d the elephants. The cloth
was flung aside, revealing to the astonished eyes of the spectators a
bouquet of flowers such as no Alexandrian had ever beheld. It consisted
entirely of blossoming rose-bushes. The red flowers formed a circle in
the centre, surrounded by a broad light garland of white ones. The whole
gigantic work rested like an egg in its cup in a holder of palm fronds
which, as it were, framed it in graceful curving outlines. More than a
thousand blossoms were united in this peerless bouquet, and the singular
gigantic gift was characteristic of its giver.

He advanced on foot to the platform, his figure towering above the brown,
light-hued, and black freedmen and slaves who followed as, on the
monuments of the Pharaohs, the image of the sovereign dominates those of
the subjects and foes.

He could look down upon the tallest men, and the width of his shoulders
was as remarkable as his colossal height. A long, gold-broidered purple
mantle, floating to his ancles, increased his apparent stature. Powerful
arms, with the swelling muscles of an athlete, were extended from his
sleeveless robe towards the beloved Queen.

The well-formed head, thick dark hair, and magnificent beard corresponded
with the powerful figure. Formerly these locks had adorned the head of
the youth with the blue-black hue of the raven's plumage; now the threads
of grey scattered abundantly through them were concealed by the aid of
dye. A thick wreath of vine leaves rested on the Imperator's brow, and
leafy vine branches, to which clung several dark bunches of grapes, fell
over his broad shoulders and down his back, which was covered like a
cloak, not by a leopard-skin, but that of a royal Indian tiger of great
size--he had slain it himself in the arena. The head and paws of the
animal were gold, the eyes two magnificent sparkling sapphires. The clasp
of the chain, by which the skin was suspended, as well as that of the
gold belt which circled the Imperator's body above the hips, was covered
with rubies and emeralds. The wide armlets above his elbows, the
ornaments on his broad breast, nay, even his red morocco boots, glittered
and flashed with gems.

Radiant magnificent as his former fortunes seemed the attire of this
mighty fallen hero, who but yesterday had shrunk timidly and sadly from
the eyes of his fellow-men. His features, too, were large, noble, and
beautiful in outline; but, though his pale cheeks were adorned with the
borrowed