;-»TsS»?^«M'i-; 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Class Book Volume 
 
 REM^ffC STORAGE 
 
 MrlO-20M 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Class Book Volume 
 
 F n-2(iM 
 

 
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^mmm'ftr' 
 
 The Master of Tanagra. 
 
 ^n l^rtist's §9tot^ of ©lir ^cU'ds, 
 
 BY 
 
 ERNST VON WILDENBRUCH. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE SEVENTH GERMAN EDITION BY THE 
 
 BARONESS VON LAUER. 
 
 ^tto €iition, illnstrntcb toitb Sltotntj-^ilit STanagni jFignrcs. 
 
 
 LONDON: 
 H. GREVEL AND CO., 33, King Street, Covent Garden, W.C. 
 
 1887. 
 
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 STORAGE 
 
 
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 EMOTE 5 1 ^r^^— 0.>i. tt 
 
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 Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 AMONGST the most noteworthy of the 
 day must be ranked incontestably the 
 poetic productions of Ernst von Wilden- 
 bruch. Poetic fervour and powerful con- 
 ception, combined with pure classic style, 
 imparting that grace and beauty of form 
 which touch the heart, and transport far 
 away from every-day life into the ideal 
 world, under the magic sway of the good, 
 the beautiful, and the true — these are the 
 prime characteristics that distinguish him 
 above the foremost. The works of this 
 celebrated German poet should surely be- 
 come familiar in every cultivated society that 
 takes active interest in the intellectual life 
 of our times. 
 P The present story refers to " The Master 
 
 of Tanagra," th^ mythical sculptor of the 
 . charming little figures found at Tanagra ; and 
 '^ affords a reflex of old Greek life, its ways and 
 
 177651 
 
',T" ^."■-'^4*:^'^ 
 
 y[ FA' £ FACE. 
 
 teachings, combines much dramatic incident, 
 and brings the chief personages — Praxiteles, 
 Phryne, Myrtolaos, and Hellanodike — before 
 the mind's eye in vivid reality. The scene 
 alternates from Tanagra to Athens. Art is 
 the motor which causes Myrtolaos to leave 
 ^ the land of his adoption ; but love is the 
 cause of his return, finding his proper sphere, 
 and becoming " Master of Tanagra." 
 
 The fascination produced by the Tanagra 
 figures is not caused solely by the real Grecian 
 grace, with which the most simple situations 
 and motives gleaned from reality have been 
 retained and fixed in plastic form, but is 
 chiefly the consequence of the unspeakably 
 delicate tints applied, which seem to play 
 around them like a zephyr. There can be 
 no doubt that these precious reproductions 
 will receive unqualified praise at the hands 
 of all supporters of art. 
 
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 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 TANAGRA will quickly be reached, 
 and the most beautiful part of 
 our journey lies ahead ! " said a crisp-haired, 
 slenderly-built man, hailing from the northern 
 outlet of Oropos, a townlet on the borders 
 of Attica and Boeotia, as he swung himself 
 into the travelling- car beside his companion. 
 
 The goad was dashed against the flanks 
 of the horses, and the light vehicle went 
 ratding forward 'neath the low-pitched 
 portal of the town, into the open beyond. 
 
 With a litheness that lent his movements 
 somewhat the supple swing of the panther, 
 the man bent forward from the seat of 
 the car, and with parted lips inhaled the 
 
 I 
 
-'■^•- ''I'tsisi^f^^f?^;- 
 
 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 brisk air of morning that came wafted 
 towards them in long-drawn sweet-scented 
 breezes. Moist and cool came the wind, 
 for it was blown from across the Euboean 
 Sea, that in long-swept waves flowed to 
 the right of their way, and with the briny 
 breath there came blended the quickening 
 scent from the olive groves aflower, which, 
 flanking the road on either side, and north- 
 wards, far as the eye could reach, clad 
 the Boeotian hills with green abundance. 
 
 " Look yonder, Mnemarchos ! " cried 
 the man with the dark flowing locks, 
 pointing athwart the sea, where, behind 
 the vanishing coasts of Euboea, the early 
 rays of the sun, like the crested points 
 of some mighty diadem, were flashing forth, 
 — " look how Helios greets his well- 
 beloved Attika ! And how the "vaves, like 
 a mighty army, rank after rank, go surging 
 onward, panoplied in helmet and shield 
 of silver ; and . lo, to the left, Parnassus 
 and Kithasron, bearing aloft their rugged 
 peaks ; and fronting us, the silver-flowing 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 Asopus. Gaze upon it all, — breathe, drink 
 deep of it. It is freedom, ^beauty, and all 
 combined, — this glorious Hellas." 
 
 In the dark eyes of the man there 
 burned a consuming- fire ; more frequent 
 fell the blows on the horses' flanks, so 
 that at last they dashed into headlong 
 gallop, and with hoarse, broken yells he 
 inspirited them to ever wilder pace. At 
 length his gaze rested on his companion, 
 and, while bursting into ringing laughter, 
 he now checked the steeds into quieter 
 pace. 
 
 With cloak drawn under his chin, and 
 with a look of worried annoyance, Mne- 
 marchos sat there silent and pallid. 
 "Fool that I was!" he exclaimed, "to 
 forget that to journey with Praxiteles the 
 sculptor means surrendering one's self un- 
 conditionally into the grasp of a raving 
 madman ; well is it known that you artists 
 are friends of the gods and foes to man. 
 Your senses are all aglow, but your 
 hearts are ice." 
 
 -^■^ 
 

 4 TJIE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 " Right you may be," said Praxiteles, 
 as a peculiar twitching flitted over his 
 features. 
 
 *' I know I am right," replied the 
 other. " But still I do not know, even 
 now, for what reason I am undertaking 
 this break-neck drive with you." 
 
 " My eyes are athirst," rejoined the 
 sculptor, " yearning for fresh forms." 
 
 " His eyes thirsting again ! " said Mne- 
 marchos, shrugging his shoulders ; " when 
 will they have drunk their fill } " 
 
 " You are aware of the fact," put in 
 Praxiteles, " that the Sikyonians have vowed 
 to Zeus in Olympia a statue of Hermes, 
 and have commissioned me to " 
 
 Now it was Mnemarchos' turn to laugh. 
 
 "And on that ground," he cried, "a 
 reckless journey to Tanagra ! Therefore 
 must I drink disgusting sour country wine, 
 cram myself with unsalted goat cheese, that 
 Praxiteles may hunt up a model for his 
 Olympian Hermes, 'mid the smooth-headed, 
 full-stomached Boeotian peasants!" 
 
^* 
 
 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 5 
 
 ** Maybe," returned the other, "I am urged 
 on by a right instinct. The Tanagrians, you 
 must know, celebrate to-day the feast of 
 Hermes, who is said to have freed of 
 yore the town of Tanagra from a dire 
 plague, by bearing a ram in procession 
 round the walls of the town." 
 
 " Had Hermes nothing better to do 
 than to preserve the stupid town } " 
 muttered the other. 
 
 " The citizens assemble before the gates ; 
 the most beauteous youth in the town 
 plays the part of the god, bearing the 
 ram on his shoulders around the walls, 
 after which the animal is slain in festive 
 sacrifice." 
 
 "I begin to understand," replied Mne- 
 march. " O thou sculptor of my heart, 
 Praxiteles, thy friendship is the glory of 
 my life ; but the gods know such renown 
 has to be dearly bought." 
 
 As these words escaped his lips, the 
 chariot rolled along from out the dense 
 olive grove into the open landscape, and, 
 
^"^^r^-m'^.'Ti?'?^^s^-^^^\ 
 
 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 — " Tanagra ! " exclaimed both the travel- V 
 lers at one breath. ^ 
 
 Hot and glaring shone the morning sun 
 on the white walls of the town, crowning 
 the summit of a tolerably high hill, which, 
 fronting the two Athenians, rose sheer, 
 and up whose slopes the roadway went 
 circling. The festival seemed already in 
 full swing, for on the topmost slope of 
 the hill, encamped in densely-thronging 
 groups, were people, clad in motley garments, 
 that gave a lively aspect to the colourless 
 chalk cliffs. Again the goad had to do its 
 duty, and fast as the steep road would allow, 
 the horses clambered up the path, crowned 
 on all sides with vineyards. Scarce had 
 they reached the topmost level, when, with 
 dinning noise, and shouting, and jingling, 
 the festive procession came moving onward 
 straight towards them. It was headed 
 by flute players, whose monotonous solemn 
 tone gave the rhythm for those moving 
 in procession ; . next followed the control- 
 lers of the feast, who kept back the surging 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 crowd, and, when these had passed, there 
 rang out the unanimous wild cry of joy: 
 " Hail, Hermes of Tanagra ; Hail, fair 
 Myrtolaos ! " At the same instant the 
 whole mass of beholders swayed towards 
 him to whom this acclamation was ad- 
 dressed ; and surrounded, nay almost borne 
 forward, by the throng of people, a fair, 
 blooming, tall, and slenderly-built youth 
 capie treading along the path. The light 
 garment, held fast to the left shoulder by 
 a clasp, allowed free play to the right arm, 
 with which he held on his shoulder a snow- 
 white ram, with fore and hind legs bound 
 together, while in his left hand he bore 
 the attribute of the god, the Hermes staff. 
 With ease and freedom he moved on 
 beneath the ponderous weight of the 
 animal, his head poised backwards, so that 
 the dark curls, held together above his 
 forehead by a golden fillet, flowed down 
 his neck ; and as thus, glancing neither to 
 ^he right nor left, but with eyes looking 
 in dreamy unconsciousness into the azure 
 
' * •'^^t*^-??^ .^ 
 
 8 - TBE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 heavens, he passed by the strangers, he 
 afforded a sight as new as it was graceful. 
 Scarcely had they time, however, to take 
 in the impression of the quickly-passing 
 scene, when the pressig forward of the 
 throng told that the feast was not yet at 
 an end. With one quick strain at the 
 reins Praxiteles turned the horses round 
 in the direction of those that had preceded, 
 and keeping from the throng of people on 
 foot, he, in a quick trot, rounded the next 
 corner of the projecting town-wall. In the 
 open space, now in view, it was clear that 
 the chief and final act of the festival was 
 to be played. The middle of the space 
 was taken up by a mighty boulder of 
 rock, up which a few flat steps led, and 
 round which were ranged stone seats whereon 
 the ancient and venerated men of the town 
 seated themselves in contemplative repose. 
 This space was usually employed for the 
 popular meetings of the Tanagrians; to-day, 
 however, it had to serve other purposes, for^ 
 instead of the orator who, with eyes severe. 
 
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 TffE MAS TEH OF TAN AGRA. 9 
 
 had ruled the mob below, moving their 
 hearts at sound of his voice, there now 
 stood on the rock, with head modestly 
 bent, a female form, youthful and delicate. 
 She was clad in the picturesque style of 
 the Theban women ; from the uncovered 
 shoulders there flowed a long, white robe, 
 ending in a kind of train ; the dark- brown 
 hair was gathered above the parting into 
 a becoming knot, and from out sandals 
 of fine red leather peeped dainty white 
 feet. In her hands she bore a golden 
 bowl, heaped up with luscious straw- 
 berries. 
 
 " What is the meaning of this, and who 
 is the maiden } " Mnemarch inquired of a 
 Tanagrian standing by. 
 
 "Thou art a stranger here," replied the 
 latter, " else wouldst thou know that, 
 after Hermes had carried the ram around 
 the town-walls, he was -refreshed with 
 strawberries by the women of Tanagra. 
 In -remembrance thereof, year by year, the 
 most beauteous of our maidens is chosen. 
 
lO THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 to feed the Hermes-youth with the 
 hallowed fruit." 
 
 "And who is this most beauteous of 
 your damsels ? " 
 
 " Hellanodike, daughter of the rich 
 Myronides, whom thou seest seated 
 3'^onder." 
 
 Hermes - Myrtolaos had meantime 
 reached the foot of the stone steps ; he 
 threw the ram from his shoulders, which 
 was at once seized by the controllers of 
 the feast and borne to the sacrifice, while 
 he mounted the first step. The girl let 
 her eyes rest on him, and a deep roseate 
 blush flushed her sweet face and in a 
 crimson wave flowed over neck and 
 shoulders, as the youth had reached the 
 highest step, and stretched forth his 
 hands towards the bowl she was holding. 
 
 "Nearer!" cried Praxiteles to his com- 
 panion, who had taken the reins in hand, 
 as they had fallen from the grasp of the 
 artist, rapt as he was in intense admiration. 
 
 " We can push no further with the 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. II 
 
 chariot," said Mnemarch, " the throng is 
 too dense." 
 
 *' Then stay by the chariot," was the 
 other's reply ; and with a sudden leap he 
 was in the midst of the crowd, through 
 which he battled his wav with arm and 
 elbow till he reached the foot of the boulder. 
 
 There, at the top, they stood now close 
 together, those two noble youthful forms ; 
 and had two immortals lighted on earth 
 they could not have looked other than 
 these. The youth's forehead was aglow 
 from the fatigue of the way, and his 
 dark gleaming eyes rested in deep earnest 
 dreaminess on the lovely features of the 
 maiden, who was bending over him. A 
 rapturous smile played around her lips as 
 she did so, and her brow showed an ex- 
 pression of happily satisfied pride. Her 
 lips moved softly, and the Athenian sculp- 
 tor, who, with body leaning forward and 
 with ardent glance, took in every trait, 
 every glimpse of the charming picture, 
 caught the words she whispered, *' Hast 
 
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 12 TIfE MASTER OF 7 AN AGRA. 
 
 thou discovered, Myrtolaos ? " and in like 
 manner his reply, "Not yet, Hellanodike." 
 
 For another moment the two stood, 
 heedless of the surrounding crowd, solely 
 wrapped in each other ; then from the 
 multitude, which began to be impatient, 
 there arose shouts. 
 
 "Give food to Hermes, Hellanodike ! " 
 came the cry from one side ; '* Eat, 
 Hermes !" from another. Those to whom 
 the cries were addressed started from 
 their reveries ; Myrtolaos dipped his hand 
 into the bowl, and lifted a couple of 
 strawberries to his lips. Then, taking the 
 vessel from Hellanodike's hands, he de- 
 scended the steps, to distribute the con- 
 tents to those standing by ; for the custom 
 of the feast ordained this, because to the 
 fruit popular belief assigned some special 
 virtue of healing. One of the first he en- 
 countered was the Athenian, with eyes 
 dreamily drooped towards the ground ; he 
 tendered the bowl to the sculptor, when 
 he felt it held fast, and at the same 
 
TIfE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 13 
 
 moment heard a whispered voice, " I greet 
 thee, Hermes." He started, and on the 
 instant an indescribable feeling pervaded 
 him ; he felt himself straightway under 
 the secret sway of a strange powerful 
 influence, quickened by the fire of the 
 flashing eyes, which like two thirsty suns 
 
 ' seemed to sink into and absorb his whole 
 being. For a brief moment the fair 
 Tanagrian gazed speechless at the wonder- 
 ful stranger, then his lips parted, as though 
 he would utter a sound, pronounce a 
 word ; yet ere he was able, the wave of 
 the thronging crowd had seized him, and 
 swept him away. Praxiteles gazed after 
 him. Once more Myrtolaos appeared 
 above the surging mass, once more he 
 turned his head, yet once more the eyes 
 of both met ; and then the waves swelled 
 over and around him. When the sculptor 
 
 "looked round towards where Hellanodike 
 had stood, she had already left her post; 
 the Hermes feast was at an end. 
 
 In the house of the wealthy Myronides of 
 
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 14 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. < 
 
 Tanagra a domestic household festival was 
 evidently to be combined with the public 
 ceremonial. Slaves were busied in fastening 
 wreaths and festoons on the pillars and 
 cornices of the fore-court, and the din 
 caused by their laughing and chattering 
 was so great that they were unaware of 
 a chariot drawing up before the gate, and 
 an impatient voice inquiring for Myronides, 
 master of the house. These were the 
 travellers from Athens, whose arrival was' 
 now announced to the owner, abiding in 
 the inner court. As the latter, a man 
 of noble bearing, with flowing grey hair 
 and beard, appeared on the threshold, 
 the Athenians went forward with gracious 
 mien to meet him, and Praxiteles tendered 
 him one half of a golden ring. 
 
 " I greet thee, Myronides," he said at 
 the same time ; '' Dexippos sends thee this 
 from Athens." 
 
 With quick, keen glance Myronides ex- 
 amined the presented token, and thereupon 
 said, — 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. ^ 
 
 *'And whom do I greet in your persons, 
 ye strangers twain ? " 
 
 " This," said the sculptor, " is Mnemar- 
 chos, from Athens, and I am Praxi- 
 teles." 
 
 " What, Praxiteles the sculptor ? " 
 
 " The sculptor." 
 
 "Then great good betide Dexippos," 
 Myronides exclaimed, as he seized both 
 hands of the Athenian, ''for having vouch- 
 safed me the honour to shelter the star 
 of Attica. Enter, honoured guests, and 
 be it known that in a happy moment 
 are you come. I await some few friends 
 to dinner, that they may while away 
 with me the day that has brought 
 joy to our town and honour to my 
 house." 
 
 " By making thy fair child Hellanodike 
 queen of to-day's Hermes festival } " asked 
 Mnemarchos. 
 
 " And ye already know of it .'' " returned 
 the master of the house, with contented 
 smile. " Come ! a bath after the tiring drive 
 

 I - 
 
 l6 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 will refresh you, after which you will find 
 us in the banqueting hall." 
 
 The spacious room into which the Athe- 
 nians were led, after the heat and fatigue of the 
 journey had been calmed down, was decked 
 in festive guise, the guests had assembled, and 
 some were already reclining on couches ranged 
 round the table. But as soon as the name 
 " Praxiteles " was uttered, all present started, 
 all rose up, and thronged round the illustrious 
 man. But from a distant corner of the hall 
 two dark eyes, with wondering gaze, rested 
 on the bearer of that name. Praxiteles felt 
 thrilled by the glance, and, looking up, recog- 
 nised Myrtolaos. Through the midst of the 
 other guests he went straight towards him, 
 grasped the blushing youth by both hands, 
 and said, — 
 
 " Hermes of Tanagra, thou who shalt once 
 live with Olympic Zeus, anew I greet thee." 
 
 Hearing the strange address, the guests 
 looked inquiringly at one another ; yet, ere 
 they had time to exchange thoughts in whis- 
 pers, at a sign from the host slaves appeared. 
 
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THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. ij 
 
 bearing on silver staves wreaths of roses, 
 white and red, which they placed on the 
 brows of each respective guest. One was just 
 nearing the Athenian master, when Myrtolaos, 
 who up to then had been struggling with his 
 shyness, suddenly sprang forward, and, having 
 scrutinized Praxiteles for a brief moment with 
 keen glance, selected a wreath of crimson-red 
 full-blown roses, with which he approached 
 him. 
 
 " Blessed be my hands," he said, with 
 trembling voice, yet all so gently, as though he 
 wished to prevent his words from reaching 
 the rest ; " blessed that they may crown thee, 
 great and noble Praxiteles ! " With these 
 words he placed the wreath around his brow, 
 and the Athenian felt how the youth's hands 
 were trembling. He would have answered, 
 but as he gazed in the large dark eyes, uplifted 
 towards him, beaming with admiration, and 
 yet seeming to dwell in the realm of their 
 own dreamings, he remained silent, and let 
 the youth silently do his office. Myrtolaos 
 stepped back modestly, and, as the guests 
 
 2 
 
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 1 8 T'^^ MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 took their seats at the board, he sought his 
 place at the lower end of the table. 
 
 The repast was bountiful and long drawn 
 out. At length it came to an end, and in 
 large stone jars the wine was served for 
 dessert. Myrtolaos arose and left the hall, 
 leaving the men to their converse. 
 
 As soon as he had left, Praxiteles turned 
 towards the host. 
 
 " Tell me," he began, " Myronides, thou 
 truly enriched, have these two young roses 
 sprung up in thy garden ? Are they both 
 thy children } " 
 
 "I regard both as such," returned the 
 Tanagrian, " although Hellanodike alone is 
 of my own flesh and blood." 
 
 " And who and whence this youth, whom 
 I admired at the Hermes' festival, and have 
 found again in thy dwelling.'* " 
 
 " Ten years have now elapsed," said 
 Myronides, " since an old man, coming 
 from the north, appeared in our town, in 
 whose company was a remarkably handsome 
 boy. The old man, tired out by long and 
 
 -,H. iJ ,»,w t'ijt.itrii&i 
 
" - THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. ip 
 
 wearisome wandering, broke down; and as 
 this happened just before my threshold, I 
 took him into my house and nursed him in 
 his last flitting hours. When he saw death 
 was at hand, he summoned me to his couch; 
 the lad sat beside him, and with unceasing 
 tenderness the withered hand of the dying 
 man fondled the boy's dark curls. 
 
 " ' Leave me, Myrtolaos, my darling boy, 
 for a few moments,' he said to him ; — alas ! 
 he never saw him more. 
 
 " * I am dying,' he then murmured, turning 
 to me, * and can leave thee nought in return 
 for thy generous dealing, for even as a beggar 
 did I enter thy dwelling ; but one treasure 
 I do possess, and willingly do I consign it to 
 thy keeping, for truly I look upon thee as a 
 worthy man, one of right noble character : it 
 is that child. Believe me, there is something 
 akin to the marvellous about him. I am 
 from Lokris, but Athens was his birthplace, 
 whence his parents had fled with him when 
 the thirty tyrants were ruling there. I 
 gave his father work, and the family lived 
 
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 20 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. ' 
 
 in a hovel that was in the field ; a wretched 
 abode it was, but I was poor and had 
 nothing better. The father died ; and the 
 woman, too weak to work, became a burthen 
 on my hands. But little heed was I taking 
 about her, when one night there came to me 
 a wonderful dream : I beheld the interior of 
 the shed, and in the centre stood a noble 
 statue in marble, covered with dust. The 
 eyes of the figure were fixed on me, its lips 
 opened, and with solemn, mournful tone it 
 said : 
 
 " '■ " Dost thou thus allow the treasure to 
 lie neglected that thy house possesses } " 
 
 " * I awoke ; and as soon as day dawned, 
 hastening to the hut they inhabited, I found 
 the widow stretched dead on her bed, and the 
 lad standing by her side. As I entered the 
 boy turned and gazed at me ; and in that 
 hour I resolved never to abandon him. 
 Thou hast heard,' the old man continued, 
 ' that in times of old the Olympian gods are 
 believed to have descended to earth ; thou 
 dost regard it as a legend — even so did I. But 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 21 , 
 
 , . U 
 
 at that moment I saw it was possible, for before 
 me there stood in living embodiment one of 
 the inhabitants of Olympus — not mirthful, nor 
 joyous, as we picture to ourselves the dwellers 
 in eternal bliss; but a dreamy, young god, 
 whose brow betrayed the pain caused by his 
 exile amid the sorrows of mankind.' 
 
 " ' " Myrtolaos," said I, and it seemed to 
 me as though I were touching what was 
 hallowed, as I laid my hand on his youthful 
 head, "wouldst thou remain with me, and 
 take .me as thy father ? " 
 
 " * He raised his eyes to me, then nodding 
 his head without forwardness or shyness, he 
 seized my right hand. I threw my mantle 
 about him, for it was wintry weather, and 
 winters in the Lokrian mountains, as thou 
 knowest, are bitterly cold, and, pressing him 
 to my bosom, led him along the road to 
 my home, where I had neither kith nor kin. 
 " Behold this house," I said to him on entering; 
 " here shalt thou dwell as long as it please thee, 
 and thou shalt know it is truly thine own." 
 He then twined his arms about my neck, 
 
."<;'S^!Ki?i?:-,''s 
 
 22 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 and two large tear-drops trickled silently 
 down the noble features, his fair countenance 
 the while remaining undisfigured by the pangs 
 of sorrow beating through his breast. I got 
 ready a couch for him, for he was battling 
 against weariness, and his pillow I made as 
 soft as I was well able, wrapping him up 
 snugly in sheltering coverlets. Then when 
 he had fallen asleep, I stood for a long time 
 before him, marvelling over the human 
 destiny that had snatched this noble flower 
 from its native soil, that it might take root 
 again in my far-off humble abode. For 
 five long years,' the old man continued, * we 
 have now lived together, during which 
 period there was not a moment wherein he 
 caused me sorrow. He gave me aid in all 
 the avocations of daily life, was my helpmate 
 at home and afield, and gladdened me by all 
 those unconscious yet all . so kindly signs of 
 affection a noble human heart well knows how 
 to bestow. He awakened but one anxiety in 
 me : he was not happy, and the look of sad- 
 ness would not quit his eyes, I marked well 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 23 
 
 that he led a twofold life ; for ever when the 
 day's labour was over, he would shrink into 
 solitude, and remain alone for hours at a 
 stretch. I did not disturb him, but once I 
 followed, and watching him unawares dis- 
 covered him on a projecting cliff of the 
 mountain which afforded a wide view south- 
 ward. There he sat, at first involved in 
 dreaminess ; after which he arose, and I saw 
 how with his hands from a pit near by 
 he took clay, laden with which he wended 
 back to his favourite nook.' " 
 
 Praxiteles, who had followed the narrator's 
 story with intense interest, started at these 
 words. 
 
 '* Took clay } " he inquired. 
 
 " So ran the old man's story, and thus he 
 continued : — ' He began to play with the soft 
 material, pressing and kneading it together, 
 and I noticed that his eyes lost their dreami- 
 ness whilst thus busied, and assumed an 
 expression of most eager attention ; now and 
 again pausing he glanced up, as though he 
 sought to fix the lines of some model he 
 
 •J(5!^sSi^Si>t!S^iS«a^>j-.V«-f;..-n:i.^ „ 
 
X-lrr'FP^im:!^'''^'- ■ 
 
 24 n/E MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 fain would imitate, then returned to his 
 occupation. He gazed at what his fingers 
 had moulded, shook his head as discon- 
 tented, and flung everything over the cliff 
 into the deep. Good care I took not to let 
 him know I had been watching ; but when 
 he came home, and had partaken of the 
 evening meal, I said tenderly : *' Myrtolaos, 
 is it not so, thou art unhappy to have to 
 live with me } " He gazed at me with earnest 
 eyes. " No," he said, " not unhappy, but I 
 
 yearn " "Yearn.? And for what.''" "I 
 
 am not able to tell," he replied, " for I know 
 not how to describe it, but sometimes it rushes 
 through my heart ; then I seem to grow con- 
 scious, I feel as though a dream of long, long 
 ago had taken possession of me, — a dream 
 of things wonderful and strange. Men are 
 standing around me, women too, fair as my 
 eyes have never beheld, but they are, as I 
 deem, no real beings, for they stand there 
 ever silent, ever motionless." "Thou mean- 
 est statues," I said interrupting, "such as 
 sculptors fashion '^, " His eyes brightened 
 
rl^^S-^lkSr^^ ' 
 

 B\.i' 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 m 
 
 with flashing light, and he came close to my 
 side. " Tell me, father, are there men who 
 can achieve such ? " " Certainly," I answered, 
 " the great sculptors in Athens are renowned 
 for it." " Oh ! " he cried, " then my pre- 
 sentiment hath not deluded me." " Wouldst 
 thou fain learn this art ? " I asked. He 
 trembled from inner emotion, and so softly, 
 as though he were confiding to me some 
 hallowed secret, he said : " Yea, father, 
 I believe I should like it right well. For 
 when that dream comes, seest thou, then the 
 forms array themselves around; I see them 
 quite near, quite clearly, and then a something 
 seizes me — I know not what ; it lies cumber- 
 ing my breast, till I essay to recast their 
 shapes." " In kneaded clay ? " I interrupted. 
 " Aye, aye ! " he cried, utterly forgetting 
 himself, " dost thou also know how it is 
 done .? Hast thou also tried ^ Oh ! is it 
 not rare and glorious when one feels the 
 clay under one's hands, — feels that one might 
 fashion men, living things, nay, the whole 
 world therefrom, did one but understand the 
 
 ■.:&2ii«^-:!^iu^^. -■- --- -A. ^=ii;'i;JlA\ ji.^— .-.i..,^**^ir^^iiakii**r3^ .;-.--..*ii,,'_ -" ■ -^ -T'' [-■■'J^^WttiiTr"'-^ ' '-'r 
 
}V^Sihi"i^_f?ilfW' ' ■f'Ss:f5J'^>«§p?5»'53^jrTS?- 
 
 26 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 art. O my father ! " and he suddenly clasped 
 my knees, " teach me this art ! Wilt thou ? 
 I entreat thee, teach me!" I could not 
 refrain from smiling,' the old man continued, 
 * albeit I was in a most earnest mood. " This 
 art," said I, "I am unable to teach thee." 
 He gazed at me bewildered ; and with an 
 expression, as though he could not grasp 
 why I could not fulfil his heart's yearn- 
 mg 
 
 "It shall be fulfilled," suddenly broke 
 forth Praxiteles, who with heaving breast 
 had been earnestly following the story of the 
 narrator. " And he who will teach him is 
 here present." Springing from his seat he 
 strode up and down the hall, his large eyes 
 glowing like fire, and his heart throbbing 
 loudly within his breast. 
 
 " Summon the youth hither, Myronides," 
 said he, turning towards him. ** I will 
 announce to him that Praxiteles himself will 
 teach him the hallowed art so much longed 
 for." 
 
 The aspect of the deeply-moved man, 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. VJ 
 
 his impassioned words, acted like magic on 
 the surrounding guests. They sprang up 
 one and all, crowding round Myronides and 
 the Athenian artist, and murmured sounds 
 of congratulation were heard from those 
 present. One guest only stood apart, keenly 
 observing the course of things. It was a 
 young man of unprepossessing countenance, 
 who, during the whole repast, had remained 
 silent and reserved. 
 
 " Let me finish my story," Myronides said, 
 smiling. Praxiteles, however, interrupted him 
 with impatience. 
 
 "What further is there left to recount,? 
 The future is everything. The old man of 
 whom you have told was with him on the 
 journey to Athens, was he not? but on 
 the way death overtook him } " 
 
 " Thou hast guessed aright," replied the 
 host. 
 
 " Praise be to his memory ! " exclaimed the 
 sculptor, " that he understood the voice of 
 the gods; and praise to thee, Myronides, that 
 thou didst receive the boy under thy hospit- 
 
^y^^--i''-^r'':=^*-tr^f.~ 
 
 28 TffE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 able roof; but henceforth," and the voice of 
 the artist grew slow and solemn, " he does 
 not any more belong to thee ; to thee he did 
 belong, henceforth he is mine and the gods'." 
 There was something imposing in the gesture 
 accompanying these words. The words 
 themselves, outburst of a powerful nature, 
 conveyed the victorious impress of earnest 
 thought, so that they overpowered all who 
 heard. Myronides, however, stood a brief 
 moment sunk in thought. Now advanced 
 the silent guest to the host, and taking him 
 apart said softly, but impressively : — 
 
 " Why dost thou hesitate ? Is not this 
 the way most helpful to all ? " 
 
 Myronides scrutinised him keenly. 
 
 " Certainly, as far as concerns thee, 
 Phyallas," said he, in just as low a tone. 
 
 " And not for thee, equally } " answered 
 the other sharply, " and for Hellanodike, thy 
 daughter } " 
 
 Without answering ever a word Myronides 
 drooped his head, and went straight up to 
 Praxiteles. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 29 
 
 " Thou requirest much of me, Praxiteles," 
 said he, and his voice trembled somewhat. 
 " It is hard for me to part with him ; he has 
 grown dear to my heart. He has taken root 
 in this home, and if thou dost pluck him 
 forth the earth will remain clinging to the 
 roots, and more than one will feel it deeply. 
 For even if he be not himself a god, yet is 
 he of their chosen ones, and they gave him 
 the gift they bestow on all their favourites, — 
 the unseen charm to be beloved by men. 
 Nay," said he, as Praxiteles would fain have 
 interrupted, " I know what thou wouldst say, 
 and feel that I must not cross his destiny. 
 Yet forgive the question of a man riper in 
 years than thou, Praxiteles ; wilt thou make 
 him happy ? " 
 
 " Yea ! " cried the Athenian, with so- 
 lemnly uplifted hand, "if he be what I 
 believe him to be, I shall make him 
 happy." 
 
 " Thou say est so," replied the other, 
 "because thou art Praxiteles, the great 
 master whom the gods have blessed; but 
 
i 
 
 30 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 what knowest thou of him ? Some words 
 uttered by a crazed old man afford the 
 sole warrant that he doth possess what 
 alone may render the artist's life endur- 
 able, — true genius." 
 
 Praxiteles looked at him in deep emotion. 
 
 "Thou claimest too much, Myronides," 
 he said ; " can I say more than this, I 
 believe in him ? believe in the feeling 
 that took hold of me when first to-day 
 I looked into his dark dreamy eyes ; 
 believe in him since learning the story 
 of his childhood." 
 
 "Well then," returned Myronides, "I 
 will bring him to thee, and he shall himself 
 decide as to his lot." 
 
 Myronides left the apartment with his 
 other guests ; Praxiteles remained alone, 
 absorbed in deep thought; he paced up 
 and down while slaves, by the light of 
 torches, were clearing away the fragments 
 of the feast. 
 
 " Come hither," said Praxiteles, when 
 the last of them was about to quit the 
 
~ THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 31 
 
 '■ ) 
 
 apartment. "Is there any clay to be had 
 in this house ? " 
 
 "Clay?" 
 
 " Aye, clay, potter's clay." 
 
 As chance would have it, a heap of clay 
 was lying in the courtyard, and Praxiteles 
 ordered the slave to bring him a platterful. 
 In wonderment he obeyed ; when brought, 
 the sculptor made sign to the slave to with- 
 draw, threw off his upper garment, and 
 in flurried haste, with both hands clutched 
 the soft material, which he kneaded and 
 deftly moulded, keeping his eyes the while 
 looking into space, as if they sought to 
 fix the object his hands were modelling ; 
 and whilst working with wonderful deftness 
 there grew beneath his hands the shape 
 of a human head. Quite absorbed in his 
 work, with twitching lips and flashing 
 eyes, he kept on without break till he 
 had advanced so far as to be able to set 
 the model on the table, after joining a 
 neck to the life-sized head. At that 
 moment Myronides with Myrtolaos and 
 
'■-• ■ .' ' . i. . . 
 
 32 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 Mnemarch returned; behind them came 
 Phyallas. In suspended wonder they re- 
 mained standing, for the first object meeting 
 their eyes, illumined by the flickering 
 torchlight, was the work of Praxiteles. 
 Myrtolaos uttered a startled cry, rushed 
 close up to the table, whereon the sculptor 
 had set his work, and stood with heaving 
 breast, silent and transfixed. 
 
 In spite of the haste with which it 
 was fashioned the head was indeed of 
 fascinating beauty. The Hermes was re- 
 presented with head gently inclining, and 
 the features recalled by their rapt expression 
 the Hermes of Tanagra. 
 
 Praxiteles stood near the table, and with 
 scrutinising glance gazed at the youth, who 
 had time to recover from his wonderment. 
 Then he turned laughingly towards the 
 others. 
 
 *' I have been diverting myself while you 
 were away," he said, and he made a move- 
 ment as though he would destroy what 
 he had been shaping. On the instant 
 
V t 
 
 ^.i^iil. j^i^S^^^r^ £^J£^s^si;^i^-:x:t 
 
!i'.. .1 
 
 y 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. - 33 
 
 Myrtolaos rushed towards him, exclaiming 
 in pleading tones, — '* Do not destroy, oh, 
 do not destroy it ! " The eyes of the 
 Athenian flashed with unwonted fire. 
 
 " Myrtolaos," he murmured in a low 
 voice, " wouldst thou too like to create 
 such things ? " 
 
 The youth looked at him, unable to find 
 utterance. 
 
 "Wilt thou learn it, Myrtolaos.? Wilt 
 thou learn from the Athenian Praxiteles .f* " 
 
 " Teach me thy art ! " entreated the 
 youth, and as if seized by a supernatural 
 power, he sank on his knees before the 
 great master. " Teach me thy art, glorious, 
 great Praxiteles ! " 
 
 " If thou wouldst become my pupil," 
 said Praxiteles, " thou must follow me to 
 Athens ; art thou prepared so to do } " 
 
 " I am ready, let me follow thee whither- 
 soever thou goest." 
 
 *'Thou must quit this abode, Myronides 
 thy father, all whomsoever thou hast cherished 
 in this home ; wilt thou do so } " 
 
 3 
 
 ^iisix:iif3r;^siti<^^-r-'i .i»- 
 
■^«;:,;:f4?Tf-?,^--- » *^'^;^r-T.;^^^ 
 
 34 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 " I will," said Myrtolaos, as he gazed at 
 the sculptor with flashing eyes. 
 
 " Well then," exclaimed Praxiteles, laying 
 his hand on the youth's head, " then do I 
 take possession of thee, Myrtolaos, and 
 dedicate thee to the service of the gods, 
 who have until now unawares to thee taken 
 hold of thy heart ; I will unseal thine eyes, 
 that thou mayst recognise the gods." 
 
 By no word had Myronides interrupted 
 the solemn scene. Seeing all was now 
 decided, he advanced to Myrtolaos, silently 
 extending his arms, and the youth threw 
 himself upon the breast of the worthy man. 
 
 " He is thine now," said Myronides to 
 Praxiteles ; " take him with thee when thou 
 wilt." 
 
 To-morrow then," said the sculptor. 
 
 cc 
 
 It had grown late ; the inmates of the 
 house had retired to rest, Praxiteles also 
 betook himself to his apartment. 
 
 Mnemarchos, however, ere following the 
 example of the others, went into the garden 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 35 
 
 that Stretched far behind the house. The 
 night was mild, but a soft breeze came wafted 
 over the distant sea from the south-east, cool- 
 ing the sultry air, and bearing with it from 
 the landscape around the perfume of the olive 
 trees. From the garden, lying high above 
 the city, there was a far view into the blue 
 distance; the moon at full shone through the 
 calm air, irradiating with soft, silvery light 
 the barren mountain tops, while the olive 
 groves skirting them were wrapped in soft 
 shaddws. It was not this lovely picture of 
 nature that filled the mind of the man who, 
 with fevered brow, was pacing up and down 
 the garden ; another picture, more striking, 
 stood before his mind's eye, and as it sunk 
 deeper and deeper into his fancied dreams, 
 made his blood seethe. He bethought him 
 of Hellanodike. From the moment he had 
 » beheld her at the Hermes festival, her image 
 had not quitted his mind, and a wild desire 
 of possessing the beautiful, young, and bloom- 
 ing being was cherished in his mind. 
 
 Just as he reached the end of a dark- 
 
 ■' ■•■ -vr'iJT'- "fr'fr"fi'-''''i -'■^Mi¥''gfciMita8?-"---^'^"^-'-^-°'^-'-- 
 
Kv " „^5^^ T^v:;*^,vw f , 
 
 36 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 covered walk, he heard a sound of voices, 
 and beheld before him, in the moonlight, two 
 youthful figures with arms entwined ; they 
 were Myrtolaos and the daughter of Myro- 
 nides. The Athenian sank back within the 
 shadow of the trees. 
 
 " So, now thou hast found what thou wert 
 yearning for, Myrtolaos ? " said the young 
 girl in earnest, well-nigh sorrowful tones to 
 her companion. 
 
 " Yea, Hellanodike," answered the youth, 
 " the presentiment that whispered I should 
 some day realize the desire of my life has 
 not deluded me. I have done so." Hel- 
 lanodike gazed in silence into the dim beyond. 
 
 " Look, how Kithasron shimmers in the 
 white moonlight," said she. " That is the 
 gate of Attica ; and behind, far, far behind, 
 lies Athens, and there thou wilt dwell while 
 I linger here." 
 
 A great sob burst from her bosom, and 
 whilst her tear-drops fell fast, she threw 
 her arms round the neck of the youth she 
 loved, and their lips met in one long kiss. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 37 
 
 Mnemarch pressed his forehead against the 
 tree concealing him. He heard not the 
 touching broken accents that came from the 
 heart that was near to breaking with sorrow, 
 for he was only moved by consuming passion. 
 He only saw how the light garment fluttered 
 back from the arms uplifted ; how the shin- 
 ing moon displayed the softness of their 
 contour ; and beheld the loosened hair float- 
 ing over the graceful neck. His longing 
 grew into desire, and he began to revolve 
 plans whereby he might gratify his passion. 
 
 "Myrtolaos," the girl sobbed in choking 
 impassioned voice, " thou whose wishes were 
 my wishes, in whose sorrow I sorrowed, 
 must it be that thou leave me ? Must thou 
 depart ? " 
 
 " Hellanodike," he tremblingly replied, 
 pressing her closer to his breast, " why have 
 the gods enjoined on me that I must make 
 those whom I love and who love me unhappy 
 by this mysterious prompting which urges 
 me ? Hellanodike, I cannot remain ; go I 
 must to Athens with him, — I must ! " 
 
 X^iSci^.^-A^.^ 
 
srjBj; «.>!^ri^'?f^?j^- 
 
 38 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. \ 
 
 " Full well I know," she replied in sorrow- 
 ful tones, *' thou canst not live as others do 
 here, else thou knowest the father had not 
 refused thee his daughter ; but thou hast told 
 me the narrow walls of Tanagra stifle thee, 
 and therefore must thou away to glorious, 
 dazzling Athens. There thou wilt live and 
 work under sway of thy gods and goddesses, 
 and companioned by them wilt forget all who 
 think of thee here. And Hellanodike will 
 now become the wife of Phayllas — of 
 Phayllas," she exclaimed shuddering, and hid 
 her face on the breast of her beloved. 
 
 In silent agony Myrtolaos stood by her side, 
 unable to utter a word, for in his own soul 
 there dawned, mayhap for the first time, a 
 consciousness how much of beauty, love, and 
 assured happiness he was surrendering for a 
 dim, shadowy future ; and yet, whilst he felt 
 the sweet loving heart beating against his 
 breast, it seemed as if there floated from 
 Attica towards him a procession of sublime 
 beings, beckoning with serious looks as they 
 whispered, "Thou belongest to us;" he 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. - 39 
 
 sank in silence, and could not say, " Hellano- 
 dike, I will stay here." 
 
 At that moment was heard a rustling in 
 the bushes, and the two lovers, startled by 
 the noise, were joined by a third. It was 
 Mnemarchos. 
 
 " Be not fearful," he said, " it is a friend 
 who comes. Do ye not recognise me.'' " 
 
 " Mnemarchos the Athenian," said Myrto- 
 laos, " the friend of Praxiteles." 
 
 '' And thy friend," replied he, " who comes 
 to announce that you sorrow needlessly, for 
 the wishes of both shall be fulfilled, and yet 
 ye shall remain unsevered." 
 
 Hellanodike, with her large guileless eyes, 
 gazed at him bewildered. 
 
 " What meanest thou, strange man } " she 
 said, with trepidation. 
 
 " I mean," replied Mnemarch, " that 
 Phayllas, whom thou lovest not, shall not be 
 thy husband ; that thou shalt go forth from 
 here away to Athens." 
 
 She shuddered. " But my father.? " she 
 said, shyly. 
 
jV'-'~y^^ /^: 
 
 40 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 "What I propose," said the Athenian, 
 " will, of course, at first cause sorrow to thy 
 father ; for as he would not yield assent to 
 thy wishes, it must happen without his 
 knowledge. He is a noble man, and a friend 
 of art, and hereon I build my plan. When 
 Myrtolaos becomes an artist and sculptor, as 
 we hope — and from the studio of Praxiteles 
 there have gone forth no mere dabblers, — when 
 he has achieved his first great work, then will 
 he appear with thee in thy father's presence, 
 will lay his work at his feet, and will say, ' I 
 did thee wrong, Myron ides, but I did so 
 because I could not separate from my art 
 nor from Hellanodike, thy child, and here is 
 the price wherewith I fain would win back 
 forgiveness and thy heart,' and Myronides 
 will forgive both him and thee." 
 
 These words were uttered with such con- 
 vincing eloquence, that the youthful listeners 
 felt deeply moved thereby. 
 
 "O Hellanodike," whispered Myrtolaos, 
 pressing her softly to his heart, " would thou 
 hadst the courage ! " 
 
 i-.fj3r J^~, 
 
 j.;..t. 
 
-jfai^^f^A^i^u£t£i^:Ay^-:H.M^ . 
 
ibj Vi • " ■■ 
 
 ,4 ' ; i»W-'^< 
 
 ^tmf^t^^kj^,.' 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. ,v - ^ 
 
 **She will have the courage," Mnemarch 
 answered in her stead, " if she loves truth, 
 and if she really wish thee to become an 
 artist ; for only in presence of the beloved one 
 is the artist inspired to great works imbued 
 with life ; or do you believe Praxiteles and 
 the other great masters were able to do what 
 they have achieved without being inspired by 
 the presence of their beloved ones?" 
 
 Unwittingly he spoke these last words in a 
 cynical tone; the two pure young souls heard, 
 but understood him not. 
 
 " What a friend have the gods sent us in 
 this blessed hour ! " exclaimed the youth. 
 " O Hellanodike, beloved one, his plan is 
 so beautiful and abounding in promise, say 
 that thou wilt." 
 
 She shuddered and trembled, and prompted 
 by a feeling unutterable, pressed closer to 
 him. 
 
 "But my father," she said softly, "will 
 seek for me, and find me." 
 
 Mnemarch appeared to reflect for a 
 while. 
 
 -.si^s^i^^^s^k^^^ik^^ 
 
.- ' ■ . -i . 
 
 t _ 
 
 42 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. \ 
 
 "For that also," said he, "care is taken. 
 I know one place where he will not seek 
 for thee; abide with me, in my house." 
 
 " In thy house ? " and she unwittingly 
 drew back a step. 
 
 " Thou must not be .filled with tremors," 
 said he, in a persuasive voice ; " I dwell 
 alone with my mother. Thou shalt be under 
 her protecting care." 
 
 " Calm thy anxieties," exclaimed Myrtolaos, 
 who seemed to have awoke to new life. 
 " Dost thou not hear that this man really 
 is offering us counsel like a true friend } 
 Say that thou wilt go with us." 
 
 A secret conflict seemed to pervade her 
 soul, as she ail-silently and with streaming 
 eyes looked back at her father's house. Then 
 she spoke in clear, quiet tones, — 
 
 " Myrtolaos, I will." And turning to- 
 wards Mnemarch, she softly added, "And 
 now I put myself under thine and thy 
 mother's sheltering care until we return to 
 my father. Is it not so, beloved ? " 
 
 "Until we return to him," answered he, 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 43 
 
 joyously, and kissed the tears from her 
 eyes. 
 
 The die was cast. It was decided not to 
 make known as yet any of the plan to Praxi- 
 teles, but a time was fixed, ere many days 
 were sped, when Hellanodike was to appear 
 at the olive grove at the foot of the 
 mountain. In that grove Mnemarch should 
 await her with a chariot, and conduct her 
 to Athens. 
 
 " O come thou also," said she to Myrto- 
 laos, as she heard this last proposal, and her 
 words betrayed alarm. Mnemarch bit his lips. 
 
 " He shall accompany me," said he quickly, 
 " and thou shalt make the journey together 
 with us both." 
 
 Then they separated, and Mnemarch 
 sought his chamber. 
 
 As Hellanodike and Myrtolaos had timidly 
 passed over the threshold, where no sound 
 was to be heard, with a sudden movement 
 the girl threw herself on her knees. 
 
 " Come," she said, and drew her beloved 
 to her ; " it has so long been a kindly home 
 
 . i^aaL^^i^^^.LaJBA.^^at^g'a'^.r:,. ^j:-:i£aimj^iit^k^r*^Ji^J^~-- :-^ /->■ . ■ ■ -.- ■-^-■*h--'#p5iin^ff — •-•rVn^v '" ^r"-'-"^" 
 
44 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 to US. We will pray to the gods, that it 
 may again receive us with open welcome." 
 
 Like to golden butterflies did the first 
 rays of the morning sun flutter into the 
 studio of Praxiteles at Athens. They hov- 
 ered about, parted company, joined again, and 
 circled round, as if afraid of lighting on the 
 flowers of this garden, comprising works of 
 art, statues, and busts, which, finished or 
 half achieved, ranged along the walls or 
 lay scattered amongst the columns in wonder- 
 ful profusion. At last one little sly sun- 
 beam took heart, and nestled in the midst 
 of a labyrinth of curls on the head of a 
 dreamily dainty young faun ; yet another 
 more courageous offspring of the sun, fastened 
 on the swellinglips of the beautiful Aphrodite ; 
 near by a third nestled close to the goddess, 
 with loving caresses loitering on her bosom. 
 And the lovely goddess felt the soft glow 
 of the endearment throughout her marble 
 limbs. She grew irradiated with a smile, and 
 the stony faces around took life from her 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 45 
 
 smile. A divine joyousness permeated the 
 noble hall. It seemed as though limbs were 
 moving, and arms were stretched out lovingly, 
 and as though the creations of Praxiteles were 
 greeting their own and their great framer's 
 heavenly parent, — the radiant young sun of 
 Athens. 
 
 Amid all these gladsome things stood 
 Myrtolaos, lost in rapt admiration. Thoughts 
 unspeakable pervaded his breast ; the 
 dreams of his early days had assumed shape 
 and life ; but what he saw around was so 
 overpowering, seeming to him the impress 
 of a nature so high above his own, that 
 he felt it as one almost strange to him, 
 and a feeling of overwhelming wonder was 
 uppermost in his mind. More especially 
 was this so as he stood face to face 
 with a work of art that seemed but just 
 finished by the master, and which, some- 
 what apart from the rest, stood where steps 
 led from the studio to the artist's abode. 
 It represented Aphrodite descending to the 
 bath, and what no sculptor had heretofore 
 
 jiiiii^i^t&^^iis^^^^ 
 
46 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. i 
 
 ventured on here stood achieved. The 
 goddess was unapparelled, unadorned, and the 
 female form stood revealed to the eye of 
 the beholder. What streams of glowing 
 inspiration must have quickened the breast, 
 that could conceive the idea of a being 
 bathed in the rays of beauty, and what 
 powerful self-mastery withal must have 
 dwelt in the mind, that had known how to 
 keep every glimpse of base feeling far re- 
 moved from this beautiful creation. Uncon- 
 sciously he shook his head. It seemed to him 
 as if there arose before him an obstacle 
 insurmountable ; as if he were peering into 
 a land he was never destined to enter. 
 
 Suddenly a slight rustling startled him. 
 There fell at his feet a dark red full-blown 
 rose, which must have been thrown from 
 behind him, and as in wonder he bent to 
 lift it there rang out a clear silvery, roguish 
 laugh. He turned and gazed into the 
 beaming eyes of a charming woman, who, arm 
 in arm with Praxiteles, was standing on the 
 steps leading to the apartment of the latter. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 47 
 
 They must both have long been gazing 
 at the dreamer, for only in such wise 
 could one explain the roguish waywardness 
 with which the beautiful stranger some- 
 what boldly and searchingly scanned the 
 blushing Myrtolaos. But the countenance 
 of Praxiteles had also assumed an expres- 
 sion different from heretofore : the solemn 
 earnestness Myrtolaos had observed in 
 him at the house of Myronides had 
 vanished, and from his dark eyes there 
 flashed forth a warm and radiant glad- 
 someness. 
 
 With inimitable grace the lovely woman 
 threw her arm round the neck of the 
 sculptor, and nestling close to him, said : — 
 
 " O Praxiteles, much renowned, every day 
 brings fresh homage for thee ; yet few 
 as I deem have been so intensely felt 
 as the silent one we have just witnessed 
 here. — Come hither, thou beautiful boy," 
 said she, turning to Myrtolaos, stretching 
 out her hand to him as he shyly ap- 
 proached. As soon as he had touched 
 
 
- 7T^555'®^»»5f«-2t.'t 
 
 48 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 her hand, she retaining it firmly, leaned 
 down from the steps and imprinted a 
 hearty kiss on the handsome Tanagrian's 
 lips. The latter displayed such a look of 
 bewilderment that Praxiteles and his com- 
 panion, in spite of themselves, broke into 
 mirthful laughter. 
 
 " Fear not ! " exclaimed the woman, 
 *' take no shame at being kissed by Phryne, 
 the Aphrodite of Cnidos." 
 
 Myrtolaos turned and glanced at the 
 statue, and then looked back with an 
 exclamation of surprise — the original of 
 the goddess was standing living before 
 him. 
 
 " Dost thou recognise her ? " cried 
 Praxiteles with a joyous, triumphant smile. 
 "And is she not worthy that the dwellers 
 in Cnidos, among whom she is to abide in 
 future, should look up to her, and say, 
 ' She Cometh from Olympus ' ? " 
 
 Phryne stopped the flow of his words by 
 pressing her lips on his. 
 
 " Unhallowed Prometheus that thou 
 
 .-ift-i: 
 
ts^^ 
 
 ^<^- ■■,■,; 1 
 
 JJ^ii^.. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 49 
 
 art ! " she said, " who art able not only 
 to fashion men, but even gods out of 
 material so profane." 
 
 " Nay, say not so ! " cried Myrtolaos 
 suddenly ; " do not term this frame that 
 has been the model for such a master- 
 piece, unholy." His eyes were replete with 
 radiance, and as to a loftier being he 
 glanced up to Praxiteles. 
 
 " How earnest his speech, and how earnest 
 his look ! " said Phryne. " The woman 
 that will once be his beloved will have to 
 be of different cast from thy Phryne, O 
 Praxiteles, for he will reverence her, and 
 from her expect that she be adorable. 
 But how ? ' ' she interrupted herself, seeing 
 that Myrtolaos coloured deeply ; "mayhap 
 the young butterfly has already found a 
 flower in whose calyx he hath been en- 
 trapped ? Come, out with it, thou self- 
 betrayer, for here stands Praxiteles, thy 
 master, — from him thou durst not with- 
 hold any secret." 
 
 Myrtolaos turned aside, an inexplicable 
 
 4 
 
50 TITE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 feeling stopped him from uttering Hellano- 
 dike's name in presence of Phryne. 
 
 At this moment the curtain dividing 
 the studio was drawn aside, and Mnemarch 
 entered with a greeting. He had, imme- 
 diately on laying aside his travelling dress, 
 resumed the habits of Athenian life, and 
 appeared in rather dandified guise, the 
 exaggerated youthfulness of his garb con- 
 trasting all the more with the faded look 
 of his features. 
 
 " Permit me to kiss thy foot, god-like 
 Phryne," said he, " since Praxiteles has 
 planted it already in Olympus, it is a pious 
 act to pay such homage." 
 
 "As I am aware how hard it is for 
 thee to bend, I take thee at thy word," 
 said Phryne, laughing ; " there, kiss my 
 foot ! " She drew back the hem of her 
 garment somewhat, and displayed the classic- 
 moulded bared foot. Mnemarch bent 
 down, and touched it slightly with his 
 lips. 
 
 " Well, Myrtolaos," turning to him, * 
 
 ,,.-.!. . 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 51 
 
 "the day has arrived and Hellanodike 
 awaits us ; art thou ready ? " 
 
 " What means this ? " said Praxiteles 
 with inquiring glance, while Myrtolaos 
 threw a look of reproach at the speaker. 
 
 " Oh, by the gods," said Mnemarch 
 carelessly, "thou needst not blush, Tana- 
 grian, that thou hast an artist's blood 
 coursing through thy veins ; and Praxiteles 
 will not chide on hearing that thou hast 
 persuaded her to follow thee to Athens, 
 so that thou mayst become a worthy 
 pupil of thy master." 
 
 " And was Myronides aware of this ? " 
 asked Praxiteles, gravely. 
 
 " He will learn it," cried Myrtolaos, 
 " when I go to him with the first work I 
 have achieved under thy eyes, Praxiteles." 
 
 " So, then, you have contrived all without 
 his being aware. The love that inspires you 
 both is deep and mighty then } " 
 
 " Harken to him ! " said Phryne, laugh- 
 ingly ; " Praxiteles has taken his seat on the 
 philosopher's chair. Oh, but that does not suit 
 

 52 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 thee ; thou shalt verily sculpt me as Pythia, 
 seated on the prophetic tripod, for I have 
 divined aright on looking into this one's face." 
 Her jest, however, found no echo, for Praxiteles 
 remained erious and absorbed in thought. 
 
 " Has she friends in Athens?" said he, 
 turning to Myrtolaos, " and where and with 
 whom would she abide ? " 
 
 " At thy friend's, Mnemarchos," replied 
 the youth, shyly; " he hath kindly offered her 
 his abode as a dwelling-place." 
 
 Praxiteles gave an involuntary start, and 
 there was a deep fold showing between his 
 brows. He seemed about to speak; Mnemarch 
 had turned aside with seeming indifference and 
 was busied in examining a satyr which seemed 
 to engage his whole attention ; Praxiteles 
 remained silent. In strange excitement he 
 paced up and down the studio; then he ap- 
 proached Mnemarch. The two conversed in 
 low but earnest tones. Through Mnemarch's 
 persuasive words the stern expression of 
 Praxiteles' face relaxed, and at last he ad- 
 vanced to Myrtolaos smiling as before. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 53 
 
 " Thou hast begun thy new career with a 
 daring exploit," he said ; " and Myronides' 
 ire shall not be directed against me, for I 
 knew nothing of this project ; but forsooth, 
 if she hath decided to follow thee of her own 
 free choice, I will not thwart you ; show now 
 thou art a true artist, for what we admire in a 
 noble steed, we punish in the humdrum nag." 
 
 " Well spoken," cried Phryne ; " and rightly 
 done. Tanagrian, here ! bear this ornament 
 from Phryne's arm to Hellanodike, thy be- 
 loved ; let it be a pass-token when she comes 
 to enter at the gates where dwell the gods ! " 
 
 " They dwell in Athens," cried Myrtolaos ; 
 and at the sight of the glorious woman, who 
 had detached a massive gold armlet, letting it 
 slip into his uplifted hand, a feeling of living 
 joyousness heretofore unknown came over 
 him. Like a flash of lightning it pierced 
 his very soul, and with a fire that quickened 
 his whole being. To him it seemed as 
 though only now were his eyes opened to 
 the grandeur of the works of the master to 
 whom he had vowed homage. 
 
54 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 " Give me strength, ye gods," he cried, 
 uplifting his arms ; " let this glow now per- 
 vading me, remain at full within me, then, O 
 Praxiteles, I shall some time strive against 
 even thee." 
 
 *' Come, come, enthusiast," said Mnemarch ; 
 and, as if rapt in ecstasy, Myrtolaos went 
 forth with him. 
 
 Two days later a travelling-car set down its 
 occupants before Mnemarchos' house ; the 
 master of the mansion, Myrtolaos, and a 
 third, who, with timid beating heart, crossed 
 over the threshold, — Hellanodike. 
 
 How bitter the hours since, with conscious- 
 ness of the deceit practised, she dressed 
 herself as for a harmless saunter ; the tears she 
 had to keep from bursting forth well-nigh 
 burdened her heart as she quitted her father's 
 abode, and now, perhaps for the last time, 
 she wended her way down the well-known 
 mountain path ; but her courage remained 
 unflinching amid her sufferings ; she had 
 promised to come, and she came. 
 
 In the dark olive-grove at the foot of the 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. $5 
 
 mountain the chariot awaited, as arranged, 
 and Mnemarch, who saw her coming from 
 afar, hastened forth to meet her. A shudder 
 passed through her every limb on perceiving 
 him ; silently she rejected the proffered hand, 
 and her beating heart only then grew quieter, 
 when she recognised Myrtolaos, who had 
 remained by the chariot, and held the horses 
 by the reins. 
 
 In her long garment, flowing down to her 
 feet, which in soft folds clung around the 
 graceful contours of her body, her head 
 covered by a low- crowned hat, affording 
 a deep shade to her features, slowly she 
 advanced from between the trees. To the 
 youth it seemed as though he saw her for the 
 first time ; and, in truth, he beheld her for the 
 first time beside another, for in his thought 
 Phryne's image appeared by Hellanodike's 
 side. How beautiful were both, yet what a 
 contrast ! 
 
 All silent was the meeting ; for Myrtolaos 
 knew full well by the tear- veiled eyes that 
 she was too overcome with emotion to find 
 
 il*i-ai*.-.-%.V= 
 
56 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. \ 
 
 Utterance ; moreover, silence and caution were 
 enjoined. Mnemarch snatched the reins, and 
 with flurried haste, as though it depended on 
 him to convey away a stolen treasure in safety, 
 he goaded the steeds on to the swiftest of 
 their pace. 
 
 The drive was rapid and in silence. What 
 words could she utter, as the rolling wheels 
 said loud enough that one mile after the 
 other was being placed between her and him 
 who would at eve be awaiting her in anguish, 
 — Myronides, her father. 
 
 At last Athens was reached, and the noisy 
 throngs of people in the streets, the splendour 
 of the public buildings, the glory of magnifi- 
 cence such as they had never before beheld, 
 which now on all sides presented itself to 
 their wondering eyes, exercised an influence 
 overpowering on the daughter of quiet 
 Tanagra. She drew near to Myrtolaos. 
 
 " I am all in trepidation," she softly said ; 
 " methought Athens was a different town to 
 ours ; but it is quite another world." 
 
 The house into which Mnemarchos led his 
 
 .ixfc.iJll- 
 

 , J V » i « '^- 
 
, THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 57 
 
 guest was spacious, and showed the wealth of 
 the possessor. As soon as they entered, an 
 old crone came forth from the inner court to 
 meet them, who coaxingly seized Hellano- 
 dike's hands, pressed her to her heart, and 
 eagerly inquired after the well-being of the 
 "sweet dove," as, with assumed tenderness, 
 she styled Hellanodike. 
 
 " Now, mother," said Mnemarch aloud, 
 " is all in readiness even as I enjoined ? hast 
 thou decked the women's apartments in fit 
 manner for our gracious visitor ? " 
 
 At the word " mother " her wrinkled 
 features assumed a fiendish grin, which at 
 once vanished at a threatening glance from 
 Mnemarchos. 
 
 " All is cared for," said she, " so as to 
 content the * sweet dove ; ' everything will 
 gratify her, Mnemarchos, and she will say 
 that old Timoessa well knows what sweet 
 yeiung hearts desire." 
 
 She chuckled, and Hellanodike involuntarily 
 withdrew her hands from the bony fingers 
 that grasped them like the claws of an owl. 
 
 . ^^^^:i^^iiiki.^ia^^^i'A~iii^.".ssii^^iB.:^sai''\s,s^/sA-s^:-^ 
 
' '^^iT-^^'^jS'rs;--^ 
 
 58 THE MASTER OF TANAGKA. 
 
 If Mncmarchos had been unsympathetic to 
 her, his mother seemed even more irksome. 
 
 " The night draws on," said Mnemarchos, 
 "" and Hellanodike will need rest ; we will 
 consign her to my mother's care, and ask her 
 to-morrow how she spent her first night in 
 Athens." With these words he sought to 
 induce Myrtolaos to depart with him ; but 
 Hellanodike held the latter fast by the hand. 
 
 " Abide with me still," she said, and her 
 look, brimful of solicitude, was fixed on 
 him. 
 
 " He shall stay as long as thou wishest," 
 replied Mnemarchos ; " only be mindful that 
 my mother is a strict guardian.'' He made 
 a sign to the old woman, and they left the 
 room together. 
 
 " Take good care," he said to her, when 
 outside, " he does not remain too long, and 
 meantime watch them closely ; thou art to 
 repeat to me every word they say." 
 
 She rubbed her hands. 
 
 " Why, thou talkest as though I were 
 a silly thing without experience, and knew 
 
THH MASTEJi OF TANAGRA. 59 
 
 nothing of the nooks and crannies of the 
 house, which afford scope for two attentive 
 
 ears." 
 
 " And then again," he said harshly, " keep 
 thy features better under restraint ! Thou 
 didst laugh erewhile when I called thee 
 * mother.' " 
 
 " One is not used to the honour of it yet," 
 she returned, with a hideous chuckle. 
 
 As soon as Hellanodike found herself 
 alone with her beloved, her long upheld 
 strength forsook her, and she burst into a 
 flood of tears. 
 
 ** Things are not as they should be in this 
 house," she sobbed, " and it will bring no 
 blessing to us if I abide here ! In the faces 
 of these people, in the very air I breathe here, 
 there is something which fills me with dread, 
 and which I am unable to fend off." She 
 had joined her arms about his neck, and 
 gazed at him like to a gazelle tracked by a 
 panther. 
 
 " This fear comes from the novelty of the 
 surroundings," Myrtolaos replied, soothingly. 
 
 Ji^^k:^^.Li^. 
 
■-\;*' ■"«;'.i^vi^.'"f7ljr^.«v2'.'Vi,7rv"' 
 
 60 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 *' Are not these people friendly and kindly 
 disposed towards thee ? Thou wilt soon find 
 thyself at home here, Hellanodike, as I have 
 done already." 
 
 She looked at him inquiringly. 
 
 " Hast thou found thyself at home here, 
 Myrtolaos ? " 
 
 " Yea," he exclaimed, and before his mind's 
 eye Phryne's laughing lips appeared ; " and 
 that thou mayst see thou art awaited here 
 with friendly feeling, receive this," and he 
 proffered Phryne's golden armlet. 
 
 *' Who sends me this ?" she said, in aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 " Phryne, friend of Praxiteles." 
 
 She tried the ornament round her arm. 
 
 " It is too wide," she said, smiling sadly, 
 " and does not suit me." 
 
 It was as she said ; the difference between 
 the delicate proportions of the young maiden 
 and the full-grown development of the 
 woman was too marked. 
 
 " Then keep it as a gift," said Myrtolaos, 
 " for as such was it given me." 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 6 1 
 
 She retained the golden ornament thought- 
 fully in her hands. 
 
 " Friend of Praxiteles ? " she asked ; " how 
 do you understand that, Myrtolaos ? " 
 
 He did not know what to answer, and re- 
 mained silent. 
 
 " Are they man and wife ? " 
 
 "Nay," he answered, abruptly. 
 
 "But they will become so?" 
 
 "I know not," said he, "but believe not." 
 
 She regarded him silently, all bewildered. 
 
 " The lady-friends of the artists," said he, 
 blushing, " are united by spiritual bonds ; 
 they co-operate in their works, inspire their 
 thoughts, and quicken their eyes that crave 
 after beauty." 
 
 She smiled. 
 
 " Then the women of whom thou speakest 
 must be beautiful '^. " 
 
 He encircled her slender form, drew her 
 towards him, and kissed her. 
 
 "And art thou not beautiful, Hellano- 
 dike.''" exclaimed he. Her cheek lay against 
 his, and her lips were close to his ear. 
 
 IL «MV^idjJi£r4>:'-^ej^^iSi£, : «;^.m' l.,J^-ji^i:£xs^^S^^Jii^£^S!s^^'^..c _■ . ' 'n^.. ■ . .--'-.uC-^.^i^&U^S^-uJi^^c'lfj^.dU '^- itSif-:ii<ii^i&~. 
 
-■>.- -T JreT*' ".. ■ "■'^- 
 
 62 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 " Myrtolaos," she whispered, and it seemed 
 as if she were afraid of him, as if in the kiss 
 he had given there were a strange fervour, 
 " I should not like to be thy friend." 
 
 He stepped back. 
 
 " Then thou wouldst not have mc an 
 artist, renowned throughout Greece ? " 
 
 She regarded him with silent reproof, and 
 the whole fervour of his love came over him. 
 
 "Not my friend shalt thou be," he mur- 
 mured ; " my beloved thou art, and my wife 
 shalt thou become." 
 
 The former sweet, childlike smile came 
 anew to her countenance, and she allowed 
 him once more to press her to his heart, and 
 kiss her before he took leave. Then he left 
 her. At that moment Timoessa appeared, 
 to lead her to the women's quarters prepared 
 for her. 
 
 These ranged round a square courtyard, 
 which was converted into a garden, in whose 
 midst, springing forth from an artificial rock, 
 one heard the rhythmic and melodious plash 
 of a fountain. An open passage, supported 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 6$ 
 
 by gaily-coloured pillars, ran around, and 
 formed the forecourt to the apartments, which 
 could be shut off by light rush matting from 
 the court, which gave them light and air. In 
 the warm season, however, now prevailing, 
 they stood open, and from one of the cham- 
 bers there gleamed a soft, subdued light, 
 coming from the sconce hanging from the 
 ceiling. On the threshold there stood a 
 slender young girl, who with large, peering 
 eyes awaited her coming. 
 
 " Up, Chlenusa," the old woman cried ; 
 " here is thy new mistress ; have good care 
 of her, for it will be thy duty to make her 
 feel at home here. Hast thou prepared the 
 couch ^ " 
 
 The girl pointed silently towards 
 the chamber. By the light of the lamp, 
 one perceived that it was furnished with 
 every luxury which could then be pro- 
 cured ; in the middle stood the couch, 
 decked with white linen and light cover- 
 ings. 
 
 Timoessa went out, and Hellanodike 
 
 '-~lilMTif<1li°'^^»<-^^ 
 
64 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 seated herself upon the couch, dreamily 
 looking out into the dark garden, and 
 breathing in the sweet air which came wafted 
 therefrom. 
 
 Chlenusa, with her flashing black eyes, 
 was leaning against the door, gazing at 
 her. 
 
 " Shall I sing to thee ? " asked she, with- 
 out altering her position. ^' Many beauti- 
 ful songs I know." Hellanodike turned her 
 glances upon her. " Or shall I read thy 
 hand } " she exclaimed, and with sudden 
 gesture she knelt down at the feet of 
 Hellanodike. The latter caressingly stroked 
 her soft black hair. 
 
 " Dost thou understand such art ? " asked 
 she. 
 
 " I understand it well ; I can divine thy 
 good fortune in thy hand, and would fain 
 announce it." 
 
 Hellanodike smiled doubtingly. 
 
 " Good fortune } Dost thou believe in 
 it ? Wouldst thou wish it .? " 
 
 " Verily I do, because thou art so fair," 
 
 
.,Slfc;i-*i.vaBffiS"M^*:V i-Vj.'i!.^K.>arcJi!-iiii"i'; .. 
 
-j>«i. ;- ■.:.(, •. 
 
 ..MLix 
 
-■ THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 65 
 
 answered the girl, whose eyes glittered like 
 diamonds. "The beautiful are happy in 
 Athens. One strews flowers in their path, 
 and riches and glory are theirs ; to them one 
 grants what one forbids to others ; the laws 
 yield to them, and even the judges them- 
 selves." 
 
 Hellanodike listened bewildered. 
 
 " Art thou an Athenian .? " 
 
 " I know not," replied the girl, and shook 
 her clustering curls, so that they fell in dark 
 shadows over her bronzed features ; "she 
 saith so, for she is from Athens, and calls 
 herself my mother ; but I place no belief 
 in her." 
 
 " In whom } Of whom dost thou 
 speak } " inquired Hellanodike. 
 
 " Be silent ! " exclaimed Chlenusa, in sudden 
 terror, and pressed Hellanodike's knees 
 against her beating heart. " How beautiful 
 thou art," she exclaimed, " and how I love 
 thee ! O that I were so beautiful, only half 
 as charming, half as beautiful as thou ! " 
 
 " Thou strange one," replied Hellanodike, 
 
 5 
 
66 THE MASTER 01' 7ANAGRA. 
 
 who at this passionate strange homage 
 blushed shyly. 
 
 " There are many beautiful women in 
 Athens,'' she continued ; " but they all look 
 down upon one, and therefore I hate them 
 all, — I hate them ! " She sprang up, and her 
 countenance as well as her words was 
 replete with passion and hatred. *' But thy 
 eyes are so beautiful and so mild," and she 
 knelt down again, " thou wilt not despise 
 the brown Chlenusa, beautiful mistress .? 
 Thou wilt not chide, if Chlenusa says she 
 loves thee ,? " 
 
 " I love all who love me," added Hellano- 
 dike, " and I will believe that thou lovest 
 me ; we shall be friends." 
 
 The girl sprang up, snatched up a 
 tambourine standing in the corner of the 
 chamber, and whilst she commenced a glad- 
 some chant which exalted the god of love, 
 Eros, to the accompanying sound of the 
 jingling bells before the astonished eyes of 
 Hellanodike, she began a wild dance, in 
 which the lithesome figure developed a 
 
 f 
 
THE MASTER OE TAN AGRA, 6^ 
 
 wonderful play of limb. A demoniac pas- 
 sion burst from her, and she shook her 
 curling locks like a bacchante. Then she 
 hurled the instrument into the far corner, 
 and returned to her former post. 
 
 " Oh, how I will serve thee ! " said she, 
 still panting from the wild dance, " how I 
 will show thee all I know, all I can do. 
 Come, come, let me read and tell thee what 
 is written in thy hand ! " She seized anew 
 Hellanodike's hand, and the latter was un- 
 able to draw back from the strange being. 
 
 Chlenusa laid open the small white hand 
 which lay in her own fevered grasp, and bent 
 down low to peer at the lines in the palm. 
 She muttered to herself some disconnected, 
 hurried words, then looked upwards at Hella- 
 nodike. 
 
 " How wilt thou be famed above all 
 women of thy native town," said she in 
 almost reverent tone ; " but thou art not 
 from Athens .? " 
 
 " That hast thou read in my hand ? " 
 asked Hellanodike. 
 
;,r • -T-i :%TT-^V^»ri^'^pr-:'^jm^^ ■ . 
 
 68 7Il£ MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 The girl drooped her head. 
 
 " I do ! " she continued slowly, " and how 
 he loves thee ! " 
 
 " Who ? " cried Hcllanodike, suddenly, 
 " who is he of whom thou speakest ? Who 
 loves me ? " 
 
 •' Not one alone loves thee, there are 
 many ; but two stand foremost, they contend 
 with each other for thee. Let me see " — and 
 she bent down lower, and it was to Hcllano- 
 dike as if the hand that held her own trem- 
 bled — " let me see who will gain the vic- 
 tory. 
 
 Hellanodike snatched her hand away. 
 
 "Wilt, thou read from my hand," she 
 cried, " what stands written in my heart } 
 Wilt thou prophesy what I have myself 
 decided ? " 
 
 The girl crouched on the ground, covering 
 her face with her hand. 
 
 " Art thou angry with Chlenusa ? " asked 
 she, after a pause ; and as her hands fell, her 
 impassioned eyes had taken an expression of 
 entreaty, and were bedewed with tears. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 69 
 
 Hellanodike felt as though she were under 
 the spell of this mysterious being. 
 
 " Canst thou name the two ? " she asked 
 hesitatingly. Again Chlenusa grasped her 
 hand. 
 
 " I cannot find their names," she said, " but 
 one is an artist — oh ! what is that } " she 
 interrupted herself abruptly. " Dost thou 
 know Praxiteles .^ " 
 
 Hellanodike smiled despite the tremor that 
 ran through her during this mysterious pro- 
 ceeding. 
 
 " Praxiteles, dost thou mean him } " 
 
 " No ! " murmured she ; " but it is so 
 great an artist, that I fancied it must be the 
 divine Praxiteles." 
 
 *' O Myrtolaos," sighed Hellanodike in 
 blissful self-forgetfulness, " and he loves me?" 
 she murmured, as her sweet face turned 
 towards the soothsayer at her feet. 
 
 Chlenusa did not look up. 
 
 "Yea! but one there is that loves thee 
 still more." 
 
 "Does he dwell in my native town ,? " said 
 
->|?¥<^lir;. 
 
 70 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 Hellanodike, in a low voice, bethinking her 
 of Phayllas. 
 
 " No ; for Athens is not thy native town, 
 and he lives in Athens." 
 
 The other grew more attentive. 
 
 « In Athens .? " 
 
 " Yes, yes ! I cannot further describe him ; 
 but one thing I do perceive, thou art afraid of 
 him, albeit he wishes thee well. He loves 
 thee dearly, more earnestly, he is more faith- 
 ful to thee than the other, for between hini 
 and thyself there stands a woman whose 
 beauty has ensnared him." 
 
 Hellanodike's eyes began to flash — 
 
 " Another whom he loves more than me .'' " 
 
 *'Yea!" said the girl, and her speech 
 became more hasteful, " for she is a witch ; 
 whoso has beheld her must fain be enticed 
 by her beauty. Hast thou never heard of 
 Phryne } " 
 
 " Phryne, the friend of Praxiteles ^ " almost 
 screamed Hellanodike, bethinking her of the 
 armlet Myrtolaos had brought her. 
 
 " It is so, it is so ! " whispered Chlenusa, 
 
: THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. /I 
 
 " But the other one only thinks of thee, longs 
 for, cares for no other ; and if thou art respon- 
 sive to his suit, thou wilt be famous, glorious, 
 and happy." 
 
 " Avaunt ! thou bribed deceiver, in whom 
 I foolishly reposed trust," cried Hellanodike, 
 flushing out angrily. She tore her hand away 
 from Chlenusa, and lifted her foot as if she 
 would have spurned the girl away ; then she 
 sank down on the couch and broke into tears. 
 Suddenly she felt her feet clung to ; Chlenusa's 
 burning lips covered them with passionate 
 kisses, and she felt the girl's tear-drops raining 
 down upon them. 
 
 " Weep not, sweet lady ! " she stammered 
 forth. " If Chlenusa has wounded thee, she 
 will suffer for it; in thv hands is written 
 happiness, and thou shalt live in peace and 
 bUssfulness." 
 
 She lay upon the ground quivering like 
 to a beautiful wild creature. Hellanodike 
 made sign to her silently to withdraw. 
 Obediently she rose, and vanished into the 
 gloom of the garden. 
 
72 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 Sunk in sorrowful thoughts;, Hellanodike 
 remained alone. 
 
 What a dim foreboding had told her from 
 the first was now made clear by the words of 
 the girl ; for though she had not named any 
 name, Hellanodike felt it was Mnemarch who 
 was pursuing her with his love. She thought 
 of quitting the house next day and to return 
 to her father, but there Phayllas' repulsive face 
 encountered her and inspired her with new 
 horror ; and if she did go away, and if that 
 could be possible which the girl hinted at, if 
 she left him alone with Phryne, — she did not 
 dare to follow up her thoughts, for she felt 
 something akin to frenzy at the very idea. 
 As she thus lay sunk back on the couch, 
 with hands covering her face, there arose . 
 from out the garden a low, plaintive, yet 
 inexpressibly sweet strain. It could be no 
 one but Chlenusa, and the song she had 
 chosen suited wonderfully with Hellanodike's 
 sad condition ; it was an old chant of 
 Symonides, and its purport, the plaint of 
 Danae, driven forth by her father. A pro- 
 

THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. j% 
 
 found feeling of dreamy happiness came over 
 Hellanodike whilst she listened to the old 
 strain, with closed eyes. Then the song 
 ceased, and she heard how Chlenusa came 
 gliding cautiously into the room. She kept 
 her eyes closed, and pretended, she hardly 
 knew why, to be sleeping. 
 
 Now she felt' how the girl with utmost 
 tenderness loosened the sandals from her feet, 
 carefully and softly spread a cover over her ; 
 and she then came nearer, her lips impressed 
 a soft kiss on her forehead, and she heard her 
 whispering, " Sleep, thou guileless one, the 
 sinner will watch over thee." With this 
 strange utterance Chlenusa glided out of the 
 room, and vanished like a shadow in the 
 darkling gloom of the garden. 
 
 Hardly had she closed the door behind 
 her which led from the women's apartments 
 to the forepart of the abode, when she was 
 met by Timoessa bearing a burning lamp. 
 
 " Well now, thou wily serpent," said she, 
 " hast thou slid thy poison into her heart .'' 
 Ye have tarried long together," 
 
 ■*L^-- i..tr,-j'^'j=&t. 
 
•.V.-, ■v>r ■ 
 
 ^-'y^.'*^-j.-f;'yS3^ ' 
 
 74 THE MASTS J? OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 In the glowering eyes of the girl there 
 gleamed a mysterious fire, but then she 
 seemed to bethink herself of something new. 
 
 " All has been achieved even as thoU 
 didst require," she said abruptly. 
 
 " Hast thou found her sensitive ? Did 
 the creature wince ? " 
 
 " Listen ! " cried Chlenusa, with a hoarse 
 voice, " if thou wouldst catch fish, I would 
 advise thee to choose a better bait." 
 
 *' What dost mean ? " asked the hag spite- 
 fully. 
 
 " Well, whom else but Mnemarch ? Dost 
 thou think her simple enough to love such a 
 man r 
 
 " Bridle thy impudent tongue," rejoined 
 Timoessa; " forget not that I am his mother 
 now." 
 
 The girl burst into a scoffing laugh. 
 
 " Thou art well versed in the art of being 
 mother to those who are not thy children ; is 
 it not so? " 
 
 " What meanest thou?" asked the old hag> 
 threateningly advancing towards Chlenusa 
 
 iii?fth^.'i - .^^ 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. y^ 
 
 with Uplifted hand, as if she would smite her. 
 The girl confronted her like a panther ; her 
 eyes started in her deathly-pale face, and 
 her hands writhed as if they were claws. So 
 stood the two, for a few brief seconds, speech- 
 less, then the hag slunk away, muttering. 
 
 *' Had I not to think of matters more 
 important," she said, "thou shouldst not 
 escape unpunished for the daring insolence 
 thou flashest at me." 
 
 With chilling scorn smiled Chlenusa, as 
 though accustomed to such scenes, rife with 
 threats. 
 
 "Beware, lest thou spoil our game!" said 
 Timoessa, while doubling her bony fist. "Thou 
 knowest our aim and how much we gain if 
 success results as Mnemarch wishes." 
 
 " As if this were the first occasion when 
 I have set the snare in which thou hast 
 trapped thy game," replied Chlenusa, with the 
 air of superiority of an ally aware that her 
 help cannot be dispensed with. 
 
 " That is well and good. I know thou art 
 a sly serpent," muttered the other, " but one 
 
 ' -a^iAgiiM&a^^^ei&i^^til 
 
*v'*P'^***>t^^^ * "f^ 
 
 i 
 y6 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 does not trust serpents ; hast thou read in her 
 hands and prophesied as I ordered thee ? " 
 
 " I have told thee so ! " replied the girl, 
 shaking her black curls peevishly. 
 
 " She is a Boeotian," continued Timoessa, 
 thinking over her plan of battle, " pretty 
 enough certainly; and if she were an Athenian 
 she ought soon to be foremost of all the 
 hetairae ; but she has not wit enough for 
 that ; she is too staid, has no ambition. 
 Therefore the only thing left is to frighten 
 her; she must be made to obey from fear, 
 till she will not dare to wish anything else 
 but that which Mnemarch wishes. Remem- 
 ber that," she said again, turning toChlenusa; 
 " and now to bed, and go not spying about 
 the house." 
 
 As soon as she had gone, Chlenusa rushed 
 after her as far as the door, and, shaking 
 her fists, she spit out on the spot where 
 Timoessa had just been standing ; an expres- 
 sion of immeasurable hatred convulsing her 
 face. 
 
 **Thou thief!" she hissed, with trembling 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. ff 
 
 lips, "thou toad! wilt thou anew sully a 
 human heart with the poison of thy darksome 
 soul till thou canst squeeze it with thy 
 thievish fingers like a sponge, from out of 
 which the gold pieces drop into thy purse ? _ 
 O curses upon thee, thou spoiler of my soul, 
 who calls herself my mother, which thou art 
 not! No," she sobbed, while sinking to the 
 ground; "no, do not allow it to be thus, ye 
 gods; avert from being true what she says, 
 that she, this woman, is my mother!" 
 
 She lay on the floor like one broken, and 
 her eyes turned involuntarily towards the 
 room where the beautiful girl from Tanagra, 
 so encompassed with danger, was reposing. 
 The wild face grew softer, and tears were 
 coursing adown her cheeks. Hitherto she 
 had been employed in the meanest services in 
 Timoessa's vile traffic, and, like a wild lynx, 
 had been tracking, pitilessly, all that reflected 
 beauty and brightness ; the hatred she 
 harvested therefrom she repaid by hatred, 
 and her soul had become filled with the 
 poison of envy against all above her. To- 
 
,-*s<r5S7r* 
 
 76 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 does not trust serpents ; hast thou read in her 
 hands and prophesied as I ordered thee ? " 
 
 " I have told thee so ! " repHed the girl, 
 shaking her black curls peevishly. 
 
 '* She is a Boeotian," continued Timoessa, 
 thinking over her plan of battle, " pretty- 
 enough certainly; and if she were an Athenian 
 she ought soon to be foremost of all the 
 hetairae ; but she has not wit enough for 
 that ; she is too staid, has no ambition. 
 Therefore the only thing left is to frighten 
 her; she must be made to obey from fear, 
 till she will not dare to wish anything else 
 but that which Mnemarch wishes. Remem- 
 ber that," she said again, turning toChlenusa; 
 " and now to bed, and go not spying about 
 the house." 
 
 As soon as she had gone, Chlenusa rushed 
 after her as far as the door, and, shaking 
 her fists, she spit out on the spot where 
 Timoessa had just been standing ; an expres- 
 sion of immeasurable hatred convulsing her 
 face. 
 
 "Thou thief!" she hissed, with trembling 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. jy 
 
 lips, '^thou toad! wilt thou anew sully a 
 human heart with the poison of thy darksome 
 soul till thou canst squeeze it with thy 
 thievish fingers like a sponge, from out of 
 which the gold pieces drop into thy purse ? 
 O curses upon thee, thou spoiler of my soul, 
 who calls herself my mother, which thou art 
 not! No," she sobbed, while sinking to the 
 ground; "no, do not allow it to be thus, ye 
 gods; avert from being true what she says, 
 that she, this woman, is my mother!" 
 
 She lay on the floor like one broken, and 
 her eyes turned involuntarily towards the 
 room where the beautiful girl from Tanagra, 
 so encompassed with danger, was reposing. 
 The wild face grew softer, and tears were 
 coursing adown her cheeks. Hitherto she 
 had been employed in the meanest services in 
 Timoessa's vile traffic, and, like a wild lynx, 
 had been tracking, pitilessly, all that reflected 
 beauty and brightness ; the hatred she 
 harvested therefrom she repaid by hatred, 
 and her soul had become filled with the 
 poison of envy against all above her. To- 
 
JF^^'^i:,yZ^ <^^ =" 
 
 78 TJ/£ MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 day, at sight of the beautiful and trusting 
 being whom she was expected to help to drag 
 down from her pure world into the mire now 
 surrounding her, a feeling came over her she 
 could not understand, but which she could 
 not put aside, because it filled her with a dim 
 and unknown happiness. She shook her 
 head as if wondering at herself, as if at a loss 
 for an explanation, for as yet she knew not 
 that love cannot be defined. 
 
 " Hallo, Polymachron ! " thus exclaimed a 
 dark curly-haired youth to one of his com- 
 panions in the studio of Praxiteles, where 
 numerous pupils of the sculptor were 
 assembled at work, "why dost thou sit 
 there with thy hands folded? Is the satyr 
 there to be finished by glowering at it ? 
 There, follow the example of the Boeotian 
 bee ; look at him, the Tanagrian, how he 
 fusses about at his Aphrodite, all diligent, 
 without looking to right or left, without even 
 thinking of a Kephisias, — she who never leaves 
 thy thoughts, thou worthless favourite of Eros, 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 79 
 
 whilst he has only thoughts for his glory to 
 come, in which he will soon outshine all of us 
 poor Athenians." 
 
 These words, intended for Myrtolaos, and 
 which were taken up with noisy laughter 
 by the rest of the pupils, made known the 
 position in which he was regarded by his 
 companions since he had been under guid- 
 ance of Praxiteles. 
 
 " He is a clever being," replied Polymachron. 
 " He wishes to be renowned, all of a sudden, 
 and in some surprising fashion ; for that 
 reason he now keeps his talents so far in the 
 dark that one could almost believe they were 
 not there at all." 
 
 Loud laughter again greeted the joke which 
 was shot at Myrtolaos. 
 
 In silence and unheeded he let the storms 
 of bitter mockery and sarcasm drift by. 
 They would have harassed him but little, for 
 well he knew they mainly sprang from the 
 jealousy of his comrades, because of the 
 privileged position he held with Praxiteles; 
 but what lent a bitter sting to those words 
 
 :'iiiKS^^JJ»PCii(«.jiij:._'^s.--V,-.-~, .j^-'r^-..: "^ ' ^- - _*J- **^ Jf i^-v^- ""s.-'.-^li . ■. ^.: .- •■ ' ■■r'l, Li^a-atii^iSiX'iiLViii-. J._i 
 
80 TT^i? MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 was that his own estimate of himself sided 
 with the mockery and took part against 
 himself. 
 
 With ardent zeal he had set to work, and 
 this diligence it was that had earned for him 
 the nickname of " the Boeotian bee ; " the first 
 impulse that had inspired him seemed to 
 promise for the best, for to his own astonish- 
 ment, and to the just wonder of the master, he 
 developed such an inborn talent for external 
 treatment, that he had overcome with greatest 
 ease the first elements, and had tasks assigned 
 him greater still ; but now he had come 
 to a perilous pass. His fancy did not keep 
 pace with his technical ability; he could but 
 imitate the bare outlines of Praxiteles' models, 
 their spirit he could not grasp. Again and 
 again that scene flashed before his imagina- 
 tion when first he stood before the creations 
 of Praxiteles, and what had then been a 
 dull, indescribable feeling of trepidation, now 
 stood before him with more awe-inspiring 
 clearness — the consciousness, that his genius 
 had no points of contact with his master's, 
 
 .■,L,..^ . 
 
'W^fi^' 
 
 ■ • t 
 
 • • n''i'f(it'aSi''i'f ^ -ti j,^ .--X^.^M.,... - '■■■ -■ ■■:^^X^^^i ' 
 
:: V THE MASTER OF TANAGRA, 8l 
 
 that the ways of the latter were not his ways, 
 and hence that the chasm separating them 
 yawned ever wider apart. Thus a deep awe 
 seized his soul; the feeling of an existence, 
 that had failed in aim and purpose, began to 
 spread its shadows through his life, and 'neath 
 the lowering cloud that this consciousness 
 brought into his mind, the power of invention 
 put forth no further blossom. 
 
 Naught of this escaped the master's eyes; 
 but he held back, for there are times when 
 man should take counsel with himself. For 
 Myrtolaos, however, those were moments of 
 the most bewildering self-abasement, when 
 he observed Praxiteles, as the latter, with 
 saddened surprise, noticed the work of him 
 from whom he had been expecting so much, 
 yet received so little. 
 
 Then it befel that the youth rushed 
 headlong into despair, cursing his hands, 
 through whose lack of "cunning" he had 
 been brought on the way to frenzy ; and 
 then he cried aloud in his sore need to 
 the gods in whom he erewhile believed 
 
 6 
 
 /«.J«'iV ,i^'^t.-.^-IailjiiS'iia3i.Bg:,'...i,i-— ^.A-.. -:aj .. t. .■^•^:rX.':-«i£:&&^^sa^,~,iiiL 
 
'■■;■,- '■^> -^■^■•^-.':rT-i^\^'i^"r>J^V-'^S^'W^- 
 
 82 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 and he craved from them some sign as to 
 whether he should remain leal to his calling 
 as an artist, or should with rapid resolve 
 cast himself loose from it. And amid 
 these torturing conflicts uprose anew, power- 
 ful as on the first day, the irrepressible 
 impulse towards creating and fashioning, 
 and while he endeavoured to renounce 
 himself, new shapes and figures were origi- 
 nated under his hands. But so narrow in 
 conception, so stinted in embodiment did 
 they appear to him when he thought in 
 comparison of the powerful and graceful 
 forms which grew under Praxiteles' hands, 
 that he wrathfully shattered and trampled on 
 his own handiworks, that he might no more 
 have them before his eyes. All the voices 
 that in earlier days had spoken to his soul 
 quickened with enthusiasm, he scoffed at 
 now with bitter scorn, for it was they that 
 implanted in his nature qualities that rendered 
 him unfitted for the lofty untrammelled 
 art of Praxiteles ; they had transmuted him 
 into an enthusiast, a dreamer secluded from 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 83 
 
 the world, had dulled his vision, so that 
 from out the sensual, moving world sur- 
 rounding him he was unable to draw mental 
 nurture ; and hence did he now resolve to 
 break off from the memories of earlier days, 
 to abdicate his inmost nature, and to strive 
 after that which heretofore from sheer coy- 
 ness he had shrunk from. 
 
 The ways and behaviour of his fellow- 
 students, who revelled in the unstemmed 
 flood of Athenian life, went against his grain ; 
 but from henceforth he resolved to become 
 one of them, to plunge into the stream, lead 
 whither it might; and though no Kephisias 
 was his, yet had he not Hellanodike ? 
 
 As this thought, coming groping as it were, 
 and trembling like a very criminal, from the 
 gloomy depths of his being, first grew upon 
 him, Myrtolaos was like to one who is ex- 
 periencing for the first time the working of 
 an earthquake. The feeling that the ground 
 whereon, as on a foundation invincible, the 
 structure of one's moral consciousness is built 
 up, may itself give way, uproots a man, and 
 
84 TJIE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 with his living senses in all their keenness 
 hurries him within the foreshado wings of 
 death. Confused shapes went flitting through 
 his brain. 
 
 Suddenly he beheld palpably before him a 
 statue of spotless white ; it was Hellanodike. 
 Then came two hands which clasped the fair 
 form, and where they fastened their touch 
 straightway appeared darksome repulsive 
 stains, and he saw how the marble features 
 shrank away in horror. Next it seemed to 
 him as though two white entreating arms were 
 stretched out to him for aid ; he shook him- 
 self free from them, and, while the limbs were 
 sinking down, he heard clearly a wailing 
 voice, calling on his name. Myronides' mild 
 countenance also passed before his eyes, and 
 gazed at him with an expression such as he 
 had never known ; his grizzled beard was 
 matted and begrimed. 
 
 But the thought had started into being, it 
 loitered and took growth, and an incident 
 befel, which was suddenly, and in a way un- 
 looked for, to hasten it to ripeness. 
 
 fet..a-^,. :-.,:i-ft,Ai.i.-.-; 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 8$ 
 
 Soon after the occurrence described above 
 there appeared in the studio of Praxiteles a 
 man asking for Myrtolaos from Tanagra : 
 it was Phayllas. At the hasty entrance of 
 the stranger, by the harsh tone of his voice 
 and the pallor of his face, the pupils of 
 Praxiteles perceived something unwonted was 
 afoot. He had not long to seek for Myrto- 
 laos, he found him at his work. 
 
 " Myrtolaos," said he, advancing to him 
 without greeting, " thou knowest wherefore 
 I am come." 
 
 The youth looked up, a gloomy sullenness 
 settled on his face ; he was mute. 
 
 " Thou wouldst not hold speech with me," 
 the other went on, " but thou must ; in the 
 name of Myronides, thou must reveal to me 
 where she is whom thou hast in hiding." 
 
 A general " Oh ho ! " was raised at these 
 words among the art-students ; they put their 
 heads together, laughed, and made merry at 
 having surprised the secret of this Boeotian 
 busy-bee. 
 
 " I know that she has fled away after 
 
'-"'--.■,■"'■■ ■ ■ " • 
 
 86 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 thee," cried Phayllas, now quickened to 
 wrath by the other's silence; " and I tell thee, 
 I go not forth without her. Despoiler and 
 betrayer, where hast thou Hellanodikc ? 
 Restore her to me ! " 
 
 He had grasped Myrtolaos by the 
 shoulder and shook him. With a sudden 
 movement the latter drew himself up, flung 
 aside from his shoulder the grasp of his 
 opponent, and, while fastening his flaming 
 eyes on the death-pale face, exclaimed, — 
 
 " Never shalt thou have back Hellanodike, 
 never ! " 
 
 In his lithe beauty he stood there, in prime 
 of youth and vigour, like to a wrathful Apollo. 
 
 Fickle as people often are, and especially 
 as was the case with Athenians of that day, 
 the feeling of his fellows in art veered 
 suddenly round in favour of the handsome 
 Tanagrian. 
 
 " Look at him ! " called out tawny Lysias. 
 " By the gods, look at the Tanagrian, — what 
 a glorious build he has ! Only stay standing 
 so, glory of my eyes, and I fashion after thee 
 
'■ THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 8/ 
 
 a Dioskuros that shall make thee and me 
 immortal." 
 
 "Bravo, Myrtolaos ! " exclaimed Polyma- 
 chron. " Let not thy maiden be snatched from 
 thee, we stick by thee for Hellanodike ! " 
 
 A wild boisterous uproar came resound- 
 ing as answering cry from the others. 
 
 " Ye Athenian youths ! " returned Phayllas, 
 pallid and trembling from excitement, to 
 the pupil, ' not so would ye speak 
 did ye but know how he hath demeaned 
 himself ; when I tell you that from his 
 foster-father, at whose board for long 
 years he ate and in whose home he dwelt, 
 he hath stolen away his only darling child." 
 
 " Who tells thee I have done this ? 
 who confers on thee the right to slander 
 me ^. " cried Myrtolaos, with thundering 
 voice. " Stolen her have I not ; of her 
 own free choice she followed me, to fly 
 from thee whom she hates." 
 
 " She shows taste, and I must give her 
 praise," interrupted Lysias, " if she prefers 
 him to. thee, thou jealous lover ! " 
 

 ~M^ ^Mp ^ re "3-^^ 
 
 88 "" Tff£ MASTER OF TANAGRA. | 
 
 "Think you I will submit to it," said 
 Phayllas, who, instead of one, suddenly saw 
 so many enemies confronting him, " that he 
 shall lower to be his mere plaything the 
 maiden whom I thought to make my wife ? " 
 
 " Who dares say this to thee ? " cried 
 Myrtolaos, doubling his fist in his face. 
 
 " I am fully aware of it,'' rejoined 
 Phayllas ; " for I know thee, and have the 
 conviction that thou art a betrayer and de- 
 spoiler of hearts." The long pent-up hatred 
 broke forth, cutting like a dagger that 
 has at last reached its yearned-for aim. 
 
 " Hear me ! " turning yet again to the 
 scholars of Praxiteles. " You are listening 
 to the voice of justice, lead me to Praxi- 
 teles ; he is a right-thinking man, he will 
 tell me where I shall find the misguided 
 maiden." 
 
 " Praxiteles } " shouted scoffingly tawny 
 Lysias. "Thinkest thou he has time 
 to fluster himself about our sweethearts .? 
 Scud off home, I advise thee, Boeotian, and 
 forget not this is Athens, and that thou 
 
Ijiuv- :.-.:.. 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 89 
 
 art a stranger in Athens. Praxiteles is in 
 the country." 
 
 " If from the stranger you would withhold 
 his right, reflect withal," said Phayllas, 
 " that this youth also and the maiden too 
 are equally strangers in Athens ; it is a 
 mere contest between strangers." 
 
 " Bad shot, Boeotian ! " taunted Polyma- 
 chron ; "he is a scholar of Praxiteles, and 
 whoso can venture to entitle himself thus, 
 has become an Athenian." 
 
 "He is an Athenian ! " shouted they in 
 chorus ; *' Myrtolaos is an Athenian ! " 
 
 " And the scholars of Praxiteles stand up 
 for one another, bear in mind ! " said one 
 sturdy-limbed companion, who from among the 
 group advanced threatening towards Phayllas. 
 
 " Aye, everything else they may take, 
 only not our sweethearts." 
 
 " Nay, by the gods, whoso dare even to lay 
 finger on Kephisias," laughed Polymachron. 
 
 " And once for all," pronounced Lysias, 
 "Hellanodike is his, and so does she re- 
 
 main." 
 
\.:^--i^*fi^^}i'''-^^}( 
 
 90 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 A noisy taunting cry stormed down the 
 words of Phayllas. Tears of impotent rage 
 flowed down his cheeks, for he saw no 
 prospect of attaining to his end. 
 
 He shook his fist towards Myrtolaos. 
 
 " Well then," he exclaimed, " if it be 
 true that yon wench is sunk so low that 
 she of her own accord followed in thy 
 traces, get thee gone to her and bear her 
 the curse of her grey -haired father, whom 
 she hath turned into the laughing-stock of 
 his town, and whom she hath cast into 
 sorrow and despair, — and all for thy sake, 
 thou utter villain !" 
 
 "List not to that croaking raven," 
 broke out tawny Lysias, — "and out from 
 here with thee, thou jealous bleating he- 
 goat ! " 
 
 " Out with him ! out with him ! " 
 The whole wild crew went straight for 
 Phayllas. " Out and away with him back 
 to Boeotia, where he may go nibble 
 thistles, the braying donkey ! " 
 
 Sturdy fists grasped him on all sides ; a 
 
 LkSkiiSsSti, 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 9 1 
 
 minute later Phayllas found himself outside 
 the studio spun round like a top on 
 himself, and strided forward along the dust 
 of the street. In the doorway stood 
 Lysias, hurling threats after him. 
 
 "If we find thee sneaking any longer 
 hereabouts, or if thou dost make any 
 endeavour behind our back to reach 
 Praxiteles, then hadst thou best look about 
 for another skull, since the one thou 
 bearest on thy shoulders thou bringst not 
 safe and sound to thy home again." 
 
 Phayllas rose up, beat the dust from his 
 garments, and, without turning, slunk 
 speechless away, like to a loathsome spider 
 bloated with venom. 
 
 Myrtolaos at one stroke had become the 
 hero of the day. He whom they had 
 taken for a sullen sulker had an adventure 
 to flaunt in the light of day such as no 
 one among his companions could boast, — 
 that worked an impression ; and while the 
 others were not able to vaunt loud enough 
 about their sweethearts, he had kept en- 
 
-i. ':f'j-mi^^-tzmifs^. 
 
 92 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 shrined his treasure in coy reserve — that 
 above all bore off the palm. 
 
 And as he to his companions seemed 
 now quite another being, so had his 
 demeanour changed towards them, since he 
 had seen them so powerfully upholding his 
 wishes. He was ah equal amongst equals, 
 and the vigorous feeling which the con- 
 sciousness of belonging to those who are 
 like-minded awakened came for the first 
 time with full power over him. An unde- 
 fined impulse seized him, and to relieve 
 his full heart he sprang on his work-stool, 
 and : — " Evoe for Hellanodike ! " he cried 
 with joyous shout into the hall. 
 
 " Evoe for Myrtolaos and Hellanodike ! " 
 came echoed the laughing reply. 
 
 " No more work to-day," said Polyma- 
 chron, flinging his chisel into the corner. 
 "At the inn outside the gates at Ilissos 
 some excellent young wine has arrived 
 from Thasos, and a covey of field-fares 
 was trapped this morning in the nets of 
 our excellent host, Phaedimos ; come, let 
 
 .>-.vC,it-ife' 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 93 
 
 US away thither, and celebrate our victory 
 by a joyous banquet." 
 
 The idea found rapturous approval ; the 
 work-a-day trim was dofFed, and soon after 
 the whole troop hied to the town-gates 
 towards the inn lying outside. 
 
 On the way Polymachron halted. 
 
 '^ Brothers," said he, " are we like 
 Scythians or Paphlagonians, to dine without 
 the added delight of our charming sweet- 
 hearts. I will call for Kephisias ; each of 
 ye do likewise, and let Myrtolaos make 
 us acquainted with Hellanodike." 
 
 This proposal was the more welcome, since 
 after what had occurred that morning all 
 were naturally eager to look upon Hellano- 
 dike's fair form. Myrtolaos seemed to ponder 
 for a while, but there was no means of 
 evading the urging of his comrades, who 
 had now, in some measure, earned a claim 
 to look upon his beloved, and besides there 
 had come a feeling of inward delight that 
 allowed no scope for reflection. 
 
 " Go you forward," he cried, " we shall find 
 
 i»Sit1.*ta.-^j -■- . 
 
- .1 i" i..;jK^i;s..«:i^j;;T* ; K'^f'?^--; , 
 
 94 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 you ; " and he proceeded towards Mnemarchos' 
 house, which was situated not far from the 
 foot of the Acropolis. 
 
 It was lucky for him Mnemarch, who 
 had of late shown him no very friendly mien 
 as often as he had visited Hellanodike, was 
 not at his home. Hellanodike had just re- 
 freshed herself with the bath, and never had 
 she appeared to him more fascinating and 
 graceful than now, as she joyously starting 
 up on his entering the garden, ran forward 
 to embrace him. 
 
 He pressed her to his heart, and kissed 
 off the last glittering diamond drops that 
 beaded like dew her brown locks, and as 
 he thought this charming being, severed 
 from father and home, was now exclusively 
 and solely his own, he felt his heart expand 
 with rapture indescribable. 
 
 " Hellanodike," he said, " my sweet darling, 
 my beloved, now at last I have won thee 
 wholly for myself. Knowest thou who was 
 with me to-day } " 
 
 She glanced at him inquiringly. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 95 
 
 "Phayllas, who required that I should 
 surrender thee to him." 
 
 " Phayllas ? " she exclaimed, all trembling ; 
 " what answer didst thou give him ? " 
 
 " Canst thou ask ? — that he never should 
 possess thee, never ! Or should I mayhap 
 have said otherwise ? " he went on, as he 
 saw her eyes brimming over with silent 
 tears. 
 
 " Nay," she replied, gently nestling closer 
 to him, " nay ; but thou knowest, my father, 
 " and her tears flowed more copiously. 
 
 " Weep not," he said tenderly ; " it was 
 to happen even as it has come to pass. Thou 
 art aware I would not rob thy father of 
 thee, but free we are from the odious 
 Phayllas ; therefore, let us rejoice." 
 
 " And he knows not where I am .f' " she 
 asked, timidly. 
 
 "He does not know, and never shall," he 
 said assuringly. " And now look yonder," and 
 he pointed over the walls of the garden 
 towards the Acropolis, where the golden- 
 pointed spear of Athene Promachos was 
 
96 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 glittering in the glorious heaven, " look how- 
 she points upward to the warm glowing 
 heavens, as if to say, behold them and enjoy ; 
 the world lies before us, offering a wide scene 
 for our love. Come, we will soar across like 
 unto two happy cooing doves. I will show 
 it thee, and thou shalt be quickened with 
 joy when thou shalt become conscious how 
 sweet life tastes, if one but spend it in 
 Athens." 
 
 Gladness of heart made him eloquent, and 
 its rapture was reflected from his face to 
 Hellanodike's. 
 
 =" O thou faithless, dearly -loved Myrto- 
 laos," she exclaimed, with fascinating smile, 
 " so thou hast already forgotten about 
 Athens ? Who knows thou wilt bring 
 matters so far with thy sweet words as to 
 drive all thoughts of my native town from 
 my heart } ' ' 
 
 With arms entwined they were wander- 
 ing round the court. Suddenly Chlenusa 
 appeared. She glanced keenly at Myrto- 
 laos, and then said curtly, — 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 97 
 
 " Timoessa is coming." 
 
 At the same instant the old hag entered, 
 and approached the two with cringing 
 civihty. 
 
 " Visitor come, as I see ? The handsome 
 pupil of Praxiteles here again. That is 
 right ; our dove lives a lonely life, for my 
 son is anxious to have a reputable house. 
 Now, how goes it with the divine master 
 Praxiteles, and Phryne his adorable friend ? " 
 
 With gratification she noticed that Myrto- 
 laos blushed, and that a shade passed over 
 Hellanodike's countenance. 
 
 " Good mother," Myrtolaos interrupted, 
 " I come to rob thee of thy ward, and to 
 show her something of Athens." 
 
 *' That is right," said Timoessa, growing 
 attentive. " What have ye in hand } Whither 
 are ye bent.? " 
 
 " We have prepared a little feast outside 
 the walls, at Phaedimos'. Thou wilt not object 
 to it, nor will thy son Mnemarchos either, 
 as I hope, if I invite Hellanodike to the 
 feast.?" 
 
 7 
 

 98 TJIE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 A momentary hideous grin played round 
 the puckered folds of the toothless mouth. 
 
 " To Phasdimos at Ilissos ? Ah, I know 
 naught of him, yet have I heard sometimes 
 of his repute. Ye will have a fine time of 
 it, ye sons of Praxiteles, eh } Well, of 
 course Hellanodike is free, free as a bird 
 that can fly whither it will. Go with him, 
 my dove, be joyous and of good heart. Life 
 is short, and one must take advantage of its 
 happy moments. I will let my son know of 
 the plans, and he will surely be glad to hear 
 that our little dove is delighting herself in 
 good company." 
 
 She seemed quite enchanted, and only the 
 impatient mien of the youth checked her 
 from letting her tongue run wild once 
 more. 
 
 "Ye are speedful," she said, with sub- 
 missive demeanour, " and I will not detain 
 you." 
 
 With these words she vanished, and left 
 the lovers all bewildered. 
 
 "Thou wilt lead me to Ilissos?" cried 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 99 
 
 Hellanodike, happy as a child. "Come, I 
 will get ready." 
 
 She disappeared into her chamber, and 
 a moment after returned in a long robe 
 that flowed down to her feet, and with a 
 round low-crowned hat on her head. 
 
 " I must take shame to mvself before the 
 Athenians,' ' she said, " should I appear 
 before them in my Tanagrian head-gear." 
 
 Instead of further answer, he twined his 
 arm about her, led her to the brink of the 
 brook, and showed her, in the dark mirror, 
 her image. 
 
 " Thinkest thou that she who looketh so 
 need take shame before any mortal in the 
 world ? " 
 
 She gazed content at the " counterfeit 
 presentment ' ' in all its sweet attraction. 
 Thereafter appeared his countenance likewise 
 in the water. She signed to him ; he nodded 
 back. They fell into each other's arms, and 
 were as two happy laughing children 
 
 Chlenusa had meanwhile, without appa- 
 rently giving heed to what was uttered and 
 
■ar 
 
 lOO THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 done, been busying herself with her distaff. 
 As Myrtolaos with Hellanodike were now 
 leaving the garden, casting her distafF aside 
 she came suddenly towards them. 
 
 " Something I have to beg of thee," she 
 said to Hellanodike, who looked at her 
 bewildered. 
 
 "I pray thee," and she stammered some- 
 what, "go not to Phaedimos on the Ilissos." 
 
 " Wherefore should she not ? ' ' cried Myrto- 
 laos. 
 
 " Why ? ' ' and she glanced keenly and 
 steadfastly at him, " because bad folk come 
 there yonder." 
 
 " What sort dost mean ? " continued the 
 youth. 
 
 " It were better thou askedst not ; but 
 believe me they are folks to whose circle she 
 doth not belong ; believe me that I know it, 
 for many a time, and oftener than thou, have 
 I been in the tavern on the Ilissos." 
 
 " Verily, then," he said angrily, " the com- 
 pany must have been bad enough;" and he 
 glanced spurningly at the girl. 
 
THE MASTER OF 7' AN AGRA. 1 01 
 
 A deep flush crimsoned her face. 
 
 " Thou dost wrong to wound me," she said, 
 turning her flashing eyes towards him, " since 
 I advise for thy best, for her best " — and she 
 motioned with her head towards Hellano- \ 
 
 dike — *' is also thy best ; is it not so?" She \ 
 
 spoke the last slowly, and with strangely- 
 measured tone. Despite himself he reddened. 
 
 "Hast thou not heard what Timoessa said.-* 
 Will she likely know Phasdimos less than 
 thou.?" 
 
 The girl broke into a hoarse laugh. 
 
 "Timoessa," she cried, "Timoessa, ah!" 
 She shook impatiently her head, and looked 
 at him as one regards him touching whom 
 one knows not whether he cannot under- 
 stand, or will not understand. 
 
 "Come forth," exclaimed Myrtolaos, with 
 impatience, "I know not what the girl 
 wants." 
 
 He would fain with Hellanodike have 
 passed by her, but Chlcnusa barred the way 
 to the door. 
 
 " Hear me ! " and her voice rang shrill, as 
 
E,r-.«p. -"i^r^w-sa^BrT- 
 
 102 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 from inner emotion, while, as though she 
 would hold fast Hellanodike, she caught hold 
 of the arms of the latter with both hands. 
 
 '^ Go not to the Ilissos, for if thou goest " 
 
 She became dumb-stricken; it was as though 
 the words had throttled her. 
 
 "Well, what then, if she does go?" cried 
 Myrtolaos, while Hellanodike looked in 
 speechless wonder at the passionate girl ; 
 " what then, in short, if she goes ? Speak 
 out clearly !" 
 
 With a spring Chlenusa was at the door 
 of issue, bent her head down listening, then 
 laid a finger on her mouth, snatching at the 
 hem of Hellanodike's robe, drew her and 
 Myrtolaos hurriedly to the farthest part of 
 the courtyard. Her breast heaved as if 
 tortured with cramp, and her eyes were 
 peering around in anxiety. 
 
 " Lost is she," she whispered hoarsely, 
 *' abandoned without help or saving, — and I 
 will not have it, I will not ! " and she fell down 
 at Hellanodike's feet, and hid her face in the 
 folds of her robe, now bathed in tears. 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 103 
 
 " Wherefore lost ? abandoned to whom ? " 
 asked Myrtolaos, roughly. 
 
 " Abandoned to the master of this house," 
 she returned, with her eyes fixed on the door 
 of issue, as though she feared every moment 
 lest some one might enter and surprise her 
 while busied upon the dreadful secret. 
 
 " Mnemarchos ! " cried Hellanodike out of 
 herself. 
 
 "Oh, by the gods, speak soft," she en- 
 treated ; " yea, Mnemarch. Listen, thou must 
 learn it now; that witch, Timoessa, is not 
 his mother. Like a wolf he slinks around 
 thee here; his impure thoughts have a 
 thousand times already got upon the track 
 which he himself has not yet happened on, 
 because he is filled with awe in presence 
 of a woman clothed in chastity, and in 
 dread of the verdict of the people, which 
 would inflict punishment on him for any 
 deed of violence towards a woman un- 
 spotted." 
 
 " What way dost thou mean ? " asked 
 Hellanodike, trembling. 
 
J!3-f.' -'rt-^z.i 
 
 104 TJIE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 Chlenusa started up and whispered one 
 word in her ear ; a deathly pallor spread 
 over the countenance of Hellanodike ; she 
 shuddered and 
 
 " What has she said to thee ? " cried Myr- 
 tolaos, holding her in his arms. 
 
 " Oh ! silence," she whispered, " silence, it 
 is too awful to say it ! " 
 
 " Not vet has he dared," Chlenusa con- 
 tinued, passionately and impressively ; " but if 
 thou goest without the walls to Phaedimos, 
 he will have the audacity to risk it. Know, 
 then, the inn at Ilissos is ill-famed through 
 all Athens ; only hetairae there do con- 
 gregate." 
 
 " Hetairae '^. " and Hellanodike drew back, 
 shuddering. 
 
 " Yea, yea, hetairae ; and if it comes to 
 his ears that thou hast been in their midst, 
 then he need no longer be afraid of any one ; 
 then he will treat thee as one, and then — 
 then " 
 
 "Enough, enough ; be silent !" Myrtolaos 
 interrupted. He paced up and down the 
 
 
f,p>«?^ 
 
li)^,is ■- 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 105 
 
 court ; a black tempest was raging in his 
 heart ; then he approached Chlenusa. 
 
 " Dost know what I will now do ? " said 
 he, with folded arms ; "all thou hast 
 spoken I will repeat to Mnemarch." 
 
 She stared at him wildly, with a strange, 
 chilling smile playing on her lips. 
 
 " Thou wilt repeat all to Mnemarchos ? " 
 " That I will ; and what dost think will 
 be the consequence?" 
 
 "I will tell thee," she said, hoarsely; 
 "then they will scourge me." 
 Very possibly," he replied. 
 And maybe," she continued, " they will 
 keep it up so long till they kill me." 
 
 " And thou wilt certainly have deserved it 
 well," was his wrathful answer. 
 
 A hoarse, broken cry was rent from her 
 bosom, she shook her black streaming locks 
 from her bronze face. 
 
 " Fool," she cried, " for still I believe that 
 thou art- only foolish, not wicked ; and then 
 there will be no one left to guard her who 
 loves thee, and whom thou wouldst imperil. 
 
 
>=« 
 
 I06 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 like a vile coward ! No one, no one !" She 
 clasped her hands before her face, and broke 
 out in heart-rending weeping. 
 
 An awful silent pause ensued. 
 
 Then Hellanodike slowly took off her hat, 
 and approached Chlenusa. 
 
 " Weep not," she said, and her snowy hand 
 was laid on the dark dishevelled hair, " I will 
 not go to Phasdimos, and he will not say 
 word to Mnemarchos ; do thou now de- 
 part. 
 
 "Thou wilt not?" said Myrtolaos, after 
 
 Chlenusa had gone. She drooped her head. 
 
 " I think it would be better were I not to 
 » 
 go- 
 
 His face grew sombre, he bit his lips in 
 silence. 
 
 " Myrtolaos," said she, placing her hands 
 on his shoulders, and looking into his eyes, 
 " couldst thou really wish it still '^. " 
 
 " Why dost thou open heart and ears to 
 the fancies of this mad girl?" he said, 
 abruptly. 
 
 "But if it were possible that she spoke 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 10/ 
 
 truth? if really such women " Her modest 
 
 face was suffused with blushes, and she could 
 not pronounce the word. 
 
 " They are not hetairae," he said, " they are 
 friends of the artists ; folks who know 
 nothing about it may think wrongly of them, 
 but I have told thee what their position 
 really is." 
 
 She bowed down her face, and her breast 
 heaved in silent agony. He came close 
 to her, and grasped both her hands. 
 
 " Hellanodike," said he, " he who wants 
 to learn the art of Praxiteles must venture 
 upon the stormy sea of life, and must not be 
 afraid if the shore disappear from his vision 
 for a brief space ! Look at the works of this 
 man ; they have all but one law and one 
 measure, — that which nature dictates ! But 
 they scorn the narrow mind that is afraid of 
 them, for they are like nature, which is 
 mirrored in itself, and does not ask whether 
 we look at it with eyes unsullied or impure. 
 Hellanodike," he said, and his dark eyes 
 flashed with a devouring fire, "I cannot 
 
wWz^^- 
 
 I08 TIfE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 expect to rise into the Olympian sphere of this 
 art, if I cannot, like other artists, quaff from 
 the fountain of life I long for. I thirst after 
 it, for I see it before me ; I breathe its air, 
 but when I want to stoop down it evades my 
 burning lips." 
 
 He had put his arm round her, and felt 
 how her slender form trembled while he 
 pressed her to his heart. 
 
 "Oh!" she murmured, "that I could 
 understand thee !" 
 
 He let go her arm and stepped back a 
 little. 
 
 " Thou dost not understand me?" he said ; 
 " thou dost not feel that I can no longer live 
 thus, always separated from thee, only for 
 brief moments with thee ; that thou ought to 
 be with me always, ever, because I have need 
 of thee, like to the air I breathe and from 
 which I cannot sever myself, if I would live .'' " 
 
 She lifted her great beseeching eyes 
 heavenward, and wrung her hands. 
 
 " Oh that I had been born in Athens, 
 and had grown up in this air," said she, " or 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 109 
 
 that thou hadst never seen me, or known 
 me, in Tanagra, it would have been better 
 alike for thee and me ! " 
 
 " No," he replied; " for it only depends on 
 thy will, if on it is to depend our happiness." 
 
 "Have mercy on me," cried she; ''I 
 would do all thou wishest, but this I can not 
 do, Myrtolaos, I cannot ! " 
 
 Her bosom rose and fell fitfully ; and one 
 saw that she was standing on a borderland 
 which even love does not allow to be' 
 traversed, for her inborn nature built up a 
 firm stronghold of defence. 
 
 He turned silently away, and was about 
 to go. 
 
 '^ Myrtolaos ! " she cried, in agonised tones. 
 
 He stood still, she rushed up to him and 
 fell on his neck. 
 
 " Thou goest," she sobbed, " and when 
 wilt thou return ? " 
 
 He looked at her confusedly. 
 
 " I see thy heart," said she despairingly, 
 " how it turns away from her that cannot 
 understand thee. I know thou wilt cease 
 
p _'?''^-'T.-*^*^'i: -^ 
 
 no THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 loving me, in order to find among Athenian 
 women what she was unable to aiFord ; and 
 then what remains to her who followed 
 thee from Tanagra, because she put trust 
 in thee whom she loved ? " 
 
 Overcome by her sorrow she lay in his 
 arms, weak as a flower that a thundershower 
 has bowed to earth. He gazed down upon 
 her, and beheld a fulness of beauty that rested 
 in his arms, such as no Phryne could offer. 
 But tears he saw ; — the divine creations 
 of Praxiteles wept not, and sorrow and 
 anguish were not the models by which they 
 had been inspired. 
 
 " Weep not," he said, and yet he had 
 a feeling as if he had no right to check 
 those tears ; "may the gods show us a way 
 out of these perplexities and anxieties ! " 
 
 He loosed her arms from his neck, and 
 went his way. 
 
 At the water's edge, on the very spot 
 where the reflection of her form had greeted 
 his own, Hellanodike sat down, and the 
 
THE MASTER OP 7 AN AGRA. Ill 
 
 unsympathetic element drank in her tears 
 just as quietly as it had reflected her smiles. 
 With a gloomy heart, and senses all aglow, 
 Myrtolaos wended his way to the tavern 
 on the Ilissos. 
 
 A sombre feeling of rancour against 
 Hellanodike glided into his heart, and he 
 began to feel as if she were a burden 
 to him that held his imagination in bonds. 
 He bethought him of her tears, but they 
 touched his heart no longer ; they only 
 seemed to him but as an expression of the 
 alarm which hearts of ice experience before 
 love dawns ; he felt himself sundered from 
 her who would fain remain a Boeotian, and 
 not become an Athenian ; and he thought of 
 her words, that he would find consolation 
 amongst Athenian women. He stamped 
 his foot. 
 
 " Thy prophecy," he murmured, " may 
 get fulfilled ! " 
 
 At Phaedimos the feast was already in full 
 swing, and he found himself straightway 
 
....■.; r>^c^^i-^"i<?Es.:a^;.*^ 
 
 112 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 drawn into the wild whirlpool. The first 
 question was, of course, why he had not 
 brought Hellanodike. 
 
 " She is ill," he answered curtly. 
 
 " III," exclaimed a voluptuous being who 
 planted herself next him, and without further 
 ado threw her arms round his neck. " I 
 will comfort thee, thou lonely boy ; " and 
 upon his lips, yet fresh from the pressure 
 of the sweet mouth that had a moment 
 agone touched his, now burned the glowing 
 kiss of the hetaira. The beauty of the 
 youth charmed the eyes and senses of the 
 women, so that he was soon encompassed 
 by them, and had to use force to free him- 
 self from their endearments. 
 
 A goblet of Thasistan wine was set before 
 him ; he drained it off; a second and a third 
 followed, and the dark harassing doubts 
 that had kept haunting him were merged in 
 the sparkling flow. 
 
 Suddenly, as from a dream, he started 
 up, and thumping on the table with his 
 fist, he cried, — 
 
 :ii&;iiiffi«f;s. 
 
L\ti-t!.U v: 
 
 --t-incl^^z* '.c.^ ---, ..itiitiwi^^ 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 113 
 
 " By the gods, this is Athens ! " 
 
 A loud laugh burst from all present. 
 " Hast thou doubted it, beautiful Tan- 
 agrian ? " said the black-eyed Kephisias, lean- 
 ing against his shoulder, and gazing at him 
 with laughing eyes. 
 
 " Before I beheld thee, yes," he replied, 
 " but from henceforth, seest thou, I doubt 
 no longer." 
 
 He put his arms round her neck, 
 imprinting kisses on her cheeks and eyes, 
 till Polymachron from the other end of the 
 table called out, " Hullo ! " 
 
 " Never mind ! " cried Lysias soothingly, 
 " thou canst make it good with Hellano- 
 dike." 
 
 A burst of laughter arose, and Myrtolaos 
 laughed outright. 
 
 The feeding and drinking went on within 
 doors, and gradually a sultry heat pervaded 
 the place. Myrtolaos, less accustomed than 
 his companions to carousing, went forth to 
 court the cooling breezes on the borders of 
 the Ilissos. 
 
 8 
 
114 TB£ MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 It was late afternoon, and when he had 
 advanced some hundred paces along the 
 stream, and looked across it, he stood 
 suddenly as one transfixed before the won- 
 derful picture unfolded before him. 
 
 Straight in front lay the Acropolis, and 
 behind its crests the sun was dipping into the 
 Eleusian Sea. 
 
 With a purple flush was the sky suffused, 
 so that it wore the aspect as if a burning 
 world were shooting flames upward to the 
 sky ; and from out the glowing background 
 could be seen, in clear and grand outlines, the 
 mighty rock that bore the hallowed relics of 
 Athens. 
 
 He stood and gazed, unable to move, 
 when the uproarious din from the tavern of 
 Phaedimos struck upon his ear ; he retreated 
 farther up the brook, so unbearable seemed 
 to him those sounds in presence of that 
 solemn spectacle. 
 
 At last he paused ; a deep silence reigned 
 
 •around, and in solemn majesty the pillars of 
 
 the Parthenon rose up there yonder, and the 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. I15 
 
 temple of Erechtheus, and the colossal figure 
 of Pallas Athene. And as he was gazing on 
 these pillars, roofs, and statues that stood out 
 like a marble woof on a golden ground, and 
 rising upward into the illimitable sky of 
 evening, like an incarnate presentment of the 
 mortal mind which is yearning to penetrate 
 into the secrets of eternity, there dawned 
 upon him as it were a revelation : the old 
 longings and dreams were re-awakened that 
 in boyhood he had dreamed amid the Locrian 
 mountains. It seemed to him as if from far 
 over the sea there came a mighty voice, say- 
 ing, " This is the Athens after which thy soul 
 aspired !" And while recalling the words 
 he had spoken erewhile amid the wine- 
 fumes of the tavern of Phasdimos, he sank 
 down upon his knees, and drew his hands 
 before his face as though he would fain hide 
 the Myrtolaos of to-day from the Myrtolaos 
 of the past. 
 
 The morning of the next day dawned 
 when, after a long and restless wandering, he 
 
 idi^iSl&^x^^^^iis£ic^Ai-i<:^^^^s^!k:- 
 
?S5vTK7F^™f. 
 
 Il6 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 returned home. Up to the brink of the sea 
 by the Phaleron his unrest had driven him ; 
 his limbs were mortally broken with fatigue, 
 and he had found no repose. All that 
 had harassed him returned with redoubled 
 vigour ; he had tried to shake off his own 
 nature, and that moment had taught him it 
 was a useless sacrilege, as shake it off he 
 could not. But his nature, as he now from 
 experience knew, could never lead him there 
 where Praxiteles had taken his stand. 
 
 He saw no way out from this dilemma, 
 and despair came upon him. On the thres- 
 hold of the house he met Praxiteles, and 
 both stood still, struck with each other's 
 appearance. 
 
 Like to a demoniacal being endowed with 
 powers supernatural, so did the master seem 
 to the youth. What he could not achieve 
 by the sacrifice of his own individual nature, 
 this man possessed utterly, and the fiery look 
 of his clear glance revealed that he had not 
 had to surrender anything, that he needed 
 not to court the impure, in order to be able 
 
 »i^Sk;-' 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. WJ 
 
 to achieve. Had he, then, battled through 
 the strife even as his pupil was now doing ? 
 Or were there natures so entirely different 
 from his own as that the fervour of passion 
 was with them transmuted into the fervour 
 of feeling ? 
 
 Not less wonder-struck did Praxiteles look 
 at Myrtolaos, in whose features the mental 
 excitement of the last hours had left deep 
 traces. The beautiful boy- face had matured 
 through earnest conflict, and from the eyes, 
 erewhile so happy and so dreamy, a silent and 
 reproachful consciousness peered forth, and 
 on his forehead discouragement had graven 
 deep broad furrows. 
 
 ," Like Hermes," said to himself Praxiteles, 
 " like Hermes returning from Hades, and 
 revolving its horrors in his mind ;" and he 
 advanced to Myrtolaos and took him by the 
 hand. " Come," said he, " this hour is the 
 right one ; to-day the Olympic Hermes must 
 be created." 
 
 The youth followed him in silence ; against 
 this man he had no inner power of re- 
 
Il8 TlffS MASTER OP TANAGRA. 
 
 sistance. But a feeling of desolateness 
 crept into his heart. He would have cast 
 himself at Praxiteles' feet, and besought him 
 in his distressful mood ; but he was become 
 to him nought save a study for his artistic 
 fancies, and every line that anguish graved 
 on his face rendered this study all the more 
 precious. 
 
 Arrived at the master's studio, which lav 
 some distance from that of the pupils, Praxi- 
 teles told him to put off his garment, and 
 he then assigned him the position in which 
 he thought of representing him. The mind 
 of the artist seemed to have been working 
 beforehand, for in a brief space the finest 
 position was hit upon which the noble 
 frame might assume. The left arm reposed 
 on a truncated column, while the right, up- 
 lifted, was to clasp the Hermes' staff; the 
 head was bent downward somewhat dreamily. 
 And now the work was entered on. 
 
 Myrtolaos had not yet seen Praxiteles 
 busied in his art ; he now looked on at him 
 in wonderment ; with a restlessness and 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. II9 
 
 withal a sureness, as if every limb were 
 controlled by springs of steel, he grasped 
 the clay wherewith he began to model ; and 
 when he turned his eyes on the youth to 
 read off the lines from his frame, Myrtolaos 
 seemed to feel the burning influence of those 
 eyes; they were like diamonds cutting 
 through glass. 
 
 Hour sped on after hour, and ceaseless 
 still was Praxiteles toiling on. 
 
 No word was uttered, and the only sound 
 noticeable was the slight panting of the youth, 
 on whom the tension of the sleepless night 
 had brought sheer exhaustion. 
 
 Praxiteles paused not, nor observed the 
 face growing paler and paler. Dumb-struck, 
 and with a feeling akin to awe, Myrtolaos 
 gazed upon the man who was as intent upon 
 his work as a tiger over his prey. 
 
 So pitiless, equally towards himself and 
 others, must the man be constituted who would 
 fashion his creatures like Praxiteles; a dawn- 
 ing perception came to him of the holy awe 
 surrounding Art, which is so gentle in its 
 
120 7W£ MASTER OF TANAGRA.' ' 
 
 aims, yet so cruel in the pursuit thereof; he 
 grew conscious that his soft heart would never 
 possess that hardness of adamant ; a dusky, 
 giddying phantasm floated like a grey cloud 
 from the depths of his heart upward to his 
 eyes ; it seemed to him as if he were like 
 metal wherefrom a statue is to be cast, merged 
 in the glow of a molten mass — he felt the 
 very torture of annihilation. 
 
 " I can no more ! " he broke forth suddenly, 
 with sinking voice ; his head drooped down, 
 and in the swooning that befel, he would 
 have fallen heavily to earth had not Praxi- 
 teles caught him. 
 
 While placing him on a couch, the sculptor 
 glanced for the first time at the sun ; it was 
 already long past midday. 
 
 When Myrtolaos recovered from his swoon 
 and opened his still half-veiled eyes, he beheld 
 a womanly form bending over him, and a soft 
 hand supporting his wearied head. 
 
 " Hellanodike ? " he whispered, gently. 
 
 " Not Hellanodike," came the laughing 
 reply ; he looked and recognised Phryne. 
 

V 
 
 ■ * 
 
 .ji-,i\"---^!- i. >• . J 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 121 
 
 " Poor Hermes ! " she said. " I know 
 what it is to fall into the hands of that awful 
 being; he kills us in order to make us im- 
 mortal." 
 
 She raised a cup to his lips and poured in 
 some drops of wine, so that he found anew 
 his exhausted powers. 
 
 " Is he again among us ? " asked Praxiteles, 
 who got up from his work. He came near 
 and laid his hand on the pale forehead of the 
 youth. 
 
 " Poor boy," he said, with a smile, " the 
 strain was too much for thee, thou hadst not 
 yet taken any food." 
 
 " And on what dost thou live ? " cried 
 Phryne, as she raised her eyes to Praxiteles ; 
 " for I know that thou in like manner hast 
 taken not an atom the livelong day," 
 
 " I ? " exclaimed Praxiteles ; he laughed 
 outright, right merrily, and fell to his work 
 anew. 
 
 " By the gods," said she, " he is no man ; 
 he is rather one from the lower world of 
 spirits." 
 
 ^£>?^'ji^^ 'l-r-- A-:^:LS:A!dk 
 
rC'¥!lfi(»f>!S5>a^ 
 
 122 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 She came behind him, and as he took no 
 notice she laid her hands on his shoulders, and 
 glanced over them at the wonderful creations 
 that were growing under his hand. 
 
 " Thou magician ! " she whispered, with 
 deep wonderment, and leaned her cheek 
 against his. He looked up now, threw his 
 brown, sinewy arm round her, and drew her 
 to his knee. While he looked into her face, 
 and divined the rapture in her thrilling fea- 
 tures, which gathered from the outward seeming 
 of the dawning work, of art its very essence, 
 he sprang up with a cry of delight, that, un- 
 restrained, burst from him ; he caught the 
 fair form in his powerful arms, and slightly 
 pushing her forward, as lightly as a child, let 
 her sink back on his throbbing breast, while 
 she imprinted on his face the kisses of a Bac- 
 chante. From his couch the pallid Myrtolaos 
 looked on, all bewildered, at this sight ; like 
 to bounding lion cubs, rejoicing in their free- 
 dom, so seemed they to him, — a freedom that 
 to all not of lion nature appeared savagery 
 unrestrained. 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 23 
 
 At length, Phryne, with heightened colour 
 and panting breath, came back to him. 
 
 " Hermes," she said, " yet one word more, 
 and a comfort for thee ; to-morrow we keep 
 high festival. The ambassadors from Cnidos 
 are coming to take away the Aphrodite that 
 Praxiteles has executed for them; we shall 
 entertain them as guests, and invite Mnemarch 
 and yet another — knowest thou whom } " 
 
 He sank his eyes in silence. 
 
 "Down-hearted Tanagrian ! " said she, as 
 she took his curly head between her hands, 
 " to-morrow thou shalt become joyous again." 
 
 It was on the morning of the next day that 
 people were thronging before Mnemarchos' 
 house. 
 
 "What is afloat .? " asked passers-by. 
 
 "She has gone into the house," was the 
 answer. 
 
 "She.? Who?" 
 
 " Well who else } Phryne." 
 
 That was enough ; and like flies clinging to 
 
'^'W-'W^^^fW- ^ - ^' 
 
 124 TIfE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 the honeyed stick, the Athenians, ever longing 
 for the sight of beauty, loitered at the door to 
 wait for the moment when she should again 
 come out ; for the day when one had seen 
 Phryne, the favourite of the town, was not a 
 lost one, even though one had to wait about 
 on the pavement from sunrise to sunset. 
 
 Hellanodike stood in the garden-court and 
 listened to the muffled, swelling noise with- 
 out, and now she started up; for into the 
 garden there stepped a woman, such as she 
 had never before beheld. From the dainty 
 foot to the laughing eyes, all was beaming 
 life, sweetness, and beauty ; and had she not 
 guessed who the stranger was, she would 
 have learned it from Mnemarch's lips, for 
 he heralded the visitor, and loaded her with 
 inane flatteries. 
 
 "Divine Phryne," he cried, "thou dost 
 honour to my house. They will say that the 
 sun with the morning star have met in my 
 humble abode ; " and he looked with blinking 
 eyes towards Hellanodike, who had remained 
 coyly in the background of the court. 
 
m 
 
 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 25 
 
 Without further heeding him, Phryne went 
 straight towards Hellanodike. 
 
 " Hellanodike," she said, ''the daughter 
 of Myronides of Tanagra?" and she held 
 out her hand in greeting. 
 
 Silently the other placed her own in it. 
 
 " I perceive,' ' she replied, " that thou 
 knowest me." She uplifted her eyes, and the 
 two women looked for a moment in silence at 
 one another. It was a look full of significance. 
 Beautiful women cannot stand side by side 
 with indifference ; they must become either 
 friends or foes ; and the instinct of the heart, 
 that inborn power of nature, is more strongly 
 developed in women than in man, because 
 they are less freed from unconscious nature, 
 which imparts to their minds a quicker 
 apprehension of the feelings of a kindred 
 nature than is given to the mind of man. 
 
 Majestic, and towering half a head above 
 the other, and in more developed fulness 
 of beauty, stood Phryne beside the tender 
 maidenly figure, and yet, as she glanced down 
 to the humbly drooping head, she felt that 
 
 :.; -i-faEaiL. 
 
126 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 in the most hidden recess of that timid soul 
 there was a something which seemed to say 
 to her, the triumphant Phryne : " Stand 
 aside from me ; " that power born of meek- 
 ness, which can subdue a world, — gracious 
 maidenhood. To be made conscious 
 thereof, and to resolve almost unwittingly 
 to bear down this resistance, was but as a 
 flash of time in the heart of the woman 
 so wont to conquer. 
 
 '^ I am come to invite thee," she said ; 
 " Praxiteles gives a banquet to the ambassa- 
 dors of Cnidos and to Myrtolaos, thy friend 
 and ours ; the banquet would afford no 
 pleasure wert thou not present." 
 
 A blush crimsoned Hellanodike's face 
 and neck. 
 
 In the tone of these words, seeming to 
 treat her love for Myrtolaos as a thing of 
 every-day import, as a simple matter of 
 course, there was something that repelled 
 and revolted her. The chaste secret of 
 her heart was a secret now no longer ; 
 strange eyes had pried into it, and had 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 12/ 
 
 drawn their own conclusions as to what 
 seemed to them right. 
 
 " Women at table with men ? " she asked, 
 with forced smile. In her father's house 
 that would have seemed impossible in her 
 eyes. 
 
 " Ah, I know," Phryne replied, " that to 
 Greek women it seems a violation of laws 
 eternal to leave the women's apartments 
 and go among men. What folly ! Have we 
 not sprung from the hands of one and the 
 same nature, and does difference of sex in- 
 volve enmity between them .f* Never ; 
 for completion is the law that rules man 
 and woman. Yea, I love men, for I gladly 
 bask in the rays which shine from the eyes 
 of the man of genius; I like to tremble 
 before such mighty power; and I laugh at 
 women who upbraid me for that I think 
 thus and act as 1 think ; and I love women, 
 too, for in their beauty I reverence the great 
 law of harmony made visible, which checks 
 the unbridled man, and prompts the idle to 
 action. And just as I despise the man who 
 
 ' X.oS^al!'^.fc-- li-^i-J^-.. -L- : '.. . ■' ■ '"' ■-■Sf^:- 
 
128 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. ■ 
 
 withdraws himself from this mighty in- 
 fluence, so am I angered with the Grecian 
 women who, in foohsh timidity, hide them- 
 selves from men, instead of learning to 
 understand the decree the gods have written 
 in flaming letters on their glowing frames, 
 instead of coming amongst men and trans- 
 muting such as are uncouth into courteous 
 beings, and making of this world an Elysium, 
 in which passions only waken to glow, but 
 no longer consume the powers vying with each 
 other, — wrestle with merely, but no longer 
 destroy each other in deadly feud. Come, 
 I pray ! " Her voice grew melodious and 
 caressing, and she twined her arm about the 
 still flushed neck of the girl. " "Why dost 
 thou fear } Fear is such an ugly worm 
 in the sweet-smelling rose of life's gladness. 
 Come, go with me, try the charm caused 
 by the eyes of noble men lighting up at thy 
 beauty, and when thou standest in their 
 midst like unto a star, whose presence is 
 merit enough in itself ; or dost thou believe," 
 and her tone grew more earnest, "that any 
 
'A ■ 
 -i,r 
 
 Uu 
 
 J.J £*•''-■'■ 
 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 1 29 
 
 but noble men frequent the house of 
 Praxiteles ? or perhaps he has not yet told 
 thee that thou mayest well dare to appear 
 before the eyes of all judges of beauty, and 
 say, * Pronounce your verdict ! ' " 
 
 Placing her hand under Hellanodike's 
 chin, she lifted up the maiden's head, look- 
 ing roguishly into her eyes. 
 
 Despite herself Hellanodike smiled in 
 return, as the flashing dark eyes glanced into 
 her own; and Phryne had triumphed. 
 
 She clapped her hands with delight. 
 
 " Mnemarchos," she said, turning to him, 
 who had followed everything with the 
 closest attention, " gather up all the wit 
 and spirit thou art master of, that this day 
 thou mayest be worthy to dine in company 
 with the two most beautiful women of Athens." 
 
 Mnemarch bowed with honeyed smile. 
 
 " And now no dallying," continued 
 Phryne, addressing Hellanodike ; " I will 
 take thee from here to our abode, and 
 will myself play the part of tire-woman, to 
 adorn thee fittingly." 
 
 9 
 
 . ~i^£lttW>C^Ldv.- ^ iii=:^-M&^A ^ . 
 
 -. ■.■^'r^j^ii^^i^.,^^^^ 
 
130 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 " Thou wouldst of thyself? " said Hellano- 
 dike. 
 
 *' Oh, thou shalt see how far I have learned 
 from the sculptors." 
 
 While Mnemarch withdrew, the two 
 women went to Hellanodike's chamber and 
 chose the garments and ornaments Phryne 
 thought suiting the day's festival. She took 
 the matter in real earnest, and it lasted some 
 time till she had carried out the work to 
 her heart's content. 
 
 At last the adorning was completed, and 
 no artist could to better advantage have set 
 off the lovely youthful figure than Phryne's 
 hands had done. 
 
 " But one ornament is now wanting," she 
 said, as she stood before her arranging the 
 last folds of the light blue upper garment 
 flowing around Hellanodike's slender form ; 
 "" how comes it, did he not bring thee the 
 armlet I gave him for thee ? " 
 
 *' It was too wide for my arm," replied 
 Hellanodike, blushing ; '' there it is." 
 
 A saucy look flashed from Phryne's eyes. 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 131 
 
 " Oh, really too wide ? " she said ; " was it 
 not perceived that it can be made smaller ? " 
 
 The armlet, wrought of finest gold, could 
 be pressed together, in fact, so that the links, 
 instead of joining, overlapped. In this 
 manner Phryne fastened the gem round 
 Hellanodike's left arm ; the cold metal 
 touched her skin, and a tremor passed 
 through her. 
 
 Phryne held up the beautiful limb for a 
 moment. 
 
 " Thou lovely one ! " said she, then, letting 
 the arm drop, she imprinted a sudden kiss 
 on the round white shoulder, which, soft 
 and full, peeped out from under the gar- 
 ment. 
 
 The gates were thrown open, and Phryne 
 and Hellanodike stepped out into the street, 
 the former placing her arm on Hellanodike's 
 shoulder. 
 
 The latter shrank back on hearing the loud 
 shouts of joy that greeted them at this 
 moment. 
 
 " Courage ! " whispered Phryne, smilingly ; 
 
132 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 " these good Athenians are a little boisterous 
 when they are pleased." 
 
 With majestic bearing she stepped through 
 the crowd surrounding them. 
 
 A sunburnt fellow, half boy, half youth, 
 made himself specially prominent by his zeal. 
 He walked before the women like a herald, 
 glancing round from time to time with gleam- 
 ing eyes, and smilingly showing his white teeth. 
 
 " All hail to the godlike hetairas, all hail 
 to the beautiful Phryne ! " he screamed with 
 fanatic exultation, and the cry was repeated 
 by the crowd , " All hail to the godlike 
 hetairae ! " 
 
 Hellanodike trembled all over. 
 
 " The insolent ones," she whispered, *' hearst 
 thou what they are saying } " 
 
 Phryne laughed, and drew her arm closer 
 round Hellanodike's shoulder. 
 
 " Who can the other be who is with her } " 
 said a middle-aged man to his companion, so 
 loud that Hellanodike could hear each word. 
 " She is hardly less beautiful than Phryne." 
 
 " I know not," replied the other. " Most 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 33 
 
 likely a new hetaira, intended to add to the 
 array in Praxiteles' Olympus." 
 
 "Happy Olympian," said the first 
 speaker, and both laughed. 
 
 Hellanodike's face was sufftised with 
 blushes, the ground on which she walked 
 seemed to her like molten metal, and she 
 hardly dared to lift her eyes. 
 
 Like a release to her it seemed, when at 
 last they reached the house of Praxiteles. 
 
 The fetching-away of the great work of 
 art by the delegates from Cnidos was an 
 event, for it proved anew the intellectual 
 supremacy of Athens over the rest of Greece. 
 In the earlier hours of noon a solemn cere- 
 mony had taken place before the assembled 
 council of the town, to welcome the delegates ; 
 the feast at the artist's house, and the actual 
 handing over of the masterpiece was to wind 
 up the matter, and the first citizens of the 
 town had been bidden as guests to the 
 feast. 
 
 Slaves now came running from the Acro- 
 polis with the news that the solemn proces- 
 
 - iMraiiiTTih''ii?'^ t.i i> 
 

 134 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 sion was on the way ; in Praxiteles' house 
 might be heard the loud-sounding clangour 
 from the bronze disc, hung up in the peristyle; 
 the slaves, adorned for the feast, gathered 
 round the entrance of the house ; then came 
 accompanied by the three Archons, by the 
 chief men of the town, and by other well-to- 
 do citizens, the Cnidian ambassadors. At the 
 threshold of the house the host advanced to- 
 wards them, and greeted them with dignified 
 courtesy. 
 
 A perfume of fresh flowers was wafted 
 through the whole house ; in the vestibule, in 
 which they entered first, all the most perfect 
 works of the sculptor were arrayed ; and 
 wherever one looked, the eye rested on 
 arrangements in such exquisite taste, that 
 the guests felt as if they had been transported 
 into a loftier spiritual world. 
 
 Praxiteles preceded them, and they entered 
 the middle hall which was supported by 
 pillars and open to the sky. Between the 
 pillars, opposite the entrance, so that it 
 covered the background, hung a curtain of 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 35 
 
 rich dark stufJj and before it were placed 
 sedilia, whereon the guests seated themselves. 
 The host disappeared behind the curtain, 
 and forthwith came the soft music of flutes 
 and of string instruments ; the curtain was 
 silently and slowly drawn aside, and the 
 guests sat as if transfixed at the inexpressibly 
 beautiful sight that met their gaze. 
 
 In the middle of the chamber, snow-white, 
 contrasting against the dark background 
 formed by thick green garlands of flowers 
 and leaves wreathed round the pillars, stood 
 the Aphrodite of Praxiteles. 
 
 There was a long silent pause ; but then 
 suddenly all sprang from their seats and con- 
 fused exclamations of admiration made known 
 the impression the wonderful work of art had 
 evoked. 
 
 The Archons forgot their stately dignity, 
 the ambassadors their cold reserve, and all 
 pressed forward round Praxiteles, each want- 
 ing to be the first to embrace him and to 
 press him to his heart ; some even went so far 
 in their enthusiasm as to embrace and kiss 
 
136 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 the marble image, so that the artist at last 
 had laughingly to forbid them. 
 
 All was in quickened emotion as the slaves 
 now appeared, and, while decking the guests 
 with wreaths of roses, made sign that the 
 repast was ready. 
 
 As they entered the banquet-hall, a fresh 
 exclamation of wonder and delighted surprise 
 ran murmuring through the throng. 
 
 Towards the background of the room, 
 directly confronting them as they entered, 
 ran a range of steps ; and on the topmost 
 stood, with bare arms, a female figure hold- 
 ing forth a two-handled pitcher, while at her 
 feet, on the steps beneath, reclined a youth 
 and maiden, each stretching out towards her 
 a beaker. 
 
 The woman's laughing glances, the height- 
 ened colours of the youth and maiden, and 
 the slight thrill that quickened the limbs of 
 the maiden, revealed that these three shapes 
 of beauty and grace were not of marble, but 
 real flesh and blood. 
 
 " Aphrodite ! " was murmured among the 
 
. ■J:2>i£Si:J^':ii:si- .t^f^i^lH^i^Mi^Jiibi^^^^i^S^'Til^-a 
 
...... -. .- f 
 
 
 ^fi^ii^ •-— ■,-^.«:?h>iik.;fcl'-.Ow:vAVJ*AA..jii:'] 
 
 ■:A-^-.fteVi.:.>>;. 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 137 
 
 guests, for one recognised in the female 
 figure the original of the masterpiece in 
 marble on which they had just been gazing. 
 
 "Aphrodite, filling the beakers of Gany- 
 mede and Hebe," explained one of the 
 Archons. 
 
 " Not Hebe, but Iris ! " said another ; 
 " that is the meaning of the light-blue vesture 
 from which she is gazing forth." 
 
 Phryne-Aphrodite, bending down the 
 pitcher, filled the outstretched beakers, and 
 the Archons stepped forward to receive the 
 wine- cups. 
 
 When the beakers had gone the round of 
 the guests, and each had taken a draught, 
 Phryne sprang down from the pedestal and 
 advanced with merry laugh towards Praxi- 
 teles, while Myrtolaos and Hellanodike in 
 like manner rose up. 
 
 '* Art content } and have I learned in 
 thy school \ " she asked the sculptor, with 
 sparkling eyes. 
 
 " Ye men ot Cnidos," said he, placing his 
 arm round her form, " on returning home 
 
 -:.J^.:.l'J^^-^'.v .f..:::i'.::L-.^-:,-..^!<'^t.....i-'\.---~..'--...>./K-::^S:^jii?.Ji!:'a&^A^.;;^^ 
 
:,j,..^.^'j-.-^v<»- 
 
 138 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 ye may relate that your eyes have rested on 
 Phryne, upon whom Venus bestowed her own 
 fair form, and Pallas vouchsafed her intelli- 
 gence." 
 
 "And Praxiteles has lent his magic chisel," 
 interrupted she, with touching pride. 
 
 Phryne had taken captive the minds and 
 hearts of all present ; and, as with one voice, it 
 was resolved that to her pertained the office of 
 symposiarch, or controller of the feast. This 
 post assigned to her the charge of arranging 
 what seemed likely to inspire the discourse of 
 the guests and quicken the joy of the banquet; 
 the spirit of the feast was at her disposal. 
 
 With deft address she took up her charge, 
 and, all wondering, Hellanodike gazed at 
 her and listened, while sitting apart shy 
 and reserved in this unwonted presence of 
 men around. No one gave her any heed, for 
 all thought was intent on Phryne. Myrtolaos 
 was seated far away from her, at the further 
 end of the table, and there was but one 
 among the whole throng whose eyes passed 
 by Phryne, to rest lingering on Hellanodike. 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 39 
 
 It was Mnemarch. He uttered few words, 
 and his silent yearning glances, the more he 
 was quickened by the glowing wine, grew 
 ever more ardent. Never had the maiden 
 looked so beautiful in his sight, never so 
 worthy of awakening inmost emotion. 
 
 When the delights of the table had been 
 indulged in for long hours, and the excite- 
 ment of all present had reached its highest 
 pitch, the fair controller of the feast beckoned 
 to one of the attendant slaves and whispered 
 some words. Straightway the doors of the 
 banqueting-room sprang open, and with 
 rushing clatter, with flutes and rattling tam- 
 bourines resounding, poured in a throng of 
 girls and youths. Every voice forthwith 
 hushed, every eye was turned to the new 
 comers, who were ranging themselves for the 
 dance. 
 
 -At the outset the tread was measured and 
 restrained the movements of the dancers, but 
 soon the interweaving grew wilder, the youths 
 quickening the pace swung higher their 
 partners in the dizzy whirl ; some of the 
 
■'^^.-' -- -■■i?^*^ • --^^^"^■??. . 
 
 140 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 maidens flung loose their hair, while from 
 others again their partners snatched the fillets 
 that held back their locks; and so went rush- 
 ing on the wild crowd, like to a troop of 
 moenides, ejaculating and shouting, in reckless 
 disorder. 
 
 The gaze of the guests quickened ; Phryne 
 stood at her full height by the end of the 
 table, smiling tranquilly, while the wild troop 
 went whirling by. 
 
 " Check your pace," cried she, suddenly, in 
 clear tones to the tossing crowd, which forth- 
 with obeyed her behest. " Your dance is 
 too wild," she said, " and the best is still 
 lacking. Is there not among you one that 
 can rejoice our eyes by dancing all alone } " 
 
 One of the maidens came forward. 
 
 " P'air Phryne," she said, while flinging 
 back her long hair from her glowing cheeks, 
 " at other feasts 'tis I who take the lead, but 
 here I dare not venture." 
 
 " Wherefore not here .^ " 
 
 " Because Phryne is in presence, before 
 whom skill such as mine must shrink abashed, 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 14I 
 
 for all in Athens know that no one in the 
 dance can compare with her." 
 
 The guests sprang from their seats. 
 
 " Show us thy skill, Phryne," was the cry. 
 " Phryne must dance." 
 
 For a brief space she seemed to waver, but 
 sooa after advanced into the room ; youths 
 and maidens alike drew back to make way for 
 her. To one of the flute-players she gave a 
 sign, and to the rhythm he sounded she began, 
 suiting the music, a slow and stately measure. 
 The trailing garment, descending to her feet, 
 hindered any quicker motion, and her dance, 
 in the main, was resolved into a measured 
 tread, a swaying of the body, a graceful rise 
 and fall of the garment. Yet were her 
 movements of such grace that a murmur 
 of delight ran through the surrounding 
 spectators. 
 
 " You are too considerate," broke in Phryne 
 with laughter, " if you be content with such 
 slumbrous dance." 
 
 " Show us, then, one more joyous," inter- 
 rupted Praxiteles, heated by wine. 
 
142 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 Her eyes gleamed with unwonted fire. 
 
 *' Bide a while," she cried, and vanished 
 from their presence. 
 
 A breathless hush ; murmured whisperings 
 among the guests, and all eyes fixed expectant 
 on the door by which she had passed. Sud- 
 den the curtains were flung back, and an 
 exclamation / of enraptured wonder broke 
 from every/ lip. 
 
 The outer garment was thrown off, and 
 the fine white woollen under-robe, clinging to 
 her form and bringing into relief the contour, 
 was lifted to the knee, and her sandals were 
 laid aside. 
 
 Lithesome as a panther, she sprang among 
 the maidens, and, snatching from the hand of 
 one of them a tambourine, began, while 
 thrumming her accompaniment, a wild 
 bacchante dance. 
 
 Every outline of the elastic form dis- 
 played a rapture of motion, and as she felt 
 the gaze of the beholders fixed upon her, the 
 enchantment of bygone days came to her 
 anew ; anew she was Phryne of the past, and 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 143 
 
 their eyes, anon flashing, anon dazed, revealed 
 how magical was the spell entrancing them ; 
 forgetful of herself, dizzied with the de- 
 lighted plaudits that rose from all beholders 
 alike, ever more rapid whirled on the mazy 
 measure, closer clung the subtile texture 
 round the flowing contour, bringing still 
 more into relief the poetry of her form ; 
 suddenly the dance was suspended, and while 
 all were rapt in ecstasy and well-nigh unable 
 to keep in check, she stood looking upon the 
 throng with wreathed smiles, all unmoved, 
 the only being there asserting a full mastery 
 over herself. 
 
 She gave a start, as though shuddering, and 
 lifted an unsandalled foot from the marble 
 pavement. 
 
 " The ground is cold," she said ; 
 " I am chilled ; from whom may I get 
 shelter.?" 
 
 " Here ! " and " here ! " resounded the 
 laughing reply from every side, and one 
 and all stretched forth a pleading arm to- 
 wards the fair petitioner. 
 
 ir^^^i^i^Ai^^ 
 
 . '^'»>.)i.S<a;,J^&^ili^Siik>t^.i^!.4!JitiMtM'yt'-. 
 
144 ^^^ MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 She paid no heed. 
 
 " From the handsomest," she exclaimed, 
 with clear, ringing tones, and, straightway, 
 ere the bewildered guests were aware, she 
 leaped on the couch where Myrtolaos 
 was reclining,^ and nestled down close to 
 the astounded youth. 
 
 Hellanodike started half forward from 
 her seat. 
 
 Phryne had observed this ; with reckless 
 laughter she threw her arms round Myrto- 
 laos, while fixing a look of withering scorn 
 on the maiden. 
 
 She caught up the beaker standing near. 
 
 " Fill the wine-cups, slaves ! " she cried, 
 " and give every youth and maiden here 
 wine, that there be no one in this presence 
 who may look upon the madness of drink 
 with the cold eye of reserve." 
 
 The slaves obeyed the behest ; Phryne 
 lifted high the wine-cup. 
 
 " Hear what the controller of the feast 
 ordains : ' Death to coyness, death to 
 modesty and reserve ! '" 
 
A lU.- 
 
 v^s 
 
 Ml 
 
 "V- 'ri'iyjiiSfe" - . / ■ 
 
 '" '"idu' i .-■^'••■^' --^--«^-"^1i:k1wI 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. ^^ 
 
 " Death to them all ! " broke forth the 
 wild throng in chorus. 
 
 " And long live folly, long live blessed 
 madness ! " 
 
 " Long live both ! " resounded in reply. 
 
 A wild, disorderly bacchanalian scene 
 ensued, and while the revellers whirled in 
 interwoven maze through the mad rout, 
 Phryne bent close her lips to Myrtolaos' ear. 
 
 " Listen to me, fair and foolish boy," 
 she whispered in thrilling tones, *' to 
 whom I wish well, albeit thou so little 
 givest heed. I see thee suffering and know 
 what fails thee ; thou wouldst fain be an 
 artist like Praxiteles, and mayst not become 
 so because thou hast let thy warm heart 
 get bound to a loved one that is chilling." 
 
 Myrtolaos looked at her bewildered and 
 dumbfounded. 
 
 " Thou seest that I read thy thoughts," 
 continued Phryne, with an air of triumph. 
 "Well, then, I will aid thee, and will of 
 thee make an artist, and of thy Boeotian, an 
 Athenian." 
 
 lo 
 
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-•:■-- im-\=i^;. 
 
 146 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. ' ... 
 
 " What means this ? " asked he, wonder- 
 ingly. 
 
 *' Thou shalt see," she broke in 
 hurriedly ; " let me go on and trouble me 
 not, deem that all happens for thy welfare." 
 
 Ere he could snatch the sense of her 
 words she started up from the cushion 
 where she had been lying. 
 
 "Be still!" she cried to the maddening 
 crowd, and immediate silence followed. 
 
 In clear tones she exclaimed, — " Ye 
 men who know the original after which 
 Praxiteles fashioned the Cnidian Venus, 
 is there among you one who blameth 
 Phryne that she served as model } " 
 
 " Whoso would," said one of the envoys 
 from Cnidos, with flattering tone, " him 
 would I despatch to the Paphlagonians, 
 and let him feed on acorns." 
 
 " Be not so harsh ! " answered Phryne, 
 turning to the envoy, " for thy word 
 might reach a woman, and then would it 
 not be tender." 
 
 " A woman ? " asked Praxiteles. 
 
 ..--^X&aiSi.iiA'-^^. . 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 47 
 
 " Listen, then," and Phryne's voice grew 
 harsher ; " there is amongst us one who 
 in her heart of hearts curses my act ; the 
 friend of an artist who refuses to her 
 friend what Phryne permitted to hers." 
 
 "Whom dost thou mean ? " arose from 
 every side. 
 
 " There ! — Hellanodike, the daughter of 
 Myronides, from Tanagra." 
 
 All eyes turned towards Hellanodike, 
 who, trembling in every limb, sat as upon 
 embers. 
 
 " Look at her," went on Phryne ; 
 " saw ye ever a shape that Pallas moulded 
 more after her own form .? " 
 
 Myrtolaos started up. 
 
 "What art thou about?" he said half 
 aloud to Phryne. 
 
 She laid her hand upon his shoulder 
 and pressed him down laughingly to his 
 seat. 
 
 " Yonder sits the ruler in the realm of 
 beauty," she said, pointing to Praxiteles. 
 " Come, then, say whether Art has any 
 
.-,-;.^i|Ry.,-.^af^jp^;^:._j5S-5>Kf 
 
 148 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 claim on this being, and whether she dare 
 any longer withstand the claim of Art." 
 
 Praxiteles rose laughing from his seat. 
 
 "■ It needs no master in art," he replied, 
 "to pronounce that this fair form " 
 
 "Pallas! she must appear as Pallas!" 
 broke forth in disorderly cry from 
 twenty throats. The guests, divining 
 Phryne's intent, caught at the notion 
 eagerly. 
 
 "Dost hear .f* " said Phryne, turning to 
 Hellanodike ; " thou must obey the in- 
 junction ; yonder stands Paris, — appear to 
 him even as did Pallas in presence of 
 the son of Priam." 
 
 "Never!" she gasped, "never, never!" 
 
 The alarmed girl pressed both arms 
 against her breast. 
 
 "Thou must!" cried Phryne in strident 
 tones. 
 
 She dashed forward towards Hellano- 
 dike, and snatching fast the clasp that 
 held her garment on her shoulder, loosened 
 it. In the energy of dismay Hellanodike 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 49 
 
 Sprang forward, pushing back her assailant, 
 and would fain have fled the hall. 
 
 " Bring aid ! ' ' cried Phryne to the dancers, 
 and like to a band of demons they fell upon 
 Hellanodike, barring her way out. 
 
 Then formed around a dense, disorderly 
 rabble, and her beautiful bewildered eyes 
 wandered, as if dazed, around her throng of 
 tormentors, while she sought with convulsive 
 grasp to hold the garment tight to her 
 shoulder. 
 
 "Hold the Boeotian fast !" shouted sud- 
 denly Mnemarch, who had noticed Myrto- 
 laos springing from his couch. 
 
 Two bondmen threw themselves upon 
 him, and, grasping him by the arms and 
 shoulders, pressed him down with all their 
 might into his seat. 
 
 '^ Unhand me ! " raged Myrtolaos ; yet 
 they loosened not their grasp, but kept him 
 fast, as with iron grip. 
 
 This was the signal for the breaking loose 
 from all restraint and bounds. 
 
 The female dancers became transformed 
 
I50 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 into frenzied creatures. They seized Hel- 
 Janodike by the hands and arms, and a yell 
 of triumph rent the air as the azure garment, 
 torn from her shoulders, went fluttering earth- 
 ward. As a snow drift shining amid the 
 darksome tumult of sable locks and flushing 
 cheeks, and in the convulsive strain of her 
 mortal anguish, she pressed her arms over 
 her bared bosom, to hold faster still the 
 falling robe. 
 
 Presently Mnemarch, his face wearing the 
 aspect of a beast of prey, rushed into the 
 throng, and, making towards Hellanodike, 
 with one hand grasped her fair arm to bear 
 down her resistance, with the other seized 
 her robe, so as with one last snatch to tear 
 it away. 
 
 " Myrtolaos ! " rose a trembling bewildered 
 cry. 
 
 Thereupon resounded from the end of the 
 room a wild bursting yell of agony, and 
 over the table with a mighty bound came 
 rushing into the midst of the swaying crowd, 
 flinging them right and left, a powerful form 
 
THE MASTER OF 7ANAGRA. "'fji 
 
 that encompassed Hellanodike from behind 
 with stalwart arm. Next moment it swung 
 crushing down on Mnemarch's skull, whose 
 head dropped upon his breast, his hands sank 
 heavily, and smitten by a stroke of the fist 
 that seemed dealt as with the force of a 
 sledge-hammer, he fell headlong to earth, 
 gasping. 
 
 Hoarse, grating tones came murmuring on 
 Hellanodike' s ear. She caught not their 
 sense, for vehement excitement broke up 
 the words ere escaping from the lips, but 
 she recognised the voice, and even amidst 
 her anxiety and mortal confusion a feeling 
 of nameless rapture thrilled through her 
 frame. She twined her arms about his neck, 
 and clung to him so fast that the quick 
 throbbings of his heart found echo in her 
 breast, as she gazed into the beloved eyes 
 of Myrtolaos. 
 
 As with his left hand he clasped her to 
 him, with the right he seized a wine jar 
 lying empty on the ground, and swinging it 
 upward threateningly, poised aloft as a weapon, 
 
"trtB-SSr" «!T!«3a 
 
 152 THE MAS'I£R of 7ANAGRA. 
 
 and with vibrating lips and gleaming eyes 
 measuring the bystanders, he stood like to 
 a youthful Theseus battling among the 
 Centaurs. 
 
 At the further end of the room, crouched 
 on the ground, lay gasping for breath one 
 of the slaves that had held down Myrtolaos, 
 and whom with a fling of his foot he had 
 dashed against the wall. 
 
 For a brief space one and all, in dumb- 
 founded bewilderment, had fallen back, and 
 Phryne stood for a while silent amid the 
 rest, wholly bereft of her presence of mind. 
 Her brows frowning loweringly, her hands 
 twitching and twisting convulsively, revealed 
 meanwhile the tempest of wrath that went 
 careering through her spirit. Therewith her 
 glance caught what was passing behind the 
 youth. Mnemarch had come to himself. 
 His first token of returning life was a fierce 
 glance of mortal hate directed against Myrto- 
 laos. That glance escaped not Phryne' s 
 keen sight, and straightway she noted how 
 Mnemarch' s hand began clutching convul- 
 
 ^^^^St-i^-^-ji^f. 
 
UKlV'ti*^* . ; '^. ti 
 
 ,■: .jlK,2Jtrj,a->%iii:^ i ' -. fT^.-Ti-c ,'il.^ii: ^ 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 1 53 
 
 sively beneath his robe. She knew what 
 he sought for, and a dreadful thought per- 
 vaded her heart thirsting for vengeance. 
 She came forward, therefore, to gain time 
 for Mnemarch, and to prevent Myrtolaos 
 from looking round at his opponent. Sud- 
 denly she stood straight before the youth. 
 
 " What art thou venturing on in the 
 house of Praxiteles } ' ' she cried, and anger 
 gave to her voice a grating sound. " What 
 wouldst thou, Boeotian .? " 
 
 " I am protecting her from thee,' ' was his 
 reply ; and his hand grasped firmer the handle 
 of the wine jar. 
 
 At this instant an incident befel that took 
 breath and reflection away from all present. 
 
 With vehement haste Praxiteles glanced 
 at Myrtolaos ; with colossal strength tore 
 him away, while, with both arms thrown 
 around him, he forced him some steps 
 aside. 
 
 " Scoundrel ! " he shouted, his voice re- 
 sounding in thunder tones, and the next 
 moment he caught by the neck him thus 
 
- t ■ - . ' ■ 
 
 154 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 fitted with the epithet, — Mnemarch, and held 
 him, wriggling like a lizard, high in air. 
 
 A long double-edged blade was flashing 
 in Mnemarch' s hand, and now, in Praxiteles' 
 iron grip, crunched together, bereft of strength, 
 he let drop the murderous steel to the 
 ground. 
 
 The sculptor loosed his hold from his 
 throat, and Mnemarch sank gasping down. 
 
 Praxiteles stood over him, a deep fold and 
 sombre, as though indented by the chisel, 
 lay between his eyes, and he looked as if he 
 would lift his foot and crush Mnemarch in 
 the dust. The latter cowered on the ground, 
 and lifted not his gaze. 
 
 A deep mortal stillness prevailed in the 
 room ; it was as though a lion had burst 
 among the throng and broken into savage 
 roaring. 
 
 Hellanodike clung shuddering, like one 
 fever-stricken, to the arm of Myrtolaos. 
 
 " Come ! " now was whispered hurriedly 
 in her ear from her beloved's voice, " come!" 
 
 All unconsciously she clung to him who 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 55 
 
 now acted and thought for her. The eyes 
 and ears of all were now bent on Praxiteles 
 and Mnemarch ; no one observed the two 
 that now noiselessly slipped away behind the 
 rest. 
 
 Praxiteles now stepped back, and the spell 
 that held the surrounding bystanders in 
 breathless suspense was loosed. 
 
 Hurriedly, in awe -stricken disorder, the 
 band of dancers one and all pressed forward 
 towards the entrance, and the flickering of 
 torches that slaves now bore in the darkening 
 room fell on the pallid, troubled faces. 
 
 Mnemarch scrambled up from the ground, 
 and would fain, with sunken head, have 
 slunk off. 
 
 "Take thy knife away!" cried Praxiteles 
 after him, and at the words resounding in 
 awe-inspiring tone, Mnemarch turned back, 
 obedient as a hound, snatched up the knife 
 from the ground, and slunk forth. 
 
 Phryne had silently vanished whilst the 
 tumult was in full swing 
 
 " Come ! let us go out from hence," said 
 
■f,^,t-;<iV:i^^: ■ 7>^.'?SBKTn?g!;i»«a^^gy«aiTOiOT' 
 
 156 TlfE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 the sculptor to his guests. *' I grieve that our 
 revel should have been thus marred." 
 
 They quitted the hall; but discourse was 
 now at an end, and, as though with one 
 accord, the guests took sudden leave of 
 their host. In the house of Praxiteles all 
 was still. 
 
 He glanced around him, apparently 
 seeking something. 
 
 " Have you seen Myrtolaos I " he asked 
 the slaves. 
 
 None had observed the youth ; he motioned 
 the slaves away. 
 
 With torch in hand he went through 
 the house, his steps resounding with hollow 
 clang. He stepped into the apartment he had 
 had prepared as a dwelling, — it was empty ; 
 he entered his studio. Out of the half-light 
 shed by the torch stood forth in dusky out- 
 line the figure of the Hermes. 
 
 In the iron stanchion, standing out from 
 the wall, he fastened his torch, and then stood 
 in gloomy thought before the statue. Before 
 his mind's eye appeared the two beautiful 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 157 
 
 children in all their innocence as they had 
 stood at the Hermes festival, and he be- 
 thought him of the spectacle of to-day. The 
 light of the flame played over the lovely face 
 of the statue, the stiff features became living, 
 and it looked as if the Hermes were bending 
 down his head in mute grief, — the farewell 
 greeting of the Hermes of Tanagra. As 
 though stunned, Praxiteles sank on his seat ; a 
 feeling such as had never pervaded him flowed 
 dark and heavy through his soul — he gazed 
 around and felt that he was utterly alone. 
 
 Darkness had settled down on the streets 
 of Athens when Myrtolaos with Hellanodike 
 abandoned the house of Praxiteles. 
 
 Without hesitating, without glancing to 
 right or left, they passed over the threshold. 
 Mute and flurried she went forth on her 
 way ; she asked not whither her path led, she 
 only knew that it went away from the place 
 of horror, and that she was by his side and 
 encircled still by his arm. 
 
 " It is cold, and thou art shivering," said 
 
158 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 he, in a low voice, for he felt how her body, 
 protected only from the night air by the light 
 festive garment, trembled in his arms. 
 
 "No," said she, "I do not feel the cold; " and 
 she walked close by him with twofold speed. 
 
 A few hundred steps they might have 
 walked thus, and had just turned the corner 
 of the road, when they heard somebody 
 rushing after them, breathless and panting. 
 
 Hellanodike shuddered. 
 
 " Onward ! " said Myrtolaos, and he pushed 
 on. 
 
 "Not by this way," she heard whispered 
 close to her ear. 
 
 " Chlenusa ! " said both as with one breath ; 
 the next moment she was at their side. The 
 long dark cloak which covered her from head 
 to foot fluttered behind her. 
 
 " Why not this way ? " asked Myrtolaos ; 
 " is not this the way to the northern gate? " 
 
 " They are behind," she said, breathlessly, 
 " you will fall into their hands." 
 
 " Who pursues us } " asked Myrtolaos. 
 
 " Timoessa with her slaves — come in here ! " 
 
'Ci'. 
 
 Ufijvt»-i;vH I <j.t i\.u;: 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 1 59 
 
 — * 
 
 Uttering these words, she grasped the hand 
 of Myrtolaos, and with the energy of despair 
 drew him into a side street, which yawned 
 dark and narrow before them. 
 
 " On, on ! " she cried, seeing that Myrto- 
 laos wanted to pause ; and the sound of her 
 half stifled voice seemed to indicate so alarm- 
 ing a peril that the youth followed without 
 further ado. The street had no outlet, and 
 they could not advance further. 
 
 " Remain here and do not stir," said 
 Chlenusa ; *' and thou take this," turning to 
 Hellanodike, while she tore the cloak from 
 her own shoulders and put it round the 
 trembling girl ; " the night is cold, and you 
 have still far to go." 
 
 " But thou ? " asked Hellanodike. 
 
 " I need my cloak no more." There was 
 deep anguish in her voice. " Farewell, and 
 farewell, farewell ! " And while she sought 
 Hellanodike' s face in the darkness, she kissed 
 her with every word on mouth, and cheek, 
 and eyes. Then quitting them she hastened 
 from the side street back to the high road. 
 
 ■c~r>ls^r£^A;i;Ai'''.f -.itls'-^V.',-^^. . . J— ■:l.'.r.;.jilii'aiin«-jafeJW»J^%fc'-t,f^ -"-ar^Vill-'-ti'i.' 
 
l6o THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 The same moment a dull thud of heavy 
 footsteps came round the corner of the 
 road, a gleam of light was thrown into the 
 side street, and Timoessa, accompanied by 
 two slaves bearing torches, appeared at the 
 opening of the street. 
 
 The smouldering gleam of the torches lit 
 up with a deep red glow the vicious face of 
 the old hag and the savage features of the 
 slaves. One of the latter bore a coil of 
 ropes slung round his arm, a naked sword 
 was glittering in the other's hand. They 
 halted near the street, and the sound of 
 their quickened breath could be heard afar 
 off. 
 
 " They have left the road," said one of 
 the slaves ; " and yet I had seen them before 
 us all the while." 
 
 "Then they have noticed us and are 
 hidden somewhere here," cried Timoessa ; 
 " let us hunt for them ! " 
 
 Hellanodike sank on Myrtolaos' breast, and 
 he also felt a cold shudder passing through 
 his limbs. 
 
 li^JL^ileil ^ -,»!.. ' .. . .^j-'\ - . ,Ci^Ke^t^^^iiM!tis£,ti. 1-^ 
 

THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. l6l 
 
 Of a sudden he who bore the sword 
 came up. 
 
 " Look there ! " he exclaimed, and from 
 the other side of the street came forward 
 Chlenusa within range of the torchlight. 
 
 Like a vulture swooped Timoessa on the 
 maiden . 
 
 " Where are they bestowed } Thou 
 knowest ! " she shrieked, and her hands 
 fastened round the neck of the girl. 
 
 Chlenusa sank on her knees. 
 
 " Wilt thou speak '^. " demanded the slave 
 who, with the sword ready to smite, came 
 close to her, every thew of the sinewy arm 
 thrilling with murderous intent. 
 
 " Spare my life ! " returned Chlenusa ; *' I 
 will confess all. You are on the wrong track, 
 they are there yonder," and she pointed in 
 quite the contrary direction, " right round the 
 Acropolis ; they are seeking to wend back to 
 Praxiteles' house ; I have warned them." 
 
 " Warned them ! " screamed Timoessa. 
 " Speed after them ! " she said, turning to the 
 slaves, " catch them, seize them ! should they 
 
 II 
 
■-:p 
 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. l6l 
 
 Of a sudden he who bore the sword 
 came up. 
 
 " Look there ! " he exclaimed, and from 
 the other side of the street came forward 
 Chlenusa within range of the torchlight. 
 
 Like a vulture swooped Timoessa on the 
 maiden. 
 
 " Where are they bestowed .'' Thou 
 knowest ! " she shrieked, and her hands 
 fastened round the neck of the girl. 
 
 Chlenusa sank on her knees. 
 
 " Wilt thou speak } " demanded the slave 
 who, with the sword ready to smite, came 
 close to her, every thew of the sinewy arm 
 thrilling with murderous intent. 
 
 *' Spare my life ! " returned Chlenusa ; *' I 
 will confess all. You are on the wrong track, 
 they are there yonder," and she pointed in 
 quite the contrary direction, " right round the 
 Acropolis ; they are seeking to wend back to 
 Praxiteles' house ; I have warned them." 
 
 " Warned them ! " screamed Timoessa. 
 " Speed after them ! " she said, turning to the 
 slaves, " catch them, seize them ! should they 
 
 II 
 
 iL4*iL^.£i^"?".fA -.I'..?'- O* ..^-_ia.''.i-^--<*, ,. ■- . ,..-.,- .ia£"w>'.: ^7 ..- ■ -' . - ■"=-. .^5^v-^^-itAii3^^ 
 
162 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 reach Praxiteles' house, they are lost to 
 us ! " 
 
 " And this one here ? " asked the slave, 
 holding his sword over Chlenusa. 
 
 *' Give thy cord hither," said Timoessa. 
 She tore from his arm one of the bonds he 
 bore, and, aided by the slave, threw Chlenusa 
 on the ground. 
 
 " With her we will settle the reckoning 
 later on," she screamed, while she pressed 
 with her knees on the back of the girl, and 
 fastened her hands behind her. 
 
 " Away, after them ! and when they are 
 caught, bring them both hither ! " 
 
 The slaves turned, and like two panthers 
 breathing slaughter rushed away through the 
 street fronting them. 
 
 Timoessa lingered behind, kneeling on 
 Chlenusa ; the weighed-down breast of the 
 martyred girl gave forth a half-suffocated 
 sigh. 
 
 " Have pity ! " she groaned ; " art thou not 
 mv mother .? " 
 
 " I thy mother } " and Timoessa's teeth 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 63 
 
 gnashed against each other ; "in the street 
 I found thee and picked thee up, thou " 
 
 She was unable to finish, for a heavy grasp 
 plunged suddenly out of the dark, and was 
 planted like a bolt of iron on her contorted 
 mouth. 
 
 She would fain have screamed out, but only 
 a gurgling sound was audible ; she would fain 
 have sprung up, but held fast by the sturdy 
 grasp on her neck, she whirled round upon 
 herself, and fell to the ground with a crash. 
 
 On the moment, a tatter was torn from her 
 garment and stuck in her mouth as a gag ; 
 next instant the knots were loosed from 
 Chlenusa's hands, and while till now all had 
 gone forward in awful silence, Timoessa now 
 heard a well-known voice quickened with 
 wrath. 
 
 " Knowst thou me, go-between, thou bird 
 of prey accurst } take that and that, and bear 
 this to Mnemarch," and at the same time 
 came rattling down the cord swung by 
 Myrtolaos' hand in wrathful whizzing 
 strokes on her face, and hands, and 
 
164 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 shoulders. His wrath foamed like a raging 
 torrent from his heart, and he lashed out 
 upon her until howling she writhed upon 
 the ground, and cord as well as pavement 
 was besprinkled with her blood. 
 
 At last he flung the instrument of 
 punishment at Timoessa, and bent down 
 to Chlenusa. 
 
 " Canst thou stand .'^ " he asked. 
 
 She raised herself, aided by his arm, 
 with difficulty from the ground. 
 
 "Come,'' he said, " thou goest with us;" 
 and he lifted up in his arms the slender form. 
 
 Hellanodike took hold of the hand of 
 Chlenusa as it drooped down, and a soft 
 smile played around the lips of the pitiable 
 being. A few paces and the town-gate 
 was reached, and they went forth in freedom. 
 They breathed with laboured breath, — they 
 were safe. 
 
 The solemn stillness of night encom- 
 passed them around, and overhead glistened 
 the immortal stars ; to the north, in the 
 direction about where Tanagra lay, hung 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 16$ 
 
 a brilliant star, shimmering in soft tremulous 
 light. 
 
 " Whither away now ? " asked Hellano- 
 dike gently, as Myrtolaos stood still, and 
 let Chlenusa softly down from his arms. 
 
 " To thy father," he returned. 
 
 Thereupon she fell upon his neck, and 
 her silent tears mingled with his. 
 
 A few days had gone by. 
 
 Still and sultry hung the midday sun 
 above the mountain of Tanagra, the houses 
 of the town flared in the blinding light, 
 and like unto so many staring eyes peered 
 forth from amid the silent landscape at 
 their feet. 
 
 And now they perceived how on the 
 edge of the olive grove there below, lying 
 like a green-shaded island in the midst 
 of the sun-burnt fields, a figure appeared, 
 a fair, slim, maidenly shape, how she drew 
 the broad shading hat deeper over her face, 
 that the sun rays should not prevent her 
 from gazing across at the well-known and 
 
,.<:-,. .:-,..-.,-;;;^5iJ, ^if<?^K^5?? 
 
 1 66 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 beloved walls and gates ; and the houses 
 of Tanagra had become aware of her pre- 
 sence, and had they been able would have 
 given mutual greeting and whispered, — 
 
 " She is there once more, — she, whom we 
 held in our strong embrace, and who flitted 
 away from us so thoughtlessly, — our darling 
 Hellanodike." 
 
 Other eyes still had observed Hellanodike 
 while she stood thus on the border of the 
 grove, haloed in the light which, with the sun's 
 rays and leafy shade intermingled, encom- 
 passed her ; and those eyes had with more 
 earnest tenderness and sadness rested on her. 
 Behind her, on the border of a brook that 
 hurried through the wood, sat Myrtolaos 
 and gazed on her, and tired not of gazing, 
 for he knew that to-day it was for the 
 last time. When it was dark he would 
 take her to Tanagra, and to the house of 
 Myronides, for they were coy of the day- 
 light. How had he once dreamed of return- 
 ing to this house, and how had he come 
 back in reality! A bitter pain pierced his 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 167 
 
 heart, and in gloomy thoughts he bowed 
 down his head. 
 
 A light footfall sounded behind him, — 
 Hellanodike touched his shoulder. 
 
 "Chlenusa has not yet returned," she 
 said ; " she wanted to pluck blackberries 
 for us. I am tired out from our day's 
 journey." 
 
 " Rest thyself," he replied ; " 1 will watch 
 over thee." 
 
 On the grassy bank of the brook Hellano- 
 dike lay herself down ; he heaped leaves 
 and moss under her head, that she might 
 rest more softly, and he sat down by her 
 side. Like to a child that, while sinking 
 to rest, stretches out its grasp for the 
 cherished toy, she took hold of his hand 
 and with eyes weighing down with sleep, 
 once more gave a kindly glance, and was 
 sunk in slumber. 
 
 He sat near her and gazed down upon 
 her. The sight of her native town had 
 endowed anew the features of the noble 
 countenance with the innocent charm of 
 
$■■ 
 
 ■ l|^;;^'^f^ •^orOrSJ^ffi^ 
 
 l68 Tff£ MASTER OF TANAGKA:^/' 
 
 youth, and the memories of the last terrible 
 days lay spread thereoa as with a far-cast 
 shadow. 
 
 Then his eyes fell upon the water that 
 went plashing at his feet, and look yonder, 
 there, under the clear current, there gleamed 
 a layer of the finest yellowish-brown clay. 
 
 " How well might that be worked up 
 and shaped ! " he thought to himself, and 
 got angered as he found himself dallying 
 with the thought, for the strife was now 
 at an end; he was conscious that he was not 
 born to be an artist. 
 
 Yet the force of old habit seized him ; he 
 carefully loosed his hold of the tiny hand 
 still lying in his own, and, half sunk in 
 thought, he took some clay from the 
 streamlet's bed. He felt the soft moist 
 material in his hand, looked down at Hel- 
 lanodike, who, softly breathing, lay reclined 
 before him in deep slumber, so that it looked 
 as though she wished to give him ample time 
 to take in every contour of her figure, every 
 lineament of her countenance, by way of 
 
. -J«^a£sift::£^'~^ 
 
UHWtr/^Hi u'.iLu, 
 
 '^w,^ 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 169 
 
 lasting remembrance. Suddenly, in spite of 
 reason, the old delight seized his very soul, 
 and he determined, by his last handiwork, to 
 fashion a memorial of his beloved. It was 
 not to be a statue such as came from Praxi- 
 teles' hands, and such as he had in vain 
 attempted with painful effort to shape, — 
 nothing more than an image of Hellanodike; 
 but like, so like as he could possibly make it, 
 in every fold of the drapery, with the broad- 
 brimmed hat which she loved so much to 
 wear, and with that smile which now so 
 mysteriously hovered over her sweet face, as 
 though a rapturous dream had told her of 
 unlooked-for joy and content. 
 
 In the posture he had seen her assume 
 when watching her on the borders of the 
 olive grove, looking over towards Tanagra, 
 he determined to represent her, and without 
 tarrying set to work. 
 
 As he commenced working, inmost happi- 
 ness filled his heart, such as he had never 
 known ; all sorrow of bygone hours and all 
 cares of the future were forgotten ; a soft 
 
 ..-■SSt:.*^TlV,.-, 
 

 r 
 170 TITE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 gentle breeze passed through the green 
 wood ; and it seemed to him as though 
 the minor deities of the woods and of love 
 sprang up from behind the trees and stood 
 around him, and, softly whispering, looked 
 over his shoulder at his work. And now, as 
 the shapeless clay assumed the form of a 
 slender figure, and each impression and 
 stroke of his hand seemed to exercise a magic 
 spell and to impart fresh, warm life into the 
 graceful body and into the drapery which 
 flowed around her form ; and when at 
 last, in small proportions, yet perfectly 
 recognisable, Hellanodike's sweet features 
 appeared, he had to check himself not to 
 burst out in loud, joyous exclamation ; he 
 only murmured her name quite softly and 
 gazed at her, and saw that she still was rapt 
 in dreams, and that she still smiled, and an 
 invincible desire overcame him to wake her 
 with a kiss ; yet he did not do so, for she 
 must still sleep on till the figure was quite 
 finished. Thus he continued working and 
 working ; to each fold of the delicate gar- 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. I /I 
 
 ment he gave its place, each wavelet of dark- 
 brown locks he marked with the sharpened 
 point of a twig, which he had cut to suit his 
 purpose, and thus he did not notice how 
 someone came behind him tripping through 
 the wood. It was Chlenusa, who had been 
 looking for blackberries, and was returning 
 with her woodland plunder. When she had 
 come quite close he noticed her, and laid his 
 finger on his lips, in sign not to wake Hel- 
 lanodike from her slumbers ; then he showed 
 her the litde figure, which was now completed. 
 She took it up with a look of indifference ; 
 but scarcely had she gazed at it, when her 
 face changed, her dark eyes flashed, and 
 '* Hellanodike ! Hellanodike !" she cried, 
 dancing round the sleeping form in wild joy. 
 Myrtolaos wanted to restrain her, but Hel- 
 lanodike had already awoke and looked 
 about her in astonishment. Chlenusa rushed 
 to her and seated herself on the sward beside 
 her. 
 
 "Dost thou know who this is? Dost thou 
 know her.f"' she exclaimed, in joy and 
 
 - -. , -: .,^.j..^-.<.^.,.U>^ 
 
V 
 
 170 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 gentle breeze passed through the green 
 wood ; and it seemed to him as though 
 the minor deities of the woods and of love 
 sprang up from behind the trees and stood 
 around him, and, softly whispering, looked 
 over his shoulder at his work. And now, as 
 the shapeless clay assumed the form of a 
 slender figure, and each impression and 
 strt^ke of his hand seemed to exercise a magic 
 spell and to impart fresh, warm life into the 
 gnicetul body and into the drapery which 
 flowed around her form ; and when at 
 last, in small proportions, yet perfectly 
 recognis;ible, Hellanodike's sweet features 
 apj^eared, he had to check himself not to 
 burst out in loud, joyous exclamation ; he 
 only murmured her name quite softly and 
 gazed at her, and saw that she still was rapt 
 in dreams, and that she still smiled, and an 
 invincible desire overcame him to wake her 
 with a kiss ; yet he did not do so, for she 
 must still sleep on till the figure was quite 
 finished. Thus he continued working and 
 working ; to each fold of the delicate gar- 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. I/I 
 
 ment he gave its place, each wavelet of dark- 
 brown locks he marked with the sharpened 
 point of a twig, which he had cut to suit his 
 purpose, and thus he did not notice how 
 someone came behind him tripping through 
 the wood. It was Chlenusa, who had been 
 looking for blackberries, and was returning 
 with her woodland plunder. When she had 
 come quite close he noticed her, and laid his 
 finger on his lips, in sign not to wake Hel- 
 lanodike from her slumbers ; then he showed 
 her the little figure, which was now completed. 
 She took it up with a look of indifference ; 
 but scarcely had she gazed at it, when her 
 face changed, her dark eyes flashed, and 
 " Hellanodike ! Hellanodike !" she cried, 
 dancing round the sleeping form in wild joy. 
 Myrtolaos wanted to restrain her, but Hel- 
 lanodike had already awoke and looked 
 about her in astonishment. Chlenusa rushed 
 to her and seated herself on the sward beside 
 her. 
 
 "Dost thou know who this is.-* Dost thou 
 know her.'"' she exclaimed, in joy and 
 
172 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 Jaughter, showing her the image; and in 
 amazement Hellanodike regarded her own 
 sweet features. 
 
 " Myrtolaos," she said, "hast thou made 
 it?" 
 
 Chlenusa clapped her hands. "He has 
 made it," she said; "he who has been 
 asleep till now, and has only this day 
 awakened." She snatched the figure from 
 Hellanodike' s hands, and pressed it to her 
 bosom. 
 
 " Thou wilt crush it," said Myrtolaos. 
 
 ' ' I crush it ? " the girl replied ; * ' dost 
 think I could spoil such.'*" 
 
 With a single bound she was at the nearest 
 olive bush, tore off a branch, and twisted it 
 into the shape of a wreath. Almost solemnly 
 she approached Myrtolaos. 
 
 "Give ear," she said, "when they shall 
 once crown thee with the wreath sacred in all 
 Hellas, then forget not that it was Chlenusa 
 who first crowned thee." 
 
 The girl was as it were iij a rapture, and 
 Myrtolaos was not sure whether her strange, 
 
THE MASTER OF TANA<?RA. 1 73 
 
 passionate words were in earnest or jest. 
 Meantime he did not restrain her from 
 standing on tip-toe, and pressing the ohve 
 wreath on his dark locks. 
 
 Chlenusa turned to Hellanodike. 
 
 "Is he alone to be crowned.'"' she said ; 
 *' wait, I will weave thee a wreath of wild 
 roses." 
 
 " Roses in an olive grove ? " he asked. 
 
 "If not in the wood, then on the borders 
 of it," she replied. "Come, I had picked 
 blackberries for you, do you eat while I 
 am seeking." 
 
 "Leave the figure here," Myrtolaos called 
 out to her, as she was hastening away. But 
 she swung it high above her head, holding it 
 up like a trophy, laughing the while, and 
 soon disappeared in the copse. 
 
 Hellanodike and Myrtolaos sat close to- 
 gether, side by side, and partook of the 
 berries, of which the girl had brought them 
 a large heap ; they spoke not, for their 
 thoughts were cast down, reflecting on the 
 coming hours. 
 

 174 THE MASTER OB TAN AGRA. 
 
 As Myrtolaos had prophesied, Chlenusa 
 found no roses in the wood, nor on the 
 borders of it, where she had roved up and 
 down ; but in the plain between town and 
 wood her keen eyes fancied they had dis- 
 covered the sought-for prize. She hurried in 
 the direction along the road, and only when 
 she was quite close to the rose bushes did 
 she notice that a moat and enclosure sepa- 
 rated her from them. 
 
 For the light-footed girl this obstacle was 
 small ; without a moment's hesitation she 
 leaped over the moat, climbed over the 
 enclosure, and plucked a whole lapful of 
 roses. 
 
 In the midst of her occupation ponderous 
 footsteps came trudging along, and of a 
 sudden she felt her arm ungently seized by 
 a rough grip. 
 
 "So I have caught thee, thou thieving 
 wench," said the gardener; "dost not see 
 that this is a garden and private property, 
 in which creatures such as thou have no 
 business } ' ' 
 
THE MASTER OF^TANAGRA. 1 75 
 
 "I am no thief," said the girl, and tried 
 vainly to wriggle out of his clutches. 
 
 "Thou no thief?" and he looked at the 
 bronzed, gipsy creature, who certainly had 
 much resemblance to a tramp. "Come 
 thou with me, we will give thee thorns for 
 thy roses." 
 
 He dragged her along with him, and only 
 now did she notice that she was in a large, 
 beautifully laid-out garden. 
 
 Along one of the broad, cleanly-swept 
 paths a man of noble bearing approached. 
 His hair and beard were very grey, and he 
 walked, as it seemed, sunk in deep thought. 
 As he saw the two advancing towards him, 
 he raised his head. 
 
 "Whom dost thou bring with thee there?" 
 he asked of the gardener. 
 
 From the submissive demeanour with 
 which the latter stood before him, Chlenusa 
 recognised that he was the owner of the 
 garden. 
 
 " Master," said the gardener, " this is 
 plainly one belonging to the bands of 
 
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 \ 
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 176 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 thieves, who of late have made this neigh- 
 bourhood so unsafe ; I caught her openly 
 thieving." 
 
 " Not thieving, master," the girl exclaimed ; 
 " I only plucked a few roses from the bushes 
 in thy garden ; thy garden will be none the 
 poorer thereby." 
 
 To confirm her words she spread out the 
 folds of her dress, and let the roses fall to 
 the ground ; at the same moment the little 
 image also fell, which she had been carrying, 
 covered by the roses, in her lap. 
 
 Hurriedly she bent down to catch it, bat 
 the gardener was quicker than she. 
 
 " Thou thieving magpie," he cried in 
 triumph, " is that a rose too } " 
 
 The girl burst into tears. 
 
 " Do not handle it so roughly and un- 
 couthly ! " she called out to the gardener ; 
 " dost thou not see, thou uncouth one, that 
 thou art spoiling it? " 
 
 The owner of the garden grew attentive. 
 
 " What is that ? " he asked, and took the 
 image from the hands of his servant. But 
 
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 UN 
 
 IVthoM, «7sK...-u,,,. 
 
 <'. !l . :> 1^ If i.-ik^ULt^f:^^^^66.-: . 
 
7 HE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 177 
 
 scarcely had he glanced at it than the tall 
 figure trembled with emotion. 
 
 " Whence hast thou this ? " he asked, 
 . " where is she whom this represents ? " 
 
 The girl looked up at him with dark, 
 glistening eyes, and remained silent. 
 
 " Dost thou not hear what the master asks 
 thee } " grumbled the gardener, interrupting. 
 
 "If thou dost know her, and dost bear 
 malice against her," Chlenusa replied slowly, 
 "thou shalt kill me ere I tell thee where 
 to find her." 
 
 He placed his one hand on her black 
 flowing locks, whilst with the other 
 he pressed with tender care the little figure 
 to his heart. 
 
 " Lead me to her," said he, " and fear 
 not ! " 
 
 Chlenusa felt the hand laid on her head 
 trembling slightly. 
 
 The shades of the trees were lengthening 
 in the wood; Myrtolaos looked up to the 
 sky, and heaved a deep sigh. 
 
 *' It grows late," said he; "when we arrive 
 
 12 
 
 
178 THE MAiilER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 at Tanagra it will be dark ; we must hurry, 
 otherwise they will not let us enter the town 
 gates. Come, Hellanodike." 
 
 She fastened her hat on her head, and her 
 heart was throbbing with excitement ; mean- 
 while he approached the brook, picked 
 Chlenusa's olive wreath to pieces, and let 
 leaf by leaf float down, drawn on by the 
 gentle current. 
 
 " Dost thou not rejoice that we return to 
 my father } " she asked, placing her arm on 
 his shoulder. 
 
 He turned round to her with heavy heart. 
 
 " Thou dost return to him," he replied, — 
 " not I." 
 
 She grew pale, and he twined his arm 
 about her. 
 
 " Myrtolaos!" she cried, in astonishment 
 and alarmed, for in her simplicity she had 
 never thought of such eventuality. 
 
 " No," said he, " when I fled from him 
 together with thee and brought shame on his 
 grey hair, I was but a lad ; now I have 
 learnt what a man feels when wrong is done 
 
THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 179 
 
 to what he loves best, and that a man cannot 
 forgive it. Come," — he did not utter her 
 name, for he feared that the sweet sound of 
 it would break down all his courage, — " we 
 must now part from each other here." 
 
 Sobbing she lay on his breast. It seemed 
 to her as if her whole previous life was merged 
 in a black fathomless depth, and Tanagra with- 
 out him was no longer Tanagra to her. 
 
 " Oh that Praxiteles had never come to 
 us!" she murmured. 
 
 " Be silent," he said, in tremulous tones, " be • 
 silent; do not mention his name any more, 
 thou dost rend my heart." 
 
 Thus they stood, her head close to his, 
 both so young, so beautiful, yet so unhappy; 
 by nature made for each other, yet by fate 
 torn asunder. 
 
 Suddenly a voice was heard behind them, 
 at sound of which they both sprang up 
 trembling. 
 
 "Hellanodike!" 
 
 The sound was solemn and sorrowful, and 
 looking round they beheld the majestic figure 
 

 I . ■ 
 
 180 TJI£ MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 of Myronides standing a few steps apart 
 from them between the trees irradiated by 
 the red hght. 
 
 " Father ! " cried the girl, and in that 
 moment all was forgotten, and she hung 
 round his neck and kissed him with over- 
 flowing tears. 
 
 He bent back her head, and looked ear- 
 nestly and searchingly into her face; but on 
 seeing her eyes turned frankly towards him, he 
 was conscious that she was still his own child, 
 his pure, guileless child, and almost against 
 his will a smile passed over his stern features. 
 
 With face averted, and dejected in mind, 
 Myrtolaos had stood apart; Myronides now 
 called him. 
 
 As if stunned he advanced a few paces, and 
 then remained standing still. 
 
 " Thou art afraid of me, Myrtolaos," said 
 Myronides ; and at the sound of his voice, 
 which had pervaded his whole life like a 
 sweet perfume, his heart sank within him; 
 he fell at his feet, and covered Myronides' 
 hand with kisses and tears. 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. l8l 
 
 " Look at this," said Myronides, and he 
 showed the astonished youth the little image 
 of Hellanodike ; " hast thou made this ? " 
 
 Myrtolaos blushed, silently nodding assent. 
 
 " Didst thou make it in Athens ? " 
 
 " No," replied Myrtolaos, " here in the 
 forest a few hours ago." 
 
 With moist eyes the old man gazed at 
 the youth, his hand rested lovingly on his 
 curly head, and he bent low down towards 
 him. 
 
 "Then it is not necessary to live in Athens 
 in order to create such things } I know," he 
 whispered to him, " thou didst not intend 
 to return to my house. Come back to me, 
 Myrtolaos, my son!" 
 
 " My father," stammered the youth, "canst 
 thou forgive what I have done to thee ? " 
 
 " Must I not do so," said Myronides, " as 
 thou bringest with thee such an ally ? " and 
 he pointed at Hellanodike's image. 
 
 A cry of joy arose from two happy beings, 
 and Myrtolaos and Hellanodike embraced 
 the noble man. 
 
■-: ''*"'^'"^f:-"^v:m?^i^^^r: ■ 
 
 1 . 
 . 182 TIfE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 "Unloose me," he said, smUing; "here is 
 still someone who awaits me." 
 
 He turned round and beckoned to Chlenusa, 
 who had shyly remained in the background, 
 seated on a felled tree. 
 
 " The roses that thou didst wish to pick 
 to-day," he said, " are lost ; from henceforth 
 thou shalt pluck as many roses as thou wilt 
 in the garden of Myronides ; thou art now 
 a Tanagrian damsel." 
 
 She gazed at him one moment as if she did 
 not understand, for the language of a father's 
 heart was strange to the lonely girl ; suddenly, 
 however, she seemed to apprehend, hurried 
 towards Hellanodike, and throwing herself at 
 her feet on the sward, broke forth into sobs 
 and cries of joy, and pressed her quivering 
 face in the folds of her dress. 
 
 Hellanodike bent down and kissed her, and 
 recalled the hours when she had known no 
 comfort and no friend save the wild brown 
 girl. 
 
 A year had gone by, when Praxiteles, 
 
•ll^-'WS^^SHSK' 
 
 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 1 83 
 
 entering his studio where his pupils were at 
 work, found the latter in excited converse. 
 They crowded round Polymachron, and 
 seemed to be regarding some object which he 
 held in his hands. 
 
 " What have you there ? " asked the 
 sculptor, 
 
 " Thou shalt decide, master," replied 
 Polymachron. " We are discussing the worth 
 of these objects ; at all events, they appear to 
 us new and original." 
 
 He made over to Praxiteles several little 
 figures in baked clay, which represented 
 female figures in various positions, some 
 standing, some as it were walking, some 
 seated on a rock. The figures were draped, 
 and the colours of the garments, amongst 
 which sky-blue was predominant, were 
 delicately marked. 
 
 Praxiteles took the strange little figures in 
 his hands and regarded them. Suddenly his 
 gaze grew more intent ; without a word he 
 quitted the studio. The pupils, left to them- 
 selves, looked at each other in astonishment. 
 
 .-ji.^w\ ti ^ 
 
1 84 THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. ■ " 
 
 With hasty steps he entered his own work- 
 room, placed the Uttle figures on a table at 
 the foot of the Hermes model, which for a 
 long time seemed not to have been touched> 
 and sat down before it. 
 
 For a long time he remained lost in deep 
 thought, and whoever saw him sitting thus 
 might have thought that he was reading the 
 figures. 
 
 In truth, it was not much else ; for the 
 little figures before him told him a history 
 of troubles and sorrows, crowned at last by 
 the reward of patience, and he listened to 
 this revelation which filled his heart like a 
 sweet and luscious fairy tale. 
 
 The figures did not vary much in shape, 
 for it was ever but one face, one form that 
 repeated itself over and over again ; it was 
 Hellanodike, but love's fantasy played around 
 the figure, and transformed it into ever 
 new, ever more charming attitudes ; and the 
 longer he looked, the warmer grew the smile 
 on the bewitching little face, the more brim- 
 ful of life every movement of the dehcate 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 185 
 
 limbs, and he felt as if he could hear her 
 speak, ever only one word, but varying in 
 all the different strains which love has con- 
 trived for human expression, " Myrtolaos, 
 Myrtolaos ; " and suddenly he sprang up, 
 and felt that he stood in the midst of 
 the Paradise which had been created on 
 earth by the spirit of the great artist, 
 and the name of this great master was — 
 Myrtolaos. 
 
 " Hermes of Tanagra," said he, as he 
 stood before the unfinished model of his 
 favourite pupil who had fled, " then I was 
 not deceived when for the first time I looked 
 in thine eyes — and so long hadst thou to 
 seek till thou didst find what was even so 
 near to thee ? " 
 
 The pupils looked up as Praxiteles re- 
 turned to them with earnest and almost 
 solemn demeanour. 
 
 "Youths," he said, "I have news for 
 you ; a master in our art has arisen in Greece ; 
 it is he whose works Polymachron has shown 
 me." 
 
. v- /"jra: ^ •: .. .»'- 
 
 X. - ^^-•-" -^^g*" -'■v^- 
 
 
 1 86 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 A surprised whisper ran through the 
 throng. 
 
 " Who can it be ? " asked Polymachron. 
 
 " I think we know him," said Praxiteles. 
 " From whom have you these figures } " 
 
 " From a girl who seemed to have come 
 from country parts, and who, as she said, 
 wished to offer the images for sale in the 
 studio of Praxiteles." 
 
 *' Perhaps it was from her '^. " asked Praxi- 
 teles, pointing to Chlenusa, who entered at that 
 moment to know the result of her coming. 
 
 " To be sure they were from her." 
 
 Praxiteles beckoned to the girl. 
 
 " I think we know one another ; and so 
 it is thou who dost sell the works of 
 Myrtolaos in Athens?" 
 
 " Myrtolaos ? Myrtolaos made that.?" 
 ran from mouth to mouth with the rapidity 
 of lightning. 
 
 "Ask her," returned Praxiteles, smiling. 
 
 "Yea, Myrtolaos in Tanagra," Chlenusa 
 now exclaimed, looking proudly round her. 
 *' In Tanagra now everybody crowds towards 
 
■'?^^^K^-^'-^?^>;^J?-*,c->PT^. . ^-/-^v^:';; ^^; 
 
 THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 1 87 
 
 the house of Myronides, in which he lives 
 and works, for all wish to have a figure of 
 his workmanship. And because he is a 
 dreamer and does not know what to do to 
 become a celebrated man, I have got away 
 without his knowledge, in order to show them 
 to you, who understand such things." 
 
 All laughed, for she looked so quaint in 
 her self- undertaken mission, 
 
 *' So thou wilt make him renowned ? " said 
 Praxiteles. 
 
 " Verily," she replied, " for so have I pro- 
 mised Hellanodike." 
 
 '* Come with me," said he. 
 
 He took the girl with him into his studio, 
 sat down once more before the images, and 
 every i.hing that these had already told him, 
 the whole story of their love and happiness 
 and rich artistic creations, he heard again from 
 the lips of this dark maiden. 
 
 She drew to a close. 
 
 *' So they are man and wife .f* " said he, 
 " and — why dost thou blush ? " 
 
 " Well, it is quite natural," she answered ; 
 

 1 88 T/fE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 " and he is so pretty, and is so like both of 
 them." 
 
 Praxiteles smiled, and stood before the 
 Hermes. A thought flashed through his 
 mind; it must be a happy thought, for it 
 lighted up his noble brow 
 
 " Thou must stay at my house this night,' ' 
 he said, turning to Chlenusa, " for thou 
 knowest Mnemarch still lives. To-morrow 
 we drive together to Tanagra." 
 
 She understood him, and withdrew. 
 
 From that moment till the next day, 
 Praxiteles worked again with the dashing 
 joyousness of old which had failed him for 
 so long ; he himself scarce knew why. 
 
 But what he had created he hid carefully 
 under protecting covering, as early the 
 next morning, accompanied by Chlenusa, he 
 mounted the chariot. 
 
 And once again, as of yore, the car whirled 
 along the highway from Athens to Oropos, 
 and from Oropos in the direction of Tanagra ; 
 once more the Euboean Sea splashed close by 
 on the strand and drifted towards the dark- 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. l8f 
 
 haired man and his companion the refreshing 
 breath of its foaming billows ; and again the 
 goad descended quicker and quicker on the 
 backs of the horses, the nearer they ap- 
 proached to the end of their journey. He 
 drew up with loud rattle at the door of 
 Myronides, hasty steps resounded through 
 the house, and in the next moment a loud and 
 joyous cry was heard from the studio, where 
 the young sculptor had been engaged at his 
 work, and Myrtolaos was clasped in the arms 
 of his beloved master. 
 
 Through the widely-opened doors of the 
 studio one could look into the green and 
 flowery garden, and over the threshold came, 
 attracted by the joyous cry, the other inmates 
 of the house. 
 
 Myronides, whose hair had grown whiter, 
 and whose step more languid, was never- 
 theless the first to greet the guest ; and then 
 a slight rustling noise was heard passing the 
 threshold, and, blushing in sweet confusion, 
 the lovely young mother Hellanodike entered 
 the apartment. With her came a fourth 
 
IQO THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 
 
 young inmate of the house, not yet known 
 of Praxiteles, who from out his mother's arms 
 reached towards the kindly and majestic 
 man, till he took him smilingly from Hellano- 
 dike, and made him ride on his arms. 
 
 Myrtolaos advanced. 
 
 " Look at this dear little fellow," said he, 
 " he seems to know that he bears thy name." 
 
 " Oh, ye happy ones," said Praxiteles, 
 restoring the little boy to his mother's arms, — 
 " there is nothing one cati give you, for you 
 possess all ! And yet permit that I come 
 not with empty hands into the midst of your 
 abundance." 
 
 At a sign given, a servant fetched the 
 mysterious object he had brought with him 
 from Athens; before the eyes of the ex- 
 pectant beholders he detached the coverings 
 and an exclamation of surprise was heard. 
 
 Before them stood, executed on a small 
 scale, the finished model of Hermes. 
 
 It was the one of old, yet different withal, 
 for the gloomy -looking Hermes had become 
 transformed into a genially-dreamy Hermes, 
 
THE MASTER OF TAN AGRA. 191 
 
 on whose left arm a charming boy was 
 swaying, and the uplifted right of the deity 
 bore no longer the staff with which he guides 
 the dead to the shades below, but a full 
 bursting cluster of grapes, which he dangled 
 enticingly before the eyes of the sportive 
 child. 
 
 " And now," said Praxiteles smiling, " let 
 us to business ! " 
 
 They all looked at him in wonderment. 
 
 " Yes," he went on, " thou must name 
 the price I may purchase these at," and he 
 drew from the folds of his garment the little 
 images Chlenusa had brought to Athens. 
 
 " Thou knowest them ? " cried Myrtolaos. 
 
 " More than that," returned Praxiteles, 
 " I possess them, never more to let them 
 go from me." 
 
 " Myronides," said he with earnest voice, 
 as he laid his arms round Myrtolaos and 
 Hellanodike's shoulders and advanced with 
 them towards his host, *' I tore this young 
 sapling from thy garden, and it came about 
 as thou saidst, the soil remained clinging to 
 

 192^ THE MASTER OF TANAGRA. 
 
 his roots ; he hath tasted of foreign land^ and 
 foreign sun, and if to him it proved too hot 
 and too vivid, the pains he thereby endured 
 were heahh-giving, since they taught him to 
 know the ground he needed to unfold his 
 genius. Be happy,* Myronides, thou wilt 
 not lose him more^ for nearest to thy.^art 
 is the spot where this noble sapling f^ust 
 strike root, so that he may take growth. 
 And grow he will," he exclaimed with enthu- 
 siasm ; " and if this town should ever vanish 
 from earth, yet there will hover over its ruins 
 like unto a sweet dream of bygone days, 
 the spirit of him who fashioned these works, 
 the spirit of the Master of Tanagra." 
 
 As all separated late in the evening, to 
 betake themselves to rest, Myrtolaos and 
 Praxiteles stood for a moment alone. 
 
 " And Phryne ? " inquired Myrtolaos. 
 
 *' Speak not of her," said Praxiteles ; " she 
 now dwells at Rhodos — with Apelles." 
 
 Printed hy Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury. 
 
 
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