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"Some Syracusan women staying at Alexandria, agreed, on the occasion of a great religious solemnity the feast of Adonis to go together to the palace of King Ptolemy Philadelphus, to see the image of Adonis, which the Queen Arsinoe, Ptolemy's wife, had had decorated with peculiar magnificence. A hymn, by a celebrated performer, was to be recited over the image.
Philadelphus gave them some costly gifts, probably those usually given to ambassadors; but Rome was then young, her citizens had not yet made gold the end for which they lived, and the ambassadors returned the gifts, for they could receive nothing beyond the thanks of the senate for having done their duty.
The determination of Soter to abdicate the throne himself arose from his wish to put this favorite son in secure possession of it before his death, in order to prevent the older brothers from disputing the succession. The coronation of Philadelphus was made one of the most magnificent and imposing ceremonies that royal pomp and parade ever arranged.
She flung up her head and gazed at him with startled eyes. He believed that he had touched upon the fact. "So!" he exclaimed. "She has deceived Philadelphus " she whispered defensively, but he broke in sharply. "Whom hath she deceived?" She closed her lips and looked at him perplexed.
The girl was interesting and Amaryllis had been disappointed in Philadelphus. Nothing tender or compassionate; only a little curiosity, a little rancor, a little ennui and a faint instinctive hope that something of interest might yet develop, moved the Greek. "Send your servant to Ascalon for proofs," she said. "I shall give you shelter here until you are proved undeserving of it.
"I am he," he said evenly. "Then," Laodice said, "I am she whom thou hast expected." Philadelphus smiled and dropped his head as if in thought. "One always expects the pleasurable," he essayed, "but at times one does not recognize it when it comes. Who art thou, lady?" "Pestilence, war and the evil devices of men have desolated me," she said coldly. "I have only a name. I am Laodice."
"Why, I I am Laodice, daughter to Costobarus, and thy wife!" she exclaimed, while her eyes fixed upon him the full force of her astonishment. He turned to Amaryllis. "What labyrinth is this, O my friend," he asked, "in which thou hast set my feet?" "I do not know," Amaryllis laughed suddenly. "Call the princess." Philadelphus summoned a servant and instructed her to bring his wife.
Among other buildings, Philadelphus raised a temple in Alexandria to the honour of his father and mother, and placed in it their statues, made of ivory and gold, and ordered that they should be worshipped like the gods and other kings of the country.
Julian made no response. He drew nearer and looked in silence. "Now what are they to each other?" Philadelphus continued. "Father and daughter; lady and servant or a courtezan and her manager?" At the continued silence of his companion, he argued his question himself. "No such ill-fashioned peasant loins as his ever begat such sweet patrician perfection as that!" he declared.
But the chamber, with all its richness, had a splendid emptiness that made it imposing, not luxurious. After a single admiring survey of the hall in which he had been left alone, the pretended Philadelphus fortified himself against his most critical test.
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