The fugitives as they stand gazing upon the fair scene converse of these old Hellenic _myths_, and talk of the power of Zeno, who is the Grecian Brahma. No sound is now heard but the soft breeze upon the water and the measured sweep of the oars, keeping time with monotonous beat to the song of the _trieraules_, the ship’s musician, as he encourages the rowers with the old legends of the Trojan war, as narrated by the prince of bards, the blind Chian, Homer, ever the favorite of Alexander. The plashing oars respond and chime with “Achilles’ wrath to Greece the direful spring Of woes unnumbered.” Chime with the Ilian chant of the “crest-waving Hector,” and “Ares the sacker of cities.” Absorbed in the charm of the harmony and the soft Grecian rhythm, they stand intent and heed not the passage of time until a silvery light recalls their attention to the rear, and there, beyond the bright track of the moonbeams, appear the low shores and forests of India, dim in the distance, fast sinking beneath the horizon. * * * * * “——————————Behold Where on the Ægean shore a city stands, Built nobly, pure the air, and light the soil; Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts And eloquence———— See there the olive grove of Academe, Plato’s retirement, where the Attic bird Trills her thick-warbled notes the summer long; There flowery hill Hymethus with the sound Of bees’ industrious murmur, oft invites To studious musing;—————— ——————Within the walls then view The schools of ancient sages; his who bred Great Alexander to subdue the world. Thence what the lofty, grave tragedians taught, High actions and high passions best describing. Thence to the famous orators repair, Those ancient, whose resistless eloquence Wielded at will that fierce democracy, Shook the arsenal, and fulmined over Greece. To sage philosophy next lend thine ear, From heaven descended to the low-roofed house Of Socrates; see there his tenement, Whom well-inspired the oracle pronounced Wisest of men; from whose mouth issued forth Mellifluous streams that watered all the schools Of Academics old and new——————.” * * * * *