"I am Archidimea then ; know you me now?” called up in

The mere mention of her name called his memory the recollection of those scenes which,

although they had once made a deep impression upon his mind, had been buried beneath those of more recent occurrence. He looked on her with an expression of detestation and pity, of which she was perfectly conscious, although she was unmoved by the rebuke it communicated.

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Unhappy woman," he replied, "what can have caused you thus to intrude yourself upon me? Is it to rejoice over the situation in which you find me? to blame me for not possessing an affection which I could never have felt towards you, had you been the only woman on earth? or to attempt again to destroy a love which is stronger than death? If either of these be the motive for your presence, may at once tell you that neither argument nor entreaty can shake my resolution, neither imprisonment nor death."

I

"Hear me, Aristomenes," the priestess replied: "I have not been brought here by either of the motives you have mentioned. This is one of the acts of self-denial by which the gods have resolved

that I should feel the folly and wickedness of my duplicity. The remembrance of the past has been too long the cause of my sorrow, to permit me now to attempt the exculpation of my guilt. Ask me not to love her who has engrossed all your affections, but tell her that one who once abused her confidence is not now unworthy of it."

Thus saying, she threw back one of the panels in the little apartment in which Aristomenes was confined, and explained to him the manner in which he might make his escape. But as she was retiring, the long drawn and harsh tones of the Messenian challenge were heard. Aristomenes started at the sound; and the priestess turning to him, inquired, by her looks rather than by words, the meaning of the anxious expression on his coun

tenance.

"It is," said Aristomenes, "the Messenian challenge; Gonippus has returned with my veterans to rescue me; and if it should be as I imagine, I tremble for the result."

"Haste then, noble chieftain," said Archidimea, "the way of escape is open; but if you can grant me a boon, or listen to one request from me, with

VOL. II.

G

draw your troops, and whatever may occur in the unnatural war which is now raging in our native countries, let Egila be free from the revenge of the Messenian soldiers.-May I ask it for my own sake?"

"It shall be as you wish," the warrior replied, "Egila shall be to every Messenian a neutral spot, and the remembrance of this scene shall banish from my mind the recollection of every other in which we have before met."

Gonippus had commenced the attack upon the town when Aristomenes joined his companions, but the full-toned sonorous voice of the leader instantly suspended their vigorous and enthusiastic assault. Without entering into any explanation of his conduct, he withdrew his soldiers from the scene of action, and, during the remainder of the war, Egila was considered by all the Messenian chieftains as a spot where the sword could not be drawn, and in many instances it afforded a secure asylum to the defeated Spartans.

CHAPTER VII.

"What, from the oracle, with garlands trimm'd

Has Phoebus uttered?"

ARISTOPHANES.

THE Success

which had attended the Messenian arms as directed by Aristomenes, excited the fears of the Spartans, and the domestic broils in which they were involved, increased their gloomy apprehensions. There were many who openly confessed that the nation was under the malediction of the gods, for having commenced an unjust war with cruelty and treachery; and still more, who expressed their opinion that it was scarcely justifiable to extend the Spartan territory, by seizing on the land of those

who had their descent from the same stock. These opinions were not entertained during the period in which the Spartans held possession of Messenia, and would not, probably, have been indulged, if fortune, that fickle goddess of whose sympathy none can long boast without a fear of offence, had not smiled upon the enemy. But the invaders were now equally disturbed by the presence of a foreign and a domestic foe.

The Spartan laws, as already intimated, were formed with a view to the public good, without reference to the principles of morality or the happiness of individuals. We are well aware that there are some persons in the present day, who profess to be influenced by the same false notion of national happiness, and admit certain species of immorality and crime, on the assumption that the result will justify the deed. It is not uncommon to hear a base, unmanly, and even unjust act defended, upon the plea, that the public will derive an advantage. This is an argument which may justify any enormity, give a shade of glory to any impudent demagogue, and prejudice, in the estimation of the vulgar, any cause, however firmly it may be built, on the virtuous,