The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-08-14
THE CLEPHT.
A TALE OF THE MoREA.


lens in Greece, many of the natives with
drew from the plains aud fixed their
abode in the mountains and natural fast
nesses of country, preferring the scanty
and precarious means of subsistence
they found there, to plenty and Turkish
tyranny. Here they organized system
of plunder, which, though more frequent
ly exercised against the Moslem agas,
was too indiscrimnate to exempt them
from the hatred and execrations oftheir
lowland countrymen, whose herds and
Hocks, corn, wine and money were fre-
quently transferred to the Hmeris, or
mountain stations of these defendants
of the heroes ofthe Peloponnessus.
1t was in the lofty ranges of noun
tains, which diversity the surface of the
Pelopounesus, or modern Morea, that
these Clephts, or robbers, as they were
denominated, were found in the greatest
numbers. Here their communities bore
some scmblance Of government, if it
could be SO called. Freedom, for which
they had renounced the luxuries of life
and even security of existence, was too
precious in their eyes to be bartered for
any equivalent. Their head men or
captains, therefore, had generally speak
ing, as little real power over them as
any other chiefs or freebooters; but in
some parts of .he Morea, they were se-
lectcd from an ancient family, and were
conspicuous for valor or personal Prov
css, which circumstances gave them a
moral influence over these hardy and
fearless mOuntaneers.
A band of Clephts had taken posses
ion of very strong part of that lofty
range which the ancients named Tayge-
ton and which is called at present Max
rynon. Its precipitous cliffs, snowy
crests, and terrific defiles had cost the
Turks dearly in their repeated attempts
to expel the "robbers," whilst the rich
ly cultivated slopes, in the middle region,
and the plains of the Eurota, or Iri, to-
wards the valley of Sparta, afforded the
Clephts abundant resources both in win
ter and in summer.
Tradition amongst these people as
well as amongst their lowland neighhnrs
reported that they were the pure, unmix-
ed progeny of the ancient Spartans, and
there were many traits in their manners
which showed, at least resemblance
between them, Their songs discovered
a strange medly Of Christian and Pa
gan images, and the great personages of
Lanconian antiqnary were not frequent-
ly referred to, though the actions attrib-
uted to them savored strongly Of the le-
gends of the caloyers or monks.
Cruel when engaged in their raids, or
in an aff'ray, showing no mercy towards
a Turk and little towards monk, for
whom they felt almost equal hatred,
these outlaws manifested for their friends
and connexions even those ofthe plains,
the kindest feelings, and towards the
fair sex, Of whatever rank and nation, a
degree of gallantry and chivalrous devo-
tion. in which the most polished nation
could not excel them. "
A party Of the Taygetian Clephts had
descended the western side of the noun
tain, towards dark one stormy night, for
their raids. Their object was to sweep
the farm of rich and niggardly aga Of
his sheep and diminion, (wheat,) of
which these ancient Spartans were in
need.
P0ios eisi 7" exclaimed the foremost
Clcpht, raising his long gun to his shoul-
der, "Who art thou ?"
The question was addressed to f.
CURE in white, seated upon an antique
doorway, buried by time almost to the
sofiit,
As no answer was returned. the uner-
ring aim was taken; but before the quar-
ist could fire, n companion seized his
arm. "Be still !! tits woman: an ther
o THeot (please Cody we well know
what she does here
l; was indeed, Turkish maiden one
Of matchless beauty :---young and weep
ing. Her tender form, which had long
borne the pelting ofihe pitiless elements,
dropped with fatigue but the express
ion in her face was that Of grief,-of
that grief which seemed to say ''all other
ills are nothing" s
The rough Clephts, though on an ex-
petition neutrality-suspicious. murder
were not proof against a sight which
mets the roughest, st,--beauty in tears
"Tsara," said one Of them, "do you
wrap your cloak about the woman and
stay, with her until we return she shall
be taken care Of, but must go to our linn
eri. Her ransom will be worth looking
| for. c4rartf
The man complied, and whilst his fel-
low palIicars departed on their raid, he
tended the weeping girl in the most del
icate and feeling manner.
"Whence and what art thou, maiden 7
and why here, IN this lone wood, when
the tempest is abroadl Has cruel fa-
ther thrust thee FORTH or has faithless