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Actæon raised himself in his couch to propose the first toast in honor of the chosen divinity. "Drink to Diana, Athenian," spoke the grave voice of Alcon; "drink to the Saguntine goddess!"
"Alcon the prudent is not with you?" he began. They glanced around in surprise. It was true; until then the absence of the man who was first in all public acts, had not been noticed. "You look for him in vain," continued the Celtiberian. "Alcon is in the camp of Hannibal.
He kissed Sónnica on the eyes again and again, and the beautiful Greek woman, restraining her tears, pleaded to be allowed to follow him along with Alcon as far as the summit of the Acropolis, that she might see him a few moments longer. The three walked in the dark across the esplanades of the ancient city, along the walls of the Acropolis.
"Restrain yourselves, Elders!" admonished Alcon. "Remember that the citizens of Saguntum stand waiting outside these walls. If they suspect your despair, discouragement will spread abroad, and this very night we will become the slaves of Hannibal!" Slowly the Elders recovered their composure, and silence reigned. All awaited the counsel of Alcon the Prudent. He spoke.
The glass, it seems, was intentionally poisoned by Alcon, who adopted this elaborate device for placing the nymph in the power of her lover should she continue obdurate. They restore her, and finding her still unmoved by his suit Daphnis threatens her with violence. Her cries, however, attract the swains, who arrive with Hylas at their head.
You should start to-night; this moment, if possible; letting yourself down from the walls of the Acropolis, on the side toward the mountains where there are fewer enemies; to-morrow may be too late. Fly, and return soon with the aid which we await with anguish!" Actæon took the gold and the tablets which Alcon offered him, but not without making excuses, realizing the gravity of the undertaking.
Alcon having denied that the Saguntines would accept such terms of peace, Alorcus, asserting that when all else is subdued, the mind becomes subdued, offers himself as the proposer of that peace. Now at that time he was a soldier of Hannibal's, but publicly the friend and host of the Saguntines.
But your walls can no longer defend you; every day hundreds of Saguntines perish from hunger; the Romans will not come; they are far away, and occupied with other wars; in place of sending you legions they send you legates, and thus I, seeing that Alcon hesitated to return, face your indignation to bring you a peace rather necessary than advantageous." "The conditions!
"The Elders have need of you," said the beautiful Greek woman, with a tone of sadness. "Behold Alcon, who wishes to speak with you." "Listen, Athenian," said the Saguntine gravely. "The days are passing and our needed succor does not come from Rome.
The sun shone, but the city seemed obscured by a fetid mist which imparted to people and to houses a leaden color. One morning, on his way to the upper part of the mount where the defense continued, Actæon met the prudent Alcon in the Forum. This loyal citizen revealed discouragement in his dejected appearance. "Athenian," he said, with a mysterious expression, "I am resolved that this must end.
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