Caesar.

"This," continued the gem-cutter, "restored me so far to myself that I
could express my gratitude to your future husband, my child. I am only
the second Egyptian who has entered the senate. Coeranus was the only
one before me. What favor! And how can I describe what followed? All
the distinguished members of the senate and the past consuls offered me a
brotherly embrace as their new colleague. When Caesar commanded me to
appear at your side in the Circus, wearing the white toga with the broad
purple stripe, and I remarked that the shops of the better clothes-
sellers would be shut by this time on account of the performance, and
that such a toga was not to be obtained, there was a great laugh over the
Alexandrian love of amusement. From all sides they offered me what I
required; but I gave the preference to Theocritus, on account of his
height. What is long enough for him will not be too short for me.--And
now one of the emperor's chariots is waiting for me. If only Alexander
were at home! The house ought to have been illuminated and hung with
garlands for my arrival, and a crowd of slaves waiting to kiss my hands.

"There will soon be more than our two. I hope Argutis may understand how
to fasten on the shoes with the straps and the crescent! Philip knows
even less of these things than I do myself, besides which the poor boy is
laid low. It is lucky that I remembered him. I had very nearly
forgotten his existence. Ah!--if your mother were still alive! She had
clever-fingers! She--Ah, lady Euryale, Melissa has perhaps told you
about her. Olympias she was called, like the mother of the great
Alexander, and, like her, she bore good children. You yourself were
praising my boys just now. And the girl! . . Only a few days ago, it
was a pretty, shy thing that no one would ever have expected to do
anything great; and now, what have we not to thank that gentle child for?