court of
the Serapeum was consummated, and the Moscosphragist announced that the
god had graciously accepted it--the examination of the entrails showed
more favorable indications than it had the day before. The flesh of the
slaughtered beast went forthwith to the kitchen; and, if the savor of
roast beef that presently rose up was as grateful to Serapis as to
his worshippers, they might surely reckon on a happy issue from the
struggle.

The besieged, indeed, were, ere long, in excellent spirits; for Olympius
had taken care to store the cellars of the sanctuary with plenty of good
wine, and the happy auguries drawn from the appearance of the god and
the state of the victim had filled them with fresh confidence. As there
was not sleeping accommodation for nearly all the men, they had to turn
night into day; and as, to most of them, life consisted wholly in the
enjoyment of the moment, and all was delightful that was new or strange,
they soon eat and drank themselves into a valiant frame of mind.

Couches, such as they were wont to be on at meals, there were not, so
each man snatched up the first thing he could lay his hands on to
serve as a seat. When cups were lacking the jugs and vessels from the
sanctuary were sent for, and passed from one to another. Many a youth
lounged with his head in some fair one's lap; many a girl leaned back
to back with some old man; and as flowers were not to be had, messengers
were sent to the town to buy them, with vine-wreaths and other greenery.

They were easily procured, and with them came the news that the races
were to be held next morning.

This information was regarded by many as being of the first importance;
Nicarchus, the son of the rich Hippocleides, and Zenodotus a weaver of
tapestry--whose quadriga had once proved victorious--hastily made their
way into the town to give the requisite orders in their stables, and
they were closely followed by Hippias, the handsome agitator, who was
the favorite driver in the arena for the horses belonging to wealthy
owners. In the train of these three every lover of horses vanished from
the scene, with a number of Hippias' friends, and of flower-sellers,
door-keepers, and ticket-holders-in short, of all who expected to derive
special pleasure or profit from the games. Each man reflected that one
could not be missed, and as the god was favorably disposed he might
surely contrive to defend his own temple till after the races were over;
they w