d then told the others to greet him as
senator with the rank of praetorian.

Then indeed he felt as if the seat beneath him were transformed into a
wild steed carrying him away, through sea and sky-wherever it pleased. He
had had to hold tightly to the arm of the couch, and only remembered that
some one--who it was he did not know--had whispered to him to thank
Caesar.

"This," continued the gem-cutter, "restored me so far to myself that I
could express my gratitude to your future husband, my child. I am only
the second Egyptian who has entered the senate. Coeranus was the only one
before me. What favor! And how can I describe what followed? All the
distinguished members of the senate and the past consuls offered me a
brotherly embrace as their new colleague. When Caesar commanded me to
appear at your side in the Circus, wearing the white toga with the broad
purple stripe, and I remarked that the shops of the better
clothes-sellers would be shut by this time on account of the performance,
and that such a toga was not to be obtained, there was a great laugh over
the Alexandrian love of amusement. From all sides they offered me what I
required; but I gave the preference to Theocritus, on account of his
height. What is long enough for him will not be too short for me.--And
now one of the emperor's chariots is waiting for me. If only Alexander
were at home! The house ought to have been illuminated and hung with
garlands for my arrival, and a crowd of slaves waiting to kiss my hands.

"There will soon be more than our two. I hope Argutis may understand how
to fasten on the shoes with the straps and the crescent! Philip knows
even less of these things than I do myself, besides which the poor boy is
laid low. It is lucky that I remembered him. I had very nearly forgotten
his existence. Ah!--if your mother were still alive! She had
clever-fingers! She--Ah, lady Euryale, Melissa has perhaps told you about
her. Olympias she was called, like the mother of the great Alexander,
and, like her, she bore good children. You yourself were praising my boys
just now. And the girl! . . Only a few days ago, it was a pretty, shy
thing that no one would ever have expected to do anything great; and now,
what have we not to thank that gentle child for? The little one was
always her mother's darling. Eternal gods! I dare not think of it! If
only she who is gone might have had the joy of hearing me called senator
and praetor! O child! if she cou