a heart in his breast ever full of love and of yearning, struggling forth from the rough outer shell of his. personality toward a kindlier element: I, on my part, already so set aside, so lonely and strange among the men about me and, yet so full of hope, so full of expectation of some future existence.
What should two such young men do, except clasp each other to the heart, with the glad swiftness of the storm-winds?…"[1]The personal and patriotic relationship between Hyperion and Alabanda deepens after their first night thus together. Hyperion describes their enthusiastic companionship, and the sudden transfer of his own individuality to the more dominant Ego of Alabanda. Unluckily the course of their intimacy, after what Hyperion calls their "bride and bridegroom days in Arcadia," does not run smoothly, the friends being separated for a considerable time. Hyperion is wretched under this; but he cannot early see his way to their reunion. Later in the tale, on one occasion Hyperion and the rather vague heroine of the story—a young Greek girl, classically named Diotima, who gives a dionystic touch in the book are sitting in a garden, with some other enthusiasts. The homosexual friendship between Harmodios and Aristogeiton is alluded to, by one of the youths:
"When Harmodios and Aristogeiton lived," said he, "then there was friendship in the world!"
"We ought to plait you a laurel-wreath, just for saying that!" I exclaimed to him. "Have you then really an idea, a concept in your mind of just what was such a friendship as that between Harmodios and Aeistogeiton? Forgive me but, by—the very aether itself! I think one would have to be Aristogeiton to comprehend how Aristogeiton could love; and a man certainly would not fear a lightning's bolt who was loved with the love of Harmodius; for I am deceived by every thing in this world if that terrible youth did not feel a love vehement as Minos … There is nothing grander on earth than such a pair."[1]
With the revolt in Greece against the Turks, Hyperion and Alabanda are restored to their former unity,
— 300 —
