Perhaps you yourself know that purple robes do not make a light heart." "That I know well and sadly." "Therefore," went on the queen, "if I forget myself, and half envy a cup of happiness that seems dashed from my lips, do not be over blameful." "Never," responded the young Roman.
"Time advances," said the queen; "let us forget that any barriers shut us out from perfect bliss.

Let us call in the Egyptian musicians; and cry out upon me if my looks grow sad!" Whereat a whole section in the side of the room turned on a pivot, and there entered three native harpers and eight pretty Egyptian girls, in gauzy dresses, who danced in intricate figures, and juggled with balls; now with two, now with three, catching them with their hands crossed.

Boys ran in and out and sprinkled _kyphi_[174] on the heads of the three feasters, and flung huge wreaths of flowers round their necks, and thrust lotus flowers in their hair.

And all the time the girls sang sweetly.
[174] A mixture of myrrh, frankincense, and other aromatic materials.
The queen kept her guests very late.
"We of Alexandria," said she, "make little difference between night and day.

Our city is a new Sybaris." And all through the evening Cleopatra kept close to Cornelia, often with her hand upon her, as though extremely loath to let her go.