Page:Afterglow; pastels of Greek Egypt, 69 B.C. (IA afterglowpastels00buck).pdf/72

68 andria, such perfect beauty She would have passed me. 'Whither goest thou' I said, 'O daughter of Venus.' I think I frightened her. The old woman grasped her arm, and said to me, in barbarous Greek, 'She does not understand Greek. Leave us alone!' I reached into my cloak and displayed a handful of golden staters. 'Take these,' I said, 'and talk to her for me.' The old woman's gaze wavered; she was tempted but afraid. She hurried the girl away."

Antonius paused.

"She is interesting, your Egyptian maiden," observed Thersites. "I have seen her. Her father cultivates a garden for some priests. A disappointed priest himself, perhaps. At any rate, he keeps a watchful eye on his daughter as well as on his vegetables."

"That is nothing to me. I could have, in Rome, a thousand loves, without even