[Lady Aethra] "I went to welcome her and curtsied as a girl would do in Laconia. Laughing at my own foolishness, I smiled. 'I beg pardon, madam; I forget that I am no longer a child.' She stood in solemn scrutiny of me as my smile turned to doubt, and I waited for her to speak. 'No, you are no child,' she said. Her voice was full of music. She stood tall and her hair, more brown than silver, framed a face with creased skin, high cheek bones and full lips. Her clear eyes expressed knowledge of everything concerning me."
[Leda] "'But mother, to be Queen?' Mother stood and smoothed her skirt. She offered me her hand and helped me up. 'Just remember; never take for yourself the divinity that belongs to the Goddess." We walked together in the shade of the holy fruit trees. "You will know darling. Do not worry.'"
[Little Ajax]"Little Ajax stood at his place and spoke up quickly, in agitation. He was very different from Ajax of Salamis. I knew by now he never flaunted wealth by wearing showy pieces of gold and silver and his tunic was always of simple un-dyed linen. He competed admirably in the games, for he was one of the finest spearmen and fastest runners- no one to give way to others in the sports arena. His brown hair grew in whorls creating a great mass around his head. I had spoken with him several times, and our conversation was always memorable. I learned that his country held to the old ways, much as they did at Aphidnae. In fact, they held religious rituals in common, and Locris, too, sent girls to study with the priestesses in Troy. He had a pet serpent that often twined around his neck and his eyes teased when he told me that it followed him everywhere. I laughed to myself as I realized he was not wearing his serpent today."
[Love in Literature]"I did not hear his step behind me, but I felt his hands on my shoulders, then his tender touch on my neck and chin and lips. Overwhelmed with a sweet fullness, I turned to him. Our gentle kiss inflamed us to a marvelous passion, a powerful hunger that could not be satisfied until we disrobed and clung in naked twining on the skins in the shelter." [Index]
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