and
elastic. She anointed Sonnica's cheeks with this, and then the
prominent breasts, the abdomen, the thighs, and knees, leaving nearly
the whole body covered by a lustrous, unctuous coating. Where hair had a
tendency to grow, she applied dropax, a depilatory paste, composed of
vinegar and earth from Cyprus.

Sonnica passively assisted these toilet preparations, which made her
momentarily ugly in order that she might reappear each day more
beautiful.

Odacis continued combing her hair. She lifted the splendid tresses,
burying both hands in the brilliant cascade; she gently wound it over
her arms like an enormous golden serpent; then she shook it out,
dividing it into small locks to dry it, and then she smoothed it
lovingly with the ivory combs piled on the table near at hand, veritable
prodigies of art, with the finest of teeth, their upper parts engraved
with scenes representing forests, arrogant nymphs in pursuit of stags,
and malodorous satyrs giving chase to nude beauties. After drying the
hair the coiffeur proceeded to dye it. With a small, long-necked amphora
she moistened it with a solution of saffron and gum arabic, and opening
a little chest of gold dust she sprinkled it over the ample, silky
skein, which assumed the brilliancy of the sun's rays. Then twisting the
locks above her forehead around an iron heated over a small brazier, she
formed tight curls which covered the Greek woman's brow almost to her
eyes; she gathered the mass of hair at the neck, tying it with a red
ribbon firmly interbraided, and she curled the crown of the coiffure,
imitating the spiral flames of a torch.

Sonnica arose. Two of the slaves approached with a heavy earthen
amphora of milk, and dipping a sponge into it, they washed their
mistress' body as she stood near the piscina, to remove the bean-paste.
The glossy whiteness of her skin reappeared more fresh and moist.

Odacis, with silver tweezers in her hand, carefully inspected her
mistress' body, with the attentive and frowning brow of the artist
preparing a great work. She had charge of the depilation; her skillful
hand won praise for its gentleness as it obstinately sought out the
lightest down, implacably destroying it with her tweezers, in deference
to the Greek custom of imitating the polished smoothness of the statues.

Sonnica being again seated in her ivory chair, the touching up of the
face began. On the table near at hand was a formidable array of bottles,
alabaster