[An Egyptian Princess Complete by Georg Ebers]@TWC D-Link bookAn Egyptian Princess Complete CHAPTER II 19/32
Are not you proud, Phanes? do not you feel joy at the glory of your family ?" In his delight Phanes had risen from his seat, and seemed suddenly to have increased in stature by a whole head. With a look of ineffable pride and consciousness of his own position, he gave his hand to the messenger of victory.
The latter, embracing his countryman, continued: "Yes, we have a right to feel proud and happy, Phanes; you especially, for no sooner had the judges unanimously awarded the prize to Cimon, than he ordered the heralds to proclaim the tyrant Pisistratus as the owner of the splendid team, and therefore victor in the race. Pisistratus at once caused it to be announced that your family was free to return to Athens, and so now, Phanes, the long-wished for hour of your return home is awaiting you." But at these words Phanes turned pale, his look of conscious pride changed into one of indignation, and he exclaimed: "At this I am to rejoice, foolish Kallias? rather bid me weep that a descendant of Ajax should be capable of laying his well-won fame thus ignominiously at a tyrant's feet! No! I swear by Athene, by Father Zeus, and by Apollo, that I will sooner starve in foreign lands than take one step homeward, so long as the Pisistratidae hold my country in bondage. When I leave the service of Amasis, I shall be free, free as a bird in the air; but I would rather be the slave of a peasant in foreign lands, than hold the highest office under Pisistratus.
The sovereign power in Athens belongs to us, its nobles; but Cimon by laying his chaplet at the feet of Pisistratus has acknowledged the tyrants, and branded himself as their servant.
He shall hear that Phanes cares little for the tyrant's clemency.
I choose to remain an exile till my country is free, till her nobles and people govern themselves, and dictate their own laws.
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