its famously," exclaimed Kallias. "My own trireme brought me from
Naukratis to-day; it is lying now, fully equipped for sea, in the port,
and is quite at your service. I have only to send orders to the steersman
to keep the crew together and everything in sailing order.--You are under
no obligations to me; on the contrary it is I who have to thank you for
the honor you will confer on me. Ho, Knakias!--tell my slave Philomelus,
he's waiting in the hall,--to take a boat to the port, and order my
steersman Nausarchus to keep the ship in readiness for starting. Give him
this seal; it empowers him to do all that is necessary."

"And my slaves?" said Bartja.

"Knakias can tell my old steward to take them to Kallias' ship," answered
Theopompus.

"And when they see this," said Bartja, giving the old servant his ring,
"they will obey without a question."

Knakias went away with many a deep obeisance, and the prince went on:
"Now, my mother, I have a great petition to ask of you."

"I guess what it is," said Rhodopis, with a smile. "You wish your
marriage to be hastened, and I see that I dare not oppose your wish."

"If I'm not mistaken," said Kallias, "we have a remarkable case here. Two
people are in great peril, and find that very peril a matter of
rejoicing."

"Perhaps you are right there," said Bartja, pressing Sappho's hand
unperceived. And then, turning to Rhodopis again, he begged her to delay
no longer in trusting her dearest treasure to his care,--a treasure whose
worth he knew so well.

Rhodopis rose, she laid her right hand on Sappho's head and her left on
Bartja's, and said: "There is a myth which tells of a blue lake in the
land of roses; its waves are sometimes calm and gentle, but at others
they rise into a stormy flood; the taste of its waters is partly sweet as
honey, partly bitter as gall. Ye will learn the meaning of this legend in
the marriage-land of roses. Ye will pass calm and stormy-sweet and bitter
hours there. So long as thou wert a child, Sappho, thy life passed on
like a cloudless spring morning, but when thou becam'st a maiden, and
hadst learnt to love, thine heart was opened to admit pain; and during
the long months of separation pain was a frequent guest there. This guest
will seek admission as long as life lasts. Bartja, it will be your duty
to keep this intruder away from Sappho, as far as it lies in your power.
I know the world. I could perceive,--even before Croesus told me of your
gen