What did she say to you?... What impression did she make upon you?... SILANUS She was clad in a raiment that seemed woven of pearls and dew, in a cloak of Tyrian purple with sapphire ornaments, and decked with jewels that rendered a little heavier this eastern pomp. As for her hair, surely, unloosed, it would cover the surface of that porphyry vase with an impenetrable veil of gold.... VERUS I speak of her intelligence, her character.... Do not mistake: she is no vulgar courtezan.... She has other attractions, binding love more firmly.... SILANUS I minded only her beauty, which is real and contents the eye.... However, we can judge better presently: she will soon be coming.... VERUS She is coming here?... But does she know that she will find me with you?... SILANUS Most certainly. It seemed to me that this meeting would do more to assuage your malady than the wise counsels threatened by Appius.... VERUS But she?... What did she say when she learnt that.... SILANUS She smiled with a quivering and pensive grace.... The other guests will be our indispensable Appius and Cœlius, your fellow-pupil at Præneste.... I hope that they will bring our poor friend Longinus, who, three weeks ago, lost a little daughter two years old.... I will try to console him, by good and persuasive arguments, for a sorrow certainly disproportionate to his loss. We shall have, among other dishes--all excellent, I hope,--two fish from the Jordan, new to you, which, dressed by Davus, my old cook.... But I hear the sound of the double flute.... It must be the litter of the queen of Bethany and Jerusalem at the threshold of my house.... Your eyes will soon behold the soft light which they have missed and mine the smile that pleases them ... unless the silver mirrors in the Atrium delay her longer than they should.... VERUS She is here.... (_ENTER, on the right, MARY MAGDALENE. She is followed by some slaves, whom she dismisses with a harsh and imperious gesture._) SCENE II THE SAME, MARY MAGDALENE SILANUS (_going up to receive MARY MAGDALENE_) “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense?... Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners,” as your sacred books sing at the approach of the Shulamite?... MARY MAGDALENE Do not speak to me of my sacred books. I loathe them, as I loathe everything that comes from that deceitful and sordid, greedy and mischievous nation.... VERUS (_coming forward to greet her in his turn_) I will say then, in the Roman fashion, “Hail to the eldest daughter of Aglaia, youngest and happiest of the Graces!” MARY MAGDALENE Pity me, instead of praising me. I was robbed, last night, of my Carthaginian rubies, besides twelve of my finest pearls; and, what I feel even more, my Babylonian peacock and all the murænæ in my fish-pond.... VERUS