Page:Xenophon by Alexander Grant.djvu/151

Rh this Panthea shrieked, and taking the hand kissed and replaced it, and said, "All his body is like this, Cyrus, and it is my doing, for, not thinking of the result, I exhorted him not to spare himself for your sake. And now he is dead, and I who encouraged him sit here alive." After weeping for some time in silence, Cyrus said, "He has died a noble death, and numbers of men shall raise a monument to him, which shall not be unworthy of him or of us, and sacrifices shall be performed in honour of his bravery. And for you, every care shall be taken of you; and when you tell me where you wish to be sent, it shall be done." Panthea replied, "You shall soon know, Cyrus, to whom I wish to go." Cyrus now departed, sorrowing. And Panthea, having ordered her eunuchs to retire, called her nurse, and bade her, when she was dead, to wrap her and her husband in one mantle. She then produced a sword, which she had provided, and stabbed herself, and the nurse, wailing, covered them both as Panthea had directed, and three of the faithful eunuchs slew themselves on the bodies of their master and mistress. Cyrus, when he heard of it, lamented exceedingly, and caused a lofty monument to be raised over the noble and unfortunate pair.

This narrative, which we have given as nearly as possible in the words of Xenophon, is the first extant instance of a prose love-story in European literature. It was much admired by the ancients, and probably gave rise to many imitations of itself. Plutarch, in his essay to prove "that the doctrines of Epicurus do not secure even pleasure in living," asks (p. 1093)