And now in the centre of the steps appeared a priest robed in white from head to foot, the veil parting over the crown; two new priests relieved those hitherto stationed at either corner, being naked half-way down to the breast, and covered, for the rest, in white and loose robes.  At the same time, seated at the bottom of the steps, a priest commenced a solemn air upon a long wind-instrument of music.  Half-way down the steps stood another flamen, holding in one hand the votive wreath, in the other a white wand; while, adding to the picturesque scene of that eastern ceremony, the stately ibis (bird sacred to the Egyptian worship) looked mutely down from the wall upon the rite, or stalked beside the altar at the base of the steps.

At that altar now stood the sacrificial flamen.

The countenance of Arbaces seemed to lose all its rigid calm while the aruspices inspected the entrails, and to be intent in pious anxiety—­to rejoice and brighten as the signs were declared favorable, and the fire began bright and clearly to consume the sacred portion of the victim amidst odorous of myrrh and frankincense.  It was then that a dead silence fell over the whispering crowd, and the priests gathering round the cella, another priest, naked save by a cincture round the middle, rushed forward, and dancing with wild gestures, implored an answer from the goddess.  He ceased at last in exhaustion, and a low murmuring noise was heard within the body of the statue:  thrice the head moved, and the lips parted, and then a hollow voice uttered these mystic words: 

  There are waves like chargers that meet and glow,
  There are graves ready wrought in the rocks below,
  On the brow of the future the dangers lour,
  But blest are your barks in the fearful hour.

The voice ceased—­the crowd breathed more freely—­the merchants looked at each other.  ‘Nothing can be more plain,’ murmured Diomed; ’there is to be a storm at sea, as there very often is at the beginning of autumn, but our vessels are to be saved.  O beneficent Isis!’

‘Lauded eternally be the goddess!’ said the merchants:  ’what can be less equivocal than her prediction?’

Raising one hand in sign of silence to the people, for the rites of Isis enjoined what to the lively Pompeians was an impossible suspense from the use of the vocal organs, the chief priest poured his libation on the altar, and after a short concluding prayer the ceremony was over, and the congregation dismissed.  Still, however, as the crowd dispersed themselves here and there, the Egyptian lingered by the railing, and when the space became tolerably cleared, one of the priests, approaching it, saluted him with great appearance of friendly familiarity.