Then she related the expedition to the fountain, the abduction, and the stay in the cave on Mt. Hymettus. But when she spoke of her appeal to Zeus and the sacred tremor with which, as swiftly as the lightning, she had obeyed the god’s sign, Ariston’s eyes sparkled and, bending low with his arms folded on his breast, he said:
“Zeus deserts no one. But praised be thou, my daughter, for having heard the god’s voice. In saving yourself, you slew the Cychreans’ foe. The nation to which thy husband belongs owes thee thanks and honor.”
Strybele pressed Byssa to her bosom and mother and daughter, clasped in each other’s embrace, wept long together.
XVI.
At noon Lyrcus came back to Kranaai for his wife. He found her reconciled to gods and men, gay and happy in the reverent admiration of her parents. Ariston was proud of his daughter’s having received a sign from Zeus, and Strybele tenderly smoothed her dark hair as though she were still a child.
The meeting between Lyrcus and Byssa was as touching as if there had been a long separation.
On their return to the Cychrean city they found the place of assembly filled with an anxious throng. Several boys, while returning from bird-snaring, had seen in the distance parties of Pelasgians moving towards the cliff.
Lyrcus carried Byssa into the house and then, hurrying to the edge of the bluff, gazed out over the plain.
He had not waited long ere dark groups appeared from between the low hills. There were more than one chieftain’s men.
Lyrcus was already in the act of calling his people to arms, when his eye fell on several Pelasgians marching in front of the others and among them Nomion. The young chief held in his left hand an olive branch and, instead of resting his lance on his shoulder he carried it under his arm, with its point turned towards the earth.