Text: Edgar Allan Poe (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), May 31, 1845, vol. 1, no. 22, p. ???-???

[page 342:]

REVIEWS.

MRS. CHILD’S PHILOTHEA.

Overwhelmed in a long-continued inundation of Sue-ism, we turn with a species of gasping satisfaction — with a deep sense of the luxury of repose — to the pure and quiet pages of Philothea.

We regard it not only as the best work of its author — hut as the best work of a class in which are to be ranked the Telemachus of Fenelon and the Anacharsis of Bart helemi.

Its plot is simple. The scene is principally in ancient Athens during the administration of Pericles; and some of the chief personages of his time are brought, with himself, upon the stage. Among these are Aspasia, Alcibiades, Hippocrates, Anaxagoras of Clazomence, Plato, Hermippus the comic writer, Phidias the sculptor, Artaxerxes of Persia, and Xerxes his son. Philothea, the heroine of the tale, and the granddaughter of Anaxagoras, is of a majestic beauty, and of great purity and elevation of mind. Her friend Eudora, of a more delicate loveliness, and mote flexile disposition, is the adopted daughter of Phidias, who bought her, when an infant, of a goat-herd in Phelle — herself and nurse having been stolen from the Ionian coast by Greek pirates, the nurse sold into slavery, and the child delivered to the care of the goat-herd. The ladies, of course, have lovers. Eudora [column 2:] is betrothed to Philœmon. This Athenian, the son of the wealthy Cherilaus, but whose mother was born in Corinth, has incurred the dislike of Aspasia, the wife cf Pericles. She procures the revival of an ancient law subjecting to a heavy fine all citizens who marry foreigners, and declaring all persons whose parents were not both Athenians, incapable of voting in the public assemblies, or of inheriting the estates of their fathers. Philemon, thus deprived of citizenship, prevented from holding office, and without hope of any patrimony, is obliged to postpone, indefinitely, his union with Eudora. The revival of the obnoxious law has also a disastrous effect on the interests of Philothea. She is beloved by Paralus, the son of Pericles, and returns his affection. But in marrying she will bring upon him losses and degradation. Pericles, too, looks with an evil eye upon her poverty; and the idea of marriage is therefore finally abandoned.

Matters are thus situated when Philothea, being appointed one of the Canephorae (whose duty it is to embroider the sacred peplus, and to carry baskets in the precession of the Panathenaia) is rigidly secluded by law, for six months, within the walls of the Acropolis. During this time Eudora, deprived of the good counsel and example of her friend, becomes a frequent visitor at the house of Aspasia, by whose pernicious iufluence [[influence]] she is insensibly affected. It is at the return of Philothea from the Acropolis that the story commences. At the urgent solicitation of Aspasia, who is desirous of strengthening her influence in Athens by the countenance of the virtuous, Anaxagoras is induced to attend, with his grand-daughter, a symposium at the liotri.e of Pericles. Eudora accompanies diem. The other guests are Hermippus, Phidias, the Persian Artaphernes, Tithonus a learned Ethiopian, Plato, Hipparete the wife of Alcibiades, and Alcibiades himself. At this symposium Eudora is dazzled by the graces of Alcibiades, and listens to his seductive flattery — forgetful of the claims of Hipparete and of her own lover, Philemon. The poison of this illicit feeling now affects all the action of the drama. Philothea discovers the danger of her friend, but is sternly repulsed upon the proffer of good advice. Alcibiades is appointed a secret interview by Eudora, which is interrupted by Philothea — not, however, before it is observed by Philemon, who in consequence, abandons his mistress, and departs broken-hearted from Athens. The eves of Eudora are now opened, too late, to die perfidy of Alcibiades, who bad deceived her with the promise of marriage and of obtaining a divorce trout Hipparete. It is Hipparete who appeals to the Archons for a divorce from Alcibiades, on the score of his notorious profligacy; and in the investigations which ensue. it appears that a snare has been laid by Aspasia and himself to entrap Eudora, and that, with a similar end in view, lie has also promised marriage to Electra, the Corinthian.

Pericles seeks to please the popuiace by diminishing the power of the Areopagus. He causes a decree to be passed, that those who deny the existence of the Gods, or introduce new opinions about celestial things, shall be tried by the people. This, however, proves injurious to some of his own personal friends. Hermippus lays before the Themothetae Archons an accusation of blasphemy against Anaxagoras. Phidias, and Aspasia; and the case is tried before the fourth assembly of the people. Anaxagoras is charged with not having offered victims to the Gods, and with having blasphemed the divine Phoebus by saying the sun was only a huge ball of tire: — he is condemned to die. Phidias is accused of blasphemy in having carved the likeness of himself and Pericles on the shield of heaven-born Pallas — of having [page 343:] said that he approved the worship of the Gods merely because he wished to have his own works adored — and of decoying to his own house the maids and matrons of Athens, under pretence of seeing sculpture, but in fact, to administer to the profligacy of Pericles. He also is sentenced to death. Aspasia is accused of saying that the sacred baskets of Demeter contained nothing of so much importance as the beautiful maidens who carried them; and that the temple of Poseidon was enriched with no offerings from those who had been wrecked notwithstanding their supplications — thereby implying irreverent doubts of the power of Ocean's God. Her sentence is exile. Pericles. however, succeeds in getting the execution of the decrees suspended until the oracle of Amphiaraus can be consulted. Antiphon, a celebrated diviner, is appointed to consult it. He is absent for many days, and in the meantime Pericles has an opportunity of tampering with the people, as he has already tampered with Antiphon. The response of the oracle opportunely declares that the sentences be re-considered. They are; Phidias and Anaxagoras are merely banished. while Aspasia is acquitted. These trials form, perhaps, the most interesting portion of the book.

Chapter XI. introduces us to Anaxagoras, the contented resident of a small village near Lamissacus in Ionia. He is old, feeble aid poor. Philothea watches by his side, and supports him with the labor of her hands. Plato visits the sage of Clazomenm in his retreat, and brings news of the still beloved Athens. The pestilence is raging — the Piraeus is heaped with the unburied dead. Hipparete has fallen a victim. Pericles was one of the first sufferers, but has recovered through the skill of Hippocrates. Phidias who, after his sentence of exile, departed with Eudora to Elis, and grew in honor among the Eleans — is dead. Eudora still remains at his house, Elis having bestowed on her the yearly revenues; of a farm in consideration of the affectionate care bestowed; upon her illustrious benefactor. Philiemon is in Persia in-1 smicting the sons of the wealthy satrap Megabyzus. Alcibiades is living in unbridled license at Athens. But the visitor has not yet spoken of Paralus, the lover of Philothea. — “ Daughter of Alcimenes,” he at length says — we copy here a page of the volume as a specimen of the grace of the narrative:

“Daughter of Alcimenes, your heart reproaches me that I forbear to speak of Paralus. That I have done so, tins not been from forgetfulness, but because I have with vain and self-defeating prudence sought for cheerio words to convey sad thoughts. Paralus breathes and moves, but is apparently unconscious of existence in this world. He is silent and abstracted, like one just returned horn the cave of Tioponius. Yet beautiful forms are ever with him in infinite variety; for his quiescent soul has now undisturbed recollection of the divine archetypes in the ideal world, of which all eat tidy beauty is the shadow.”

“He is happy, then, though living in the midst of death,” answered Philothea. “But does his memory retain no traces of his friends?”

“One — and one only,” he replied “The name of Philothea was too deeply engraven to be washed away by the waters of oblivion. He seldom speaks; but when he does you are ever in his visions. The sound of a female voice accompanying the lyre is the only thing that makes him smile; and nothing moves him to tears Pave the farewell song of Orpheus to Eurydice. In his drawings there is more of majesty and beauty than Phydias or Myron ever; and one figure is always these — the Pythia, the Muse, the Grace, or something combining all these, more spiritual than either.”

The special object of Plato's visit is the hearing of a message fro:n Pericles. Hippocrates has expressed a hope that the presence of Philothea may restore, in some measure, the health and understanding of Paralus, and the once ambitious father has sent to beg the maiden's consent to a union with the now deeply afflicted son. [column 2:]

“Philothen world not leave me even if I urged it with tears,” replied Anaxagoras, “and I am forbidden to return to Athens.” Pericles has provided an asylum for you, on the borders of Attica,” answered Plato, “and the young people would soon join you after their marriage. He did not suppose that his former proud opposition to their loves would be forgotten; but he,aid! hearts like yours would forgive it all, the more readily because lie was now a man deprived of power, and his son suffering under a visitation of the gods. Alcibiades laughed aloud when be heard of this proposition; and said his uncle would never think of making it to any but a maiden who sees the zephyrs run, and hears the stars sing. He spoke truth in his profane merriment. Pericles knows that she who obediently listens to the inward voice, will be most likely to seek the happiness of others, forgetful of her own wrongs.”

“I do not believe the tender hearted maiden ever cherished resentment against any living thing,’ replied Anaxagoras. “She often reminds me of Hesiod's description of Leto:

Placid to men and to immortal gods;

Mild from the first beginning of her days;

Gentlest of all in Heaven.

She has indeed been a precious gift to my old age. Simple and loving as she is, there are limes when her looks and words fill me with awe, as if I stood in the presence of divinity.”

“It is a most lovely union when the Muses and the Gharitioe inhabit the same temple,” said Plato. “I think she learned of you to he a constant worshipper of the innocent and graceful nymphs, who preside over kind and gentle actions. But tell me, Anaxagoras, if this marriage is declined, who will protect the daughter of Alcimenes when you are gone?”

The philosopher replied, “I have a sister, Helitlora, the youngest of my father's flock, who is a Priestess of the Sun, at Ephesus — Of all my family, she has least despised me for preferring philosophy to gold; and report bespeaks her wise and virtuous. I have asked and obtained from her a promise to protect Philothea when I am gone; but I will tell my child the wishes of Pericles, and leave her to the guidance of her own heart. If she enters the home of Paralus, she will be to him, as she has been to me, a bounty like the sunshine.”

Philothea assents joyfully to the union, although Chry-sippus, the wealthy prince of Clazornence, has offered her his hand. Anaxagoras dies. His grand-daughter, attended by Plato and some female acquaintances, departs fur Athens and arrives safely in the harbor of Phaleruin. No important change has occurred in Paralus, who still hews a total unconsciousness of past events. The lovers however, are united. Many long passages about ibis portion of the narrative are of a lofty beauty. The dreamy, distraught, yet, unembittered existence of the husband, revelling in the visions of the Platonic philosophy — the anxiety of the father and his friends — the ardent, the pure and chivalric love, with the uncompromising devotion and soothing attentions of the wife — are pictures of which the rare merit will not fail to be appreciated by all whose opinion Mrs. Child would be likely to value.

Hippocrates has been informed that Tithonus, the Ethiopian, possesses the power of leading the soul from the body, “by means of a soul dissecting wand,” and the idea arises that the process may produce a salutary effect upon Paralus. Tithonus will be present at the Olympian games, and thither the patient is conveyed, under charge of Pericles, Plato, and his wife. On the route to Corinth, a letter from Philœmon. addressed to Anaxagoras, is handed by Ariaphernes the Persian, to Philothea. At the close of this letter the writer expresses a wish to be informed of Eudora's fate, and an earnest hope that she is not beyond the reach of Philothea's influence. The travellers finally stop at a small town in the neighborhood of Olympia, and at the residence of Proclus and his wife Melissa, “worthy simple-hearted people with whom Phidias had died, and under whose protection he had placed his adopted daughter.” The meeting between this maiden and Philothea is full of interest. The giddy heart of Eudora is chastened by sorrow. Phidias had designed her marriage with his nephew Pandmnus — but her first love is not yet forgotten. A letter is Secretly written by Philnthea to [page 344:] Philemon, acquainting him with the change in Eudora's character, and with her unabated affection for himself, — “ Sometimes,” she writes,” a stream is polluted at the fountain and its waters are tainted through all its wanderings; and sometimes the traveller throws into a pure rivulet some unclean thing which floats awhile and then is rejected from its bosom. Eudora is the pure rivulet. A foreign stain floated on its surface, but never mingled with its waters.”

The efforts of Tithonus are inadequate to the eflectual relief of Paralus. We quote in full the account of the Ethiopian's attempt. Mrs. Child is here, however, partially indebted to a statement by Clearchus, of an operation somewhat similar to that of Tithonus, performed either by the aid or in the presence of Aristotle. The subject has derived additional interest of late, from the manner in which it has been touched by Hare Townshend and Newnham.

The relation of Clearchus mentions a diviner with a spirit drawing wand and a youth whose soul was thereby taken from the body, leaving it inanimate. The soul being replaced by the aid of the magician, the youth enters into a wild account of what betel him during the trance. The passage in “Philothea” runs thus: —

Tithonus stood behind the invalid and remained perfectly quiet for many minutes. He then gently touched the back part of his head with a small wand, and leaning over him, whispered in lus ear. An unplea-ant change iminediatelv passed over the countenance of Paralus. He endeavored to place his hand on his head, and a cold shivering seized him. Philothea shuddered, and Pericles grew pale, as they watched these symptoms; but the silence remained unbroken. A second and a third time the Ethiopian touched him with his wand, an] spoke in whispers. The expression of pain deepened; insomuch that his friends could not look upon him without anguish of heart. Finally his limbs straightened, and became perfectly rigid and motionless.

Tithonus, perceiving the terror he had excited, said soothingly, “O Athenians, be not afraid. I have never seen the soul withdrawn without a struggle with the body. Believe me it will return. The words I whispered, were those I once heard from the lips of Plato. The human soul is guided by two horses — one white with a flowing man-, earnest eye, and wings like a swan, whereby he seeks to fly; but the other is black, heavy, and sleepy-eyed — ever prone to lie down upon the earth.’ The second time I whispered, ‘ Lo, the soul seeketh to ascend!’ And the third time I said, ‘Behold the winged separates from that which has no wings.’ When life returns, Paralus will have remembrance of these words.”

“Oh, restore him! restore him!” exclaimed Philothea, in tones of agonised intreaty.

Tithonus answered with respectful tenderness, and again stood in profound silence several minutes, before he raised the wand. At the first touch, a feeble shivering gave indication of returning life. As it was repented a second and a third time, with a brief interval between each movement, the countenance of the suffer grew more dark an•t troubled, until it became fearful to look upon. But the heavy shadow gradually passed away, and a dreamy smile returned like a gleam of sunshine after storms. The moment Philothea perceived art expression familiar to her heart, she knelt by the couch, seized the hand of Paralus, and bathed it with her tears.

W hen the first gush of emotion hail subsi led, she said in a soft, low voice, “Where have you been, dear Paralus?” The invalid answered, “A thick vapor enveloped me, as with a dark cloud; and a stanning noise pained my head with its violence. A voice said to me, The human soul is guided by two horses; one white, with a flawing mane, earnest eyes, and wings like a swan, whereby he seeks to fly; but the other is black, heavy, and sleepy-eyed — ever prone to lie down upon the earth.’ Then the darkness began to clear away. But there was strange confusion. All things seemed rapidly to interchange their colors and their forms — the sound of a storm was in mine ears — the elements and the stars seemed to crowd upon me — and my breath was taken away. Then I heard a voice saying,’ Lo, the soul seeketh to ascend!’ And I looked and saw the chariot and horse!, of which the voice again said, Behold, the wince] separates from that which It film no wings!’ And suddenly the chariot ascended, and I saw the white horse on lithe, fleecy amis. in a far blue sky. Then I heard in pleasing silent sound — as if dew drops made music as they fell. I breathed freely, and my form seemed to expand itself with buoyant life. All at once I was floating in the air above a quiet lake, where reposed seven beautiful islands, rot of the sound of harps; and Philothea slept at my side, with a garland on her head. I asked, Is [column 2:] this the divine home whence I departed into the body?” And a voice above my head answered; It is the divine home. Man net er leaves it. He ceases to perceive. Afterward 1 looked downward, and saw my dead body lying on a couch. Then again there Came strange confusion — and a painful clashing of sounds — and all things rushing, together. But Philothea took my hand and spoke to me in gentle tones, and the discord ceased.”

The mind of Paralus derives but a temporary benefit from the skill of Tithonus, and even the attendance of the patient upon the Olympian games (a suggestion of Pericles) fails of the desired effect. A partial revival is indeed thus brought about — but death rapidly ensues. The friends of the deceased return to Athens, accompanied by the adopted daughter of Phidias. Philothea dies. Not many days after the funeral ceremonies, Eudora suddenly disappears. Alcibiades is suspected (justly) of having entrapped her to his summer residence in Salamis. The pages which follow this event detail the rescue of the maiden by the ingenuity of two faithful slaves — the discovery of her father in Artaphernes the Persian, whom she accompanies to the court of Artaxerxes — her joyful meeting there and marriage with Philœmon, after refusing the proffered hand of Xerxes himself.

In regard to the species of novel of which “Philothea “is so fine a specimen, we may say that no powers can render it, at the present day, popular. Nor is the voice of the people, in this respect, to be adduced as any evidence of corrupted taste. \Ve have little of purely human sympathy in the distantly antique; and what little we have is weakened by the necessity for effort in conceiving arpropriateness in manners, habits, costume, and modes of thought, so widely at variance with those around its. The “Pompeii” of Bulwer cannot be considered as altogether belonging to the species, and fails in popularity only as it does so belong to it. This justly admired work owes what it possesses of attraction for the mass, to the stupendousness of its leading event — an event rendered only the more thrillingly interesting by the obscurity which years have thrown over its details — to the skill with which the mind of the reader is prepared for this event — to the vigor with which it is depicted — and to the commingling with this event human passions wildly affected thereby — passions the sternest of our nature and common to all character and time. By means so effectual we are hurried over, and observe not, unless with a critical eye, those radical defects or difficulties (coincident with the choice of epoch) of which we have spoken above. The fine perception of Bulwer endured these difficulties as inseparable from the ground-work of his narrative — did not mistake them for facilities. The plot of “Philothea,” like that of the “Telemachus” and of the Anarcharsts,” should be regarded, on the other hand, as merely the vehicle for the “antique manners, habits and modes of thought” which are at variance with a popular interest to-day. Regarding it in this, its only proper light, we are justified in speaking of the work as an honer to our country, and a triumph for our country-women.

“Philothea” might be introduced, with advantage, into our female academies. Its purity of thought and elevation of tone are admirably adapted to scholastic purposes. It would prove an effectual aid in the study of Greek antiquity, with the spirit of which it is wonderfully imbued. \Ve say wonderfully — for the authoress disclaims all knowledge of the classical tongues. There are some points, to be sure, at which a pedant might cavil — some perversions of the character of Pericles — of the philosophy of Anaxagoras — and there might be found more than one flaw in the arrangement of Aspasia's symposium. On the other hand the work affords [page 345:] evidence of an even intimate acquaintance with the genius of the times, places, and people depicted; and with the many egregious blunders of so fine a scholar as Barthelemi still fresh in our remembrance, it will never do to find fault with a few peccadilloes on the part of Mrs. Child. As a mere narrative, “Philothea” is, moreover, entitled to high praise, and its exceeding purity of style should especially recommend it to the attention of teachers.