The king sat on a balcony with Salome, Elpis, Roxana, Phaedra, and others of his kindred.

On the circular terraces of a great fountain below and in front of them were rows of naked maidens.

Circle after circle of this living statuary towered, with diminishing radii, above the court level, to an apex, where a stream of cool, perfumed water, broken to misty spray, rose aloft, scattering in the sunlight.

So cunningly had they contrived to enhance the charm of the spectacle, those many graceful shapes were under a fine, transparent veil of water-drops lighted by rainbow gleams and sweet with musky odor.

Circles were closely massed around the base of the fountain.