CHAPTER LXXI

HAPPY CHILDREN AND PROSPEROUS DAYS

Like the flower of roses in the spring of the year, and like lilies by the watercourses.—Ecclesiasticus.

We need not chronicle the peaceful years of Philip’s manhood. Michael passed away, and was buried in the church at Nazareth. David became more and more influential and respected in Northern Palestine. At the request of the Governor of Jerusalem he was made a deputy-governor of the province, and, as he was universally beloved and trusted, the revenues of Galilee flowed regularly and without disturbance into the imperial exchequer. The aid rendered by the Desposynos was so marked that he too received the rank of an Illustris, and was assured of the Emperor’s approval. He paid several visits to Antioch, and Philip and Miriam also visited him at Lubiyeh.

As their elder boys were of the same age, it was agreed that Philip’s Eutyches and John should be confirmed in the Church of St. Babylas, at Antioch, at the same time with David’s Philip and Andrew, by Bishop Eustathius, who, after the death of Porphyry, and after eighty-five years of schism, had at last united the distracted see under one episcopal head. On that occasion David and his family paid a long visit to their friends and kinsfolk at Antioch.

On the fourteenth birthday of Philip’s heir there was a little festival in their new house on the banks of the Orontes. Kallias and his son Innocent, and his little daughters Galla and Pulcheria, were invited; and the groves and gardens round Philip’s house, and the vineyard by the side of the river, laden at that time with its rich purple clusters, rang that evening with shouts of young laughter as all the children played together. The boys 582 had got up a gymnastic contest—a complete Pentathlon—in which they were to contend with some kinsmen in the second generation of Philip’s own boyish friends Achillas and Eros, who had been executed in the terrible sedition of Antioch. The little girls of Kallias wreathed garlands of laurel and parsley, entwined with roses, with which they were to crown the victors. Philip had given his boys the wholesome physical training of young Greeks, so that they had the advantage in skill over David’s lads. Of the five contests, they won the crown in quoit-throwing and javelin-hurling; but David’s sturdy sons, accustomed to the free shepherd life on the hills of Galilee, beat them in leaping and in the race, and were their equals in the wrestling bout.

Sitting by the fountain in the hall, Philip, David, and Kallias, with the mothers of the children, watched them with happy hearts. Philip thought of the day when he had wrestled with Thorismund in the garden of his adopted father, and as he recalled all that had happened since then, a wave of sadness passed over his mind.

‘Ah, David!’ he said, ‘these are happy days! But when I remember the scenes through which we have passed, I almost shrink from the certainty of the trials which must befall these bright lads and little maidens.’

‘Let us treasure the happiness of the present,’ said David; ‘we will not darken it with the forecast of days to come.’

But Philip murmured half to himself the lines of Homer:

‘Yes, that is as it should be,’ said David. ‘We may thank God that we are not immortal. We may thank Him that the good man’s life, however it may end, is crowned by the blessed birthright of death.’

‘What do you say, my silent Kallias?’ asked Philip.

‘I say,’ said Kallias, ‘that if we may, by God’s grace, 583 leave to our children the priceless heritage of character and good example, we leave them the best of treasures, and may be much more than content.’

At this moment Philip’s happy son burst in, the picture of health and gladness. ‘Spectabilis, and Illustris,’ he said, with bows of mock gravity to his father and David, ’and you, Mr. Secretary, and you, ladies, you are all bidden by the voice of the herald to come and see the victors crowned.’

‘And who are the great Pentathlic victors?’ asked Philip.

Your eldest son, great Senator, who is fourteen years old to-day, and ought to be arrayed in the manly toga; and yours, illustrious sir,’ he said, his eyes full of laughter, as he bowed to David.

They all rose and went to the vineyard, where, in a green, open space by the river, they had got up a little masquerade of heralds and Asiarchs, and where, amid loud applause from the circle of comrades and schoolfellows, the little maidens of Kallias placed the garlands on the dark hair of the two boys, who were then clad in festal robes, and ceremoniously conducted in procession to the festal banquet which Miriam had prepared for them. And, seated not far off, under the dense foliage of the trees, old Macedonius himself watched them, and smiled as he lifted up his hands and blessed them in their happy youth.