It happened to be the festival of Diana, the streets were full of drunken fellows, and all night long crowds of people continued traversing the public square. I had hoped to encounter no other danger but this, but I was mistaken, peril of a worse kind was still in store for me. Sosthenes, the purchaser of Leucippe, whom Melitta had turned out of his office, no sooner heard of his master's return, than he not only continued to act as bailiff, but determined to revenge himself upon Melitta. He began by informing against me, acquainting his master with all which had taken place; he then invented a very plausible story above Leucippe, for finding he could not enjoy her himself he determined to play pimp to his master, and by that means to alienate him from his wife.—"Master," said he, "I have purchased a maiden of incredible beauty; words will not do her justice, to form a just idea of her you must see her; I have been keeping her purposely for you; for I heard that you were alive and fully believed the fact, but did not choose to make it public, in order that you might have clear proof of my mistress's guilt, and not be made the laughing stock of a foreigner and worthless libertine; my mistress took her out of my hands yesterday and thinks of giving her her freedom, but Fortune has reserved for you the possession of this rare beauty; she has been sent for some reason or other into the country, where she now remains, and where with your leave I will secure her until your arrival."
Thersander approved of his scheme and bid him put it into execution; accordingly Sosthenes proceeded to the farm, and finding out the cottage where Leucippe was to pass the night, he ordered two of the labourers to entice away the maids, who had accompanied her, under pretence of having something to say to them in private; he then went accompanied by two others, to the cottage where Leucippe was now alone, seized her and having stopped her mouth, carried her off to a lone habitation, where setting her down, he said, "Maiden, I am the bearer of great good fortune to you, and I hope that you will not forget me, in your prosperity; be under no alarm at having been carried off, no injury is intended you, it will be the means of obtaining my master for your admirer." Leucippe could not utter a word, so much was she overcome by the sense of the unexpected calamity. Sosthenes hurrying back informed Thersander of what he had done, again, extolling Leucippe's beauty to the skies; he was on the point of returning home, but inflamed by the description, and having his mind filled with such a lovely vision,[3] he determined at once to pay a visit to the maiden as the festival was still on foot, and the distance not more than half a mile. It was when on his way thither, that disguised in Melitta's dress I came directly upon him. Sosthenes was the first to recognize me; "Here comes the rake-hell himself," exclaimed he, "masquerading it, in my mistress's clothes!"
The young man, my guide, who was a little in advance hearing this, took to his heels in a fright without giving me any previous warning. I was immediately seized by the pair, and the noise made by Thersander drew together a number of the revellers, when he became louder than ever in his charges, heaping upon me all manner of abuse,[4] calling me a lecher, a cut-purse, and I know not what besides; in the end I was dragged to the public prison, thrust in, and a charge of Crim. Con.[5] entered against me. The disgrace of a prison and the abuse gave me little or no concern, for as my marriage with Melitta had been public, I felt confident of being able to refute the charge of adultery; all my anxiety arose from not having actually recovered my Leucippe, for the mind is naturally inclined to be a "prophet of ill,"[6] our predictions of good are seldom realized. In the present case I augured nothing favourable for Leucippe, and was a prey to fears and suspicions of every kind.
Thersander, after having had me locked up, continued on his way, and upon his arrival found Leucippe lying upon the ground and brooding over what Sosthenes had said. Grief and fear were plainly depicted upon her countenance; indeed I consider it quite a mistake to say that the mind is invisible, it may be seen distinctly reflected on the face as in a mirror; in seasons of happiness joy sparkles in the eyes; in the time of sorrow the countenance is overcast[7] and reveals the inward feelings. A light was burning in the cottage; upon hearing the door open, Leucippe raised her eyes for a moment and then cast them down again. It is in the eyes that beauty has its seat, and Thersander having caught a momentary glimpse of the beauty which (rapid as lightning) flashed from hers, was at once on fire with love, and waited spell bound, in hopes of her raising them again; but when she continued to gaze upon the ground, he said, "Fair maiden, why waste the light of thine eyes upon the earth, why not look up and let them dart fresh light into mine?"
Upon hearing his voice, Leucippe burst into tears, and appeared even more charming than before,[8] for tears give permanency and increased expression to the eyes, either rendering them more disagreeable, or improving them if pleasing, for in that case the dark iris, fading into a lighter hue, resembles, when moistened with tears, the head of a gently-bubbling fount; the white and black growing in brilliancy from the moisture which floats over the surface, assume the mingled shades of the violet and narcissus, and the eye appears as smiling through the tears which are confined within its lids. Such was the case with Leucippe; her tears made her appear beautiful even in grief; and if after trickling down they had congealed, the world would have seen a species of amber hitherto unknown.[9] The sight of her charms, heightened as they were by her grief, inflamed Thersander; his own eyes filled with moisture. Tears naturally awaken feelings of compassion, especially a woman's tears, and the more so in proportion to the copiousness with which they fall; and when she who weeps is beautiful and he who beholds her is enamoured, he cannot avoid following her example; the magic of her charms, which is chiefly in her eyes, extends its influence to him; her beauty penetrates into his soul, her tears draw forth his own, he might dry them, but he purposely abstains from doing so, for he would fain have them attract the notice of the fair one; he even checks any motion of his eyelids, lest they should fall before the time, sympathetic tears being the strongest proof of love. This was the case with Thersander, he shed tears partly because grief has really in it something which is infectious, partly that he might appear to sympathize with Leucippe's sorrow. "Pay her every attention which her state of mind requires," said he in an under tone to Sosthenes; "however unwillingly I will leave her for the present for fear of annoying her; when she is more composed I will pay her another visit. Maiden," added he, addressing her, "cheer up, I will soon find means to dry those tears of yours;" and whispering to Sosthenes, "remember," said he, "that you promote my suit, and come to me to-morrow morning," with which words he left the cottage.
While these things were taking place, Melitta had lost no time in sending a young man into the country, who was to bid Leucippe return without delay, as she had no longer any need of ingredients for a philtre. Upon his arrival, he found the female servants in great trouble seeking for her everywhere, he therefore at once came back and informed his mistress of what had taken place. Melitta, upon learning that Leucippe had disappeared, and that I had been committed to prison, was thrown into violent agitation: though ignorant of the whole truth her suspicions fell upon Sosthenes, and being determined to ascertain by means of Thersander where Leucippe was, she had recourse to subtlety, combining with it a show of truth. Upon Thersander coming home and shouting out, "So you have got your paramour set free and have smuggled him out of the town;—why did you not accompany him? why stop here? why not take yourself off, and see how he looks now that he is in 'durance vile?'"—"What paramour?" replied Melitta with the greatest composure. "What delusion are you labouring under?—If you will only calm your passion and listen to me, I will very soon explain the truth; all I wish for on your part, is candour; forget any slanderous reports which you have heard, let reason take the place of anger and listen to what I have to say.—This young man is neither my paramour nor yet my husband; he is a native of Phœnicia, and belongs to one of the first families in Tyre; he was so unfortunate as to suffer shipwreck and lost everything which he possessed. Upon hearing of his misfortunes I took compassion upon him (remembering what had befallen you), and received him into my house.
"'Thersander,' said I, mentally, 'may perhaps be wandering about himself, some tender hearted female may have taken pity upon him; nay, if as report says, he has perished, I will shew kindness to all who have experienced the perils of the sea!' Many are the shipwrecked passengers to whom I have shewn hospitality, to many a corpse washed up by the waves have I here given burial; if I saw so much as a plank from a vessel borne to land, I drew it up on shore, 'for,' I said, 'it may have belonged to the ship in which Thersander sailed!' This young man was one of the last who was rescued from a watery grave, and in treating him with kindness, I was in fact honouring you. Like you, dearest, he had encountered the perils of the deep; in him therefore, I was paying regard to the impersonation of your sufferings. You have now had laid before you the motives by which I have been influenced.—I may add, that he was in great sorrow for his wife; he had believed her dead, but she was still alive, and, as he was informed, in the power of Sosthenes our bailiff. The report proved true, for upon proceeding into the country we found her there. It is in your power to test the truth of what I say, you can bring before you both Sosthenes and the female of whom I speak; if you can convict me of falsehood, then call me an adultress." Melitta spoke, all along, as if in ignorance of Leucippe's disappearance, reserving to herself the power—should Thersander wish to ascertain the truth—of bringing forward the maid-servants who had accompanied Leucippe, and who could solemnly declare that the maiden was nowhere to be found. Her motive was to persuade Thersander of her own innocence, and it was for this purpose that she urged him to bring forward Leucippe. To give yet greater colour to her artful words, "Dearest husband," she added, "during the time that we lived together, you have never discovered any blot in my character, neither shall you do so now.[10] The report, at present raised against me, has arisen from people being ignorant of the cause which induced me to shew kindness to this young man; rumour has been busy in your case, also; for you, recollect, were reported to have perished. Now rumour and calumny are two kindred evils, and the former may be called the daughter of the latter. Calumny is sharper than any sword—more burning than any fire, more pernicious than any Siren, while rumour is more fluid than water, swifter than the wind, fleeter than any wing of bird.[11] No sooner has calumny shot forth a poisoned word than it flies like an arrow and wounds, even in his absence, him against whom it is directed; while whosoever hears this word is readily persuaded, feels his anger kindled, and turns all its violence against the victim. On the other hand, rumour the offspring of this shot, flows onward like a torrent, and floods the ears of every listener; words, like wind, speeding it on its course, and,—to use another similitude—the wings of the human tongue bearing it aloft and enabling it to cleave the air.[12] These are the foes against whom I have to contend, they have gained the mastery over your mind, and have closed your ears against my words." Here she paused, and taking his hand endeavoured to kiss it; her plan was not without success, for Thersander became more calm, influenced by the plausibility of her speech, and finding the account given of Leucippe to harmonize with what he had heard from Sosthenes. His suspicions gave way, however, only in part, for jealousy when once it has gained entrance into the mind, is hard to be got rid of. The intelligence that the maiden was my wife annoyed him greatly, and increased his animosity towards me; and saying that he should enquire into the truth of what he had heard, he retired to rest alone.—Melitta, on her part was very much distressed at being unable to perform her promise. Meanwhile Sosthenes after the departure of Thersander (whom he had encouraged with hopes of speedy success) again went in to Leucippe, and assuming a joyful countenance, "Everything is going on satisfactorily Lacæna," said he, "Thersander is deeply enamoured of you, and very probably will make you his wife; this success is entirely owing to me, for I have extolled your beauty to the skies, and his mind sees and thinks of you alone. Dry your tears therefore, maiden, rise from the ground, sacrifice to Venus on account of your good fortune, and do not forget how much you owe to me." "May as much happiness befall you as you have just announced to me," was her reply. Sosthenes, believing that she spoke sincerely and not in irony, proceeded in a friendly tone and manner: "I will tell you moreover who Thersander is; he is the husband of Melitta whom you lately saw, his family is one of the first in Ionia, his wealth is even greater than his birth, but it is surpassed by his kindness of disposition. I need not dwell upon his age, for you have seen that he is still young and handsome, two qualities especially acceptable to women."
Leucippe could no longer endure listening to such nonsense: "Wicked wretch!" she exclaimed, "how much longer do you mean to pollute my ears? What is Thersander to me? Let his beauty delight his wife, his riches benefit his country, and his good qualities be of service to those who need them. What matters it to me, if he be nobler in birth than Codrus, and surpass Crœsus in his wealth? For what purpose should you enumerate another man's good qualities to me? Thersander shall receive my praise, when he ceases wishing to do violence to another's wife." Upon this, changing to a serious air, "Are you jesting, maiden?" he asked. "What have I to do with jesting?" was her reply. "Leave me to my own adverse fortune and evil genius; I know full well that I have fallen into the power of villains." "You must be incurably crazed," said Sosthenes, "to talk thus. Is it like being in the power of villains, to have the offer made to you of wealth, marriage, and a luxurious life; to receive for your husband one so favoured by the gods, that they have actually snatched him from the jaws of death?" And then he gave an account of the shipwreck, magnifying Thersander's escape, and making of it a greater wonder than of Arion and his Dolphin.[13]
When he had finished his marvellous tale, and still Leucippe made no reply, "You had better consult your own interest," he resumed, "and not talk in this fashion to Thersander, lest you should provoke one who is actually amiable; for when once kindled, his anger knows no bounds. Kindness of heart, when it meets with a due return, increases, but when slighted, it soon changes into angry feelings; and then the desire of taking vengeance is proportioned to the previous willingness of doing good." Leaving Leucippe for a time, we will now speak of some of the other characters in this tale. When Clinias and Satyrus learned from Melitta that I had been incarcerated they immediately came to the prison, desirous of sharing my captivity; the jailor, however, would not consent, but bid them at once be gone, and though sorely disappointed there was no alternative. They left me, therefore, after I had enjoined them to bring me tidings of Leucippe in the morning; and I remained alone, thinking of Melitta's promise, and racked by feelings of mingled fear and hope.
The next day Sosthenes proceeded according to his appointment to Thersander, and my friends returned to me. Thersander eagerly inquired whether any favourable impression had been made upon Leucippe; Sosthenes replied evasively, "She raises objections against receiving you, but I scarcely believe her to be sincere in what she says; I rather suspect that she fears you may desert her and expose her to shame, after once enjoying her." "Let her dismiss all such apprehensions," replied Thersander; "my feelings of love towards her are so ardent, that they will end only with my life.[14] One thing alone gives me uneasiness; I am very anxious to know for certain whether, as Melitta told me, she is the wife of the young man." Thus discoursing they came to the cottage where Leucippe was confined; when near the door they stopped and listened and could hear her speaking to herself in a mournful voice. "Alas! alas! Clitopho, you know not where I am and in what place I am detained; neither am I acquainted with your present condition; and this mutual ignorance augments our mutual grief. Can Thersander have surprised you in his house? Can you have suffered any cruel treatment at his hands? Often have I longed to question Sosthenes about you, but I was at a loss what reason to assign; if I spoke of you as my husband, I feared that by provoking the resentment of Thersander, I might produce evil consequences to yourself; if I inquired after you as after a mere stranger, it might have been said why do women meddle with what in no way concerns them? Often has my tongue been on the point of speaking but has refused its office. Often have I ended by saying to myself, 'Dear Clitopho, faithful husband of thy Leucippe, thou who couldst share the couch of another woman, yet without enjoying her, though I, in my jealousy doubted thy fidelity, could I indeed behold thee again, after so long an interval, and yet not snatch a single kiss!' What if Thersander comes again to question me? Shall I throw off all disguise, and disclose the plain unvarnished truth? Suppose not, Thersander, that I am a sorry slave; I am daughter of the Byzantian Commandant, wife of one foremost in rank among the Tyrians. I am no Thessalian, neither am I called Lacæna. No! this is the invention of pirate violence; my very name has been stolen from me! I am in reality the wife of Clitopho, a native of Byzantium, the daughter of Sostratus and Panthea. But, alas! Thersander would give no credit to my words, or, if he did, my freedom of speech might be the cause of injury to my best beloved! What then? I will again assume the mask—and again my name shall be Lacæna!" Thersander, retiring a little from the door, said to Sosthenes, "Did you hear those words of hers, unworthy of belief, indeed, as to their tenour, but full of the spirit of love, and breathing grief and self reproach? This adulterous rival of mine supplants me everywhere; the villain must surely be a sorcerer; Melitta loves, Leucippe doats upon him;—would that I were Clitopho!"