It wanted two hours of midnight.

Bright light was streaming through the open windows of Rhodopis' house, and sounds of mirth and gaiety fell on the ear.

Her table had been adorned with special care in Croesus' honor.
On the cushions around it lay the guests with whom we are already acquainted: Theodorus, Ibykus, Phanes, Aristomachus, the merchant Theopompus of Miletus, Croesus and others, crowned with chaplets of poplar and roses.
Theodorus the sculptor was speaking: "Egypt seems to me," he said, "like a girl who persists in wearing a tight and painful shoe only because it is of gold, while within her reach he beautiful and well-fitting slippers in which she could move at ease, if she only would." "You refer to the Egyptians' pertinacity in retaining traditional forms and customs ?" asked Croesus.
"Certainly I do," answered the sculptor.

"Two centuries ago Egypt was unquestionably the first of the nations.

In Art and Science she far excelled us; but we learnt their methods of working, improved on them, held firm to no prescribed proportions, but to the natural types alone, gave freedom and beauty to their unbending outlines, and now have left our masters far behind us.