Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/33

 who still remained with their masters grew more obedient, and seldom took to flight, dreading the decision of Drimacos. Over his own followers he exercised a despotic authority. They, in fact, stood far more in fear of him, than, when in bondage, of their lords; and performed his bidding without question or murmur. He was severe in the punishment of the unruly, and permitted no man to plunder and lay waste the country, or commit any act of injustice. The public festivals he was careful to observe, going round and collecting from the proprietors of the land, who bestowed upon him both wine and the finest victims; but if, on these occasions, he discovered that a plot was hatching, or any ambush laid for him, he would take speedy vengeance.

Observing old age to be creeping upon Drimacos, and rendered wanton apparently by prosperity, the government issued a proclamation, offering a great reward to any one who should capture him, or bring them his head. The old chief, discerning signals of treachery, or convinced that, at last, it must come to that, took aside a young man whom he loved, and said,"I have ever regarded you with a stronger affection than any other man, and to me you have been a brother. But now the days of my life are at an end, nor would I have them prolonged. With you, however, it is not so. Youth, and the bloom of youth, are yours. What, then, is to be done? You must prove yourself to possess valor and greatness of soul: and, since the state offers riches and freedom to whomsoever shall slay me and bear them my head, let the reward be yours. Strike it off, and be happy!"

At first the youth rejected the proposal, but ultimately Drimacos prevailed. The old man fell, and his friend, on presenting his head, received the reward, together with his freedom; and, after burying his benefactor's remains, he sailed away to his own country.

The Chians, however, underwent the just punishment of their treachery. No longer guided by the wisdom and authority of Drimacos, the fugitive slaves returned to their original habits of plunder and devastation; whereupon, the Chians, remembering the moderation of the dead, erected an heroon upon his grave, and denominated him the propitious hero. The insurgents, also, holding his memory in veneration, continued for generations to offer up the first fruits of their spoil upon his tomb. He was, in fact, honored with a kind of apotheosis, and canonized among the gods of the island; for it was believed that his shade often appeared to men in dreams, for the purpose of revealing some servile conspiracy, while yet in the bud; and they to whom he vouchsafed these warning visits, never failed to proceed to his chapel, and offer sacrifice to his manes.

In process of time the Chians themselves were compelled to drain the bitter cup of servitude. For, as we find recorded, they were subjugated by Mithridates, and were delivered up to their own slaves, to be carried away captive into Colchis. This, Athenæus considers the just punishment of their wickedness in having been the first who introduced the slave trade into Greece, when they might have been better served by freemen for hire.