Eudora hastily excused herself under the plea of
duties at home; and Philothea, supposing it might be
painful to meet her unfortunate lover in the presence
of others, forebore to urge it.

A paternal blessing beamed from the countenance of
Anaxagoras the moment Philothea appeared. Paralus
greeted her as a brother welcomes a cherished sister;
but in the earnest kindness of his glance was expressed
something more deep and heart-stirring than his words
implied.

Philæmon, though more thoughtful than usual, received
his own and Eudora's friend, with cheerful
cordiality. His countenance had the frank and smiling
expression of one who truly wishes well to all men,
and therefore sees everything reflected in forms of joy.
His figure was athletic, while his step and bearing
indicated the promptitude and decision of a man who
acts spontaneously from his own convictions.

Paralus, far from being effeminate, was distinguished
for his dexterity and skill in all the manly sports of
the gymnasium; but the purity of his complexion, and
the peculiarly spiritual expression of his face, would
have been deemed beautiful, even in a woman. The
first he probably derived from his mode of life; for,
being a strict Pythagorean, he never partook of animal
food. The last was the transparent medium of innocence,
through which thoughts and affections continually
showed their changing forms of life.

In answer to her eager questions, Philothea soon
learned that her fears had prophesied aright concerning
the decision of the court. Philæmon had been
unsuccessful; but the buoyant energy of his character
did not yield even to temporary despondency. He
spoke of his enemies without bitterness, and of his own
prospects with confidence and hope.

[figure description] Page 018.[end figure description]

Philothea would have immediately gone to convey
the tidings to her friend, had not Philæmon early taken
his leave, and passed through the garden into the
house of Phidias.

Paralus remained until a late hour, alternately talking
with the venerable philosopher, and playing upon
his flute, while Philothea sung the songs they had
learned together.

In the course of conversation, Anaxagoras informed
his child that Pericles particularly urged her attendance
at Aspasia's next symposium. “I obey my grandfather,
without a question,” she replied; “but I would
much rather avoid this visit, if it were possible.”

“Such is likewise my wish,” rejoined the philosopher;
“but Pericles has plainly implied that he should
be offended by refusal; it is therefore necessary to
comply with his request.”

The maiden looked doubtingly at her lover, as if
she deemed his sanction necessary; and the inquiring
glance was answered by an affectionate smile. “I
need not repeat my thoughts and feelings with regard
to Aspasia,” said Paralus; “for you know them well;
but for many reasons it is not desirable that an estrangement
should take place between my father and
Anaxagoras. Since, therefore, it has pleased Pericles
to insist upon it, I think the visit had better be made.
You need not fear any very alarming innovation upon
the purity of ancient manners. Even Aspasia will
reverence you.”

Philothea meekly yielded to the opinion of her
friends; and it was decided that, on the evening after
the morrow, she should accompany her grandfather to
Aspasia's dwelling.

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Before proceeding farther, it is necessary to relate
the situation of the several characters introduced in
this chapter.

Anaxagoras had been the tutor of Pericles, and still
retained considerable influence over him; but there
were times when the straightforward sincerity, and uncompromising
integrity of the old man were somewhat
offensive and troublesome to his ambitious pupil. For
the great Athenian statesman, like modern politicians,
deemed honesty excellent in theory, and policy safe in
practice. Thus admitting the absurd proposition that
principles entirely false and corrupt in the abstract are
more salutary, in their practical manifestation, than
principles essentially good and true.

While Pericles was determined to profit by diseases
of the state, the philosopher was anxious to cure them;
therefore, independently of personal affection and
gratitude, he was willing to make slight concessions
in order to retain some influence over his illustrious
pupil.

The celebrated Aspasia was an elegant and voluptuous
Ionian, who succeeded admirably in pleasing the
good taste of the Athenians, while she ministered to
their vanity and their vices. The wise and good
lamented the universal depravity of manners, sanctioned
by her influence; but a people so gay, so ardent,
so intensely enamoured of the beautiful, readily acknowledged
the sway of an eloquent and fascinating
woman, who carefully preserved the appearance of
decorum. Like the Gabrielles and Pompadours of
modern times, Aspasia obtained present admiration and
future fame, while hundreds of better women were
neglected and forgotten. The crowds of wealthy and
distinguished men who gathered around her, were

[figure description] Page 020.[end figure description]

profuse in their flattery and munificent in their gifts;
and Pericles so far yielded to her influence, that he
divorced his wife and married her.

Philæmon was at that time on terms of intimacy with
the illustrious orator; and he earnestly remonstrated
against this union, as alike disgraceful to Pericles and
injurious to public morals. By this advice he incurred
the inveterate dislike of Aspasia; who never rested
from her efforts until she had persuaded her husband
to procure the revival of an ancient law, by which all
citizens who married foreigners, were subjected to a
heavy fine; and all persons, whose parents were not
both Athenians, were declared incapable of voting in
the public assemblies, or of inheriting the estates of
their fathers. Pericles the more readily consented to
this, because such a law at once deprived many political
enemies of power. Philæmon was the son of
Chœrilaus, a wealthy Athenian; but his mother had
been born in Corinth, though brought to Athens during
childhood. It was supposed that this latter circumstance,
added to the patriotism of his family and his
own moral excellence, would prevent the application
of the law in his individual case. But Alcibiades, for
reasons unknown to the public, united his influence
with that of Aspasia; and their partizans were active
and powerful. When the case was tried in the court
of illegitimacy at Cynosarges, Philæmon was declared
a sojourner in Athens, incapable of holding any office,
and dispossessed of his paternal inheritance.

Eudora was a mere infant when Phidias bought her
of a poor goatherd in Phelle. The child was sitting
upon a rock, caressing a kid, when the sculptor first
saw her, and the gracefulness of her attitude attracted
his attention, while her innocent beauty touched his

[figure description] Page 021.[end figure description]

heart. She and her nurse had been stolen from the
Ionian coast, by Greek pirates. The nurse was sold
into slavery, and the babe delivered by one of the
pirates to the care of his mother. The little creature,
in her lisping way, called herself baby Minta; and this
appellation she retained, until Phidias gave her the
name of Eudora.

Philothea, the orphan daughter of Alcimenes, son of
Anaxagoras, was a year or two older than Eudora.
She was brought to Athens, at about the same period;
and as they resided very near each other, the habitual
intercourse of childhood naturally ripened into mature
friendship. No interruption of this constant intimacy
occurred, until Philothea was appointed one of the
Canephoræ, whose duty it was to embroider the sacred
peplus, and to carry baskets in the grand procession of
the Panathenaia. Six months of complete seclusion
within the walls of the Acropolis, were required of the
Canephoræ. During this protracted absence, Aspasia
persuaded Phidias to bring Eudora frequently to her
house; and her influence insensibly produced a great
change in that young person, whose character was
even more flexile than her form.

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