Herod was ill, so said
they, and had not long to live. That morning of the day before the
games the old king had summoned Vergilius.
"I will not be cheated by God or man," said he, fiercely. "Tell the
master of the games that I will have him entertain me here to-day,
after the middle hour, in my palace court. Bid him bring beast and
gladiator and the strong men of the prisons. Let him not forget the
traitors. I would have, also, a thousand maids to sing and dance for
me."
The king looked down, impatiently, at his trembling hands. He flung a
wrathful gesture, and again that bestial voice: "Go, bid him bring
them!"
So at the middle hour a wonderful scene was beginning in the great
court of Herod's palace. The king sat on a balcony with Salome, Elpis,
Roxana, Phaedra, and others of his kindred. On the circular terraces
of a great fountain below and in front of them were rows of naked
maidens. Circle after circle of this living statuary towered, with
diminishing radii, above the court level, to an apex, where a stream of
cool, perfumed water, broken to misty spray, rose aloft, scattering in
the sunlight.
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