ntains, while to their right upreared the steep lonely pyramid
of brown rock, Acro-Corinthus, the commanding citadel of the thriving
city. But above, beyond these, fairer than them all, spread the clear,
sun-shot azure of Hellas, the like whereof is not over any other land,
save as that land is girt by the crisp foam of the blue AEgean Sea.

So much for the picture, but Simonides, having seen it often, saw it not
at all, but plied the others with questions.

"So this Hermione of his is beautiful?"

"Like Aphrodite rising from the sea foam." The answer came from
Democrates, who seemed to look away, avoiding the poet's keen glance.

"And yet her father gave her to the son of his bitter enemy?"

"Hermippus of Eleusis is sensible. It is a fine thing to have the
handsomest man in Hellas for son-in-law."

"And now to the great marvel--did Glaucon truly seek her not for dowry, nor
rank, but for sheer love?"

"Marriages for love are in fashion to-day," said Democrates, with a side
glance at Cimon, whose sister Elpinice had just made a love match with
Callias the Rich, to the scandal of all the prudes in Athens.

"Then I meet marvels even in my old age. Another Odysseus and his
Penelope! And he is handsome, valiant, high-minded, with a wife his peer?
You raise my hopes too high. They will be dashed."

"They will not," protested Democrates, with every sign of loyalty; "turn
here: this lane in the pines leads to his tent. If we have praised too
much, doom us to the labours of Tantalus."

But here their progress was stopped. A great knot of people were swarming
about a statue under a pine tree, and shrill, angry voices proclaimed not
trafficking, but a brawl.

CHAPTER II

THE ATHLETE

There was ceaseless coming and going outside the Precinct of Poseidon.
Following much the same path just taken by Simonides and his new friends,
two other men were walking, so deep in talk that they hardly heeded how
many made respectful way for them, or how many greeted them. The taller
and younger man, to be sure, returned every salute with a graceful
flourish of his hands, but in a mechanical way, and with eye fixed on his
companion.

The pair were markedly contrasted. The younger was in his early prime,
strong, well developed, and daintily dressed. His gestures were quick and
eloquent. His brown beard and hair were trimmed short to reveal a clear
olive face--h