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Updated: May 1, 2025
The sisters of Alorcus, as well as the women who accompanied them, the wives of the chief warriors of the tribe, hid their grief at the death of the chieftain, and smiled as if it were the eve of a festival. Old age was a disgrace among the Celtiberians, who held life in contempt, and fought for diversion when not engaged in war.
Swear to be faithful to your people and ever to obey the counsels of the warriors of your tribe! Swear it by the body of your father, which soon will be only ashes!" Alorcus took the oath, and the warriors pounded upon their shields again, uttering acclamations of joy. The old warrior, with extraordinary vigor, climbed upon the logs and searched beneath the cuirass of the corpse.
Now, although there is no resemblance between the government of the good and merciful God and the cruel purposes and conduct of a heathen warrior, and we shrink from bringing the two into any kind of juxtaposition, still, the advice of the wise Alorcus to the Saguntines is good advice for every sinful man, in reference to his relations to Eternal Justice. We are all of us at the mercy of God.
"Take this, Alorcus!" he said, on descending. He handed the new chieftain a slender copper chain from which hung a disk-like case of the same metal. "This is the greatest inheritance from your father the manumission which accompanied him at all times. There is not a warrior in Celtiberia who does not carry upon his person his poison so that he may die rather than become the slave of the conqueror.
His shield, engraved with a representation of the gods of the tribe struggling with two lions, served as a cushion for his head. When the two young men arrived the same elder who had spoken to Alorcus the day before advanced. He was the wisest of the tribe, and had counselled Endovellicus many times before undertaking audacious expeditions.
I have just reached Saguntum after traveling three days to say to you; 'Alorcus, your father is dying, and he calls for you. The ancients of your tribe have ordered me not to return without you."
The obsequies worthy of so great a chief will take place at sunrise. Then, as our new king, you will give us counsel upon the great affairs of the tribe." Alorcus compelled the Greek to sit beside him. The women filed in with torches, since no more than a dim twilight was produced by the pale, diffused glow filtering through the narrow slits in the wall.
Actæon's dress and his countenance attracted the curious gaze of all the tribe. Many of the Celtiberians had never seen a Greek, and they looked upon this one with hostile eyes, recalling the clever tricks and sharp dealings of the Hellenic merchants experienced by their brethren when they went down to Saguntum to sell silver from the mines. Alorcus reassured his people.
May his valor and his prudence dwell in you." The other warriors assented to the elder's words with grave nods of approval. "Where is my father's body?" asked Alorcus, filled with emotion by the simple ceremony. "Since the sun set it has slept in the meadow where you learned to break horses and to use arms. The young men of the tribe are keeping guard over it.
Alorcus, the scion of a petty king of Celtiberia, who lived in Saguntum and frequented her house, had made an impression upon her with his wild, virile beauty, as a son of the mountains; but Sónnica held him back, plainly fearing to take the step and unite herself with one of a barbarous race. The memory of Attica wholly occupied her imagination.
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