The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29

but was overpowered by superior force,
bound and led before the King.
1t important capture. His mission
was certainly to murder Kleanthos and 1t
would have been of great value to ferret
out the conspiracy. Was 1T in the camps
of the Messenians or among the people
of Lacedaemonia?
But however questioned, they could not
elicit an answer from the stranger. Once
he proudly raised himself and said
II am IN your power; you may burn me,
crush me or cut me TO pieces, but Will not
answer you; you shall not even find out
who l am or what is my name.
At these words, King Kleanthos ordered
the prisoners letters taken off and APP
preaching him shook his hand. He told
him that he appreciated manly virtues even
| in his foe and that he would liberate him
therefore without further request as TO the
reasons of his suspicious presence near the
royal chamber. Then he invited him to a
| friendly meal
The stranger was moved by the magnan-
unity of the King and thankfully accepted
the hand which led him to the banquet
AT that time Sparta not celebrated
yet by that famous black broth which had
frightened the ambassadors of King Xerxes,
and the intoxicated were not exhibited to
the Lacedaemonian youth as a warning ex-
ample of intemperance. At the table of the
King were served palatable dishes, fine
wines and the most delicious spices. The
voice of a beautiful woman alluringly in
vited the stranger TO eat and drink.
Agamede sat opposite the stranger, of
whom it was told her that he had been
sent to assassinate her royal husband.
Frequently Agamede had seen such guests
at her table; she used to meet them
pleasantly, to wait on them with her white
hands and to smile at them with her dark
eyes. She generally poured with her own
hand the wine into their cups, ana amiaby
requested them to drink her health.
, Many had drunk in this way the Achae-
menioIon. the poison of coWardice; drunk
of it and betrayed death-bringing secrets,
shaking and trembling like the waiting
shadows on the shores of the Styx.
Agamede now held in her hand the brim-
full goblet whose contents were 10 trans
form the bold stranger into trembling
coward, but this time she hesitated 10 offer
the draught. The stranger was handsome,
stately youth. whose smooth and noble
brow did not show the slightest wrinkle.
/ In his eyes cleaned the fire of courage; his
face, was not that of an assassin; it was
frank and bold like the faces of those
heroes who siRgly fight against armies
who do not feel their wounds and who do
not shut their eyes before the descending
sword. 1t seemed hard TO offer him the
magic draught.
But KIeanthos urging her with his eyes.
the next moment found the goblet in the
hands of the stranger. who raising il TO his
lips drained its contents to the health of
the nObleSt and most beautiful woman of
Sparta, Queen Agamede. After emptying
the goblet. the stranger held it upturned
above his head to show that there was no
drop left in il. and seated himself again.
Soon his features took different aspect,
his face turned white as marble, his eyes
twitched convulsively, and when he noticed
the edge of the knife. which he had used
at the table. directed towards his body, he
tremblingly turned ii so as % have the ham
die pointing at him-he was afraid Of the
iron.
The magic draught had taken its effect.
Noble stranger" said klenathos, per
haps thou wilt answer my questions now?'
II am at thy command was the meek
reply.
Now thou wilt not rather die than con-
TESS, as thou hast said before?"
At these words the youth clenched his
fists and his twitching lips. as we'll as the
convulsive tremble of his muscles showed
how he battled against the cursed charm
He remembered all his heroic deeds and
tried TO overcome this cowardly feeling.
In vainl The poison was strong; his
clenched fists opened slowly, his muscles re-
Taxed and the darkness of fear showed
plainly in his eyes; he shuddered and then
groaned:
II will confess everything.
Then tell me first who thou art, and
what thy name?
II am Aristomenes the leader OF the
Messenians," stammered the hero, leaning
his head against the back of his couch.
All. that was an important catch. The