“I see steps of marble, doors of brass, a lofty hall with sculptures and suits of armor, sumptuous apartments after apartments—a library in which are four persons; two sitting on a couch, and two standing before them. The first two are a man and woman venerable with white locks, but with no other signs of great age: the other two, also a man and woman, are much younger and still in the fullness of mature life. All are of princely features and bearing.”
“What are they doing?” demanded Simon.
“The younger couple are untying tablets bound about with a black ribbon. They are now reading—plainly with surprise and grief.”
“Approach and read with them,” said Simon.
“I cannot read. The characters are strange. Besides, tears have fallen copiously on them,” said the woman.
Simon reversed his passes, and the woman, giving a great sigh, opened her eyes.
He then came forward to the edge of the stage next to our friends.
“We come now,” said he, “to something very important. It has been known from remotest times that it is possible to determine from the stars the general character of a man’s fortunes, the critical times in his life, the sort of dangers to which he will be most exposed. Becoming acquainted with these, he can take precautions accordingly. For example, if one finds that to-morrow will be a time of special peril to him, and that the peril will come from a city, he can leave the city at once and so secure himself. So it is very important that each one of you inform himself in advance all about these critical and dangerous times that are sure to come to him. Do not neglect this opportunity of consulting the stars. It is the opportunity of a life-time. For the very small consideration of only one gold stater he can have the benefit of my profound studies among the stars, studies which I can assure you have been profounder and more successful than those of any other man, not excepting Hermes Trismegistus himself. All you have to do is to hand me the piece of gold, together with the exact time and place of your birth, and I will construct the twelve Heavenly Houses, and find the places of the planets therein, and take account of their mutual bearings and modifications, and so make out for you a horoscope that will tell you just what is to be done in every trying situation as long as you live. And you will live twice as long for it. Now, who will, at the trifling expense I have mentioned, protect himself from great harm and secure to himself wonderful advantages?”
He folded his arms and waited. But no one responded. Either there was not sufficient faith in the people, or they had already invested in horoscopes, or the gold piece required was wanting. The astrologer expressed surprise at this backwardness to seize the splendid opportunity they were having for having their fortunes told by the truth-telling stars through their most illustrious interpreter. It was a great mistake. They would surely regret it. He was only passing through the city on his way to Rome at the invitation of the Emperor Tiberius, and when he should return, if ever, it was impossible to say. What was the difficulty? Was it the ready money demanded? Well, he would make it easy for poor people. They might pay him on delivery of the horoscope and its interpretation. Let them hand in their names and the facts called for, and he would trust them.
This brought out the people in the court. Not a few signified their readiness to accept the new offer; and the Nubians, passing along the inner hurdles with papyrus and stylus, soon collected quite a catalogue of names and appropriate particulars. This seemed very satisfactory to Simon.