that the annals of Sparta also contain some brilliant examples of female heroism, of which the most striking, perhaps, is that furnished by the wife of Panteus and her companions after the death of Cleomenes at Alexandria. "When the report of his death," says Plutarch," had spread over the city, Cratesiclea, though a woman of superior fortitude, sank under "the weight of the calamity; she embraced the chil"dren of Cleomenes, and wept over them. The elder "of them, disengaging himself from her arms, got "unsuspected to the top of the house, and threw him"self down headlong. He was not killed, however,

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though much hurt; and when they took him up "he loudly expressed his grief and indignation that they would not suffer him to destroy himself. Pto

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lemy was no sooner informed of these things than " he ordered the body of Cleomenes to be flayed, and "nailed to a cross, and his children to be put to "death, together with his mother and the women her "companions. Among these was the wife of Panteus, "a woman of great beauty and most majestic pre"sence. They had been but lately married, and their "misfortune overtook them amid the first transports "of love. When her husband went with Cleomenes "from Sparta, she was desirous of accompanying him, "but was prevented by her parents, who kept her "in close custody. Soon afterwards, however, she

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provided herself with a horse and a little money, "and making her escape by night, rode at full speed "to Tænaros, and there embarked on board a ship "bound for Egypt. She reached her husband safely, "and readily and cheerfully shared with him in all "the inconveniences of a foreign residence. When "the soldiers came to take Cratesiclea to the scaffold, "she led her by the hand, assisted in bearing her "robe, and desired her to exert all her courage,

1 Cleomen. § 38. I have here made use of the translation of Langhorne, because it would be no

easy matter to furnish a bet

ter.

2 Πέπλος.

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though she was far from being afraid of death, and "desired no other favour than that she might die "before her children. But when they arrived at the place of execution the children suffered before her "eyes; and then Cratesiclea was despatched, uttering "in her extreme distress only these words: 'Oh! my "children! whither are you gone?'

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"The wife of Panteus, who was tall and strong, girt her robe about her and in a silent and composed manner paid the last offices to each woman "that lay dead, winding up the bodies as well as "her present circumstances would admit. Last of "all she prepared herself for the poniard by letting "down her robe about her and adjusting it in such "a manner as to need no assistance after death, "then, calling the executioner to do his office, and permitting no other person to approach her, she "fell like a heroine. In death she retained all the "decorum which she had preserved in life, and the decency which had been so sacred with this ex"cellent woman still remained about her. Thus "in this bloody tragedy in which the women con"tended to the last for the prize of courage with "the men, Lacedæmon evinced that it is impos"sible for fortune to conquer virtue."

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Another brief narrative given by the same historian exhibits in the most touching manner, the tenderness and self-devotion of a Spartan woman. Cleombrotos, in conjunction with other conspirators, had dethroned king Leonidas his father-in-law and possessed himself of the crown. Events afterwards restored the old man to his kingdom, upon which burning with resentment he hurried to take vengeance on his son-in-law. "Chelonis, the daughter "of Leonidas, had looked upon the injury done to "her father as done to herself, and when Cleombro"tos robbed him of the crown she left him in order "to console her father in his misfortune. As long "as he remained in sanctuary she stayed with him, "and when he fled, sympathising with his sorrow,

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"and full of resentment against Cleombrotos, she "attended him in his flight. But when the for"tunes of her father changed she changed too. She "joined her husband as a suppliant, and was found sitting by him with great marks of tenderness, and "her two children one on each side at her feet. "The whole company were much struck at the sight, "and could not refrain from tears when they con"sidered her goodness of heart and uncommon "strength of affection.

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"Chelonis, then, pointing to her mourning habit "and her dishevelled hair thus addressed Leonidas. "It was not my dear father compassion for Cleom"brotos which put me in this habit and gave me "this look of misery. My sorrows took their date "with your misfortune and your banishment, and "have ever since remained my familiar companions. "Now you have conquered your enemies and are again king of Sparta should I still retain these ensigns of affliction or assume festival and royal or"naments, while the husband of my youth whom "you yourself bestowed upon me falls a victim to 66 your vengeance? If his own submission, if the "tears of his wife and children cannot propitiate "you he must suffer a severer punishment for his "offences than even you require, he must see his "beloved wife die before him. For how can I live "and support the sight of my own sex, after both "my husband and my father have refused to heark"en to my supplications, when it appears that both "as a wife and a daughter I am born to be miser"able with my family. If this poor man had any "plausible reasons for what he did I invalidated "them all by forsaking him to follow you. "you furnish him with a sufficient apology for his "misbehaviour by showing that a crown is so bright "and desirable an object that a son-in-law must be "slain and a daughter totally disregarded when it "is in question.'

But

"Chelonis, after this supplication, rested her

"cheek upon her husband's head, and with an eye "dim and languid through sorrow looked round on "the spectators; Leonidas consulted his friends upon "the point, and then commanded Cleombrotos to rise "and go into exile, but he desired Chelonis to stay "and not to forsake so affectionate a father who "had kindly granted her husband's life. Chelonis,

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"however, would not be persuaded. When her hus"band had risen from the ground she put one child "into his arms and took the other herself, and after having paid due homage at the altar where they "had taken sanctuary went with him into banish"ment. So that had not Cleombrotos been cor"rupted by the love of false glory he must have thought exile with such a woman a greater happiness than a kingdom without her."1

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1 Plut. Agis §§ 17. 18.

the same idea.

Moore in his Lalla Rookh has expressed

Fly to the desert, fly with me,

Our Arab tents are rude for thee;

But ah! the choice what heart can doubt,

Of tents with love or thrones without?

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CHAPTER III.

CONDITION OF UNMARRIED WOMEN.

LOVE.

THE condition of an Athenian lady it is far more important and, in proportion, more difficult to describe. Extremely erroneous impressions appear to exist on the subject, several writers of eminence having adopted the theory that they lived in total seclusion, and were little less ignorant and degraded than Oriental women are commonly supposed to be. My own opinion is somewhat different. After very patiently investigating the matter, the conclusions at which I have arrived are as follow:—

In delineating a picture of this kind, positive testimonies are unquestionably required; but I appeal to the impartial reader, whether very great, I had almost said the greatest weight, should not, after all, be attributed to that conviction which grows up, gradually and silently, in the mind, during a long and habitual intercourse with the subject. In this way, new authorities are formed, for to have examined minutely and attentively what others have written, to have weighed authorities and scrupulously sifted their several pretensions, may be allowed to entitle a man, if anything can, to express an opinion of his own.

The notion appears to prevail extensively, even among writers not otherwise ill-informed, that women occupied, among the Ionians generally, and more especially among the Athenians, a very mean position, were neglected and despised, and, consequently, exerted little or no influence on manners, morals, literature, or public affairs. With what de

VOL. I.

2 D