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SOPHENE AND SOPHOCLES. 



A TALE OF ANCIENT GREECE. 



IT was during my sojourn in the enchanting neighbourhood of 

 Clisson, the birth place of Abelard and Eloise, in Lavorden, in the 

 summer of 1833, that I dreamed a dream, the substance of which I 

 shall endeavour to set down on paper for your perusal, Medora. It 

 was as follows : 



In one of the most interesting and romantic districts of Greece is 

 situated the charming city of Eurycone. On the one side it is open 

 to the sea; the other is bathed by rivers shaded with trees, pre- 

 senting to the ravished sight all the charms that nature displays in 

 her beautiful simplicity. Sheltered from the fury of the wind, ships 

 find within her harbour, which is spacious, an assured safety. 

 Attracted by its reputation for honest dealing in mercantile affairs, 

 all nations flock thither. The manners of its inhabitants are mild 

 and cheerful ; they are the pattern of all the Greeks. More 

 religious even than the Athenians themselves, their piety renders 

 them an unexceptionable people. The service of the altar, the 

 choice of the oblations designed for the gods, are, for the most part, 

 their occupations. They appoint the holy feasts ; their ceremonies 

 are brilliant. Jupiter (according to their estimation of the mythi) 

 protects them ; and they are moreover very dear to all the gods 

 besides. Agreeable to their most ancient custom which cannot be 

 dispensed with they annually assemble the young men of the place, 

 as yet insensible of love, in the temple of Jove. Chance decides 

 which of them shall go and declare to the neighbouring cities the 

 festival of the father of the gods. They must be proof against all 

 impressions from the fair, and return as free and unengaged as they 

 were the day of their departure. If any of them were to break 

 that essential duty of their charge, a severe chastisement would 

 attend the offender on his return. I was one among the selected 

 youths, and my destination was for Aulycone. When I came out of 

 the temple crowned with laurels, and clothed with the garments of 

 my office, the people expressed their applause by the sound of the 

 trumpet, and mixed with their acclamations the tenderest and most 

 earnest vows. One congratulated me upon my fortunate lot ; gods 

 themselves, said he, have directed it. Another, with tears in his 

 eyes, because his son had not met with the same success, nevertheless 

 pressed me to his bosom ; a third, void of concern for himself, wished 

 and foretold me a happy journey ; and another, to show me his 

 regard, indulged all the suggestions of his zeal : their joy was 

 unanimous. It seemed as if the same heart, the same mind, had 

 simultaneously expressed the transports of them all. I pass over the 

 events of my journey. I arrived at Aulycone ; I was received there 

 as a messenger from the gods, or rather as a god himself. A crowd 

 of people surrounded me ; curiosity got the better of respect ; I was 

 overwhelmed. The streets were strewed with myrtle ; the air was 



M.M. No. 8. R 



