THE PLAGUE AT ATHENS. 197

at its deadly work in Egypt and Libya, and in parts
of Persian Asia. Then it made its appearance in
some of the Grecian islands. Finally its wings of
destruction were folded over Athens, and it settled
down in terrific form upon that devoted city.

The seeds of death found there fertile soil. Fami-
lies were crowded together in close cabins and tem-
porary shelters, to which they had been driven in
multitudes from their ravaged fields. The plague
first appeared in mid-April in the Pireeus,—brought,
perhaps, by merchant-ships,—but soon spread to
Athens, and as the heat of summer came on the in-
habitants of that thronged city fell victims to it in
appalling multitudes.

The plague, they called it. The disease seems to
have been something like the small-pox, though not
quite the same. Its victims were seized suddenly,
suffered the greatest agonies, and most of them died
on the seventh or the ninth day. Even when the
‘ patients recovered, some had lost their memory,
others the use of their eyes, hands, feet, or some
other member of the body. No remedy could be
found. The physicians died as rapidly as their pa-
tients. As for the charms and incantations which
many used, we can scarcely imagine that they saved
any lives. Some said that their enemies had poisoned
the water-cisterns, others that the gods were angry,
and vain processions were made to the temples, to
implore the mercy of the deities.

When nothing availed to stay the pestilence,
Athens fell into deep despondency and despair. The
sick lost courage, and lay down inertly to await

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