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The Expedition of Captain Flick: A Story of Adventure

Chapter XVI. The King

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Chapter XVI. The King.

“A king, good sirs: true, I am called a king,
For some deep purpose of the common weal;
But, know the name is but a mockery,
And I a puppet set upon a throne
That rests upon no sure foundation. Ay!
My crown's a bauble, and my sceptre naught,
And all my seeming state a raree-show,
To make high holiday, and gull the crowd.”

A Large crowd assembled to witness our arrival, and I noted that the mass of the people differed in nowise from the specimens we had previously beheld. Dwarfish, ill-looking, morose; the inhabitants of Isk were undesirable in every way. That such monstrosities should worship Venus, the goddess of beauty, seemed strange and incongruous. Had they adored her husband, limping, sooty Vulcan, it would have been more in accordance with their looks, and also more suited to the volcanic character of the island. But Venus, queen of love and laughter!-the difference which existed between goddess and worshippers was wide enough to provoke merriment if page 177 not pity. To this day I have not discovered the reason which led those ugly little negroes to choose a divinity so utterly at variance with their looks and feelings and melancholy.

Through the crowd of these serious-faced dwarfs we were guided by Ixtael, who marched before us with his suite and gaudy umbrella. A number of warriors tailed at our rear, so that we proceeded to the palace less like guests than prisoners. I mentioned this to Captain Flick, as we toiled up the main street, but he dissented from my view.

“I think they mean well enough,” he said, casting a look on the crowds; “it is only their incurable suspicion which makes them take these precautions. Did you ever see such a dismal lot, Sir Denis?”

“I never saw so dismal a town,” said I, glancing at the black houses on either side; “that sunlight, those green trees, the blue of the sky, and the sparkle of yonder marble temple look ironic in contrast to the gloom of these goblins. They should inhabit caverns, and live on roots.”

“They are certainly a step higher in civilization than the usual savage,” replied Flick; “that stonework surrounding the port is excellently put together. Then they are workers in metal, as witness the iron gates of the chasm; and the town itself seems well page 178 laid out. But there is no denying that they are a misanthropic race, and confoundedly ugly.”

“Well, Flick, if this Greek ruler inherits the racial brightness of his Hellenic ancestors, he must find life very weary in the company of these funereal creatures. A month among them would drive me mad. I trust Bertha has retained her senses.”

“Oh, she is with the pretty priestesses of the temple, Sir Denis,” said Flick in a comforting voice.

From the quay, where we had disembarked, a wide thoroughfare stretched up through the town to a moderately high hill. At the time Flick made his remark about the priestesses, we had reached this point, and saw before us a pleasant and exhilarating scene.

The black town and its melancholy streets stopped short on this side of the ridge, and we now beheld a gloriously green and fertile country, rolling in undulating waves to the foot of a low range of distant hills. Forests skirted the slopes of the mighty volcano, and broad belts of trees intersected fields of corn, already yellow under the ardent rays of the tropical sun. A silvery river twisted like a snake from left to right, beginning and ending in bosky woods. Towards this the highway continued from where we stood on the crest of the hill, and terminated in a grove of trees on the banks of the stream. In the centre of this pleasant view glittered a building page 179 of white marble, on the highest pinnacle of which flashed a silvery star.

“The palace of Hesperus,” said Ixtael to Flick—I may here mention that the captain always translated his speeches to me-“the palace of our lord.”

“Hesperus, the morning star,” said I, looking at the radiant emblem. “I suppose that is the crest of the family?”

“No, it's the Pole Star these folk worship,” answered Flick, as we resumed our march; “but isn't this a smiling country; quite a relief after the cemetery on the other side of the hill?”

“It's a pity those niggers don't imitate Nature, and smile also,” I retorted; “they should be happy in this Eden.”

For an Eden it was; fertile and pleasant under the sapphire sky. We marched onward between rows of palms, from trunk to trunk of which ran festoons of vines, rich with purple clusters of fruit. The dust from the volcano enriched the soil, and the whole valley at the base of the mountain blossomed like a rose. These negroes were evidently excellent agriculturists, for, on a further acquaintance with the island, we found that every portion was under cultivation, save the wide spaces of forest, which were wisely left by the inhabitants to their native savagery. I could see that the country had been inhabited by a page 180 civilized race for many centuries, as there was a settled, peaceful, garden-like look about the place, which reminded me of certain portions of England. Ceres, rather than Venus, should have been the patroness of Isk.

The avenue down which we were proceeding extended about half a mile from the summit of the hill where the town ended. The road was paved with flat pieces of lava, and was raised somewhat above the adjacent fields, so that in time of rain the water could drain quickly off on either side. Walking gently along this splendid causeway, with the green palms, the fruited vines, and yellow fields on either side, with the burning blue of the sky tempered by the meeting fronds of the trees overhead, we found the journey most enjoyable, especially after the many weeks we had spent on the sea. Near the palace we met with many people, who wore white cloaks over their red tunics, instead of black. I afterwards learned that white was the king's livery, and was worn by all those who approached his presence.

At the end of the half mile, the avenue ran into the grove of trees surrounding the palace. A few yards brought us in sight of it, and we paused to admire its beauties. On an artificial mound it was built, whence descended broad ranges of white marble steps. The building itself was in the Doric page 181 style, and displayed ranges of fluted pillars, supporting a mighty pediment carven with sacrificial processions and sacred emblems. The palace might have been that of Agamemnon, so truly Greek was it in architecture.

“By the way, do you know what the sacred language can be?” asked Flick, to whom Ixtael had been speaking. “It seems that Hesperus only talks the sacred language on ceremonial occasions.”

“No doubt it is the Greek tongue,” said I, after a moment's reflection. “The original Hesperus brought it with him, and reserved its use to his court. A Greek, proud of his nation's tongue, would jealously preserve its purity among the barbarian dialects of this island. Yes, Flick, I truly believe we shall hear his Majesty speak Attic Greek.”

“Well, do you know it?”

“I am a fair Greek scholar, I believe,” said I modestly; “but as to understanding this island monarch, I am doubtful of that. He may speak ancient Greek—Homeric Greek—and then I'm done for. However, we'll see what we can do, captain. If he isn't intelligible to me, he will be to you, for he must speak the lingo of his subjects, and you are well acquainted with that.”

We had now entered the pillared porch, and thence passed through a lofty door into a large court, page 182 adorned on all sides with ranges of pillars, and open to the sky. The pavement was of polished marble, there was a sculptured fountain in the middle, representing Cupids spouting water from conch shells, and beds of the brightest flowers. What with the brilliant hues of the flowers, the white of floor and sides, and over all the blue arch of the sky, the scene was singularly beautiful. The captain and I stood still, surveying it with admiration, and even our sailors grunted approval.

“By gad, sir,” cried Flick, wagging his head, “the king's palace is much prettier than his subjects' faces. I shouldn't mind living here myself for a few weeks.”

During our pause, Ixtael, who had left his suite outside, had now exchanged his black cloak for a white one, and making a sign to us, advanced towards the further end of the court, where a purple curtain hung between two mighty pillars. Passing beyond this, we found ourselves at the foot of a wide flight of steps. At the top of these a broad corridor, adorned with flowers, admitted us into a large hall bare of furniture, save a silver chair set on a square of white carpet, under a white canopy. This, I presume, was the throne, but at present it was vacant, and, save Flick, myself, Ixtael, and our six sailors, the hall was empty. Here we waited with great curiosity for the appearance of King Hesperus: as page 183 the whole success of our enterprise depended upon his reception of us. It was a critical moment.

After the lapse of some minutes, during which Flick and myself exchanged a few remarks, we heard the sound of low music, which swelled out loudly as the curtains beside the throne parted, and the king, attended by a score of dwarfish courtiers, and two young men of his own complexion, made his appearance. What with the amazing surroundings, the grotesque ugliness of the negroes, and the burst of music heralding the entrance of this island potentate, it was more like a theatrical performance than reality. Yet reality it was, and serious enough to us in the position in which we then stood.

Hesperus was a singularly handsome young man of five-and-twenty, tall, slender, and well made; possessing in the highest degree the wonderful masculine beauty for which the ancient Greeks were so celebrated. His oval face, unadorned by beard or moustache, was serene and majestic in expression, and his grey eyes surveyed our company—which must have looked strangely dressed to him—with a steady and unwavering gaze. He was arrayed simply in white tunic and cloak, with gilded sandals, and a silver band round his flowing locks. Ornaments he wore none, but stood forward simply clad as any shepherd, royal by right of the shapeliness page 184 of his figure, and the serene beauty of his face. For the first time I beheld a masterpiece of Nature; and Hesperus reminded me of the matchless statue of the Apollo Belvidere. There was no thought, no fretting care in his expression; with unwrinkled brow and steady gaze, he was as alien to our tormenting nineteenth-century civilization, as were the scowling negroes by whom he was surrounded.

With his two companions, who were also handsome after the old Greek type, Hesperus moved to the silver chair and there sat down. His friends and the negro guard stood behind him, and the repulsive looks of the latter accentuated the beauty of the three white men. At once we beheld the highest and lowest specimens of humanity.

As I surmised, the king addressed us in Greek, but it was so archaic in character that, beyond a word here and there, I was unable to follow his speech. Seeing that I did not understand, Hesperus looked at Ixtael for an explanation. The chief, who was singularly independent in his bearing, spoke to his master and nodded towards Flick, to whom the king then addressed himself in the dialect of the island. I was afterwards informed of the gist of the conversation by the captain.

“Who are you, strangers, and whence come you?” demanded Hesperus with great dignity.

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“We are Englishmen,” replied Flick in the barbaric tongue. “We come from an island off the coast of Europe?”

“Is England near Greece?” asked Hesperus, whose geographical knowledge was evidently limited to that of the chart we had discovered.

“No. It is many miles from Greece.”

“Yet you were at Cythera?”

“We were visiting that island,” said the captain coolly, “and there we lost one of our friends. No doubt you know how she was taken away by your people?”

“I know, stranger,” replied Hesperus serenely; “she is a beautiful woman, and my people have brought her hither to be my bride.”

“That cannot be, Hesperus; the woman is already betrothed to this man.”

Hesperus turned his unwavering gaze upon me with a look of indifference.

“When I speak, all must yield,” he said quietly. “The woman is at present in the Temple of the Star. There she will remain till she becomes my queen.”

“But we have come to bring her away.”

“It may not be,” rejoined the young ruler. “But I am just. If yonder man has lost his bride, I will give him gifts to carry to his own country. It is enough, stranger. Speak no more on this matter, but tell me how you came hither.”

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Flick, as he afterwards told me, did not think it wise to further urge the restoration of Bertha at that moment; but gave the king a description of our boat, of the power of our arms, and of the way in which we had found the island. To all of this the king listened without showing any signs of surprise or emotion, and his two companions likewise preserved the same indifference. Not so the negroes, who scowled more than ever during the recital, and shot glances of fury at us when Flick ended. When this was over, we waited anxiously to hear what Hesperus had to say; for, now that he knew the object of our coming, it was questionable whether he would treat us cordially. For a few minutes he leaned his head on his hand and surveyed us steadily; then, after exchanging a few words with Ixtael, he spoke mildly—

“To all strangers who come here we award the punishment of death,” he said; “but, as you have come during the Truce of the Bride, your lives are safe for three months. If you remain here beyond that period your blood will be on your own heads, for then we shall assuredly put you to death.”

“Thank you very much,” replied Flick satirically. “But am I to understand that you will not harm us?”

“Till I am wedded to my bride you are safe, strangers. You can explore our island, you can see our cities and the ceremonies of our religion, and you page 187 can bring your fireship into our port. All this for three months; then, if you still remain in our power, you will be slain.”

“That is easier said than done,” was our captain's grim retort; “we have weapons that can exterminate your whole population.”

Hesperus made no sign of terror, but, serenely passive, repeated his speech.

“For three months you are safe,” he said, rising. “Bring your vessel into port, and we will give you of our best.”

“Fatten us for the coming banquet, I suppose,” said Flick, although he well knew that the islanders were not cannibals. “Well, we will stay and try conclusions with you, Hesperus. But one thing I would ask—that my friend here be permitted to see his affianced bride.”

“If the priestess Basilea permits, you can see the woman in the Temple of the Star,” replied Hesperus. “But call her not the bride of yonder man; she is mine by the will of the goddess.”

“We'll see about that,” muttered Flick, and bowed to the king.

With the same indifference Hesperus departed, and the music died away as he vanished behind the curtain. The interview had proved more satisfactory than we hoped.