The Sisters, Complete

steps that led into the ante-chamber to the banqueting-hall, and, looking round, with an ominous glance,

shed court-officials were standing on the marble flags of the vast hall, which was surrounded by colonnades, while the star-spangled night-sky was all

. This crowd was less to her than the air we breathe in order to live-a mere obnoxious vapor, a whirl of dust w

the part she meant to play that evening had proved a failure, and it suggested itself to her mind that she might be borne back to her roof-tent, and be floated down once more when she was sure of the presence of the company. But there was one thing she dreaded more even than pain and remorse, and that was any appearance of the ridiculous; so she only commanded the bearers to stand still, and while the mas

you so early?" cried

en, "or have I only taken you by surprise

you now be told that, come as early as you w

or too late, but at the very right time-like retur

cepting the Greek. "Once, on the field of Mars, I was flung from my horse, and had to lie for weeks on my couch, and I know that there is no more delight

since so long as she was not in our midst we felt suffering and sick for longing. Thy

ing the stick of it in her hand, so as to make the diamonds that were

ts mirrorlike facets, while the other shines by its genuine and intrinsic fire. The genuine and the true are one, and the Egyptians have but one word for both, and your kind speech, my Scipio-but I may

, supported by Publius and her husband, the queen alighted

changed a few whispered words with her husband, she turned aga

ld it be that you, who regard health as the highest good-that you, who declared that you never felt so well as in my presence-s

sh her speech, "would seem to have found some particular charm in the bearded reclus

learn to direct his attention to that third division of our existe

not discuss it with the anchorite. Eulaeus may be informed that, on the contrary, everything

ne to whom Cleopatra had offered her society should thi

quickly, "to enter the lists in behalf of the

tred with which certain powerful enemies seem minded to pursue me. Permit me, your majesty, not to make my appearance at the banquet until later. This noble gentleman kept me waiting for hours in the Serapeum, and the propos

ve, interrupt

ppeared, the queen went clo

I ask whether you only feel his personality repugnant to you, or whether actual circumstances have giv

To-morrow I will ask you to spare me an hour when I can communicate to your majesty something concerning him, but which is too repulsive and sad to be suitable

conversation by calling them to table, and the royal pair

ated with stars and a crescent moon of rock-crystal, and the meshes were close enough to exclude the bats and moths which at night always fly to the light. But the illumination of the king's banqueting-hall made it almost as light as day, consisting of numerous lamps with many branches held up by lovely little figures of children in bronze and marble. Every joint was plainly visible in the mosaic of the pavement, which represented the reception of Heracles into Olympus, the feast of the gods, and the astonishment of the amazed hero at the splendor of the celestial banquet; and hundreds of torches were reflected in the walls of polished yellow marble, brought from Hippo Regius; these were inlaid by skilled artists with costl

he busts of the greatest Greek philosophers and poets, from Thales of Miletus down to Strato, who raised chance to fill the throne of God, and from Hesiod to Callimachus; she too had placed th

r at the foot of her husband's couch, she reclined on a couch of her own, behi

red reclining to sitting how should she have done otherwise, since she was fully aware how well it became her to extend herself in a picturesque attitude on her cushions, and to support her head on h

maller or more finely formed foot than she. For this reason her sandals were so made that when she stood or walked they protected on

feet at first however, and not displaying them till she thought the marks le

play of the queen's toes showed him exactly what was passing in her mind, when he was quite unable to detect w

repose, with their arms of ebony and cushions of dull olive-green brocade, on

rlain, who then indicated to each guest the place he was to occupy. To the right of the central group reclined the queen, and he

Cleopatra; opposite to him, and next the king, was Lysias the Corinthian. Two places next to him remained vacant, while on

uch of each guest a small table-made of silver and of a slab of fine, reddish-brown porphyry, veined wit

r royal brother is still sitting over his books with Aristarchus, wh

re honorable is the distinction of belonging to so limi

present yesterday at our table, and whom I had set down on my list. I am very well satisfied however, for I like the number of the Muses; and perhaps he desired to do you, Publius, particular honor, since we are assembled here in the Roman fashion. It is in your honor, and not in his, that we have no music this evening; you said that you did not particularly like it at a banquet. Euergetes himself plays the harp admirably. However, it is

ing. "Euergetes delights in a splendid spectacle, and I should

e words with heart-felt warmth, but his consort said thoughtfully: "Aye!