His eyes fell upon me and he said—
“If you are not Bryaxis who gave you permission to bear his face?”
“And you. If you are not the son of Semele who has given you that Dionysiac stature and that robe of purple woven by the Graces of Naxos?”
He then smiled upon me, and without lifting his arms away from their charming supports he seized and shook my hand, pressing it against the bared breast of one of his companions.
“Chariclo,”—this to the young girl upon his right,—“take an arm of my friend and let us continue our promenade. Soon the sun will become too fierce to be pleasant.”
We therefore as he wished went on enlaced. Parrhasius walked with a grand heavy balancing of the body, measured and pompous as an hexameter, the little steps of the women were as a dactyl. In a few words he inquired of my works and my life. At each of my responses he said with vivid words, “Yes. I understand perfectly.” He wished to cut short any lengthy speech. Then he began to speak of himself.
“Clearly understand that I have taken you under my protection,” said he. “For not one citizen of Athens, save myself alone, is out of danger when near the Macedonian. If the least little trouble had brought you before their Court of Justice I would not have given two copper coins for the value of your liberty. But now, maintain a tranquil mind.”
“I am not,” I responded, “of a fearsome nature, but here in the shadow of your mighty name——”
“Yes,” said Parrhasius. “When Philip knew that I was going to honour his new city he sent forward upon my route an officer of the palace. This man brought me royal presents, among others the six colossal men slaves and the two beautiful girls that you have seen. That is to say Force to open my path before me and Beauty to grace my person.”
“Girls of Macedonia?” I questioned.