Page:The Percy Anecdotes - 1868 - Volume 2.djvu/109

Rh lege of entering the Inner apartments. To remove this obstacle, Alraschid had recourse to a singular expedient. He gave Abassa to Giafar in marriage, but strictly enjoined him never to approach her but in his presence. Under this painful restraint they for some time lived. But nature at length proved too powerful for the caliph's commands. They deceived his vigilance, and Abassa became a mother. A female slave betrayed the secret, and Abassa was driven with ignominy from the royal palace, reduced to wander in the most wretched attire, and to beg charity of the meanest subject of her unrelenting brother. Giafar was beheaded. His family, his dependents, his domestics, were imprisoned, butchered, and proscribed; and death was denounced against every person who dared to mention the family name. Yet such was the veneration In which the Bermecides had been held by all ranks, that absolute as the caliph was, his commands were here disregarded. An old man in particular, named Mondir, who during their prosperity had received from them many favours, went every day to the deserted dwelling of the unhappy Giafar; where, from a mound of ruins, he expatiated to thousands of grateful hearers on the virtues and beneficence of these illustrious men. The caliph in a rage at last ordered Mondir to be brought before him, and condemned him to instant death. The old man did not complain of the sentence; he begged only to speak a few words before he died. The caliph consented. Mondir made no apology; he promised no change of sentiments; and he asked not for mercy. But he enlarged upon the benevolence of those unfortunate noblemen with such pathetic eloquence, that even the caliph was at length touched; and he not only pardoned the man, but gave him a golden plate, which was placed before him; on receiving which, Mondir prostrating himself before the caliph, 'Behold,' says he, 'even in this, a new favour from the noble Bermecides.'

Leonidas, King of Sparta, suspecting a conspiracy was formed against him, fled to the temple of Minerva for shelter; upon which Cleombrutus, his son-in-law, seized on the reins of government. Leonidas being informed of this, made his escape, and took with him his daughter, the wife of Cleombrutus, who chose rather to fly with her father than reign with her husband. When Leonidas, a short time after, was restored to the throne, he advanced at the head of a band of soldiers to the temple, where Cleombrutus, upon this change of affairs, had fled for refuge. He there reproached him with great warmth for assuming the regal power, in violation of the ties of affinity between them, and for expelling him from his own country in so ignominious a manner. Cleombrutus testified his confusion by his silence. His wife, Chelonida, stood by with her two children at his feet. She had been equally unfortunate as a wife and a daughter; but was equally faithful in both, and had always adhered to the unfortunate side. All who were present melted into tears at so moving a sight, and were struck with admiration at the virtue and tenderness of Chelonida, and the amiable force of conjugal love. The unfortunate princess pointing to her mourning habit and dishevelled tresses, said, 'Believe me, O my father! this habit of woe that I now wear, this dejection which now sits upon my countenance, and these sorrows into which you see me sunk, are not the effects of that compassion I entertain for Cleombrutus; but the sad remains of my affliction for the calamities you sustained in your flight from Sparta. On what, alas! shall I now resolve? While you reign for the future in Sparta, and triumph over the enemies who opposed you, shall I continue to live in the desolate state to which you see me reduced? Or is It my duty to array myself in robes of royalty and magnificence, when I behold the husband I received from you in the flower of my youth, on the point of perishing by your dagger? Should he be unable to disarm your resentment, and move your soul to compassion by the tears of his wife and children, permit me to assure you that he will be punished with more severity for his imprudence, than was even intended by yourself, when he shall see a wife who Is dear to him expiring at his feet; for you are not to think that In my present condition I can ever consent to outlive him. How shall I appear among Spartan ladies, after my inability to inspire my husband with compassion for my father; or to soften my father with pity for my husband? What indeed shall I appear to them, but a daughter and a wife always afflicted and contemned by her nearest relatives?'

Chelonida, at the conclusion of these words, reclined her cheek on that of Cleombrutus, while with her eyes that spoke sorrow In her tears, she cast a languid look on those who were present. Leonidas, after a few moments' consultation with his friends, ordered Cleombrutus to rise, and immediately to quit Sparta; but earnestly importuned his daughter to continue there, and not forsake a father who gave her such a peculiar proof of tenderness, as to spare the forfeited life of her husband. His solicitations were however ineffectual; and the moment Cleombrutus rose from his seat, Chelonida placed one of her children in his arms, and took the other in her own, and became a voluntary exile with her husband.

In the memorable victory which Cyrus obtained over the Assyrians, Panthea, wife to Abradatas, King of the Susians, was made captive. Her husband was not in the battle, being employed at the time in negotiating an alliance betwixt the Assyrians and the King of Bactria. Cyrus calling to him Araspes, the companion of his youth, committed Panthea