The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1873-09-11
gGl5Me5sSs 5MSsg Stories.
CAMPAsPE AND THE PAINTER
pARArHRAsED FROM JOHN LYLY, 1875.

The great Alexander of Macedon had
come home from Thebes rich in triumphs
and laden with spoils. At his chariot
wheels groaned hosts of captives taken in
battle and siege; and through the open
ings of the paviions, hung close with sill
ken tapestry, and borne aloft on the shoul-
ders of swarthy slaves, one might catch
ghmpseg of women's faces, their fairness
yelled in clouds of sorrow that their na-
tive city had been made desolate, and they
themselves torn away captive to swell the
train of the conqueror.
One pavilion, more carefully guarded
than any of the others, was sat down at
the doors of the palace, and its two lovely
inmates, clingiug to each other in fear and
anticipation too dread for cries and tears,
entered the regal halls.
These were the two girls, Timoclea and
Campaspe, whose homes had been laid in
ashes when the siege had been raised in
Thebes. Timoelea was the daughter of
q noble Theban, and Campaspe a simple
Grecian nader, far more fair in face, tho
less fair in lineage, than her older-eem-
panion:
As the two girls held fast to each other
IN the audience chamber, covering their
faces with their mantles, that their beau
ty might might not tempt the gaze of the
courtIers In waiting, there was stir and
then a hush among the dark-hued atten-
dants who had been buzzlng about the
doorways, that boded the coming of the
monarch, Close by one of the marble
columns which hARked the further en-
trance, the dignifed Aristotle awaited the
royal presence, and behind him another
figure also stood expectant. Even Cam
paspe, veiled as she was IN her shrouding
mantle, could not keep back some furtive
glances that rested on this latter figure as
he leaned with careless grace against the
column. The beauty of his attitude, the
full white throat which his sllken tunlc
left half bare, the short curlings of hair on
his well poised head, the eyes that shone
with the light of genius, all made him
more resemble the god Apollo, to the
eyes of the simple maiden, than any earth
born man with whom she could compare
him.
"Timoclea," she whispered softly, "is
yonder man the great Alexander
"No, silly child" answered the older
''In AleIander's eyes you will see wars
ightnings. Yonder man is more like
poet, or perhaps some cutter IN marble,
who is come to take orders of his royal
master" IL
At this moment the sound of music
broke the whispered silence; the attend
ants ranged on either side Of the chamber;
the door curtains we're swung apart; and
leaning on his friend and faVoIlte, the wise
Heph@stIon, the royal Alexander entered.
The kings eyes shone with the pride OF
conquest, and although his cheek was not
yet bronZed with battle-smoke, and his
9lay,Iay It'll abOn,.I fro of
his youthfulness, he bore himself as proud
as if years of triumph and klngly rule had
taught him that the globe held no warrior
fit to mate with Alexander of Macedon.
He began whispered talk with Heph@-
ton, and the attendants fell reverently
away, leaving the two standing alone IN
the corner of The chamber. .-
"Yonder she stands, Hephestion, said
the monarch, in a subdued voice, "the fair
est of all the women my eyes have ever
looked upon"
"Iwould that her fairness went no deep
er than thine eyes" returned the favorite.
"When womna's beauty touches the
heart, 1T waxeth dangerous.
"And why dangerous, sweet Hephes-
tion? If Alexander Is man, he may
love. If he be indeed a son of god, even
then he may not disdain passion
which caused Mars TO hnger at the feet of
Aphrodite. /"
i'Kings should love nothing but virtue.
And Is not love virtue my Hephses-
ton ?''
ain my sense it is rather Weakness
ConquerOrs should entertain no pas
sion which they cannot rule; and Iowa,
time out of mind, has led eonquerors cap
tive, Theseus won his triumphs WORTH
ly, but he gaze all up when he lald his
heart under the feet of the Amazon prin-
cess. So wouldst thou be made slave by
thy captive? Let me not see so mad an
issue out of so great 8 triumph as thou
hast won In Thebes."
'.But lock at her even now as she stands
there, Hephastion, trembling like a coy
dove that fears the fowler. Is not thy
heart moved by her charms? Look on
her and Judge if it be weakness to yield.
"I behold her, and ! see no such matter
as theu dost, answered Hephestion. 1t
is simply graceful figure, little foot, a
tapering hand, soft alluring eye, some
tresses Of curling hair; perhaps-as We
have heard-a gracious voice and witty
tongue may be added thereto. What is
all this to the nations that wait for thy
foot to be set upon their necks2 But l
will not counsel thee. Counsel availsth
nothing when a man will be in love, and
l pray thou mayst have this new disease
as lightly as thou passed through the ills
of thy fancy. 1 will say no more"
ga good resolution, sweet friend. Now
I will approach the maideh, and seek to
comfort her for her hard fate in being my
captive. Alas if she be my prisoner Of
war, I am hers by love. Thou art sure to
say my case is the worst of the two"
As the king approached CampasPe, she
trembled more and more. For what fate
the monarch designed her, the frightened
girl knew nor guessed not. When he ask
ed her graciously to throw aside the man
tie which shrouded her head and face, she
blamed the shield of glittering metal on
the wall beside her, which showed her
that in spite of tears and sorrow, she was
never more radiantly fair.
With courteous interest the monarch
asked how she and her companion bad
Jared during their journey, if all her wish
es had been obeyed by the slaves whom
be set to attend her; and as she faltered
cut her answers to his questioning, he
gazed on her face with an interest which
she could not disguise from herself wae
not less hattering than the mirror of steel
which had revealed to her her beauty.
al have prepared apartments near oul
own palace for thee, where everything
shall be provided for thy comfort, sweet
Campaspe" said the monarch. at is 6
fancy of mine to furnish hall with paint.
ings from the pencil of the gifted Appelles
10 this end have l bade him wait here to.
day that may ask that thou wilt grant
him the favor to paint thy fair self. HI
lodges in the palace; and if thou consent
that he shall put thy shadow on mis- can
VASES, he will be preuder than when Aph
rodite appeared unto his vision, that h
might make picture worthy to represent
the godddss to her worshipPers."
To these words Campaspe listened II
amazement, mingled with irresistabl'
pleasure, when Alexander beckoned to tn,
elegant youth who still leaned negligent
ly against the column near the entrance
| At the monarch's gesture, he came forwarC
and bowed low at the sight of Campaspe'
beauty.
at is is our pleasure that thou shoulds