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T HE E X P ER T ’S VOIC E ®
Full Stack
JavaScript
Learn Backbone.js,
Node.js and MongoDB
—
Azat Mardan
Full Stack
JavaScript
Learn Backbone.js, Node.js
and MongoDB
Second Edition
Azat Mardan
Full Stack JavaScript: Learn Backbone.js, Node.js and MongoDB
Copyright © 2015 by Azat Mardan
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part
of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations,
recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission
or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or
dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are
brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for
the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser
of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions
of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must
always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the
Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.
ISBN-13 (pbk): 978-1-4842-1750-4
ISBN-13 (electronic): 978-1-4842-1751-1
Trademarked names, logos, and images may appear in this book. Rather than use a trademark
symbol with every occurrence of a trademarked name, logo, or image we use the names, logos, and
images only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of
infringement of the trademark.
The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they
are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are
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While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of
publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility
for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied,
with respect to the material contained herein.
■
■Chapter 1: Basics��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
■
■Chapter 2: Setup��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21
■
■Chapter 3: jQuery and Parse.com������������������������������������������������� 43
■
■Chapter 4: Intro to Backbone.js���������������������������������������������������� 79
■
■Chapter 5: Backbone.js and Parse.com�������������������������������������� 121
■
■Chapter 6: Intro to Node.js��������������������������������������������������������� 137
■
■Chapter 7: Intro to MongoDB������������������������������������������������������ 155
■
■Chapter 8: Putting It All Together����������������������������������������������� 167
■
■Appendix A: Conclusion and Further Reading���������������������������� 187
Index���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 193
v
Contents
■
■Chapter 1: Basics��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
Front-End Definitions������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 1
Web Request Cycle��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2
Mobile Development������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3
HyperText Markup Language������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 4
Cascading Style Sheets�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6
JavaScript����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7
Agile Methodologies������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 13
Scrum��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13
Test-Driven Development��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14
Continuous Deployment and Integration���������������������������������������������������������������� 14
Pair Programming��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15
Back-End Definitions����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15
Node.js�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15
NoSQL and MongoDB��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16
Cloud Computing���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16
vii
■ Contents
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19
■
■Chapter 2: Setup��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21
Local Setup������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21
Development Folder����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 22
Browsers���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23
IDEs and Text Editors���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25
Version Control Systems����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 26
Cloud Setup������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36
SSH Keys���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36
GitHub��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 37
Windows Azure������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38
Heroku�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40
Summary����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 41
■
■Chapter 3: jQuery and Parse.com������������������������������������������������� 43
Definitions��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 44
JavaScript Object Notation������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 44
AJAX����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 45
Cross-Domain Calls������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 45
jQuery Functions����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 46
Twitter Bootstrap����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 47
viii
■ Contents
LESS������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 50
LESS Variables�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 51
LESS Mix-ins���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 52
LESS Operations����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 53
ix
■ Contents
■
■Chapter 5: Backbone.js and Parse.com�������������������������������������� 121
Message Board with Parse.com: JavaScript SDK and
Backbone.js Version���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 121
Taking Message Board Further����������������������������������������������������������� 134
Summary��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 135
■
■Chapter 6: Intro to Node.js��������������������������������������������������������� 137
Building “Hello World” in Node.js�������������������������������������������������������� 137
Node.js Core Modules�������������������������������������������������������������������������� 139
http����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 139
util������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 140
querystring����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 140
url������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 140
fs��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 140
npm Node Package Manager������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 141
x
■ Contents
■
■Chapter 8: Putting It All Together����������������������������������������������� 167
Adding CORS for Different Domain Deployment���������������������������������� 168
Message Board UI������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 169
Message Board API����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 174
Deployment to Heroku������������������������������������������������������������������������� 178
Same Domain Deployment Server������������������������������������������������������ 179
Deployment to Amazon Web Services������������������������������������������������� 182
Summary��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 185
■
■Appendix A: Conclusion and Further Reading���������������������������� 187
Conclusion������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 187
Further Reading����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 188
JavaScript Resources and Free E-Books�������������������������������������������������������������� 188
JavaScript Books�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 189
Node.js Resources and Free E-Books������������������������������������������������������������������� 190
Node.js Books������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 190
Interactive Online Classes and Courses��������������������������������������������������������������� 191
Startup Books and Blogs�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 191
Index���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 193
xi
About the Author
xiii
■ About the Author
Azat is also the author of Pro Express.js, Practical Node.js and Node Program, and
others. Azat is the creator of open source Node.js projects, including ExpressWorks,
mongoui, and HackHall.
You can reach Azat and say hi using one of these methods:
Twitter: [@azat_co](https://twitter.com/azat_co) - Azat loves getting "Hi" on
Twitter
Facebook
Blog: webapplog.com
GitHub: github.com/azat-co/fullstack-javascript
Share on Twitter
Tweet “I’m starting FullStack JavaScript by @azat_co @Apress ” by opening this link
http://ctt.ec/he3Ug.
xiv
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the team of early Node contributors bringing JavaScript to the
servers. Without them, the full stack JavaScript development wouldn’t be possible.
I’m grateful to my copy and content editors at Apress specifially to James Markham,
Mark Powers, Teresa Horton, and Karen Jameson. They accomplished an amazing feat by
bringing this book to life in a span of a few weeks.
Also, I’m grateful to the students of Hack Reactor, Marakana, pariSOMA, and General
Assembly where I taught and used early Full Stack JavaScript (or its parts) training
material.
xv
Preface
I’m writing this as I’m sitting at the San Francisco airport waiting for my flight to Portland,
Oregon, for the biggest Node.js conference. I’ll be speaking there about Node.js. It’s scary
and funny at the same time to think that I started to learn Node only three years ago. Yes,
I remember how I decided that the best way to learn is to teach others. For this reason
I started teaching my first Node classes and writing this book. The book was mostly for
me, so I could remember how to push Heroku or how to create Node servers that talk to
MongoDB. It was called Rapid Prototyping with JS back then. Three years sped away; I
published a few more Node books as well as released several Node apps in production;
and a few months ago Apress approached me wanting to publish an updated edition
under a new title.
The main reason I bet my time and energy on JavaScript and Node in the first place
is that I felt both intuitively and logically the potential of the full stack JavaScript. The one
language to rule the whole stack across all the layers. Logically I understood the code
reuse, expressiveness, and performance advantages of Node.js and the ever-increasing
importance of front-end development with MVC-like frameworks such as Backbone.
Intuitively, I just freaking fell in love with JavaScript both on the browser and on the
server.
Yes, I used JavaScript for many years but it was more pain than fun. Not anymore.
I was able to get a sense of what’s going on at the front end while at the same time getting
all the power and flexibility on the server. My brain started to think 5, maybe 10 times
faster than before because I started to remember all the obscure methods from Array or
String objects. I stopped having Mozilla Developer Network or Google open next to my
code editor. And what a relief when you don’t need to wait for the compiler each time that
you want to test something really quickly.
The airline crew announced my boarding. I need to get on the plane, but I hope this
easy, beginner-friendly manual will open the world of full stack JavaScript and cloud
computing. Jump on the train of this amazing technology with me.
xvii
Introduction
xix
■ Introduction
What to Expect
A typical reader of Full Stack JavaScript should expect a collection of quick start guides,
tutorials, and suggestions (e.g., Git workflow). There is a lot of coding and not much
theory. All the theory we cover is directly related to some of the practical aspects and is
essential for better understanding of technologies and specific approaches in dealing
with them, for example, JSONP and cross-domain calls.
In addition to coding examples, the book covers virtually all setup and deployment
step by step.
You’ll learn on the examples of Chat web/mobile applications starting with front-
end components. There are a few versions of these applications, but by the end we’ll put
front end and back end together and deploy to the production environment. The Chat
application contains all of the necessary components typical for a basic web app and
will give you enough confidence to continue developing on your own, apply for a job/
promotion, or build a startup!
xx
Another Random Scribd Document
with Unrelated Content
for that descends into the vitals, and affords cold comfort at the
best; where as this, even before entering the mouth, rejoices the
nostrils, and though cold to the touch, leaps down into the stomach
and begets a pleasurable warmth."[7] To this Bacchus replied, "This
is the water of an autumnal fruit, this is the blood of the grape,"[8]
and so saying, he conducted the neatherd to a vine, and squeezing a
bunch of grapes said, "here is the water, and this is the fountain
from whence it flows." Such is the account which the Tyrians give as
to the origin of wine.
It was, as I before said, the festival of this deity which was being
celebrated. My father anxious to do everything handsomely, had
made grand preparations for the supper, and there was set in honor
of the god, a magnificent goblet of crystal,[9] in the beauty of its
workmanship second only to that of the Chian Glaucus.[10] Vines
seemingly growing from within encircled it, and their clusters hung
down all around; as long as the goblet remained empty each grape
appeared unripe and green; but no sooner was the wine poured in
than each grape began to redden, and assumed the hue of ripeness;
and among them was represented Bacchus himself as dresser of the
vineyard. As the feast went on, and the good wine did its office, I
began to cast bold lawless glances at Leucippe; for Love and
Bacchus are two very potent deities, they take possession of the
soul[11] and so inflame it that it forgets every restraint of modesty;
the one kindles in it a flame, and the other supplies fuel for the fire,
for wine may truly be called the meat and drink of love. The maiden
also became gradually emboldened so as to gaze at me more fixedly.
In this manner, ten days passed on without anything beyond glances
being interchanged between us.
At length I imparted the whole affair to Satyrus, requesting his
assistance; he replied, "I knew it all before you told me, but was
unwilling that you should be aware of the fact, supposing it your
wish to remain unobserved; for very often he who loves by stealth
hates the party who has discovered his passion, and considers
himself to have received an insult from him. However," continued he,
"fortune has provided for our contingences,[12] for Clio, Leucippe's
chambermaid, has an understanding with me, and admits me as her
lover. I will gradually buy her over to give us her assistance in this
affair; but you, on your part, must not be content with making trial
of the maiden merely by glances; you must speak to her and say
something to the point, then take a farther step by touching her
hand, squeezing her fingers, and fetching a deep sigh; if she permits
this willingly, then salute her as the mistress of your affections, and
imprint a kiss upon her neck." "By Pallas, you counsel wisely," was
my reply, "but I fear me, I shall prove but a craven wrestler in the
school of love."
"The god of love," said he, "has no notion of craven-heartedness; do
you not see in what warlike guise he is equipped? He bears a bow, a
quiver, arrows, and a lighted torch, emblems all of them, of
manhood and of daring. Filled, then, as you are with the influence of
such a god, are you a coward and do you tremble? Beware of
shewing yourself merely a counterfeit in love. I will make an opening
by calling away Clio, as soon as an opportunity occurs for your
having a private conversation with Leucippe." With these words he
left the room; excited by what he had said, I was no sooner alone,
then I used every endeavour to collect my courage for the
approaching interview. "Coward," said I, "how long wilt thou
continue silent? Thou, the soldier of such a warlike 'god, and yet a
craven.' Dost thou intend to wait until the maiden comes to thee of
her own accord?" Afterwards I proceeded, "and yet fool that thou
art, why not come to thy senses? Why not bestow thy love upon a
lawful object? Thou hast another maiden in this house; one
possessed of beauty. Be content with loving her, and gazing upon
her; her it is permitted thee to take to wife." My purpose was almost
fixed; when from the bottom of my heart Love spoke in reply and
said; "Rash man, darest thou to set thyself in array and to war with
me—me, who have wings to fly, arrows to wound, and a torch to
burn? How, prythee, wilt thou escape? If thou wardest off my shafts,
how wilt thou avert my fire? and even supposing thy chastity should
quench the flame, still I can overtake thee with my wings."[13]
While engaged in this soliloquy, the maiden unexpectedly made her
appearance; I turned pale, and the next moment became crimson;
she was quite alone, not even Clio accompanied her; in a very
confused manner, and not knowing what else to say, I addressed her
with the words, "Good morrow, fair mistress;" sweetly smiling, she
shewed by her countenance that she comprehended the drift of my
salutation, and said, "Do you call me your mistress?" "Indeed I do,
for one of the gods has told me to be your slave, as Hercules was
sold to Omphale." "Sold, if I remember, by Mercury," rejoined she,
"and Jove employed him in the business;" this she said with an arch
smile. "What nonsense," rejoined I, "to trifle so, and talk of Mercury
when all the while you understood my meaning."[14] While one
pleasantry led on to another and so prolonged our conversation,
fortune came to my assistance.
About noon on the preceding day, Leucippe had been playing on the
harp and Clio was sitting beside her. I was walking up and down,
when suddenly a bee flying in, stung Clio's hand; she immediately
shrieked out, upon which the maiden, hastily rising from her seat
and laying aside the harp, examined the wound, bidding her to be
under no anxiety, for that she could relieve the pain by simply
uttering two magic words, having been instructed by an Egyptian
how to cure the stings inflicted by bees and wasps; she then
proceeded to utter the words of incantation, and Clio, in a few
moments declared the pain to be relieved. This, as I intimated, took
place on the day before. On the present occasion it chanced, that a
bee or wasp flew buzzing round my face, when all at once the idea
seized me of feigning myself to have been stung;[15] I did so,
putting my hand to my face, and pretending to be in pain. The
maiden came up to me, removed my hand and enquired where I
had been stung; upon my lips, dearest, was my reply, why do you
not charm away the pain? Approaching my face, she placed her
mouth almost close to mine, in order to work the charm, at the
same time murmuring certain words, and ever and anon touching
my lips. All this time I kept stealing silent kisses, so that from the
maiden alternately opening and closing her lips while uttering the
charm, the incantation became changed into one continuous kiss. At
last putting my arms around her, I saluted her lips more ardently;
upon which drawing back she exclaimed, "What are you about? Are
you, too, turned enchanter?" "I am only kissing the charm which has
removed my pain." She took my meaning and smiled, which gave
me a fresh supply of courage.
"Ah! dear Leucippe," I exclaimed, "I now feel another and severer
sting,[16] one which has penetrated to my very heart, and calls for
your 'mighty magic;' surely you must carry about a bee upon your
lips, they are full of honey, your kisses wound; repeat the charm, I
pray, but do not worry over the operation, for fear of exasperating
the wound;" at the same time I embraced her more closely and
kissed her with still greater freedom; nor, though making a show of
resistance, did she seem displeased.[17] At this juncture Clio was
seen approaching from a distance, upon which we separated, I
much annoyed and sorely against my will; what were her feelings I
cannot exactly say. After what had passed, however, I felt easier in
mind and began to indulge in brighter hopes.
I still felt the kiss upon my lips as though it had really been
something of a corporeal nature; I zealously guarded it as a treasure
of sweets, for a kiss is to the lover his chief delight; it takes its birth
from the fairest portion of the human body—from the mouth, which
is the instrument of the voice, and the voice is the adumbration of
the soul; when lips mingle they dart pleasure through the veins, and
make even the lovers' souls join in the embrace. Never before did I
feel delight comparable to this; and then for the first time I learnt
that no pleasurable sensation can vie with a lover's kiss.[18]
At supper time we met as on former occasions, when Satyrus, who
acted as cupbearer, hit upon the following amorous device. After our
cups were filled, he effected an exchange, presenting mine to the
maiden, handing hers to me. Having noticed what part of the brim
had been touched by her in drinking, I applied my lips to the same
place;[19] thus intimating that I was sending her a kiss. She
remarked what I had done, and readily understood that I had been
kissing the shadow of her lips. Satyrus again stealthily made a like
exchange of cups, when I could observe her imitating me, and
drinking as I had done, which, as you may imagine, vastly increased
my happiness. This was repeated a third and fourth time; in short,
we passed the rest of the time in drinking kisses to one another.
When supper was ended, Satyrus approaching me said, "Now is the
time to show your mettle; the maiden's mother, as you are aware, is
unwell, and has retired to rest alone. She herself before going to bed
will take a few turns as usual in the garden, attended by no one but
Clio, whom I will undertake to get out of the way." We then
separated, and remained on the watch, he for Clio, I for Leucippe.
Everything turned out as we had wished; Clio was got rid of, and
Leucippe remained walking by herself. I waited till the daylight had
faded away,[20] and then approached her, emboldened by my former
success, like a soldier already victorious, who therefore scorns the
perils of war. The arms in which I trusted were wine, love, hope, and
solitude; so, without saying a word, and as if everything had been
preconcerted, I took her in my arms, and covered her with kisses.
When about to proceed to other familiarities, a noise was heard
behind us, at which we started asunder in alarm. She betook herself
to her chamber, and I remained there in great dudgeon at having
lost so capital an opportunity, and execrating the noise which had
been the cause.
Meanwhile Satyrus came up with a laughing countenance. He had
witnessed everything, having concealed himself under a tree to
guard against our surprise; and it was he, who seeing some one
approach, had made the noise.
In the course of a few days, my father made preparations for
concluding my marriage sooner than had been originally intended.
He had been much alarmed by various dreams; he thought he was
celebrating the nuptial rites, and after the torches had been kindled
the light was suddenly extinguished. This made him more anxious to
conclude the matter, and we were now within a day of the one
formally appointed for the ceremony. The wedding clothes and
jewels were already purchased; there was a necklace composed of
various gems, and a splendid purple robe edged with a gold border.
The gems vied with each other in beauty; among them was a
hyacinth,[21] which resembled a rose, only that it was a stone, and
an amethyst almost as lustrous as gold itself. In the middle of this
necklace were three precious stones, arranged together and
curiously blended in their hues; the lowest one was black, the
middle white, but with a darkish tinge, the upper one shading off
into a ruddy colour. They were set in a rim of gold, and might be
said to bear resemblance to an eye.[22] The purple of the dress was
of no ordinary dye, but of the kind which the Tyrians fable to have
been discovered by the shepherd's dog, and with which they are
wont to represent the robe of Venus to be tinged.[23] There was a
time when this purple dye was as yet unknown, but remained
concealed in the hollow of a little shell fish. A shepherd meeting with
one of these hoped to obtain the fish which was inside; foiled by the
hardness of the shell, after bestowing a hearty curse upon his booty,
he threw it into the sea as so much worthless rubbish. His dog
lighted upon this windfall,[24] and broke open the shell with his
teeth, in doing which his mouth and lips became stained with the
brilliant dye, or as we may call it, blood. The shepherd upon seeing
this supposed it the effect of a wound; so taking the dog down to
the sea he washed his mouth, upon which the imaginary blood
assumed a still more brilliant hue, and upon proceeding to touch it,
his hand became of a purple colour. The shepherd now guessed
what was the nature of the shell fish, and that it was impregnated
with a dye of surpassing beauty; so taking some wool he placed it in
the aperture, determined to dive into the mysteries of the shell; and
it became of a colour similar to that upon the dog's mouth. By this
means he obtained a knowledge of what we call purple; and after
breaking open its fortified receptacle with the help of a stone, he
arrived at the treasure-house of dye. To return, however, to my
story. My father was performing the preliminary rites,[25] the
marriage being fixed, as I have said, for the following day. I was in
despair, and was devising some pretext for deferring it. While in this
state of perplexity, a great tumult was heard to proceed from the
men's quarter of the house. It appeared that as my father was
offering up a sacrifice; an eagle[26] swooping from on high seized
the victim, and in spite of every endeavour to scare him away, bore
off his prey. As this was declared to forebode no good, the marriage
was postponed for another day. My father proceeded to consult the
seers and soothsayers upon the meaning of the portent; they were
of opinion that he should offer a sacrifice to hospitable Jove at
midnight upon the sea-shore, since the bird had flown in that
direction. Sure enough he had winged his flight thither, and
appeared no more. For my part, I extolled the eagle to the skies,
and declared that he was justly styled the king[27] of birds. No long
time elapsed before the meaning of the prodigy became revealed.
There was a certain young man, a native of Byzantium, by name
Callisthenes; he was an orphan and possessed of wealth, profligate
in his life and extravagant in his expenditure. Having heard that
Sostratus had a handsome daughter, he was anxious to obtain her
hand and became enamoured upon hearsay, for he had never seen
her.[28] The force of passion upon the licentious is often so strong
that their ears lead them into love, and report has the same effect
upon their minds which sight has upon others.
Before the breaking out of the war against the Byzantians, the
young man introduced himself to Sostratus, and asked the hand of
his daughter in marriage. Sostratus, however, strongly objecting to
his irregular way of life, rejected his application. Callisthenes was
very indignant at this repulse; he considered himself slighted;—
besides, he was in love, and fancy pictured to his mind those charms
which he had never seen. Dissembling his displeasure, he meditated
how he might revenge himself on Sostratus, and at the same time
gratify his own desires; nor was he without hope of success, there
being a law of the Byzantians which enacted, that if any one should
carry off a maiden he should be exempt from punishment upon
making her his wife;[29] of this law he determined to avail himself,
and waited only till a seasonable opportunity should offer. Although
the war had now broken out, and the maiden had come to us for
security, he did not abandon his design, in the execution of which
the following circumstance assisted, as the Byzantians had received
an oracle to this effect:—
"With plant-born name there lives an island race,
Whose land an isthmus to the shore doth brace;
Vulcan consorts there with the blue-eyed maid,
And there to Hercules be offerings paid."[30]
While all were in doubt what place was intended by these enigmatic
words, Sostratus (who was one of the commanders) thus delivered
his opinion:—"We must send to Tyre, and offer up a sacrifice to
Hercules;[31] the expressions of the miracle clearly point to that city.
The 'plant-derived name,' shews that the island of the Phœnicians is
intended, the phœnix (or palm), being a plant; both sea and land lay
claim to it: the latter joins it to the continent, the former washes it
on either side; thus it is seated in the one element, but without
abandoning the other, to which it is united by its narrow isthmus or
neck of land; moreover, it is not founded in the sea, but both under
it and under the isthmus, the waters have free course; thus there is
seen the singular spectacle of a city in the sea, and of an island
upon shore. The mention made of 'Vulcan consorting with the blue-
eyed maid,' alludes to the olive and the fire, which are found there
in close proximity: for, in a sacred precinct surrounded by a wall,
olive trees are seen to flourish, while fire issuing from their roots
burns among the branches, and with its ashes benefits the tree;
hence there exists a mutual friendship, and Minerva shuns not
Vulcan." Upon this Chærophon, who shared the command with
Sostratus in the war, his senior in age and a native of Tyre, extolled
him highly for his excellent interpretation of the oracle. "It is not
only fire, however," said he, "which claims our wonder; the water
also deserves its share. I myself have seen the following marvels:—
there is a fountain in Sicily whose waters are mingled with fire; the
flame is seen to leap up from underneath, yet if you touch the water
it will be found as cold as snow, so that neither is the fire
extinguished by the water, nor the water ignited by the flame, but a
mutual truce subsists between the elements.[32] There is also a river
in Spain, not differing from others in appearance, but if you wish to
hear it become vocal, you have but to wait and listen; for when a
gentle breeze sweeps over its surface there is heard a sound as if
from strings, the wind being the plectrum, the river itself the lyre.
[33] I may likewise mention a lake in Lybia, resembling in its nature
the Indian soil.[34] The Lybian maidens are well acquainted with its
secrets and with the riches which, stored below its waters, are
mingled with the mud, for it is, in fact, a fount of gold.[35] Plunging
a long pole smeared with pitch into the lake, they lay open its
recesses; this pole is to the gold what the hook is to the fish, serving
as a bait. The grains of gold alone attach themselves to the pitch,
and are drawn on shore. Such is the gold-fishing in the Lybian
waters."
After relating these marvels, Chærophon, with the consent of the
state, proceeded to dispatch the victims and other offerings to Tyre.
Callisthenes contrived to be among the number of the sacred
functionaries,[36] and soon arriving at that city, he found out my
father's residence, and matured his schemes against the females,
who, as will presently be shown, went out to view the sacrificial
show, which was in the highest degree sumptuous; there was a vast
quantity of different kinds of incense used, such as cassia,
frankincense, and crocus; there was also a great display of flowers,
the narcissus, the rose, and the myrtle; the fragrance of the flowers
vied with the perfumes of the incense; the breeze wafted them aloft,
mingled their odours in the air, producing a gale of sweets. The
victims were many in number and of various kinds; the most
remarkable among them, however, were the oxen from the Nile,
animals which excel not only in stature but in colours. They are
altogether of very large size, with brawny necks, broad backs, and
ample bellies;[37] their horns are not depressed, like those of the
Sicilian ox, nor ill-shaped like the Cyprian, but project upward from
the forehead of this animal with a gentle curve; the interval between
them at their tips and at the roots being equal, so that they bear a
resemblance to the moon when at the full; their colour is that which
Homer so much praises in the Thracian horses.[38] The bull stalks
along with lofty crest, as if to show that he is the monarch of the
herd. If there is any truth in the legend of Europa, it was into an
Egyptian bull that Jove metamorphosed himself.
At the time of which I am speaking my mother-in-law was unwell;
Leucippe also feigned indisposition, according to a preconcerted
arrangement, that we might have an opportunity of meeting during
the absence of the rest. My sister, therefore, and Leucippe's mother
were the only ones who went out to see the show. Callisthenes, who
knew by sight the wife of Sostratus, seeing my sister in her company
mistook her for Leucippe, of whom he had no personal knowledge.
Smitten by her appearance, and without making any inquiries, he
points her out to a trusty attendant of his, commanding him to
engage some pirates to effect her seizure, and arranging the manner
of proceeding, for a high festival[39] was at hand when, as he
understood, all the maidens would go down to the shore for the
purpose of performing their ablutions. After giving these directions,
and having discharged the duties of his function,[40] he withdrew.
He had previously, I may remark, provided a vessel of his own, in
case an opportunity should offer for carrying his schemes into effect.
Meanwhile the rest of the sacred functionaries had embarked and
sailed away; he, however, went on board his vessel, and continued
to lie a little off shore, both in order that he might appear to be
taking his departure like the others, and also lest, being so near
Tyre, any danger should happen to himself in consequence of
carrying off the maiden. Upon arriving at Sarepta, a Tyrian village on
the sea-coast, he purchased another craft, which he intrusted to his
follower Zeno, who was to execute his plan. This man was able-
bodied, and accustomed to a buccaneering life; he soon, therefore,
succeeded in gathering together some pirates from the above-
named village, and then sailed for Tyre. Near this city there is an
islet with a harbour, (the Tyrians call it the tomb of Rhodope); here
the craft was stationed watching for the prey. Before the arrival of
the high festival, however, which Callisthenes awaited, the omen of
the eagle and the interpretation of the soothsayers were fulfilled. On
the day preceding, we made preparations for the sacrifice to Jove,
and late in the evening went down to the shore; none of our
motions escaped Zeno, who cautiously followed us. When in the act
of performing our ablutions, he made the preconcerted signal, upon
which the boat made rapidly for the land, manned by ten young
fellows; eight others were secretly in readiness on shore, dressed in
women's clothes and with shaven chins; each had a sword
concealed under his dress, and the better to avoid any suspicion,
they had brought some victims with them as for sacrifice, so that we
took them to be women. No sooner had we reached the pile than,
raising a sudden shout, they rushed upon us, and put out our
torches; we fled disorderly and in alarm, upon which they drew their
swords, and seizing my sister, put her into the boat, and then
embarking rowed off with the speed of an eagle. Some who had fled
at the first onset saw nothing of what afterwards occurred; others
who had witnessed everything cried out, "The pirates have carried
off Calligone."
Meanwhile the boat was far out at sea, and upon nearing Sarepta
made a signal which when Callisthenes recognised, he put out to
meet it, and taking the maiden on board his own vessel, at once
sailed away. I breathed again upon finding my marriage thus
unexpectedly broken off, nevertheless I was sorry for the calamity
which had befallen my sister. A few days after this occurrence, I said
to Leucippe, "How long, my dearest, are we to confine ourselves to
kisses? they are pleasant enough as preludes, let us now add to
them something more substantial; suppose we exchange mutual
pledges of fidelity, for only let Venus initiate[41] us in her mysteries
and then we need fear the power of no other deity."
By constantly repeating my solicitations, I at length persuaded the
maiden to receive me into her own chamber, Clio lending us her
assistance. I will describe the situation of her room: a large space in
one part of the mansion contained two chambers on the right hand
and as many on the left; a narrow passage, closed at the entrance
by a door, gave access to them.[42] Those at the farther end were
occupied by the maiden and her mother, and were opposite each
other; of the two remaining ones, that next to Leucippe belonged to
Clio, the other was a store-room. Leucippe's mother was always in
the habit of attending her to bed; upon which occasions she not only
locked the door inside, but had it secured by a slave on the outside,
the keys being handed to her through an opening; these she kept
until the morning, when calling the man she passed them back to
him that he might unlock the door.
Satyrus contrived to have a set of keys made like them, and finding
upon trial that they would answer, he with the consent of the
maiden gained over Clio, who was to offer no impediment. Such was
the plan which we devised. There was a slave belonging to the
household, called Conops, a prying, talkative, lecherous fellow, in
short everything that was bad. The man watched our proceedings
very narrowly, and suspecting our intentions, used to keep open the
door of his dormitory until late at night, so that it was no easy
matter to escape his observation. Satyrus wishing to make a friend
of him, often talked and joked with him, and laughing in allusion to
his name (Κώνωψ) would call him Gnat. The fellow seeing through
the artifice of Satyrus pretended to return the joke, but, in doing so,
exhibited his own ill-natured disposition. "As you are so fond," said
he, "of punning upon my name, I will tell you a story about the gnat.
The lion often complained to Prometheus that although he had
formed him a large and handsome beast, had armed his jaws with
teeth, and his feet with claws, and had made him more powerful
than the other animals, still, notwithstanding all these advantages,
he stood in fear of the dunghill cock.[43] 'Why dost thou without
cause accuse me?' replied Prometheus; 'I have given thee every gift
which it was in my power to bestow, it is thine own faint
heartedness which is in fault.' The lion wept and bemoaned his
condition, cursing his own want of courage, and in the end made up
his mind to die. While in this frame of mind he happened to meet
the elephant, with whom, after wishing him good morning, he
entered into conversation. Seeing him continually flap his ears,
'What ails you,' he asked—'why are your ears never for a moment
still?' The elephant, about whose head a gnat was at that moment
flying, replied, 'If the buzzing insect which I see, was to get into my
ear, the result would be my death.' Upon this the lion made the
following reflection. 'Why should I (such as I am, and so much more
fortunate than the elephant,) think of dying? It is better to stand in
awe of a cock than to dread a scurvy gnat.'
"You see," said Conops, "what power the gnat possesses, since he
can terrify the elephant." Satyrus who saw into the malicious
meaning of his words, replied with a smile, "I will now relate to you
the story of the gnat and the lion, which I heard from a certain
sage; as for your tale about the elephant, you are welcome to make
what you can out of it. The braggart gnat said one day to the lion,
'So you think to lord it over me as you do over other creatures. I
should like to know why? You are not handsomer than I am, nor yet
bolder, nor yet more powerful; in what respect are you superior to
me? In valour?—You tear with your claws and bite with your teeth, it
is true; so does every woman when she quarrels;[44] and as to your
size and beauty, you have indeed an ample chest and broad
shoulders, and a whole forest of hair about your neck, but you little
think how unsightly are your hinder parts. On the other hand, my
greatness is commensurate with the air and with the power of my
wings; the flowers of the meadow constitute my comeliness, they
serve me in lieu of garments, with which, when weary with flying, I
invest myself; neither is my valour any laughing matter; I am the
very impersonation of a warlike instrument; I blow a blast[45] when I
go to battle, and it is my mouth which serves for trumpet and for
weapon, so that I am at once, a musician and an archer; moreover I
am my own bow and arrow; my wings poised in air shoot me
forward, and lighting down, I inflict a wound as with a shaft; who so
ever feels it cries out and forthwith tries to find his enemy: I,
however, though present, am at the same time absent; I fly and I
stand my ground, and with my wings circle round the adversary, and
laugh to see him dance with pain. But why should I waste more
words?—let us at once join battle.' Saying this, he falls upon the lion,
attacking his eyes and every other part which was unprotected by
hair; at the same time wheeling round him and blowing his trumpet.
The lion was in a fury, turning himself in every direction and vainly
snapping at the air; his wrath afforded additional sport to the gnat,
who made an onslaught on his very mouth. Immediately he turned
to the side where he was aggrieved, when his antagonist, like a
skilful wrestler, twisting and twirling his body escaped clean through
the lion's teeth, which were heard to rattle against each other in the
vain attempt to seize him. By this time the lion was thoroughly tired
by thus fighting with the air, and stood still, exhausted by his own
efforts; upon which the gnat, sailing round his mane sounded a
triumphant strain of victory; but stimulated by his excess of vanity
he took a wider range, and all at once fell into a spider's web. When
no hope of escape appeared, he sorrowfully said, 'Fool that I am, I
entered the lists against a lion, and behold I am caught in the
meshes of a spider!'" Having finished his story, Satyrus said, with a
sarcastic laugh, "Be on your guard, and beware of spiders." Not
many days had passed when Satyrus knowing what a belly-slave
Conops was, purchased a powerful soporific draught and then
invited him to supper.[46] Suspicious of some trick, he at first
declined, but afterwards, over persuaded by his most excellent
adviser—appetite,[47] he complied. After supper, when he was on
the point of going away, Satyrus poured the potion into his last
draught, he drank it off, and had just time to reach his dormitory,
when he fell on his bed in a deep sleep. Upon this, Satyrus hurried
to me and said, "Conops is fast asleep, now is the time to prove
yourself as valorous as Ulysses:"[48] we instantly proceeded to the
door which conducted to Leucippe's chamber; there he left me, and
Clio stealthily admitted me, trembling with joy and fear; the dread of
danger disturbed my hopes, but the hope of success qualified the
dread, and so hope became the source of fear, and pain the cause of
pleasure.
Just as I had entered the maiden's room, her mother's sleep had
been disturbed by a fearful dream; a robber armed with a naked
sword, seized and carried off her daughter, after which, laying her
upon the ground, he proceeded to rip her up, beginning at her
private parts. Terrified by the vision, her mother started up and
hurried to her daughter's apartment, which as I before said was
close at hand. I had but just got into bed and hearing the doors
open, had scarcely time to leap out before she was at her daughter's
side. Aware of my danger I made a bolt through the opened door,
and ran with all my might, till trembling from head to foot I met
Satyrus, when we both made our way in the dark and retreated each
to his own room. Leucippe's mother fainted, but upon recovering the
first thing she did was to box Clio's ears, then tearing her own hair,
she broke forth into lamentation. "Oh Leucippe," she said, "you have
blighted all my hopes. And you Sostratus, who are fighting at
Byzantium to protect the honour of other people's wives and
daughters, you little think how some enemy has been warring
against your house, and has defiled your own daughter's honour.
Oh, Leucippe, I never thought to see you wedded after such a
fashion as this! Would that you had remained at Byzantium! Would
that you had suffered violence from the chances of war, and that
some Thracian had been your ravisher! In such a case the violence
would have excused the shame, whereas now, you are at the same
time wretched and disgraced. The vision of the night did but mock
my mind, the realities of the dream were hidden from me, for of a
truth, yours has been a more fearful ripping up, and your wound
more fatal than any inflicted by the sword; and the worst is, that I
am ignorant who is your ravisher. I do not even know what is his
condition! for aught I can tell, he may be some wretched slave.[49]"
When the maiden felt assured of my escape, she took courage and
said: "Mother, there is no occasion for you to attack my chastity,
nothing has been done to me deserving of your reproaches; nor do I
know whether the intruder was a god, a demigod, or a mortal
ravisher;[50] all I know is that I was heartily frightened and lay still,
quite unable to cry out through fear; for fear, as you know, acts as a
padlock upon the tongue: this, however, you may be assured of, no
one has robbed me of my virginity." Notwithstanding these
assurances of her daughter, Panthea gave way to a fresh paroxysm
of grief. Meanwhile Satyrus and I were deliberating on the best
course to be pursued; and we determined to make our escape out of
the house before morning should arrive, when Clio would be put to
the torture and be compelled to reveal everything.
This plan we at once carried into execution, and telling the porter
that we were going out to visit our mistresses, we went straight to
Clinias: it was midnight, and we had some trouble in gaining
admission: Clinias who slept in an upper room heard our voices in
discussion with his porter, and hurried down in alarm, while we could
see at a short distance Clio running towards us, for she too it
appeared had determined to make her escape. Almost in the same
moment therefore Clinias heard our story, and we the narrative of
Clio, while she was made acquainted with our future plans; we all
went in doors, when we gave Clinias a more detailed account and
stated our determination of leaving the city. "I will accompany you,"
said Clio, "for if I remain behind till morning, death (the sweetest of
torments, since it ends them) will be my lot." Clinias took my hand
and leading me aside, he said, "It appears to me most advisable to
get this wench out of the way at once, and after waiting a few days
we can depart ourselves, if still of the same mind. According to your
account the maiden's mother does not know who it was whom she
surprised, nor will there be any one to furnish evidence since Clio is
removed. Nay, we may perhaps persuade the maiden herself to
share our flight; I will accompany you at all events."
We agreed to his proposal, so Clio was delivered to the care of one
of his slaves to be put on board a boat, while we continued to
deliberate upon the course best to be pursued. At last we resolved
to make trial of Leucippe's inclination, and, should she be willing, to
carry her off: in case of her rejecting our proposal, we determined to
remain for the present and to await the course of events. The short
remainder of the night was passed in sleep, and at daylight we
returned home. Panthea had no sooner risen in the morning, than
she had preparations made for putting Clio to the torture;[51] but
when summoned she could no where be found. Upon this, returning
to her daughter, "Will you still persist," said she, "in concealing the
particulars of this pretty plot? Now, I find that Clio also has run off."
Still more reassured by the intelligence, Leucippe replied, "What
more would you have me tell you? What stronger testimony of the
truth would you have me produce? If there is any way of proving a
maid's virginity, you are welcome to prove mine." "Aye," said
Panthea, "and by so doing to add to the troubles of our family by
bringing in witnesses to its disgrace;" upon saying which, she hastily
quitted the apartment. Leucippe left to herself, and with her
mother's words still ringing in her ears, was distracted by conflicting
and various emotions;[52] she was deeply pained at having been
discovered. Her mother's reproaches filled her with shame; she felt
angry at having her word doubted. Now these feelings are like three
billows which disturb the soul's tranquillity: shame making an
entrance through the eyes unfits them for their natural office; pain
preys upon the mind and extinguishes its ardour; while the voice of
anger baying round the heart overpowers reason with its wrathful
foam.[53] The tongue is the parent of these different feelings;
bending its bow and aiming its arrow at the mark, it inflicts its
several wounds upon the soul:[54] with the wordy shaft of railing it
produces anger, with that of well founded accusation, begets pain,
with that of reproof, causes shame; the peculiarity of all these
arrows is, that they inflict deep but bloodless wounds, and there is
available against their effects one remedy alone, which is, to turn
against the assailant his own weapons. Speech, the weapon of the
tongue, must be repelled by a weapon of like nature, for then the
feeling of anger will become calmed and the sensations of shame
and annoyance will be appeased; but if dread of a superior hinder
the employment of such succours, the very fact of silence makes
these wounds to rankle the more deeply, and unless these mental
waves, raised by the power of speech, can cast up their foam, they
will but swell and toss the more.[55]
What I have been saying will picture the condition of Leucippe's
mind, who felt ready to sink under her troubles; it was while she
was in this frame of mind that I dispatched Satyrus to her, in order
to make overtures of flight. Anticipating him in her words, she
exclaimed:—"In the name of the gods, foreign and hospitable,
deliver me out of my mother's power, and take me whither you will;
for if you go away and leave me here, the noose suspended by my
own hands shall be my death." When I was informed of her
expressions, it freed me from a world of anxiety; and in the course
of two or three days, when my father was absent from home, we
made preparations for our flight. Satyrus had still remaining some of
the potion which he had used so successfully upon Conops. While
waiting at supper he poured out a little into the last cup, which he
presented to Panthea; almost immediately after drinking it, she
retired to her own room, and fell fast asleep. Leucippe had now
another chambermaid, with whom Satyrus was on familiar terms;
having given her likewise a portion of the draught, he proceeded to
a third party, the porter, who was soon lying under the influence of
the same soporific potion.
Meanwhile Clinias was awaiting us at the door with a carriage which
he had in readiness, and while all were yet asleep, between nine and
ten at night, we cautiously left the house, Satyrus leading Leucippe
by the hand: Conops, as I may remark, who used to watch our
movements, being fortunately absent, having been dispatched on an
errand by his mistress. On getting out, we immediately entered the
carriage, six in number, Leucippe, I and Satyrus, together with
Clinias and two servants. We drove off in the direction of Sidon,
where we arrived about midnight, and without delay continued our
journey to Berytus, in hopes of finding some vessel in the harbour;
nor were we disappointed, for on going to the port we found a ship
on the point of sailing: without even inquiring whither she was
bound, we got our baggage on board, and embarked a little before
dawn. It was then we learnt that the vessel was bound for the
celebrated city of Alexandria, situated on the Nile.
The sight of the sea delighted me while as yet we were in the
smooth water of the harbour; soon, however, upon the wind
becoming favourable, loud tumult prevailed throughout the vessel;
the sailors hurried to and fro, the master issued his commands,
ropes were bent, the sail-yard was brought round before the wind,
the sail was unfurled, we weighed anchor,[56] the ship began to
move, the port was left behind, and the coast, as if itself in motion,
seemed gradually to be retiring from us;[57] the Pæan was chanted,
and many prayers were addressed to the guardian deities for a
prosperous voyage. Meanwhile the wind freshened and filled the sail,
and the vessel speeded on her course.
There was a young man on board, in the same cabin[58] with
ourselves, when dinner time was come he politely invited us to
partake of his meal. Satyrus was just then bringing out our
provisions; so putting all into a common stock, we shared our dinner
and our conversation. I began by saying, "Pray where do you come
from, and by what name are we to address you?" "My name," he
replied, "is Menelaus, and I am a native of Egypt; and now may I
inquire who you are?" "I am called Clitopho, and my companion
Clinias; our country is Phœnicia." "And what," he rejoined, "is the
motive of your voyage?" "If you will relate your own story first, you
shall then hear ours." Menelaus assented, and began as follows:—
"The cause of my leaving my home may be summed up in very few
words:—envious love and ill-fated hunting. I was strongly attached
to a handsome youth, who was very fond of the chase. I did
everything in my power to restrain him from this pursuit, but without
success. Finding I could not prevail with him, I myself accompanied
him.
"One day we were out hunting, and for a time everything went on
successfully so long as harmless animals were alone the objects of
our sport. At length a wild boar was roused; the youth pursued the
brute, who faced about, and ran furiously to attack him; still the
youth kept his ground, not withstanding that I repeatedly called out:
—'Wheel round your horse; the beast is too powerful for you.' The
boar continuing its career, and coming up, they closed in combat.
Terrified lest the beast should wound the horse, and so bring down
his rider, I launched my javelin without taking sufficient aim, and the
youth crossing its course, received the stroke.[59]
"Picture to yourself the feelings of my mind. If I retained life at that
moment, it was like a living death; and what was most lamentable of
all, the wretched youth, who still breathed, extending his arms,
embraced me, and so far from hating his destroyer, he expired still
grasping my homicidal hand. On account of this lamentable
occurrence his parents took legal proceedings against me; nor was I
unwilling to stand my trial; indeed I offered no defence, considering
myself fully deserving to suffer death. The judge, out of compassion,
condemned me to three years' banishment, and that period having
now expired, I am on my return home."
This narrative reminded Clinias of the unhappy death of Charicles,
and he shed tears, which though in appearance they flowed for
another's grief, were, in reality, drawn forth by his own sorrows.[60]
"Are you weeping on my account," asked Menelaus, "or has any
similar disaster befallen you?" Upon this Clinias, with many sighs,
detailed the circumstances of Charicles and the horse; and I likewise
related my adventures. Seeing Menelaus very low spirited on
account of his own thoughts, and Clinias still shedding tears at the
recollection of Charicles, I endeavoured to dissipate their grief, by
introducing a love topic for conversation; for Leucippe, I may
observe, was not then present, but was asleep in the ship's hold. I
began, therefore, with a smiling air:—"How much better off is Clinias
than I am; he was no doubt longing to inveigh against women,
according to his wont, and he can do so all the better now, having
found one who sympathises with his tastes; but why so many should
be addicted to the love of youths, for my part I cannot tell."
"There can be no doubt," said Menelaus, "which is preferable.
Youths are much more open and free from affectation than women,
and their beauty stimulates the senses much more powerfully."
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