“Hear reason, you immoderate Sybarite,” began Rhodopis, endeavoring with a smile to excuse her proceeding.  But these words, in Philoinus’ half-intoxicated mood, only increased his irritation; he burst into a mocking laugh, and staggering towards the door, shouted:  “Immoderate Sybarite, you call me? good! here you have your answer:  Shameless slave! one can still perceive the traces of what you were in your youth.  Farewell then, slave of Iadmon and Xanthus, freedwoman of Charaxus!” He had not however finished his sentence, when Aristomachus rushed upon him, stunned him with a blow of his fist, and carried him off like a child down to the boat in which his slaves were waiting at the garden-gate.

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AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.

By Georg Ebers

Volume 2.

CHAPTER III.

The guests were all gone.  Their departing mirth and joy had been smitten down by the drunkard’s abusive words, like fresh young corn beneath a hail storm.  Rhodopis was left standing alone in the empty, brightly decorated (supper-room).  Knakias extinguished the colored lamps on the walls, and a dull, mysterious half-light took the place of their brilliant rays, falling scantily and gloomily on the piled-up plates and dishes, the remnants of the meal, and the seats and cushions, pushed out of their places by the retiring guests.  A cold breeze came through the open door, for the dawn was at hand, and just before sunrise, the air is generally unpleasantly cool in Egypt.  A cold chill struck the limbs of the aged woman through her light garments.  She stood gazing tearlessly and fixedly into the desolate room, whose walls but a few minutes before had been echoing with joy and gladness, and it seemed to her that the deserted guest-chamber must be like her own heart.  She felt as if a worm were gnawing there, and the warm blood congealing into ice.

Lost in these thoughts, she remained standing till at last her old female slave appeared to light her to her sleeping apartment.