r to punish her for the wrong
which, in his heated imagination, she had done him.

All this he withheld from the older men and merely briefly described the
splendid banquet which Caesarion, pallid and listless as ever, had
directed, and Antyllus especially had enlivened with the most reckless
mirth.

The "King of kings" and Antony's son had escaped from their tutors on the
pretext of a hunting excursion, and the chief huntsman had not grudged
them the pleasure--only they were obliged to promise him that they would
be ready to set out for the desert early the next morning.

When, after the banquet, the mixing-vessels were brought out and the
beakers were filled more rapidly, Antyllus whispered several times to
Caesarion and then turned the conversation upon Barine, the fairest of
the fair, destined by the immortals for the greatest and highest of
mankind. This was the "King of kings," Caesarion, and he also claimed the
favour of the gods for himself. But everybody knew that Aphrodite deemed
herself greater than the highest of kings, and therefore Barine ventured
to close her doors upon their august symposiarch in a manner which could
not fail to be unendurable, not only to him but to all the youth of
Alexandria. Whoever boasted of being one of the Ephebi might well clench
his fist with indignation, when he heard that the insolent beauty kept
young men at a distance because she considered only the older ones worthy
of her notice. This must not be! The Ephebi of Alexandria must make her
feel the power of youth. This was the more urgently demanded, because
Caesarion would thereby be led to the goal of his wishes.

Barine was going into the country that very evening. Insulted Eros
himself was smoothing their way. He commanded them to attack the arrogant
fair one's carriage and lead her to him who sought her in the name of
youth, in order to show her that the hearts of the Ephebi, whom she
disdainfully rejected, glowed more ardently than those of the older men
on whom she bestowed her favours.

Here Gorgias interrupted the speaker with a loud cry of indignation, but
old Didymus's eyes seemed to be fairly starting from their sockets as he
hoarsely shouted an impatient:

"Go on!"

And Philotas, now completely sobered, described with increasing animation
the wonderful change that had taken place in the quiet Caesarion, as if
some magic spell had been at work; for scarcely had the revellers greeted
Antyllus's words with s