It would seem that all had not gone so smoothly as she wished during the day, for her two tire-women had red eyes.  Her lady-in-waiting, Zoe, was reading to her, not this time from a Greek philosopher but from a Greek translation of the Hebrew Psalms:  a discussion as to their poetic merit having arisen a few days previously at the supper-table.  Onias, the Israelite general, had asserted that these odes might be compared with those of Alcman or of Pindar, and had quoted certain passages that had pleased the queen.  To-day she was not disposed for thought, but wanted something strange and out of the common to distract her mind, so she desired Zoe to open the book of the Hebrews, of which the translation was considered by the Hellenic Jews in Alexandria as an admirable work—­nay, even as inspired by God himself; it had long been known to her through her Israelite friends and guests.

Cleopatra had been listening for about a quarter of an hour to Zoe’s reading when the blast of a trumpet rang out on the steps which led up her tent, announcing a visitor of the male sex.  The queen glanced angrily round, signed to her lady to stop reading, and exclaimed: 

“I will not see my husband now!  Go, Thais, and tell the eunuchs on the steps, that I beg Philometor not to disturb me just now.  Go on, Zoe.”

Ten more psalms had been read, and a few verses repeated twice or thrice by Cleopatra’s desire, when the pretty Athenian returned with flaming cheeks, and said in an excited tone: 

“It is not your husband, the king, but your brother Euergetes, who asks to speak with you.”

“He might have chosen some other hour,” replied Cleopatra, looking round at her maid.  Thais cast down her eyes, and twitched the edge of her robe between her fingers as she addressed her mistress; but the queen, whom nothing could escape that she chose to see, and who was not to-day in the humor for laughing or for letting any indiscretion escape unreproved, went on at once in an incensed and cutting tone, raising her voice to a sharp pitch: 

“I do not choose that my messengers should allow themselves to be detained, be it by whom it may—­do you hear!  Leave Me this instant and go to your room, and stay there till I want you to undress me this evening.  Andromeda—­do you hear, old woman?—­you can bring my brother to me, and he will let you return quicker than Thais, I fancy.  You need not leer at yourself in the glass, you cannot do anything to alter your wrinkles.  My head-dress is already done.  Give me that linen wrapper, Olympias, and then he may come!  Why, there he is already!  First you ask permission, brother, and then disdain to wait till it is given you.”

“Longing and waiting,” replied Euergetes, “are but an ill-assorted couple.  I wasted this evening with common soldiers and fawning flatterers; then, in order to see a few noble countenances, I went into the prison, after that I hastily took a bath, for the residence of your convicts spoils one’s complexion more, and in a less pleasant manner, than this little shrine, where everything looks and smells like Aphrodite’s tiring-room; and now I have a longing to hear a few good words before supper-time comes.”