CHAPTER XLVIII
TOWN MAKERS
How eagerly the colonists heard the story. How impatiently they hurried up to the place themselves.
Some were at first not satisfied with the site—those who had always lived directly upon the seashore. But in the council which met under the trees the Delphian mountain dwellers prevailed.
Next day all began to carry their goods to Theria’s hill and started their work.
First must come the wall. All laboured at this, slave and free; for the thing was of moment. Huts and shelters of branches must serve the people for this first while.
Then the temple of Apollo was begun at once and of marble. In this work Eëtíon was perfectly happy. He it was who selected the temple-site. With true Greek instinct he made the temple the focus of the landscape, the place toward which everything centred, hill and vale and reverent climbing path.
It was Eëtíon who later modelled the sculptures of the pediment and the bronze image of the youthful Apollo which was to stand within.
Indeed the town was a place of youth. No grey heads anywhere, no blasted hopes nor pent-up desires. And when these are absent no one can believe that they ever will come!