Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-03-09
XANTIPPE.~

XANTIPPE.
Daphne stepped lightly out over the
threshold of her door. The sun was
shining with an intolerable glare on the
white marble walls Of the houses
around and on the white lime dust of
the pavement, causing Daphne's bright,
laughing eyes to wink and blink invol-
unfairly. She drew thin, eauzy veil
over her head and face and slipped,
keeping carefully within the sparse
shadow cast by the walls Of the houses,
to dwelling near by. Raising heavy
curtain hanging before the entrance
door, she tfipped softly inside. The
room, however, was quite empty. 1t
was small, square room, the walls col
ored dark red; its only furniture tri-
pod. On which were burning dimly two
chased silver lamps.
''She will be in the Gynakeion, said
Daphne to herself softly, and raising
another curtain, which hung exactly
opposite, she passed through into sec
ond room. There, under a portico which
led out into q courtyard, upon a circu-
laI marble bench, sat the one whom she
was seeking-a young and beautiful
woman. A long white garment, with
a border embroidered in crimson, lay
in heavy, graceful folds about her small
outstretched feet; an upper garment
(the chiton) OF the same color as the
ROBE was gathered closely up about her
neck, but left her slender arms quite
bare, one OF which rested languidlv
upon the carved back of the seat. The
woman's small head was bound with
three narrow scarlet silken iillets, her
wavy hair caught up in a loose knot at
the back Of her neck. Hearing the cur
tain rustic. she turned her head and
smiled as her dark eyes caught sight Of
Daphne's smiling face peeping from
among its folds. kissing her hand. she
pointed toward the court and shook her
head as warning TO the newcomer not
to speak too loud. In the court, regard
less OF the suns hot rays. by the side Of
fountain-a lions head, from whose
open mouth slender stream of water
fell into shallow basin-two men were
seated in earnest conversation.
Daphne glided noiselessly up to her
friends side, and seating herself upon
the ground laid her head upon the
others knees. She sat there some mo-
ments in silence, endeavoring to catch
what it was the men were discussing.
In vain. She could hear only the sound
of their voices. That of the principal
speaker-a dark, swarthy man, of mid
die age, with a fiat nose and thick, pro
trading lips-was sonorous and mellow
his companions, high pitched and
squeaking. After a few minutes 81
lence, Daphne whispered:
How ugly he is-thy Socrates!'
"But SO learned, SO wise, so great
mu1mured the other in answer. but she
sighed as she spoke.
Thou slightest. Hast wearied on the
first day Of thy welded life with thy
philosopher?'' inquired Daphne, with a
bright, sidelong glance.
mo, answered Xantippe proudly.
sis he not the most learned, the wisest
man in all Athens? And am happy to
think he considered me worthy to be his
wife. Thou shouldst have heard the
speech with which he welcomed me to
his roof yesterday. Among other things
he told me that there We're evil demons
who lurked in corners and cupboards to
tempt young wives to be negl ctful of
their duties. But there was also deity
who, living under our roof, would take
me under his protection. guard me from
evil and help me to resist temptation,
whom l must propitiate by humility and
wife]y obedience. But how can I do
this when Socrates himself prevents
me?'
"Socrates-preventth thee! Speak, and
tell me how this can be. Thou knowest
I was welded against my will to Ants
themes, preferring Glaucus. to whom
my parents refused me. Should / learn
from thee, however, that the wife OF a
philosopher has reason to complain of
her lot, shall no longer reproach my
parents in my heart for2 bestowing me
or the merchant and denying me to the
scholar .
Thou knowest," answered Xantip-
pc, THAT it is my duty to see that my
lords table is well supplied with suita-
bic food. Rat how can I do this when
he gives me no money? Thee times I
went this morning to him, asking him
gently, "Giye me. pray thee, tetro-
bolon, that may buy fish and yegeta-
bies for the midday NEAL Twice he
gave me 10 answer; the third he spoke
not to me, but to Euclid. who arrived
ho,,o 43,1e
cid, why does this woman trouble US
and disturb Us at our discourse?"
Before Daphne could open her mouth
to speak tlaa words Of sympathy trem-
hssng Oh her lips, Socrates. leaving his
seat at the fountain, approached, fol-
lowed by his friend.
according to the sun, it should be
midday, my Xantippe. 1 am hungry.
Ii the midday meal is prepared, we will
partake of it. Euclid, too, will bear us
company"
Daphne smiled maliciously at the
thought that the philosopher and his
pupil were likely this day at least to go
hungry.
Kantjppe, however, bluahed with
SOdui6. OIS d1OSS 1IOlu lGI seat t1SDl.
bling, and standing with downcast head
before her husband in faltering tones
explained why the midday meal was
not prepared.
She had asked him hours ago for
money to buy food, but he had given
her none.
Euclid laughed ieeringly at her
words, but Socrates replied mildly:
"Justice is one of the chieftest virtues
belonging to man. AS gave thee no
money at thy request, the fault is mine.
The next time, however, my 1antipps,
when / do not Heed thy words, raise thy
voice and continue speaking until thou
succeedeat in attracting my attention.
Let the evening meal, therefore, be pre-
pared earlier than; usual. And now
fetch us a vessel of wine, that we may
continue our discourse with minds and
bodies refreshed.
Xantippe's beautiful face cleared up
at Socrates quiet words. Thou seest'
she whispered when she and Daphne
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