Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/120

Rh disdain a passion which caused Mars to linger at the feet of Aphrodite.”

“Kings should love nothing but virtue.”

“And is not love a virtue, my Hephstion? ’ “In my sense it is rather a weakness. Conquerors should entertain no passions which they cannot rule; and love, time out of mind, has led conquerors captive. Theseus won his triumphs worthily, but he gave all up when he laid his heart under the feet of his Amazon princess. So wouldst thou be made slave by thy captive? Let me not see so mad an issue out of so great a triumph as thou hast won m Thebes.”

“But look at her even now as she stands there, Hephstion, trembling like a coy dove that fears the fowler. Is not thy heart moved by her charms? Look on her, and judge if it be a weakness to yield.”

“I behold her, and I see no such matter as thou dost,” answered Hephstion.“ It is simply a oraceful figure, a little foot, a tapering hand, a soft alluring eye, some tresses of curling hair; perhapsas we have hearda gracious voice and a witty tongue may be added thereto. What is all this to the nations that wait for thy foot to be set upon their necks? But I will not counsel thee. Counsel availeth nothing when a man will be in love, and I pray thou mayst