ea came at last.

The fame of the solemn festival had spread beyond the confines of
Saguntum, and the rude Celtiberians assembled by caravans to witness the
diversions of the rustic people.

The workers from the domain abandoned the labor of the harvest, and,
dressed in their best, began streaming into the city at sunrise to
attend the festival of the goddess of the fields. They carried great
sheaves of wheat, interspersed with flowers, to offer to the goddess,
and white fleeced lambs adorned with ribbons to sacrifice on her altar.

By sunrise the city was filled with a multicolored crowd which gathered
in the Forum, or hurried along the river banks to see the horse races.

A great stadium had been formed near the Baetis-Perkes in which the
principal citizens of Saguntum were to contest for the triumph. The
senators, on long benches, and guarded by a group of mercenaries,
presided over the festival. At one end of the race-track the sons of the
merchants and rich agriculturists, the entire youth of Saguntum, almost
nude, awaited the signal, leaning on their light lances, and holding the
bridles of their barebacked horses which snorted and champed the bit,
scenting the coming contest.

The signal to start was given, and placing their left feet on the
handles of their lances all sprang simultaneously upon their chargers,
dashing forward in a compact squadron along the track. The immense crowd
broke into acclamations at sight of the bizarre riders who leaning
forward almost lay on their horses' necks, as if forming a single body
with them, waving their lances, quickening their gallop with shouts, and
wrapped in a cloud of dust through which the multitude could barely make
out the straining legs and the bellies of the animals which were nearly
touching the ground. The wild race lasted long. The less skillful
riders, and those with poorer mounts, were being out-stripped; the
squadron was diminishing visibly. He who should remain longest on the
track, ever in advance of the others, would win the crown, and the
people made bets on the Celtiberian Alorcus, and on the Athenian Actaeon
who figured from the first instant at the head of the riders.

The citizens who did not wish to wait in the sun for the end of the race
followed the river bank until they reached the walls, in the shade of
which the youths were wrestling or engaging in boxing matches in
competition for the prize for dexterity. Others of more pacific turn
went