548 Pericles A Tale of Greece. [MAY, 



to those whom pleasure alone has induced to ply the oar now vigo- 

 rously urging the skiff over the waters now fondly disporting with 

 their gentle ripples now resting in calmy ease to listen, so to speak, to 

 the pervading stillness, and now expressing the feelings inspired by the 

 scene, and sentimentalising alternately. But Polidorus, for such was the 

 name of the elder, perceiving that a storm was gathering, though he 

 imagined that their excursion was not likely to be interrupted for some 

 time, recommended returning towards the Piraeus, a proposal to which the 

 other readily agreed. Before, however, they had advanced far, the signs 

 of the tempest became gradually more terrific. Large thick raindrops 

 began to fall, each seeming but the presage of a greater j the wind, which 

 had been calm during the whole day, began to rise, though yet it seemed 

 but " the murmuring prelude of the ruder gale j"* the stream itself, which 

 generally resembled a river of crystal, began to assume) a darker hue, as 

 if in sympathy with the black and blackening clouds, which now enveloped 

 the whole hemisphere. Induced, or rather compelled, by these appearances, 

 they resolved to take the first opportunity of going ashore $ and it was not 

 long ere they were able to gain the bank in spite of the opposing gale. 

 The place which they chose for landing, was within a mile of the Areo- 

 pagus, a scene of course of universal attraction. They had proceeded 

 only a little distance from the bank, when they were unexpectedly accosted 

 by an Athenian, who, from his being advanced in years and appearing 

 exhausted no less by cares than by age, excited in them no common interest. 

 He asked them whether they were on their way to the hill of Mars : 



" No," replied Euphilus, " we had no intention of attending the Council 

 to-night, but if you have any desire to visit it, we will not object to ac- 

 company you." 



The old Athenian felt himself highly flattered by the attention of the 

 two youths, and gladly accepted their ready offer. They had not pro- 

 ceeded many steps, however, before Polidorus inquired what cause of so 

 great interest was to be tried to-night before the Upper Council, that 

 such crowds were flocking to the place. The old man, both indignant 

 and surprised at the ignorance of his new companion, replied in a vehe- 

 ment tone of voice, almost regaining the vigour of youth : " What ! an 

 inhabitant of Athens, an inhabitant of Greece, an inhabitant of the world, 

 and not know the cause which is to be tried this night before the sacred 

 judicature of the Areopagus, the most momentous to the rights of the 

 citizens and to the honour of the state ?" 



" Sire," replied Polidorus, in a tone of conciliation, " we have been for 

 the last three years absent from Athens, and travelling in different parts 

 of Asia and Libya, and returned only a few days since, so that you cannot 

 be surprised at our want of acquaintance with the minutia?, of the Athe- 

 nian courts." 



" Well, indeed," said the man of years, " may I excuse your ignorance 

 of a point which, had you been in Athens, could not have been unknown 

 to you. But as you are anxious to know the cause of so great a conflu- 

 ence of people to-day from all parts, I will inform you. About three 

 years since, it was currently reported in Athens, that Cleon, a man who 

 had rendered vast services to the state, had been murdered. An inquiry 



* " To tyiQvpifyv rov avefMOv Trpooifuoi' ;" the idea is so precisely identical with that of 

 the Author of the " Corsair," that we could not forbear translating it, by the quotation. 



