of Aphrodite! May Sonnica, your
mistress, overwhelm you with riches!"

Naked, brown-skinned boys dived head-first into the basin, swimming
around the ship like a swarm of young Tritons.

The people of the port praised their compatriot Polyanthus,
exaggerating his skill. According to them his ship lacked nothing; well
might the rich Sonnica be satisfied with her freedman. Forward on the
vessel stood the _proreta_, motionless as a statue, watching with swift
glances to discover the presence of obstacles; the crew, naked, their
sweaty backs glistening in the sun, bent over the oars, and on the poop
the _gubernator_, Polyanthus himself, insensible to weariness, wrapped
in his ample red mantle, the tiller firmly held in his right hand, and
in his left a white staff which he waved rhythmically, marking the swing
of the rowers. Near the mast stood men in strange costumes, and
motionless women wrapped in flowing mantles.

The ship glided into the port like an enormous crustacean, parting the
dead and silent waters with her prow, which but recently had been
fretting the waters of the gulf.

As she cast anchor near the mole and threw out her gang-plank, the
rowers were forced to club back the multitude which crowded forward
eager to board the ship.

The pilot gave orders from the poop; his red robe moved from place to
place like a flame kindled by the setting sun.

"Eh! Polyanthus! Welcome, navigator! What cargo do you bring?"

The pilot saw two young horsemen on the bank. The one who addressed him
was wrapped in a white mantle; one of its corners covered his head,
leaving exposed his beard done into curls and lustrous with pomatum. The
other clung to the back of his steed with his strong bare legs; he wore
the sagum of the Celtiberians, a short wool tunic over which the
broadsword hung from his shoulder, and his hair, as thick and
dishevelled as his beard, outlined a brown and manly countenance.

"Greeting, Lachares! Greeting, Alorcus!" replied the pilot with an
expression of respect. "Shall you see Sonnica, my mistress?"

"This very night," answered Lachares. "We sup at her country-seat. What
bring you?"

"Tell her that I have argentiferous lead from New Carthage, and wool
from Baetica. Excellent voyage!"

The two youths tugged at their horses' reins.

"Ah! Wait a moment," added Polyanthus. "Tell her that I have not
forgotten her instructions. I am bringing what you so greatly desire,
the dancing girls from Gades