Page:Christian Greece and Living Greek.djvu/44

 22 CHRISTIAN GREECE AND LIVING GREEK. witnesses that if death or sickness should hap- pen, if joy or sorrow should befall them, he would go to fetch her. Then came a year of misfortune, a month of distress. The pest raged and took away the nine sons. The mother alone was left, a reed in the midst of the desert. Before eight graves she struck her chest, from the grave of Constantine she had the stone raised. Rise, O my Constantine, I will have my Arete. Thou hast given God for bond and the saints for witnesses, that when joy or grief should happen thou wouldst go to fetch her. This adjuration brought him from his tomb. Out of a cloud he made a horse for him- self, and out of a star a bridle, he had the moon for companion and went to fetch his sister. He traversed the mountain ranges and he found her combing her hair in the moonshine. He saluted her from the distance, saying: Come with me, my sister, our mother calls thee to her side. Ah, my brother, at what unusual hour thou callest on me. If it is joy which is waiting for me, let me know it that I may put on my garments embroidered with gold; if thou grievest for a sad event then I remain as I am. Come with me, my Arete, and remain as thou art. Along the road they went ; they met little