The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-04
LES SAGES PAROLES DES
ANCIENS.
NO. II.
Large-brained, clear.eyed-of such IS

u0
Shall freedoms young apostle be,
Who, following in wars bloody trail,
Shall every lingering wrong assail.
Previous to the conflict between
Adraste and the allies, which re-
suited so VIGOROUSLY in favor Of
the latter, the chiefs of the army
had assembled to deliberate upon
the expediency of taking possession
of Venuse. This was a large city
that Adraste had usurped from his
neighbors, the Apulians. Adraste,
to appease them, had put this city
in trust into the hands Of the Luz
caniens. But he had corrupted the
commander of the garrison with
gold, consequently the Lucaniens
had less effective authority in Ven
use than Adraste; and the Apuli-
ans who had consented to the
guarding of Venuse by the Lu-
canien garrison were deceived in
this negotiation. A citizen Of
Venuse named Demophante, had
offered to deliver secretly in the
night, to the allies, the entrance to
one Of the gates of the city. This
would prove an immense advan-
tage, for Adraste had stored all his
provisions and munitions of war in
a castle near Venuse, which could
not be defended if this city was in
vested by the allies. Philocte and
Nestor were of the opinion that
they should profit by such a FORUM
ate occasion. The other chiefs, in
fluenced by their authority, and
elated by the utility of so easy an
enterprise, applauded their SEN
timents. But Telemaque at
last, in his turn, endeavored
to dissuade them from it. 81 will
not ignore the fact, said he. eff
ever a man deserved to be surprised
and deceived, it is Adraste, who has
so persistently practiced duplicity,
artifice and fraud. l well under
stand that in taking possession of
Venuse we take hold of q city that
lappertainS to US, since it belongs to
the Apullans, who are one of our
league. [ aver that you could do
this with a much better right than
Adraste, who has corrupted the
commander and the garrison for the
purpose of entering there when he
should judge it TO be for his adyan-
tage. Finally, [ comprehend, like
you, that if Venuse is taken, you
will be tomorrow masters of the
castle, where are stored all the enc
my's munitions, and you would thus
finish in two days this formidable
war. But would it not be better TO
perish than to conquer by such
means? Must we repel fraud by
fraud? Shall it be said that the
chieftains banquet together for pun
iShing the impiouS Adraste for his
receptions have become deceitful
like himself? If it is permissible
for us to deal similar to AdIaste,
then he is not culpable ana we are
wrong in desiring to punish him.
What the entire Hesperie, sus-
tanned by all the great colonies and
the heroes returned from the siege
of Troy with the victorious laurels
so honorably won, has she no other
weapons to WELD against the per6dy
and perjury of Adraste but like per
fdy and perjury? You have
sworn by everything the most
sacred that you would leave
Venuse in trust in the hands of the
LucanienS. The L ucanian garrison
you say is corrupted by the gold OF
Adraste; | believe it as well as you
but this garrison is in the pay of the
Lucaniens. They have not refused
to obey them; they have observed
at least in appearance the neutral,
ity. Adraste nor his people hsve
never entered Venuse. The treaty
still exists. Your oath is not for,
gotten by the Gods. Shall people
keep their word, only when they
fail of finding plausible pretexts fol-
breaking it? Shall one be faithful
and religious for his covenants, only
when there is nothing to gain il
violating them? If the love of vir
tue and the fear of the Gods do MOI
touch you, at the least respect you
Reputation and your interest. If yol
show to mankind this pernicious ex
ample of violating your oath when
you think that it Will Subserve you
interest, what surety can you Civ,
when it is necessary to be sincere
land desire to persuade other people
Of your sincerity? Shall it be
solemn treaty? You have trod on
under foot. Shall it be an oath
lDo you not account the Gods TO
naught when you hope to draw from
perjury some advantage? VIVA
becomes of of a league OF many pee
lples when they are agreed togethe
for united elaboration. when one
permitted to subject his neighbo
land to violate the compact? HOY
ldireful in the end shall be your NIL
tual dissensions, your divisions
your eagerness to destroy one ar
other? IAdraste does not need to al
tack .you. You rend yourselve
lasunder. You justify his perfdies.
When Telemaque had finished hi
discourse, profound silence reigne
lin the assembly. They wer
impressed, not so much by the grac
, of his words as to the force of tn
truth which commended itself I
their better judgment. Then tn
grave Nestor pronounced thes
words-'sWorthy son of Ulysses, til
gods who many times have inspire
your illustrious father, have at tn
time spoken through you, and pl