st, shall seek out a new home. I am friendless: my two
companions, the fox and the snake, are dead. Great Hermes, thou hast
promised me twenty additional years of life!'

'Aye,' said the Egyptian, 'I have promised thee. But, woman,' he added,
lifting himself upon his arm, and gazing curiously on her face, 'tell
me, I pray thee, wherefore thou wishest to live? What sweets dost thou
discover in existence?'

'It is not life that is sweet, but death that is awful,' replied the
hag, in a sharp, impressive tone, that struck forcibly upon the heart of
the vain star-seer. He winced at the truth of the reply; and no longer
anxious to retain so uninviting a companion, he said, 'Time wanes; I
must prepare for the solemn spectacle of this day. Sister, farewell!
enjoy thyself as thou canst over the ashes of life.'

The hag, who had placed the costly gift of Arbaces in the loose folds of
her vest, now rose to depart. When she had gained the door she paused,
turned back, and said, 'This may be the last time we meet on earth; but
whither flieth the flame when it leaves the ashes?--Wandering to and
fro, up and down, as an exhalation on the morass, the flame may be seen
in the marshes of the lake below; and the witch and the Magian, the
pupil and the master, the great one and the accursed one, may meet
again. Farewell!'

'Out, croaker!' muttered Arbaces, as the door closed on the hag's
tattered robes; and, impatient of his own thoughts, not yet recovered
from the past dream, he hastily summoned his slaves.

It was the custom to attend the ceremonials of the amphitheatre in
festive robes, and Arbaces arrayed himself that day with more than usual
care. His tunic was of the most dazzling white: his many fibulae were
formed from the most precious stones: over his tunic flowed a loose
eastern robe, half-gown, half-mantle, glowing in the richest hues of the
Tyrian dye; and the sandals, that reached half way up the knee, were
studded with gems, and inlaid with gold. In the quackeries that
belonged to his priestly genius, Arbaces never neglected, on great
occasions, the arts which dazzle and impose upon the vulgar; and on this
day, that was for ever to release him, by the sacrifice of Glaucus, from
the fear of a rival and the chance of detection, he felt that he was
arraying himself as for a triumph or a nuptial feast.

It was customary for men of rank to be accompanied to the shows of the
amphitheatre by a procession of their sla