The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-03-05


Theon, as he came from the por,lco of
Zeno. "Ye Gods and will We suffer
your names to be thus blasphemed .
How do ye not strike with thunder the
actor and teacher of such enormities -
What will ye suffer our youth, and
the youth of after ages, to be seduced
by this shameless Gargettian Shall
the Stole portico be iorsaken for the
garden of Epicurus Minerva, shield
thy city Shut the ears of thy sons a
gainst the voice of this deceiver ~
Thus did Theon give vent to the in
dignation which the words of Timo-
crates had worked up within him. III
mocrates had been disciple of the new
school but, quarrelling with his master,
had fled to the followers of Zeno and
to make the greater merit of his aposta-
cy, and better to gain the hearts of his
new friends, poured forth daily execra-
tions on his former teacher, painting
him and his disciples in the blackest
colours of deformity (; revealing, with a
countenance distorted as with horror,
and voice hurried and suppressed as
from the agonies ofdreadful recolections,
the secrets of those midnight orgies,
where, in the midst of his pupils, the
philosopher of Gargettium ofliciated as
master of the cursed ceremonies of riot
and impiety.
Full of these nocturnal horrors, the
young Theon traversed with hasty steps
The streets of Athens, and, issuing from
the city, without perceivine thnt he did
so, took the road to the Pirmus. The
noise of the harbour reused him 10 rec
objection. and. feelino if oni of tuna ...;.l'
his thoughts, he turned up the more
peaceful banks of fCephisus, and, seating
himself on tie stump of withered olive
his feet almost washed by the water, he
fell back again into his reverie. How
long he had sat he knew not, when the
sound of gently approaching footsteps
; once more recalled him. He turned his
head, and, after start and gaze Of as
tonishment, bent with venerati0n TO the
figure before him. 1t was of the middle
size, aud robed in white, pure rs the ves'
ments of the Pytha. The shape, the at
,i,ude, the fodings oe the garment, were
such as the chisel of Phidias would have
given to the God of Elocution. The
head accorded with the rest of the fig
ure it sat upon the shoul Iers with a
grace that painter would have paused
; to emplate-cleya,ed, yet somewhat
inclning forward, as if habitua,ed gent.
ly to seek and bencvolently to yield at
tention. The face poet would have
) gazed upon, and thought he beheld in il
one of the images of his fancy embod'
led. The features were not cast for the
statuary they were noble, but not reg
ular. Wisdom beamed mildly from the
; eve, and candour was on the broad fore
head the mouth reposed in a soft, al
most lmperceptible smile, :hat did not
cuil the lips or disturb the checks, anc
was seen ouly in the serene and holy
beniguiiy that shono over the whole
. physiognomy it was gleam of sun
shine sleeping on a lucid lake. Th'
. frs, lines of age were traced ON tht
. brow and round the chin, but SO gently
: as "a mellow rather than deepen expires
9 sion The hair indeed seemed Irema
D Ituroly touched by time, for it was of
d pure silver, thrown back iron the fore
r head, aud fringing the throat behlnt
'f with short curls. He received benignl
o the saIutation Of the youth, and gentl
d with his hand returning it-"Let me no
= break your mednations ! would raihe
" share than disturb them" IL the strau
L" gers appearance had enchanted Theor
T. his voice did now more SO (; never had
Is sound so sweet, so musical, struck upo
r his ear.
in "Surely behold aud hear divinity,
d. he cried, stepping backwards, and ha
~ stoopinr his knee with yenera,ion.