upper end, and which were
divided from each other by gangways for those who came and went, thus
forming the semicircular area of the auditorium.

Here she was surrounded only by young girls and women who were to have a
part or place in the performances. The places for these interested
persons were divided from the stage by a space for the orchestra, whence
the stage was easily reached by steps up which the chorus were wont to
mount to it.

Behind Arsinoe, in the larger circular rows, sat the parents and husbands
of the performers, among whom Keraunus, in his saffron robe, had taken a
place, besides a considerable number of sight-loving matrons and older
citizens who had accepted Plutarch's invitation.

Among the young women and girls Arsinoe saw several whose beauty struck
her, but she admired them ungrudgingly, and it never came into her head
to compare herself with them, for she knew very accurately that she was
pretty, and that even here she had nothing to conceal, and this was
enough for her.

The many-voiced hum which incessantly buzzed in her ears, and the perfume
which rose from the attar in the orchestra had something intoxicating in
them. Her gaze round the assembled multitude could not disturb any one,
and her companion had found some friends with whom she was chattering and
laughing. Other ladies and young girls sat staring silently in front of
them, or studying the appearance of the rest of the audience, male and
female; while others again concentrated their whole attention on the
stage. Arsinoe soon followed this example, nor was this solely on account
of Pollux who, by the prefect's orders, had been enlisted among the
artists to whom the arrangement of the display was entrusted, in spite of
the objections of his master Papias. More than once before had she seen
the afternoon sun shine as brightly into the theatre as it did to-day,
and the blue sky overarching it without a cloud, but with what different
feelings did she now direct her gaze to the raised level behind the
orchestra. The background, it is true, was the same as usual, the
pillared front of a palace built entirely of colored marbles, and
ornamented with gold; but on this occasion fresh garlands of fragrant
flowers hung gracefully between the pilasters and across from column to
column. Several artists, the first of the city, with tablets and styla in
their hands were moving about among fifty girls and ladies, and Plutarch
himself, and the gen