Philothea Part 30

A wall built round the Academia by Hipparchus was so expensive that it became a proverb applied to all costly undertakings.

"One of the slaves whose modesty Alcibiades had insulted." p. 251.

Slaves that were either personally abused, or insulted, took refuge in the Temple of Theseus, and could not be compelled to return to those of whom they complained.

"These brooks are Creusa's tears." p. 253.

Ion was the son of Phoebus and Creusa. His mother, to avoid her father's displeasure, concealed the birth of the infant, and hid him in the grotto, which afterwards bore her name. The child was preserved, and brought up in the temple of Phoebus.

"She does not speak like one brought up at the gates." p. 254.

The lower cla.s.ses of tradesmen were generally placed near the gates.

"One of the ill.u.s.trious Pasargadae." p. 280.

These were the n.o.blest families in Persia.

In some unimportant matters, I have not adhered strictly to dates; deeming this an allowable freedom in a work so purely romantic, relating to times so ancient.

I am aware that the Christian spirit is sometimes infused into a Grecian form; and in nothing is this more conspicuous than the representation of love as a pure sentiment rather than a gross pa.s.sion.

Greek names for the deities were used in preference to the Roman, because the latter have become familiarized by common and vulgar use.

If there be errors in the application of Greek names and phrases, my excuse must be an entire want of knowledge in the cla.s.sic languages.

But, like the ignoramus in the Old Drama, I can boast, "Though I _speak_ no Greek, I love the _sound_ on't."