Her sandals trod on the fair white cup of a blooming lily.

The queen laughed as merrily as a little girl at her confusion.
"In Rome, I doubt not," she said, smiling, "there are not flowers enough at this time of year to have them for a carpet.

But this is Alexandria.

Flowers are never out of bloom." So Cornelia advanced, but perhaps it grieved her more to tread on the innocent flowers, than any small thing had since she left Baiae.
And then the banquet, if such it may be termed when there are but three to enjoy it, began.

Cleopatra knew well that she could not overwhelm her Roman guest with show of plate and gems, nor did she try.