Glory and the Lightning (86 page)

A subdued roar of anger came from the assemblage, and the King Archon raised his neutral voice and said, “There will be no demonstrations before me. This is a court of justice.” He turned to the Archon and said, “Produce your witness, the father of the girl, one Glaucus, a magistrate of the city.”

The Archon beckoned to one among the crowd and he stood up and shambled towards the King Archon’s seat. But he stood at a distance from both Pericles and Aspasia, and his face was malign. He was a lean and nervous man with a countenance too mobile even for an Athenian, and his features were narrow and restless, his head bald.

The King Archon looked at him with no expression at all. “Repeat to me the words of your daughter, under oath.”

Glaucus was duly sworn. He never took his malignant eyes from Aspasia, except to give a flickering glance at Pericles, who was faintly smiling. As for Aspasia she seemed to be stunned. But only her hands visibly trembled.

Glaucus said, “My daughter was dismissed from the school of the foreign woman. She had been sent there at the request of my beloved dying wife. I could not deny my wife, though I objected. My daughter returned to my house in tears, obviously suffering. She took to her bed without speaking at that time, for she was too ashamed at what she had endured in that infamous house. Puzzled, I visited the foreign woman who stands before you this day, lord, and she gazed at me with contempt and informed me that my daughter had been dismissed because she was not suited to her studies and the school. Though I was glad that my daughter was returned to my house—for I do not approve of the education of women—I observed that Iona’s illness became more obvious, and then I questioned her more closely.” He shut his eyes as if he could not bear the disgrace of his daughter. After a moment he said in a weaker voice, “She then informed me that she had been taken by force, by unknown men, in the house of Aspasia of Miletus, and that now she wished to die. I have warned her slave women never to leave here for a moment; I fear her suicide. She is a virtuous girl. In her smirched name, I demand redress, not only in money—I am not a rich man—but in the punishment of this depraved woman.”

It was rare that a woman was permitted to speak in her own defense before an assemblage of men, but Pericles broke precedent. He said to Aspasia in a cool voice, “Speak, Aspasia of Miletus, and tell us of this matter of which you are accused.” His eyes admonished her to compose herself.

But for a moment she could not speak. Then she could do so, in her clear sweet voice, which only faintly shook. “The accusation, lord, is false and malicious and untrue. I had doubts about admitting Iona to my school, for I already knew that she was not suited to it. However, her mother had been my friend, and she had been a kind and gracious soul and a woman of intelligence. So, I admitted Iona.”

Aspasia drew a deep and audible breath, but she gazed at the King Archon and he saw the vivid brown of her eyes, like jewels. “Iona was not only mentally incapable of absorbing her studies, she lied, she slandered, she caused great trouble in my school and among my teachers and pupils. She had an innocent appearance, which deceived many for nearly a year, among them, I must confess, myself. I investigated her calumnies thoroughly and was finally convinced she was a liar. I then dismissed her. I did not tell her father of her crimes against her companions and teachers, for I respected the dear memory of her mother.”

Again there was a faint roar of indignation against Aspasia in the hall and the King Archon protested. He said to Aspasia, “There is no truth to the accusation that you procured men to rape this girl?”

“None, lord.” She hesitated, then added, “If the girl is not a virgin she did not sutler the loss of her virginity in my house.”

Glaucus cried, “She lies against my child! I demand—”

But Pericles interposed. “Iona is not a child. She is fourteen years old and of an age to marry. Tell me, Glaucus. Have you had your daughter examined by a competent physician, who can discern her lack of virginity or her possession of it?”

“No!” he almost screamed. “Has my child not suffered enough that she must endure the harsh examination of a physician? She is modest, also.”

The King Archon pursed his lips.

Aspasia said, “Iona was not too modest to attribute the vilest of perversions and other unspeakable acts to her companions and teachers. Where she learned of these I do not know, unless it was from the female slaves in the women’s quarters of her father’s house.”

The King Archon frowned at Aspasia, for it was unseemly of a woman to speak without being first addressed by a man. He looked at Glaucus. “It is my command that a physician be sent immediately to your house to examine your daughter. I will choose the physician, so he will not be suborned. You do not consent, Glaucus? Well, then, your charges against Aspasia of Miletus will be summarily dismissed.”

Glaucus said at once, “I agree to your edict, lord. Choose the physician and let him be sent at once to my house.”

So, thought Pericles, the father has also been deceived by his wretched daughter, and in spite of everything Pericles felt some pity for him. The King Archon summoned a guard and whispered in his ear and the guard departed at a trot. Pericles then had another thought: What if the vicious wench had indeed been deprived of her virginity by someone unknown? Yet, she had been sedulously guarded in the school of Aspasia, and no doubt in her father’s house also. However, it was well known that lust had a thousand entries, even to a prison.

“The next witness against Aspasia of Miletus,” said the King Archon, and the Thesmothetai Archon, who protected the city’s interests, rose and said, “Aspasia of Miletus has been accused of treason, that she has been giving aid and comfort to our enemies, to the danger of our existence.”

“Produce the accuser,” said the King Archon. The Thesmothetai Archon beckoned and the accuser came forward, a fat little old man with an eager face. Aspasia started at the sight of him, for he had been a teacher of history in her school. She had been compelled to dismiss him, for he had made obscene advances to several of her pupils.

“What have you to say before the King Archon?” asked the Thesmothetai Archon.

For a fat man he had an unusually thin and insistent voice.

“I taught in the supposed school of this woman,” and he pointed at Aspasia, “until a year ago. I am a teacher of history, and am a patriot. One day she entered my school-room—it was her want to do this with other teachers, also, on occasion—and she heard my fervid eulogies about our history. She listened, with a contemptuous smirk on her face, and then interrupted. She said, ‘It is not enough to utter eulogies. It is also necessary to utter the truth.’ I then asked her what was truth and she shrugged and said, ‘Only God knows. Certainly not historians.’

“And that is not all,” he continued rapidly. “I confess that I was shocked, but she was always enigmatic. Then one day I was passing through a colonnade and heard her speaking in a low voice to an evident stranger, of a foreign appearance. She put a large purse in his hand and said, ‘Give my kinsman, the Spartan, this purse from me and tell him I wish him victory.’ That was just before I was dismissed.”

The King Archon looked down at Aspasia, whose stunned appearance made her seem unconscious though she did not waver on her feet. He waited a moment or two then said, almost gently, “What have you to say to this, Aspasia of Miletus?”

She spoke, just audibly: “I did dismiss this man, for he had made lewd overtures to some of my serious innocent girls, and they complained to me. I did say to him once, ‘It is also necessary to utter the truth.’ I am not charging that this man lies in entirety. But too many historians have colored history with personal prejudices, and I wished my pupils to know facts and not fables. Of what use is learning if it is based on mere opinion, lord, and not verity? It is not truth at all.”

Now she turned the restored brilliance of her eyes upon her accuser. “He lies, and deliberately so, when he says that I gave a purse of gold to any stranger, and that I said the words he alleges to that non-existent stranger. I am an Ionian, and have no love for the Spartans. I was born in Miletus, lived in Persia and then in Athens. I have no relatives in Sparta; I have never met a Spartan and I devoutly wish never to meet one!”

At this a dim surge of amusement ran through the hall, and even the King Archon smiled. He said, “Lady, I also wish never to meet one.” He paused then looked at the teacher. “There is but your word against this woman’s, though she is only a woman and you are a man. She has accused you of lewdness against innocent girls, and for that she dismissed you. If you still insist she lies then it will be my most distasteful duty to summon the girls who brought the accusations against you, to Aspasia of Miletus. Here, before you, I will ask them the truth. Lewdness against the young and defenseless is a very grave crime, as you know.”

The teacher’s face quivered. Then he threw out his hands and bowed to the King Archon. “Lord,” he said, “it is not my desire to subject those young things to public gaze and public questions. I revere the young; they have my tenderest regard. Therefore, though it is true, I withdraw my charges against this woman.”

“You withdraw your charges of treason?”

The teacher bowed meekly. “Yes, lord. I must protect the young females, at whatever cost to myself and my honor.”

“You are a liar!” exclaimed the King Archon with a rare display of emotion. “You have been caught in a trap. You have lied under the most solemn of oaths. You have accused this woman of treason, and then when the iron jaws of the trap threatened you you dexterously attempted to escape them. I, therefore, exonerate Aspasia of Miletus of treason, but I do not exonerate you for lying to me under oath. I sentence you to a year in prison.”

The little fat man, stricken with terror, turned as if to flee but guards seized him and bore him away, yelling incoherently, his legs kicking the air. It was then that the physician appointed by the King Archon appeared in the hall and the King Archon beckoned to him. He bent his head and the physician whispered in his ear. The face of the King Archon became tight. He summoned Glaucus who came to him, shambling rapidly, his face expectant.

The King Archon leaned over his bench and said to Glaucus in so low a tone that only Pericles and Aspasia could hear: “The physician declares that your daughter has never known a man, but he did find evidences of perverted activity. He questioned your daughter very closely on this matter and she confessed that she had not only submitted to the sexual advances of her female slaves but that she instigated them, herself. As this physician is not your physician, nor your daughter’s, but was appointed by me to inquire into the truth, he has not violated any confidence, and he is famous for his skill and his probity.”

Glaucus’ face turned yellow both with shame and fear, and there was a flicker of rage in his eyes.

The King Archon continued in his low voice, “If it is your desire I will put this physician under oath, and demand his testimony.”

Glaucus covered his face for a moment with trembling hands. When he dropped them his eyes were now filled with tears. “It is not my desire, lord.”

The King Archon, who also felt some pity for this deceived father, said in a louder voice, “We will proceed with this matter. Glaucus, do you still wish to press for alleged redress in money and punishment against Aspasia of Miletus?”

Glaucus gulped. He stared at Aspasia, still with hatred, as if she had brought him to this pass. But he said loudly enough, “I withdraw my charges, in the interests of my daughter’s modesty.”

It was not enough, however, for the King Archon. He said, “Answer me: Do you completely withdraw your charges that your daughter had been forced to engage in lewd actions with three men in the house of Aspasia of Miletus?”

Glaucus struggled with himself. The hall was totally silent. He clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides; he looked at Aspasia as if he desired to strangle her.

Then he said, “I completely withdraw my charges.” He gasped. “As my daughter is an innocent child she has most probably used her imagination, as do all the women in the women’s quarters, for want of better employment.”

The King Archon inclined his head. “It is well known that salacity flourishes in the women’s quarters.”

He looked at the jury. “Aspasia of Miletus is exonerated of the charges brought by Glaucus in behalf of his daughter.” Then he became stern. “However, there is another matter, Aspasia. You did not report your teacher of history for obscene overtures to the young ladies in your care. Your silence is reprehensible. Therefore, I hereby fine you six talents in gold.”

Aspasia bowed her head and said nothing, and the King Archon stared down at her in genuine rebuke. In the meantime the unfortunate Glaucus left the hall, his head bent. So he escaped the scornful glances of Pericles’ friends.

Now a heavy silence fell on the hall for the gravest charge of all was to be brought against Aspasia. Polybius regarded her with intensity, and Pericles moved closer to her as if in protection. The King Archon’s face lost all expression except for his eyes which studied Aspasia as if to read her soul. Socrates, near the wall, leaned forward, holding his breath, his radiant eyes fixed on the face of Polybius, as though he felt a foreboding about his own future. The heat of the hall increased. The sun which came through the high windows was an intense flaming light, too hurtful for any gaze, and many blinked in it and averted their heads.

“Aspasia of Miletus,” said the King Archon at last, “you have been exonerated of the charges brought to you heretofore in this court and before this jury and Assembly. However, there is the most horrible of all—that you are guilty of impiety and I must judge you, for I am the King Archon, and in my hands lies the power of life or death for heresy, the greatest crime against the gods and the people of Athens.”

Aspasia lifted her head and she stood very tall and straight and her eyes were open and serious and the shifting lights in them were like liquid mercury.