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18 18 Imoginary Conviefsation* In the midst of our felicitations to her we heard the approach of horses, for the ground was dry and solid, and Euthymedes was presently with us. The mounted slave who led off his master's charger, for such he appeared to be in all points, suddenly disappeared; I presume lest the sight of luxury should corrupt him. I know not where the groom rested, nor where the two animals (no neglected ones certainly, for they were plump and stately) found provender. Euthymedes was of lofty stature, had somewhat passed the middle age, but the Graces had not left his person, as they usually do when it begins to bear an impression of au- thority. He was placed by the side of Thelymnia. Glad- ness and expectation sparkled from every eye : the beauty of Thelymnia seemed to be a light sent from heaven for the festival; a light the pure radiance of which cheered and replenished the whole heart. Desire of her was chastened, I may rather say was removed, by the confidence of Critolaus in our friendship. PANETIUS. Well said ! The story begins to please and interest me. Where Love finds the soul he neglects the body, and only turns to it in his idleness as to an afterthought. Its best allurements are but the nuts and figs of the divine repast. POLYBIUS. We exulted in the felicity of our friend, and wished for nothing which even he would not have granted. Happy still was the man from whom the glancing eye of Thelymnia seemed to ask some advice, how she should act or answer ! Happy he who, offering her an apple in the midst of her discourse, fixed his keen survey upon the next, anxious to mark where she had touched it ! For it was a calamity to doubt upon what streak or speck, while she was inatten- tive to the basket, she had placed her finger. PANETIUS. I wish, Emilianus, you would look rather more severely than you do. . . upon my life ! I cannot. . . and put an end to these dithyrambics. The ivy runs about us, and may infuriate us.