Brockton High School - Brocktonia Yearbook (Brockton, MA)

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BROCKTONIA 31 I TQNNNNN 'il , x w i t tier. THE RULER OF GODS AND MEN When we shall be but ashes, and our souls shall have passed to the Great Beyond, when new continents shall have risen upon the face of the deep, and the earth shall have been covered with the 'widely scattered wreck of vanished nations', the name of Pausanias will still be engraved in the thundering annals of history. Thy words ring with true prophecy, my friend. The feats of the great Pausanias rival only those of Ares and his marvellous strength is worthy even of the envy of Heracles. Zeus, mighty cloud-scat- terer, has granted him many bounte- ous gifts. Still, his grim bearing and sor- rowful features portray a life of tragedy rather-than the joyous, radi- ant existence that a darling of the fates enjoys. 'Can it be that ye have not heard the unhappy tale which winged rumor has long ago conveyed to my ears? Can it be that ye know not the sad story of the love of Pausanias of Sparta and Zanzettea of Athens? l crept nearer to the meagre camp fire, my eyes alight, listening intent- ly. Notwithstanding the fact that my lot was then only that of a poor Athenian slave, once had l been taught the art of reading by the Sophists and through the medium of their teachings and so had I grown to love the Muses that even a simple narrative was to me almost a divine boon. Although many changes have been wrought by the passing of the years, although my back is bent and my hair and beard are grey, this story of the love of the son and daughter of two hostile empires lies yet as fresh in my memory as when it was first related around the Spartan camp fire: Thou knowest full well, my read- ers, that at the end of the Pelopon- nesian War the people of Athens were subjected to the utmost cruelties. Our long walls were broken up, All the ships of our famed fleet save twelve were given over to the enemy, and we, ourselves, were forced to do the bidding of the Spartans by sea and land. We felt our servile condi- tion very keenly and much hatred was expressed against the Spartan Dogs . The old men who had heard Pericles speak from the Bema, that celebrated pulpit of the Athenian orators, and who had been members of the Ecclesia when our glorious em- pire had been at its height, vowed that sooner would they dwell in Hades forever than do reverence to the Spartans. For many days and nights pande- monium had reigned in Athens. Cn every side was a mob of agitated people, weeping, crowding. Shrill

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, ORCHESTRA

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32 BROCKTONIA cries of indignation, curses rent the air, increased, as the Athenian re- turned to their demolished houses. Crowds of fear stricken people. the rabble of Athens, searched in the ruins for traces of their former abodes. Prom the time of the cap- ture of Decelea, only fourteen miles from Athens, the Spartans had an- noyed and terrorized all Attica. The population of our great city had been thinned. Athens and her glory was past. Only degradation remained. lt was into this city, crushed in body. but still valiant in spirit, that Pausanias, the son of Radagasius. scion of a great house, entered. He, in common with other warriors of Sparta, had clothed himself in the tunic and cloak of an Athenian gentleman, and had come to gaze upon the dismantled A'University City . Surveying the city with the pride of an artist, he gloried in his handiwork. As he gazed in admiration upon an especially dilapidated ediiice, one that would take many years to rebuild, he felt something drop against his feet. Stooping, he uttered an involuntary cry of astonishment, for there lay a beautiful Athenian maiden! Her face and form were as those of Aphrodite and her voice was like the honey of Mt. Hymettus. Thanks, O Lord, she said as he assisted her to rise. May the gods bestow riches upon thee! I am new- ly come from Rhodes and the strange turning of this path has become un- familiar to my feet. Like Nausicaa, when Odysseus saluted, only from Artemis, the great daughter of Zeus, can come the beauty of that face and the dignity of that stature which had been given unto to Zanzettea, the daughter of Clearchus, renowned Athenian philosopher. Her words indeed were as sweet as a juicy cluster of purple grapes, and they rang in the ears of Pausanias like the music of the golden bowed Apollo who plays upon magic lutes and cytheras. So speaking, she commanded him to direct her to the nearest fountain that she might fill the water jug which she carried. At the fountain they held converse. Then it was that Cupid looked down from Olympus, and seeing them there, brought forth his arrows, long rusty from disuse, and shot them into the heart of the youth and the maiden, chuckling sardonicaly all the while. A month passed, and Zanzettea re- turned the love of the Spartan. Clearchus, famed philosopher, and Pausanias had become fast friends. They held lengthy arguments and de- bates on the relative merits of the Cynics, Stoics and Epicureans. Dur- ing this happy time the Spartan had discarded the sword of battle. He had Continued on Page 126 THE LOST JEWEL The shadows of evening were fall- ing when Joshua Perkins, and his wife, Sal, were returning from the County Pair. No sound broke the June silence except the steady pace of old Dobbin, who was bent home- ward toward the Perkins' barn. Well, Joshua, drawled Sal. 'Aain't it nigh time for you to be put- ting those lanterns on the wagon? 'iYes, Maw, came the meek re- tort from Joshua. Dobbin was forced to cease his walking. The lanterns were procured from beneath the seat, and placed in their custom- ary places on the sides of the wagon. All right now, Maw? queried Joshua. Yes, but stir Dobbin a bit. This road is mighty dark. Wait! What's that noise? 'Pears like someone's coming. Joshua, take this pumpkin, and I'll take a squash. If there's going to be any knockouts or hold-ups on this here road, we'll do it with our prize vegetables. Continued on page 98