Angel of Fire, your splendour glitters afar. You will enter Athens and Sparta, and no sword leave its sheath, no bow its wrapper."

Every day Mardonius asked of Glaucon, "Will your h.e.l.lenes fight?" and the answer was ever more doubting, "I do not know."

Long since Glaucon had given up hope of the defeat of the Persian. Now he prayed devoutly there might be no useless shedding of blood. If only he could turn back and not behold the humiliation of Athens! Of the fate of the old-time friends-Democrates, Cimon, Hermione-he tried not to think. No doubt Hermione was the wife of Democrates. More than a year had sped since the flight from Colonus. Hermione had put off her mourning for the yellow veil of a bride. Glaucon prayed the war might bring her no new sorrow, though Democrates, of course, would resist Persia to the end. As for himself he would never darken their eyes again. He was betrothed to Roxana. With her he would seek one of those valleys in Bactria which she had praised, the remoter the better, and there perhaps was peace.

Thus the host wound through Thessaly, till before them rose, peak on peak, the jagged mountain wall of Othrys and ta, fading away in violet distance, the bulwark of central h.e.l.las. Then the king's smile became a frown, for the h.e.l.lenes, undismayed despite his might, were a.s.sembling their fleet at northern Euba, and at the same time a tempest had shattered a large part of the royal navy. The Magi offered sacrifice to appease Tishtrya, the Prince of the Wind-ruling Stars, but the king's frown grew blacker at each message. Glaucon was near him when at last the monarch's thunders broke forth.

A hot, sultry day. The king's chariot had just crossed the mountain stream of the Sphercus, when a captain of a hundred came galloping, dismounted, and prostrated himself in the dust.