Only taste it." So saying he took a graceful little golden goblet from the table in one hand, raised a wine-pitcher of the same costly metal with the other, swung the latter high into the air and poured the wine so cleverly into the narrow neck of the little vessel that not a drop was lost, though the liquid formed a wide curve in its descent.

He then presented the goblet to the head-steward with the tips of his fingers, bowing gracefully as he did so.
The latter sipped the delicious wine, testing its flavor with great deliberation, and said, on returning the cup: "I agree with you, it is indeed a noble wine, and tastes twice as well when presented with such inimitable grace.

Strangers are quite right in saying that there are no cupbearers like the Persian." "Thanks for this praise," replied the other, kissing his friend's forehead.

"Yes, I am proud of my office, and it is one which the king only gives to his friends.

Still it is a great plague to have to stay so long in this hot, suffocating Babylon.