Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-10-23

Think not O Euph@s, and you princes
and citizens of Messena, that would with
hold any thing from my country or the gods.
But this poor girl is not mine to offer. 1t is
true that love her; am ready to sacrifice
my affection to Apollo were she of the royal
blood OF which he demands sacrifice.
blush to reveal secret, until now concealed
from all in Ithome. Ny. wife, dreading nv
displeasure, pretended, in my absence, when
was fighting at the head of our legions, to
have borne this child, whom she purchased
OF its mother, and palmed upon me as her
own.'
The breathless astonishment of the assem-
bly, was followed by tumult. Lyciscus,
whose paternal feelings had overpowered both
his piety and patriotism, took his lovely
daughter, fed in the confusion and sought
refuge and hospitality in the camp of Sparta
When it was seen that he was gone when
messengers, hastily dispatched, failed to
overtake him; when it became more and
more suspected that the statement of Prince
Lyciscus was false, and only invented to
save his daughters life the indignation of
the assembly was boundless. It was an in
suit to Messena; it was sacrilege to Apollo!
Aristodemus- noble prince, brave gen.
eral, "a worthy descendant of Hercules. the
divinely heroic founder of the Messenian dy-
nasty-rose to address the assembly. Itwas
soon hnshed to silence
Hear, kingi" he cried, "and you, Mes
senians! Let there be no more lots drawn
for virgin-sacrifice to the divine Apollo.
Here is my offeringr'
AS he said these words, he grasped and
held forth before him one of those beautiful
maidens whose perfections inspired Grecian
art. Her 1.-the form, her perfect contour, her
lovely features, blue eyes, and golden hair,
were all that Grecian bards have ever sung.
or Grecian sculptors made immortal.
Cleora, princess, daughter of fAristodemus
stood before the assembly, robed in white and
blue her head crowned with chaplet of
white flowers Her lips trembled-her cheek
was pale; but she stood firm, as should the
daughter of a race of heroes. With an un-
quaifIng eye snc-iooked at ..lsT stzrr Tathe-.
but she also sought through the assembly
for the form of brave soldier to whom she
was betrothed
''Will this assembly accept of Cleora.
daughter of Aristodemus, as their sacrifice to
Apollo ?" asked the king
The assembly, filled with admiration at
the devotion of the father and the heroism
and beauty of Cleora, made sign of as
sent
voice, which said.
''No, | protest against the sacrificed"
Pisander sprang forward and seized the
hand of Clcora. He was one of the bravest
captains of Messena.
II offer my life to my country" said he.
s'You all know often have rsked it in bat
tie. 1t is nothing; every soldier does the
same. | offer my life to the gods, if they
will accept the Offering; but not Cleora ;
Apollo demands virgin sacrifice; Cleora is
my wife !"
Aristodemus full ofindignation, exclaimed
"It is false Cleora is betrothed to Pisander
there have been no nuptials. Iswear by the
avenging gods, that she shall be sacrificed
to Apollo! If the father give his daughter
the lover can yield his mistress on the altar
of his country!'
Cleora looked at her angry father and he,
impetuous lover. Though Greek, she was
not Spartan SO many violent and conflict
ing emotions overpowered her. She tainted
on the stalwart arm of Pisander, who, seeing
his lovely burden lying SO beautiful and st
helpless, was more determined than ever tt
save her.
sHear, O kingr' he cried; hear, bray,
soldiers of Messena! Before the gods, Cleor:
| is my wife Should we celebrate nuptials il
this time of war? Cleora has given hersel
to my love, and she will be the mother of an
other soldier for Messena."
A terrible range seized upon the heart o
the heroic Aristodemus. He was no longe
the father, but the judge and the avenger
If Cleora had deceived him if she was
wife, and about to be mother, without hi
knowledge-she deserved to die. She ha
covered the royal line of Hercules with dis
grace that her blood alonge could efface.
she were the pure virgin he believed her t
be, then was her life devoted to Apollo, b
the command of the oracle of Delphi for th
salvation of her country. So was she doubt
ly doomed.
Towering in his strength and rage, Aristc
demus suddenly drew his sword from ii
scabbard An instant 1t flashed in the all
Kings, princes, warriors, sprang forward
A wild shrek went up from the women. A
too late-the fathers sword was buried j
his daughters bosoml
'Now speak |" he cried to the ghastly Pts
ander sc he nointed his bloody sword to hi