He ordered the pose to be again taken, and continued the painting before me.
CHAPTER V
I remained an entire month at Athens, occupied with my own personal affairs; and these did not allow me time to return to the house of the great painter. Athens was truly in mourning since the fall of the Olynthians. The slave-market at Chalcis, the sale of a people, such a scandal and insult was the subject on all tongues, and the dream of all those who were silent.
One day it was known that in Athens a citizen held captive an Olynthian woman. The citizen was condemned and executed.
Alarmed, I hastened to Parrhasius, and my entreaties gained me admission to him.... Never shall I forget the regard, slow and grave, with which Parrhasius greeted me when I entered. He was standing, painting. Then, following his further glances, I saw, nude and bound to an actual rock, Nicostratus the Olynthian.
“Cry out!” shouted Parrhasius to him; and his awesome captive did, cursing, foaming, and raging.
The face of Parrhasius did not alter one line. He said to a Sarmatian slave: “Upon his right; touch lightly, without penetrating.” Nicostratus saw the man advance, and soon his eyes swooned and a sweat of agony came to his temples. Moans came to the lips; then a sob, like that of a child. Parrhasius, impassible, studied the face; then suddenly cried out: “The imbecile! He has died too soon.”