195


though  the  eveiung  was  already  far  ad-
▼anced.  When  they  reached  the  house,
he  took  the  presents  from  the  slave  and
sent  him  away,  meaning  to  give  them  with
his  OBH  hands,  that  the  wise  woman  might
the  more  favor  him  in  a  matter  of  his  own,
which  he  meant  to  advise  with  her  ahout.
While  he  waited  there,  calling  once  or
twice,  andL  knocking  at  the  door,  a  person
ma£9ed  in  a  cloak  came  up  the  street,  and
opening  the  door,  bade  him  enter  if  he
bad  business  with  Diotima,  for  that  she
would  be  there  speedily.  The  young  man
took  up  the  presents  and  followed  the
stranger  through  a  court,  into  which  the
door  opened,  and  thence  io^  a  great  ban-
quet room,  where  his  conductor  left  him.
Two  torches  burning  in  candlesticks  over
the  door,  made  a  murky  light  in  the  place.
The  floor  and  ceiling  were  of  wood,  rudely
carved  and  painted  with  symbolic  figures.
On  the  walls  were  figures,  very  richly
colored,  representing  the  battles  of  the
Gods  and  Utans,  and  a  variety  of  other
actions,  all  emblematical.  At  one  end  of
the  wall,  about  a  small  table  set  for  feast-
ing, stood  three  couches  for  as  many
guests.  The  couches  were  beautifully
ornamented  in  the  Tyrian  fashion,  with
cushions  of  Tyrian  cloth.  On  the  table
■toodbwine  vases  and  cups  of  chased  silver,
such  as  came,  at  that  period,  from  Italy
and  Egypt.  At  the  other  end  of  the  hall
were  many  vases  of  flowers,  casting  a
delicious  scent ;  and  on  a  small  altar,  op-
ponte  the  door,  offerings  of  fresh  flowers
and  incense  were  laid  before  an  ivory
group  of  the  Graces,  which  stood  in  a
niche  of  the  wall.
