"
"Yes, he does! But how do you get along?"
"My father, a freedman, toils as quaestor, and will find me a
place."
"Have you no interests, no passions, no ambitions?"
"No; what should I do with them? 'Nihil admirari.' That is my motto.
If there are gods who guide the destinies of men and nations, why
should I interfere and wear myself out in a useless struggle? Think
of Demosthenes, who for thirty years delivered speeches against the
Macedonian, and warned his countrymen, who would not listen to him!
The gods were with the Macedonian, and condemned Hellas to be
overthrown. Demosthenes was imprisoned. Comically enough, he was
accused of having been bribed by the same Macedonian. That was, of
course, a lie. This patriot who sacrificed himself for the salvation
of his fatherland, who believed he was fighting on the gods' side,
had to take poison, and fell, fighting against the gods! Vestigia
terrent!"
During their conversation, the sun had gone down, and now in the
twilight beacons were visible flaming on Aegina, on Salamis, by
Phaleros, in the Piraeus, and finally on the Acropolis. The murmurs
from the city became louder till they rose to one immense paean of
joy. Men came down the streets, and brought their wives and children
with them, some on foot, others riding and driving.
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