as he went along:
"Goddess, I know that everything you say is true and that clever Penelope is no match for your face and figure. But she is after all a mortal and you divine and ageless. Yet
despite all
this I yearn for home and for the day of my returning. He stopped pacing and walked slowly and deliberately to the edge of the stage. -
"Here," he said, at a whisper that was nonetheless audible
in the farthest corner, "is the quintessential message of the
Odyssey -
A thousand pencils poised in readiness to transcribe the crucial words to come.
"In, as it were, leaving an enchanted-and one must presume pleasantly tropical-isle to return to the cold winter winds of, shall we say, Brookline, Massachusetts, Odysseus forsakes immortality for-identity. In other words, the imperfections of the human state are outweighed by the glory of human
love."
There was a brief pause while the audience waited for
Finley to draw breath before daring to do so themselves.
And then applause. Slowly the spell was broken as students marched out the various Sanders Theater exits. Ted Lambros was close to tears and felt he had to say something to the master. But it took him a few seconds to gather his courage.
By this time, the nimble academic had donned his tan raincoat and fedora and had reached the tall arched gateway.
Ted approached him diffidently. As he did he was amazed that, on terra firma, this man of such great stature was actually of normal height.
"Sir, if you'll permit me," he began, "that was the most inspiring lecture I've ever heard. I mean, I'm just a freshman, but I'm going to major in classics, and I'll bet you've made a thousand converts in there. , . uh, sir."
He knew he was rambling gauchely, but Finley was
accustomed to such reverential clumsiness. And in any case he was pleased.
'A freshman and already decided on the classics?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir."
"What is your name?"
"Lambros, sir. Theodore Lambros, '58."
"Ah," said Finley, "'Theo-doros,' gift of God, and lampros'-a truly Pindaric name. One thinks of the famous verses in Phythian 8-.---Lampron phengos epestin and ron,
'radiant light that shines on men.' Do come and see us for
Wednesday tea at Eliot House, Mr. Lambros."
Before Ted could even thank him, Finley turned on his
- heels and marched off into the October wind, reciting
Pindar all the way. - -
J
ason woke at the sound of someone in great distress.
He glanced quickly at his night table. It was just after
2:00 AM. From across the suite, he heard muffled sobbing and frightened cries of, "No, no!"
He leapt out of bed and rushed across to D.D.'s door, the source of all those tormented noises. -
Knocking softly, Jason asked, "David, are you okay?"
The sobbing stopped abruptly and there was only silence. Jason knocked again and rephrased his question.
"Are you all right in there?"
-Through the closed door came the curt response, "Go away, Gilbert. Leave me alone." But it was in a strangely anguished tone of voice.
"Listen, D. D., if you don't open up I'm going to break in."
After a second he heard the scraping of a chair. A moment later the door opened a crack. And his roommate peeked out nervously. Jason could perceive that he had been at his desk studying.
-"What do you want?" snapped D.D.
"I heard noises," Jason replied. "I thought you were in some kind of pain."
- "I just fell asleep for a minute and had a sort of nightmare. It s nothing. And I'd be grateful if you'd let me study." He closed the door again.
Jason still would not retreat.
'Hey, listen, D. D., you don't have to be pre-med to know that people can go nuts from not sleeping. Haven't you studied- enough for one night?" -
The door opened again.
"Gilbert, I couldn't possibly go to bed if I thought any
of my competition were still awake studying. Chem. Twenty is the survival of the fittest."
"I still think a little rest would make you fitter,
David,"
"Goddess, I know that everything you say is true and that clever Penelope is no match for your face and figure. But she is after all a mortal and you divine and ageless. Yet
despite all
this I yearn for home and for the day of my returning. He stopped pacing and walked slowly and deliberately to the edge of the stage. -
"Here," he said, at a whisper that was nonetheless audible
in the farthest corner, "is the quintessential message of the
Odyssey -
A thousand pencils poised in readiness to transcribe the crucial words to come.
"In, as it were, leaving an enchanted-and one must presume pleasantly tropical-isle to return to the cold winter winds of, shall we say, Brookline, Massachusetts, Odysseus forsakes immortality for-identity. In other words, the imperfections of the human state are outweighed by the glory of human
love."
There was a brief pause while the audience waited for
Finley to draw breath before daring to do so themselves.
And then applause. Slowly the spell was broken as students marched out the various Sanders Theater exits. Ted Lambros was close to tears and felt he had to say something to the master. But it took him a few seconds to gather his courage.
By this time, the nimble academic had donned his tan raincoat and fedora and had reached the tall arched gateway.
Ted approached him diffidently. As he did he was amazed that, on terra firma, this man of such great stature was actually of normal height.
"Sir, if you'll permit me," he began, "that was the most inspiring lecture I've ever heard. I mean, I'm just a freshman, but I'm going to major in classics, and I'll bet you've made a thousand converts in there. , . uh, sir."
He knew he was rambling gauchely, but Finley was
accustomed to such reverential clumsiness. And in any case he was pleased.
'A freshman and already decided on the classics?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir."
"What is your name?"
"Lambros, sir. Theodore Lambros, '58."
"Ah," said Finley, "'Theo-doros,' gift of God, and lampros'-a truly Pindaric name. One thinks of the famous verses in Phythian 8-.---Lampron phengos epestin and ron,
'radiant light that shines on men.' Do come and see us for
Wednesday tea at Eliot House, Mr. Lambros."
Before Ted could even thank him, Finley turned on his
- heels and marched off into the October wind, reciting
Pindar all the way. - -
J
ason woke at the sound of someone in great distress.
He glanced quickly at his night table. It was just after
2:00 AM. From across the suite, he heard muffled sobbing and frightened cries of, "No, no!"
He leapt out of bed and rushed across to D.D.'s door, the source of all those tormented noises. -
Knocking softly, Jason asked, "David, are you okay?"
The sobbing stopped abruptly and there was only silence. Jason knocked again and rephrased his question.
"Are you all right in there?"
-Through the closed door came the curt response, "Go away, Gilbert. Leave me alone." But it was in a strangely anguished tone of voice.
"Listen, D. D., if you don't open up I'm going to break in."
After a second he heard the scraping of a chair. A moment later the door opened a crack. And his roommate peeked out nervously. Jason could perceive that he had been at his desk studying.
-"What do you want?" snapped D.D.
"I heard noises," Jason replied. "I thought you were in some kind of pain."
- "I just fell asleep for a minute and had a sort of nightmare. It s nothing. And I'd be grateful if you'd let me study." He closed the door again.
Jason still would not retreat.
'Hey, listen, D. D., you don't have to be pre-med to know that people can go nuts from not sleeping. Haven't you studied- enough for one night?" -
The door opened again.
"Gilbert, I couldn't possibly go to bed if I thought any
of my competition were still awake studying. Chem. Twenty is the survival of the fittest."
"I still think a little rest would make you fitter,
David,"
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