for the moon burst victoriously
through the black clouds, only its shining orb was surrounded by a dull,
glimmering halo.

Doubtless many a guest longed for a cool breeze, but when the mixed wine
had moistened the parched tongues the talk gained fresh animation.

Every one did his or her part, for the point in question was to induce
Philippus and his wife to visit Alexandria again and spend some time
there as beloved guests with Daphne in her father's house or in the
palace of Philotas, who jestingly, yet with many reasons, contested the
honour with the absent Archias.

The old warrior had remained away from the capital for several years;
he alone knew why. Now the act which had incensed him and the offence
inflicted upon him were forgotten, and, having passed seventy four
years, he intended to ask the commander in chief once more for the
retirement from the army which the monarch had several times refused,
in order, as a free man, to seek again the city which in his present
position he had so long avoided.

Thyone, it is true, thought that her husband's youthful vigour rendered
this step premature, but the visit to Alexandria harmonized with her own
wishes.

Proclus eagerly sided with her. "To him," said the man of manifold
knowledge, who as high priest of Apollo was fond of speaking in an
instructive tone, "experience showed that men like Philippus, who solely
on account of the number of their years withdrew their services from
the state, felt unhappy, and, like the unused ploughshare, became
prematurely rusty. What they lacked, and what Philippus would also
miss, was not merely the occupation, which might easily be supplied by
another, but still more the habit of command. One who had had thousands
subject to his will was readily overcome by the feeling that he was
going down hill, when only a few dozen of his own slaves and his wife
obeyed him."

This word aroused the mirth of old Philippus, who praised all the good
qualities of Macedonian wives except that of obedience, while Thyone
protested that during her more than forty years of married life her
husband had become so much accustomed to her complete submission than he
no longer noticed it. If Philippus should command her to-morrow to leave
their comfortable palace in Pelusium to accompany him to Alexandria,
where they possessed no home of their own, he would see how willingly
she obeyed him.

While speaking, her bright, clear eyes, which seemed to float