The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
T h e N a sic Draugh hi 70 Is

, bold leader himself The soul of the enemy
in Kleanthoss palace, within the walls of
Sparta. This perfect triumph.
And what for didst thou come here,
asked the King, ito assassinate me?
Il did not come to murder thee!" replied
the captive
I<leanthos angrily struck his fist upon
the table. Tell the truth or L Will
have thee killed on the spot"
Il pr1thee not to brighten me-" said the
terrified man. Thou seest me trembling
before thee. DO not ask of Aristomenes to
kiss thy feet, for if thou wishest it he will
do that also. / did not come to assassinate
thee; l came because / had seen thy spouse,
whose eyes are so bewitehing. 1 intended
TO secrete myself in thy chamber. and while
ASamede was sleeping to press kiss on
| her cheek, only soft kiss so as not TO
wake her. and then TO return. | swear
by the gods-that-"
Aristomenes could not say any more.
He sank fainting from the couch. and If
the tears had not rolled down his cheeks
one would have believed him dead.
Leaning against the shoulder of her hus-
band, Agamede saw what she had made OF
the handsome young hero-now paling,
trembling and shedding tears-whose only
crime was his longing TO kiss her.
The rejoicing was great in Sparta when
the tidings spread of the capture of
Aristomenes. Kleanthos invited the whole
army. They banqueted in the public square
at long tables loaded down with huge
amphorae, filled with wine, of which any
body could drink to his hearts content
Until noon the city was unusually lively.
In the afternoon it quoted down, and
toward evening stiffness was reigning, in
strong contrast to the usual course of fes-
4, tivities. which reaches its climax at night.
What had happened? No one walks
through Sparta's streets. singing; no one
stands at the corner to boast of heroic
deeds: no one cheers for Kleanthos.
And where is the King himself?
Are the sentinels at the palace gates
the walls, covering their faces and dare not
stop the white figure. which. slipping past.
takes it way toward the prison?
Even the prison watch dare not stop it
when they see the cleaning point of a sharp
sword directed against them-though 1t is
only a woman.
1t is the wife of the King. the beautiful
Agamede. who felt pity toward the young
hero who had rSked his life eor kiss from
her. She regretted TO have delivered him
TO his ruin, and determined to save him
again.
The deep silence in Sparta heralded what
she had done. He, who had drunk from the
wine at the festival of to-day, has locked
himself in his room and listened anxiously
TO any noise on the street. Nyx. the Queen
of Night. is clamoring now outside; black
steeds are drawing her chariot; in front Of
her are fitting the spectres of dreamiand.
lLychnos and Thanalos, and the child
spectre, Polar. with its protruding tongue.
Tonight one has TO dread the nursery tales.
The chains of the prisoners were rafting
and his heart beat violently as he saw the
Queen descend the stairs OF his dungeon.
The pernicious charm OF the magic draught
had given way by this time and he was
once more the hero OF yore. though he well
remembered what had happened yesterday.
Brave Aristomenes." said the Queen,
thou deservest death for thy boldness. but
do not want thy blood to stain my con-
science. May Spartan hero Kill thee in
battle but not in chains and for the sake
of a woman's eye shalt thou die Thy
prison is open; thou mayst go through the
streets: nobody will stop thee: thy COM
mand will open the gates. for there is no
man at this hour in Sparta. But hurry,
After the first crow OF the cock every one
will be awake again and then thou canst
not escape any more.
Aristomenes took the hands of the Queen
and replied:
"Oh, gracious Queen, most beautiful of
women, why dost thou liberate? IL L es-
cape to-day / will return tomorrow for the
same reason that brought me hither yester-
day.