Saronia Part 34

'Yes, one especially. She who gave me back my life--the great High Priestess Saronia.'

'Saronia, the High Priestess! I know her. When thou offeredst thy life to preserve mine, I saw her save thee from the lion.'

'What meanest thou?'

'She killed the lion's strength. One look from her could quell many such beasts. Her gaze would stay an eagle in its flight, and bring it earthward to her feet, swifter and surer than an arrow winged with lightning. She is deadly with her power! A mighty foe to those within her sphere, but with a follower of my Master she is powerless. The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than she, and thou, Chios, art greater than the mighty Saronia. The Spirit which leads thee is the first, the greatest, the Lord of Hosts. All princ.i.p.alities and powers are beneath Him. Before His gaze the rebel prince fell like lightning from heaven.

'Listen, friend; I think I read thine heart. Thou lovest this terrific being--is it not so? Tell me. Thy secret shall be well kept. I may help thee.'

'Thou speakest truly. I know I am safe in thine hands. I trust thee to lead the way for my eternal good, and I may confide this portion of my life's history to thee. 'Tis a pa.s.sion which may never be realized, but I dare hope she may be won for our G.o.d--and what a mighty spirit for good she would be!'

'Chios, her great spirit is of no common order. It has lived through the ages, and for the time is deeply buried in its prison of clay. We will awaken her, if we can, from out the cold and damp mists which surround her. This clay form to her is as Hades.'

'How can it be done?'

'This wise. The man who lives in harmony with G.o.d has the Deity on his side. He is a son; the Lord is his Father. Speak to Him as a child, and remember His power is infinite--and I will pray the Father and His Son that help may be given thee.'

'Tell me of the Son.'

'His Son is the Christ. To the Greeks this is foolishness, but be thou led by the Great Spirit, and He will teach thee all things, and thou wilt love the Son, and He will work with thee to win the desire of thy heart.'

'I understand not. These mysteries are well known to thee, and I obey. I am young in the faith, and cannot run.'

'For the present,' replied Judah, 'thou wilt do well in using thy faith; but the time will shortly arrive when thou wilt understand. Great is the mystery, clouds and darkness are around Him. Thou hast placed thy feet upon the ladder; as thou climbest thou wilt emerge into brightness.

Trust and learn. As a pilot takes the helm at the harbour-mouth and shapes the course betwixt the sands, so mayst thou give way to the Great Pilot, and thus obtain abundant entrance into the haven whose promontories run out from the eternal sh.o.r.e.'

'Thou speakest again with authority?'

'I do. For awhile my spirit freed itself from the body, and moved into a sphere unseen, unknown to mortal eye. There I heard truths which no language can convey--not even your beautiful Grecian tongue could reveal them. I heard the language of Heaven, and was taught of G.o.d things mysterious and unlawful to utter; but I shall hear the grand rhythm again when I return home.... Now the sun is gone, and the west is banked with night-clouds. Let us depart.'

CHAPTER x.x.xII

ENDORA

Where the river of Ephesus joins the sea the great rocks stand out as fortresses of the land, and the deep blue waters roll homewards to the sh.o.r.e, urged by a never-changing law bidding them kiss the strand and die.

On the shrill breezy air the sea-birds wheel and soar until their white wings turn to silver as they circle round the sun and sink into its brightness as a star dies into day.

The cliffs are abloom with blossoms of gold, like a garden of woodland flowers. On the summit overlooking the sea stands a temple and shrine to the G.o.ddess.

Northward is the mountain of Gallesus, with its pine precipices and aerial summits piercing the clouds. At its feet the city of Claros, with temple and groves of ash and mighty oracle sacred to Apollo.

Further away, from the Cilbianian, and turning west of the lake Selinusian, comes southward a river moving along midst bright oleander and blossoms of myrtle, murmuring adieu to the G.o.ds of the river as it pa.s.ses on its course to the bosom of ocean.

Away to the west and the south, like a misty dream, are the pale-blue tops of Pactyas; between them and the Gallessian range stands the city of Ephesus, Coressus and Pion like sentinel hills guarding its ma.s.sive gates.

Here on this rock-bound cliff, near the altar, stood Endora, the witch.

The day was young and no one about, and she gazed far out at sea, straining her evil eyes until they seemed to start from their sockets.

She turned with a disappointed air, and, gazing towards the city, cried:

'Doomed art thou! Little did they know I was about. Had Chios known I was there, he would have been more careful. Turned Christian! Loves Saronia!

'I will not betray him. Hag as I be, cursed as I am, all Hades shall not draw me to reveal. This blasted spirit of mine may drift, yet I swear by the father of the G.o.ds--no, no, I cannot swear by him! What shall I swear by?

'I swear by Chios and Saronia, mortals like myself, that I will be true, true. Can I be true? No, no, no, I will not betray them. That is all!

'What a curse hangs over this beautiful place! I heard that strange man tell Chios the great city shall die. I know a sibyl has spoken, "That the earth opening and quaking, the Temple of Diana would be swallowed like a ship in a storm into the abyss, and Ephesus, lamenting by the river banks, would inquire for it then inhabited no more." And, who knows, she may be true! What care I? Endora will be far hence. I have to do with the present. I have come to watch for the white sails of the Roman fleet bringing back the Proconsul. I know they are near, expected to-day.

'Now one long gaze out over the great, cloud-mirroring sea. My eyes are keen. No, they come not, and I go hence.'

She turned landward and saw Saronia.

She cowered towards the sea-flower-blooming sward as the priestess said:

'What doest thou here, woman?'

'Naught, my lady, but for the gathering of fragrant herbs.'

'Thou liest. The wild thyme and its fellows grow not upon this breezy crag, ever washed by the salt sea foam; but, stay, Endora--I know thy name. I would speak with thee. Once when I was a slave thou wert good to me, and told me my star was rising full of splendour. How didst thou know?'

'n.o.ble lady, I spoke not of my own knowledge, but as the spirit prompted me.'

'Again, when thou helped me to escape my persecutors, what impelled thee?'

'The knowledge I was aiding one beloved of Hecate! 'Twas not love--love in me is dead, dead and scentless. The curse--the curse! and it will weigh me down for ever.'

'Art sure of this?'

'Yes, Lady Saronia, I am sure I am accursed of Hecate. In me it takes the form of a dead love with hatred raging through my soul. In others love is rampant and reason dead. Such is the case with one I know. Her curse is to love madly without an echo of love to answer.'

'What was thy crime, Endora?'

'That which neither G.o.d nor man can forgive.'

'Tell me.'

'I dare not.'

'I command thee!'

'No, no; leave me quiet! I have lived in Ephesus these many years. No one knows me, where I came from, what my crime. Bid me leap into the great depths below and gurgle out my life beneath the waters, out of human sight--anything--anything, but grant me silence!'

'I will not! Speak truthfully! The High Priestess of Hecate commands thee.'